larrytricia

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has been able to get an insurance company to pay for banding if they say in their policy that they do not cover any bariatric procedures? I have Pacificare HMO and I have noticed that they have yo-yoed between years of covering and years of not covering this procedure. I currently had a doctor attempt an exploratory surgery and was unsuccesful due to my almost 300 pound body. I was hoping to finally do a lapband to only find out they are not covering any bariatric procedures and will not next year either. Not sure if there is any chances with fighting when the policy states they do not cover. When we spoke to them, they did say it was employer related somehow. We live in Oklahoma and the coverage is state connected as I am a teacher. Any suggestions would be so appreciated. If not on insurance but how else someone can afford to do this on their own. Thanks all, Tricia

well, bummer. I just wrote my life story with all kinds of questions and lost it all before it posted. how frustrating... LOL.. Well, I am now doing a readers digest version. I have not had the proceedure yet and am really struggling with whether to do it or not. I am a morbidly obese woman (almost 300 pounds) and have thought about having this proceedure for many years. I have never done anything about it because I always tell myself if I am going to have to control my eating after a proceedure then dang it, I can control it without a proceedure. Well, I have proven this not to be successful for me so far. In addition to this weight issue, I have been having some female issues and was scheduled for an exploratory last week. It seems that my doctor was not able to complete the exploratory because I am to fat (not from a lack of trying, I am black and blue and sore). The recovery from this has been very surprising. I have found myself literally carrying my stomach around because letting it go pulls so hard on the incision and muscles it is very painful. I told my doctor today that there is no way we can do a full incision surgery unless I loose some of this weight. One strange thing came out of this surgery though. I found myself with NO desire to eat. I could not think of any foods that sounded good or that I wanted to eat for a week after the proceedure. It is starting to come back to me know, of course.. LOL.. I asked if the doctor thought it might have been from beating my stomach up, but he thinks it was just from the combination of painkillers. But it got me wondering if there is any relief of desire for eating after the lap band proceedures. I was hoping that maybe with something on your stomach it would decrease that desire for food all day long. So here I am again trying to figure out what to do. I am thinking about taking the referral for the specialist, but thought I would get better information from people that have been there. If you can sure your experience and/or advice, I would really appreciate it. I have several questions I have been trying to figure out. Is there a decrease in your desire or cravings for food with this proceedure? Why do you think you were not able to decrease your food intake before the surgery if you are able to after it? (I am scared I would just eat past it if nothing changes) How bad was the recovery? What do you say now that you have done it and did you think it would help you before you had it done? I would sure appreciate any advice you can give. I am really scared to do this and to not do this. I just don't know. Thanks, Tricia

Thank you all for your responses, they are very helpful. I made the call to my doctor today and asked them to make my referral. I am less concerned with not being successful after reading. I never realized that this procedure provided that feeling of satisfaction when you eat. That is what is missing for me now. I can eat nonstop all day and never feel satisfied. I hope this is the answer to many a prayer. How long was it from the time you first saw your bariatric doctor and when you got your surgery? Does it take very long? I am getting excited now and hope it all comes about. Thanks again for the advice. Tricia