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I'm working on all the pre op paperwork before it's submitted to insurance for pre approval right now. Hope I can get surgery done by beginning of the year. Surgeon is in Richmond...anyone in the area that has had this done or working on it as well?

Hello Everyone! I am doing weight watchers for my 6mth preop diet hope to get approved in February!

As a lot of people here my weight as ALWAYS been an issue for me. I am at a raw emotional state right now that I can't take on this weight anymore! I am going thru the approval process for the 2nd time (first time didn't fully qualify weight/co-morbidies so the Dr. office wouldn't file for the pre-approval.) My weight is spiraling out of control. I'm not happy, kids driving me nuts, they need to go back to school and I have a husband that says he understands and is just trying to support me in this but just keeps throwing it in my face that I can do it on my own and have before and that getting this band is not going to be a miracle! 1) I know this won't be a miracle it's a tool!! I said this now and before, its something to hold me to it, so when it comes off I can't say hand me the snickers and I pack it back on. 2) I've committed to exercises before and stuck to it....the difference I could never loose more than 30lbs so I would get discouraged, pissed and quit...it all comes back, then I'm pissed I have to start all over again. I am tired, tried of this cycle. I just turned 29---I'm done having kids, have 3 boys. I just want to live the rest of my life in peace knowing that this time when it comes off, I have no choice but to put the right stuff in my mouth or risk horrible things happening to me and my stomach, not just having to worry about the weight coming back. I know this. He wants to compare my life, mentally and physical challenges of this weight to his weight gain since high school! Sorry pal---this is just not weight gained like you from going super athletic to sit on your ass and still thinking you can eat whatever you want. You fully did that on your own! He doesn't get that!! Mine has always been there!! My dad use to make comments to me about my weight, like peer pressure wasn't enough, went almost an entire year only eating a sandwhich a day to loose the weight. That got me to 140 when I was 15---then meet my now husband and got pregnant with my son. Of course he would say you were small when I meet you I was freaking 15!!!! And what I did the year prior to just get to that weight was ridiculous!! Then after you add 3 pregnancies on top of that!! I'm done! I swear I should be on that damn slimquick commercial how it's comparing the woman and man! It's true! He said I should take a hot bath after workouts helps shed the extra pounds!! Really! I proved my point to him. He did that got in weighed himself when done lost 2lbs...I gained 2lbs!!! I am over this right now. I am doing everything again I can to get this band on!! I feel like running and hiding on a island on my own right now. I have 1 person that is truly supportive of this idea because she knows what is like, his aunt of all people. I want to be happy for once in my life! I'm tired of walking in the stores liking a shirt that would be more age appropriate and them not having my size. I want to be normal, whatever that is I don't know anymore. I just know that this is not! I'm almost at 240 an all time high when not pregnant and I don't like this! Thanks for listening, hope I got all of this out I feel like my veins are popping out of my head right now. (Maybe I should go to the Dr to have them record a high blood pressure for today :/ to add that to my list to help me get approved!!)

I am generally pretty stubborn about "over doing it" when I shouldn't. I know I am taking this serious and trying to prepare myself ahead of time for what should be expected. A brief about what I do... stay at home mom, 3 boys 12, soon to be 7 and 4 yo. I watch a soon to be 2 year old during the day as well. Kids are active in sports do the normal running around with them, do all household chores, errands, I do cakes on the side, Initials Inc consultant and have 3 dogs, a lab and 2 english bulldogs! So my questions: 1) How much help do you think I will need right after surgery...will I feel like crap the first week? I don't really have to carry anyone but will I not be able to bend a lot? 2) Stairs for upstairs..should I make a post for myself downstairs to avoid going up and down all day? 3) How long before you are allowed to drive yourself? (assuming pain meds are used as needed, not a big pill taker even when in pain) 4) How long do I need off? 5) Dogs? My babies feel they are poodles and like to sit on me If they step on me will that dislodge anything?

Thanks for the advise. I'm normally the do it all on my own type of person. I guess I'm trying to mentally prepare myself that I may be down for the count a few days and need help.

Congrats! I hope to soon be banded and have the same success! Good Luck on your journey!

I am in the same situation. I have people that support the fact because they now it has been an issue all my life or the "skinny" people in your life that are always are just trying to loose that 5lbs they will NEVER understand. I recently reached out to my husbands aunt that I know has had a personal struggle with weight all her life and she encouraged me to go for it. Certain people may never understand but if your not happy with yourself, your not going to be happy with your life and be able to enjoy it. I personally feel like if I can get this approved and done I will for once be free....

Congrats..what insurance co. do you have?

Hello Everyone, I was on here about 2 years ago working on my process for submitting for pre-approval with my insurance company. At that time I was 216, 5'5' and told by my Dr. to gain a little weight and the only co-morbid condition I had was slightly elevated high cholestrol. Well the office staff would not submit for preapproval stating they wouldn't approve me because of that and that a sleep apnea test would charge me out of pocket. I had did all my other appts dieatician, physchitrist appts etc. Well now after 2 years of busting my butt again on diets to get this off with only loosing 12lbs this past year just to gain 36lbs now at my high of 240 (275 pregancy weights) I am DONE!! I've called the insurance company last night they did say that cholestrol would count as one and not to mention they cover the sleep apnea test at 100% so thanks to the office staff that gave me incorrect info just because she didn't want to do her job 2 years ago. So I am now on the journey again and have to redo ALL my pre evals because it's to old. Hopefully it works this time. The only thing I don't have this time is my DR. structure diet time, which I am hoping I don't have to go thru 6mths of that before I can submit it. I have my initial appointment scheduled on Aug. 28--hope all goes well. One question for any of you out there that may have the DC/MD plan BCBS....what co-morbidies did you have to get approved? How many tries? Also, I never marked me as being depressed before and have never been treated as such, but this weight as really taken a toll on me lately, should I mark that as a problem on my medical sheet as a problem of my weight or would that just cause problems for me to get approved and cause more phys. appts? Thanks Jen

Hey everyone! I'm 27 and have 3 boys...10, 5 and 2 and have been married for 10 years... yeah do all that math! Anyway it's really hard to find people my age with my "family" status and still have similiar intrest etc. I feel like I've grown up really quick so I feel kinda out of place in the 20 something area...but the 30s is getting to close to the hill....if ya get me! My husband turns 30 this year so I'll just nag on him. If you want to be a buddy during this process please send me an email. I'm going thru the pre-approval stages right now with my insurance. I'm hoping really bad I will have an early Christmas present with news my insurance will pay..then I'm scheduling the surgery as soon as I can!

I will not be having the lap-band because of Dr/Insurance/Qualification issues..so I will be on my own again!! Good luck to you and your surgery!!! Wish you the best. Jen

I'm having a hard time explaining to family members why I need this done. I feel like I have to defend myself because I want this so bad. I am in the process of all the prework my Dr requires to have done before they will submit to the insurance for pre-approval. I have been overweight my entrie life and just tired of all the yo-yo diets all the time and want a permant fix to my problem and I feel this is the only tool that's going to help me get there and stay there. I'm 27 and have 3 boys (tubes tied now), been married for the past 10 years, and have given all my time and attention to my family and my weight. I want this for myself and to be happy and healthy finally. How do you explain why you want this done when it should be an obvious reason as to why? Or always having to be a "sales person" about why it's a good idea? I guess it doesn't help having all skinny friends and family that have never been in the overweight catogory to know how it feels. I was doing ok with this problem at first but know it's starting to get to me. My mom and I are close and she knows what I have always gone thru and I thought she would be ok, but just have health concerns...however she is now coming up with every diet plan she can to keep me from doing this. The only support I have going for me right now is my husband..which was a huge shocker! I guess he's tired of seeing me cry about it all the time! Sorry just needed to vent. I hope this process gets better and I get approved so I can have surgery asap!...I just want to be happy...

I have a huge fear of being able to see the port after you get down to a certain weight. Can you see your's standing or laying down?...Nervous about this...

I have been on top of this process of trying to get all my stuff ready to submit to my insurance for pre approval! I really want this done and soon! Well the DR has told me from day 1 I would qualify and would most likely get approved on the first letter. The only co-morbid ryder I have at the moment is high cholestrol per the DR. Ok...so I went ahead and went to my mental eval today and the nutritionist appt and just followed up with the DRs office to see the time line for when they will submit for pre-approval since I have performed all my duties now. I thought I had the ball rolling! Guess not! She just informed me that I also have to do the 6mth pre diet BS---I went to a weight loss diet DR for 4 years prior to that but that doesn't count since I only have weigh ins every 2mths and not consecutive months!!!! And then she told me the co-morbid cholestrol BS won't qualify either when the DR told me it's been done before. What the heck!!!!! I'm pissed! I thought I had everything covered...I have to drive over an hour to get to these appointments and wouldn't have wasted time, gas and money if I wouldn't qualify right now. I can't believe this another 6mths of my life will be wasted because I can do the diet and always give it my all, but the problem is the stinking weight always comes back and all my hard work down the drain!!!! I'm tired of this process I have to go thru thats why I need the surgery!!!!!!!!!!! Ok so not to mention if I loose to much weight during this time...I'm screwed because I'm at the baseline right now at a BMI of 36!! BS:cursing:Not to mention my insurance won't pay for any DR's appts that are labeled for weight lose----so these appointments will have to be out of pocket!:cursing:That's the reason I didn't stick with the pills, shots and diet plan from the Dr it gets to expensive and when you have 3 kids and a mortgage...money for diets is not always allowed for in your budget! So whats a girl to do spen the money on a Dr for 6mths, lie and not do the diet gain 50lbs so I get a co-morbid condition so insurance will pay???!!! I can't afford this surgery any other way than my insurance! UGGHHHHHH SO TICKED!!!! Ok, guess I got all this out for now..no one is home right now for me to call and my husbands at work. I'm so upset!:angry: I think I'm going to go eat a bucket of ice cream now!

I went for my lovely mental health check today. She said I was normal...haha to my friends that thought I would fail this test! haha---and saw the nuitrionist..so know just waiting for everything to go to insurance and hopefully get my call saying surgery can be a go ahead! I'm praying! This is going to be a long wait! Sooo....nervous! This will be the best Christmas present ever if I get this news!!! Just wanted to share!

Ok---so I have sent the Drs. office a huge email! Pointing out specific info regarding my policy and how I should qualify etc. Hope this works...I don't see why they can't submit anyway...if it gets denied I can always try again later!

I know it's a life style change for the food and exercise--the problem lies in the fact that I still exercise to this day with no change it doesn't matter..maybe thats why I don't have any major co-morbidity in their eyes. I have a problem with portion control..so the permanent tool in place will be my tool to get it off and keep it off. My food choices now are not horrible. I was just joking about the ice cream...I don't have any.. haha..I did call my insurance company and did find out high choloestrol falls under the catergory of life threatening/weight induced conditions so this can be my ticket and it can be a 6mth diet or 2 3mth diest not concurrent and it still can't and that is what I have so I will be calling the DRs office in the AM!!! Thanks:)

Hi, Bonnie! My fav...is Pepsi Max..yum drink it all the time. However, just left the nutritionist today and I discussed this issue with her. My Dr doesn't even reccommend drinking it flat because it still has carbonated bubbles in it that could trap and possibly streach the pouch area over time and you may not have any problems before it's to late and goes unnoticed. I'm starting to let go now to help prevent my withdrawl! I drink at least 5 a day and that's just crazy. I hope to come all the way off before a surgery is scheduled. Good Luck to you I know how this feels!

Is high cholestrol a co-morbiditie in the insurances eyes? Have you had your surgery approved just off this alone? (my weight is at 220---thanks

Thanks everyone for the support! It's been hard...I understand my moms point..safety etc..but it's just crazy from everyone else. I told 1 of my close friends and she's a mutual friend to my others and she blabbed to them...so we live in a smaller area so it got around quick and the text just rolled in telling me I'm crazy. And you know how that goes when your mom has to tell your sister and everyone they know it's just nuts. Thanks :thumbup:

Is anyone out there an employee or spouse of someone that is employeed by GEICO and has the Anthem BCBS PPO of VA insurance plan? My husband works there and we have this plan and I know what it takes to get qualified etc...however I was wondering if you could tell me if you normally get approved the first time for preapproval or are they tough and you had to appeal? Just trying to see what the average process is with them. Thanks

I'm currently in the preop process to get insurance to approve and I always forget to ask the Dr these questions. If you could help me out I would appreciate it. 1--caffiene drinks? I'm a huge Pepsi Max addict..it's horrible I would like to cut back to 1 a day anyway, but is even the 1 a day off limits..I don't like coffee or tea. 2--lifting after surgery? Any weight limits..my 2yo so is 36lbs? would this cause a problem? Thanks

What is the Physic appt like? What are they looking for? Are there any wrong ways to answer certain questions? Have my appointment in 2 weeks.

Ok...so I'm very nervous about my blood results. I had tons of blood work and a 5 hr glucose test on Friday to "find" any riders I may have to get my insurance to pay. No news from Dr's office yet left 2 msgs. I want everything to be good, but if they can't find something my insurance won't cover me. Really looking forward to having surgery and want control over my weight for once in my life. Hope results are in soon!