NikkiD

Hi! I also hope to be banded in March. I have my last visit with the dietician Feb. 25th and I have already completed all tests. Just hoping my insurance, which is CareFirst BCBS, is quick with their approval. My deductible starts over April 1st and I would love to get this done before then. Good luck to all of you. I look forward to all of your updates.

Hello everyone...this is something I would be interested in learning more about also. I complete my 6 month supervisored diet/excercise plan on Feb. 25th. Jlobyxmas good luck on the rest of you journey..I hope you have great success.

I also have BCBS and am required to follow a 6 month supervised weight loss program. My understanding is it has to be 6 consecutive months where your weight loss and diet are documented. My surgeon is actually part of a weight loss center that has dieticians, excercise trainers and therapists all in one office. Feb. 25th is my last month so i'm almost there. I understand your dissappoint but try to look at the positive. By doing this it will help you adapt to and understand the lifestyle changes you will have to make after you get banded. You will learn the right foods and the right amount of those foods to eat. It will also get you into the habit of excercising if you aren't already. Take full advantage of this requirement its not all bad. Good luck!

Feb. 25th is the end of my 6 month weight loss program. The next step is waiting on approval from the insurance company. I am hoping someone out there has the same insurance and can give me an idea on how long it took them to approve the surgery??? Thanks

Hi all I am getting close to completing my 6 month supervised weight loss program..YEAH!! I know my insurance covers the surgery for the band but I actually just thought about the fills being covered. For those that have already had fills...does your insurance cover those? Thanks

Thanks for the responses..I have a BCBS PPO plan also. Good luck Yellow!!

I know I was told I had to quit smoking cigs 2 months prior to having the surgery or they wouldn't do it. As far as after I couldn't help with since I haven't been banded yet. I don't see where there would be a problem with that though. Sorry I couldn't help more. Good luck with your surgery

I agree you katie bug. If this thread isn't something you are into don't read it. No need to be hateful to others.

Hello all I have been reading the posts on this site for several weeks now however, this is my first. I had my psych eval today and was told by the therapist that I had to quit smoking at least 2 months prior to surgery. Has anyone else been told this? I was aware that the surgeon I am seeing requires you to quit at least 2 weeks prior to surgery in order to reduce the risk of complications during surgery. I was prepared for that but 2 months?? Arrgh. I am on my 6th month of the weight loss program that I am required to complete and if this smoking thing is true my hopes of having the surgery by the end of March aren't looking to good. Does anyone know if they actually test your nicotine levels as part of the pre-admission testing? I know this may seem to be a trivial thing but qutting cigs isn't an easy task. Thanks

Maddy you need to do what is best for you and only you can decide that. A true friend will not judge they will stand beside you. Your mom needs to understand this isn't about her. It's about you so you do what is necessary to get you through it.

My insurance also requires a 6 month physician supervised program. While this is time consuming it does have its postives. For example meeting with a dietician and being able to discuss the types of foods that are good for me and how to eat in moderation has been very helpful. Also, getting myself used to an excercise routine has been a big thing. Take what information they give you and grow from it. It will help you in the long run. Look at it as a tool to achieve your goal.

I was thinking that myself but am worried the therapist won't give me a thumbs up for the surgery if I don't go along with it. My insurance and surgeon require a psych eval prior to surgery. Thanks for the response.

Thanks for quick response. I was told today at my psych eval that I had to quit smoking cigarettes 2 months prior to surgery. I'm stressing over that...hopefully the don't test nicotine levels either. Although I will give it my best shot, quitting isn't something that can be done easily.

I also partake in smoking occasionally. I do not have a date set yet so I should have plenty of time to make sure I would pass a drug test. Just wondering though if testing for marijuana is part of the pre admission testing?