Hi everyone, I have been stalking around the forums for some time now and decided I'll reintroduce myself

I originally looked into Lapband surgery last year, and after being told by Oregon Weight Loss Center here in Portland, Oregon that my insurance did cover the procedure, I found out they in fact did not I was originally insured under a Regence BCBS employee plan, but out of the three plans Regence offers their employees, only one offers bariatric coverage (and of course I wasn't on that one!).

I was a little bummed and decided that it was time to start saving for a trip to Mexico to get the Lapband because I can't afford the 15-20k US prices. A few months ago, my stepmom offered to add me to her insurance plan because it for sure covers Lapband. She and my dad have watched me yo-yo diet for years now and just want me to be happy and healthy.

I'm really excited to be taking this step, and have all of my pre-op appointments set for the first couple weeks of January . I did change to Legacy Weight Management Institute instead of Oregon Weight Loss Center, mainly because Legacy is a center of excellence and I didn't want to pay the extra fees to go somewhere that wasn't.

The insurance coordinator told me this morning that I was lucky because my new insurance (Kroger Anthem BCBS) does not have any requirements as far as diet, weight loss required before surgery, etc.

I'm so looking forward to a new year and the possibility that I won't be the fat girl forever! I think I'm going to make a bucket list of things I want to do as I lose weight.

Best of luck to you! I haven't a date yet. I am in the early process. I did my bloodwork this month. I meet with the nutrionist tomorrow. My insurance I be monitored 6 months in advance before aproval. I have 5 more months to go. Keep us posted on your journey...

-Patty

Hi everyone, I have been stalking around the forums for some time now and decided I'll reintroduce myself

I originally looked into Lapband surgery last year, and after being told by Oregon Weight Loss Center here in Portland, Oregon that my insurance did cover the procedure, I found out they in fact did not I was originally insured under a Regence BCBS employee plan, but out of the three plans Regence offers their employees, only one offers bariatric coverage (and of course I wasn't on that one!).

I was a little bummed and decided that it was time to start saving for a trip to Mexico to get the Lapband because I can't afford the 15-20k US prices. A few months ago, my stepmom offered to add me to her insurance plan because it for sure covers Lapband. She and my dad have watched me yo-yo diet for years now and just want me to be happy and healthy.

I'm really excited to be taking this step, and have all of my pre-op appointments set for the first couple weeks of January . I did change to Legacy Weight Management Institute instead of Oregon Weight Loss Center, mainly because Legacy is a center of excellence and I didn't want to pay the extra fees to go somewhere that wasn't.

The insurance coordinator told me this morning that I was lucky because my new insurance (Kroger Anthem BCBS) does not have any requirements as far as diet, weight loss required before surgery, etc.

I'm so looking forward to a new year and the possibility that I won't be the fat girl forever! I think I'm going to make a bucket list of things I want to do as I lose weight.

Good Luck! I just had my band placed on Dec. 22nd. I originally started the process back in late 2008, completed my 6 months supervised weight loss, etc. Then, I got discouraged. I couldnt lose the 10% the doctor wanted me to lose, I was having a hard time in my personal life, and totally lost momentum. In October 2011, I decided (since I was at my highest weight EVER) that it was time to get it done. I met with the surgery coordinator, she is a complete god-send!, Got started on losing my pre-surgical goal (she said if I wanted to have it done before the end of the year, I could lose 5%, or 14lbs). I got all my pre-surgical testing complete within 30 days. Then came the scary part, making sure my insurance would approve the procedure. The doctors office called my insurance and faxed them all the documentation, they responded back that they do not require the pre-certification and I was cleared for surgery. It has now been 6 days, I am feeling great, and at times think it is all too good to be true because everything went so smoothly this time. I get this feeling that I'm going to wake up and it will all have been a dream.

Prior to surgery, I was able to go from 274 to 253, in just about 2 months. Since surgery, I have lost another 5 lbs.

Dont give up hope, you can do this! Good luck!

Deanna

diddo it was a fight to the finish for my insurance to approve me had to appeal it twice and then my doc did some kind of magic and got me approved that was the worst since my band on nov 15th. I have lost 19 pounds give or take but 2 weeks before band lost 10 give or take to get my BNI were it had to be and this week lost 0 so i just got my first fill dont give up its totally worth it and it will happen for you too

I work for Fred Meyer and have Kroger insurance. I did not even have to wait a month from my first appointment to have my lap band surgery, good luck

I work for Fred Meyer and have Kroger insurance. I did not even have to wait a month from my first appointment to have my lap band surgery, good luck

My Aunt's husband is also employed by Fred Meyer and she got her Lapband about two or three years ago. She said it went super quick because there wasn't a wait like most insurances require. She also looks amazing and is one of the main reasons my parents were so quick to add me.

I manage a restaurant and am trying to figure out how much time I should take off... I imagine if all goes well, I should be ready for surgery in February. I've always had a high pain threshold, and so I think I could probably manage to take Thu/Fri/Sa/Su and be back to work Monday. If that won't work, I will wait til Spring break in March and take the week off.

I don't really want to take a week off until then because most of my employees are in school and can't work some days. I also am unsure if I want to really tell anyone outside of my immediate family and fiance, so I don't want to explain what I'm doing for a week.

Crossing my fingers it all goes well!

I'm so happy for you. I really enjoyed your post. I needed to be reminded how hard people have to work in order to get the lapband. My surgery is next Tuesday the 3rd and am extremely nervous and excited at the same time. I am ready for this new challenge but am scared of surgery. I had a little old lady friend of mine tell me today the best advice, "You have made the committement - now just go through with the dang thing already" haha

Glad to see this. I'm excited but also scared of surgery. I have to say that today I've read a few negative and even scary lap band reviews. Everytime I question going through with this this forum reinforces the reason for me doing this. To all of you newbies we are all family and here to support each other.

Wow that was really nice of them to add you to their insurance. What a great gift. The surgery will change your life. I am so glad that it is now covered for you. I just had my band placed on the 19th. I was up and moving later that day. It took a couple day to get rid of the drugs in your system from surgery. As long as I didn't do any bend down at waist or sudden movements- I had no pain. My coordinator said that she has patients that go in Thrusday and are back to work on Monday. I'm in nursing school, so this won't work for me, since I need to do patient care and may have to do lifting and things that required full movement. It's a week and half now and today went to gym and worked out, no problem. I would see if can can get on schedule for first time in morning that will give you the fulls amount of recovery time. You may need to let some at work know you are having some type of surgery, or sudden injury, sometime, so they can help you out with things if you need once back at work that week. Good luck, Suzi

My Aunt's husband is also employed by Fred Meyer and she got her Lapband about two or three years ago. She said it went super quick because there wasn't a wait like most insurances require. She also looks amazing and is one of the main reasons my parents were so quick to add me.

I manage a restaurant and am trying to figure out how much time I should take off... I imagine if all goes well, I should be ready for surgery in February. I've always had a high pain threshold, and so I think I could probably manage to take Thu/Fri/Sa/Su and be back to work Monday. If that won't work, I will wait til Spring break in March and take the week off.

I don't really want to take a week off until then because most of my employees are in school and can't work some days. I also am unsure if I want to really tell anyone outside of my immediate family and fiance, so I don't want to explain what I'm doing for a week.

Crossing my fingers it all goes well!

I took off Monday thru Thursday and was back to work on Friday with no problem. I also have a high pain threshold so I was just a little tired by the end of the day.

I took off Monday thru Thursday and was back to work on Friday with no problem. I also have a high pain threshold so I was just a little tired by the end of the day.

That's great to know! Wow, I just noticed your ticker says you only got the band in April of this year and you've already lost 130 pounds???! Congrats!