HopeThruFaith

Congratulations on the approvals!!! My surgeon's office submitted my paperwork to Cigna on Oct 4 so I anxiously waiting. I hope I get an answer as quick as you guys did.

I received a call today at work from my coordinator at my surgeons office. She faxed over my packet to Cigna today. (YAY) I'm am super excited!!!! I can't think of anything that they could possibly want that I didn't put into the packet. If I'm defined it'll be out of pure hatred LOL. I have a BMI OF 62 (holy smokes batman) Hypertension, GERD, Mild Sleep Apnea, Hyperthyroidism, and Chronic Back and Joint Pain. I have done every study/test under the moon, I have my past five years doctor's notes, and letter of medical necessity from my PCP and Surgeon. The ONLY thing I am concerned with is the way my old doctor wrote up my 6 month supervised diet. She kinda lumped it all together in one statement. That she had treated me for obesity from June 2009 thru January 2010. She included three office notes and a chart that I had from my personal trainer that listed my monthly weigh ins, blood pressure, heart rate and pulse. She did talk about my dietary plan and what I did as far as working out was concerned. She basically summed up my six month diet into two paragraphs. Does anyone here know just how "particular" Cigna is with the approval process?

I have it also and I love it. A great way to get some cardio when I don't feel like driving to the gym.

I wish my surgeon's office was like yours. They will only put you on the schedule for surgery once you've gotten the go ahead from the insurance company. The Bariatric coordinator says it can take 6-8 weeks from the time of approval. I'm cutting it pretty close which means everything gotta fall into place perfectly.... I had an Upper GI yesterday and I must say it was not as bad as some of the reviews on here. The barium wasn't the best thing I've tasted but it was not the worst that could have happened to me. I was fortunate and only had to do one standing which meant I only had to drink one cup of the barium. Overall I think you will do fine. I'm with you....I'm so excited about the band I can't hardly wait. I know that things do happen and some people are not successful but I honestly think a lot of this will be mind over matter. If you THINK you will be successful YOU WILL BE successful. At least that's my mindset and I'm sticking to it LOL...

I have been given the official greenlight from everyone EXCEPT the sleep doctor. I don't think she's even read my sleep study yet. But once she's done that my Bariatric coordinator will have all the info to submit to insurance for approval. I am hoping to be banded before 12/31/11 since I've met my deductible and only have a small proportion of my Out Of Pocket left. So you already have a surgery date?

MST can you give me more details on the one you mentioned?

Thanks you guys. I have to say I couldn't sleep a wink last night. The tech never came in to put me on a CPAP so either I don't have sleep apnea or I slept so bad last night (waking up every hour) that they couldn't tell. I guess I'll know for sure in a few days. I did my Upper GI today which completed all my test. We should submit to Cigna sometime in the near week or so. Roeroe, what's your next step in the process?

Good for you for getting the second opinion. I'm here at the sleep center as we speak. I've been told that I have a wicked loud snore (LOL) and have aspirated a few times in my sleep due to GERD. There is a good possibility that I may have sleep apnea despite the fact that I feel well rested after sleeping. I would HATE to have to wear a CPAP but anything that will help me get approved with Cigna is worth it.

That is awesome. Congratulations!!!!

I completed my labwork that my surgeon asked for and was told today by my PCP that I have Hypothyroidism. This is quite a shock to me because my labwork in May did not reflect any issues. Will this condition hinder my chances of being approved for the LapBand? And if not does it count as a co-morbidity that could possible help my chances of getting approved? I'm so overwhelmed by this whole process...and I'm just getting starting!!! Can someone put my mind at ease?

K, thanks Cindy

So today I had my first consult with my surgeon. (yay) I was given a ton of information plus all on my appointments for the pre-band testing. I am required to do a six month supervised diet per Cigna. It dawned on me today that with being only two months in that I won't finish my supervised diet until December. This means that I won't get banded until Jan when a new benefit year starts. If I go ahead and continue this process all of the money that I'm spending for the pre-band testing now won't be applied to the cost of my Out of Pocket. So I am trying to decide if I should just wait on completing the process until next year? This totally sucked b/c I had wanted to be banded ASAP but I definitely want to be strategic about this financially speaking. The coordinator said that we could try but with the holidays and the office being closed and the surgeons are booked 6-8 weeks out doesn't sound to promising. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Congratulations!!! I know you must be thrilled. Were you able to lose any weight during your supervised diet?

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Hello everyone. My name is TInika and I am in the very begining stages of getting approved through my insurance company. I have started to gather my information and have seen my PCP to start my supervised nutrtion program. (I have lost 10 pounds in the last 12 days!!!) I have a question regarding the 5 documentated weights with doctor notes requirement. I have documentation from 2006-2011 apart from 2008. I was self employed that year and unfortunately did not see a doctor at all that year. How rigid are they with this requirement? I have 5 years total... just not consecutive. I would hate for this to be an issue for me. Does anyone else have experence with this?

That's reasurring to hear. Thanks for the response

Great! Thanks for responding.

Thanks for sharing. I am so looking forward to getting my packet of information to go through.

Congrautlations to you for wanting to become informed. I am in the begining stages also. I am anxiously awaiting my seminar on July 19!!!

Congratulations Shannon!!! I am so glad things have gone so well for you. I am new to the idea of getting "banded". I am in the very early stages of the process. I am actually scheduled to attend my first seminar on July 19. I'm glad to hear your recovery was so easy and simple. (I know not everyone will have the same results) I think that is the one thing that keeps me on the fence about having it done. I am a nurse and being mobile is imperative for me. (not that I'm THAT mobile at close to 400 pds but you get what I'm saying) I would love to know what the first day was like for you. Which doctor did you use in NC?