brraaainnss

The surgeon himself doesn't know about it, eesh. I've seen it mentioned on this forum more than once or a dozen times that people are allowed to help their BMI in one way or another.

I was just trying to be funny ... but that is insanely ridiculous. I guess they try to find all the loopholes they can to try and deny you.

Not to be cliche, but you gotta walk before you run. You can't continue on your journey if you don't step on the path. Um... it's a slippery slope and you can't force a horse to drink?

My insurance won't cover the surgery if your BMI is below 40 - period. I have co-morbidities and am at 37.8... so my insurance said no way... gain 30 lbs and sure! Luckily, I have a wonderful surgeon and his staff ...who let me weigh with my purse... and a 25 lb weight. ;D

Good luck you two! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, for sure. I know I'm nervous about not waking up as well, so I feel your pain. :} And people telling me, "Oh you'll be fiiiiine" just doesn't seem to comfort me! So all I can say is you guys will be fiiiiiine!

Have you ever worked with ANY insurance company? They write everything in code and then have monkey's try to translate this code. Once successful, they pony express the results by snail across the desert to be read by blind monks. Once this process is complete, they may or may not bother to let you know. Basically insurance companies do things on their own time. :]

I don't really have any advice or tips for you as I am not banded yet... but I just wanted to say that what you've lost in such a short time is amazing! And NSVs, to me, are just as important as seeing that scale drop. Congratulations on the new capris. :]

I'll be getting the Realize band.

Good luck! You're in my thoughts and prayers for a successful and easy surgery!

Hey and welcome! I've been lurking on this website for about 6 months and it is GREAT. The people are wonderful and kind. So congrats on stumbling into the right place. I haven't been banded yet but I've read so much I can tell you my educated opinion and you're welcome to toss it out. I think anyone who is TRULY serious about losing weight, once and for all, is a good candidate for this surgery. Not someone who knows insurance is going to pay for this and ... eh, it may work, it may not... attitude. The Lap Band motto is: It's a tool, not a miracle. If you are serious about changing your eating to fit the lifestyle for the rest of your God given life, you're a good candidate. If you're willing to work out to help along your weight loss, you're a good candidate. Oh, and you have to have a BMI of 35. :tongue2: And all surgeon's must be different because mine told me I could get pregnant 6 months after receiving the Lap Band. He said that you only need to master the new eating lifestyle to ensure you're eating enough and correctly so that you have a healthy baby. So check with your surgeon and his requirements for that. I'm sure it also depends on a person's individual progress. So good luck and read, read, read! Oh, yeah. And your very first step is calling your insurance. A lot of insurances differ one what they cover and how they cover it. It can be a huuuuge headache!!

I am not required to lose any weight for the surgery. Is the requirement to satisfy your insurance ... or the dietitian? If it's for the dietitian I would tell them to go suck an egg. I always thought it was a little silly to force someone to lose a rather large amount of weight before weight loss surgery. We've all decided to get surgery because we all NEED it. I know I don't get expensive, possibly dangerous surgeries just for kicks. I dunno. I think it's a little abusive. End rant. :]

Just think... by now, you're probably sleeping like a baby in recovery. I'm so jealous.