Sphinx

I'm wondering if there is anyone here who lives in Rochester and has input on area doctors? Also, if anyone has Aetna U of R insurance and knows if they pay for lap band surgery? I am in the beginning of my journey-been thinking about it a long time, but only now have I really set my mind on it. I see my primary doc on Friday. I'm sure she would recommend someone, but curious as to other peoples' experiences.

Since I wrote that first post I decided to go through The Highland center, per my primary's recommendation. So far I have had the initial seminar, the nutritional seminar and the first 1:1 with the nutritionist. Aetna requires 2 more. I also had my initial visit with the NP. She asked me to also consider the sleeve, or to at least research it. Not sure that's for me though. So far I'm very happy with them. Aetna does say they cover the surgery. So things are coming along!

The docs at the best center here said they won't take self pay with a BMI of 38 with no comorbidities. If I had the comorbidities insurance would pay for goodness sake! So now I am wondering about going somewhere near by that may do it. I was hopeful that my insurance company would be willing to work with me since I do have other diagnoses (i.e.: I have RA but the arthritis has to be degenerative to have them pay). I'm feeling very discouraged, when before I was very hopeful that I could work with them on this. Any suggestions are helpful, please!

Hey Nope, haven't had my surgery yet! Turns out though, that I am an inch shorter than I thought which brings my BMI to 40 so insurance should pay. Luckily they don't require the 5% weight loss, but obviously still need to do the nutrition stuff......So far I have been to my initial seminar, my first group nutrition class, my initial history and physical and my therapist eval. So far so good! I just have to do 1:1 sessions with nutritionist (2 of them) and get an approval letter from my rheumatologist,. and I also have an eval at the sleep center, to see if I have Sleep Apnea, but if my BMI stays at 40# it won't matter. But thanks for the advice!

Hello, I have a few months to go still before completing the pre-surgical program and desperately need clothing. I've yoyo'd so much I have stuff in many sizes, but right now I'm in a 2x and last time I lost weight I had very wishful thinking and got rid of all but a few pieces, and now that fall is here find I have very little (I had plenty of warm weather things, plus they are cheap to buy). I like casual clothing, tops either 3/4 or long sleeves and prefer knit elastic waist pants (or the kind that fold over on top) (I cannot tolerate button up pants for relaxing). I never have need to dress up, so don't need anything dressy. I wear scrubs at work. I just want to get through the colder weather without breaking the bank. I keep checking clothing on ebay but can't find anything quite right. I am willing to pay you so if you have grown out of your clothing, here's a chance to make room in your closet for newer, smaller clothing!

Oh that's ok Let me know if and when she decides she wants to part with them. As you said, hopefully by then I won't need them either! But ya never know......still have a couple nutrition appointments to go so surgery's a bit off, and if I lose more than a few pounds I may no longer qualify through my insurance plan Thank you for checking though!

Oh boy, sorry I didn't have a chance to look before, been crazy busy. Well as it turns out that in my years of yoyo dieting I apparently skipped over size 16 jeans. I have a bunch of 14s (which is weird cuz I don't wear jeans much) and a couple size 18. I'm sorry! If you are still looking to unload the 2x stuff you have, I'd be willing to pay shipping or whatever, so let me know!

Great, I should have a chance to look later! If you can let me know about your 2x clothes you no longer wear that'd be great too!

Great, I should have a chance to look later! If you can let me know about your 2x clothes you no longer wear that'd be great too!

Oh that would be great! I might even have some size 16 jeans even......I'm not a big fan of jeans, yet somehow I have several pairs in many sizes! I'll check in the next day. Or two and let u know..

Oh my, thank you! Despite my eBay finds, they are not enough, as many are short sleeved and a few r for fancier occasions.

Thank you! I feel better now. Of course I trust my surgeon and he said it is ok too. I hope your surgery goes well!

Great ideas (esp the chocolate haha). Yesterday I had half an english muffin with Peanut Butter and followed with a small apple and that did the trick. I believe avoiding salty foods with be what I do. Seems I've gotten less tolerant of salty foods as I've gotten older, so there ya go!

No, I don't have a date yet. I've had the seminar, my first nutritional seminar and my history/physical with the PA. I have a 1:1 nutritional consult in one month and another one month after that. Oh I also have my psych screening next week. Other than that I just have to have my rheumatologist send in clearance. I am also getting eval for a sleep study in a couple weeks, although it's not required. But they say it will help if I end up losing weight and go below BMI of 40. So a couple months and I should be good to go

I have not had surgery yet, but the surgeon clearly said in the seminar I stayed after with many questions) that it was ok to get the band not only with RA but also being on immune suppressing sorts of drugs. It scare me a bit reading stuff saying it is a contraindication, but it helps to know there are other who have been banded with no problem

The PA went through all my meds (and I'm a lot, because I have not just RA, but fibro, interstitial cystitis, and bipolar disorder) and none were a problem. She even told me I could continue to take celebrex, which surprised me, I thought all those sorts of meds were a no-no. I forgot to ask about prednisone though, but I very rarely take it....only when my med starts to fail and I need something short term so I can function. But if I was told I couldn't take it, I'd deal!

Wow, I am so glad I found this topic. I'd posted in another forum about a question I had after seeing the PA for my admission history, and mentioned I had RA and a poser responded that autoimmune diseases were a contraindication to the band. Needless to say I was freaked, although I specifically asked the surgeon at my seminar about it and the PA knew I have RA and also did not tell me I could not get a band. However a google search turned up references saying that autoimmune diseases are indeed a contraindication. So seeing other who have autoimmune diseases who have had the band makes me feel loads better. As for meds, I recently stopped my third TNF-inhibitor (they'll work for a while then poof, they stop working). I started Orencia infusion yesterday and everything they said/gave me said just no infusion 2 weeks before or after surgery, and its a monthly infusion so timing seems to be key. Not sure about methotrexate, but he's told me in the past to keep taking even if I get sick, unless it's really severe. Something about the half life. I had foot surgery a couple years ago and believe I may have skipped that weeks' dose just to be safe.

At my appointment this morning the PA suggested I research the sleeve gastrectomy. She really just said that the weight loss is greater than the band, faster, and no foreign bodies/need for frequent visits (fills). The thought of having such a large part of my stomach literally cut out makes me nervous, but as someone with RA on meds that lower my immunity, I have to wonder if it would be better NOT to have a foreign body. Does anyone having any thoughts on pros and cons of the two (generally, I know it's different for everybody).

I've never actually heard about RA being a contraindication until you posted that. I know I've read on here about at least one person who had a band even though they have lupus. When I went to my seminar I specifically asked and was not told I couldn't have it. The PA I saw was aware I have RA as well. (Of course that could be why she made sure to tell me to research the sleeve. I also have to get clearance from my rheumatologist, which I haven't even talked to him about yet. I did do a google search for contraindications, and they do say autoimmune connective tissue disease, but I wonder if thats a CYA disclaimer? The idea of the sleeve just makes me nervous, there's no going back or changing my mind once I get it. That freaks me out a little! I guess I'll be calling and asking about this sooner rather than later. Thanks for your help, and I'm sorry you're having problems! I hope its possible to sort it all out