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I'm approved I can't believe it went through so fast!! After 6 months of nutrition classes and another month of dealing with BS from my PCP all my paperwork was finally submitted to Cigna on Thursday afternoon. I got the call this morning that they received an approval!! My surgery date is March 16th!! YAY!! I can't wait to start my new life!!

We eat out all the time and the appetizer menu is my friend! My husband and I plan what we order bc, though he is thin, he has had a tendency to eat all his food and then all my leftovers so now I order smaller. I love my leftovers, as do my kids, but I order so much smaller since he started eating basically two entrees. He has gained about 20 lbs since my surgery! Now we are better about ordering. When we go out with people who don’t know I’ve had surgery and don’t want them to know, I pick enough at my plate that only one person has said something. I replied with, “I had a stomach bug a few days ago so I’m being super careful.” I love the chicken lettuce wraps at PF Chang’s and Cheesecake Factory. I still order my favorite HUGE beef burrito at the Mexican place and enjoy it over 3 days vs one sitting. I can only eat about a one to two inch piece for a meal so my kids love my leftover burrito too! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Some of us old bandsters are still around. We hide at times bc we have been through a lot of questions and answers in my opinion... ???????? my band. This year will be 9 years. I'm am compliant. And I do have liquid days ( thanks B-52) that help ... But very occasionally Happy and healthy. With a TT thrown in this year which helped me to lose my last 10 lbs I was aiming for... But willing to concede if needed.

Aw!!! I love sweet stories that end up happily! OP - Impressed at your skills in sifting through all the BS out there. I wish you the best and hope the creepers stay away!!!

You definitely don't want to deal with dehydration (often times that will send you back to the hospital), but just continue to drink what you can. Lots of little sips. Maybe set your timer for every 15-30 minutes...sip. Doesn't have to be just broth does it? Protein drinks, Crystal Light...? Cheer up pretty lady. This gets much easier and... you're never alone on LBT! I found a lot of folks on this site to be amazingly supportive and caring. ((little hug bc you're still sore. Ha))

I eat all the cheese I want as long as it is real cheese (no fake cheese BS like American or Provel) and it is full fat. Low fat cheese has carbs and more fillers. I like the extra then cheddar slices for my burgers. One slice is 50 calories and it adds just enough cheese. And I eat a lot cream cheese. I make low carb cream cheese pancakes and I have cream cheese as deserts/snacks.

I spoke to Bariatric Surgery Insurance Specialist today and she told me she was very familiar with Fed BC/BS. Her info to me was 35 BMI-40 with health related obesity issue such as diabetics II, sleep apnea. If 40+ considered morbidly obese so different criteria. She said I could come in they could see if I qualify (5 hr drive when roads are not snow covered). There is a 3 month surgery prep including 3month nutritionist/psych visit. I think I am borderline to being 35BMI/with possible diabetic II (runs in my family) with sleep apnea….but of course have to be tested. Another statement the office made to me is if I go to MX to have this procedure, that my BC/BS might cover me if I occur complications, esp if I was never approved. It started me to thinking…..what if????

Yay! I have BCBS Fed and it took about 8 days so don't get discouraged if it takes a little while!

One of the things we hear people who don't understand obesity of weight loss surgery say (or we are afraid to hear them say) is that it's "the easy way out." Pre-op I could list a whole bunch of reasons why this isn't the easy way out. Why it's actually really, really hard - just as hard, if not harder, than losing weight the traditional way. But now, admittedly only two months out, I'm not so sure. And that's a good thing! Now, I should preface this by saying that I realize many people have had complications and for many people every day or some days post-op are a struggle - I don't want to try and negate their lived experiences. But I do want to talk for a minute about my experience, which I suspect is more common than we admit. I have been obese or morbidly obese pretty much my whole life. I dieted and exercised, yada, yada, yada, but the weight always came back. We all know the drill or we wouldn't be here. But I am nothing if not pragmatic, so when I started doing research about WLS and about weight loss in general, and read the statistics for long-term success in people who hadn't had surgery (Spoiler Alert! They're low!), getting sleeved just seemed like a no-brainer. Two years of hoop-jumping later, I went into surgery. I was very well read on the subject, knew all the worst case scenarios to expect, knew what the recovery would look like, etc. But my surgery and recovery were super easy. I was on to purees almost right away. Soft solids by week two. Anything but raw veggies at week 4. Anything and everything at week 6. I have yet to be made sick by any food. I get in all my Water, Vitamins and 90g of Protein (on a vegetarian (almost vegan) diet!) every day without trouble. I was lifting heavy in the gym at week 5. My recovery has been stupendous! ...And easy. Now, I know I came into this with some one major advantage: I love, and always have loved, healthy food. Even before surgery, if given the choice between pizza Hut or a black bean and quinoa salad with avocado dressing, I'd say bring on the quinoa (all six servings of it). And now I have become one of those people who doesn't cheat. Ever. Not a single piece of chocolate or a taste of potatoes. But this hasn't been hard for me, because I didn't have to give up every food I love. In fact, I got to keep about 80% of them. My problem pre-sleeve was really volume, which now is no problem at all. But even so, I gotta say, looking back at the last two and half months (if we include the pre-op diet), this has been easy-peasy. Way easier than starving myself and being so effing hungry all the time. Easier than hating myself for not being motivated to get to the gym. Easier than staying fat. But why should that be a bad thing? So what if it's been (relatively) easy? The only reason we think weight loss should be a struggle, is because we look at obesity as a moral failing, instead of a biological one, and thus as weight loss as the penance one must serve before one is rewarded with thinness. Well, I'm calling BS on that. Obesity is a medical problem; WLS is a medical solution. It should be easier than the alternative. That's the point. Maybe it hasn't been as easy for everyone else as it has been for me (like I said, I know I've been very, very lucky in some respects), but it's gotta be easier (barring major complications) than all the alternatives or we wouldn't have chosen it. So, let's stop apologizing and making excuses. Yes, this is the easy (or at least easier) way out. And that's a good thing.

Lol, like the one day I don’t do something homemade and have to grab something as I’m running errands bc I’m running late for work...

@B-52. That's kind of good to hear..... Bc that's exactly how much of it I ate also lol! And I was full and there was so much of it left..... Might eat on some more for dinner lol

I'd like to call my insurance for an update to see if I've been approved. What information do I need?? I don't have to have a claim number, do I? My PCC sent out my paper work last week, and I'm getting anxious, so I'd like to call my insurance directly.

I chew a lot if gum. I will miss chewing it. I have enjoyed eating all the good food this week. Rip fatty foods. Rip volka, tequila, gin, and wine. I will u. But we had 2 part bc u were killing me according to the doctors, news and tv.

These ideas are not really hot but might help room temp. I Had sleeve sep 8. Had 2 week setback bc abandoned Persian snuck in & hid. Was so ill my eyes swelled shut. Saw surgeon Tues. He said it’s important to get lots of plain H2O each day. If you like idea In pics U Can get disposable shot glasses at liquor store/amazon. Its motivating knowing I can do in 2 sips. I add Lots of H2O to crystal light, SF hot cocoa watered down w/skim milk, SF jello. it’s runny but not near as sweet, low salt broth helps. But my saving grace is popsicles. U could put in blender with ice. I take H2O when I go out. Hope this is Helpful. He said Water also helps loose skin. Great motivation! Glad u have no pain. Sorry for typos & no caps Am Exhausted dealing with flood damage from TS Beta.

Hi Terry, If I were you I'd continue to pursue banding surgery (duh). Leatha mentions my situation, and you'll find my appeal letter in a sticky thread in the Insurance Issues section. But I'd also add that it's really only a matter of time before carriers drop their "investigational/experimental" exclusions. The band was approved in 2001 and in June of 2006 that will be five years. In my experience that's sort of a benchmark for some in the insurance community for accepting "new" procedures. It's instructive to note, too, that Aetna and many, many other carriers no longer cover VBG because it's ineffective in the long run and has a high complication rate. Despite how it may seem sometimes, it is a fact that carriers have medical people as well as businessmen making their policies. When they decide to stop covering something because it's dangerous and ineffective (as opposed not covering it yet because it's "unproven" or "investigational,") I pay attention. BC/BS of GA is behind the medical times, and you might want to contact your state insurance department to ask if you have any recourse for appeal. IMO, it's just a matter of time before banding is fully accepted by insurers across the country.

Has anyone heard about the procedure (VBG) Vertical Banding Gastro-- My insurance will not cover the lap-band, but will cover the VBG. I don't know anything about this procedure. If anyone knows anything good or bad I would love to hear it. From what I understand it is the older version of the lap-band. I just don't understand why bs/bs of ga. won't pay for the lap-band. Thanks in advance for your help!!!! Hopeless in Georgia! Terry

Hi I am in langley, BC i just got my band on dec 19.08 best thing ive ever done hope u go for it

I was also a slim girl and now I'm at 280 and really depressed. I don't know how too dress. I hate going around people. I even hate eating in front of people. My daughter is two and I don't even have that many pictures with her because I don't want to look at my body. My husband asked for sex every two weeks sometimes longer. He never says I'm fat but actions speaks louder than words .I have my sleeve on the 21 st. I hope nothing doesn't get on the way bc I will be extremely depressed.

You look SOOOO GOOD!! I feel the same way about my legs. Almost wish in hind sight I did the circumferential TT bc it would have lifted my butt and thighs at the same time. I don’t want the inner thigh scar. It’s tough but for now I’m doing nothing. Just going to enjoy my big perky boobs and nice tight flat tummy!! Keep us updated on WhT you decide. I’ll never say never! Who knows I may end up in the future doing it too!! As Greentealael said “once your down the PS rabbit hole” lol

I was told almost the same thing, and my doc asked me to consider GB, but I had no intention of getting my plumbing rearranged! What my doc was quoting are averages of various reports on the weight loss of however-many individuals. I think averages are total BS anyway, they don't tell you anything. My doc did admit that anyone can certainly "beat the averages" with a good diet and exercise. Don't let that discourage you from moving forward if this is the procedure you want to pursue, Good luck to you and don't give up!

Hello !!! Looks like everything is a go, I'm a bit frustrated as our Bariatric center where Dr. Heyderi does the Banding requires an orientation but it isn't until Jan. 25th , I've been waiting for weeks since i called , it's for the best though , I need all I can find out to do this right ! I'm getting nervous already and actually decided not to get banded once , I became really fed up when I went shopping for my neice who's a tiny thing ,lol , I decided that things are going to be about me for once and making ME happy !! That I will be shopping on the "normal" side of the clothing store. I'll keep updating after the orientation , hopefully I'll be able to set a surgery date soon after !! Thanks for all your support and info , especially to my Band Angel.. HUGS Lisa:clap2:

Hello everyone, My name is Heather Conrad and I live in Nashville TN. I am 43 years old and have battled weight for most of my life. However, since my back went bad, my weight has completely gone out of control. I am only 5'1 and currently weigh 213ish. I know that number does not seem super big but, on a tiny frame such as mine, it feels terrible. I have tried every diet known to man and I only end up yo yoing. I had back surgery one year ago and since packed it on. I used to be really active and led such a healthy lifestyle and I feel this surgery is my chance to have that back again. I am currently on many pain medications, and hypertension medication. My goal is to lose this weight and get off all meds. I just wanted to share a little about myself and I would appreciate any support I can get. Oh yeah, my first appt., is this Th. I am going through Vanderbilt. Does anyone have experience there. I have federal BC/BS, and they require a 3 month supervised weight loss which I think is ridiculous. I have my last two years of weight loss tries documented but, whatever it takes. At least it is not 6 mos. to a year like I have read on some other insurances. I am interested in the VSG. Any comments are welcome and appreciated. Thanks Heather

Oh yes, you must see it so closely working in a hospital...that's exactly right, you know I think that some people believe that in Karl Marx’s utopic communist system that this is actually a good idea. We have issues with the government running the DMV , imagine them running our health care decisions. I'd like to say to the people that are for government run health care to imagine W. Bush running their health care plan.... would they like that? Sure, as much as I would like Obama running it... There is so much I could say about public health care, been there, done that, lived under it for almost 15 years, particularly under one that Michael Moore portraits in his movie as being one of the best health care systems in the world....the biggest lie ever said and total BS.

I am feeling a little better now, spoke to psych she said that it don't seem im ready that we can talk more about how I feel. I told her I know I want this surgery bc I have tried so many time gained and lost. that I know I can't eat like Im used to, that its hard all day just drinking the shake and that if I eat even a small amount I will continue eating. im going back next week to tlk more about it. Im also so scare of the pain, I been on here for a while have been reading every post, some of them really hit home. I live only with my 15 son and need to cook for him and my adult nephew. so its hard. yesterday I did ok, I had two shakes, my Water, ham,cheese sandwich, diet coke and a cupcake. at a friends house I don't keep junk food in my house anymore. ok today is another day its 7:09 am and having my first shake. Have a great you all.

I haven't tried paleo bread yet, but I bought a paleo cookbook called Well Fed. It seems to me that the paleo way of eating fits in pretty well with our post-op guidelines. We've made a few things so far & all were good. Last week, my hubs actually made the olive oil mayo from the book & it is amazing. I've used in several different things this week already.