I am early in the process still but this is such a crazy emotional journey! I went to my first appointment with the surgeon at the end of February and so far have had 1 sleep study, 1 nut appointment, blood work (9 vials), upper gi/barium swallow, ultrasound, psychiatric evaluation and information session! I have done all of this still with the fear that I may not be approved!

I have struggled with my weight for 20 years (and I am 33). I have lost and gained so many times over those years I am surprised that my body has survived! I have never had a problem losing it just doesn't stay off and when it comes back it usually comes back with some extra "friends" (more pounds). Right now I am 245lbs (5'7" tall) with a BMI of just under 40. I found out I do have sleep apnea and will be going for my second study next week.

I am a mixture of emotions. I want this surgery! I NEED THIS SURGERY! I am sick of being fat. I am sick of not having enough energy to play with my kids. I am sick of constantly thinking and worrying about my weight!

I have a few more steps, last one being my final nut appointment on May 21st and they we will submit to insurance! Fingers crossed!

I love this board it has given me so much knowledge on what to expect! Look forward to sharing my journey with all of you!

I never had to go through all of this because I was private pay for my lap and and then my revision was done as an emergency surgery (so it wasn't planned) but I did work for an insurance company and while they all have their own rules and guidelines but the surgeons know the criteria. Just go with it and do everything they tell you. I can also tell you if you are denied go through their appeal process because a lot of times it gets approved the second time around. I may wish I had gone through all the hoops as I now have about 60,00.00 in medical bills from the revision and insurance hasn't paid any of them.....YIKES!!!

We all could have written your letter, it's a complicated, yet simple story. I don't know WHY the insurance companies throw in so much hurdles, and then we have to deal with the social stigma and OPINIONS of just about everybody. My advice is to find 1 or 2 people that you trust and tune out the rest. NO one, believe NO ONE understands even your doctor. I think that people who have also had the procedure may even have 100 different reasons, Mine was thinness, now it's health I can not control diabetes with diet and oral medication, so I am back for the sleeve. welcome to our world. k

We all could have written your letter' date=' it's a complicated, yet simple story. I don't know WHY the insurance companies throw in so much hurdles, and then we have to deal with the social stigma and OPINIONS of just about everybody. My advice is to find 1 or 2 people that you trust and tune out the rest. NO one, believe NO ONE understands even your doctor. I think that people who have also had the procedure may even have 100 different reasons, Mine was thinness, now it's health I can not control diabetes with diet and oral medication, so I am back for the sleeve. welcome to our world. k[/quote']

I don't know if this is good or bad but I only told my husband and best friend when I had lap band surgery. I didn't want to hear the negative comments or the your taking easy way out nonsense. I have had to tell a few more people after the revision because it wasn't planned and I spent 5 days in the hospital so my job, my Mom, and a few coworkers (we are nurses) figured it out. It's really hard to go through a hard thing like weight loss surgery and basically be alone because you can't tell anyone.

I am a nurse too and they ALL have opinions and medical rationales about the consequences of it all. I have told my co-workers and right now I don't care. But I was like you, I didn't tell anyone when I got the band.

I am a nurse too and they ALL have opinions and medical rationales about the consequences of it all. I have told my co-workers and right now I don't care. But I was like you' date=' I didn't tell anyone when I got the band.[/quote']

Nurses are really judge mental and negative group of people (as a whole). Most love to put each other down and gossip. I just didn't want to go through it. I was also their manager at the time so they would have pounced on it. Lol... Now I'm in a different job and we work by regions so I don't have to see or hear any gossip and we aren't around each other enough for negativity.