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Blue Cross People - Can u start the BCBS Dr.'s Diet early?


Guest BikiniBeachy

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Guest BikiniBeachy

How does the blue cross blue sheild 6 mo supervised diet work? Do you have to go see the doctor and get it started? What if I don't have the insurance yet, can I start it some how?

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I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NJ. You have to have 6 consecutive monthly doctor visits with weigh ins, modifications, caloric intake, etc. (Your drs office should give you the requirements, mine did). I went to my 1st seminar in February on the Lap Band, made my 1st doctors appointment for the next week and I only have 2 more to go, June & July. My surgery is August 1st.

Good luck!! :thumbup:

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Just a question, how did you get your surgery date before you finished the 6 month diet, and have they pre-qualed you. I thought once you finish the diet, then apply to insurance, then they approve, then you get a surgery date?

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I got my surgery date on my 1st visit to the surgeon. I was given a list of the requirements to fulfill before the surgery date (Nutritionist, Psych eval, etc) and the only things i need now are my last 2 monthly visits. The day of my last doctors appointment is the day I'll do my pre-op testing (blood test, chest x-ray & EKG). Keep me posted & let me know if you need any more info.

:thumbup:

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Does all BCBS members have to do the 6 month diet? I thought I'd seen some on here that didn't mention that?

I have BCBS of NC.

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I was told by my surgeon's office that as of January 15th, BC/BS changed their requirements and the 6 month diet is mandatory. I live in Nj, but I'm assuming that it allpiles to all states. Call you surgeons office for more details.

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I have BCBS of NJ and started my 6 month diet and monthly visits to my PCP before I even pick who the surgeon that I wanted to do my band. I knew it was required so I started as soon as I could so that when I finally picked my band doctor I would be a little ahead of the game. It worked out well for me - I had my first visit with my surgeon on 10/19 and had my surgery on 11/6

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I have BCBS of Georgia and had no 6 month diet requirement. I don't see why you couldn't go ahead and start it though. The only way it might not be advisable is if you are so close on the BMI range that you could possibly go below 40 (if you have no comorbidities) before seeing your surgeon.

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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
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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.

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

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