beachgurl84

IT'S A MIRACLE DRUG!!! Seriously! I tried the Patches, the lozenges, and cold turkey. Tried them all many times. And I could never get past the first 3-4 days. I knew I needed some serious help. Chantix has a 44% success rate vs. 7% with the patches. I know they list a lot of bad side effects, but with stats like that, it's worth taking a chance. The first week I continued to smoke as instructed. By the end of the first week, I felt so...weird smoking. Nothing particularly wrong. Kind of a tightness in my chest, maybe a not so right in the stomach feeling. You are supposed to set your quit day and just stop smoking on that day. I set mine for the day I would run out of cigarettes. I ran out that morning (had 3 left when I woke up). Smoked all 3 before work and i remember being bummed when I realized I had already smoked the last one. For the first week, I would go most of the day and not even realize I hadn't smoked. Sometimes I got almost a panicky feeling. Again, a tightness in my chest. Like I was missing something and didn't know what it was. I just took deep breaths and the feeling passed. The weekend after I quit (quit on a tuesday) I had an actual nicotine craving for the first time. It was bad, I won't lie. BUT, it was NOTHING compared to what I went through on the patches before. This one I could overcome easy. Well, not easy, but definitely doable. I actually took up crochet because I couldn't sit still any more. Seriously, after work I couldn't relax because I was so used to having something to do with my hands. That helped. The first two weeks of no smoking was mostly a mental challenge. I kept having to remind myself I don't smoke anymore. I'd get in the car and think "Time to smoke", then remember that's not me anymore. Same with all the other habits we associate smoking with. Just kept reminding myself till the thoughts no longer popped into my head at those times. I'm 6 weeks nicotine free tomorrow and to be honest, I still feel a slight craving. It's nothing I can't get through. Just remember to follow the directions. ALWAYS eat something when you take it. You will be very sick on your stomach if you don't. You will have vivid dreams (I've had some pretty great ones ) So far I haven't tried to kill anyone, or thought suicidal thoughts or anything like that. I have had a case of paranoia that I didn't have before. Just something I have to deal with because I watched too many scary movies as a kid. Other than that, this is a miracle drug. It's given me back my freedom from nicotine. No more fortune spent on cartons of cigarettes or making my budget every month to afford them. And I've spent plenty of time around other smokers in the last few weeks too and i've been able to easily get through any craving that might have caused. I think about smoking now sometimes. How I miss it. Then it dawns on me I'm dreaming about inhaling SMOKE and CRAP into my lungs and I am so thankful to be victorious in this battle. Anyway, that's my rambling about Chantix. I hope you find a way to quit that works for you. I don't know that I would have ever quit without this medication.

I just received a phone call from my surgeon's office. The PA told me my insurance approval had been received and they were ready to schedule my surgery date. I WAS SHOCKED!! I didn't even know they had submitted to insurance yet. Ok, a little back story since I haven't posted in a while. I have BCBS NC which prior to July 1, 2014, required a 6 month diet plan. As of 7/1/14, they eliminated that requirement clearing the way for me to have surgery sooner rather than later. The only hiccup, I was a smoker. My surgeon's office required 3 nicotine test to be negative at 30 day intervals. I started Chantix in August and have been nicotine free since 8/12/14. I thought the surgeon's office was going to wait till all three nicotine test were done before submitting. What a wonderful surprise to get today!!!! So, I am scheduled for surgery on 11/19/14!!!!!

Hi @@primal, Sorry, I have no answers or information for you. I'm looking for info myself Will you keep us posted on information you find or what your doctors tell you? My dad is interested in WLS and he is same age/weight as you. He's had a very hard time getting information from his VA doctor though so he hasn't really pursued it much.

UPDATE: I had my last cigarette at 6 am on 8/12. I HAVE HAD NO NICOTINE SINCE HAPPY DAY!

I asked my doctor about using one of the zero % e-cigs and she was concerned it was too close to the real habit. That I wouldn't be satisfied with just that and end up going back to regular cigs.

@@Bufflehead, Good point. I carry my own insurance so I didn't even think about it being different through an employer.

@@Forsythia, I called at first and the customer service rep told me there were no requirements and I just had to meet the BMI requirement. They had no idea what I was asking for. I specifically asked them "is there a 6 month pre-op program requirement." They said no. I didn't trust their answer so I called a week later and asked to speak to someone in prior review, that's when I learned BCBS NC did have a 6 month requirement (this was before the policy change), and the psych & NUT requirements. So when you call to ask, ask them to email you the corporate policy or direct you to it. That's what the guy in prior review did which cleared everything up.

When you don't get enough calories to support your physical activities, your body can "store" fat. It can cause your metabolism to drop and actually cause you to gain wait. This isn't just for bariatric patients (I'm pre-op myself), this is in general. When you take in the right amount of calories, not too many, your body has fuel to burn plus it will use the stored calories to burn as well. Actually, that's a good analogy. It's like a car trying to run on fumes. You can't get anywhere with that. But when there's gas in the tank, you can go faster and further and still burn fuel.

Good morning everyone, So I found out in July that my insurance removed the 6 month pre-op diet requirement and there is now no time frame on waiting for my surgery. However, I'm a smoker. I knew going into this I would have to quit smoking and to be honest, I was quite excited about having something so motivational to help me do that. My surgeon wants to see 90 days nicotine free with nicotine test every 30 days. Which means the patch or any other nicotine replacement therapy will only prolong my wait. So my doctor put me on Chantix a few days ago. Nothing special to report yet, I'm only on day 4. Has anyone else done this pre-op? I haven't talked to my surgeon yet but I'll be off Chantix before the surgery anyway. I have already noticed a difference in my desire to smoke. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE SMOKING. Everyone that smokes, likes smoking. I also like eating. Which is why I'm taking drastic steps to make myself healthier in both areas. My husband and I wanted to consider kids in the next few months but we've put that off for the surgery. I want kids more than I want to smoke or eat. I'd really love to hear from others that took Chantix or even Zyban pre-op to prepare for surgery. How long were you on it and how long after did you have your surgery? I know I can read reviews and everything online but I'd really love to hear personal input from those in this unique position. Thanks!

When I went for my information session I was told I didn't have to lose weight, but I absolutely could not gain weight. They said it's because it's getting harder and harder to get insurances to approve surgeries if you gained weight during your pre-op program.

@@EddysLady4Life Can you keep us posted on your progress with Chanix? I have a PCP appointment 8/4 and I'm going to ask for a prescription. I've tried everything else but there is a physical ache with withdrawal that non-smokers wouldn't understand. I'm a little concerned because of all the adverse side-effects but the long term effects of smoking are so much worse. My surgeon is requiring me to be nicotine free for 90 days before surgery. So as soon as I can successfully get the nicotine out of my system I can schedule my surgery.

I have bcbsnc but I'm having my surgery in PA. My surgeon's office specifically mentioned high mark having the 6 mo requirement and being difficult about approval. I don't know why, that's all they said.

@@lark60 Are you a veteran? The reason I ask is my mother has PTSD from non-combat related situations (harassment in the work place I think). She receives VA disability for "unemployability" due to the same thing you described. If not, perhaps one of the state/gov funded programs provides disability payment for a similar category. I don't think they usually do unless you are physically disabled or mentally unstable. If your therapist is willing to provide documentation to support your claim, you should be able to find an income supplement while seeking treatment.

There are other good medications besides omeprazole. I was put on protonix (pantoprazole) years ago for acid reflux. Later, I had to switch docs and insurance companies and my new doc told me the insurance wouldn't pay for protonix (because it's expensive) unless I "failed" the cheaper medication (omeprazole). This is how I discovered my only medication allergy. I'm one of the very few people allergic to omeprazole. I broke out in hives from it. So now I get protonix. So yes, you have options for other medications. Some do work better for some people than others. Just talk to your doc and go from there. A little warning though, protonix works too well sometimes. I don't know about omeprazole, but I could only take protonix for about 2-3 days then have to go off it for a day or two because it causes constipation. But it worked because I was able to get my acid reflux under control enough that now I only have to avoid certain foods and take no medication. I still take tums once in awhile but considering I used to feel like I had a blazing hot Iron poker down my chest, a few tums is no biggie.

@@mitzie46 How bad is your GERD post-op? I have it now (pre-op) but it's triggered by certain foods/drinks. I don't take any medication for it, mostly because I'm allergic to omeprazole. I do have to eat Tums like candy on occasion when I've eaten something I shouldn't. My surgeon said this was a concern of his for me getting the sleeve but he said only about 10% of people experience trouble with GERD related to the surgery and that since I can control mine with better food choices, I should be ok.

@@MichelleTN I'm 5'6" and 295ish. I'm getting the sleeve in about 3 months. I told my surgeon I thought the lap band would be useless for me and the re-routing of the intestines freaked me out. Not to mention all the Vitamins taken like every two hours for the rest of your life just seemed like waaaaay too much maintenance. Don't get me wrong, many people are successful with the bypass and I applaud their success. For me, I know I won't lose as much in the first year with the sleeve, but it will be enough to get me in the right direction. And potentially, both surgeries can have the same results if you work hard enough. Anyway, I just wanted to throw out there why I'm choosing the sleeve even though the bypass would give better results. My surgeon had no problem with my decision when I met with him last week.

Ahhhhh yes, I think we all misunderstood. You weren't asking WHAT to do in that situation, you were asking WHEN could you do that situation. I think we were all scratching our heads wondering why somebody was apparently tying you down and pouring wine down your throat, LOL Well, I certainly can't help there but being pre-op myself, you've inspired a lot of people to offer some sound advice and suggestions here for various situations. Thanks everybody

ok, I haven't had my surgery yet (hopefully in about 3 months) but I have to throw in my two cents. First, I applaud your planning and thinking ahead about how this will change your life. I've heard of some that don't think this far in advance and it ends up having many negative impacts on their life. I will be telling only close friends and family (nobody at work). Many people in my family are overweight and if they see the results, maybe they'll consider lifestyle changes for themselves. If I could inspire my family to be healthier, this surgery will be successful not just for me, but for them as well. That being said, my active circle is not healthy and fit as you described yours so I understand your situation is different. My family functions tend to revolve around food because that's how we were raised. If somebody is visiting, we eat. If somebody gets married, we eat. Dies, travels, celebrates, etc., we eat. So not only do I want them to be healthier, I'll have a lot more explaining to do so I won't be able to hide it if I wanted to. Here are some suggestions that you may find useful though: 1) You said your social circle is fit and healthy and right now you're the odd ball for that. Perhaps you are over thinking how much importance they place on food during your gatherings. Isn't that the point of the surgery and lifestyle change? To take the importance away from food in your life? If they are fit and healthy, then I doubt they place as much significance on the meal. They are probably thinking more about the company and the activity with friends. Maybe that's what you should focus on. When you get together with friends, instead of planning a meal, why not suggest something new. A hike (maybe take along a picnic with healthy tidbits)? 2) Some people mentioned medication as an excuse. Since you are overweight (as we all are), you could tell your friends your doctor is concerned about diabetes and has put you on metformin as a preventative measure (completely legit, my doctor did it to me and I'm not diabetic). Not only can you not drink alcohol with metformin, but it also helps burn belly fat so that could explain weight loss (not a drastic amount, but some). This way you have a medication as an excuse without telling them you have some new disease or sickness you'll have to explain later. 3) As a last resort consider this.... Yes it's scary for all of us to consider the way our lives will change. What do we do with ourselves when we're not eating? But the point of this surgery is to be healthier. Are you willing to risk your health because of what your friends might think if you don't drink a glass of wine? Tell them your just trying to be healthier and that includes a bit of detox. Once they start seeing the results of your decision, they won't question or criticize (once you brush them off a time or two). They'll be happy and encouraging even if they don't know what they're encouraging. At least, if they're real friends they will. If they don't, then they're definitely not worth stressing over.

So sad now to know I have to go find a doctor that will stick their finger in my butt. Sorry @@BitterSweet*, I was really hoping it was the other way around.

Whoa you get this done at every pap test? I've never had that done, thank god! You might want to try a different doctor if yours is sticking their finger up your butt everytime they do an exam. I've never had this done during a pap.

I'm Curious... Are you saying they have removed the 6 month non-surgical weight production policy?? If so, that sucks like a big dog. i've wasted the last 6 months and 120 in copays. uggghhhhhh..... Unfortunately for you (fortunately for those of us just starting) yes, that is what has happened. No more 6 month medically supervised diet program. Yes, you may have wasted some time and $$$, but look at is this way, at this point you should be able to get a surgery date asap and approval should be a breeze. The rest of us still have appointments like psych eval and NUT before we get that close. Sorry you had to go through it, but can't say I'm not thankful it's happened for myself.

I've been looking for this change since it was announced towards the end of June. Actually, I was practically stalking the website yesterday waiting for them to update. I wanted to read the fine print ASAP!!! So happy to see they haven't added some other crappy requirement in its place. My first appointment with my surgeon is TOMORROW so I can't wait to go in there and hopefully leave with a plan.

Hi Everyone, I have BCBS NC and as of yesterday they have eliminated to 6 month diet requirement. That's right, NO TIME LINE!!! I had a really hard time getting details when I started this journey on what my plan required for approval but I finally did. I thought I'd share how you too can get your medical policy detailing the requirements if your searching through "mud" like I was. It's pretty simple (but takes us forever to think of it)..... Google "BCBS SA (state abbreviation) Corporate Medical Policy". This should take you to a page that list all the medical procedures covered by BCBS in your state that have approval requirements. In NC it's listed as "Surgery for Morbid Obesity" but I know in CA it's listed as "Bariatric Surgery". So search the list for one of the names (Might be "Weight Loss Surgery", who knows). Your policy will start out describing the various types of procedures covered (i.e. bypass, sleeve, lapband) and then it will list the details of the approval criteria in the Policy Guidelines section. One thing I noticed with the NC policy when I found out it might be changing....the last review date was June 2013. They review yearly. However, they did the review in June, approved the change July 1, and made it effective July 15. So if your review was over a year ago, you can probably expect a new document soon that may have different requirements. Hope this helps!

Hi Lexibelle, I did a quick search for you just like I did for our policy. I googled "BCBS CA Corporate Medical Policy". I found the BCBS CA list of medical policies that have requirements before approval. Here is the link: https://www.blueshieldca.com/provider/authorizations/clinical-policies/medical-procedures/policy.sp Where as NC list it as "Surgery for Morbid Obesity," CA list it as "Bariatric Surgery." PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK your plan because from what I see, your plan does require 6 months (pg 3) . I'm sorry, I'm not trying to get in your business or anything. I just know I had one heck of a time sorting out the "mud" in the NC policy and if someone had pointed me in the right direction I would have been grateful. Good luck to you and please let us know what you find

Just checked and it's POSTED!!! https://www.bcbsnc.com/assets/services/public/pdfs/medicalpolicy/surgery_for_morbid_obesity.pdf 6 MONTH REQUIREMENT REMOVED!!!! There are some other changes so we need to review in detail but WOOHOO!!!