BABY-LYN

Different med's have have different effects on weight loss or weight gain. And they also effect every one differently too. Just talk with your doctor about your concerns about gaining weight from the change in meds. be sure to weight yourself when you start taking the new drug so you will have a true idea if you have gained anything. Just don't worry if your weight gains by a pound or two.

I have my fingers crossed on the approval from your insurance. I was denied the first time - the doctor's office submitted my paperwork for approval. So if you are denied you need to call the insurance compay and find out why. My denial was due to the doctor's office leaving out my high blood pressure issue. I have not gotten a doctor here in ga yet. I had my surgery in Chicago and have not been to see a doctor here since i moved back to ga. I'm going to call around this week and talk with some this week. I have not regretted having the surgery once since I did it. I think the only thing I miss is my cokes- especially when i'm really stressed. Be sure to start getting a list of foods that you like that a good sources for Protein. It will be the most important food it you will eat once you have the surgery. Keep us posted on what's happening. :-)

I won't hit my 6 month anniversary till the end of the month but it's coming up fast. I haven't lost has much as I would have liked by now (around 38 lbs). But I guess with being laid off from work and going through that stress my eating has been off - doing alot me stress eating and confort food eating. I am going to be moving to GA at the end of the month and will have to find a new doctor very quickly since I think I need to get another fill and I can't see my current doctor before I leave. Since I have all the time off from working I have to get my self in the rountine of working out every day. I don't have an excuse any longer. Does any body have any advice on how to get motived and to start losing again? Thanks

80sBaby, I'm doing really pretty good. I have lost amost 36 lbs now and haven't gotten into the swing of exercising daily. But since I am no longer working the high stress job that is my new focus, which should help with the weight lost. I do still have to deal with the head hunger but when I realize what I'm doing I pull it back under control. there are times when i will totally forget to eat. I think one of the toughest thing I'm dealing with is trying to retrain my family that I don't eat the way I use to. Most of them don't know that I had surgery. My mother is constantly trying to feed me when I visit. I don't have any regrets about having the surgery. My insurance denied me the first time. Did you ask as to why your insurance won't cover it? Is it something that they don't cover the procedure? If they do cover the procedure but haven't approved it for you, please push to find out why. Sometimes they just want to see who is going to just except the first rejection.

Hello fellow Maconites! I'm a former Maconite who is going to be relocating back in Macon in the next few months. I was banded the end of September in Chicago. I really like my doctor and his team here but since I'm moving back to where there is warmth; I am going to need to find a doctor there. Is there not a doctor in Macon that can do fills and any followup that would be needed? I guess I'm will need to be sure to see my doctor here right before I leave Chicago. Thanks

I had to take a shot once a day for 7 days. It really wasn't a big deal. Just don't give your self the shot in the same spot every day, alternate the side of you tummy each day. And don't rub the spot after you give yourself the shot that will cause bruising. You won't have any problems so don't worrry about it.

It's day 2 post op and everything is going really well. i'm home relaxing between walking around the house. not a lot of pain except for where the port is placed. Having a tough time getting on a schedule for eating vs. drinking. but I think that will be easier to do when i'm not just on true liquids. and i'm no sure that what i'm feeling is being full or not but i am stopping when i do start to feel the pressure for fear that i will over eat. and i don't want to throw up. have to give my self my shot this am so we'll see how that goes. but i have already lost 10 lbs. and i'm happy with that.

:thumbup:To day I'm getting my band in about 2 1/2 hours. and i'm getting very nervous. i really think some of what i'm feeling is from not eating or drinking anythin this morning. I can't believe the day is here. i'm only taking 4 days off from work but i think i can go back on thursday. we'll see. I haven't told any of my family about this and hopefully there won't be a need to tell them for several months. i'll post tomorrow and let you know how it goes. babylyn :thumbup:

Update on my status ... Denial reversed - I'm APPROVED! I called my insurance company last Friday and was able to talk with a very helpful employee. He very clearly explained why I was denied. My paperwork did not include any of the info on my high blood pressure. I got it sent over to the surgeon's office and they faxed it over to BCBS. And today I was approved! i'm so happy! i went to see the pulmonolgist yesterday. i have my breathing test done this Saturday. Then i need to attend my 3 hour class, have an ultrasound on my stomach and attend a support season. Not to much to do, LOL. I hope to possibly get my surgery date soon. i would love to have surgery the first of October since i don't have to travel then for work. :tt2:

i'm really thinking about trying to gain the little amount of weight needed. i have an appt on wed. of next week with the pulimanogist(forgive the spelling)? hopefully they will weight me then. i'll be sure to eat and drink alot over the holiday. i may even wear my heaviest clothes. maybe that will work. i'll keep you all posted. i just really wanted to get started towards my healther life.

what did you do to finally get approved? i was denied because i have a bmi of 38.5 and no uncontrolled comorbilities. i don't know what i should do for the nest step.

i just really feel like BCBS is trying to get out of having to pay for it. what have others done to get an approval from a denial?

I was denied by Empire - BCBS yesterday because my BMI is only 38.5 with no UNCONTROLED comorbitites. But BCBS never said that that was there requirements to meet when i called the to see if they would cover it. the Insurance person that I could call for reconsideration, have a peer reivew or appeal. I don't know what the reconsideration or a peer review involves. do i need to call the insurance company to handle this or what? I called the doctor's office to talk with the person who handles the insurance but they haven't been alot of help. she talks forever to return calls and then we just play phone tag. she said that she would talk with the doctor but didn't know what he would say. and that it wouldn't be until tuesday. since it's the holiday weekend. i don't know if i should just go and start a appeal process? is BCBS just trying to get out of having to cover this? What do i do next? oh, the insurance person said i only had 10 business days to take action? what's that deal ??? Do i just gain the 10 to 15 lbs needed to have the surgery? will the insurance then cover it then or will they give my another hoop to jump through? I hate the thought of having to put on even more weight. i feel so big and uncomfortable already. Any advice ?:biggrin:

Help! My paperwork was faxed to Empire-BCBS on the 20th. I called on the 26th to check on the status and was told that its was on the medical review desk. this morning i get a call from them that i was denied. because my BMI is 38.5 and i have no uncontrolled comorbilities. I have high blood pressure which is curently being controlled by medicine and relaxation technics ( this month that is). she said that i could - call to have it recinsdidered, have a peer reivew or appeal. I don't know what the reconsideration or peer reiview intells? can anybody give me any info?? i have called my surgeon's office but they are not always good about returning phone calls and BCBS said i had 10 business days to take action. My doctor's office also said that we only had 3 appeals and i would hate use them with not knowing what i needed to do. any advice??? My family history has strokes, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure for both of my parents. i don't want to end up like they have. or do i just try to gain the 10 to 15 lbs that i would have to have to met the BMI of 40? and if i do that would that flag something with BCBS? or are they just trying to see if i'll give up? they didn't say anything about having to have a BMI of 40 when i called to see what the requirements were. I'm not giving up if that's what they think saying no will do!!

I am a newbie looking into being banded and how banding will effect my med's is a big concern of mine. I am bipolar - have been stable for several years. i take my med's twice daily and it scares me that banding could really effect my chemical balance. Does anybody have any experience with this? thanks