DEBPROBST

I just got my official approval today. I am BCBS IL and mine ws submitted on the 1st of May.

Hi Ilikebunnies..lol I love the name I too Like you was very skeptical about the rumors. I however went to the BCBS IL site and checked there. They do not require the 6 month diet anymore, they do state that you have to be properly educated and understand what you are about to do. I went in and looked it up under the medical policies there and it stated way at the bottom of the what seemed like 100 page document that they had made the changes earlier this year. The only thing that I would be concerned about is what you company has for exclusions and if they have anything attached to what is needed or not needed. I am awaiting the approval as we speak. Mine was submitted on the 1st and I have still to hear back on it. I cant wait to know one way or the other cause I really just want to know if there is something else that I must do. I will report back when I hear back!!

Just posting to say I found the group and have Joined. Hi All!!

Well...I am doing way better than I thought..I have another 3 lbs gone since yesterday! that is 10 total so far this week. Im in shock. However as you all know, the more weight you have to loose the first drops fast..then it becomes the challenge!! But Ill take it....30 more to go!! I am not doing the broth and Water yet since I still have to weigh in on the 8th...But it will be cake compaired to having all this weight on my poor little body. I am determined..just hope that stays with me!!

I started the liquid diet on Monday with 3 shakes a day. Doctor just wants me to loose weight before surgery and get the fat out of my liver (if its fatty). I have lost 7 lbs since monday and am doing fine. I drink about 60 - 70 ounces of water a day too which is flushing out my system. I just hope that the hunger stays away and that I wont cave in on this.

I know exactly how you feel. I havea HUGE BMI Number (80) and have to lose 50 lbs total for him to do the surgery. It is cool with me cause I have 15 gone already!! Just 35 more to go. I have until May the 8th and then I should have my surgery on the 24th. I am Horribly obese and am way looking forward to the band surgery!! Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I am doing Protein shakes 3 times a day until the surgery date..want to make the surgery as easy as I can for me and the Doctor. I have 14 days to drop 35 lbs...but I can do it...or at least be VERY close!! If I can do it, you can too...it just takes a bit of willpower and you will benefit from it very quickly!! Good Luck!! BTW where do I get a ticker??

I am just starting this whole process with this and cant wait. I began this all about 2 years ago and got so frustrated with the Insurance that I gave up and went back to yo yo dieting. guess what? I gained MORE weight!! Alas finally BCBSIL has changed their Medical policy and most of the hoops i was struggling with are non existant. I go to see my surgeon for a consult on the 24th, see my psychologist on the 17th and have an appt with my PCP to order my labs for tomorrow. I am nervous as I have never had a surgery..Please tell me that is normal!!

That is just plain HORRIBLE! I cant belive that they went and got into the itty bitty details. Shame on them!! However they sound like my hubbys insurance - Qual Choice..they dont cover Dink!

So they consider Surgery a program? I would ask them to define what a program is and how they feel that surgery is a "program". My insurance company told me that they do not cover those kinds of things also..but they said that would be like, Jenny Craig, Or Weight Watchers..those kind of things, which would make sense to me. that is just not right in any regard. Remind me to never accept your insurance. I have BCBS of IL with my work, and they are being decent. Friendly and telling me how to get the info that they need. The customer support staff are really nice and telling me little *clues* on what I need..lol it is very amazing! I cannot for the life on me tho see how an insurance company can see a person who is more than 100 lbs over weight and KNOW that they have health issues and not approve the surgery. If it was something that people were doing for cosmetic reasons, then yes..I can see that. Insurance should be for medical necessity...Cosmetic should be the persons dime. Dont you agree? I hope that is goes well for you in the mean time..when do you have surgery? You will have to let me know how it goes and how you are feeling.

I am so with you girl. I heard from My surgeons office today and the insurance wants more information. I think I am going to write them a letter and let them know what it is like to be me. The difficulties in walking, and shopping and everything else!! I wonder if they can even fathom what it is like to walk a mile in our bodies..lol So you are in Arkansas..what part? A few of us are here actually some with the surgery and some of us waiting. I am sorry that you have to go through the self pay mode. did you not appeal the decision? If my insurance company even thinks about denying me..I am going to appeal them to high heaven..lol I ahve already written a letter just waiting to hear back from them about what they want. The letter got to my docs office today and I am hoping it is waiting for me at home so I can fax them some information! Sometimes I think that being nice gets you no where and I hate having to resort to being.Ermm..Forceful? lol But it is not above me..lol

Lisa~ I just read your post and am floored. I like so many others here can relate. I am just so thrilled reading about your success! I just cant wait until I get my surgery done and over with. I am 43 years old and have a 7 year old that I want to enjoy life with again! Things are so much easier when you are living in a body that you control and it doesnt control you. When I read about leg crossing..I laughed cause I thought to myself, that is one thing that I cant wait to do. Folding my legs under me too without cutting off the circulation too will be nice..lol Congrats again and thank you oh so much for sharing. You are beautiful..inside and out! Keep on the right track we are all cheering for you!! :confused:

Hi Dodgedt.. I can sort of relate to how you feel without the support of family. I had to sell my husband on the band, and even tho I am still to have my surgery...It took some time to win him over. He said that I can lose weight..why do this? isnt this drastic? that sort of line. Then I took him to the seminar with me and he heard the information and realized that this is not what is going to make the weight go away, that I will also have to work at it. I think that his concern was that if it comes too easy then I will be more apt to not work at making the changes that I need to stay thinner and healthy. Good concern I guess but he also has to realize that this is the untimate sacrifice for many of us. I know I for one love food. Ice cream, potatoe chips..Chocolate, burgers, french fries..all the things that are not good for me are the most appealing. Did I mention cheesecake? lol Anyways..once hubby read some and I would send him links to things I had read. I also had him help me read and do research on what the surgeon I was looking into using had as a reputation. Including him and making him feel like this was something that we are doing together helped him overcome his objections and such. Now he helps me shop for stuff that I can eat. My BMI is so high that the doc would like me to drop some weight before surgery and wants me on the pre op diet at least a month prior to surgery, but I ve started now. 2 Protein shakes a day and a salad for lunch and then I eat dinner. In a little over a week, ive dropped 10 lbs already and I am really not doing anything in terms or exercise and stuff. Another way to help get your family on board is to let them know that even tho you are doing this for you and your health, it will also be beneficial to them. You will be happier, healthier and more than likely more energetic and keep them on their toes!! lol If you ever just want someone to bounce some stuff off of Im here - As are a lot of others of course. We are all taking this journey for life...our life and those of who we love. GL Deb :confused:

Doesnt it suck that the insurance companies are being so hard on some of us? I mean, do they think that this is all a joke? I often wonder what the person thinks when they see someone like me on their desk who has a history of being overweight MORBIDLY OBESE as they say for just about all of my life, and then they are like no..we dont have the proof that you have tried to lose eight before...Get real! Sorry It just irks me to no end. Along with having to go through the hoops and loops that they send us through, do they for one minute not realize that this is our life that we are dealing with?From what I seen last year in what the Company alone pays for my benefits..the surgery was paid for about 3 years ago..lol <end of rant now> :confused:

Ya Jeff and i were gonna do A lunch but His wifey came into town so he went with her to lunch..lol We were gonna be good and have salad. So now Im here nibbling on my grapes and yoogurt..hahah. I used to bring those Special K bars, But I am eating way too many Carbs ( I am the Carb Queen), so I made hubby take them from me. Hes a good co worker for a guy :-P