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Mine isnt BCBS...it's BC CA PPO, but I wanted to point out that it changes fairly quickly. Here's from my BC site: Medical Policy Subject: Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity Policy #: SURG.00024 Current Effective Date: 11/13/2006 Status: Reviewed Last Review Date: 09/14/2006 Description/Scope Clinically severe obesity is a result of persistent and uncontrollable weight gain that constitutes a present or potential threat to life. There are a variety of surgical procedures intended for the treatment of clinically severe obesity. This policy addresses those procedures. Policy Statement Medically Necessary: Gastric bypass with a Roux Y procedure up to 150 cm, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (the Lap-Band® System), vertical banded gastroplasty, or biliopancreatic bypass with duodenal switch as a single surgery, is considered medically necessary for the treatment of clinically severe obesity for selected adults (18 years and older) who meet the following criteria: 1. BMI of 40 or greater, or BMI of 35 or greater with co-morbid conditions including, but not limited to, life threatening cardio-pulmonary problems (severe sleep apnea, Pickwickian syndrome and obesity related cardiomyopathy), severe diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease or hypertension. AND *Note: Individuals considering the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band®) procedure must meet the above minimum BMI requirement and, in addition, have a maximum BMI of less than 50.

I also feel exactly the same way that the person the posted the original message feels. I'm finding ways to eat more than I should. I also eat until it gets stuck and then once that feeling passes, I eat again. I know that I'm sabotaging myself, yet I don't know why I do. That is where my problem lies. I was seeing a counselor because I am addicted to food. Plus, I am an emotional eater. After a few months of seeing my counselor she told me that she thought I was strong enough to do it on my own. I don't think I am. I will probably call her to go and see her again. I appreciate all of the posts that everyone added. It has made me realize that me and only me can change my weight, and the lap-band alone isn't going to do it. I know deep down that I've always known that. I just don't understand why I choose to ignore it. You all have opened up my eyes to what I need to do. I've been sitting here reading all of the post and crying because everything you have said is 100% true. I guess I'm just really sad at myself because I've done this to myself. No one else is to blame for my weight gain and lack of weight loss. Just me! That's why I'm sad. Another reason I'm having a hard time with my band is because I have to pay for all of my fills out of pocket, and I just can't afford to do that right now. I've only had one fill since my surgery (oct. 30, 2008). My husband and I are struggling with money and so it's very difficult to get filled. I know that I need to do more on my own to help lose the weight, but having a fill would definitely help. Thanks again for all of the wonderful posts and I'm glad that I read all of them. It was like you all were talking to me, not just to the other person. Thanks again. I hope I can do better from here on out. Wish me luck! :redface:

Well, I had a fill today post op after my port had flipped and I had corrective surgery on May 10th. I went for a follow up today. I gained two pounds! The doctor took one look at me and he said I had a fluid build up. He drained almost 16 oz of fluid out of me! Anyway, he said he gave me a fill during my surgery and I said I felt nothing, he decided to give me another fill today. Anyway, I was only able to hold down 1 Cup of food before I felt like I would start regurgitating. It was a good feel, not a restrictive feel but enough to let me know I'd had enough. My doctor is very conservative on fills and this time I think he hit the green zone because I'm comfortable and feel good that I can stop eating when I feel full. Before the band I would have eaten everything on my plate. Hopefully, a loss will show up on the scale. The doctor said that the fluid build up post op was a contributing factor in my weight gain of two pounds. A gain is a gain so I have to log that down and remind. Myself not to get discouraged.

What they told you about the BCBS PPO approach is true. You have to be on a six month medically supervised diet before the surgery. You might lose weight, not lose weight, gain weight...there is no requirement other than the surgeon's office being able to say that you were on "a six month medically supervised diet". Then BCBS of Illinois will pay for the surgery. I don't want to wait six months and having any of the surgeries (lap band, gastric sleeve plication or gastric bypass) are less than half the cost in the Mexican hospitals. Plus, the Mexican doctors have more experience with the procedures. They have all done more and have been doing them longer. That is why I decided to go to Mexico and to pay for the surgery myself. Clinic in Chicago wanted $13K for the lapband vs. 4995 in Hospital Angeles Tijuana. They don't even offer the gastric plication surgery here yet. So, I am off to Mexico for surgery at the end of the month. I should be 60 pounds thinner before BCBS would even let me do anything.

No he said it can just happen and can also runs in family but they notice the weight gain and the test shows the dilated pouch. So i have to watch what I eat and how often I eat and consider working out a bit won't hurt he said.

I've had the same thing happen to me. I'm finally done. Hallelujah. It has taken me a total of 14 months to get approved. I have Graves' disease. I had to have my thyroid removed, which has caused additional weight gain in trying to regulate the replacement hormone. It has been a very long process, however, in finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Now I'm waiting for the surgery coordinator to get with me on a surgery date. More waiting. Being on this app/website has been eye opening. I didn't realize that after the weight loss that it is going to a major struggle to keep the weight off. I'm doing this because I'm tired of struggling. I just hope that it is a REAL success for me. I am committed 100% I'm just scared at this point that I may be a failure and I don't want that.

I use the depo shot. I love it. Go in every 3 months, for 15 mins and you are done. I haven't noticed any weight gain and I don't get periods anymore. I would recommend it but check with your Dr.

I'm delighted you are having success. Having gained back 13 pounds since band removal, I often wonder if I should have considered converting. But, I was just too damn scared after two slips. The "reversible" factor was very important to me. Plus, I had such terrible reflux as a result of my slippage, I would be too nervous (and my surgeon probably would be too) of future problems. Just to end on a positive note, I am exercising more and starting to eat better, so I've stopped the weight gain in its tracks and actually taken off a few pounds. I hope your journey continues to be successful, Anthony. God bless. Elizabeth

I am back to enjoying myself! I know that my weight loss is under my control! Before lapband, I would try to lose and get bored and gain whatever I lost back. Now, I know, that even any weight gain or loss is within my control! Karen

Long...I know where you are coming from on the getting your head set to match where you body is. 15 yrs ago I was a size 8. I could walk into a shop and pick anything off the rack and not even try it on. That all changed in a hurry when I packed on pound after pound. I guess through the weight gain I kept remembering what it was like to be slim and feel great (healthwise). Over the years I just kept wanting that back. I never want to feel that overwhelmed and rueful again. Hopefully the band will always be there for me. I know it is work with the band but just certain food issues are gone with me. I never felt like the rug was pulled out from under me when I got the band. I don't miss any certain foods. I do a lot of cooking and baking. (We are farmers and I feed a number of guys every day). I never seem to crave anything, even when I am cooking and serving the guys. The band has done that for me. I understand where you are coming from on never looking back. The only reason I will ever look back is to remind myself that I never want to be there again. You are really dropping the weight in the last couple of weeks. Hope you are feeling well.

I was banded 2006, repaired a broken tubing 2009, leaking again so im converting next week- - no weight gain to convert. I am a 24-25 BMI, Im self pay so insurance is not dictating the decision. My surgeon is converting since Im a band success but I am tired of mechanical failure. I dont trust myself to maintain the lifestyle and portion control, I need the mental sitter of the band or sleeve. 5-7K every three years for band repair is getting old so Im converting and hoping to be done with surgery for weight loss. I want the "irreversible last surgery" and to never have to see my weight loss surgeon again. I completely get the need for emotional control and the desire for the sleeve.

I truly can’t pin point one thing, but growing up as a child, it was any & everything for me: sweets (ice cream/cake), carbs (bread/potatoes) & soda (the infamous Mountain Dew & root beer) my weight gain began as a very young child, my family didn’t have a lot, but we always had food. And cheap food was/is the worst food. Our Friday’s/Saturday’s were always for eating out for dinner & looked forward to my happy meal’s. I don’t blame my parents really because they did what they had to do. I blame myself as a young adult because I could have changed my mindset

Surely though with the small amount of pizza and Chinese you say you have had would not result in weight gain ? Just my view .

Hi All It has been a long time since I have been here. I have lost a lot of weight and now I'm trying to keep it off. my band was to tight my doc took out 2cc and I started to eat like I didn't have a band gained 10lbs in one month trying to get back on track. When the band was to tight I couldn't eat hard foods and eat a lot of soft or ice cream and this went on for 5 months before I told the doc because I didn't want to be unfilled I lost 40lbs doing this it was not good weight lost and now for the first time since getting the band I have weight gain I'm trying not to think about it just get back on track but it is hard to stop eating the way I was when I was tight. The doc will only put back a little at a time so now I can eat and not feel full. I should have good eating habits after 2 years but I don't I now must write down what I eat and no more sweets. Thanks for listening I'm still down 150lbs and I want to keep it off. I was banded 01/07/08

that's great ur doing good after breast reduction. I agree with u on the HCG diet, I don't think anyone should do it unless they are totally commited, it's very strict and any wavering from the diet can cause weight gain. It took me a lot of research and an article I read is what convinced me to try it. It wasn't the article itself, it was a negative article but it was all th comments after the article. Hundreds and hundreds of comments disputing the article. It convinced me to just try it. The first 10 days were he'll, lots of carb withdrawals, but then it got so easy. There us no way I can do it over the next few months because of all the traveling we are doing, so I have ended it and now on a maintenance phase. I am really restricted now too, I am finally to a sweet spot - I love it! Tonight we went out for Mexican and I could only eat about 1/3 or less of my meal. I got very full fast. My band will keep me from over eating during the next few months while I'm doing the maintenance phase. Now I must get back to my exercise routine and hit it hard!

you will do great! I didnt have to stop taking any meds so i don't know from personal experience about the weight gain. as for the new years challenge I'm offically down 20lbs so im going to set a smaller seccond goal of another 10lbs.

Absolutely not if I dont eat right and workout the weight gain begins so no it was tool to help me start myjourney!

Sorry just seen this now. Yes they were happy with the weight gain. Month 9 I did gain another 8 pounds (my appetite went crazy) so 15 pounds total. Baby was 7 pounds healthy and perfect! By 2 weeks post partum my weight went back to pre pregnancy weight. But then the holidays came and I did gain about 10 pounds, so I would just say be careful after you give birth and try to continue healthy eating habits.

I am miserable! My band slipped about 7 or 8 months ago and Dr Billy took all the fill out. I have MINOR restriction and the weight is returning with record speed!!!! I am so depressed about the weight gain. I had gotten to the point where I felt so good about my body. I wore a bikini and looked good. Dr Lopez did my original surgery (I know this comes as no surprise to anyone) and when I tried to contact him.....guess what???? He won't return my calls. I finally got an email from his assistant saying that they could revise my surgery for an additional $4,000.00. So here I am.... 1. No insurance. 2. NO MONEY! 3. Dr Lopez won't fix his mistake (although I realized this going into it) 4. A non working band 5. A fat body that depresses me. If it weren't for the amazing Dr. billy....I would have jumped off the Ventura Pier long ago. Dr Billy wants to help me but without insurance, what's a girl to do? P.S I was an excellent bandster and I followed all the rules. I would take it extremely personally if someone tried to blame my silp on me. Christine

Reading this has honestly lifted such a weight off of my shoulders because THIS WAS ME forever. I eat right avoid carbs, exercise , rarely go over 1000 cals a day _ pre op_ and I would never lose weight. Maybe the first week on a new diet Id drop 10 lbs and then NADA. At one point I worked out three hours a day and ate 900 cals a day and even after weeks I still would not lose weight and Drs and folks assume Im just pigging out on three pizzas and a gallon a soda a night. All I ever drank was water or coffee. I even went down to OMAD and I think because it affected my insulin levels it allowed me to lose 18lbs but then again- Stall no matter what I did. I have hypothyroidism, PCOS and endometriosis which means I also have too much estrogen and i always had this sense that that is why I never lost weight when i barely eat. I can relate to this thread so much and it is giving me hope that this surgery is going to work for me because going through all of this for it not to is beyond anything I can bear... I wish Drs would research more how hormones and PCOS and weight gain and inability to lose weight are all interrelated. Here is wishing us all luck that this works for us.

I feel sad for you losing your lifelong friend. I have been on both sides of this coin. I have one friend who lost 200+ pounds, by cutting out all carbs. Every single time we ran in to people we knew, she had to go through the story of the weight loss transformation..... All the while my 327 pound self stood there to hear it yet again. I WAS JEALOUS..... Didn't want to be, but I was. But, nonetheless, I was supportive and encouraged her all the way. I mean, she is my friend. That's what friends do....... Now, I've lost a little over 100 pounds and I was worried about my relationship with my two BEST friends who are overweight. One of them has joined the gym with me and has been by my side on a daily basis. She is doing fabulous as well bc of all the exercise. The other friend stated out loud that she is jealous, but she can handle it too. So, I am lucky. The three of us have been like sisters since elementary school ( and we are 53)..... So a very long time. We have supported each other when one of us is down and we gave been the rock for each other when there have been deaths in the families, and we are true friends..... No weight gain or weight loss could break that friendship. It just makes me think that your friend is perhaps weak. She doesn't know how to be supportive and happy for you. She doesn't know how to work through the jealousy. Sorry for your loss of your friend.

I mean we all have things that attract us to someone and stuff that does not attract us. Would you expect someone who really isnt attracted to their significant other to fake it? 3 years tho is a long time to not really show any intimate affection. i would be having a discussion probably within the first few months. me personally i know what i am attracted to and what i am not attracted to. and i have been told by a girlfriend before that they are not attracted to me anymore due to my weight gain. but the good thing is they told me. but still the original poster its a bit messed up for being married that long and only now showing interest when you are loosing some weight.

I don't drink carbonated drinks at all. Nor do I drink beverages that contain artificial sweeteners as they lead to weight gain (based on results from many scientific studies) and the chemicals have no nutritional value.

Cindi - So happy you popped in! You hit the nail on the head, the band is the one that continues to work, its "ME" that quits working with the band. I find that I eat more junk when I get comfortable and the weight creeps back on! I am the one that causes the weight gain, not the band. So good that you are still exercising. I'm become lazy lately at that. I know I need to get back into the groove, I set my alarm this morning to get up, but just couldn't do it. I will be going tonite! Keep posting, we miss u!

I found this article on another WLS site. It's old but makes sense: By: Cynthia Buffington, Ph.D Did you drink carbonated soft drinks prior to your Bariatric surgery? Do you still consume carbonated soft drinks? Were you advised by your surgeon or his/her nutritional staff NOT to drink carbonated drinks after surgery? Do you understand why drinking carbonated beverages, even if sugar-free, could jeopardize your weight loss success and, perhaps even your health? A carbonated beverage is an effervescent drink that releases carbon dioxide under conditions of normal atmospheric pressure. Carbonated drinks include most soft drinks, champagne, beer, and seltzer water. If you consume a soft drink or other carbonated beverage while eating, the carbonation forces food through he stomach pouch, reducing the time food remains in the pouch. The less time food remains in your stomach pouch, the less satiety (feelings of fullness) you experience, enabling you to eat more with increased risk for weight gain. The gas released from a carbonated beverage mat "stretch" your stomach pouch. Food forced through the pouch by the carbonation could also significantly enlarge the size of your stoma (the opening between the stomach pouch and intestines of patients who have had a gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion). An enlarged pouch or stoma would allow you to eat larger amounts of food at any one setting. In this way, consuming carbonated beverages, even if the drinks are diet or calorie free, may cause weight gain or interfere with maximal weight loss success. Soft drinks may also cause weight gain by reducing the absorption of dietary calcium. Dietary calcium helps to stimulate fat breakdown and reduce its uptake into adipose tissue. Epidemiological and clinical studies have found a close association between obesity and low dietary calcium intake. Recent studies have found that maintaining sufficient amounts of dietary calcium helps to induce weight loss or prevent weight gain following diet. The high caffeine in carbonated sodas is one way that drinking carbonated soft drinks may reduce the absorption of calcium into the body. Studies have found that caffeine increases urinary calcium content, meaning that high caffeine may interfere with the uptake of dietary calcium into the body. Keep in mind that one 12 oz. can of Mountain Dew has 50 mg of caffeine, and Pepsi and Coke (diet or those with sugar) contain 37 mg of caffeine each. Colas, such as Pepsi and Coke (diet or with sugar), may also cause calcium deficiencies from the high amounts of phosphoric acid that they contain. Phosphate binds to calcium and the bound calcium cannot be absorbed into the body. Both animal and human studies have found that phosphoric acid is associated with altered calcium homeostasis and low calcium. Drinking carbonated beverages may also reduce dietary calcium because these beverages replace milk and other nutrient-containing drinks or foods in the diet. Several studies report inverse (negative) relationships between carbonated beverage usage and the amount of milk (particularly children) consume. Carbonated beverages, then, may reduce dietary calcium because of their high caffeine or phosphoric acid content or because drinking such beverages tends to reduce the consumption of calcium-containing foods and beverages. Such deficiencies in dietary calcium intake may be even more pronounced in Bariatric surgical patients. Calcium deficiencies with Bariatric surgery have been reported following gastric restrictive and/or malabsorptive procedures. The reduced amounts of calcium with bariatric surgery may occur as a result of low nutrient intake, low levels of vitamin D, or, for patients who have had gastric bypass pr the biliopancreatic diversion (with or without the duodenal switch), from bypass of the portion of the gut where active absorption of calcium normally occurs. Drinking carbonated beverages may further increase the risk for dietary calcium deficiencies and, in this way, hinder maximal weight loss success. For all the reasons described above, including calcium deficits, reduced satiety, enlargement of pouch or stoma, drinking carbonated beverages, even those that are sugar-free, could lead to weight gain. Carbonated beverages that contain sugar, however, pose a substantially greater threat to the Bariatric patient in terms of weight loss and weight loss maintenance with surgery. Sugar-containing soft drinks have a relatively high glycemic index, meaning that blood sugar levels readily increase with their consumption. The rapid rise in blood sugar, in turn, increases the production of the hormone, insulin. , that acts to drive sugar into tissues where it is metabolized or processed for storage. High insulin levels, however, also contribute to fat accumulation, driving fat into the fat storage depots and inhibiting the breakdown of fat. Soft drinks with sugar are also high in calories. An average 12 oz. soft drink contains 10 teaspoons of refined sugar (40g). The typical 12-oz. can of soda contains 150 calories (Coke = 140 calories; Pepsi = 150; Dr. Pepper = 160; orange soda = 180; 7-up = 140; etc.). Soft drinks are the fifth largest source of calories for adults, accounting for 5.6% of all calories that Americans consume. Among adolescents, soft drinks provide 8%- to 9% of calories. An extra 150 calories per day from a soft drink over the course of a year, is equivalent to nearly 16 pounds and that weight gain multiplied by a few years could equate to “morbid obesity”. In addition to the adverse effects that carbonated drinks have on weight loss or weight loss maintenance, carbonated beverages may also have adverse effects on health. Soda beverages and other carbonated drinks are acidic with a pH of 3.0 or less. Drinking these acidic beverages on an empty stomach in the absence of food, as Bariatric patients are required to do, can upset the fragile acid-alkaline balance of the gastric pouch and intestines and increase the risk for ulcers or even the risk for gastrointestinal adenomas (cancer). Soft drink usage has also been found to be associated with various other health problems. These include an increased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, bone fractures and reduced bone density, allergies, cancer, acid-peptic disease, dental carries, gingivitis, and more. Soft drinks may, in addition, increase the risk for oxidative stress. This condition is believed to contribute significantly to aging and to diseases associated with aging and obesity, i.e. diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, reduced immune function, hypertension, and more. From the above discussion, do you now have a little better understanding of why your Bariatric surgeon or Bariatric nutritionist advised you NOT to consume carbonated sodas after surgery? Your Bariatric surgeon and his/her staff want to see you achieve the best results possible from your surgery – both in terms of weight loss and health status – and so do YOU. Consider the consequences of drinking such beverages now that you understand more clearly why such drinks are “Bariatric taboo”.