depressed_bandster

I have Anthem BCBS in So Cal....took me 4 days to have approval. Paperwork was sent at closing Monday, had approval on friday, had surgery the next week! I was banded Nov 3, have lost 16 pounds already, and I'm so happy! I suggest you call and bug them, they didn't mind my calls at all and were very nice and helpful every time I called.

VERY WELL SAID DAVE! I am 11 days post-op and the only problems I have had are the post-op gas pains, which I survived & a little constipation. BUT the biggest change has been the 16 pounds I have already lost! Would have taken me a couple months without this wonderful tool. You have to remember it is in fact a tool to HELP YOU have results from dieting and exercise; you still have to do YOUR part or it won't work and you might as well be on the same rollercoaster. The dieting & exercise I have done (many times) in the past is MUCH HARDER WORK than this liquid diet I have been on (now mushies, yay!) and the gas pains I finally survived. It is a life change for it to work, however, this tool does make the world of dieting and exercise MUCH EASIER when your actually losing weight! Good luck! And read around on this forum.....lots of good info and support, as well as success stories to motivate you too!

I am 11 days post-op. I take chewable vitamins as well; can't handle the liquid. The gas pains were really the only pains I had, but they were bad for about a week. Keep with the diet your doc recommended & you will be surprised and motivated by the weight you lose! Good luck!

I use the Bullet....you can find them cheap at Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, etc. You might want to invest in one so you can make protein shakes later too. They are good/healthy meal replacements when you aren't too terribly hungry. Good Luck!

I'm in California...Southern California. Surgery went well & I'm feeling good. The only discomfort I have at all is from that darn they use. I read today someone used gas-x strips right after surgery and they aren't having any gas discomfort at all, so you might want to get you some! I'm going get some later today. I don't have any pain in my abdomen or at the incision sites (maybe has something to do with the pain meds). I walk around every couple of hours and move around my arms/shoulders and that helps with the gas pains too. If you have any questions, feel free to message me!

I too was banded yesterday morning! I am so excited! I do have some discomfort from the gas...wish I'd known about the gas-x strips. I will have my daughter get me some when she gets home this afternoon, that is the only pain I am in. BUT not enough pain to make me regret it! I'm excited to start this journey of being healthy and looking good and feeling good about myself again! I have been walking around every few hours, which seems to help with the discomfort. Thanks for sharing about the gas-x strips!

I'm having surgery tomorrow and I went to my seminar/consultation the beginning of October! I have been fortunate. I did not have any insurance delays....took only 3-4 days, because I was a pest. I started with one doctor group (800-get-thin), had one sleep study & with them, it was going to be 6 weeks getting all the results back BEFORE they would even submit to the insurance company. I needed to have my surgery by the end of the year so I went searching for another group, which I found from this & they have been AWESOME! Two and a half weeks after having my endoscopy through them, I am having surgery! I am so pleased with the doctors and the staff. I have read some nightmares on here with people being denied, appealing, having to wait months and months for approval. I guess it depends on your insurance. I have Anthem BCBS PPO, my BMI is barely 40 and I have moderate sleep apnea. Because of my BMI being varely 40, I didn't have to do the pre-op liquid diet, thank God! My liquid diet will start after surgery. If you don't have any known co-morbidities (heart issues, diabetes, etc) I think all docs do a sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea (most overweight people do). If your BMI is 35-39, you have to have a co-morbidity, if your BMI is 40+ you don't have to have a comorbidity. There are BMI calculators online to help you find your BMI so you can see if you are a candidate. In addition to the sleep study my doc (& I think all do) required an endoscopy; this was done the same week as my sleep study. My psyche eval was done over the phone & my nutrition consultation was done the day of my endoscopy. Some insurances require 3-6 months of nutrition classes; mine did not. You insurance company should be able to give you their requirements. Good luck! Hope your journey is as easy as mine has been thus far! Tomorrow will begin the REAL journey!

Hi Kim, I started looking into the lapband surgery earlier in the year & decided to go for it in October. I researched all the options....bypass, sleeve, etc. I decided on the band because it is not as invasive and "permanent" as the others. I just needed a tool, something to help me. If I lose weight, I will be motivated to keep losing; dieting and losing 5 pounds in 6 months is very discouraging! I am being banded tomorrow! I am so exicted. I can't help you with all of your questions yet, but I can tell you, you should attend a consultation/seminar. What state do you live in? The consultation I went to motivated even more, so I went all in, full speed ahead doing whatever necessary to get it done. I will try to remember to get back on here in the next few days to update you on pain, recovery, etc. This is a GREAT forum and a GREAT way to help you decide and motivate you. Everyone on here is very helpful and there are so many topics....so many you'd never even think to ask about! Look around on here and all your questions should be answered. Talk to you soon!

:bananapartyhat: I was originally scheduled for surgery on November 17th, but my date got moved up to Noveber 3.....TOMORROW! I am so excited! I so ready for this new journey to begin, to be healthy again, to look good for my husband again, to walk without being out of breath and take pictures with my family instead of insisting on being behind the camera or behind other people in the photos. I know this tool is what I need to be happy again! I am so thankful for this forum; I feel I am so much more prepared being able to read people's stories....both success stories and struggles. I have sleep apnea, so I have to go in tonight for a second sleep study and when I wake up.....I will be having surgery! Anyone else having surgery tomorrow?

Thank you Lizzy2150, that's a GREAT idea!!! I bought several Isopures to try them before & I tried the mango peach one and BLEH is an understatement!!! It tasted like rotten eggs! I will NOT be trying the others! I will be exchanging them for the some unflavored Protein powder! THANK YOU AGAIN!

Wow, that's encouraging! Are there necessary guidelines for that being approved? What exactly is the difference between the two? ( TT& panniculectomy)

I have heard Isopure protein shakes are horrible, but that is what my surgeon's office has recommended for protein the first 2-3 days. Does anyone have any alternative ideas for clear liquid proten drinks?

I will be having surgery in the next 2-3 weeks. Isopure is what my surgeon's office recommended for phase 1, right after surgery. What other clear liquid Protein drink do you recommend?

PRAISE GOD! I have BCBS of California and was approved in only four days. :bananajump: I did call and check on it EVERY day (at least once a day), and they were very patient with all my calls & answered any questions I had. My BMI is barely 40 & I have moderate sleep apnea, so I'm sure that helped. I am SUPER excited!!! My surgeon's office, (Dr. Shahram Salimitari) said they will be calling me on Monday with my surgery date, but tentatively Nov. 17th!!!! It can't come soon enough!!! I am so anxious to start a new life with this tool and once again have energy & confidence and be able to look in the mirror without wanting to cry!

I know your post is a few months old....I was wondering if you were banded by Dr. Gee? I wen to the seminar and I'm scheduled to start my work up this week (sleep study & endoscopy) but while I was waiting for these appointments, I came across these posts stating these "800-get-thin" docs are bad...some are being investigated. This has scared me & I have contacted another doctors office, but don't want to start all over with someone else, since I'm under a time constraint with my insurance. I hope you get this & can respond to me!

mrslrjones: Please tell me you are not in California...I have Anthem BCBS in CA, I hope it is different and I hope my husband's union plan covers it. I am just starting the process, but SO anxious to get it done!

Is it ALWAYS a must to have the band removed eventually. If you follow all the rules & have no complications do you eventually have to have it removed? I am only 36, so should I plan on a "removal" surgery eventually? How long can it stay in? I am just in the work up stage, haven't gotten approval yet from my insurance. From what I have read, everyone that has minor complaints and don't need it removed seem like the pros outweigh the cons???? For someone who is at their goal weight....Is the port really noticable through the skin when you get to a size 6 or 8, etc? Can you see it?