faithmd

I called the therapists office this morning and was told I the MMPI-2 I took came out as "invalid" Harrumph! Guess I'll be invalid a second time...

That's too bad, Lori. Do they not cover ANY bariatric surgery, or just the band? You may want to check out www.obesitylaw.com Without insurance you can still get the band, there are plenty of docs out there (most of them, actually) who also have self-pay/financing options. Some are expensive (like $17-20K) and others are much more reasonable (in the US anywhere from $8-12K, and in Mexico for a lot less than that). I know lots of folks go to Denver www.lapbandrockies.com to Dr. Kirshenbaum. Check out the forum: Doctors and Hospitals You'll find many threads there about lots of different doctors, and quite a few about the experiences folks had leaving the US for the procedure. If my insurance denies me, I'll be picking up some overtime and heading to one of these docs myself. Good luck, Lori!

Hello Karlee! I can't wait to get to the stage you are at (not banded yet), congratulations to you on getting your band! I see you posted this thread in the food section. Just above where it populated on this forum are two sticky threads about just this question. Here are the links: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/mushies-stage-recipes-t17637.html http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lapband-food-stages-t3995.html

Geez that stinks! I am glad it hasn't flipped over, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that it stays right side up (or as right as it can). Shame on your supervisor for being so mean. I probably would have retorted something like, "Gee, I *thought* I was going to be merely late, but now I feel a little flu coming on, I won't be able to come in at all." But then again, I can be a little difficult. I wish you the best, keep up the good fight.

I think she was telling the OP to keep the armrests up between she and her hubby. But let me think in that for a moment... A hubby and a boyfriend? Could I find the time? :clap2:

I did my eval day before yesterday. It consisted of chatting with a therapist for about 45 minutes and then taking the MMPI-2. I thought all went very well. ...Until I got home this afternoon and found a message from the therapists office saying I have to go and retake that damned MMPI-2!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck?:girl_hug: :angry

That's a great response, maziemommy. For me it was simply not wanting my intestines rerouted. That and I had seen too many people come to my ICU with significant gut issues a couple of years down the road.

Me neither :hurt And I had just perfected my recipe for making them at home...:Cry:

Awww, thanks!!!! :rockon: :humble:

I haven't been banded yet so I can't answer the last questions, but if you use the search function there are quite a few great threads about these topics, and some are quite recent. I mention this because I'm sure you will get a few responses to this thread, but there is a ton more info on this board, I just don't want you to miss any of it. Welcome! And about your insurance question, no one can answer that for certain except CIGNA. DO you have a contact person you've been working with there? I'd call her/him and ask. If you don't have someone you are talking to, then ask for someone. Do you have a 3 month, 6 month or 12 month MD supervised weight loss requirement? You're fine if you have a 3 or 6 month, but you'll have issues if it's 12 months. Will your surgeon require you to see a cardiologist (you mention chest pain) or a pulmonologist (you mention difficulty sleeping, perhaps a sleep apnea eval will be necessary)? If so, it may take a bit longer to get things scheduled with the surgeon. It sounds like you are certainly on the right track, your BMI is above 40 (which is what most insurance companies require) and if it wasn't you still have at least two comorbidities so as long as you were above 35 you should be good. I wish you all the best!

That's a great idea! Knowing myself, I don't think I could resist taking just one bite, then that would lead to two bites, and so on... But it really is a wonderful idea.

Lori, CALL your insurance company! I have a BMI well over 40 (usually over 40 they don't care if you have any comorbidities or not, they'll band you at that number), under 40 you need two comorbidities. But in my case, as in most I would assume, the comorbidities have NOTHING to do with an MD supervised weight loss. But again, every insurance company is different in what they require. No one here can tell you what your specific policy requires. You HAVE to call your insurance company and ask them. Heck others here could have the same insurance company, but you could have a different policy than them, or you could have different "riders" attached to your policy. Call them ASAP! Really, call them now. It doesn't hurt, it takes just a few minutes, and then you don't have to wonder anymore.

That was a funny one!!!

Oooo my, does that make me your wife? I'd better not tell my husband :nervous

I just got home and listened to my messages...apparently I have to go and retake my MMPI-2!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR What, was I too perfect for them? Sorry if I love my parents and don't think anyone is trying to poison me and I think women should be sexually free (at least as much as men). Sheesh! So if I answer everything the same way, are they going to make me retake it AGAIN?

Hiya Margi! Let's PM :girl_hug: It is nice to see another going to Hurley. There don't seem to be very many of us here, but I realize they've only been banding for a little over a year. I just chatted a bit with BooBooKitty, she was banded there, too. I don't have a date yet, either. I went to my information session in late February and I have a consultation March 20th. Can't wait!

Thanks very much for posting that, Kat!

Wonderful, just absolutely WONDERFUL! I can't think of a better NSV!

Here is a copy of the post I made to the other thread: I spoke with a gentleman at Allergan (no longer Inamed, it's Allergan now) yesterday about the AP band. I wanted more info as I'm not yet banded and wanted to know what the advantages are and if I could request, of even if I should request, the AP band. Apparently it is FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest. He did mention the list of differences listed above, I guess the biggest difference that will make a difference to patients is there is an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be. The VG band already has the ribs or baffles noted above because of the larger inflation volume of a VG. The VG is also already curved like the AP band. From what I gather, those two things is what makes it "Omniform" technology. The AP also has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which (according to him) have more like 260 or 280degrees (the rest being the buckle) inflation, and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. I asked what that should mean to me as the patient, is this easier on my stomach? Does this reduce the risk of my stomach folding over in the non-inflating areas of the current band? He said he has not heard of many cases of this happening and that the 360 degree inflation was not developed specifically to combat any problems that exist, it was simply an upgrade to the existing band that they did when they designed it to be easier and less traumatic to remove. It was possible to design it that way, so they did. According to this gentleman (I'm not posting his name because I don't have his permission) there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band. Hope that helps!

I spoke with a gentleman at Allergan (no longer Inamed, it's Allergan now) yesterday about the AP band. I wanted more info as I'm not yet banded and wanted to know what the advantages are and if I could request, of even if I should request, the AP band. Apparently it is FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest. He did mention the list of differences listed above, I guess the biggest difference that will make a difference to patients is there is an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be. The VG band already has the ribs or baffles noted above because of the larger inflation volume of a VG. The VG is also already curved like the AP band. From what I gather, those two things is what makes it "Omniform" technology. The AP also has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which (according to him) have more like 260 or 280degrees (the rest being the buckle) inflation, and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. I asked what that should mean to me as the patient, is this easier on my stomach? Does this reduce the risk of my stomach folding over in the non-inflating areas of the current band? He said he has not heard of many cases of this happening and that the 360 degree inflation was not developed specifically to combat any problems that exist, it was simply an upgrade to the existing band that they did when they designed it to be easier and less traumatic to remove. It was possible to design it that way, so they did. According to this gentleman (I'm not posting his name because I don't have his permission) there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band. Hope that helps!

I will go post on that thread as well. It is approved in the US but not yet on the market. I spoke to a gentleman at Allergan yesterday about it. Apparently the big difference is that it is easier to remove if it had to be. They are NOT discontinuing the VG nor the 10 nor the 9.75cm bands. It will be offered in addition to those bands.

Frankly I was shocked the mud hadn't started to be slung against Rudy yet. Not only is he divorced, he technically had an extra-marital affair and is on what, wife number three? I am also shocked the mud hasn't been truly slung yet about Hilary having been a Republican in a former life. And a staunch one at that. Elections are better than a soap opera, Britney should have waited a few months to have her breakdown, no one would have taken notice once the primaries start. And when they start seriously investigating Howard K. Stern in the deaths of Daniel and Anna Nicole, no one will know about it because we'll be too busy sifting through the political rhetoric.

Call your insurance company TODAY and get their requirements (get them in writing) and get started on them right now. If you decide in two or three months that you want this done, then you have potentially lost two or three months you could have been working on their MD supervised weight loss (most companies require 6 or 12 months of MD supervised weight loss with frequent, sometimes monthly, weigh-ins). So even if you decide this isn't for you, all you have lost is the office visit co-pay for a couple of visits and maybe a few pounds, too. Good luck!

I couldn't find any references to the US government wanting to do this, it's a UK thing. It originated with a professor in Glasgow who wants them on articles of clothing above a 105cm waist for men and above a size 16 for women (there were some listed for children as well, but I don't remember those numbers). The label is suggested to say basically obesity is unhealthy and give a phone number to call for help. I'm rolling my eyes here!

I haven't been banded yet, but based on some of the responses in this and other threads, I went to Target last night in search of some kid-size plates for better portion control post-band. I found these great little plastic plates, cups and bowls they had on an end cap in the housewares area. They are brand new for spring/summer and come in packs of 6 for $1.99. They are available in blue, pink or in a multi-color pack. They are truly perfect! I also purchased some 4 0z gladware type containers at Dollar General, they seem to have the best prices on those. I figured those would be good to pack lunch in for work.