Hey everybody out there! I am a 22-year old female from B'ham, AL. I currently weigh 225lbs, standing at 5'2ft, and have a BMI of 40.

I recently went to a Dr. for a weight loss program and she prescribed me Phetermine 37.5, however it has been a month and I have not lost any weight. Not to mention I have been having terrible side effects (acid reflux, migranes, moody). Ugh! I am still waiting on my lab results for my bloodwork. Anyway, I started to wonder about the LapBand surgery. I will formally begin my research when I attend a seminar 2/16/08. I have read alot of post about the BCBS of AL and requirements, but I still have more questions, if anybody can help how would these situtation help or hinder me.....

--I started working with my company(over 20,000 employees) Nov 2007 and my BCBS(Advantage) began coverage Dec 1 07.

--Before then I did not have any insurance, I was a student, and when ever I needed help I just went to the emergency room. Could I get my weight from my visits there?

--Does this weight loss program count toward 6 months?

I appreciate any help or advice...Thanks guys!

lilacbeauti58@yahoo.com<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Lilac, I would say do the Lap band! I too have taken phentermine and had all the side effects you have and believe me they don't get better. I am 26 and have spent countless $ on diet pills, diet programs, and diet food. I'd say do it now while you are still young because the top thing you will here from this site is, "I wish I had done it sooner." You will probably have to do the 6mo weight/diet monitor thing, but it is so worth it. I doubt that they will take the previous weights from the ER because it was not a supervised diet program. If you have any co-morbidities it might make it easier, you know back pain, knee/joint pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, anything that is a direct result of your weight! Talk to your doctor, let them know how the phentermine is effecting you, make sure your doc knows of family history of obesity, diabetes, blood pressure, and such and tell them you are considering lapband and see if they are on board. If they are the ones sending you to the seminar, It sounds like they already are. Good luck, and even if you have to do the 6month thing, do it.

You youngsters stay away from the diet pills. I took them off and on for 20 years, and yes, the weight stayed off, but there came a time when I couldn't take them anymore because of rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. Yes, I gained weight.....but the lap band is helping me. I don't lose fast now because I burned out my metabolism on the diet pills. They are dangerous :frown:

I took Phentermine for a year. I lost 15 pounds during that year, then gained 30 when I went off of it. You can see how well I've done with the band so far, and I'm determined to reach my goal. Heck, it's the first time that I KNOW I will succeed. And I had similar stats to yours, too. I'm 5'3" and started out at 222.

I took Fastin as well.... I lost a few pounds...but had to diet.

Gained it all back, of course.

Howdy, neighbor! So, if I'm a bettin' person, I'd say you're going to the seminar at St. Vincent's East (formerly Medical Center East) for the seminar by Drs. Miles and Schmitt? Awesome docs, and I highly recommend them! I usually attend the Lap Band support group meeting that follows the seminar, but I'll miss that one because I'll be one day out from plastic surgery.

I've done phentermine, along with nearly every other diet aide and program there is. This is the first time in my life that I've maintained my weight for more than 5 minutes. I've had an awesome weight loss experience with the band. I've blogged a lot of my experiences, along with my food/activity journals at Obesity Help. Here's a link to my profile there:

ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options. - Profiles - TamiFromAL's Profile

But, only *you* know whether you are ready to make the changes necessary to make this work. The Lap Band is simply an aide. You have to not only be willing to jump through the insurance hoops, you have to be willing to change what you did in the past that did NOT work. That means you might have to eat different foods, in different amounts, find other sources of entertainment besides food/drink, and you gotta move your body.

You are so young, and if you can get a handle on this now, I truly believe your life will be richer for it.

Tami

hi, i am going through the same thing you are. We have bcbc. They said 90% and you have to be on a weight loss program for 4-6 months past 2 yrss. Call bcbc they will fax you info

I tried for 2 years to have BCBS of AL pay, I couldn't get it covered even with co-morb and the 6 month diet. I had letters from 2 seperate doc's and everything. What company do you work for? My husband (who carries the insurance), works for Motion Industries. Hopefully BCBS will cover you, or be different than when I applied!

Good luck to you!

Brandy

I work for Regions Bank..

Thanks everybody for all the support and advice...I am still waiting on lab work to see if I have insulin resistance. It doesn't matter what the out come is..I am ready to change!

Diet pills really screw with your metabolism making it harder to lose weight in the future. When you stop taking them you will most likely gain the weight you lost plus some. I wish the lap band had been around when I first gained my weight because I would now be healthy and HOT! LOL

Good luck!