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I will stay with both, but he will be the go to since quite frankly PCPs do not understand the needs of post bariatric patients as well as the surgeon does.

WASaBubble Butt.....yes I know about the policy having to be writtien to include it. Unfortunately they refuse to allow it. Four years ago when I started at the hospital we had BCBS and it was covered. Now we are forced to only have UHC and it is no longer covered. We thought that since they opened a bariatric unit that they would cover it. The hospital I work for is my no way in a position that they can not afford it. They are in the top of profits in this entire area. We have three hospitals and they just acquired another one. Not to include all the urgent cares and the surgery centers and the other satelite buildings they have and are building as we speak.

Ok I need some help here. I just got an e-mail rom my Bariatric Center here in Waco, Texas. it said that all looks good for me and my answer should be in either by Friday or Monday as to if I was approved for LapBanding. I was told to select a date for surgery, you bet I am a happy clam for sure, but I am still waiting for the approval. OK what kind of a liquid diet can I go on to help me lose a few pounds? The clinic said that they ahve not started any patients on a liquid diet but will be considering it in the future. I know about the Slim Fast been there and lost nothnig, I bought this stuff from Adkins called Advantage :confused:I think and well it lowered my blood sugar real quick, I am a type 2 diabetic, this was not good. I know all about Optifast but there is no place where I live that distributes this product. can someone please help me for I really need to do this for myself. Thanks Sharon sharrroc@aol.com

Cat, Welcome and congrats! One thing I will say is you may still be on pain meds at that point so you will not be able to drive. I would plan for the following week. Also, that will give you time if you have complications. I did and there was no way I could go back in two weeks. Also, I am Sr. HR person with my company and a lot of companies have medical leave options if you are not yet qualified for FMLA. I had mine at 6 months. I know you are excited to have your surgery but make sure you plan for complications and contingency plans if you maybe not reacting well to the surgery. I did not tell really anyone at work, not even my manager. However, she did see my return to work note from the bariatric center.

So my first appt doc told me to get flint stone complete chewable and now the bariatric coordinator is saying to order bariatric specific Vitamins... What do you use post op?

I would like to know if anyone has experienced IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) post Bariatric Surgery. I had the Sleeve Surgery in Oct 2013. When I transitioned to solid food, I started to have extreme abdominal pain. This condition has continued off and on since late December 2013. I ended up hospitalized in January 2014 because the pain of eating anything even water was so bad, I could not eat. I became dehydrated and was admitted to the hospital where they did "a million dollars worth of tests" (my own term) and found nothing wrong. These tests included blood tests, stool samples, a 2nd upper endoscopy, and an abdominal ultra sound. All were negative. I was released from the hospital after being rehydrated without any answers. After a while the pain went away, but two months ago it started again. I was given more tests: blood, stool, untra sound and again everything was OK. I decided to do my own research and IBS seems like the likely candidate. Has anyone else experience IBS post surgery?

Are you ill with symptoms you feel are band related, or do you just feel the band isn't helping you? Honestly I know the band isn't for everyone and as Nanook correctly said, it can be removed and many insurance companies will pay if there is a medical necessity. HOWEVER, may I ask if you have been getting adequate follow-up care? If you don't have a physician or surgeon who specializes in the band, but also don't have symptoms of erosion/slippage/etc, it's possible you just need an attitude adjustment and a band adjustment. I don't mean to negate your fears, just offer another opinion/side of things. The band requries aftercare, no doubt about that, and it sounds like you haven't really had that, at least for a while. Odds are you'll regain what you lost if you have it removed (sad but true) I don't "know" you, your story, your situation, so I don't mean to be presumptuous. But something convinced you 3 1/2 years ago, that the band was for you. Since then you lost your specialized care and any impetus to use the tool you have. Slips and erosion are possiblities but most of us don't go day to day fearing that. I know, though, my good doc is a phone call or a short car ride away. It's possible a good bariatric surgeon could help you. At the worst, a good bariatric surgeon can help you see if insurance will pay for your band removal.

Every bariatric program is different and the RD for the program will go by their program’s guidelines. Mine says it doesn’t count, as do many unfortunately. I can only intake about 3 ounces of anything in a 20 to 30 minute time frame and then I am full. I would be drinking 24 hours a day to get it all in, so I do what I can. I added soft protein this week tho, but still only get 3 ounces down of anything.

I have UMR insurance, I have been wanting to get the Gastric Sleeve for a while now. However I am not sure how to even start, where to turn or if I can get my insurance to cover it. I live in Idaho so they are not mandated to cover any bariatric surgeries. Does anyone have advise or know a way around it? Thanks in Advance

I found out I wouldn't "qualify" in the 10 minutes it took me to read my policy....it doesn't cover WLS for ANY reason. I was actually kind of relieved. No doctor visits, no support groups, no psych evaluation, no 3-6 month supervised diet, no piles of paperwork or whatever other hoops you have to jump through. Just focused on finding a great bariatric surgeon in Mexico, scheduled it and I was at home, recovering and losing weight before I would have even started the insurance scam ( I mean process)

Bariatric Advantage has good chewables too. I was taking the Flintstones and the nurse in my office said that ONE of the Bariatric Advantage multi's equals SIX Centrums. So, since I was taking Flinstones, I'm sure that number is a bit higher. So, I've switched, I take the Bariatric Advantage Multi's, Calcium and Chewable Iron, which I had feared would taste real bad, but it doesn't at all.

I had band to sleeve surgery in November. I had my band placed in 2005 and had nothing but problems. But the Dr. deflated the band about a month preop and did the removal and sleeve in the same surgery. It was a difficult surgery for me due to scar tissue from the band and from a previous open spleenectomy from years ago. I don't know about your insurance requirements but mine was horrible. They approved the surgery and after the fact told me there was a 25,000 cap per lifetime for bariatric care. I had a four day stay in the hospital due to complications which resulted in a 100,000 bill~ that I'm responsible for....

Hi All! Finally have a surgery date for 11/25, the day after Thanksgiving! I know I am prepared for this new journey! I have really been getting my mind and body prepared as best that I could. For anyone who went through the process or are going through the process, any advice? Anything to buy before hand? Bring to the hospital? Do in the weeks after? Thank you all so much! Also anybody have a date close to mine or the same date? Anyone in Boston who has been through the process?? I would love to meet other bariatric patients in the area.   Sent from my SM-G920T using the BariatricPal App

Yeah, Dr. Aceves will fix it, he's in Mexico on the Calexico border. LAP-BAND,laparoscopic banding,bariatric surgery,obesity Maybe just call the office and see if they use that thick stuff that is supposed to plug a leak. If you didn't have the fill under fluoro with contrast I wouldn't be jumping to a leak just yet. She might have missed your port.

I am in Arizona too. I did research online mainly and decided to go w/Scottsdale Bariatric Center. Dr. Robin Blackstone was my surgeon and she is one of the top bariatric surgeons in the country. SBC is a Center of Excellence and has a great reputation. All of their surgeries are done at the Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Hospital (which has a separate bariatric wing) or Piper Outpatient Center which is connected to the Hospital. I have been very happy w/their entire program and everyone I had appointments with there from Dr. Blackstone to the psychologists to the dieticians, to the insurance coordinators. If I had one gripe it is just that they are a very busy practice so many times appointments run late. But, everything else and awesome support groups really make up for it. They have support groups twice a month run by a psychologist. OK, I'm starting to sound like an infomericial. I would just recommend you at least attend their seminar because it is a great education in all of the available weightloss surgeries (they do lapband/realize, RNY, and the sleeve) and what you can expect from each one. Even if you don't decide to go w/them, the seminar is well worth the time. Here is their website: www.scottsdalebariatric.com

Hi Shauna. How exciting! You’re Bariatric Adventure started in January and it’s getting more thrilling. I was on cloud nine for awhile after my surgery. Welcome...and I hope it all goes great for you. 🌺

I'm completely off any chewable/gummy type vitamins; bariatric or otherwise. I didn't feel that any one of them was complete nutritionally. I went back on my old Twin Labs multivitamin in capsule form. They go down fine, and I feel so much better. Along with that, I take an extra 5,000 of D3, 5,000 of biotin, and 1500mg of calcium; 500mg 3 times per day. I was told that our bodies do not absorb any more than 500mg at a time, so taking anymore in one dose is a waste. I have a liquid Cal/Mag by Solgar that's strawberry flavored. If I'm not home, I carry the chocolate calcium sugar free chews from Costco. And lastly, I take sublingual B12 from GNC. As for protein, I no longer drink a shake on a daily basis, but when I do, it's Premier Protein ready made chocolate. But I do have a Quest protein bar daily, which adds about 20 grams of protein to my daily food intake. And.....it takes care of my sweet tooth :-)

Is United Healthcare really making you start the 6 months support group after you've already completed 6 months weight management? That's absolute crap! I have Cigna. I went with Cigna instead because I have had problems with UHC denying claims wrongly. Cigna started the requirement of 6 months support in March. I think perhaps prompted by my bitching because I couldn't access their ridiculous online program readily or even find where it was on the website as it wasn't even titled what the requirements listed out. They also added a requirement that a case manager is assigned to you when you call to inform them you are looking at bariatric surgery (I thought I had one because I had called so much...) Well, when my case manager told me about the 6 months I about fell out but the case manager than said immediately - no, no, no you don't have to do that. They started requiring it in March so if you started your 6 months weight management before March, they do not make you do that requirement nor do they require the online program. I just today got all the materials into Dr. Macik's office. This may not be the case with UHC but I imagine it is. I would suggest that you call your doctor's office and talk to them about it. I got the impression from Tiffany at Dr. Macik's office that UHC was the same way. Good luck. And, if UHC added yours on in March they can't legally bind you such a ridiculous requirement. That's making you wait an extra 6 months. It actually is intended I imagine to be done during your 6 months of physician-supervised weight management not to make you wait for the whole term of your year-long insurance -- because, I have always thought that bariatric surgery might not even be offered next year so I would do everything in your power to get it done before the end of the year.

Well, I just noticed that not only are you using Dr. Duncan--but you have SHBP as well! We have even more in common!! I was told by Pam at Duncan's office that I must contact UHC and be assigned to a bariatric nurse/case manager. Well, I did that immediately. The lady I spoke w/ promised me I would hear back from a nurse/case manager promptly. She asked what would be the best time for a nurse to call me--I gave her that information. Wouldn't you know it--the nurse calls me on Friday at the exact time I said I would NOT be available. Since then, I've called and called & get nothing but her voice mail--I've not received another call from her yet. I'm just slightly aggravated at that--but I'm trying to not let it get me down! Aleasha

He needs to have his band checked. Either make that 4 hour trip or find a new bariatric doc where you live now. In the meantime, putting a pillow under the mattress isn't enough. You'll need to put bricks under the bed supports at the head of the bed. if this night coughing IS due to reflux (and I'd bet it is) if not tended to could eventually lead to aspiration pneumonia. don't want to go there if you can avoid it. Get in to see a bariatric surgeon asap.

Welcome! I love that we have so many nurses here. YAY!!! I did a med-surg rotation earlier this semester that was on the bariatric floor at a hospital here in Tucson, and it COMPLETELY solidified in my mind that this was the right thing to do. As for the Protein shakes, don't buy the big containers of the powders until you find one you actually like. I go buy some at costco and they're tasty. (Can't remember the brand name, but they're premixed, in a white container that say "Protein" down the side.) I also bought a few Syntrex flavors that have been good so far. (Wild cherry, caribbean cooler, and Cappuccino.) I also bought myself some unjury chicken broth for my clear liquid stage post-op. (Can't tell you how it tastes yet...it's spendy and I don't want to have to buy more of it in case I REALLY like it. LOL) Good luck to you!

Any updates on how things are going for you? If you need a shoulder to cry on or anything else just ask. I'm pre surg myself, if I can't give you an answer I'm sure one of our veterans on Bariatric Pal can. At any rate welcome my friend. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi! I'm new to the site (and like so many others, excited that I found it) and have just started my lap-band journey. I'm still in the start stage, but have a meeting Tuesday with my local bariatric center. I've been battling my weight my whole life, but was able to keep it down (if you call 157 down) until I went to college, and met my husband. That was 11 years ago. And since then, we have both gained lots of weight. Once our son was born, five years ago, we decided to lose the weight as a team. We tried the South Beach, Atkins, and finally Weight Watchers. I was devastated when my DH seemed to have the pounds melt off him, and I seemed to put them on even though I stuck to the same diet and exercise routine he did. Now, it's up to me. I've always said that I wouldn't have surgery because I ate my way to the 300lbs and BMI of 50 I currently have. Then, my DH pointed out that our son always draws round people, instead of stick figures. That was it for me. I want to be a good example for him! And, everyone needs a little help once and a while, right? It'll still be up to me to lose the weight; the surgery is just a little nudge in the right direction. So, now I'm just counting down the days until my meeting. Yeah!

I wasn't approved due to credit issues, but you can apply at Plastic Surgery financing & Cosmetic Surgery Financing Nationwide. It was a very simple process to apply, you can do it on line in just a few minutes. Then they will contact you within the following days to let you know if you can be approved based on your own information or will offer to re-run your application if you can provide a co-signer who would be qualified. My friend got this information from a reputable LapBand clinic in the area where we live. They provide loans for all medical services-not just weight loss surgery. As for the coverage through your medical insurance.... it sounded like you had already been told that your plan doesn't cover it. If you have a benefit booklet you should look through the list of plan exclusions, or call Customer Service and they can tell you. If your plan excludes obesity treatment then regardless of medical necessity you will most likely not be approved. I worked in Customer Service for a BCBS plan for years and I was the one struggling with obesity myself having to tell people that it wouldn't be covered when they called crying... that was always hard. Only in the most extreme cases did I ever see them approve the surgery outside of the contract. Also, just because you're dealing with a BCBS plan doesn't mean that it will be covered because others are telling you that it was for them. These are independent licensee's of the BCBS Association and they all have their own rules, often times based on mandates required by the state where they are located. One thing you might consider is finding out which employers in your area cover bariatric surgery through their medical plan and seek employment with them... these will be larger groups that make their own medical benefits. Also, it seems like more and more insurance carriers are choosing not to flat out exclude obesity treatment, so you might also check around with insurance carriers, call customer service and ask if, as a general rule, their community groups and individual plans exclude obesity treatment.... if they don't exclude you could look into getting individual coverage or see if you could find an employer insured with them to work for. Be careful of waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.... and there will almost certainly be some requirements for proving you are worthy of getting coverage for the surgery. If you are with BCBS and you do get approved there is a chance that they will require you to go with a Blue Distinction provider. You can find out who the Blue Distinction providers in your area are by going to Blue Cross Blue Shield Association - Better knowledge for healthier lives. My own surgery is scheduled for Jan. 3, 2008. My employer covers it after proving medical necessity, but unfortunately the benefit is 50%. In my area it is pretty typical for the surgery to run around $16,000 and I had to do a lot of work on my credit before I could get the financing for the $8000 that I will have to pay. You might want to start on that first if you are going to try to get financing. Check out your credit report if you haven't already and make sure there aren't any surprises on there and make sure anything unpaid gets paid if possible. That will only be to your benefit. I was declined by surgery loans, and Wells Fargo before finally getting my credit report cleaned up and getting approved the middle of October (I started the process in July). I wish you luck!

I'm putting this post in the success forum . . . because that is what I consider it I just listed some clothes on eBay that are brand new and with tags that I cannot wear due to sleeve surgery. Here is a link for one sweater, and then you can look at my other items: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181628339848?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 If you win (and or "buy now") an item and mention that you found the auction on bariatric pal, I will pay shipping as a thank you. Here's to moving down a size!