Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins

time4change

reneachilds

By reneachilds, in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Recommended Posts

reneachilds    0

reneachilds
Posted

Hi everyone, I am so excited. I have weight issues all my life. I was so happy to discove this forum. I am pending approval through my insurance company. I know that i will be approved. It is time to make a change in my life. I fully understand that this surgery is only a tool. I have two teenagers and a spouse. They are supportive of my choice. I have tried every diet under the sun and Gastric bypass was just not an option for me.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Lanakila    1

Lanakila
Posted

Welcome to the boards! I found so much information here, and have made some great friends. I've even found folks who live close to me, one just over a mile! Enjoy exploring and feel free to write if you prefer.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Lanakila    1

Lanakila
Posted (edited)

Hi, and thanks for responding. I am in Jacksonville NC. Could you share with me your weight loss journey?

Rena,

I chose the band because I had a BMI of 50, high blood pressure, and apnea. My mother developed diabetes a couple of years ago, and I have a long family history of heart disease. I was married last year and with the last 35-40 lbs I picked up I lost a lot of energy and physical stamina. I couldn't garden for long at all, couldn't take walks on the greenways without stopping at every bench, and was just plain disgusted with my appearance. Funny, because until a few months ago I had an impression of my size that was much, much smaller than I thought. I thought that I looked like I wore a 22, but I actually wore a 26.

I had always completely ruled out a bypass. The whole malabsorption thing was really unappealing. I had seen the commercials on tv, but didn't really look in to it until early May. I was leaving for a long vacation, so I scheduled my consult for the end of June. Come mid-July I was all done with pre-op appointments and had approval from my insurance. I work at a University, so I couldn't really fit the surgery into my schedule until late August. I could have done it in early August otherwise.

I was banded on August 28th by Dr. Moran. Because I have sleep apnea, the anesthesiologist required me to stay overnight. The surgery was very quick, and I was fortunate to have a VERY easy recovery. My surgery was on a Thursday, and I went back to work the following Tuesday (Monday was a holiday). Dr. Moran does things slightly differently from the other local surgeon, so I didn't suffer any of the gas problems, and have always been able to "drink" instead of "sip".

Anyhow, I've lost a total of 15 lbs. I didn't have a pre-op diet. I'm not hyped up about that loss, but at least I haven't gained. I don't have any restriction at all, since the only Fluid that they put into my band at surgery was enough to fill the tubing. I'm back on regular food now and haven't had any troubles. I'm neither gaining nor losing. I go for my first fill on the 29th. In the "big picture", I'm actually ok with the 15# in a month. Shucks...I've lost less on traditional diets!

As you can tell, I'm chatty. :rolleyes2:

Edited by Lanakila

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go To Topic Listing LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • BlondePatriotInCDA

      BlondePatriotInCDA

      I'm officially no longer "obese" and now classified as "overweight!" Years ago when I was 108 lbs (my old adult holding weight until the last 10 years) would I have ever thought there would come a day that I'd celebrate being "overweight!" 
      I hit my one year surgery anniversary next Wednesday (August 21st, 2023) and just so happen to have my final bariatric clinic check up on the same day. I'm looking forward to seeing my surgeon and being officially released into the wild! 😋
      I'm curious as to what my labs will say, especially since they told me to not take my vitamins a few days before the labs. To be honest, I find this confusing since the whole point of taking vitamins is to keep your stats within normal ranges - to assure they're working as intended, yet since I quit taking them it will show I need to take them..so I'll hear "make sure to take your vitamins!" A vicious circle. Who knows why?!
      Anyway, I have 40lbs to go to meet my goal and I'm really hoping I can do it in the next 6 months (for a total of 18 months post surgery). At my starting weight the charts show only 20% reach their goal within 18 months with a starting weight of 259 the day of surgery. I'd like to add that to achieved goals. Fingers crossed!
      I'm amazed and thankful for everyone here on these forums who've supported me, answered my questions and understood the plight! Thank you all, you know who you are.
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        NeonRaven8919

        Well done!

    • BlondePatriotInCDA

      BlondePatriotInCDA  »  Crayon

      Welcome to the bariatric forums!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • juliie

      juliie

      Good morning all, how long did it take insurance to approve you?
      · 5 replies
      1. NickelChip

        NickelChip

        Once it was submitted, not long at all. Just a few days, I think. But my surgeon's office didn't submit it until all my requirements were met, which included psych eval, dietician meetings, a certain number of visits, bloodwork, etc. As long as you've checked all the right "boxes" they require, the approval process should be very standard and easy. Your surgeon's office should know exactly what you need to get approved.

      2. juliie

        juliie

        good morning , I just need one more clearance from the insurance requirements which is my basic nutrition class , and that's on the 26th of this month. I have BCBSMI insurance. my surgeon said it usually takes 4-6 weeks for them to approve but can be sooner

      3. BlondePatriotInCDA

        BlondePatriotInCDA

        Once I completed all the insurance/program requirements - about a week. It seemed fairly quick, but I also contacted my insurance company several times to confirm all the requirements I needed to satisfy there paperwork machine and also nudge (nag squeaky wheel) them 😋 ! Also, my bariatric clinic is/was on top of it.

      4. juliie

        juliie

        @BlondePatriotInCDA thanks, I have BCBSM hopefully it doesn't take them long to approve me, i just need one more clearance from their requirements. wow a week ? that was fast ,have you had yours yet?

      5. BlondePatriotInCDA

        BlondePatriotInCDA

        Yes, my one year anniversary is this Wednesday. It will go quickly, it may not seem like it now..but trust me it will. I have BCBS as well. Good luck, you can do this!

    • rsmith2593

      rsmith2593

      I has my Ru &Y July 7, 2013.  I was 389 lbs on surgery day.  I am now 198.  I feel so much better ! I can keep up with my grand kids ages 3,3,4,8 and 13
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      Long whine alert - I'm really disappointed! I saw my primary Dr last month and told her I wanted WLS and she was all for it. Said that I had to do the 6 month supervised diet for my insurance and a boatload of other tests. Ok. I understand. She started my 6 month diet last month and sent a referral to the bariatric surgeon. MY plan was to do the supervised diet, then at the end of the 6 months in January, do all the other tests...sleep study, endoscopy, ekg, psych, nutritionist, etc. because all of that would get my insurance deductible met, then have surgery in February or March. Since my deductible would be met, I'd only be paying my 20% coinsurance by then. Got the call from the bariatric surgeon's office on Friday and was told that THEY are the ones that will do my 6 month supervised diet. I explained that my primary Dr already had me on it for a month but they said everything will go thru them. Ok. I understand. So I explain about wanting to complete the diet first, then do all the other testing (because I don't want to have to pay my deductible twice by paying for all that stuff now, & then it starts over in January) but she tells me that they do the testing while I'm doing the diet. That means that I cannot even start their bariatric program until January! They made my first appt for Jan 9th & that's when the 6 month diet will start with them & they'll submit to insurance for approval in June & I would have surgery in July. Man!!! That's almost a year from now! All because I don't want to pay $4500 now, than have to pay it again in January. I don't understand why they won't let me diet now & do the other tests at the end.
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        NickelChip

        Before you assume that the testing will take your full deductible, I would make some calls to your insurance. I have a 3k deductible and my portion of the bloodwork was nowhere close to that even though I assumed it would be. I think my copays ended up being around $1k or less for all the preliminary tests. And remember, you will have extensive bloodwork multiple times after surgery, so there may be no way to get it all into one calendar year. Also, you might look into financing options through your hospital. Mine allowed me to put the $3k I owed after the surgery (because yeah, that did max out my deductible for this year) on a 24-month no-interest payment plan. Depending on your options, it may be affordable enough that you can book your appointment sooner and get this whole thing going instead of having to wait almost a full year to have your surgery.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    Bariatric Forums

    For Patients

    Health Professionals

    Search Surgeons

    Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

    ×