KirstenHope

I had a fantastic experience with Federal BCBS. My BMI was 43 BUT I was figuring my BMI based on me being 5'8" with gave me a BMI of 40. Once the doctors office measured me they said I was 5'5". This put me at BMI 43. Fed BCBS will approve you as long as you have a BMI of 40 OR if you have other comorbities - Sleep appnea, diabetes, acid reflux. i did not have any problem except being fat. The insurance did not cover the dietitian - the fitness Fed BCBS.. The fee for my fills will only be $30 copay. Good Luck hope this helped! Feel free to ask any questions!!

I go at10 am too! I can not sleep I am so excited!

I have federal BCBS. I was approved in one day. I have not had to do any any doctor supervised diets. I also only had not other health problems besides being fat. The while process has been very easy.

Good Luck!! I go in on the 8th!! Excited for us all!!!

I started my diet on the 24th. I did cheat for turkey day dinner. I have been drinking protein shakes all day and eating SMALL meals for dinner. I feel like I always have a headache. This is hard. I am having surgery in Florida and will be there away from where I live for 3 weeks so friends are wanting to get together to say goodbye before I leave and this is hard because they want to meet in bars or out to dinner. 2 things I can ot do!!! BUT I want to loose the weight!! I WILL be strong!! December 8th is my surgery date!!

I started the pre op diet yesterday!! So far so good. I am a little worried about later today. December 8th is also my surgery date!!

To get to my doctor's office I needed to fly. My amazing doctor set up all of my appointments for me. All with in 2 days. I did not stop moving but got everything done. All i have left is the pre-op blood work. My pre-op diet starts on Nov 24th (day before Thanksgiving!) I am drinking Protein shakes and have a no carb dinner at night. 4oz of protein and a cup of veggies. Sounds boring but it will be worth it. i am more worried about not having my glass of wine at night, 2 glasses on weekends!! BUT i will make the sacrifice!

i am December 8th tooo!! WooHOO. Ok. so i am very excited and a little nervous too! SOOO ready for this next journey to begin!! I have started drinking Slim fast durning the day - for lunch and Breakfast. I ate normal on Sunday and today (I was off from work) but tomorrow I am back to work and back to trying to get ready for the pre - op diet! I am OK with no thanksgiving this year! It is all for a good cause!! ME!!

Excited does not even begin to explaine it!! I started drinking the shakes durning the day. Eating a normal dinner at night. I have 2 weeks before I need to start the liquid diet but I thought I would get into a groove with it.

39 more days!! i can not wait!! We have to come up with a cool December banster name! :thumbup:

I had all my appointment in one day! I had to travel far to get to my doctor. the Surgeon's off help me set up appointments the next day. i had upper GI, then went to physician for EKG and check up, then had meeting with dietitian, then meet with fitness person, THEN had the physic appointment. I got my surgery date that day too. The date was penciled in just in case there was a problem but it is firm now. the only thing I needed to do when I got home was have lab work done and a chest xray. The staff also set me up with an on line seminar that i was able to log on to. I did all this Oct 18th and 19th. I am having surgery on December 8th. That is a day that I picked out because i have a long way to travel to get there! It will be my Christmas present to myself!:thumbup:

I have fed BCBS and so far I am about $600 out of pocket that was for all appointments. $220 was for dietitian, $230 for head doctor. the rest was co-pays. i have to pay around $1500 to the hospital at time of the surgery. So I guess I will eventually be out of pocket about $2000. To me worth every penny!!:laugh:

Thanks for the input! I am OK with the change in lifestyle as far as foods goes, and i am ready to start that change! BUT I was scared about giving up my wine! And I love girls night out! I might miss a few girls night out BUT that is OK! i guess like anything, in moderation it is OK! :thumbup:

Sorry you are having a bad day!! I am being banded in December and i WILL TRY to make everyday a great one untill then! Hang in there!!

I have been surfing through the threads here and learning ALOT!! One thing I am wondering , and have not seen Any postings about is drinking. I know it is empty calories. BUT I do like my glass of wine a couple times a week and my monthly girls night out when we drink cosmos! Can anybody give me any feed back on drinking? I am fine giving it up for a while but at Christmas or News Years I would love to be able to have a couple of drinks! I get banded Dec 8th :thumbup::confused_smile:

Livin in St.Thomas!! Getting banded in Florida!

i am using Dr. Joel Sebastien. His office staff has been VERY helpful and supportive. The ladies that work in his office go above and beyond! Everyone that work for/with him has made me feel comfortable, i feel like everyone is on the journey with me! I get banded on December 8th. I will hopefully have more great things to say after!!

I start my diet Nov 25th!! My surgery is December 8th!! I have told everyone in my family, most of my friends and where i work. ( I work in a small company with several big people) I am soooooo lucky everyone has been soo supportive! I am also a little bummed about thanks giving BUT this is sooo much more exciting! Congrats!!

I have my surgery date set for December 8th!! I am using Dr. Joel Sebastien. The ladies that work in his office are WONDEFUL. I am out the US right now and flew into Florida just for my initial appointment. I flew in Monday the 18th and flew out the 20th. I was not expecting it but the office staff was able to have ALL my appointments done on the 19th. It was a very long day but I go it all done and was able to get my surgery date. So far I am beyond happy with the Doctor and the office staff. Anybody else use him? Surgery will be in Halifax Medical Center.

:thumbup:I go in December 8th!! I have all my appointments done! I have to get labs done and chest x-ray! YEAH!! I am sooooo excited! Glad we have some December people here!!

Looks like we should start the december banders culb!! i do my post op on December 6th

Congrats! I go in December 8th!

Thanks!! I am excited! It finally feels real!

Hello again!!all I just went to my first doctors visit! I was able to complete all 5 other doctor visits that i needed for clearance too! I live(for now) out of the country. I chose a doctor in Florida .where my in-laws live. I have been talking to the doctors office for months. I had attended an on line seminar. They set it up so that when i went to Florida i could get most of my appointments done. And I did! And then something wonderful happened,,, I got my surgery date!! December 8th!! :w00t: I am soooo excited to start my journey!! I am 257 lbs, 5'5 my BMI is 41.

Hello, i am Kirsten. I live in the caribbean and will be banned in December in Floridia. I have my first in office visit November 8th at 1:30! Then hopfully a December surgery date! I am getting soo much information from everyone here! I am using Dr. Joel Sebastian at Halifax Medical Center. I look foward to meeting everyone! Kirsten