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My husband has Blue Cross Blue Shield and they paid. It has to be presented as a medical issue. We had to give them a five year history from the primary doctor showing he has been over a certain weight for 5 years or more. Plus he has high blood pressure, sleep apnea and diabetes runs in his family. If you have medical issues over your weight, I do not understand how they can turn you down? Did your doctor present the case properly? My husband just had his surgery this month, 8/10. But it took us a good portion of the year to get the packet together for insurance approval. Oh.. one more thing his primary doctor had to write a letter of recommendation as well. Not sure if this helps.

Wow you did great! I am having the surgery on the 24th. Today is my first day of all liquids. Thursday better get here quick! Are people questioning you as to why you are having the surgery if you have lost that much on your own? I am just wondering because I have gotten that reaction from some people. For me it's not about losing the weight but keeping it off.

My Surgery is on June 30th and I am very excited. My starting weight was 243. I was required by insurance to lose 24lbs and I have currently lost 40lbs. I am starting to struggle. But in just over a week i will be on my way to a better me!!! :smile2:

Hi everyone, I am so happy to have found this website. The others seem more dedicated to the RnY WLS and I had the sleeve done exactly 1 week ago. I weighed 256 pounds prior to the surgery, down from about 300 at my highest. I had been hovering around 250 for the past 8 years. Anyway, I had Kaiser Insurance and they have a program that is extremely rigourous. First, you have to prove that you have tried all other weight loss options. You need solid proof, like your Weight Watchers log or documentation that is extensive. Once you pass that hurdle you wait to go into a class that lasts 6 months! You go once a week for 2 hours for 6 months where you learn about the surgery, nutrition, hear success stories. If you miss a class, you MUST make it up. If you miss 3, you are out of the program. After finishing the 6 month class, you are evaluated. If, during the 6 months, you have lost 10% of your weight (in my case, 26 pounds) then you go to the next step. I did not lost the 10 % and, in fact, only lost about 3 pounds in 6 months (so depressing) so I was referred back to the Dr. for another consultation. After being approved by him, it's on to a gall bladder scan and a fitness test. With Kaiser, you have to wait 3 months for a gall bladder scan (very frustrating). The exercise fitness test consisted of walking three times around a rather small building. This was the easy part for me because I go to the gym several times a week, love to exercise but for whatever reason, my exercise did not lead to weight lost, only maintenence of 250 pounds. After the fitness test and gall bladder scan, you are assinged a series of three appointments. One is for the shrink, who spends about 20 minutes making sure you are sane, then the nutritionist who gives you the same information you have gotten in the class and finally, a consult with the surgeon where you decide which of the three surgeries you are going to have. lap band; RnY, or Sleeve. For medical reasons, my surgeion pushed the sleeve. I was happy with that choice because I don't want to be fooling around with lap band adjustments and also, at 55 years old, I feel I needed a permanent fix. Then FINALLY, you get a surgery date. This whole process, including the 6 month class took a year. It was a long long year. Very frustrating because I could not lost that 10% and that slowed me down by a month or two. I had to get through Thanksgiving and Xms without gaining weight because in the pre op appt and in bold black letter in the pre-op instructions, it is stated "If you gain weight prior to the surgery, your surgery will be cancellled." That is a sobering thought after waiting for a year. Needless to say, I pigged out at Thanksgiving and gained about 5 pounds which was hard to get off by Xmas. My surgery was scheduled for Dec 29, so I really watched myself at Xmas and managed to check in on the 28th at the exact weight of 255.1, a whole 9/10ths of a pound lower than the last appointment. Whew! So on the 29th of Dec, I checked into Scripps Mercy Hospital in downtown San Diego (this is who Kaiser is contracted with for bariatric surgery) and waited to go under the knife. My surgery was delayed by about 3 hours but they gave me a bunch of Morphine and Versed so i didn't care. Finally, they wheeled me in and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery, feeling so weird but actually, not in a lot of pain. My biggist problem was the after effects of the anathesia and, of course, the bloating from the CO2 they pump into you to do a laproscopic surgery. I was up walking within about 5 hours. Conditions at this hospital were amazing. The staff was the best I have ever had and all they cared about was my comfort. Their goals were to control nausea and pain. I didn't have nausea and the pain control was a morphine pump which I used liberally. I also got liquid Ativan to help my bad back so all in all I was pretty damn high at the hospital. I got out Sat. morning and things have been pretty smooth sailing since. I'm still obsessed with food and can't wait to get a little something on Monday (12 days after surgery after bargainaing my doctor down from 14 days) I'm so happy to have found this site to help with my recovery and to answer all my questions. My surgeon was Dr. Janos Taller who is with Pacific Bariatric Surgery. I personallly thought he was excellent. Thanks for reading and good luck to all contemplating this surgery. If you have Kaiser in San Diego, now you know the protocol. Smillzee

robint, I am not sure you will find an insurance to pay, and maybe not a doctor in the US. I think I have read of others with a lower weight to lose, maybe going to Mexico as someone stated. I have a bmi of 36 and have about 80lbs to lose. I had to sell it to the surgeon and I was worried my insurance may deny me. I have other health conditions, but not diabetes or high blood pressure, which seems to be the two most significant. But I did get approved and have a band date for June 7. Good luck. Janine

Hello everyone, I'm a complete newbie here, so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tanya. I live in Alberta, Canada and I will be having a band to sleeve revision on January 27th of this month with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the OCC. I was banded in November of 2008 and I did very well at first. I lost nearly 90 lbs and kept it off for a year and half and then decided to have a tummy tuck. I had been a smoker for 22 years and my TT surgeon urged me to quit. I've been quit now since July 22, 2011 and since then (and my TT) I have gained almost all the weight back!! I feel like a complete failure ???? I got my band defilled today and booked my flights and pretty much got everything I will need so I'm excited. At the same time though, I'm terrified. I'm so afraid to fail again. It's really nice to read these forums and see that everyone is doing so well. It gives me hope. Is there anyone else out there going to be at the OCC the same time???

YAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow you are losing weight already!!! Good for you. I will start mine on monday and im kinda excited but i hope i keep this" positive' atitude when im hungry and watching my family eat we can go through this "together" I have the Bariatric Advantage shakes and bars. ill look at how many cals/ carbs/protein and ill let you know yaaa!!!!!!! high five to you! Y

Thanks for sharing and congrats on your weight loss:)

Welcome to the club. :mad: My insurance required all those tests (except the sleep test) and a 6-month preop diet. I started in September 08 and finally had surgery in July 09. I was on the boards here and learned a lot before surgery, and I think that gave me an easier time. I also was able to drop a lot of weight before surgery and I think that was another big help. The tests were annoying, but I was able to get them all done in one month. Use this time to learn as much as you can and get ready. Good luck to you!

Congrats on your journey! I began mine with my first appt August 31 with the surgeon. I also have BCBS but I have the requirement of 6 month supervised health program. It ends Feb 23!! YAY!! I'm so excited to get going. My surgery date is tentatively March 21 pending ins approval. I'm 60 yrs young and have faught my weight most of my life, especially after having kids and having 10 yrs of a 20 yr marriage that wasn't so good. I fed my emotions alot. I never considered surgery until my ins finally decided to cover all but $1500. At first I felt like I was copping out because I know once I set my mind to it I can lose it, my biggest problem is getting that mind set and then keeping it off. The more I talked to friends who've had it done and researched it alot I decided to do this. I'm sick of being overweight and all the things that go with it. I'm excited to get started! We can do this! <3

welcome and great job on the weight loss!:biggrin:

Hi Ashley: There is a thread for people banded in June! Join us anytime! congrats on the weight loss!

THis process has been such a long one. It started in January. I had my husbands insurance BCBS of Alabama. They do cover the surgery with 6 months of diet and excerice. You also have to have a 5 year weigh history of a Bmi over 40. So I did my 6 month of diet and excerice with tons of preop testing and even self paid for a psych eval and a EGD. We sent it to insurance and they denied me twice. My Bmi 5 years ago was a 39.8 not 40. I was so frustrated and upset. Then I told myself I'm going to get this surgery. I started looking into all the Mexican Doctors and places to have it done. My family was scared for me to go down there even though I did end up finding a good doctor there. I then came up with the idea of working full time instead of part time so that I could pick up Mercy insurance. So I did that and resubmitted to insurance they only require a 3 yr weight history. They said YES in one day. I still can't believe it's finally happening and Dr Roller was able to squeeze me in the year so I don't have to repay my deductible. My surgery date is Dec 28th. So for everyone starting out on the journey. Don't give up if you want something bad enough you can always find a way. I am starting at 236lbs and I am 5"2 P.S. "Time For A New Me"is what my name stands for.

well i dont live in the area but I know I saw your post and wanted to respond I got banded on Aug 21st of 08 and have only lost 14 lbs so far but with my pre op I am around a 30 lb weight loss so far. I have experienced the hunger pains and I am still in the no real food stage or at least no solids so I defenitely feel your pain, some things I do to keep my mind off the hunger and to quiet it down a bit is drink water or chocolate soy milk mainly just put liquids in and that tends to help out I also just try to keep myself busy hoping I dont realize how hungry I am. Good luck I know its not exactly what ya were looking for for an answer but I just wanted to drop ya a line let ya know dont get discouraged and 40lbs is alot so keep up the good work and focus on how much weight you have lost so far without the lap band ya probably wouldnt have lost so much. So keep working out at the gym and loesing that weight you seem to be doing a geat job so far

Tomorrow is my big day!! Six months of supervised weight loss, and now - I'm on the last day of my pre-op diet!! I amazed myself with how much weight I've lost pre-op - 30 lbs, and am ready for surgery tomorrow! Tonight after work, I'll pack for the hospital, and hopefully get the call to let me know what time my surgery is! I'm praying it will be early!! A big thank you to everyone on this board that has helped me along the way! For those of you just starting out and are doing your research - this board is the best place to be! Everyone is so helpful, and will always offer you good advice! They did for me! Just wanted to give a shout out to everyone who's got a date with their surgeon tomorrow - the best of luck with your surgery!! And I'm wishing you all a speedy recovery!! Move over everyone! Because the July 2 Sleevers are about to join you on the loser's bench!!! Woo-hoo!!!

I have had a band for four years and have been unintentionally bullemic and fat, a horrible combination. Everything moved so quickly. Recently, I called a doctor who is assocaited with Barix (the weight loss hospital) which is 3 hours from me, but he has an office that is about 90 minutes from me. The receptionist asked me if I could be there by 3pm that day and I got in the car and went there. He did a seminar with one other girl. Later, I had a regular appointment and he removed all of the Fluid from my band which he said must have slipped. I was scheduled to have a total hip replacement revision done by a tandem team in Grayling, MI (which is a medium-size hospital) and while the surgeons were working on the other patients, talked themselves out of doing mine, Just as I was ready to leave, the hospital called and said my surgery was cancelled and that my otho surgeon would call the neext day. He did and said that it had to be done in a major hospital because it is a real tricky surgery and he felt unsafe doing it at the smaller place. So, I have an appointment with the ortho surgeon in Traverse City, MI on 1/8 which I have to cancel today. I was already cleared for surgery by all of my -ologists (I have a big cardiac history), so they immediately cleared me for the band removal and RNY. Insurance approval was immediate and surgery was scehduled for 2/25/13. I got a cal the other day telling me there was a cancellation and that my surgey date was now 1/4/13, with my pre-op on 12/26/12!!! :wub: I am sure everything will go fine for you. I also worked in the medoical profession and did go to nursing school many years ago and my daughter is also a nurse. I have been reading the post-op threads to see what pains are normal and what are not, also complications and what I can do to avoid some of the pitfalls. I am certainly hoping that they can do mine in one procedure. Take care! Lynn

It is wonderful to see you "taking the bull by the horns" at a younger age. Most of us on here have struggled most of our adult lives with weight and all the issues that go along. I just became a grandmother for the first time and it really put things in prospective for me. I want to be able to run and play, go camping and work around the house and garden with my hubby etc... I am plan on being sleeved during Christmas this year, as I am a teacher. Best wishes sweetie!

Hi everyone, I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement -- I have an appt with my surgeon on Thurs. and I have to make up my mind once and for all that having the surgery is the right choice for me. I have struggled with my weight my whole life but have been obese for the last 20 years. I have been successful a few times with losing a large amount of weight but I have never been able to keep it off longterm. Then of course when I gained it back I always gained a few extra pounds to go with the ones I had lost! I have recently reached my highest weight again and have to do something to get going in the right direction again. I have been having a hard time getting started again -- I think because I can't imagine it being a permanent loss and I don't want to be disappointed again. I believe that the band could make the difference - but it is a little scary to me. Any advice would be appreciated!!

My name is Jenn and I'm 30 years old. I'm 5'1" and I weigh 226lbs. I'm scheduled for the sleeve on Feb 9th at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ. I wasn't always overweight, but I have been for about the past 10 years. When I started college it was easier to stop at fast food places in between classes than it was to go home and eat. I didn't think it would be a problem as I never really had a problem being overweight. WRONG! I didn't know that I had an underlying thyroid condition until I really started gaining. Once I got my thyroid levels under control I thought that it would be easy to take the weight off...WRONG again! The past few years have been the worst with my weight. I've tried WW, low carb, low fat, counting calories, meds, and I even went to the Center for Medical Weight Loss. I was always able to lose the weight, but I'd be killing myself in the process. I'd wake up really early to exercise and follow the diets and by the time work was over I was ready to crash. I felt like I had to work 10x as ha d to lose half the weight a normal person would lose. I started thinking about WLS and was going to get the band, but then my sister who is a nurse came to a seminar with me. She said that if she was going to do surgery she would do the sleeve. I began doing more research and decided this was best for me. I had my first consult on Dec 11th. I've done all my required things for ins and was approved on Jan 6th. I have to do pre-admission testing within the next week or two. I'm scheduled for Feb 9th and I can't wait to get my life back! I have the best support system. My mom is excited for me, my boyfriend although very nervous couldn't be more supportive, and people who I thought would be negative surprisingly weren't. That definitely made this wait til surgery even easier.

So I have attained my 1st NSV:) One of the things that happened when I hit my ultimate low and made the decision to get my lap band was when my wedding ring wouldn't fit:( I had to have my ring enlarged a few years back and at that time it was no big deal. But to have to do it again was really disheartening. I am 2 weeks post op and I have lost enough weight and water weight that my ring comfortably fits again. This is so motivational. It was hard when my husband asked why I wasn't wearing my band and I told him it was cutting off the circulation in my finger. I think this was the point when he realized how much I was struggling too. Oh well that is in the past. The ring fits now and I hope the next thing I have to do is get it made smaller.

Hello Fellow Sleevers, It's been a while since I have been active on the website and it's really good to be here :-) Life is progressing well even though I've had a few stressful moments (like the possibility of job redundancy - which didn't happen this time!) I have stayed positive, calm and faithful to my Higher Power in the knowledge that these will get me through anything and food won't!!! Of course, losing weight and being in less discomfort and pain has had a massive impact on my life; I have the energy to walk at least 10,000 steps every day, I Zumba, swim, use the gym and am starting to feel ready to start running. Most days I want to jump for joy at how good I feel and this is what I call living on Positivity Street. Taking care of myself means looking after number 1 and so my new address is: 1, Positivity Street. It also means I'm finding neighbours who live on the same street mentally/emotionally because this is my new location having moved out of Depression Drive. Sadly, I have said sad goodbyes to those who still live there but I hope they will move to the sunny side of town someday soon. I haven't turned my back on the loved ones who see life with a dark cloud over them, but in order to keep progressing in health and life, I have to move on and be with those who are in the same space as myself, because it is these people (many of whom are on this site) who will keep me motivated and inspired. It is important to be optimistic, focussed, courageous and determined. It is these things which keep us kind as human beings because we can support others positively as they move forward as well. Yes, I have let go of some people because I choose not to indulge in negative behaviours like gossiping and bitching, seeing the world as doomed etc. To me the world is just opening up because I have chosen to come out and see it. Walking has given me the opportunity to see nature, colours and even in the city where I live I've come to appreciate the beauty of the Thames and all the wonderful London architecture and art which surrounds me. I am no longer afraid to live in world: it's still a great place and number 1 Positivity Street offers a fantastic view of it!

Welcome Paul, My husband was not to excited about me having the surgery! He is thin and always been thin. When he was a kid he tells me the story how his Mom stood on the porch and made him run around the block. I don't think he had the chance to be fat. But his metabolism is just right, he eats alot and never exercises! He is one of those people over weight people envy. But after we went through the process, he had to watch an on line video, Emmie series, which my surgeon required. He learned a lot and went to the orientations and meetings with me. I was afraid to much info may have been a bad thing for him. But he was interested and became very supportive. I believe the surgery part of maybe something happening to me was his biggest fear. Now he calls me " Queen of Lap Band!". When I was in surgery, he ventured to the education area of the hospital where there was another orientation to possible new patients and he joined in. I thought that was funny, maybe he was bored! Good luck with your process. I have been banded now for a month. I am on all food. I am discouraged that the weight loss has slowed down and that I need a fill! My appointment is not until July 31. But I am trying to learn each day about it. I am sure there is a July band thread, that will be most helpful, but read the June thread too, because you can learn from what those stages ahead too. I read May's and it is helpful. Take care.

Kat, Thanks for responding. I am kind of new to navigating in a sight like this. Well after a year of investigating I am looking forward to it I think. I am about 80 lbs over weight. Because of an auto accident four years ago, not only has the weight kept coming, I have not been able to control it. High blood pressure, apnea, and a few other complications has required me to go this direction. My wife thought about joining me in doing it, she is now nervous about the side affects concerned she would have things begining to sag. So I am on my own.

Hi Stephanie, I'm glad there are more and more people from our area on here. I live in Clay, not even a mile from the Publix so we are pretty close. Congradulations on the weight loss! Monica

Hey Jules I was banded on 09/04/08 & I know exactly how you feel. My days go good if I can get down 1 - 16.9 oz bottle water & maybe 1 jello cup. I have no appetite at all, but I will tell you my body sure can tell. I feel so drained & have no energy at all. I have my post opt-visit tomorrow & hope I don't get fussed at by the dr. Well I hope your days go better & if not just think this is a great way to boost your weight loss!:omg_smile: