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I am sitting here with tears in my eyes because I'm reading what everyone else is writing and thinking this could possibly work for me. This is my first step...finding you. I believe my journey is starting today. I feel hope. I've wanted to be thin all my life...but now I have a little boy (7) I can't play with because I can't get down on the floor. I don't know how I could have been so stupid to let this happen to myself. Can someone tell me what I need to do? I have BCBS. How can I find out what the surgery entails, what the procedure is prior to surgery and how long you have to wait to have it done. Is there counseling, etc.

Thank you so much for your kind words and direction in advance.

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CryNside

First dry your tears, you are definitely in the right place for answers. The first thing is to find a surgeon who performs the surgery. Call the surgeons office and find out about a seminar. You will meet alot of other people starting the journey and lots of information you will need. You can also check with your insurance company and see if they cover the surgery. After you attend the seminar you can make a doctors appt with the surgeon and find out all you can about the doctor. Good luck, you have already started the journey without even knowing it. Also keep reading all the post on this site, because I have learned so much from it. I will be banded on Dec 31st

and can't wait. We all want the same thing, a better healthier lifestyle. Keep reading the post.

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I have bcbs of california and didn't have a bit of problem getting though the system. Started with trip to general doc., then an open house for lapband, trip to surgeon and he walked me through the rest with this great packet of steps. Hang in there you are in the right place if it is meant to be it will happen.

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I have Empire BCBS and the whole journey was from July 2007 and my surgery was Nov. 5th. It took long,because my primary doctor took forever to write the letter. BCBS approved me in 20 hrs.!!! I didn't have to do any pre-op diet,but then again,I'm exactly 100lbs. overweight. Tomorrow is my first fill.

You can do it!! Just follow the packet they give you and stay on top of the doctors.

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CryNside

First dry your tears, you are definitely in the right place for answers. The first thing is to find a surgeon who performs the surgery. Call the surgeons office and find out about a seminar. You will meet alot of other people starting the journey and lots of information you will need. You can also check with your insurance company and see if they cover the surgery. After you attend the seminar you can make a doctors appt with the surgeon and find out all you can about the doctor. Good luck, you have already started the journey without even knowing it. Also keep reading all the post on this site, because I have learned so much from it. I will be banded on Dec 31st

and can't wait. We all want the same thing, a better healthier lifestyle. Keep reading the post.

Crynside - I couldn't say it any better - I have BC CA I went directly to an approved surgeon in my book - after I called my carrier to make sure it was covered - 1st appt 5/31 - was banded on 7/17 and had tons of pre-op test cuz of my age and cuz I never go to the doc to get those nasty annual test. It's the best thing i have ever done - this site is so full of great info - keep reading and asking questions. We are here for you..

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I have BCBS and they were great, once my doctors sent in their paperwork, it was only about 3 weeks till I was approved, then the fun began, at that point it was another 4-6 months of testing/dieting and scheduling for my time off work, I ended up only taking 5 days... its well worth the wait and the effort

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    • 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

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    • 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

        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.

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        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.

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