wantlapband

How is BCBS New England? Do they take long for approval?

If I do get approved, trust me I will do everything I can to keep the weight off. I am in this 100% for the rest of my life. I went to a seminar that you had to attend before seeing a surgeon and alot of these people were complaining about not being able to eat normal before and right after, and asking why do they have to see the doc every month for the first year for a fill, all the complaints, those are the people that want the quick fix. I am not that person. This surgery will probably affect my entire life which I am ready for. I want to be fit again and healthy. I was all my life, I was happy that way. I am very depressed being this big, it gets in my way of doing normal things in life. I am too embarassed to go in public sometimes, I won't go to class reunions or to see my husbands family because of my weight. I have a sister in law that tells me every year in July when they come for a visit that I am heavy and maybe I should surprise the family and lose weight. I am not as active now, I get out of breath easy, even walking up the stairs. Even if I only have a BMI of 35, I am still obese, I am over 200, 80 lbs over what I use and should weigh. I was never obsese as a child or in HS or after, it came on in my late 30's. My docs all agree that losing weight will make me happy, I have cried to them many times about it. They understand completely and that is why they support me on this surgery, they know I will give 100%.

Oh another question for everyone. After I meet with the surgeon will he set a surgery date if he feels I can have the procedure done, and then submits the paper work for approval. I know there are other appts you have to go to before surgery, I already have a psychiatrist that I see for meds so that will be easy, he will def. approve me to be fit for surgery, maybe I should make an appt to see him now? What do you think? Thanks !

Diva, I am using Brigham and Womens Hospital since that is the hospital my cardiologist and other doctors I had for surgeries are at. Dr. Goldhaber (my doctor) only wants me to use Dr. Lautz. I read all the terms on the BCBS website. I was approved for xenical but it is not working, been on it for more than 2 months, and like I said I can't take other meds due to my irregular heart beats and blood clots, they won't prescribe them to me, and plus I'm on blood thinners for the rest of my life. I know doctors have a way to work around things so I'm hoping they will write up something for me to get approved. I think I should be approved. My mom died at 59 of a massive heart attack, heart disease runs in my family on the family side, no one has lived past 59. Oh, I'm disabled because of my condition, have been for 4 years now. I can't wait to see the doc next week

Hi, BCBS New England (MA) said they will cover surgery if my BMI is 35 as long as I meet the requirements which I am sure I do. I have called and spoke to them regarding this a while ago, but its the doctors who have to submit all the paperwork to the insurance company to get approved. MY PCP is 100% for it for me, she knows I have struggled with my weight for about 7-8 years now. My cardiologist said it would actually be a good thing for me. I can't work out up to my capacity because of my chronic vensus insufficieny and irregular heart beats, I get all puffy, sore and my heartrate goes out and I start to get chest pains even being on my beta blocker. I use to be an avid gym goer and very thin (120) before all my health issues. Anyways...the I'm sure my doctors will work around a way for me to get approved. It beats paying for all the other stuff my insurance has been paying for me. I'm pretty expensive to maintain :eek:... ($4,000 a month just for lovenox).. Anyone have any input would be appreciated. Thanks! Debbie

Hello, I am going to the first seminar on lapbanding on April 11th at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. They said this was the first process. Has anyone else had surgery at B&W's for lapband? I was just wondering how long the process is. I've been reading different posts and some waiting periods are months. I have HMO Blue of New England. I called them to find out about the coverage for this surgery. It's 100% covered, only $10 office co-payments. 100% full coverage for hospital stay. I have had surgery at B&W before to have my gallbladder removed while I was 3 months pregnant. I have also had my last two deliveries there only because I was high risk, one from being so sick with gallbladder disease and the last one for developing DVT's in my upper extremities from a pic line, but I still get new clots once in a while, but I'm on blood thinners. My cardiologist is in Boston. Oh, I've had a lump removed from my wrist a few years back there too. So I love B&W and feel comfortable having surgery there. I have been very over weight for 5 years now. It keeps creeping up on me, no matter how much I work out. I think I could starve myself and it would not work at this point in my life. I'm 40. I want to live long enough to see my children grow up. Did anyone have to write up what kind of diets they have tried or keep a journal or anything like that? Oh, how come they make you see a psych? I do have one because I see one for my medicine for my depression. My depression is under control has been for years. Will that have an effect on having lapband surgery? The main reason I get blue sometimes is because I do not like how I look or feel. I don't like to go places because of my weight, it wears me down and I always been ugly and gross. I never want people from my past to see me, as to afraid of the comments they might make. But thank you all for you posts. I'll keep you posted on the results from the seminar. Thanks !

I am 5' 4", I was just going by the charts...maybe I am higher, which would be to my advantage.

oh I fogot if I do get approved my insurance company pays 100% including hospital stay and all tests..etc....

Hi, I'm looking into the lapband surgery myself. I am 205 and my bmi is 35. I work out, tried different diets, nothing seems to work. I haven't been over weight all my life. I was always 110 - 115 lbs, until after my 3rd child when I had complications from a pic line induced blood clot (clots). I am going to a seminar at Brigham and Womens in Boston. That is where my cardiologist is, (he is the blood clot gurue (sp), that way if I get approved he will be in the process also. I have a history of heart disease in my family. My mom passed away at 59 almost 3 years ago from a massive heart attack. Her mom died the same way at the same age, and so on in the family. Its on the female side. High blood pressure on my dads side and strokes. I have had a history of DVT's in my upper extremities (rare). I have an irregular heartbeat, but take meds for it and for the DVT, a blood thinner lovenox, I ended up being allergic to coumadin after 4 years being on it. Anyways..sorry so long. I really want to have the lapband done. I'm just afraid that they might say no. Has anyone else had DVT's and have been able to have the lapband done? Also, anyone ever go to B&W in boston? Thanks for all your help. Debbie