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Hi Debbie...welcome to the Bama Board.  It is great to have you here.  This has been a wonderful experience for me.  Whatever weight loss surgery you choose, I know it will be right for you and believe me, I have gained my life.  I have such an exciting and blessed life now.  I had to do the 6 month diet also.  You are right, it makes no sense.  I had BCBS also and I went through my PCP.  Just make sure if that is the route you take that you weigh in 7 times.  It is 6 months, but you must actually go 7.  Maybe you can get your WW receipts.  I wish you all the best.  Please let us hear from you on your journey.

WOW!  Your before and after pics are amazing!  Looking at someone that has already been thru the process gives me some hope.  I know it will be a long road, but I think it will be worth it in the end. I want my life back!

Just wanted to put in my view--Dont know much about Foreman; I hear he is very nice.  Dr. Facundus is a skilled surgeon I think, but very arrogant and condesending.  He did my first surgery and used guilt and shame whenever I strayed from the program.  His office staff is very nice; I liked them all.  I am about 5 year out from RNY and have gained about 80 lbs after an injury where I was unable to walk for about a year.  When I saw him recently, he came into the office and threw a paper with a chart indiating my wt gain and asked me "What the %#$* have you done?" 
I was crushed; I had gone to him to try to arrest the wt gain, and I figure I have had enough humiliation in my life, I do not need this from someone I am paying for information.  So, I have gone elsewhere. 
In all fairness, I have heard good things about him, and I do believe he is a good surgeon.  Maybe he was having a bad day the day I saw him. 
FYI:  I dont know what kind of surgery you are considering; but he has never done the RNY to DS.  (not sure about virgin DS).  His office told me that he does this surgery, but he told me himself that he had never done it but felt he could perform it excellently. 
I think several here have used him, and I do not want to stir up a hornets nest, but that is my experience. 
 

That is awful he did that to you.  I will definitely NOT consider him.  I would have been upset too.  I want a doctor that has a good bed side manor.  
I am sure he is a good surgeon......I have heard good things about him as well, but I just can't deal with doctor's that treat a patient like that.

Debbie -

I completely forgot to mention the weight loss support group at Huntsville Hospital. The first Thursday of the month at 5 PM is the gastric banding support group and 6 PM is the gastric bypass support group. The third Wednesday of the month at 10 AM they have a combined weight loss support group. A lot of people go to hear patients before - during - after with several different Dr's are represented.

They have a lot of great info! 

Noel

 and welcome

Hello! Welcome, I am also recently new to posting, I have been lurking for a little while, asking questions here and there! I am in Athens! We should go work out together! What gym are you at? Anyway, as for your question about Facundus. I will tell you about my experience with him. He is a very skilled surgeon. I have heard nothing but good things of his skill. Now, I will admit, he is very.....lets say confident. He has a procedure because that is what he has perfected, and he KNOWS that the people who follow that are successful in using the tool he provides. Personally, I want someone strict, and I want someone who expects nothing but the best from me. With that type of support I do better. I am confident that I made a great decision in having him to my surgery.
As for his office staff, they have been awesome! I submitted all of my final paperwork to them on 12-18-09 and was approved 10 days later! It was great!
I have my pre-op appointment on 1-20-09 and then I am going to forever change my life on 2-2-09! I couldnt be more excited!

Congrats on the approval.  That is awesome.  Good luck with the surgery too.
I work out at the HSV hosptial sports and wellness center on Hwy 72 and Balch Road.

I have no clue who I will choose for a surgeon.  When I planned on doing this a few years ago I went to see Dr. Facundus and I found him arrogant.  I know most doctor's are arrogant, but I don't do the "arrogance" thing. Nothing I hate more than someone talking "down" to me.  
I think I will go to one of those information sessions at HSV  hospital and see what they say.  I know everyone has their own opinion as to who the feel comfortable with.  It's a difficult decision to make.

Hi, Debbie. I totally understand your frustration, but the 7 months goes by really quick. I started the process in May and will be having surgery on January 26th with Dr. Mailapur. 

I also  have BC BS. I would call them and speak with someone and get them to tell you the benefits over the phone. Also, get the person's name you speak with. They will probably refer you to the website, but at least you'll still have a name.  I printed out their requirements so I would know exactly what I needed to do.   I think BC BS does it mainly to see if you are really dedicated and determined to changing your habits after weight loss surgery and to see if you've really tried losing weight on your own.

As for the medically supervised diet, it is my understanding that you have to have visits to your PCP if you're doing a program like WW. You can also go to your PCP for seven visits, but make sure they document that you're there for weight management, nutrition, etc and document your B/P and weight.  I chose to do my seven visits with Huntsville Hospital's nutritionist and visited my PCP three times (in the beginning, middle, and end). This route was cheaper than WW plus it's one on one counseling and more personable.  When I called WW they told me they didn't have my information because each time you join, it's a different contract, but maybe that has changed since October. 

As for the surgeon, why don't you attend the free seminars offered by both doctors (Facundus & Mailapur) and make your decision from there.  Dr. Murrell also does weight loss surgeries. At the seminars, they usually tell you what you need to do and what is expected.  It is a decision you have to make for yourself. It depends on what you want in your surgeon and how comfortable YOU are with him/her. 

I will also tell you this website is wonderful and continue to do your research. I checked out all of the books from the library and also purchased some on my own.  But being around people that have gone through this process has helped me tremendously!  I did attend the support group mentioned above in December and January. My only regret is that I didn't start in May.  You can attend while you are gathering your information and really learn the ins and outs of the process. I was concerned about being denied, but was approved while on the phone with his office.

Good luck to you and trust me it'll be here before you know it! I didn't even know I was attending my last nutritionist appointment until she told me. Time just flew by!