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i have anthem BCBS also...my policy pays for up to $20,000 of bariatric surgery, so i'm cutting it pretty close! liz------why did you get denied?

I don't like the chewables, so I went to GNC and bought a vita-pack with 4 different daily vitiams. A couple of the pills are big, but I can take them mid-afternoon and I don't have any problems with them. Not sure if my doc would approve of these since they are not bariatric, but I am going to the doc on Monday and will ask them. Overall, I feel better taking these than I did the Bariatric Advantage.

Bariatric Breakfast—Protein Pancakes Bariatric vanilla protein low carbohydrate pancakes recipe Ingredients Yields: Four 4 pancakes Serving size: 2 pancakes 2 scoops BariNutrics™ Vanilla Protein 1 tsp. baking powder 1 pinch salt 2 Tbsp. unsweetened almond milk, milk, or water 2 large eggs, beaten Directions Prep Time: 5 minutes In a medium-sized bowl, combine first three ingredients. In a small bowl, beat eggs and add milk. Add eggs and milk mixture to dry ingredients and mix until completely combined. Heat skillet or electric fry pan to medium. Once hot, add ¼ cup of pancake mix. Cook on first side for 3 minutes. Flip and cook 1 additional minute.

I have read about substituting addictions and how some who have had bariatric surgery are prone to this. I don't anticipate turning to alchol because it was never a big part of my life before. I have given some thought to refocus my activities and revel in a better quality of life. I admit that I am a workoholic, so there are projects I can throw myself into. I do need to come to terms with becoming more active physically. I have told myself this will be easier once my knees and ankles don't hurt anymore and I can move without losing breath.

I'm nine days post-op and I've not reached the point where I'd say "oh yes, I'd do it all over again for sure!" But that makes complete sense to me. Right after surgery you're the most miserable and have the least amount of reward. Down the road, you feel much better physically and experience much greater reward (weight loss). I'd never had any kind of surgery or been in the hospital for any reason. This may sound overly dramatic to some, but I feel like I went through hell and back in the hospital. Lots of pain and I had a reaction to something that made me itch so badly all over my body I wanted to just skin myself. It's been so much better since then, but I've still had some rough moments. I know one day it will be worth it, when I'm fully healed, the weight is off and I'm living life with renewed vigor.

I had dr. Ramon Rivera from tristate bariatrics in suffern ny. I only had to pay my co-pays, which was 20 dollars for the office visits, and my surgery was the beginning of the year so I didn't have to pay anything at the hospital. It was great. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

When did you have surgery? You may want to check with your dietician and hire a sports medicine dietician. Trust the professionals over my two cents 😉 What works for me, may not work for you. I carb load (seven days) and do a pre race and taper. I eat low glycemic carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes, fruits, veggies, oatmeal, whole wheat with my protein. Hydration NUUN tabs/electrolytes added to my water in my hydration vest. I add powdered carbs to my water for calories. I run fasted race day. (I don’t eat products with sugar - example running gels/Gatorade) these links will give you an idea of how athletes fuel. https://www.foodcoach.me/eat-runningbiking-weight-loss-surgery/ https://keepmovingweekly.com/2015/06/11/nutrition-for-the-bariatric-athlete-endurance-events/ Running taper: https://www.teamhotshot.com/blog/tips-taper-race-day/ https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a20072822/marathon-taper/ runners stomach https://www.bucketlisttummy.com/5-nutrition-tips-to-help-runners-stomach/

I’m about 9 almost 10 weeks ago. I have been struggling with vitamins. They had me start with the celebrate tropical twist bariatric vitamins, made me sick no matter when or how I took em. Tried one of the bariatric advantage capsules, makes me sick. Barimelts made me nauseous, what do y’all do for your vitamins???

I had the same issue at first. I started with capsules and chewables, both of which made me nauseous. I found that Bariatric Pal "soft chews" work for me and I've used them for more than a year without any issues. I use the strawberry/watermelon and actually like the taste. https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/soft-chew-bariatric-vitamins/products/bariatric-advantage-multivitamin-chewy-bites-flavors

I have noticed from others that sometimes after being banded for a while, it is easy to forget or stray from the original guidelines or some banders didn't get adequate information from their centre initially. For starters, I would log what you are eating (ideally through myfitnesspal or something like that that will track calories too). You should not exceed (per my doctor) about 1200 calories per day and should have about 60+ grams of protein. Try not to exceed 1 cup of food per meal and have a planned healthy snack in between meals (piece of fruit) or something. If you are not able to get even yogurt down, perhaps your band is a little too tight which may be causing you to eat some unhealthier items (sliders) that will go down easily and that may be part of the problem. It sounds like you could really benefit from a visit (or 2) with a nutritionist to get back on track. You shouldn't feel so defeated and frustrated with your food choices. I am able to eat most anything as long as I eat slowly and eat small bites. I would urge you to see out one (my bariatric clinic has ones on staff) and they have a lot of great ideas and advice. I truly don't feel deprived and only did when I was too tight and struggled getting solid food down. I also have found healthier ways to still enjoy many foods I loved before but now in a healthier way. There is a website called Emily bites (I believe) and there are many recipes that you make in cupcake pans so they are portioned out into appropriate sized meals. They are healthy versions (ie. lasagna) of everyday foods. I really enjoy them. Good luck to you!

yes many bariatric recipes are written by people alrady in maintenance. so to them lower mid carb type recipes are great but until you hit that stage, im with you, the only good carb is one i leave behind. now if you HAVE to then there are mr deent carbs like vegetabe carbs etc. but even those i didnt start until 6 months in.

Cigna here also. 4 months from start to surgery. September kicked things off with the Bariatric program information session and scheduled my first nutritionist appointment the same week. I did the same thing and checked with Cigna on the requirements. Cigna said I could do 3 months supervised diet with a nutritionist and they gave me some names of those in their network. I had to do at least one nutritionist visit with the Bariatric surgeons office, but it was not close to my home. So I picked a nutritionist close by to meet with me 4 times (September, October, November, and December), and she documented my diet, exercise and weight. In parallel, my surgeon let me do all the pre-op appointments and tests. So timing wise, it worked out well and i had my nutritionist send my 3-month supervised diet chart notes to the surgeon immediately after my 4th appointment. By that time, I completed all the other Cigna and surgeons prerequisites and just needed the last piece from the nutritionist. Paperwork submitted week before Christmas, and approved in one week!!!! Then was able to schedule surgery mid-January. I will say it was a very very busy time, particularly because I also had to get appointments and clearances from 4 other specialists. So right away I started scheduling those. In the end, the 3 months worked out to be just the right amount of time to fit everything in ( oh and work full time and have a family, etc). So knowing your insurance requirements up front is the best thing to do!!! Best of luck!!

This is VERY different than they way the band was explained to me. My surgeon is one of the top bariatric doctors in the country... That's not to say that there is not value in the information...different approaches work with different people. I do like his message of eating a specified amount and walking away. That is good advice no matter how you believe the band works. This guy seems to have a helluva marketing department...

Check your insurance policy. It will say whether weight loss/bariatric surgery is covered or not, and if it is what it will cost you out of pocket. For example, in my policy is it listed under Surgical Procedures in Section 5b. You can also call customer service at the number on the back of your card and ask them what your policy says about weight loss surgery. Schedule an appointment with your Primary Care Physician (PCP). Ask them to please refer you to Nutrition Services to be considered for for weight loss surgery. They will probably mail you some forms to fill out and return. Then they will send you a letter. If you qualify you will be on the program waitlist. Unless they pick up the pace you will wait 6+ months to get into the pre-surgery program. You will have 8 weeks of classes plus blood work, program specialist and psych visits, etc. If you pass the classes you will be scheduled to meet for final checkoffs with psych, pre-op bloodwork/physical, and finally to meet with your surgeon of choice. You'll also have to do either a 3-day or 14-day pre-surgery diet. I'd recommend the 3-day, so lose some weight before and/or during the 8-week program, that way you're more likely, but not guaranteed, to get the 3-day diet vs. the 14-day diet. You will get to choose from one of two surgeons: Dr. Husain or Dr. Chae. I chose Dr. Chae, but I have heard good things about both surgeons. The differences: one is female, the other male. One is younger, the other a little older and probably has more bariatric surgeries under his belt. One doesn't use a post-surgery drain tube (from what I've heard), the other does (from what I experienced). Ask for details so you can make an informed decision that you are comfortable with. Maybe you feel comfortable with a surgeon of the same gender as you. The choice is yours. My surgery was at Saint Joseph Hosptial in Denver. Yours probably will be as well. NOTE: When they discharge you, make sure they send you home with prescriptions for pain (probably liquid Lortab), nausea, acid reduction (acid reducer/PPI), and blood thinners (if you need them after you are discharged, I didn't. This seems to vary based on your condition, medical history, etc.). Have your family or friend fill them before you are discharged so you don't have to stop on the way home. You might not need the pain meds to mask unbearable pain, but they are great for a couple/few days after discharge if for nothing else than to ween off the morphine drip and to help you get some sleep. If all goes well, you'll get your surgery. My plan covers sleeve. Apparently some don't, but most people I was in groups with had the option. Depends on what your policy covers, I guess. The bottom line is, the wait and process is long but well worth it. It took me almost a year to get through the entire waitlist and pre-surgery stuff. Be patient, but if four or five months passes on the waitlist and you don't get a call, be proactive and call Nutrition Services to ask where you are on the waitlist. If you need to contact Nutrition Services directly: Kaiser Permanente offers gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding (also know as the Lap Band) procedures. Not all benefit plans cover weight loss surgery. Please call 303-788-1154 for more information. http://www.kphealthy...for-adults.aspx

Thanks sooo sooo much for the info. The lady at my Dr. office has not sent my letter to UHC she is going off what her information from past people has to say but I dont know if that is even correct because she first told me I also needed a 5yr weight history which I do then said No I didnt :cursing: So I have an apt with her today so we will see Thanks again I will def call for those benefits. I registered for myuhc but it just says bariatric surgergies will be processed by a care coordinator.

Carmen, is UHC pretty good to send letters to you as they send them to the doctor? When I called to see if my policy covered the lap band, I was told yes (depending on qualifications such as BMI over 40, 5-year documentation of weight, etc.) and then the representative read me an Explanation of Benefits. I asked her if I could get a written copy of the explanation that she read to me, and she told me to go to www.myuhc.com to find all the info. I have looked and looked and cannot find the information anywhere under my Benefits section. Under "Bariatric Services," it says "Not applicable." Any ideas??

THANKS, MERITERI I LIKED S&W BUT THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $25,000! I MAY HAVE TO LOOK UP DR VENINGA! DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO DALLAS FOR POST OP? THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. TEXAS BARIATRIC SPECIALIST CAN DO POST OP IN KILLEEN. DO YOU KNOW DR GANTA'S PRICE OR HOW WELL PATIENTS ARE DOING WITH THE SINGLE INCISION? THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING!

If my surgeon wanted to remove my Gallbladder , id say ok. He is the Doctor and he knows what he is doing. Gallbladders after bariatric surgery can be iffy from what my surgeon said. I would much rather have it out if it looks questionable. Jennifer

Since we are on the subject, what are some good bariatric vitamins to get online?. I am pre surgery and I take a good amount of vitamins every day and I am sure they won't be good for my new tummy post op. I appreciate any feedback on this subject. Annie

I wonder if you contacted bariatric pal if they could find something comparable to this item. I've had great help from them. They have great customer service! Someone there even got back to me on a Sunday! I was shocked and so pleased. They have so many products that would take us forever to research!

331 lbs was my highest recorded weight, but that was ~5 years before I started the process for bariatric surgery. At that point, I was at 291 lbs... after having lost and regained 160 lbs on my own.

I’d have your orthopedics surgeon and your bariatric surgeon maybe talk? Or let your Bariatric surgeon know about your foot repair. He may recommend you wait. What kind of surgery are you having? What did you break?

You said they did a CT scan, but did they do a barium swallow? Did you go to your bariatric surgeon rather than another doctor? If not, you definitely need to get into your bariatric surgeon ASAP.

Sounds like I'm in the same boat as you. I have Standard so I have to go off post. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App Yes I do. I'm in VA beach Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I am at Eustis. I am just starting the bariatric program at Portsmouth. Before I received my referral, I considered going standard and through the bariatric program at Sentara. I went to the orientation last week and see the surgeon on the 10th. There is a facebook group, I believe it is called Weight loss surgery with tricare. All of the women in that group are so helpful! They explained the entire process to me beforehand, so that I'd have a greater understanding of tricare and the bariatric programs. There are locals in there too. One just had the surgery in July and she is standard. She is very helpful and helps me with all of my questions. She went through sentara. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App