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@@MNovalis I don't think this will effect your approval. Don't gain anything - that could jeopardize you even more.

Good afternoon, Usually as long as your bmi doesn't lower, the insurance company wants to see that loss of weight. Losing weight shows that you are trying. As the gentlemen stated above, you still may want to speak to your bariatric team or nurse just to make sure. Sent from my SM-G360P using the BariatricPal App

It is to true that old habits die hard. It doesn't seem to matter how long ago you put them away, you thought for good, they will still on occassion rear their ugly head. If we are not on the look out for them, it is very easy to fall prey. This weekend, the hubs and I hosted my mom's 65 birthday party. I had about 35 people at my house. While it was an awesome night and every one had fun, I realized that I screwed up. Our menu was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, sides were: chips, tater salad, cole slaw, baked beans, mac and cheese. I thought ahead enough to know I couldn't do the bread, so that was fine, I bought skinless hot dogs so I could have one with a little slaw on the side. I did good in the fact that I avoid the chips, mac and cheese, and tater salad. I had a small spoon of baked beans. I was having a great time. I ate slowly- no stuck problems. Then it was dessert time. I had made a homemade apple cobbler and peach cobbler and had purchased a beautiful cake from BJ's. I also had ice cream to go with these. I ate a peice of cake and a spoon of ice cream on the side. Granted in days past I would have eaten double, maybe triple what I ate that night. But, I still over did it. My band is really loose right now and that makes it really easy to slip up. (My appointment is Thursday- yeah) But, I can't blame my band, it is me, my choice. But, honestly I wasn't even thinking. We had a ton of cake left and chips and burgers. I sent left overs home with my brothers being that one has 5 kids at home and the other has 3 at home. I did keep one small square of cake for me and my hubs to share- shouldn't have done that. Yesterday, I woke up with the mother of all migraines. I managed to stay up right long enough to feed the dogs and tell the hubs I was going back to bed. I stayed their till noon. I got up cleaned my house up from the party the night before and the head ache returned, I hit the couch. I hardly moved yesterday. Felt like crap. This morning I felt better- got up and hit the scale before heading out to work. 191.3- well the weekend certainly showing it's self. 3 lbs up for the lowest. I keep bouncing between 188 and 191 for the past 3 weeks. I know I can do better, I should do better, I want to do better- but I keep slipping up. At the moment I am like screw it I want this- then I feel aweful. Granted I don't slip to bad, but a slip is a slip and bad either way. I worry that I will never drop below this weight. Is this where I am destined to stay? Will I self-sabatage myself more? How do I get back on track and stay there? You may say, well you have to do it, you have to want it. I do want it and I know I have to do it- but it is not easy, WLS is NOT the easy way out.

To be safe, go to your PCP and have them document that you are starting a six month physician supervised diet. Then each month go back and make sure they do all of your vitals, weight and put they it is for the six month diet. That is all my doctor has been doing. I never got a form for them to fill out. I believe you can do anything to lose weight as long as your doctor documents what you are doing. If in the mean time someone calls you from your insurance then great, if not then you already started and you haven't wasted time. Though I would call and ask them again what the details of their program is. If you don't get an answer you like ask for it in writing or call back. I seem to get different answers each time I call because they are too lazy to look it up. Good Luck!

My name is Heather. I am 33 years old and have decided to have the LAP-BAND® procedure after a very frightening diagnosis of an ischemic stroke in the early part of summer. While the only effect of the stroke is a weakened left eye muscle, it scared me straight. I also have a co-morbidity's of high cholesterol (possibly high BP), migraines and some mild depression in the past. I am 5ft 9in. I have been on every diet imaginable and well we all know the outcome... Wonderful losses at first, then big gains! Woohoo!! NOT! Anyway, I am currently 249.6 pounds (10/26/09) and hell bent and determined never to make the 250 mark! (Pipe dream, I know!) I had my first appointment with Dr. Wilfred Aguila in Tampa, Florida on (10/26/09) and have my psych evaluation December 1st to find out how crazy I really am! I met with the nutritionist on Nov 12th, and then the packet of information goes off to my insurance company, (Humana). Then my surgery date.. target date is 1st or 2nd week in January 2010. I am excited and really ready to take care of ME!!! but I can't do it alone! ME3.... ME, My doctors, and YOU! :thumbup: Very much love and wishes of success to all. Heather

i have a surgery date of may 27th at mather hospital in port jefferson. started my pre-surgical (3 Protein drinks, 2 Snacks, 1 high protein meal) today. i've struggled with weight all my life, and while i'm a little apprehensive, i'm excited i've made the decision to go ahead with the surgery. i'm so happy i found this forum! suse

I struggled my first month during my medically supervised diet (required for 6 months per my insurance). My head just wasn't in it - to me, it felt like yet another attempt to lose weight that I was just going to fail. BUT then I realized this is the time to get my act together because this time I will.not.fail. There's a light at the end of this yo-yo dieting tunnel and I'll soon have the tool I need to help me be truly successful. With the mindset shift, I was able to make a couple of changes that have really helped and I've been steadily losing since then. I started swapping out one meal a day with a Protein shake or Protein Bar (paired with some veggies or something small). That change led to other changes (better eating/better choices) and a few weeks later I seemed to break out of the cycle of constantly craving crap food. I hope you find something similar. Good luck!

Thank you so much guys! I am very excited for my appointment on the 19th and will definitely keep everyone posted. I am worried about my insurance approval right now... hopefully i have enough documentation to prove that i have tried.. AND I HAVE TRIED! I have tried just about everything!!! I currently have 2 gym memberships WW membership and i am still enrolled with Medi weight loss. I have spent sooo much money on losing weight in the past decade, it is MIND BLOWING!!! Thank you all for responding to my post... I definitely need the positive feedback from everyone that has been through this!

So i have recently been thinking about getting the gastric sleeve. My therapist is actually the one that recommended it to me. Just a little background, I am 5'4" currently 278 lbs ( i have recently gained a lot of weight after a breakup) I have hypothyroidism, and depression... currently on meds for both. I have an appt with the surgeon on Dec 19th, and there is a seminar on 12/9 that the receptionist said i should attend. I have Cigna insurance, i called and they do cover the surgery. I have been on and off WW for 4 years, in 2010 i lost 40lbs i cancelled for about a year, and then rejoined in August, but haven't been consistent with going to meetings or weighing in. I also did Medi Weight-Loss this year i signed up for 3 months, and went regularly for 2. I have all of the paperwork... and all of my bank statements. I have a question about the insurance would that be enough to show that i have tried? I have also done the skinny rules (bob harper's book) atkins, south beach, starvation, and every other diet known to man. My will power is great... but i can't seem to get below 215lbs. I am an emotional eater, i have been working on this for a long time... there is a lot of fear with giving up food, and there is a lot of guilt and shame around it. Anyway, i was wondering what you all did for your insurance requirements and how you deal with the emotional eating, before and after surgery? Thank you!

I mourned everything I could get my hands on....I gained about 6 pounds in a month and a half doing it and IT FELT GOOD!!! I am doing my Pre op diet way early. My date is set at 7/11 and I started my diet 6/17. It has not been traumatic at all however I am doing a diet called Sugar Busters and basically I eat eggs, salad, chicken, whole wheat grains and fruit. I like the diet way more than I think I would have like doing a liquid diet before the surgery. Tomorrow at work they are having Olive Garden lasagna....I am a HUGE ( no pun intended) carb o haulic so tomorrow it really going to test my strength and will power!!!! I just needed to tell somebody that...thanks for listening!!!

For me the depression would come and go. While I was losing I was on top of the world but when you hit goal and don't have that natural 'high' I definitely suffered from food withdrawal. I decided to go to therapy and found that food was a coping mechanism that I had developed. I had always told myself that I just liked to eat too much but it was deeper than that. Honestly, I think therapy should be mandatory with any weight loss surgery as I think we can all benefit from it but that's just my opinion. Just know you are not alone and you can always get help.

5 lb ankle weights.

Well my hubby didn't support my decision about WLS & still doesn't after it's done & over with. He is coming around to helping me out in toning my body. He has become my personal trainer. He has his own gym. If you think the biggest loser is tuff. You haven't seen anything yet LMFAO. He tells me in 6 months my arms will be great I won't need a arm lift. Let's see about that. He is also having me do this exercise for the chest. Somehow he thinks my boobs will lift it's self LMFAO.. I'm doing all the excercise so I don't say or he don't say I didn't try before having surgery. Some people are on board with you & others are not. Some friends if they are over weight they want you staying fat because you eat out together drink together just have a food buddy. If a person complains so much about there body why not do something about it? Even if she doesn't have surgery when you can exercise go to the gym together eat healthy food. She will lose weight as well. Both of you will feel better. You can have 2 bites of her food,and she can finish up the salad. Make it fun. Because you can't eat doesn't mean life is over. Everything is not about food. Heck I spend less money now since I can't have but 2-3 bites. Used to be 4 oh well...

I do not have any documented co morbidities, overall I am in good health and want to keep it that way. I have been seeing my mother face weight related health issues in the last year (she was overweight to obese my entire life with good overall health, but that is all changing and quickly). I began at a BMI of 42 and with some diet and lifestyle changes recomended by the dietitian/nutritionist have lost roughly 4lbs in a month which dropped me 1/2 a percentage point.

Hello. I'm new here. My surgery date is May 10th for the sleeve. I am now leaning towards bypass because I already suffer from bad reflux. I need real advice from the ppl who've "been there" to be able to make up my mind on which direction to go. Height 5'0, Current weight 208. TIA!

I too have Cigna through my husband's job. They have changed their rules and are allowing the Lap Band procedure, but you will have to wait 6 months going through a series of appoints for psychological testing, diet and nutrition. My beginning weight was 233 pounds, and it was a long wait, but as of today I am 1 week post op! I was advised to start losing weight and I did just that but very slowly. My last appointment when I had my EKG I weighed 218. When I went in to surgery I was down to 212, and at my post op appointment on Wednesday I was down to 209.5. I've lost all in all 23.5 pounds since May. Now I can really start losing the weight without worrying I'm losing it too fast for the Insurance Company. I didn't have to fight with the Insurance Company the Clinic I went through (True Results in Hurst, Texas) did that for me. I wish you luck on your journey!

Hello and congrats on the surgery and weight loss so far. I was wondering if you also had to go through a 6 month wait before surgery. I hear some talk of that and I was wondering. I am just getting started and have an appt with my primary dr next week. Thanks Tanya

Hello! I am new to this, and I don't really have anyone that I know who has had the surgery, or wanted to so I have so many questions and I'm hoping I can make some friends here who may be able to help! I started my diet on September 4th in preparation to see a see an obesity specialist --- I am in my pre-approval stage, I saw an obesity specialist on Oct. 2nd who took my weight and set me up with tons of testing, and information. She specializes in using methods other than surgery to help with extreme weight loss. I did not know that when ibsaw her, so I attended a bari-seminar and was assigned a patient advocate who told me the specialist I was working with does not recommend surgery for anyone - which is confusing bc she told me she thought it was a good option for me. Now she referred me to a family doctor and I am set to go see him this Friday Oct. 23 - My insurance calls for Three months of a medically supervised diet and I don't know what date to start from? Or even what the insurance calls for as far as a medically supervised diet? If I choose not to go with Jenny Craig or weight watchers, and just do the plan my Dr. and I agree on - does that count? Or do I have to see a nutritionist once a month too? I have an appointment with a nutritionist, but the dates will not line up exactly! I am so confused, and between the politics of the specialist, the patient advocate telling me that the diet starts the date the Dr puts in his notes and not to worry - I am worried and a little confused! Can anyone help?

I are a difference! Congrats on the weight loss.

@@auntiemel Oh my..lol Does not sound strange at all. Everyone experiences changes differently.. One funny pain I have experience post op was I carried weight around my neck. Now that its gone my neck muscles are sore from having to hold my head up. Wow your surgery date will be here before you know it. Wishing you well! Jenn

I went for my consultation with my surgeon Dr. Gary Korus at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia Pennsylvania went ok here are some stats about me: 22 Female Height: 5ft 9 inches Weight:325.8 The appointment consisted of a medical history, I got my height and weight taken, I met with the nurse practitioner, then the dietitian and she gave me a booklet about how to measure food intake and how much is a good amount to eat. I also got some of my tests done today I got my lab work done, an ekg done, and a xray of my chest done. I have to get sn ultrasound of my veins in my legs on May 4th. My psychological appointment has already been scheduled for July 20th. . now all I have to do is a sleep study and a abdominal ultrasound and do the last two weight management classes and I should be all set my surgeon told me that if I get all my testing done I should be getting surgery in the beginning of August CAN'T WAIT Sent from my SM-N910T using the BariatricPal App

Hello! So happy to have found this website. I am considering having WLS. Still deciding between the sleeve and bypass but more so sleeve. I am very nervous. I have struggled with weight my whole life. I have lost 70 pounds twice on my own and I am back up to 250. It's been hard. For the last 4 years I have been over 200. I went to the consultations and classes for WLS twice but never did. Now I feel desperate. I want my life back. I am 27 and I am extremely self conscious and insecure. I can't even look at myself in the mirror. I'm scared about heart conditions, strokes, and diabetes that run in my family. Even with all this despair the idea of permanent surgery scares me. I'm young and want to be able to indulge a little over the course of my life. I'm scared doing something permanent early in my life will effect it negatively. As crazy as that sounds. Can you all tell me about how it has effected your life and would you do it again?

Congrats on making it half way! I voted 10% - any weight loss with the band is worth celebrating because in many cases and with reasonable effort, its weight that will never come back.

I haven't had food dreams but I've had dreams where I'm wearing clothes from the early 90's (the last time I was a fairly normal size)! Funny thing is that I do still have them & I keep saying that I'm going to get into them one day when I do get sleeved & lose the weight! I have to say, it was nice to see me in the pretty (cocktail type) dress I wore for my 2nd wedding reception (got married in MI but lived in CA at the time, so had another party in CA after returning from my MI wedding.)

I too am a type 2 diabetic. My sugar was pretty well regulated with medication and insulin but found I was insulin resistant and gained 5 or more pounds per month for the past 18 months. I had RNY last Friday 26th April for the same reasons as you are. I have not had to take insulin since surgery and am on minimal meds right now. Sugar is higher than I hoped but they say that is to be expected at the beginning. Good luck to you.