ragdollx19

I have a BMI of 42 with federal bcbs and did not have to do any diet or ANYTHING other than ask for approval through my surgeons office. I got approved in 3 days.

I wanted to have mine done at an outpatient clinic but the insurance wouldnt approve it there so I have to drive to a hospital over an hour away... I am sure I still get out the same day though.

Well I have been telling people that i feel comfortable with that I am getting the lap band later this month. I started with people at work because I work in a small office and felt I was going to spend a majority of my time with these people so they should know why I am missing work and be able to support me while I am there. This has gone fine they all seem supportive and interested in what I am doing. I told a few close friends before I even got approved because I was so excited and knew they would not judge me. Well I decided to go ahead and tell my father because if my child was going to have any kind of surgery I would like to know before and not after the fact, this was hard because I didnt know what the response would be. Well I have a neighbor whose body is a perfect 10... I am not extremely close with her but we talk occasionally. Well i hadnt planned on telling her or her dh because I just didnt feel it was their business and I dont want to deal with the neighbors all knowing. That and the fact that i already feel self concious when I am around this particular neighbor would just make it hard on me. Well my husband told me tonight that he told her what i was having done... she told him she knew people who did really well with the lap band and nothing negative at all but i just feel a little ummmm embarassed maybe? I dont know why it bothers me that my neighbors know when I dont care if the rest of the world knows but it does. My dh has been extremely supportive and he didnt do anything he thought was wrong but it is upsetting to me. I am not mad at dh in the least, just dont want to walk out my front door because I feel like I am under a microscope. Maybe I am just emotional because this is all happening so quickly and it is such a huge life change but i needed to vent to people who would understand. I wish I werent in this situation to begin with but this is life and I know the lap band is what i need to get going.

Its official! I am a May bandster. My date will be May 23rd. I have to drive to a hospital over an hour away because my insurance does not cover it at an outpatient surgery center which is 10 minutes from my house Oh well. At least I get to have it paid for! Now I feel nervous and jittery.

Congratts what insurance did you have? I got approval in 3 days as well with BCBD Federal TX. Do you have a date yet?

They have them at WalMart and Vitamin Shoppe, they probably have them at GNC but I dont usually shop there. I buy one package, take the coupon off and buy another. They kind of frown on that but its my $5!! which makes my 4 drinks only cost $5. They have several flavors but I prefer the chocolate. They also sell packets of powder. http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/search/en/query.jsp?b=EAS/PAS&q=EAS/PAS

Welcome Shar! I have seen plenty of older people getting lap bands on these forums. Welcome to our group, we dont discriminate based on age. Just like the fat doesnt pick certain age groups! I can understand what you mean about the weight and your joints. I am in my 20's and have a hard time walking after I have been sitting a while because of my hip joints.

I finished all of my pre-op testing yesterday and should be getting a call this morning to schedule my surgery. I am trying to get it done just prior to Memorial Day weekend because that would give me an extra day off work! I am glad all of our already banded peeps seem to be doing really well. I must say you can tell who is taking their pain meds based on their post! :fish:

What did your doctors office say? I would call them because they deal with this all the time and know what to expect from your insurance. I have read a lot of posts on here about people getting denied the first time and winning on appeal. Hang in there, I can imagine how upset this makes you feel. I think of all things to be denied for that is a good one because at least they didnt say you dont need the surgery??? Keep us posted and ((((hugs))))) I am so sorry!

My husband is a health nut too and swears by the isopure. I like the myoplex pre mixed drinks myself (which come with a $5 off coupon on the package). i was going to go to the vitamin shoppe and get an assortment of things to try to see what i like and what i can tolerate after surgery.

Rosanna, That for lack of a better word SUCKS! I would call them daily if it were me. After you get approval how soon can you have your surgery done?

I see a lot of people talking about buying liquid tylonol. Are you talking about the kind they make for infants or do they actually make one for adults?

Congratts to all of those who have had and are soon having their band put in! i am going to finish my pre-op testing this morning. I am absolutely terrified of the liquid diet. I dont know why but that just seems like torture to me.

No experience here... just wanted to wish you luck! Hope you feel better real soon.

Did they let you schedule the surgery or are they making you come to your pre-op appointment first? I have my pre-op next Thursday!

The office I went to kind of hinted at not losing a bunch of weight on the supervised diet because then they could say you can lose it on your own without surgery.

Marsden does his surgery in the same building AIGB is in. I know he also does it at other locations but that is an option. It is right across the street from Wal Mart in Hurst on Precinct Line. Good luck! When is your appointment? I go in tomorrow morning for the rest of my pre-op testing.

HA HA!! I can totally relate to this one. I remember the first time it happened to me. I am ready to kiss the booty hugging chairs goodbye too! :clap2:

We are talking about the BCBS plan that is offered to Federal Employees and their families. I think even these plans can vary by state that the actual coverage is in but as of January 1st all of them started covering lap band w/o pre op diets or all of that.

I go to complete my pre-op tests tomorrow and see Dr Marsden next Thur. They said I can schedule it for 2 to 3 weeks after that so I have time to be on the pre-op diet. I pray you get good news soon!

That site is very disturbing. I have a problem with ANY grown person having crushes on children regardless what their sexual preference is. :cry

My paperwork was submitted Friday 4/27. I called today to verify the insurance company received the information. They said they had and it was under review. I called to ask my doctors office a question about it which prompted them to follow up with it. I got my approval today!! I know this is MUCH quicker than a lot of insurance companies I have read about but I am thrilled none the less! BCBS Federal TX Basic

I can’t believe it I got a call this afternoon to let me know I am approved and my insurance (BCBS TX Federal Basic) will be paying at 100%!!!! I have an appointment Thursday to complete my pre-op testing and then next Thursday I meet with the surgeon. Then I get to schedule my surgery for 2 to 3 weeks after I meet with the surgeon. So hopefully by the end of May I will be banded! I am stoked!!!! Good luck to those of you still waiting! I did not have to do a supervised diet or provide 5 years of medical history. I can’t believe this is finally happening. I have been wanting to do this for the last few years and my insurance just started covering it in January. Happy dance!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I just got approved today! Paperwork was sent in on Friday!

I also have BCBS federal and had this same conversation with both them and my physician’s office today. The insurance explained to me that they will not send a predetermination letter or pre-approval. What they will do is send a letter stating the surgery is a covered benefit based on the medical information your doctor provided and that it will be paid at 100% benefits. How this is different I don’t really know. My paperwork was submitted Friday; I called today to check the status, and got a phone call this afternoon stating it was approved. Where are you located at?