jackie506

:update: Had to tell everyone I AM APPROVED!!!!!!! The paperwork was messed up so they approved me for the RouxenY but surgeons office resubmitted for lapband and BCBS said they would not tell 100% that I was approved but they would say 99.99% approved . They told me that is because they had to make sure my BMI was below 50 and it is. The review board just has to look at that and she said I would receive my letter of approval Monday or Tuesday. Surgery is scheduled for July 23!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so nervous, scared, doubtful, excited, anxious and about every other emotion you can think of all rolled into one!! 1 month from today I will become a bandster.:clap2::roll:

Try to keep your mind on the prize. I haven't even been banded yet but on my pre op diet that I will be starting July 9 I can have ONLY clear liquids with 50mg of powdered whey protein a day. I am sooooooooo nervous about it. No cream soup. They say you are not hungry because of the protein I will be consuming but I still have my doubts about that. I guess if I am not truly hungry but still wanting food that is the habit that I will be fighting and that needs to start sometime. That I honestly think will be the hardest part for me. Good luck with the rest of your pre op and surgery. I can't wait until I can join you on July 23rd.

Could I please be added to the Lucky 7's wall of fame (the calender) on July 23. Thanks everyone for all the support.

Get this!! Today I was told by 2 different people that I was approved for bariatric surgery. I called the surgeon and got my date. Then a 3rd person from BCBS called to tell me I was approved (she didn't know I had already called 1 time to find out and someone else from there had called and told me I was approved). Anyway, she calls to tell me and I said thank you I know someone already called me and I scheduled my surgery. She then said well congratulations on you gastric bypass approval. I said WHAT!!!!! :omg: I am having the lap band. She said no your surgeon submitted for rouxenY and that is what was approved. I said I will not be having that so I will call my surgeon and see what we need to do now. Called surgeon's office who then called insurance and had to RESUBMIT my paperwork to get approval for lap band. 2 people at BCBS then told me they couldn't tell me if I would be approved or not because now everything was being reviewed again. Another women at BCBS (a nurse) told me she really thought it would be fine because my BMI is under 50 and I meet all the requirements for lap band as well as rouxenY. I was still nervous though and the surgeon's office knew it so at the end of the day the woman who submits to insurance through the surgeons office called BCBS and talked with them. She then phoned me and told me that she was told by the nurse to go ahead and keep the surgery date and proceed with things as we have scheduled because she can not tell us formally today that it is approved but she really does believe it will be approved because it was just a mess up on paperwork and I was approved for the more invasive surgery and my BMI is low enough for the lap band. GOOD GOD I HOPE SHE IS RIGHT!!!!! :faint: Anyway, I am scheduled for surgery on July 23. Cross your fingers the women was right and they approve me for lap band also. I am lucky though because we just faxed everything to insurance 2 days ago and we just got a decision today. They told me they would be sending my approval letter for the rouxenY and my FORMAL approval letter for lapband (providing it is approved) out next Monday so really the paper process has really not been all that long. Just the mix up has my nerves nutso!!!!! So Lucky Sevens I get to join the rest of you losers on the wonderful journey we are about to embark upon!!! JULY 23 I WILL STEP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE MY SWING. MOVE OVER AND MAKE ROOM FOR ME. Sorry for such the long rant...............just had to tell you all about my dilema. Goodness gracious I am glad that women congratulated me on my gastric bypass......what if I would have gotten on the table and woke up having things rerouted and cut out.:omg:

Good luck!! We are all rooting for you.

I just had to update everyone and let you know that we have officially submitted all my info to insurance. Surgeon's office says if we get the approval I will be banding in July. I can't wait. I called BCBS today and they told me they are all caught up on prior approvals for bariatric insurance so once they 'scan' (what ever that means) my paperwork in they will be looking at it and I could have an answer by the end of the week and no longer than 2 weeks. WOOHOO!!!! :clap2: I am so nervous they will deny and I really don't know why. I have done everything required (all testing) and they have paid for all of it thus far. Wish me luck and I will update again once I hear something. Hope I can tell you that I will be a "LUCKY # 7". until then I will continue to wait.:faint::pout:

How long did it take to get approved. Just curious. Thanks for the input.

WHEWWWWWWWWW HAHA. You are hilarious. That is what I was thinking but was to 'modest' to type it. LOL

XGRL I am now finished with the supervised diet. I have seen my pcp for the last 6 months but refused my weight back in January when I seen him so I thought I would have to go again in July to be weighed. he told me we could count January because I know what I weighed because of eight Watchers!!!!!! So today the surgeons office called me and told me they have everything they needed except 1 form my pcp still needed to fax and then we would be submitting to insurance. I am so excited and nervous about getting approved/denied. I am reallly hoping I am approved. I have a BMI of 46.2, GERD/acid reflux, sleep apnea and ache knees. Crossing my fingers and every thing else. I am starting to look like a pretzel here. Good luck on the acid reflux and asthma. I know how rough they can both be. I have the reflux but my sister has the asthma. She is really limited to what she can and can't do because of it. The reflux sure does play heck on the teeth but your right....what about the esophagus?!?! Anyway.....keep us posted on what is going on. I will post as soon as I hear the decission. PRAY real hard for me!!!!!

I have BCBS of Iowa anf we are preparing to submit to insurance either today or tomorrow.:faint: I have done all pre op testing and have found that my BMI is 46.2, I have sleep apnea, gerd/acidreflux, and I have completed yet another medically supervised diet. I have done supervised in the past but was told that BCBS of Iowa likes them to be done within 2 years prior to applying for surgery. My insurance plan does cover the surgery at 80/20 with an out of pocket max of $2,000 per year in which has been met with other appointments this year for other issues so the surgery would be 'free' :heh:. My question is this. With what I have told you about the co morbidities I have and my BMI do you think I will be approved? I know no one can give me the answer per say but I am asking for your opinions. I am just setting here restraining myself from phoning the insurance already and asking if they got the paperwork yet and what do they think-LOL I know I am being nerotic (sp?) now. Just wanted to hear others ideas on this. BTW the surgeons office told me that BCBS is one of the easiest insurances to get to approve and to work with. Hope this proves true in my case as well as others. Thanks for listening to me ramble. Now the wait begins-:frusty::phanvan

I am not yet banded but I know I will not tell any others than what know now. My DH, DD,DS, my mom, siter, and 2 very close best friends. One friend really thought that it was 'the easy way out.' We have talked and talked and I have explained it too her and she says she knows that I still have to work for the weight loss but I still have my days that I regret telling her. I think she feels threatened because her and I go out to lunch about 1 time a week and it just won't be the same. On the other hand, we both bought bikes and now we have been riding bike 3-4 times a week. She is also over weight and trying to lose. The one people in the whole world I will NEVER tell is my in-laws. They are wonderful people but I always feel 'jugded' on some things with them and this I guarantee will be one thing that would be judged. My MIL tells everything to my hubbies sister and niece so they would no and then they would tell and blah blah blah so I am limiting myself to just that. I have a daughter who is 15 (2 months from 16) who is also over weight. We all have those in our lives that are very blunt unfortunately. My daughter asked me the other night 'I will feel really bad if someone says why don't you do what your mother is doing' if I lose weight. I did reassure her that if it comes to that, I will be forth comming and tell them I have a lap band and also 'HOW FREAKEN RUDE TO SAY THAT TO SOMEONE!!' Anyway just my tid bit of rambling. Great job at weight loss everyone. Your doing wonderful!!

:update: There is a place to email allergen (inamed) on their website to get more info on this. Just wanted to let everyone know. Keep your fingers crossed and please send prayers up for us. I am trying to see what I can keep digging up. Thanks everyone!

Thanks for the replies. I have been researching for a while and then today I found that the FDA is doing clinical trials on teens right now. I have emailed them and then called and left a message for more information. We will see what comes out of it. Thanks again!!

Does anyone know of doctors within the US who are placing lapbands on teens. My daughter is 16 and has been obese since 7-8 years old. We have been trying to find more info on this and the only doc I have found is in Mexico. I just am not comfortable taking her out of the states. I will be banded in July (hopefully) but our insurance will not cover her until she is 18. If anyone has any info on this I would really appreciate you sharing. I read a post by another 16 year old on here that she is being banded and the FDA is paying for it. I was just wondering how she got that. I don't know where to even start searching for something like that. Thanks everyone in advance for any info you have to share. My daughter is a pretty determined girl and we are just researching at this point.

Sherri- My heart goes out to you!! My sister just went through this same thing about 1 year ago. She had been married for 7 years, 3 small children and had no idea her hubby was on his way out. He was wonderful for the first few years but then when he turned 29 it got really bad. He complained about what he had in life and didn't have, weight gain and losing his hair (mind you he was only 29....good grief!!!) Anyway, he went to work one Friday and didn't come home after work, somewhat had become the norm. He would go out with guys and they would set up and drink all night but he would usually come home by 3-4 am. This night in particular he didn't come home until 9:30 the next morning. Had every excuse in the world. My sister loving him ever so faithfully, let it go. She didn't believe him but she let it drop for the day. That night we had a family function for a wedding reception with dance. They got there about 6 and he told her they had to go at 7:45. Said he was tired and wanted to go home. Went home, dropped her off. She asked where are you going and he said where ever I want. I will be back. He came home the next morning at 10AM (mother's day last year) and said I am moving out I have found someone else. Walked out and didn't give her a cent. 10 months later he had a baby with 'the other women'. The divorce wasn't even final yet. The family pitched in and helped her but I tell ya we were all soooo worried about her. Now she is 57 lbs lighter, is socialiing with friends again and has a life. She hasn't been like she is now since before she got with him. She is doing so much better and just the other day we were talking about the whole thing. He has bothered her a few times since leaving with one day he wants her back and the next she is worthless. She fell for this a long time. Then we talked her into counseling. It has done her womnders and given her life back. She had stayed home for so many years and done everything for him and now she is living for her daughters and herself. He still gets angry because she doesn't take anything from him now. She has her own life and if he doesn't like something......TOO BAD!! I know what you are going through right now. I too was married before. He cheated on me in the very beginning and even after 10 years of marriage it still hadn't gone away. I honestly don't think that is something people can get past. Good luck to you. You are NOT asking for sympathy. Just compassion. We all need that. Exspecially at times like these. It may seem like you can't do it without him but believe me you can. I am now remarried but I am also a very INDEPENDENT women now. My new hubby and I have the problem that he feels that I don't 'need' him. I do....but I can also take care of myself. Good luck and I hope things work out for you. Come here and talk anytime. We will listen!

I am so excited. Went to doc today for my weigh in. I have seen him for 6 consecutive months but had refused my weight back in January when I went to see him about my weight because I was angry and depresssed about the weight thing and I hadn't even made up my mind about he surgery so I wasn't going to be able to use the month of January. Today when I went in he said to me 'you have been here six months so you have the six months documented.' I said but I refused in January but I do know what I weighed because I had started a diet and I keep logs on my computer. He said 'we'll use that. There is no reason to go another month when we have what we need.' I AM EXSTATIC!!!!! He is faxing all his info to the surgeons office and they can submit to insurance. I have already done all pre op testing (psych eval, nutritionist, echocardiogram, endoscopy, sleep study- 2 nights) except I have to see a pulmonologist before surgery (because I have sleep apnea and I am using a CPAP now) and blood work. I am hoping that everything works out and I can have surgery some time in July. My surgeon requires a 2 week pre op diet so they will allow time for that once they get insurance approval/denial but they told me that they are not booked out so it will happen very soon once they get insurance decision. I am 34 and my BMI is 46.9 and I have diagnosed sleep apnea. I HOPE they don't deny me. I am so ready for this and to start moving on with my life lighter.

Did you get the results of your pulse ox? I hope your insurance pays for the other tests that you have done. My insurance (fortunately) has paid for all the testing so far. I am really hoping I have no problem getting approved. Off to the doc tomorrow for another months weigh in. Wish me luck!

OH yeah!! BTW she has done counseling 3 times in the past. We also have a YMCA membership and she has been going with me. Surgeon told me to start exercising before surgery because the better shape I am in for the surgery the better off I will be during the healing process. I am a very active person already and always have been but I have a BMI of 47.6.

I can totally relate to this. I have a almost 16 year old daughter who was very small and petite until she was about 8-9 years old then she started to get 'husky'. She just kept going up. The last couple of years she has stayed right around 220-230 but she is totally miserable!!! When I started looking into the band for myself (I am yet to be banded. In the process of insurance approval and etc) she asked me if she could do it also. I called our insurance and they will not cover until she is 18. e then talked about going to Mexico but I just can not get myself comfortable with that so we have decided that she will wait until she is 18 and up until then we will keep trying. It is so hard because here I am morbidly obese trying to teach my obese daughter how to eat. Talk about blind leading the blind!! She gets frustrated with me sometimes and she will say 'not all of us can have surgery.' I am so worried about her psychy after I have the surgery. She tries to be sooooo supportive and yet sometimes I feel as though I am 'abandoning' her. Our insurance requires a 6 month supervised diet and they told us they were thinking of increasing that to 12 months so our family doc and DD and I have all talked and we will be working on this supervised diet for the next 2 years. She needs to lose the weight now so we are starting (should have done that a while ago). I hope she can lose the weight on her own over the next 2 years but if not....she will have the dreaded supervised diet over with so she will be clearing her way for surgery if she opts for it. The benefit is she will be seeing first hand front row seat what I have to go through after the band. She will be able to see first hand all the work, dedication and life style change. When she is 18 IF she is still obese, she will be able to make an INFORMED decision about the surgery. The next two years are going to be very hard for her but I am all for waiting until she is at least 18. I myself have struggles most of my adult life with obesity losing 60-70 lbs 2 times only to gain it all back and then some. She is almost 16 and her friends and her go out to eat lunch and sometimes supper now. She has always been accepted and had friends that accept her for who she is but SHE does not accept herself. It is disheartening to see your beautiful daughter dressed in big hooded sweatshirts or zip up coats in June and July when it is so hot to try to hide herself. Today she was with friends and they decided to go swimming and she told them she 'didn't feel well' so that she could get out of it gracefully. So disheartening to see her pull herself out of a group and hang back. She has a great big heart and wants to wear all the pretty girl things and do the girly things ut always feels as through she has to 'hide'. I think banding for alot of teens unfortunately is definately in their futures. I noticed at the high school on several occasions the last couple of years that A LOT of kids are over weight and obese. I don't think we should encourage the surgery but I can tell you I can not wait for the day my daughter can be at a healthy weight and feel ok about herself whether she accomplishes that surgically or naturally. I just want to see her happy and to see her fluorish. She is an A honor roll girl and has a lot to offer. Sorry for such a long post. I am just so happy to see others who deal with the same heart breaking issues with their teens.

Thank you for posting about your 6 years. I am not yet banded but I rarely see anyone post on here that is over 2-3 years out with the band. It was really encouraging for me to read your post and about your success. Congratulations to you on your 3 babies and marriage. You have really accomplished a lot in the last 6 years

Do you have BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF IOWA?

TheLid I have 1 more month. I have seen my doctor every month since January but in January when I went I was so angry about the weight and hadn't made my mind up 100% so I went in to 'talk' to him about my weight but refused to be weighed. Stubborness just gained me another month because I have to have 6 consecutive 'weigh in' months before submiting. I go again tomorrow for another weigh in and I am going to plead with my doctor to fill out a paper for the month of January. We are going on a trip in August so I am hoping to be on the other side of bandland and be well on my way to healing. My doc is really great so I am thinking he will do it. I was there and my weight has not really changed up or down that much (I am down 12 lbs now) so he does have it documented that I was there and we talked about it so I am thinking he can document a weight because I have stayed so close for the past 5 months. Cross your fingers and toes and everything else and please pray for me tomorrow afternoon.

Ditto to what Lucy said. I don't think any of us could have said it better but I know all of us here can relate.

Congratulations to you!!! I am soooo envious. I am finishing up my supervised diet. You are really lucky you didn't have to do it. BCBS told me they would not approve if a person doesn't do that. Lucky you!! Whens the big date? Where are you having it done?

XGRL Lorsbander and I are both seeing Dr Glasscock also. I printed his credentials and took them to my regular PCP and he looked over them and told me Dr G has great credentials. I have also met a few other people who have had surgery by him (rouxenY and lapband) and I have not met one person who doesn't rave about how good he is. Good luck!