Hi all, I am in the insurance authorization stage. I'm 5'5" and I weigh 184 pounds. My goal weight is 120 (I'm a small framed woman). I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The dr. put me on meds for both, but the side effects are horrible and I don't want to take meds.

My Dad had a stroke from high blood pressure at 55 and he passed away from heart attack at 61. My 68 year old Mom has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I feel like a walking time bomb.

I've been overweight for the last 20 years (I'm 47) and I've tried every diet out there. I've lost weight and then regained it and I'm done with the rollercoaster. I want to get banded so that I re-learn how to have a healthy relationship eating the right amount of food for my body. My fear is that my insurance won't cover me since my BMI is 31 even though I have high BP and cholesterol and an awful family history. I hope and pray that the insurance will cover this.

Thanks for letting me vent. Sandy

My insurance paid despite my not being heavy enough (imagine:blink:) to meet the BMI criteria. This was due in part to arthritis and a family history of diabetes. Insurance took so long to decide that I was ready to go to step two and gain fifteen pounds to meet the damned criteria. Thank goodness I didn't have to do that. Good luck to you.

Thanks for giving me hope Llyra. I'm glad you didn't have to gain weight to meet the bmi. :smile2: