Hi everyone! I have been researching and wanting to have surgery for quite awhile. I have been unsuccessful thus far because I don't have any health problems, other than being fat. As we all know, the health problems will come...

Anyhow, I found you all here and saw the comments about BCBS fed and thought I would give it a shot. So, I called customer service and was told that I don't need health problems, my BMI would qualify me, to look up a doctor and go, doc would send my paperwork in for approval. Looks like I would pay my copay like normal for an out-patient surgery procedure- $100.

I am excited, nervous, scared. I called the center today and I go to Penrose on the 14th for my educational consult...learn all about it and what to do next. Wish me luck! I am shooting for Stacie Perlman...so we will see.

Lynette

I called fed BCBS Monday and talked to a rep about surgery. I specifically asked her if I needed to prove that I had followed my docs weight loss plan for 6 months and I was told that fed BCBS doesn't need to do that anymore. So, I called Penrose and set up an educational consult. Today I was called by Penrose and was told she had recieved a memo that said I needed to follow a 6 month plan. So, I called my doc, set up an appt and they proceded to tell me I didn't need to. So I turned around and called the insurance company again and they again told me I didn't need to. So I called Penrose again and left a message...talk about confusing!

I went ahead and kept my doc appt for my 6 month plan...but talk about getting the run around. Anybody else experience this with fed blue cross blue shield?

P.S. If you think you have read this before under the insurance link...you have. I realized after I posted it that I should have kept it all together. Duh!

Does anyone know how to change personal info? It says I am 11 years old!!!!! OMG! I am 31! I typed the year wrong...1997...my daughter's age! I was supposed to type 1977. Oops!

I gave up trying to get banded in Colorado Springs. I was told by Penrose that I needed a 6 month supervised diet and my insurance company kept telling me that I didn't. So, after having enough with it I returned a phone call to Dr. Brown's office up in Denver. I was scheduled in one week for a consult.

I went up to Denver today with DH to the consult. I met with the dietician first where she asked me about my yo-yo dieting, what are my favorite foods, dietary habits when dieting and not dieting, etc. She explained what life will be like afterwards and we discussed where I will probably struggle. Then, I went in to see Zen Ken...lol. Ken was the social worker and such a hoot. He immediately gave me a koosh ball to play with--yippee! (I am a sped teach and all about sensory stuff!) and we visited for awhile too. It was like a mini counseling session. Really nice and good person to know. Glad I met him. Then, I dragged DH up a floor where I met the physician's assistant (she is awesome, great lady) and then met with doctor. After poking fun at his artistic abilities, I asked questions, we joked, laughed, and then I sat down with Amy who set up a surgery date. She prepped me on the nutrional class that I need to take yet, lab work and diet restrictions. Surgery is FEBRUARY 16th! Yippee!

We left and within an hour...EXACTLY 50 minutes she was calling me to tell me insurance had approved me and I was set.

JUST LIKE THAT!

WOW.

How exciting for you!!! I was banded by Dr. Brown's partner Dr. Metz and my experience was similar everything went so fast. I live in the San Luis Valley which is about 4.5 hours south of Denver very near the New Mexico border so you are luck that you are fairly close to Dr. Brown's Office.

Keep me posted on how things go and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

I am very familiar with the valley...I graduated from HS at Mt. Valley- Saguache. I only lived there for a year, but I spent every weekend cruising Alamosa, Monte...

Of course that was back in 1994-95. Times have changed! I now live in Colorado Springs. I tried going through Penrose...forget it. In fact, when I am done, I am going to call Penrose and let Fran know that I didn't have to do the 6 months like they wanted me to...that they swore was an insurance requirement. I am going to wait until afterwards though!

Nice to meet you and thanks for posting!

How are things going? I bet you are counting down the days. Just PM me if you have any questions.

Aweome froggin!!! I got banded by Dr. Brown in Sept and he is very good. The hospital is very well equiped and the staff are great!

Dont hesitate to ask question with Dr. Brown, he will answer everything you have for him.

I am very excited! I had a bit of a "oh my gosh" moment this week when I discovered my newly hired para has a dad in the hospital because his band eroded through his stomach and was poisoning his body. My mini me that sits on my shoulder kept telling me it is a sign! LOL!!! The chances of that happening is less than 1% though.

I go in for the nutritional class Thursday afternoon. I am not looking foward to that one...but oh well. Blood work is the following week, and then onto my 3 day fast. I am so excited about fasting for 2 weeks and 3 days. Fasting is great for the body- allowing it to get rid of toxins, flush out the system and make repairs. I am big fan of fasting, I can't wait!! Wish I could go longer than the two weeks! I am going to ask that question at the nutritional class.

Keep in touch!

I went in for my pre-op and nutritional class today. Went a lot smoother than I thought it would. I was expecting to arrive at 1:30 and to end at 4:00 and home at 6. Well, it didn't go that way and I was home at 5 so that was nice.

I have realized how much I drink my calories. I thought I was doing myself good by juicing fresh fruits and veggies in my Breville juicer and didn't realize how many extra calories I was downing. Wow. The post op diet for weeks one and two are going to be tougher than I thought because I can't stand milk and it seems everything is around these protein shakes that ask you to add milk. I have tried Soy/Silk and it isn't that bad. I am also not a pill popper so taking vitamins is going to be a change for me.

I am still excited and optomistic about the surgery...even though I am coming across more and more people who have had issues with the band. We all have to die somehow, I just don't want to die of a heart attack due to obesity.

I start my pre-op diet tomorrow. I am very excited, anxious, and ready for this! I know the biggest issue I will deal with are the headaches. I am going to embrace these headaches- they are a symptom of detoxification....getting rid of the toxins in my body. I know my liver needs this badly. I wonder if I will make it long enough for my tongue to resemble the detox- the white coating? I love showers and look foward to taking hot showers to exfoliate my skin as it excreetes other toxins. I am on the road to a healthy life!

For those of you who are struggling with the pre-op diet/liquids, please join me in a new walk in life, looking at food as a means to survive and being picky on what we will put in our body!

I took my preop/fat pics at work yesterday...wow. I have been avoiding the full length mirror and camera...

The love and support that is pouring out of my workplace is amazing and so encouraging. I am a sped teacher on Fort Carson at one of the elementary schools, its a tough school to be in. I finally sent my "Dear Staff" email to everyone to let them know that I am having the surgery on Monday. Everyone that I have run into has said they will pray for me, how excited they are for me, and offered to help in any way for my family/recovery. It is so encouraging.

We are having parent teacher conferences Wed (along with a regular day of school- 7:30am-8pm day). So it was a long day! Thursday is another 8pm day and my last day of food. So my last meal, if you want to call it, was food shared with my staff and catered by 3 Margaritas resturant. What a last meal- it wasn't all that great but it was with great company! I think it was definitely more memorable because of the amount of laughter, handing out flowers, and the encouragement of my upcoming surgery.

So tomorrow is all liquids, my pre-op diet. I am starting this journey at 252 lbs. I am 31 years young and I love life. I am really thrilled that life is going to become even greater.

Good luck with our pre-op diet and stay strong as i am sure it will be difficult to say the least! congrats on your surgery as well.Best of luck!

Day two of liquids/water only. I actually am doing pretty well. I was dreading the headaches most and I haven't had them yet. Yipee! One more day to go then surgery. I am going to look into getting myself a ticker....

12.5 hours to go until surgery. I am so excited and jittery. I hate going under...oh well!

My anethesiologist called me about 8pm to chat. He said he likes to call all of his patients the day before and visit, to relax any nerves, and to ask a few questions. So, we chatted for about 15 minutes and said goodnight, see you in the morning.

I am scared and excited. I hate that feeling because its a really wierd feeling. You want something so bad but scared to do it.