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another newbie

mamato3

By mamato3, in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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mamato3    1

mamato3
Posted

Hi... I wanted to introduce myself and say thankyou to everyone who posts here regularly. I have been reading lots and lots here and I have learned so much.

I only recently decided to pursue lapband surgery. I haven't even attended an educational seminar yet (I have that scheduled on Oct. 4). I am hoping that it turns out to be an option for me. I am currently 35 years old and dont really have any significant health issues at all, but I do have a BMI of 44. (YIKES!) According to things I have read, I would be a candidtate due to the BMI itself, but I was wondering if anyone has the same situation and has been approved by there insurance? I also am wondering how long the insurance approval usually takes? And then following approval how long it normally takes to actually have the surgery. I am guessing this varies, but I am just hoping to find out a general idea.

I am VERY excited about the idea of having this done. I have been overweight my entire life and have tried what seems like a hundred weight loss programs. I have lost weight only to gain it all back. I am hoping the lapband is a tool that will finally help me reach the goals I have always dreamed about.

Thankyou all again for all of your posts and the great information. It's great to know that you all are here for support as I go through this journey.

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mamato3    1

mamato3
Posted

OK so I posted like 12 hours ago. Somehow I thought people would respond. Is there someplace else on this board where I should be posting? LOL

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TexGal    0

TexGal
Posted

Mamato3, congrats on your decision to have the lap-band done. I am not banded yet, but I am working on it. 2 days after the seminar I went to, I found out that my insurance would pay for it as long as I did a 6 month medically supervised diet. 5 more months to go. I am soooo.... ready for this. Congrats again and keep us posted. :)

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reeces5    0

reeces5
Posted

I was just banded August 13. From what I learned at the seminar I went to insurances companies all differ, so it is hard to say what they will require to approve you. As far as your BMI, that may be good enough for the surgeon to do the surgery but not for the insurance. I think a lot of them require other health issues or they just don't cover weight loss surgery for any reason (which was my problem). I had to refinance my house in order to pay for the surgery, but anyway you do it it's worth it!

My friend is also having the surgery done and she thought her insurance would pay for at least part of her surgery but after waiting 6 weeks her insurance denied her claim and so her only choices were to sue the insurance (who knows how long that could take!! you could gain another 100 pounds by then), pay for it herself, or just forget the whole thing. She decided just to pay for it, as she already waited for a long time. Hopefully your insurance company will be better at paying. Hope I'm not discouraging you, but it might need to be something you should think about--what are you going to do if your insurance will not pay for it?

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Dave01    0

Dave01
Posted

Mamato3,

Welcome to the board. I had to jump thru many hoopstrying to get Aetna PPO of Fl to pay for mine. I was approved 2 days prior to my surgery only because my primary dr told Aetna he was going to take them to the Insurance board for delaying my surgery. What a great doctor he is. It took me a total of a year to get all required things done, mostly because I work out of town every other month, and scheduling appts was tough.

Good luck with your case. I'm sure it will all work out. Make sure your dr lists any other conditions you may have, ie. blood pressure, cholesterol, painful joints, sleep apnea ( a big one).

Dave

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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