Search the Community

Has anyone had any experience getting approved for the lap band through Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah? This insurance is new to us, and I do know that the handbook states that no weight reduction surgery is approved. Our insurance came into effect 03/01/07. I know some of you have mentioned that BC/BS is covering it as of 2007. I was just going to check and see if there were any opinions on that particular insurance company. Thanks so much!

Hello everyone... i just recently was put on my husbands ins. and looked to see if there was a way to get the lapband surgery. When I was reading it over I seen there was an exclusion that they do not cover services and supplies related to obesity, including surgical or other treatment of morbid obesity, this right away made me unhappy. I am 28 years old soon to be 29 and 5'6 and 396 pounds. I would say that I am WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY over weight. I dont think I can afford to go pay for it out of pocket at the moment. What I wanted to know is does anyone else have BC/BS of Texas PPO and have you gotten approved. Please all help would be nice . Thanks in advanced I would love some good news right about now.

Congratulations on your prior success, it shows you what you can do! Also on your sweet little boy, they grow so fast. My third munchkin was a bit of a surprise too. Had strep and was on antibiodics, BC didn't works so good then. He is almost 4 now. I just got banded on Dec 19th and I am down just over 45 pounds. It has slowed down a lot but still coming off. Had my second fill last week. So welcome back and good luck. We are here if you need us. Suzi

I know hormones affect my band while i'm on my period..I had to switch from Implanon to a pill contraceptive so I chose LoEstrin. The day after starting LoEstrin I began having menstrual bleeding which has persisted for two weeks. I've contacted my lap band doc who is "baffled" by hormones affecting the lap band..so..on to the next doc who switched my BC. She says that I will stop bleeding eventually once my body gets used to the new drug. In the mean time I've had almost 1CC removed from my band and i'm still having trouble eating :-( Any one else have similar problems?

I am so sorry to hear that. I know exactly what you are going through. I first started trying to revise 3 years ago. I went through two insurance companies that denied me bc they said since I gained the weight back, I was non compliant even though the testing showed damage. I finally got approved with my new insurance but my plan ends on 07/1 and I am still trying to get cardiac clearance. It has been a long fight but worth it for my health. Hang in there and maybe a law firm would help, I never thought of that option. I would go to Mexico and get it done, but I feel like my husband would not support me in the option even if we found a really good program. He still pictures old rusty equipment and dark infected rooms... Any way I wish you all the best and a speedy appeal and approval.

ok, i'll share my 'experience'. banded (filled to 3.9 in 5cc band) in mx three years ago on my dime of course bc my ins refused to cover the band but would cover rny. having 100 lbs to lose and only down 20 with severe esophagitis, gastritis. my throat is always on fire, tho drinking maalox on ice daily. meeting w/a surgeon mon. to discuss removal. am willing to do rny at this point but maybe there's something better? some of you really like your sleeve. can anyone help me make a decision? thanks

I had an interesting Easter weekend. In case you’re not caught up, we went to Ohio to see my family. We had a really nice time, but it was a smaller crowd…just my folks and two of my sisters/families (I have 4 siblings)…and one of those sisters/family I only saw on Sunday evening as they were returning from Spring Break in Florida. The interesting part was the ‘food’ aspects. I wasn’t expecting what I got, partly because I knew that Mom and the one sister who was around all weekend have been enrolled in Weight Watchers for several months now. Sure, I was expecting Easter candy, but I became acutely aware of how much of our family time revolves around food (reminder here that I’m the ‘thinner’/'same as some' sibling of the 5 of us and Mom and Dad are only little overweight). My Mom shows her love for us through food, and let me just say here she’s recovering from foot surgery (still wearing the ‘boot’), so there was way less home cooking than usual. We even ordered out dinner one night…blasphemy for Mom. As bad a cook as I am, Mom is that good. Sure, I’ve been on a myriad of diets around my family before, but I must have cheated around them way more than I realized, because this time was SO different. I arrived to find a box of dark chocolate covered raspberry sticks on my bedside…my two favorite flavors together (Mom’s a sweetie)…I felt bad doing it, but I left them there…I had to…no way would they have been safe at my house. Yes, I could have thrown them away, but I figured maybe I needed to send the message…don’t tempt me. I took my protein shakes for breakfast…Mom was up every morning before me…gourmet coffee made, bacon sizzling, homemade preserves and apple butter laid out, croissants and pain-au-chocolat (which had risen overnight…also my favorite French food) baking in the oven, Krispy Kremes in my favorite flavor-raspberry filling, DH’s favorite glazed, and eggs made to order…my kids were in heaven! DS2 made up a song for my Mom years ago entitled “Bacon and Eggs” and came down singing it (his grandmother ‘makes the best eyeball eggs ever!’…fried in bacon grease). I told her that I’m dieting and took out my protein shake to drink…I know she was disappointed and I felt bad that she had prepared all my favorite things. I stuck to the protein shakes for breakfast, but we had pizza and Chinese for dinners and lunch at Olive Garden (soup, salad, - the breadsticks, but still probably a ton of calories)…I tried to eat the healthy stuff. Sunday morning I had my shake and then Mom had everyone over for brunch after church. I ate a little of the egg casserole (with bread stuffing, sausage, cream and cheese…hmmm) and some fruit (until I remembered it was sugared). The Kringle did me in though…if you don’t know what one is they’re an enormous flat oval Danish treat covered in soft yummy icing and filled with anything you can imagine from fruit to nuts. My sister was sitting next to me in the family room and commented on my small plate of food. When I told her I was dieting she even said ‘But it’s Easter!!!’ I looked at her and said ‘Stop the Satan talk…please don’t tempt me!’…she protested a little more and then gave up (I get it…I never liked to see someone dieting as I was stuffing my face either…misery loves company). As everyone was later munching on their Easter basket candy I stole back in and took just a sliver of the Kringle before it was gone…I immediately felt awful. I suddenly realized then that in the past I’d usually made ‘excuses’ for holidays too…it’s a holiday, a vacation, we’re out to eat, a trip to the family, there’s nothing healthy so I have to eat it. I heard both my sister and mom make those excuses on why they weren’t following their Weight Watchers diets…I don’t say that to blame them, it’s just that it made me realize that’s what I’d usually done in the past also. My one sister, who has diabetes, high blood pressure, and has had two mini-strokes, joined us for our last dinner. There were margaritas, honey baked ham, beans slathered in butter, potato casserole (with cornflakes, cream and tons of butter and cheese), rolls and a carrot sheet cake that could have fed 4x as many people. It was hard to just choose the ham and beans and insist we didn’t need to take home any carrot cake. I got home and found ½ my Mom’s enormous homemade lemon butter pound cake in a bag. I reflected on the food frenzy of the weekend coming home. In the past I wouldn’t have thought much about it at all (even on a diet) because I’m so used to it, but this weekend was like a smack in the face…a wake-up-call. I’m glad my family saw me eating less and drinking protein shakes. It will make it easier to explain things post-op since I’m not telling anyone. I even announced that I’d lost 20+ pounds since they last saw me so they wouldn’t be shocked when they see me next. No one had noticed the weight loss…my youngest sister said ‘That’s nothing, I’ve lost 40# before and no one’s noticed…the fatter you are the less you can tell!’ My family is used to seeing me lose major weight though…what they’re not used to is me KEEPING IT OFF!

Many bariatric doctors recommend implants or IUDs. Until then, use condoms in addition to your BC pills.

lol oops! I did 1/4 cup pureed chili with a baby spoonful of plain greek yogurt (tastes like sour cream but better for ya) and guacamole. it was a little spicy which sucked bc you can't drink for 30 mins but well worth it to have some different flavor! tomorrow is pureed ham and eggs, then some pureed crab cakes yay for real food again! -oh, and I can hear my mom's voice in the back of my head warning me that even licking the spoon leads to unwanted calories and carbs

Laura!!! There is NO ONE you should compare yourself too! You are one of a kind and amazing I might add!! Your an inspiration and I love reading your posts! It's nice to hear a voice of reason when someone wont call the BS!! I find I compare myself to many on here but do try to remember It's all to possible some of it is a front!. I left Facebook for that very reason. Some people just post what they know people wanna hear or what they think makes them look better!. AND I HATE IT!!! I've always thought you are real, a real person, a real woman, a real caring person and have a awesome sence of humor!! I told you once I liked your style and I still do, Plus I love your jeans in your full body pic!! Havent seen you much on here either and I hate it!!

I suffered from really severe postpartum depression with my last child . I was hospitalized and had to go on meds. I have a militant breastfeeding friend who told me I was "being selfish and was sacrificing my child's health for my own selfish needs. "This is a quote! It ruined our friendship. Oh, and my bottle fed son? He's 6'5" and highly gifted. Good thing he wasn't breastfed....he' d be a giant...lol

Hey 2Fly, I am wishing you all of the luck in the world. I do know exactly what you are talking about. 70 lbs ago, I dated this guy for 2 years and to be honest he's not a guy that girls are waiting at his front door to date. He's not that good looking and has nothing going for him. Yes I know I'm sounding totally bitchy, but I was SETTLING for a nothing. I am a beautiful, educated young lady that really hasn't had any serious relationships to date, but he just made me worse. We would hang out eat junk and watch TV or movies. There was not a physical part of the relationship because I wasn't comfortable with myself. I know that I have to take responsibility for my own actions but it didn't help that he was helping become a worse person, bc he didn't care. But I was comfortable with the fact that this nasty a$$ guy was into the "old" me...and it meant the world. Again I don't want to sound shallow like you say, but I am worth more than that. So he eventually stopped calling and would wait a month and call again, and just kept playing around...never got serious. So then I knew that he wasn't serious, he was just bored. In the beginning of 2009 I was contemplating WLS, eventually May 2009 I had it and have lost 70 lbs to date. He's now showing interest and always trying to hang out with me and stuff like that but I reject him over and over. Eventually I told him that he was 70 lbs ago and I'm done. I told him that I deserved better....and the sad part is he agreed with me. So now I am dating someone.....MYSELF....I treat myself to the best things in life, I take care of me by eating healthy, working out religously, buying myself nice things and just loving me. When the time is right....I will find the right guy. For now it's all about me! FYI 2Fly....you inspire me!! I know you hear it all of the time.......but what is one more person telling you....so thaaaaaaaaaaaaank you!

when i asked him how many calories a day im supposed to be eating (when i had a tight fill), he said 1200-1500. eating healthy food choices in the recommended amounts, im only getting in between 600-800 calories a day. and he tells me that tuna salad, fat free cottage cheese and eggs are 'bad choices' and 'should be avoided'. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? theyre high in protein in low in fat and sugar which is what he told me to look for. there is just NO pleasing the man! then again, he also tells me that theres no way my band could be tighter during 'that time of the month' and i KNOW thats complete BS.

What exactly are y'all doing for the weight training? We joined the gym about 2 weeks ago and have been everyday except 3 (we were out of town) We are walking 30 mins on the tread mill and 1 or 2 mile bike ride. I am having some pain in my hip and the elliptical kills it! I was told not to worry with weights until I've lost the weight bc the muscle will just push the fat out (like making it more visiable I guess) But I have certain areas I feel I need to work on... upper arms, upper back, etc... So what are you doing for weight training? Thanks!

You guys are a tough group. I am a medical social worker at renowned pediatric oncology hospital and I know all about informed consent. Also some of my best friends are nurses. And I am more than informed about lap band and have been reading voraciously here for a year. The RN today was the hospital nurse who was meant to give me pre-op instructions (like bathe with antibacterial soap the morning of surgery and bring a responsible adult with you). She made it plain that she doesn't like the surgeon and told me horror stories including his bedside manner and how he treats staff. I get it. He is a jerk. I agree, it was a lack of boundaries and if her supervisor had heard she would be in trouble. after she said all of that she came back and said but that 'usually it goes fine even though she doesn't like to take care of his pts bc he is a jerk, but he is an excellent surgeon'. Other staff that were coming in the room were looking at her like 'shut up' and obviously not comfortable even being in the room with her doing that. Just bc someone is a nurse, or Dr, or Judge etc doesn't mean that sometimes they don't need to shut up. She was telling me that bc of her agenda with the surgeon who yelled at her last week, not bc it was her job. Pennie

Yeah. Maybe it was denied bc they have a specific requirement that you can accomplish.

@@Djmohr you always make me feel better when I start to chicken out. I am trying to live without NSAIDS now bc I know I will have to later but boy is it painful. The joints in all my fingers, my knees, and hips not to mention the excruciating pain of plantar faciitis. I stopped my prescription medicine now by choice but I know later I won't be able to as I also plan to do this the right way. I am so hopeful I feel much better afterwards. Thank you so much for reassuring us all when we have fear or doubts.

My son, then 15, and I have a "no bs" relationship. I almost lost him a couple years back and adopted a different tack after that experience. I am 100% straightforward and honest with any question he has on any subject. Nothing off limits. No parental filters. The truth and nothing but the truth. The good, the bad and the ugly. I sat him down and told him about my first bariatric appointment in June 2015. He wanted the rundown of the procedure and then asked if it was risky. I told him that any surgery had inherent risks but this surgery was much more safe than living the way I was currently living. He accepted it and said he was all in and supported me. Here is a pic taken the afternoon I came home from my first bariatric appointment: Here is a pic taken not quite a year later.....standing in almost the same spot in our driveway....just facing the other direction..lol Just sit down with each of them.......and tell them. Tell you love them and want to be around for them for a long, long time. You've got this !!!!!!!

Shimmy shade you had to go off of your bc? My surgeon hasn’t mentioned that yet. Is that normal? I’m on implanon which is implanted into the arm.

Loseitkacey said it best! in my case it was odd. My GI told me I had a couple gallstones but if it wasn't bothering me then I should leave it alone..so I didn't plan on getting it removed. But my surgeon gave me a suggestion on removing it bc I'll probably get them in the future and with my already small stones it'll cause much concern. So after much thought I agreed to have it taken out. And good thing too! After surgery my surgeon came in and told me he fixed my hiatal hernia (which I didn't know I had!) And took out my gallbladder. He told me it was a good decision to have it removed because I had a couple big stones and they would've caused me an issue in the future! I'm just wondering why my GI told me not to worry about it while my surgeon said I had big stones..smh. I'm definitely changing GI's when I fly back home!

Dr. Jalil Illan and Hospital BC! He is a Master Surgeon and the hospital where he performs his surgeries is a Center of Excellence. The packages are all-inclusive and the staff is English speaking https://hospitalbc.com/ https://hospitalbc.typeform.com/to/sxuEx5

Fed BCBS Basic. 4 months and approved waiting on surgery date. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I had a little soreness and felt like I had a terrible flu afterwards. I think mostly bc my doctor doesn't let you drink after your surgery until you have the leak test the next day. The feeling doesn't last too long. Everyone is different.

Hiya!I am new to all of this! Basically this is my story - I am 21 years old and have always had a problem with my weight I am a binge eater and a total comfort eater - i go over the top and then try to lose weight and go really strict and controlling on my food and so I am always yo yoing. I have spoken to the doctor and I have such a negative mindset (which I hate) I stress over the way I look and how other people view me. I am anti depressants and my weight completely controls my life and I have got to the point that I am fed up of trying and putting it back on again and that the only way I can get my life back is with the band! However I am sooooo nervous!! I have always had such bad eating habits that I am scared and dont trust myself - what if I still eat crap? have any of you found it different after having the band, I am motivated to lose weight by thinking of all the dresses I could buy and could get noticed for once but I am petrifed, what if I have this done and nothing changes, and my emotions still make me want to eat will i still binge or is that physically impossible. what did everyone else find? I just can't stress how nervous I am - I know this is the only chance I have to do something wihtout things getting out of hand and doing something silly but like everyone says its not a miracle cure but i was hoping that with exercise (which i do about 3 times a week anyway) would fall off just because my stomach makes me eat less?!?!I just can't imagine carrying on this way I just want to be able to live my life and enjoy going on nights out without getting scared and comparing myself to others!help?!?! (sorry about all the negativity my mind is just in overdrive!)Becky xxx

I have blue shield of Ca and spoke with them twice and they have said only 3 months/ 12 weeks but the coordinator also gave me a sheet yesterday with the 6 month /24 week option checked off and i even said to the doctor that’s wrong lol and I think they just assume all BC or BS requirements are the same and not by specific policy! I have a copy of blue shields specific requirements if you’d like a copy, it’s a pdf.