Had my appoint with my PCP on monday. She said that i would have to start a 6 month weigh in and classes.

She said she would send in a referral to a dietician. So now I have to wait for that, then take classes. I feel like just starting the 6 months is gonna take forever.

Just thought I would get an approval right away since I have a BMI of 45 and have battled with hypertension for 5 years.

Just wanted to vent a little.

All of you are awesome! Thank you all so much.

I feel really lucky to have this place as support. I am gonna take the time to do some soul searching and tons of research. I hear things about starving after the band, so I should prepare myself.

Congrats and good luck to all!!

XOXO

I know how you feel and it's hard. I have to enroll in a multi-disciplinary weight loss thingy for 90 days as one of the hoops to jump through to get approved. I feel like hey, I decided to do this for my health, let's do it now not in 90 days for god's sake. Patience is not a virtue of mine, unfortunately All I can say is that since you have no choice in the matter, use the six months to read as much as you can and learn as much as you can about the lap band surgery, nutrition, and healthy eating. It will serve you well in the future.

good luck!

All of you are awesome! Thank you all so much.

I feel really lucky to have this place as support. I am gonna take the time to do some soul searching and tons of research. I hear things about starving after the band, so I should prepare myself.

Congrats and good luck to all!!

XOXO

I fully understand! Last January I started my doctor diet, to find out in July that he had not noted the diet stuff right.. The insurance company made me redo another 6 months. As of right now I am still waiting to hear back from them. HANG IN THERE IT IS WORTH EVERYTHING THEY PUT US THROUGH..

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OMG i Know how u feel! 3 people at my job with the same insurance plan did not have to do a 6 month. Of course I did. =( i was so sad for abt 3 weeks. Im on my 4th month and i have been researching and getting other stuff done (like sleep studies, pych eval, etc.) you will appreciate this time. I should have all these things in time for my 6 month dietician appt. Dont worry, it will be worth it in the end! =)

Starting Out: 211 lbs 5'5 BMI 35

Initial Consult: February 25, 2011

Nutritional Consult: February 25, 2011

1st Sleep Study: April 23, 2011

2nd Sleep Study: May 29, 2011

End of 6 Mth Diet: July, 2011

Paperwork Submitted TBA

Date of Surgery: TBA

Goal: 140 lbs - 71 lbs to lose

The 6 month diet classes are actualy a good thing. It gives you 6 months to ask questions and learn about this new lifestyle you are going to begin. I Think its a good idea. Ive heard too many times on here that someone was banded and didnt know this or that. Why didnt someone tell me they ask. Well now you can get into all the good info you need and theres a lot. There are actualy things I wish I had known before the surgery almost 2 years ago. The 6 months goes by pretty quickly, and you will be glad you did it too. It really does help get you mentaly prepared for this whole process.

It really does go SO quickly. My PCP visit was in August, and I'm being banded Tuesday!! I think if I hadn't had to go through so many hoops, I wouldn't have been so well informed and eventually would have chickened out. Good luck!!

I'm so excited now:) not bummed out anymore. I can't wait to start classes and to start all the testing. Thank you all for taking the time to lift my spirits. You guys did a great job.

You are exactly correct about the insurance companies. My surgeon told me that he and another surgeon talked in a conference call to bc/bs of AL. They were speaking with the main person over the bariatric part of insurance approval. they straight up asked him why does bc/bs not approve the patients that really need it without the 6 month weigh ins...his exact reply was" if we approved everybody in Alabama that applied and needed it, ya'll would break us." To them it's money, to us it's our lives. So anyone having to do the 6 month dr supervised diet, hang in there and don't let it discourage you. I know it did me for over 3 years...I just started my 6 month diet 2 weeks ago. But this time, I am not backing down...I can't waste another day due to lack of patience.

i think insurance companies do this as a way of trying to weed out people who aren't seriously ready to make a life style change. that's one great thing about being self pay i dont have to jump thru their hoops. downside is i will have a $12,500 bill to deal with!