I am seriously considering the lapband surgery because of my struggles with my weight my entire life. I am trying to get my ducks in a row now so that when I decide to move forward with the surgery and pursue it, I know what will be expected. I have been reading on the BCBS of AL website about the bariatric surgery requirements. One says that you have to be at their required BMI for a 3 year period. Well...I have been overweight since I was married in 2001 and even throughout my teenage years (except when I went on WW at 15 yrs old only to gain it all back and more) but in Sept. 07 I began a strict diet of 1300 calories and exercise that just about killed me but I lost 20lbs and got to the 200lb mark. After that I stalled and couldn't lose a thing so I began a doctor supervised weight loss program that included the low cal/low carb/low fat diet and adipex (phentermine) and lost another 25 lbs putting me at 175lbs in Sept. 08. In November 08, I wound up in the ER due to atrial fibrillation and it was suspected that the adipex was the issue. So, I stopped it and of course the weight began to creep back up to around 190lb when in August 09 I found out I was pregnant. Unfortunately, the baby passed away and I miscarried at 15 weeks. At that time I was up to 210lbs. Now, I am at 215 and cannot seem to get my weight to budge. I am tired of the yo-yo dieting and really want to change the whole situation. I am afraid that having done all the dieting a few years ago may mess up my chances of moving forward in the next 6-12 months w/ bariatric surgery b/c of the "three years of obesity" required by my insurance company. None of the diets that I lost the weight on was covered by my insurance and I paid out of pocket for this the entire time. Does this period in my life have to be reported to the insurance company? How do they "document" that I have been obese for 3 years? I rarely go to the doctor other than my OBGYN for my yearly check b/c I am never sick. What records will they pull??? I am hoping (probably to no avail) that maybe these months of being a lower weight might not have to be included in documentation. I should also tell you that I have documented severe sleep apnea if that helps! Any advice???

Thanks in advance!

Leigh:smile:

Before BCBSTX got rid of the weight history requirement I was told that I just needed a copy of a doctor's record showing weigh in...like for a routine visit...for each year. The complete history wasn't necessary and they didn't have to be evenly spaced. Even non-related visits...for allergies, injuries, pregnancy, etc...will have a record of yor weight. You don't have to submit the times you had lostweight - you can pick and choose. Just so long as they can see that this weight isn't a short term thing. If I missed a year but had visits with high weights before that and after the people who submit the paperwork for the lapband would know how to present it to the insurance with a note about the gap. It seems that you've been to the doctor a fair amount of time in the past few years. My primary care doc was more than willing to comb through my records and find those that were useful once I explained what was needed. Or you can request a copy of records for yourself and give them to the lapband practice for them to look through. CD's are a blessing - no more stacks of folders.