katwomantexas

I was 2 pounds from being at a BMI of 35. I also had HBP and high colestrol. So I had to gain 3 pounds and go back in 2 weeeks.Thats what I did to get my surgery. Yes its crazy we have to do these things but I did not have the money to pay out of pocket.Was it worth it? Yes and Yes. Good luck Kat

I had some problems and had to have all saline taken out, Tuesday got 2 cc fill ate some potato chips and it came back up mow my band hurts and I can't drink a lot how do I get swelling to go down?

Dont eat anything solid for a couple of days and drinklots of warm drinks. When you do start eating again eat mushies and then move up to solids.

Kat

I went through the same issues right before banding. I dont miss those foods because I know I can have them every once in a while. Being banded doesnt mean you wont ever be allowed to have any of it it. To me its about being satisfied on much less. I am in my green zone and know how lucky I am to have gotten there with 3 fills. Good Luck and just know what your feeling is normal.

See you Kat

I also do Protein Shots or a Protein Drink in the morning. Its to hard to eat early. I get the shots and drinks at our local HEB or Wal-Mart.

Kat

i dont know either so i hope someone answers your question

I read on here that it means productive burbing. PBing in my case also causes a lot of sliming.

Hope that helps.

Kat

I cant drink at all after I have eaten for about 20 to thirty minutes. Not sure why they say it pushes your food down when mine all comes up if i drink.

Kathy

I eat popcorn with no issues. Its not an issue for me I can take it or leave it.Most of the time I leave it.

Kathy

When I try to drink with my meals it normally ends badly. For some reason if I drink while trying to eat I get stuck bigger than you know what and it must either come up or go down but it normally does a little of both.. I have only been banded since May 17th and I am just learning my lesson. I must wait. You would think I would learn the first time.

Kb

Hi

yall just really need to know the jist of how do i apply get approved ? This is the first step for me i finally have insurance ***?.. hope thats good w/ blue cross and shield . I want to get started while i have insurance . Help!

First you need to find out if the insurance you have allows for the WLS. Then you make an appoitment with the doctor of place that you want to use. They will then find out exactly what your insurance will require of you before they are willing to put out all the money to cover it. The doctors office will then set you up on what will be done before surgery. I had to have 6 months of office visits, my head examined and a sleep study test. Good Luck.

I use a chicken bought from the store then I add half regular mayo and half light. I then add apples,celery and pecans or walnuts and a little lemon juice. Salt and pepper to taste.

Awww... thanks so much! (And I knew you meant me, even with the funky numbers in your title, no worries )

You look awesome Rachel.

Kathy B.

Does anyone know what CIGNA covers or if they cover fills at all? Is it the price of a Dr. Visit or more? CIGNA users out there..help?

Hello there, Yes I also have Cigna. I have had 2 fills so far and get my third next week. So far the have paid the bills and I just pay my copay.

Bye KathyB.

I was told 2 weeks and I could swim all I wanted.

Kathy

That's the link in my sig

Thanks for the link Rachel. I am very new with my band and really love reading up on everything.

Thanks Kathy

I have struggled with my weight for 10 years now. I have gained 5 lbs per year and now have GERDs, asthma, high cholesterol, etc. When I started researching the lap band everyone tells me my BMI is too low to be banded. I have not told very many people because they think it is too risky, they think it is drastic, don't understand why I can't just quit eating and exercise more. I have done all of this and can take it off, but only to put it back on with a few extra pounds.

I do not fit into any of my clothes. The doctor says I need to lose 50 lbs. It is all in my middle and I feel miserable. I lost 20 lbs last year and gained 25 this year. I feel this is the tool that will help me take it off and also keep me from over eating. I know it is just a tool and everything else is up to me. My surgery is this Thursday, June 16th and I am avoiding talking about it to any one because they are making me nervous.

Any one else going through this?

Hello, My BMI was 35. I had my surgery May17th. Everyone has said your not big enough. Well when is big enough?After I gain another 30 puonds?I am tired of living like this.I take 6 different medicines daily. I had tried every diet and have exercised with NO results. I go for my first fill next week. Good luck with your band.

Katwomantexas

Good Evening from Germany,

Being part of the military family, we are now stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. I have started the process to see if I qualify for the Lap Band and hoping to be successful as I have a little over a 100 lbs to lose. I have 4 amazing kids ranging from 17 to 2 yrs old...!!! I'm the CEO of my household, which leaves me with no time to really take care of myself, so I have decided to become selfish and take 2 hrs a day for me ( either I go exercising or just read a book).

I'm meeting with my Dr. this Friday and hope that we can go ahead and put the packet in for approval from the insurance company.

I've loved reading many of your posts here as they have answered a lot of the questions that I had in the beginning, but many of you are so honest about the pre and the post-surgery that I actually feel comfortable with it. My only concern for me is if I want to keep the Lap Band in for the rest of my life or not...???

Nzeba511

Hello, I was born in Wiesbaden many years ago. Like 1967!Good luck with whatever you and your doctor decide. I am a newbie. I was banded on May 17th and I have about 80 pounds to go. Welcome.

Bye Kathy

thank you, Kat. I have TriCare. Do you have any experience with them?

I do not have Tri Care. I had Cigna. I did my 6 months of visits then the doctor sent in all my paperwork and I was approved in 2 days.

Hope you get your approval.

katwoman

I've had LOTS of problems with Memorial Health Bariatrics in Savannah. I went to their seminar last Wednesday, and was told by their rep that I'm not big enough to qualify for the surgery. I'm 5'7, and currently weigh 218 pounds. The receptionist who was taking our paperwork told me that the doctor probably won't even call me back, because my BMI is too low. She didn't ask about my co-morbidities or history. She didn't ask me anything. The woman sitting next to her asked me if I was just doing this to get ready for bikini season. Another woman in their group told me she thought I was post lapband, and to go home. I don't need the surgery. I know that I'm not as big as a lot of people, and there are some who may need the surgery more than I do, but I'm still almost 80 pounds overweight, and have 2 comorbidities. Anyway, I called Mem Health a couple of days later, and the same woman from the seminar answered the phone, remembered who I was, and refused to make an appointment for me to see the doctor or let me speak with someone else. She told me that she considers me a self-pay patient, and asked me if I could afford to pay for the surgery our of pocket. If so, then she'd be willing to set up an appointment for me. I told her that I'm a tri-care standard patient, and that my current BMI is 34.1. I also explained that I have stopped taking the prescription phentermine that I'd been on for the past 3 months, and that in 3 weeks I've gained back 8 of the 25 pounds that I lost while on the diet pill. I also told her that my primary care physician faxed a letter to her practice explaining the reasons he feels I need this surgery. She told me that his letter didn't mean anything, and that she doesn't have it anymore (I guess that means she threw it away). She then told me that in her professional opinion, I do not need the surgery. I asked if I could speak to the office manager, and she wouldn't let me. She said that she'd discuss the matter with the appropriate people, including the doctor, and that they would make the decision together as to whether or not they would call me back. I just told her to throw my paperwork away.

Has anyone else dealt with these kinds of problems? I'm just so upset...

I am like you. My BMI was 34.6. I had to gain 2 pounds to be able to start the process of the 6 month diet required by my insurance. I am also only 80 pound over weight with massive comorbidities. I needed help now. I didnt want to have to wait until I had 200 pounds to lose. It seems to me you should look for another doctor. They should have never told you are not big enough. Good luck on your journey.

katwomantx

You won't be able to lift anything over 5 pounds-at least that's what my doctor told me. I would REALLY advise you to have your husband take off! He might be able to get the Family Leave Act which secures his job while he cares for you (it's worth looking into). Good luck with everything!!

I was up and about the very next day and playing with my grand kids.

Good Luck Katwomantx

I have CIGNA as my insurance carrier, so I have the 6 month requirement to go to weight loss classes under a physician's supervision. While this is a bummer because I really want to get going with the lap band surgery and not wait 6 months, I have an additional concern. I am exactly at a BMI of 40. If I lose so much as 10lbs, I won't qualify for the lap band. I am sure I could go to a 6 month supervised clinic and lose 15lbs - and then regain it as soon as I stopped. Or keep it off and continue to struggle being 85lbs overweight instead of 100. Sure, I would love to go to a 6 month thing and lose 50#s and not have to have the lap band, but I've lost 50lbs before only to regain it. It wasn't physician supervised, though so I don't think it counts for CIGNA.

I also am unsure of what I have to do to have it count as 6 months supervised. The university hospital has a 6 month program (in the same division as the bariatric surgery program), but it costs $1,000. And of course, CIGNA doesn't cover it. I feel so stuck. I really thought the Lap Band was going to be an option for me, but now I feel like more roadblocks are up in my way. I am not trying to be a size 4, just to be "normal." I want to wear clothes from normal stores, to be able to spend the day at the zoo or shopping mall without having my feet and knees hurt for days afterwards, to sit on the bleachers and watch my daughters' games and not have my back kill me because I don't really fit on it, and on and on.

Does anyone have any advice?

I have Cigna also and just had my surgery. My BMI is a 35 with the high blood pressure and all.

Any questions just ask.

Katwomantx

Has anyone had their Lap Band with True results The American Gastric Institute? Also in San Antonio .........

I am going thru them as well. I am out of the Austin location. They have been awesome so far. My surgery was May 17th and I get my first fill in 3 weeks. Dr Esquivel was my surgeon and I have heard he also works out of SA.

Good Luck Katwomantx

I also have Cigna. I was told I could not miss any appointments or I would have to start over. All my appointments were 28 to 31 days apart.

I'm just curious if there is anyone out there that received approval from your insurance (specifically Cigna) with a BMI under 40? I have a BMI of 36 and I'm nervous that I won't be approved even though Cigna states in my policy that is is possible to be approved if you are between 35-40 if you have at least one clinically significant comorbidity, which I only suffer from high cholesterol. I have been the same weight for almost 12 years now, exercise regularly and have been medically supervised for the past 2 years with no success! I'm super frustrated with my results and have found this to be my last resort and I'm super nervous that this will end with negative results as well. Someone please give me some positive news!

I also have Cigna. My approval went very smooth. After my 6 months of pre op visits my doctor sent in all the paperwork and I was approved in 2 days. I just had my surgery on the 17th. My BMI was 35 but I have high colestoral , high BP, thyroid.

Good Luck Kathy

I am going to have my surgery on the 17th of May. The hospital called to day and gave me an estimate of 25,000.00 for the surgery cost. This is not with an overnite stay. My part is only 20 percent which is a lot of money to me but that seems to be a lot of money and higher than what most are being charged.I pay for my regular visits seperate so that cant be why. Any lite on this would really help.

Thanks Kathy

For a procedure being billed through insurance, it sounds a little high. I'm curious what is included in that bill besides just the surgery. My band was billed through insurance but I have to pay a 20% co-pay so my total bills were $11,768 (from the hospital with one overnight stay, the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon).

This is through insurance where my protion is 20 percent. They told me this was for the day surgery doctors and all.No overnite stay for me. Maybe they are just over estimating the cost.

Kathy