luv2bingo07

Thank you so much Alexandra and Penni for your replies. I live in Oregon and the company I work for has Regence Life and Health BC/BS insurance. This is what the Exclusion says in my benefits booklet: Treatment For Obesity Or Weight Control Surgery or treatment (including any later complications), even if you or your enrolled dependent has other medical conditions related to or caused by obesity. Specifically excluded are: gastric stapling or bypass procedures, weight loss programs, counseling, hypnosis, biofeedback, neurolinguistic programming, guided imagery, and other forms of relaxation training as well as subliminal suggestion used to modify eating behavior. That's all it says. Nothing about gastric banding specifically, but it pretty much seems to cover any and all obesity surgeries. My health is getting really bad and I know truly for a fact that it can get better with help. I am a smoker and it is either help with weight loss and then quit smoking or nothing. I quit smoking for about 4 months once, gained almost 30 pounds and started smoking again because of stress. Yes, please pray for me and I believe something will happen with this for the better! :-) Hugs to you both, Judy

Hello all, I hope this is not good bye to this wonderful site, but I called my insurance today and found out that any surgery or treatment for obesity is a strict exclusion!. I didn't know whether or not to punch a whole in the wall or my company presidents face! I cannot believe that we were all told several months ago that our insurance policy had been changed or revised and that there are soooooo many freakin exclusions in it that SHOULD NOT be there! I do not know what to do now. :cry I was so excited to become a bandster with everyone, but it looks like it may not happen and I can go find a nice high bridge. Just overdramatizing. Don't worry, I know that won't solve anything. I am just beside myself with anger and being so upset I could punch someone. Really, I am in no way a violent person, but this was a horrible end to a lousy day anyway. My credit absolutely sucks and so a loan is seriously out of the question. I have no rich relatives either. LOL So, needless to say, any help, advice, encouragement, etc. would be sooo appreciated. So sorry for venting like this. Judy

Hello all and thanks to everyone who replied to my introduction post. I have been mulling through all kinds of questions that will probably be answered on my journey to being banded, but thought I would go ahead and ask a few now. First is: From all the research I have done, I have read that one of the liquids you should not drink is milkshakes. One, because they have too much sugar, and two, they are heavier to go down to and through the stomach. Is this true? Maybe you water them down or something? Second is: I have read also that you should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day or more to not get dehydrated. Well, water is filling so how is that possible? lol Third: Probably the biggest question on my mind is can you drink milk? Nonfat of course. I Looooovvvvveee milk, and I reaaaallyyy do not want to give it up completely. Fourth: When it comes to mushy foods, I was thinking of a mushy type of food that my mom would feed us when we were little and that was mashed bananas and cottage cheese. lol Would that be too much or ok? Finally? Through my research I read that after having a Lap Band placed, then the vitamin needs can be met my just simple taking a disolved or crushed Flintstone vitamin once a day and you are good to go. Ok, I think I covered everything. Thanks to everyone who reads and replies to this message in advance. Judy p.s. Just in case anyone is curious, I am 6'1, and weigh 396 lbs.

Hello everyone, I am a total newbie to this board and am so glad I found it. I have not only researched the Lap Band surgery, but everything else that goes with it. One of the requirements is that I was required to attend an Informational Seminar about both weight loss surgeries. We were given an application at the end of the seminar and I filled it out and sent it so the insurance approval and so on can be done. I only went through with this whole step by step deal because I knew that the Band would be the answer to my miserable heavy and uncomfortable life. Also, my PCP said I have great insurance and she said they would cover the surgery. I know I will have many questions along the way, and I know you all here will help answer them since most of you are pros on this subject. :laugh Ok first question. Does anyone know if Lymphedema can be lessened or cured with weight loss from such a surgery? The swelling from that condition(I refuse to say disease), is so much weighing me down and making me miserable. Well, that is it for now, so thanks to all that read my post and reply. Sincerely, Judy