RaeZur

yes, that would cause me to strangle someone, because everyone thinks you get surgery and it is some miracle, when they don't realize that you have to actually WORK at it to make the surgery work for you. Idiots...

I have to tell you FED BCBS (I have BASIC) s probably the best insurance to have for this surgery. I started this process in mid May and have a surgery date of August 19. My insurance has paid for everything with the exception of my normal copays. The only thing that I did have to pay for out-of-pocket was the Bariatric Center's Program fee ($500.00). Other than that I have had a total of 3 copays of $35.00 for doctor's visits (including the Psych Eval). You just need to be sure that you use In-Network providers and get pre-certification (usually for the Psych Eval) when required. Fed BCBS likes to use their "Blue Disnction Centers" for the surgery (it makes the process go alot smoother and quicker) than just choosing some random Bariatric Surgeon. Once I had all of my necessary paperwork completed (as well as labs and classes completed) I was approved over the phone in a matter of minutes. No pre-op diet required either, so that is a relief.

Got my call this morning! I have been approved! I am so freakin' excited!! And now the nerves set in!!

I am Pre-op and have switched from Lap-Band to the Vertical Sleeve. To tell you the truth what really convinced me was a friends mother's horrifying experience with the band along with a slippage shared in my support group. My surgeon is really pushing this procedure, he thinks it is an absolute break-through in the bariatric world, which I tend to agree! I have Fed BCBS Basic, I reside in VA. Wondering if anyone is in process of insurance approval yet? I have a finish up consult for my Psych Eval Friday and one more lab test (iron) on Monday and then I will be good to go for insurance submittal. I am hoping with this new CPT code being assigned, that insurance companies will take this procedure seriously and start approving it! Fingers are crossed here... This change is last minute for me, but I think overall it is a better surgery, and will cost me a lot less (not having to be filled and such).

I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I work in an office and don't do much outside, hence the low Vitamin D levels. What could be causing the low iron? I take a multi-vitamin daily and eat my share of red meat...so I am not certain why it was 38 instead of 40 (normal level), I was not on my mensus during testing either.

Hey Faith, I am in the process of getting all my pre-op stuff done and hopefully will be banded by september by Dr. Wohlgemuth at Sentara Norfolk General. I am here for support, god knows I could use some!! Rachel

my first consult is monday, so I guess that will be a good question to ask then! Thanks!

I was wondering, with FED BCBS Basic, do you have to pay an extra fee for fills? Or is it just considered a normal copay?

I am not banded yet, went to my first WL Seminar on 5/12 and decided to go with the Lap-band rather than Gastric Bypass. I informed my partner of the decision and she hasn't really said a whole lot about it since. I try to spark conversation, because I am super-excited about getting control of my weight and starting a new lifestyle. She honestly hasn't been very interested when I talk about it. Out of the blue today she calls me kinda hysterically telling me one of her clients (she is a hairstylist), had the lap-band procedure over a year ago and only lost 30 lbs and has basically given up. The woman apparently now wishes she had gone the other route. She also doesn't want to invest in a personal trainer because apparently she has spent way too much on weight loss. (These are in my g/f's words...) So the first thing I ask is what is her fill at? Is she still exercising? At what point did she give up and what was her weight loss at that point? Well, apparently the woman had already left the salon. But my g/f just sits there blank. She of course has no idea what I am talking about. Had she been interested in my previous attempts at conversation starters with her, she would have known what I was speaking of. She simply ends our conversation with "I think you should consider the Bypass because I don't want you to be disappointed like this woman." It seems to me that this woman had no will power to make the tool that she had been given work for her. I really think a lot of folks think that they will get this miracle band and everything will melt away.... My g/f also said the woman can eat anything she wants without feeling full...blah blah blah..she also said that the doctor's office "lies" to you tells you it is reversible and it isn't. I laughed at that one. (I of course know that this is untrue, my surgeon addressed this question in my WL Seminar) Seems to me she just stopped getting filled and gave up.. I have seen too many success stories to let this one woman's experience (which I am only getting the edited part of the story I am sure) influence my decision. My question is is their anyone out there that has given it an honest go and just has regretted their decision and wanted the bypass instead? I know that the initial weight loss rates are low with the band, but aren't we supposed to end up even keel with the bypass folks 5 years down the road or so?

I told my mother and my partner about my desire to get lap-band surgery about 2 weeks ago. I have been talking about it off and on now for about a year. So when I went to my first seminar and ultimately decided that this is what I wanted to do, they were happy for me. In the week or so that has followed, my mother and girlfriend have started to make comments about me becoming "skinny" and them having to do something about their own weight (both are easily 50+ lbs overweight). While I am happy about their decisions to make an effort to lose weight, I am a bit perturbed about them focusing on their own efforts. This is mainly because it seems their motivation may be out of jealousy that my insurance covers the surgery, rather than them actually realizing that they have food issues. I am not meaning to be selfish here, and by all means I want them both to live healthier lives, but I wish they both would stop with this skinny mentality, because that is not what I see myself as in 1-2 years post-surgery, I see myself healthy, at 150lbs which is still "considered" overweight for my height, and by no means "skinny". I am just wondering has anyone had any similar issues with family/partners? And has your siginificant weight loss caused stress in any of your relationships? Has it every caused fights and/or break-ups due to jealousy or self-esteem issues? One last question totally on the other end of the spectrum, I have been reading a lot about this getting "stuck" and "PB" phenomenon. Can someone explain to me exaclty what this is? Is it similar to the pain felt during severe heartburn/reflux or worse? Is this caused by lack of chewing food properly? Also, can you really not sip on a beverage while you eat to aid in it going down? Rachel

Melissa, Thanks for the site! I just became a member! Cheers, Rachel

Does anyone have experience with Sentara Norfolk General? I am just starting the process crossing my fingers that FED BCBS will pay for it!

Now that i read mine tat is what it says. Just a question do they weigh you with or without your clothes on??

You go girl! :thumbup:

Thank you everyone for your responses, I am feel so much validity in all of your responses pertaining to my situation. I have no issue with living a structured lifestyle, I actually prefer routine, I feel uneasy when I have to break routine. So I think I will do well with either procedure. I do think that my partner is feeling like this is just another WL attempt but I also think maybe she is a bit jealous, she herself is overweight and I think she is a bit scared at the fact that i may actually be able to lose the weight and afraid that may leave her behind, she has never said this outright but I sense it. Also, I agree that their can be failure at anything you do. I really think what it comes down to is learning as much as you can about the band and make it work for you. Like I said before this is not an easy fix. I understand that. I am willing to put in the time and effort to make it work for me forever! I am trying to absorb all of the information I can before I start the process so I can make an educated choice as well as ask some tough questions once I start going to support groups and seminars at the Baritric Center that I will be banded at. I can't be more excited about this change, no one is going to pee in my corn flakes! LOL. Thank you all again for keeping me motivated on my journey to a healthier life!

I'm 5'-4" and my goal is 150. I think it is a do-able goal and not too small. I may change the goal later on down the road depending on how much muscle I want to maintain.

I guess what I am concerned with is do they require your BMI to be OVER 40, ie 41. Because I told Sentara at my seminar that I was 233 (which was the last time I weighed myself) AND that is a BMI of 40 but they told me that my weight was not enough unless I had two co-morbidites. I actually went home and weighed myself with clothes on and I was 241 that night. When I called to schedule my 1st consult I revised my weight with them. They said that was better, a BMI of 41. Well now, I have weighed myself nude and I am 238, BMI 40 again. So, I am litterally trying to gain lbs to make sure I am over BMI of 40 when I go in there on JUNE 1 for my first consult. blah..I am so frustrated...

Does anyone have any experience with Sentara Norfolk General and FED BCBS of VA? I am right at a BMI of 40 with no known co-morbidities.

That's crazy that your doctor okay-ed the enchilada! At least you know better now thought! Thanks for sharing your experience!

Congrats on your weight loss! That is so great to hear. I am also glad that you are feeling restriction. I read so many forum posts about people not feeling restriction, it scares me a bit! I am really hoping that I can be approved, congrats again to you!:thumbup:

Sunshine, I am just beginning the lap-band approval process...I did not know as most people don't about all the complications that can occur with the lap band. The one thing that is attractive to me about the lap band is that it can be removed. I am honestly at the point where if I don't do this now, I may continue to put it off, and let' face it we aren't getting any younger...I just turned 33 and am close to the heaviest that I have ever been. Somethings gotta give, I think that I can be successful with the band, and although I am a bit nervous about the unknown that lies ahead with the band, I am confident that I will be successful and ultimately happy (unless of course I have some ungodly complication(s). I wish the sleeve was covered though, I would heavily consider it over the band. Good luck with your banding and congrats!

OMG! I can't believe that you braved that so soon after surgery! I am determined to stick to Clear Liquids (once I get surgery) until the DOC tells me different. Why go through the trouble of being banded and then eating fatty foods like that? (I think you would have been better off if you had prepared it yourself with some *healthier* choices as substitutes...) Glad you learned a valuable lesson! Good Luck to you in your journey!

I hope that I get a barium swallow...I would rather them catch a leak before I leave than to die certainly! Who cares what it tastes like, it's your life at stake here, better to be safe than sorry!

At my First Weight Loss Seminar (5/12/10), my surgeon spoke very highly of this procedure. He said it was a happy medium between the two methods that exist. He also said that by next year he thinks about 90% of insurance companies should be paying for this surgery. This is due to the success rate and small rate of complications. I am excited about it, but really want the lap-band..maybe this will be a replacement once I get the weight off with the lap-band. The only part that disturbs me about the procedure is that they do remove a portion of your stomach, so it is irreversible. Other than that, it seems very promising. Good Luck to you whatever your choice may be!