Low BMI....is there hope?

oh I fogot if I do get approved my insurance company pays 100% including hospital stay and all tests..etc....

are you sure you are doing bmi correct. you must be very tall. i was 207 and 5 2" and had a bme of 40 or 39 my doctor helped me with insurance i had surgery 1/25/06 yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am 5' 4", I was just going by the charts...maybe I am higher, which would be to my advantage.

I got my band on March 1st and my BMI was 35.7 according to my Dr.'s website. I had my surgery done here in the US and my insurance paid for the whole thing.
I'm 35, almost 36, had a co-morbidite of high blood pressure and have been on medication for about 5 1/2 years. I have a history of heart disease on my dad's side and also have had back problems for a little over 2 years. I figure that the insurance company thought it'd be cheaper in the long run to pay for the surgery, and not have to keep paying for medication, doctor visits, chiropractor visits, x-rays, etc.
My weight before my kids was always between 140 and 145. At my highest, I reached 218. I've never been able to lose any major amount of weight from any diet and what I did lose, I'd always gain back. The band is a tool for me that will be there when my willpower falters. I was raised with food being a comforting thing and it's the first thing I turn to when I'm depressed or upset or even happy. Food in my family equals love and its very hard to break that cycle.
My main goal with the band is to get healthy...to be off my medications, not have constant back pain and feel like being active with my family. That's more important to me than whatever size I end up or whatever the scale says. Of course, being able to feel good about myself again would be a close second. :)
If you have any questions, feel free to ask...there are lots of friendly people on here that will help you how they can as you make this big decision. Good luck!!

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Thread Starter  

michele thanks for the reply to my post about having a lower BMI. Where was your doctor located? How much did it cost? WHat was your experience like? THanks
ttbseffy

Thread Starter  

KSBANDER
What insurance do you have? We have alot of the same comorbidities. How long did it take for you to get approval from your ins? I dont currently have any insurance and was planning on purchasing a plan. It would be great to have insurance pay for this but Im kinda use to the fact that I will prob have to be self pay. What state do you live in? I currently live in NW Montana but plan on moving to Missouri by the end of summer. Thanks for your post and I lool forward to hearing from you!

I have United Healthcare. My paperwork was submitted around Christmas and I was approved in early January. I know my Dr has several self-pay patients, but know sure how much the cost is.
I live in Kansas, near Kansas City. My doctor is Dr Stanley Hoehn and he's located in Overland Park KS. If you're going to be in the KC metro area, he'd be my recommendation.

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Hello,

I am going to the first seminar on lapbanding on April 11th at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

They said this was the first process. Has anyone else had surgery at B&W's for LAP-BAND^®? I was just wondering how long the process is. I've been reading different posts and some waiting periods are months.

I have HMO Blue of New England. I called them to find out about the coverage for this surgery. It's 100% covered, only $10 office co-payments. 100% full coverage for hospital stay. I have had surgery at B&W before to have my gallbladder removed while I was 3 months pregnant. I have also had my last two deliveries there only because I was high risk, one from being so sick with gallbladder disease and the last one for developing DVT's in my upper extremities from a pic line, but I still get new clots once in a while, but I'm on blood thinners. My cardiologist is in Boston. Oh, I've had a lump removed from my wrist a few years back there too. So I love B&W and feel comfortable having surgery there.

I have been very over weight for 5 years now. It keeps creeping up on me, no matter how much I work out. I think I could starve myself and it would not work at this point in my life. I'm 40. I want to live long enough to see my children grow up.

Did anyone have to write up what kind of diets they have tried or keep a journal or anything like that? Oh, how come they make you see a psych? I do have one because I see one for my medicine for my depression. My depression is under control has been for years. Will that have an effect on having LAP-BAND^® surgery? The main reason I get blue sometimes is because I do not like how I look or feel. I don't like to go places because of my weight, it wears me down and I always been ugly and gross. I never want people from my past to see me, as to afraid of the comments they might make.

But thank you all for you posts. I'll keep you posted on the results from the seminar.

Thanks !

Hi,
I am in the same boat as you! I am at 205 lbs with a BMI of 35.2. I am researched this and went to a seminar. I really want this surgery. I have been struggling with this for 8+ years now. EVERYONE asks me when I'm due...lol..not really funny, but a few months ago someone asked me and I said "I'm not pregnant I'm FAT"...I go to see the surgeon tomorrow about it. I'll let you know..

Hello All. I have a BMI of 35 and waiting for the answer from my insuarnce. I also have high Blood pressure, ao i'm hoping that I will get approved!
Say a prayer for me.

Hi. I started at BMI of 35 on 5/25/06. I had high blood pressure, asthma, and sleep apnea and was approved with no problem by BC/BS. BMI already dropped to 32 in 1-1/2 months. Good luck on your approval!

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Andrea
Banded: 5/24/06
Surgeon: Alexander Onopchenko, MD
Atlantic City, NJ

Initial Dr. Consult 12/9/05 - 200
Preop Visit 5/12/06 - 194 (-6)
PCP Visit 5/30/06 - 192 (-2)
Postop Visit 6/1/06 - 188.5 (-3.5)
PCP Visit 6/5/06 - 185 (-3.5)
2nd Postop Visit 7/13/06 - 176 (-9)
First Fill - 7/13/06 - 1 cc in 4 cc band

Andrea,

Thank you for the bright look for us lightweights, I was extremely happy to read your post!

i am going to the surgeon today! I'll post more later as to what he has to say.

your doing excellent at your weight loss!!