MeFirst

"VDLT" thank you so much for your detailed response!! Awesome! I wish I would have gone straight from band to sleeve. Silly me, I thought I could maintain my weight on my own.

Thank you so much for the info! ????

I was just rereading through this thread. Do you think that an "obese" weigh in on 2014, 2015, and 2016 would satisfy the 2yr weight history requirement? Even if the time between weigh ins was not 24 months apart. I have a weight record for sept 2014, sept 2015, and will have one in January 2016. **feeling hopeful

I'm in exactly the same boat! I can't gain weight over the next 3 months, and I only have a 4lb cushion before my BMI goes below 40. I need it to stay above 40 for insurance purposes because I don't have any real comorbidities (yet)

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you!!!! Woohoooo

@"Jane13" I'm in Jax too . I'm getting my sleeve at St. Vincents with Dr Uchal pending insurance approval. Who was your Surgeon and what hospital did you use?

Good Luck!!! Keep us posted!

That's exactly how I feel!!! Yet another year of being obese is hard to handle Please let me know how it goes. Good luck meeting your surgeon!!

New Life, I haven't submitted yet. This month I met with my surgeon and have gone to 1 nutritional class. In December I will go to my second nutritional class, get my psych eval and meet with my nutritionist 1 on 1. I will still have 1 more nutritional class to complete in January. I'm thinking I won't submit until mid/end of January. Have you submitted? Where are you in the process?

New life 1985 I was looking at your post history, and it seems we have a few things in common with past BMI's. Please keep me updated on your progress with getting approved. I'm always looking for hope

Congratulations Tdc!!! I'm so happy for you, and hope that my approval goes smoothly as well. Thanks for the glimmer of hope! ????????

@"new life 1985" I did not find anything definite out yet. I'm going through the 3 month process and I am hoping for the best. If all goes well and I get approval I should have a February surgery date. My insurance coordinator said that the ease of approval all depends on whose desk your file ends up on at the insurance company, but that my surgeon frequently does peer to peer and I have a "good case". I was pretty worked up when I heard the news of a 2 year weight history. Since then, my husband has helped put it in perspective...if I don't get initial approval, worst case is I'd have to wait an additional 6 months to satisfy the 2 yr obese weight requirement. I have a recorded weight that meets that criteria in Sept 2013. Don't get me wrong, it's on my mind constantly. I'm ready for this surgery and will be heartbroken if I have to wait, but it's not completely hopeless. Right now, as odd as it sounds, I'm concentrating on keeping my BMI above 40. I'm right on the bubble and only have a 4lb buffer before I go below. I understand why insurance companies have these guidelines, but sometimes it seems a bit counterproductive. Ugh!!!! Thank you for asking about me

I'm near Jax. Just starting the process. Hope to have surgery in February!!!

I have the same question as the OP. My BMI is just over 40 now (40.2). However, it hasn't been that high over the past 2 years. I had my lapband removed 2 years ago due to infection, and I think my BMI was about 35. It's been steadily creeping up since then. I can't get a straight answer from my insurance company, but my surgery center doesn't seem to think it will be an issue. I'm just going to hope for the best and keep plugging along. The insurance company wants to see past failed diet attempts. I would say the lap band would be one! And whose to say your past lower weights weren't due to a failed diet attempt. Stay positive . I'm also going to ensure my BMI doesn't go below 40 during my next 3 months of supervised nutrition appts

@dcmoore56.. I hope everything has been resolved for you. I'm wondering how it all turned out. I've had a similar experience with the lapband and 2 replacements of my port due to infection. Had the band removed 2 years ago and looking to get the sleeve. My question to you: was there any issue with scar tissue from the previous laparoscopic procedures? Did it effect your ability to get the sleeve. Thank you

I just got back from my first appointment with my surgeon. I am also really nervous about my scar tissue preventing my sleeve surgery. I've had the lap band, port removal, port replacement, and lap band removal done all laparoscopically. The surgeon said he won't know until he gets in there whether the scar tissue will be a problem. I will be so heartbroken if I'm woken up from surgery and didn't get my sleeve . Anyone with similar issues that ended well?

Jacksonville, FL

They did talk about the support groups available to their patients. I'm really looking forward to utilizing them. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond

I'm just starting the process for the sleeve and my primary care doctor referred me to Dr. Uchal. I'm looking for any reviews on him and his practice

I have BCBS Fed and have a question about their requirements...I had the lapband placed in Feb 2011. Long story short, I had it removed due to infection in November 2013 (2 years ago). When I had it removed, I had already gained a few pounds putting my BMI around 31. I have consistently gained weight over the past 2 years making my current BMI 40.1. Does anyone know how this will effect my approval for the sleeve? Since I don't have a 2 year weight history of having an "obese BMI". My patient advocate at my surgeons office is optimistic of my chances. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around the possibility of going through my 3 month supervised diet and testing to be denied 3 month from now. It's stressing me out.

Kkua, you had an appointment with him yesterday, June 13? I was in there Tuesday AM to pick up my records and the office looked like a ghost town. What office did you go to (in Jacksonville)? I was in the one on Perimeter Park Road off of Southside. Any information you can give would be greatly appreciated. During my appointment the last week of May, I had a long discussion with Dr. C about his move to West Palm Beach. He said his former partners made it too difficult for him to practice here and he felt he was doing his patients an injustice by making them travel to Tampa and Brunswick for procedures.

Absolutely agree Jewel! Where are you going now? Have you chosen a new doctor yet?

Thank you so much for the information. Let us know if you hear anything else. I called the office last week and spoke to Wendy in the Jax office. She said that Dr. C has decided to go back to pediatrics, and got an "offer he couldn't refuse" in West Palm Beach. She also said, that knowing Dr. C, he would not be formally recommending any doctors here in Jax. We are advised to go to lapband.com and enter our zip code and find our own doctor.....thats pretty crappy in my opinion. I have an appointment scheduled with him next Tuesday, May 28. I can't believe that he would still schedule surgeries for the month after he will be leaving. That's just awful . I am so sorry. I am a little over 2 years out and am freaked out. I can't imagine how his patients feel that have just had their surgeries or were supposed to be having them soon.

Just got a very disturbing letter in the mail today. I had my LB done with Dr. Cywes Feb. 2011, and have done very well. I have lost about 80 pounds. Turns out, he is closing all clinical practices the end of this month. I am beside myself with sadness and a little bit of anger. I feel so abandoned . Anyone know what happened or why he is shutting his doors? Most importantly, I need good recommendations for other LB doctors in Jacksonville, Fl that take on transfer patients. Anyone in the area love their doctor?

I get that same pain when I eat too much. It feels like a "side stitch" kind of cramp.