chriper

I am really sorry that you feel that way, especially at 20. No matter your size, you should know that you are a person of beauty and worth if for no other reason than God saw fit to make you. I pray that you use this waiting period to really get to know yourself, appreciate yourself, and love yourself. If you do that it will make the wait that much more easier as well as your recovery afterwards. I would suggest that you get back out and enjoy your life. hang out with friends, take the time to make new ones, get moving, and get ready for your improved life.

Best of luck and continued success.

Wow I can't wait!

Ok as the days tick away and I am now 19 days away from changing my life, I am beginning to become excited. I can't stop thinking about getting off of blood pressure pills, or going shopping to NY and Co and being able to buy more than the jewelry! Someone tell me, how long before you started dropping dress sizes?

I am scheduled for 9/29 so the countdown has begun! BTW Danide I'm glad things went smoothly. Happy healing!

OK today's a better day. I apologize for my temper tantrum yesterday but I was just frustrated. Anyhoo my mom and grannie are coming and wouldnt have it any other way. I begin my liquid diet on Tuesday so until then I'm just watching what I eat and trying to prepare myself. The official countdown has begun, 20 days and counting. :wink:

We definitely can. I need a band buddy to track my results with. I dn't now how to "friend"someone on this site so if you know how let me know.

Well I'm not scheduled for my procedure on the 29th but all the support that was there before hand is now lost at sea. My mom is going to try and make it but she has to care for my elderly grandmother whose wheel chair bound herself. My sister who was supposed to come is now unable becuase she starts school 2 days prior. I tell you as soon as there's a little bit of joy, there's always something or someone to try and steal it away. I refuse to allow it to happen. If i have to ask a friend or my pastory, I will make it on 9/29/10.

true that!

thanks for the warning, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for that.

It only took about a week for approval. I called to check on the paperwork once to confirm they received it, and about a week later and it had already been approved and mailed out. Before apply/submitting my paperwork I spoke with a BCBS rep on the phone and we reviewed my expenses. Since I have the PPO and its an outpatient procedure, i have no copay at all. So far all I've had are my regular copays for the visit to the doctor. Oh one exception, they don't cover visits to the nutritionist but since i'd seen her before under my previous insurance, the hospital gave me a discount.

OK I was ordered to have an upper GI done to make sure there aren't any ulcers or tears in my esophogus or stomach. I must say it was the most difficult portion of this process to date. Not that the procedure hurt or anything (i didn't feel a thing) but the liquids they make you drink to get the images leave quite a bit to be desired of!! All I can say is bare through it. How aweful to have to do that all over again. :smile:

Yeah I received my approval letter from BCBS today in the mail. A copy was mailed to my doctors office as well, so once they receive their letter the coordinator will call me and I will get scheduled! Can't wait. I'll keep you all posted. :tt2:

OK I'm logging off for the day and I am going to force myself to have a good outlook. I just spoke with BCBS regarding a claim they didn't pay (turns out they don't cover nutritional services at a hospital or outpatient clinic) and while I had them on the phone i asked about the process. The customer service rep was really nice. She told me her friend had the procedure done in November and how great she's doing. She gave me encouragement, stating the plan doesn't require you to lose weight in the 3 mnths just to go through the program. She also said not to freak if by chance I get a rejction letter. Most often its becuae some piece of info is missing and once they receive it, the procedure is approved. So I guess I can sleep better at night. Enjoy the weekend!

wow I'm hearing a lot more about the process taking a year so I am blessed its only taking 3 months (hopefully). All is in now so I just have to wait.

I'm hoping to have the same results. My pressure was good today. It was 116/72 and that's with two pressure pills. I need to realize that its out of my hands now so no need to worry now.

OK so i had my last appointment today in my 3 month supervised weight loss attempts. Sad to say I haven't lost any weight. In fact, I may have gained weight during the last 3 months. Don't take me the wrong way, I've been watching my intake, exercising, and all, but my doctor noted I am carrying a lot of excess water weight. I am already on 2 blood pressure pills and I have an extra water pill to take as needed, but I was told not to take it daily, so I haven't. The result, a lot of extra water weight which is messing with my numbers. My PCP put a note regarding this in her letter to the bariatric team so they would know the cause, I just hope its enough to get me approved. I don't think I could face rejection.

Oh I hope youre correct. I am too excited about my new life, just can't wait.

OK tomorrow is my last appointment with my primary care physician for the 3 month supervised weight loss attempt. I am a little nervous about it. I haven't had much of a weight loss even though i appear smaller. I am afraid they will deny me because of this. I've done all i could do, so now it will be a waiting game.

Oh, ok. I guess that makes sense. My insurance company only requires 3 months of supervised weight loss, but that concerns me becuase my doctor and I have tried everything already. I met with a nutritionist for months last year, i've worked with a trainer, I even tried the weight loss drug but I couldn't stay on it because it raised my blood pressure too high. If i could lose the weight on diet and exercise alone, i wouldn't be seeking the lap band. I stay in the gym and on the last visit i lost only 3lbs in a month. My doctor thinks it could have been more but i was severly swollen with water on my feet and ankles. i'll keep at it, i just hope it doesn't stop my approval.

That's awesome! I know that had to be a relief after your experience last year. I'm curious, did they expect you to lose any weight for approval?

Has anyone had the procedure performed by Dr Denham? Any feedback is appreciated.

wow that was fast. My policy makes me wait 3 months waiting period it doesn't seem like you had to do that. My consult was 5/20, nutrition 6/3, pysch eval 6/10 and pcp visits 5/24, 6/18, 7/19, and 8/13. Its so drawn out. But your story gives me hope.

Well here we are at the end of July and in about a months time I should hear if I will be approved for surgery by my insurance company. I have one last apppintment with my primary physician on 8/19 then all the paperwork will go to BCBSIL for approval. I pray that it goes through. I can't wait to go to the gym and have people stare becuase they admire my body instead of wondering what I'm doing there. I'm looking forward to my skinny jeans becoming my fat jeans, and most of all I'm looking foward to being off of high blood pressure meds. I tell you this 3 month waiting period is racking my nerves.

I am in the preop process as well, but I can give a suggestion if your constantly thirsty; suck on ice cubes. It will satisfy the thirst in your month and the water will go down at a much slower rate.