clickersister

Hi. I'm going to my first seminar this week, and I've already started my paperwork. Anyone from Indiana? Who did you use for your Dr? If all goes well and insurance approves my surgery (they should), it should be about 6 weeks from now. I've been researching since October and I wish I would've started the process sooner. What kind of support system (besides this forum) seems to work the best? I know my husband will be supportive, and my daughter, but does it work best to have a friend, too? Thanks and talk to you all soon!

Well, I was just rejected for the second time. The rejection letter said that I met all of the requirements, but other options had not been pursued. I'm thinking that my surgeon's office knew both times of more things that should be done but chose to take my money for extra office visits instead of telling me what I might do to be approved. The more rejections.....the more money for them. So I will be changing surgeons and trying again.

Just an update......not once in 9 weeks did my surgeon's office call to follow up on the insurance process, and since I've received my copy of the rejection letter that was sent to their office (6 days) they haven't even called me to notify me or to follow up on it. Oh, and I forgot to mention that they have tried twice to bill me for office visits that were already paid for! I had proof that they were paid! Needless to say, I have already scheduled my appointment with a new surgeon. My only issue with this is that he will probably try to talk me into the RNY. It's not what I want, but at this point I will probably do whatever the insurance company allows. I can't spend another year at this weight..................

No, I've done all that. I've been jumping through hoops for the insurance company for 20 months. I feel like the surgeon's office has had knowledge of little things (a simple blood test) that could have been done before they even submitted the information, and for one of the items, the surgeons office had the info and didn't submit it. Also, I was told by their office 3 different dates that the info was submitted......once to my face in the office.....when in reality it was never sent in at all. I'm really frustrated right now and I know that a competitor's office would never have let that happen because my niece went through them, and they review the criteria and make sure it's ready to be accepted before it's submitted, then on the chance that it might be rejected, they have special people on staff to file an appeal. My surgeon's office has basically shrugged their shoulders and given me the impression of "Tough luck" and left me to flounder. That's not a very comfortable feeling when you don't feel like they're looking out for your best interests. Sorry, just had to vent.

I finally met all the requirements and my surgeon's office said they sent all of my info in on August 7. Then on August 18 they said they submitted a little more information. In the middle of September my DH called the insurance company and was told the information was received on September 2. HUH??? That was almost a month after the first submission! So he called the surgeon's office and was told that they sent it on August 25. Why did they tell me, to my face in the office, that it was sent in earlier? So he waits a week and called insurance again (Sagamore) and was told it was sent for outside review. It's been 12 days now! I'm so discouraged and fearful of being rejected again. (I was rejected 20 months ago because I didn't have 6 month supervised weight loss, which I have now, but I don't meet the BMI requirement anymore because I lost 16 pounds. I still have the co-morbidities.) I almost went the way of gastric bypass, and I think my journey would have been smoother and I could've had the surgery by now. I'm very frustrated and about ready to throw in the towel. Sorry, I just needed to vent.

Thanks, tmbowe. Yes, it is frustrating. Early last week my dh was told that the outside review board would make a decision this week. Well, it's already Friday afternoon and of course, we've heard nothing. I'm under the assumption that's a good thing, because it only took two weeks to reject it the last time.

Thanks for those answers. Please don't be sorry you started this thread. I've been trying to get my band for about 20 months now (long story) but I'm hoping for insurance approval VERY, VERY soon, maybe today. And I've been reading posts about hunger the whole time. I really did wonder if the hunger increased after banding. It's good to know that it will be the same as before. I know I will be successful, because all I have to do is look at how successful you all are. I especially like the before and after picture thread; I get so motivated and inspired, and I just know I'll have my pics on there before long! I'll let you know when I get my approval and surgery date! Thanks again, kind people!

I'm not banded yet; I'm hoping for a September date. When you current bandsters talk about needing fills and being hungry all the time, I get a little concerned about that hunger. Is the hunger MORE than the hunger before you were banded? If so, how can that be? If not, why does it seem harder to control than before banding? If we've spent years at a constant weight, then why does it seem like we gain AFTER banding? I don't have a hunger problem now (just an overeating problem LOL), so will I have a hunger problem after I'm banded? I know this sounds dumb, but I truly wonder this every time I read about someone being hungry all the time. Thanks.

I'm hoping to get my approval and surgery date next week. It is so nice to see everyone support each other. You have all done so well and give me so much hope that I can do as well as you! I have 100 pounds to lose and I'm looking forward to being able to do things with my family again. I have a VERY sedentary job.......I literally do NOTHING but answer the phone and monitor a security system, so I can't even get up and walk around. I spend most of my time surfing the web. How much work do you think I'll miss when I get banded? I'm hoping to have my surgery on a Thursday and be back to work on Monday. Does that sound possible? Thanks.

I will be using Dr. McEwen for my surgery, hopefully in the next month. I had went through everything last year and was turned down by insurance because I hadn't had 6 month supervised weight loss (the insurance company did not tell my dh it was required when he called them about eligibility), so now I have that behind me and I've scheduled the appointment with the surgeon and the insurance has been re-filed. I'm so excited and so ready. I'm down about 16 pounds since my first visit last year, but I still have about 100 to lose. This forum will be great for keeping me on track and motivated.

I haven't been banded yet but I'm already trying to eat like a bandster by taking tiny bites and chewing thoroughly. I'm starting to get a little worried, though. I usually eat healthy, and I usually only eat about half of what everyone else does. I never get a large sandwich or extras like cheese fries with a meal. Last night we ate out and I had a small salad, 1/2 baked potato and 1/2 of a 10 oz. steak. This is typical for me!!!!!! How did I get 100 pounds overweight?????? I used to have an ice cream addiction, eating about 1 to 1 1/2 cups every night, but I kicked that over a year ago. My dh and I talk about it all the time and can't understand. Will I lose weight with the band?

Christine, I haven't had my surgery yet but I wish you best of luck and please stay in contact with us.

That would be great!! You'll be getting your surgery next week! I'm so happy for you! I have about the same amount of weight to lose. How tall are you? I'm just over 5'8" and I started this journey when I weighed about 272. I'm down to about 256 now, and I'd like to get down to a size 12. That may be at 150 or 160. Even though I'm 51, I still 'think' like a younger person, and I have a lot of active goals. I think those goals will help me during weight loss. Do you have goals, and if so, what are they? You're very young, so you've got a lot of time left to do fun stuff. I think you're making a very good decision! Well, thanks and take care. Talk to you soon!

Hey everyone! I was going to be banded last year but was declined by insurance because I hadn't had my supervised weight loss yet. Well, I finished that this year, then lost my mom due to cancer, so now I am on the road to being a bandster again. I have a visit with the surgeon scheduled in two weeks, and I expect the surgery to be less than a month after that. I am SO READY. I had considered the RNY but decided that wasn't for me. The lapband will provide me with a TOOL to lose the weight without being too hungry. I am looking forward to being active and happy as a slimmer person. I am a 51 year-old grandma of 5 year-old twin girls, a 12 year-old girl and a 14 year-old boy (two older ones are only home in the summer). Plans of theme parks, white-water rafting, golfing, and lots of hiking and bike rides are in the future. I am very excited, but also realistic, and I KNOW I will need lots of encouragment and ACCOUNTABILITY. I would like a mentor/buddy who will be firm, yet kind, with me when I hit a bump in the road. Who am I kidding? I want someone who will NAG, YELL AND SCREAM if I don't do what I'm supposed to.:thumbup: Soooooo, if you are up to the task of being my buddy/mentor, please contact me!

Hi. I don't have my banding date set yet, most likely mid-April. I've seen many people on here who fly 6 hours the day after surgery, but I'm wondering about a 9-hour drive the day after surgery. I'm thinking about going to visit my brother during the time that I'm off work, since I won't get any more sick time or vacation time for a while. I know I can recuperate while I'm there, it's just that I'll be that far from home (and my surgeon). Anyone else out there that has recuperated somewhere other than home? Thanks.

Hey, I saw an exercise on TV a long time ago for a 'natural' face lift. All you had to do was exaggerate saying 'X' and 'O'. You should feel your cheek and throat muscles stretch and contract. You can really feel it if you say 'O' like you're howling, with lips going upward. I've done this for years and, although I have a fat chin, I don't have a double chin. I really think it helps. What do you all think?

Hi Kimmie! I live in north central Indiana and I'm being banded in Indianapolis. I'm really looking forward to the journey and the weight loss. Let's keep the Indiana thread going! Best of luck to you!

OK, I'm back and whining. All of my appointments had to be cancelled....again...and now they're scheduled for Tuesday again. All but the psych eval, which had to be bumped out to March 7th due to all of the bad weather and reschedules. I'm hoping my surgeon can submit to insurance without the psych eval. and send it in later. My big problem is going to be getting off work for the surgery. The lady in my office is really being difficult and I will need to get someone to replace me. She's going to make this as difficult on me as possible, I'm afraid. There is still a chance for me to be banded in March, but I'm sorta thinking after Easter will be more likely. I'll just keep on praying about it.

Waiting.....and waiting..... AGAIN I had all of my appointments scheduled for today and AGAIN they were all cancelled due to bad weather. The county will probably be calling a snow emergency today because it's so bad out. BUT, I can only go to my appointments on Tuesday because of a certain lady in my office who is not willing to cover the office for me. In fact, I think she may be trying to sabotage my efforts. She is very obese herself, and from the first moment I mentioned WLS she has been very cruel and unflexible. Not all the time, only when it comes to my WLS. Anyway, now my appointments with the surgeon, dietician, and psych. are all scheduled for next Tuesday again so I will have to wait another week. So, unless the insurance approval is lightning fast and the doctor's schedule is wide open, I probably won't be banded in March. I did find out something exciting over the weekend, though! I now know someone in my town that has a lapband! She's been banded a very short time and has lost 30 pounds already! Wow, I can't wait.

Hello sisters and brothers. I agree with Jon and I'd like to add my humble opinion. I also struggled with the decision to be banded (and I'm not banded yet), and it seems like I've been facing obstacles with every step. Just last week I had to reschedule all of my appointments due to bad weather. And now, with my new appointments being tomorrow, we're supposed to get 8 MORE inches of snow tonight. I trust that God is in control of the timing, but I also have to resist the devil, who wants me to have doubts about this, and wants me to fail. Would Satan want me to have a healthy body so that I might serve the Lord with more energy, alertness, and passion? Absolutely not! I truly believe that God will honor us being in a healthier body as long as we draw closer in our relationship with Him. Blessings to all of you today.

Excellent idea, Kat. I snack all day long at my desk. I was thinking of the 100 calorie packs and maybe munch on it all day long, but your idea seems doable for someone like me.

I couldn't even finish watching the video. I agree with those of you that this Dr. is band-bashing and trying to get business. I'm not banded yet, but one of the reasons I chose the band was to help me not feel so hungry, so that the work THAT I DO will result in weight loss, and I still have the adjustability of the band AFTER weight loss to help me maintain. I have every intention of using the band as a tool, and I realize that I am the one responsible for the work. I also acknowledge that I will probably be a slow loser, but that's OK with me. I know I can do this, I just need some help. All of my aquaintances that have had bypass have regained their weight, mostly because they didn't modify their diets. One never quit munching on M & M's, and washed them down with hot cocoa. Duh! With those kind of eating habits, no sort of WLS would work for very long.

I think maybe I should join the March Bandsters. I had to reschedule all my appointments with the surgeon, dietitian, and psychiatrist due to bad weather, and they are all rescheduled for next week. Hopefully all will go well, my insurance will approve quickly, and I'll get scheduled. We've already contacted the insurance and it is a covered surgery with MO, and I already know my surgeon is in the network, my PCP has already written his letter, and I've met all the other requirements (that I know of) from my insurance company, so those hoops have already been jumped through. I do have one concern. MO to my insurance company is a BMI of 40 or more. When I weighed at my PCP's office my BMI was 40.03 or something like that, which means if I lose a pound or two it would be under 40. When I weighed at home this morning I had lost 4 pounds. This is crazy, but I don't want to gain weight back to meet the requirement. But I guess I have to, at least until weigh-in at the surgeon's office, right? At any rate, Lord willing, if everything goes well, I should get a surgery date in March. If that changes I'll let you all know.

So far 2 appointments rescheduled for next Tuesday, and I'm still waiting to schedule the third one.

I had my consult w/surgeon, dietitian, and psych. all scheduled for today......but all had to be cancelled because of bad weather. The roads are horribly slick and I'm 70 miles away. The surgeon's office even called me to cancel because it's so bad out. I'm totally bummed out. I've rescheduled for next week. Maybe it's a good thing. Now I can help my mom with her frozen pipes. (Sigh) I won't have warm toes again until May.