Hi..I have been reading this site on and off. Well GOOD NEWS ..My insurance covers my procedure....BAD NEWS.....I have to go for 3- psych checks, 3 group meeting, 3-4 other specialists(cardio, pulmanary etc) THEN I must see a dietician and council FOR 6 MONTHS BEFORE they will approve my surgery!!!!! Now I am 41 yrs old my BMI is 46...they will only approve 40+, I am at extreme risk for Diabeties, I have bad acid reflux, I have had 2 back surgerys, and 2 ACL surgerys, and 2 scopes on other knee. Do these people want you to die !!!! I recently gained this weight due to the last back problem(about 2 yrs)..I was always around 220-240. Now I am pushing 320 !!!! I have been 300 before but I was always able to lose it w/ exercise and a low carb. Now I just cant do that...My lifestyle will not allow 2 hrs a day 6 days a week. I dont want to lose too much weight before I have a chance to get the surgery (perm solution) These people are crazy !!!!!! Thank you for letting me VENT!!!

BTW does that leg weight trick really work????:confused2:

Edited August 22, 200818 yr by DragRacer1967

Hey there. Understand your frustration -- truly I do. I had to do a lot of that and was denied three times after jumping through all the hoops. But we persevered and I got the surgery -- 1 year later I've lost 91 lbs total.

Hang in there. And don't worry about losing too much -- it won't disqualify you from the surgery if you lost 20 or 30 lbs. They just want to prove that you CAN and WILL follow dietary guidelines after surgery. Because lets face it, the band won't make you choose broccoli over Blue Bell Homemade vanilla -- you still have to make that choice.

So I can lose 30-40 lbs and they'll still approve ??? According to my BMI I cant get below 280 (thats 40.2).. Seems to me like they want to say "gee you lost 30 lbs...just stay on this diet for another year and you'll be fine!!!"

They will look at your starting weight for your BMI. They mainly want to know that you are going to be committed to doing the diet. As long as you do everything they want you to and everything is documented correctly you will be fine. Make sure nothing is missing when it is submitted or it will be denied. That happened to me but once we faxed the last thing in it was approved.

Do you have a band doctor in mind. Many have a dietician or can refer you. Start your 6 month diet as soon as you can get into the dietician. You can be attending your other appointments while the clock is ticking on your required 6 month diet.

Good luck.