blossom

Hi and welcome!!! My first step (after doing a lot of research) was to find a surgeon and attend his seminar. That is where I learned of the steps to take next. Basically, it was getting a letter recommending WLS from my PCP, getting copies of medical records that proved dr supervised weightloss program, documenting any and all attempts at weightloss, plus their was a questionaire supplied by the surgoen to be filled out. The surgeon wanted all of this to be done BEFORE my initial visit with him. So I took all of this info with me to my first appointment and his office turned it all into my insurance. Then the waiting began. It was the hardest part of the whole process!!!! Hang in there and follow all the dr's instructions and you will soon be a bandster too!!! Good luck!

Welcome, Sharon!!! It's great to see a lapband veteran with such an amazing weightloss. Gives the rest of us inspiration. Thanks for sharing!

Got my longjohns on!!! Everything is covered in white here north of Dallas. It really is beautiful!

Damn! They got me!!! I checked my account again this morning and found a charge for $378.50 applied on 12/20. I immediately called the last # that Michelle had posted and talked to a man who apologized profusely, told me they had fired their service because of this, and that my account would be credited within the next hour and that I would hear from Randy Lutz as soon as the credit was done. That was at 9am. It's now almost 4pm and I still have not heard from him. I did go to my bank immediately and file a dispute claim. They told me it could take up to 10 days to get my money back. However, if they would just credit my account, I would get my money back much sooner. Grrrrrr.....

Congrats to all of you!!! Welcome to bandland!!!

Penni, I have been wondering about you! I'm so sorry you've been going through some diffucult times. I can so relate! I had a devestating event happen in my life on November 26th and I have been sunk down into depression ever since. The Christmas season definitlely is NOT helping either. Maybe you should go back to Jamaica, Mon! Or that Puerto Rico trip sounds great, too. Need a travel buddy???? LOL!

Kim, I had my first fill on the 13th too. No restriction whatsoever, not even any swelling. So I called my dr's office on Monday (20th) and talked to his coordinator and she told me that they would only schedule fills 3 weeks apart. So I asked to have my dr call me. We played phone tag for a while and I finally got to talk to him late Tuesday. He said he would get me scheduled for next Monday for another fill . After I told him of my concerns regarding having to continually get tiny fills for a long period of time, he said we will do everything it takes to get me where I need to be. I suggest you get persistant with you dr. For me that was easy since I am known to be tenacious. Don't be afraid to tell your dr what YOU are expecting. This band thing is definitely NOT a one size fits all thing. We are all different and our dr's need to be treating us as individuals. Good luck and here's hoping for good restriction for both of us!

Teresa, I'm so glad you are ok. I'm glad you went to see the dr afterward. I know someone who went through hell trying to get ins. to pay for her whiplash after an auto accident. Also, whiplash is one of those things that can hang around for a loooong time. You may need more than just a little medical attention to get over this. Saying hopeful prayers for you! Oh, Guess What??? You'll get a new car!

Aahhh, CRAP!!! WillPower, I'm so sorry. Don't give up, though. Contact the insurance and find out exactly what the appeals process is and get started on it. Be sure you make them tell you in writing exactly the reason for denial. Be sure to thoroughly document every conversation you have with your ins. co. The new book by Dr. Ortiz has several suggestions regarding appeals including: Ask your surgeon to submit your appeal through the INAMED Hotline run by Weight For Life www.weightforlife.com. It's a free service for all lapband trained surgeons. Also, check out www.obesitylaw.com where atty Walter Lindstrom is known for helping people to get their ins. co. to pay for the surgery. Good luck, I will keep you in my prayers!

According to Dr. Ortiz's new book, "There will be an international surgeon locator available at Inamed's Mexican LapBand distributor web page www.mecachrome-medical.com." I haven't gone to that website, so I don't know if that locator service is available yet.

LOL!!!! Shooooooo Weeeee!!!!

What a great nsv!!! Congrats!

Wouldn't ya know it!!! On Saturday morning I sent them an email threatening to cancel my order and contact my credit card company, then the book was delivered on Saturday afternoon! Talk about eating crow... On Sunday, I read the book cover to cover. It is a very good book, although I have to say that I only learned a few new things. I guess everyone here has done a pretty darn good job of educating me!!! Thanks ya'll!!! Also, I contacted my bank on Friday and had them look through the charges on my debit/credit card. There didn't appear to be anything unusual, YET. And one other thing, if I were Dr. Ortiz I would be very upset with the publisher. The book I received is crooked! Yep, every page seems to be slightly diagonal, LOL! And there is one page of pictures that is upside down.

I have a 10cc band. Is that that same one you have? My first fill was 1cc and I still can't even tell I'm banded. I noticed that Ryan got 3cc's on his first fill. I'm going to call my dr next week and tell him he has some 'splainin to do, LOL! I am going to demand an aggressive fill followed by a swallow to make sure it worked.

Anyone ever get a fill while on her period? I have heard that that time of month can play havoc with restriction. I'm scheduled to see the dr on Wed. am and got my period on Sunday. :rolleyes

GREG, YOU NAUGHTY MAN!!!! I should have known you would wind up in here, LOL!!!! But, I guess it's appropriate since you are having period woes, too. Ryan, Jack, all you other guys, COME ON IN! I know your lurking out there, LOL!!

Merry Christmas, Greg!!!! Thank you for the wonderful holiday greeting and wishes. I hope that you and your family have a blessed and happy new year!

Chrissy, I'm so sorry to hear of your band removal. I hope your recovery goes well. Good luck to you.

Lauri, where are you, sweetie??? I hope you're doing much better by now. I agree that these sound like serious symptoms and should be addressed immediately. Please give us an update as soon as you can.

Congratulations, Theresa Marie!!!!! So glad all went well for you! As for the straw, I find I swallow much less air with a straw than without. So I drink my Water with a straw everyday. With the straw, I sip; without the straw, I gulp, LOL!!!

Jack, I'm so excited for you! You're going to be just fine. Good luck and wishing you a speedy recovery!!! Don't forget to post as soon as you feel up to it!!!

Darcey, good luck to you!!! See you on the banded side! Be sure to post as soon as you feel up to it.

Leatha, what is the name of the fullfillment center that charged your debit card? I want to call my bank and see if did the same to me!

LOL!!!! I guess every nsv counts, so congratulations!!

Darcy, that was too funny! We got down to 19* here this morning. Brrrr.....