Hi Everyone!!

I just recently completed my 6 month program. I saw my surgeon on Tuesday and apparently, I lost too much weight. In his professional opinion, I can do it on my own. I'm a bit frustrated and confused. Has anyone else had this problem? I am afraid the insurance company will not approve me, even though they are supposed to go by your starting weight and BMI. I have BCBS PPO.

I am 5'4" and my starting weight was 285. I am now 203. I lost 82 pounds in 6 months with diet and exercise. I'm afraid my insurance company will not approve the surgery because of my massive weight loss. :wink2:

LOL...and no I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at the bonehead who thinks losing 82 pounds is proof you can do the rest of it without the band. As someone told me earlier. The band is the tool that not only helps in losing the weight...but also in keeping it off.

insurance is a crazy system. If the dr says that you lost to much weight...go back>>look ashamed and tell him you have been chucking up your food and used dieretics like loads of teas etc>>>check google and then he (she) can reapply to the insurance co< you will not be considered mental>>just a desperate overweight individual...just thought that and i think that will definitely work for you.

roflmao.

.

I agree, it is a lifestyle change and that is why I did it BEFORE surgery and not AFTER. I decided early on that this would be the way I would have to live for the rest of my life, so why wait until after I was banded?? So, I made the choice to change my life the day I saw my nutritionist for the first time. I did not wait until I started the liquid diet nor did I just set out to lose the bare minimum to get approved by the insurance company. I changed my lifestyle over 6 months ago. If people want to know how I did it, that is how I did it... I changed my lifestyle. I feel great physically. Emotionally, I feel a lot better since I have been approved. I'm not stressed out over the insurance part anymore.

There are two other people in my support group who are going through the same situation as me. Should we be punished just because we followed the program and loss weight? I'm sorry that we didn't cheat. We worked the program and it worked for us. I'm now maintaining my weight and my doctors don't know if I will lose anymore on my own. Why should I suffer and be unhappy with my weight when I have the opportunity to benefit from the LAP-BAND®? I have suffered for most of my adult life. Everyone has there own circumstances and I wish you continued success on your journey. I understand what you are saying and I appreciate your opinion and your support and encouragement. Thank you! :wink2:

I understand completely!

Best of luck to you on your journey.

If thinking in terms of what is best for one's health makes me a "bonehead" then so be it!

I'm here!! And I am very, very happy!!!! :redface: I found out today that my insurance company approved me!!! :wink2: And my doctor is willing to do the surgery (he'd rather I'd do it on my own... but... he'll do it..)!!! :cursing:

Just a thought...are you going through a surgeon who has *lots* of experience with banding? I ask because it almost sounds like your surgeon is ambivalent towards the band and doesn't have a grasp of the realities regarding overweight people and their dieting history.

I specifically looked for a bariatric surgeon. Not only do they have vastly more experience in banding (and less apt to 'oops'), but they also have a better understanding of how we (overweight people) 'work'.

.

Congratulations, Mystify!

.

If thinking in terms of what is best for one's health makes me a "bonehead" then so be it!

I wasn't referring to you, but to Mystify's doctor.

.

I wasn't referring to you, but to Mystify's doctor.

.

Thank you, I appreciate you clarifying this.

Thank you, I appreciate you clarifying this.

:wink2:

.

Just a thought...are you going through a surgeon who has *lots* of experience with banding? I ask because it almost sounds like your surgeon is ambivalent towards the band and doesn't have a grasp of the realities regarding overweight people and their dieting history.

I specifically looked for a bariatric surgeon. Not only do they have vastly more experience in banding (and less apt to 'oops'), but they also have a better understanding of how we (overweight people) 'work'.

.

My surgeion only does banding. He has only known me since my initial consult in June. So, he felt in August, that if I could lose as much as I did in 6 months then why rush into surgery. I was hurt, disappointed, and frustrated. I understood his point later on. He said that he would like to see if I could do it on my own. He is a bariatric surgeon that only performs lap band procedures.

I think we all can agree that if it were that we only had to lose our weight , we all would not be here.

We all are experts at weight loss, and can you imagine if we were to somehow be able to calculate all the pounds that we all have lost...total??? Betcha we could literally rock the world,... right off it's everloving axis.

What we also are experts at is gaining it all back (oops, there goes that doggone shifting axis thing again) and then a few extra pounds ta-boot.

I cannot believe that people (Dr.s included) would even mildly suggest that anyone who seeks WLS can do this "on their own". No one does weight loss "on their own" .

We have personal relationships with Jenny, WW, Nutrisystems, Southbeach, Atlkins, Cabbage Soup, etc... and don't forget those Gyms, Curves, Woman's Worlds, Butterfly Lifes, and others that become homes away from home.

Rare is the person ( like a snowman in July) who can do this weightloss thing and keep it off permanetly all on their own.

The Biggest Loser is a great example of just how far people will go to lose the fat! Imagine, for the entire world to see, your weight, your fat, your stretchmarks, the pain....

I for one am elated that I am here at a time in history where there are these fabulous weight loss tools that help with weight loss, but more importantly finally assist with the ever eluding maintenance of the weight loss.

I believe what umystifyme has shown is the ability to do what it takes to win the battle, not just because she wants it with all her being, but that she will come out on the other side a complete winner because she knows what it will take and complies with that, the big difference is this time she'll have a tool that will support her with maintaining her weight loss.

Kudos to you Amy, you are my HERO!:wink2:

I think we all can agree that if it were that we only had to lose our weight , we all would not be here.

We all are experts at weight loss, and can you imagine if we were to somehow be able to calculate all the pounds that we all have lost...total??? Betcha we could literally rock the world,... right off it's everloving axis.

What we also are experts at is gaining it all back (oops, there goes that doggone shifting axis thing again) and then a few extra pounds ta-boot.

I cannot believe that people (Dr.s included) would even mildly suggest that anyone who seeks WLS can do this "on their own". No one does weight loss "on their own" .

We have personal relationships with Jenny, WW, Nutrisystems, Southbeach, Atlkins, Cabbage Soup, etc... and don't forget those Gyms, Curves, Woman's Worlds, Butterfly Lifes, and others that become homes away from home.

Rare is the person ( like a snowman in July) who can do this weightloss thing and keep it off permanetly all on their own.

The Biggest Loser is a great example of just how far people will go to lose the fat! Imagine, for the entire world to see, your weight, your fat, your stretchmarks, the pain....

I for one am elated that I am here at a time in history where there are these fabulous weight loss tools that help with weight loss, but more importantly finally assist with the ever eluding maintenance of the weight loss.

I believe what umystifyme has shown is the ability to do what it takes to win the battle, not just because she wants it with all her being, but that she will come out on the other side a complete winner because she knows what it will take and complies with that, the big difference is this time she'll have a tool that will support her with maintaining her weight loss.

Kudos to you Amy, you are my HERO!

I couldn't have said it better! :thumbup: Thank you!! And I hope my story can inspire people. If I can do it, I know you and many other's can too. Awww.... I don't think of myself as a hero. But if I can motivate and inspire other's, then I will feel like I have given something back.

I have my cardiologist appt scheduled for October 28th. I think I should get clearance for the surgery. My chest pains have disappeared, however, I do still have a small amount of fluid on my heart. Next week I go for my Esophogram and lab work. My surgeon also requires a recent pap smear and it is time for my yearly. I also have to have a colonoscopy. Everything is falling into place. It will happen... ad the pace is just fine with me.

We all are experts at weight loss,

Excellent post! When I was diagnosed as a diabetic, they wanted to send me to a nutritionist to get 'counseling' in the correct way to handle my diet. I spent 10 minutes with the nutritionist before she realized that I knew far more about what to eat, when to eat and how to control my diabetes.

Overweight people are *experts* on diet and nutrition. Most of us have internal scales that enable us to 'eye' a portion and tell what it weighs or whether it's 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, etc.

We're not fat because we're stupid or lack the knowledge.

.

Thank you GraciesMom and Elfiepoo!! Great posts!! Obesity runs on both sides of my family. I have watched my sister struggle with her weight, seen my father hospitalized for his and seen aunts and uncles die because of theirs. I've tried every diet there is and I have no problem losing the weight. My problem is keeping it off. Again, I know this is not a "diet," but a lifestyle change. So, this time around it was different for me. But there is that fear, that overwhelming anxiety about what if I gain it back. Only those who have gone through what I have can understand that fear and understand my motivation and desire in getting the lap band. That is why I was soo devastated when my doctor insisted that I do this on my own. That is why I was very depressed and anxious regarding approval by the insurance company. I feel like God is watching out for me and this is my time. This may be my only chance in getting the surgery. I may not have insurance in another year or so. You never know what the future holds. So, I am going with what has been given to me at the moment. My surgeon is reluctant but willing to do the surgery and I do trust him. My insurance company approved me. I am building a new chapter of my life.

Amy