QuilterLaura

Hi, good luck to you!! I haven't heard of many people who had to get an UGI, is that typically required before surgery? Not banded yet, and wondering...

The diet is required by my insurance company as one of the things you must do in order to be considered for approval. The diet is not specific as far as what exactly to eat. I meet with a dietician about once a month, met with a trainer for an excercise program, meet with a dr or nurse practitioner every month. I keep a food journal and dietician reviews that, talks about portion size, health choices, eating slowly, etc. She also talks a lot about what you have to do after you are banded. It is really preparing me to be sucessful with the band I think, or at least I hope, lol. So far I have lost 25 pounds in 5 months. So I figure it will make the surgery just that much easier to do, plus that's 25 pounds I won't have to lose later. I think it also shows your commitment to make this change in your life.

Hi Chell! I am also pretty new here, and not yet banded. Like you, I am finding out lots of information and going through the process of getting banded. I'm currently nearing the end of my 6 month dr supervised diet prior to getting insurance approval. I hope all will go smoothly. I have 2 sons, 15 and 19, and I also want to be around for a long time!!!!!! Take care and nice to meet ya! Laura:smile:

Heidi, My insurance required a 6 month physician supervised diet before they would consider covering the band surgery for me. It's not true for everyone, but I have heard others encounter this as well.

Hi Heidi! It seems we are in a similar boat. I am also 48 and 5'5" tall. I started my lap band process in July of 2007. I am nearing the end of the 6 month diet period. I started at 259 pounds and am currently 233.5. My physician's office will be filling out the necessary forms for my insurance company soon and then I will be waiting for the go-ahead from them. While I can't tell you what it's like being banded, I can tell you that the long term results are quite similar to the RNY procedure and it seems to me to be a safer and less drastic procedure. I wish you luck on your wt loss journey. :smile:I'm in Indiana, where are you?

Hi everyone. Thx for all the great information, I have learned a lot. Last week I attended a seminar in Fort Wayne (about 1 hour away). I have to tell you I left a bit discouraged. First of all, I found out this program is new, only since Oct 2006. Since then he has done aoubt 100 RNY and only about 12 Lapbands. Holy cow, I was hoping for some more experience than that! Also, the nurse who handles insurance said that in Indiana there is a mandatory 6 month doctor-supervised diet before being considered. I had high hopes of getting this done this summer, and 6 months seems like an eternity to me. She also said she has had people who have done the 6 month diet and their doctor didn't chart thoroughly enough and it was still denied, ugh! What a nightmare. I was thinking of self pay but she said it would be $15,000-$18,000 and that doesn't count any possible complications:eek: . I am scheduled for a different seminar in June, but I think they are also new, with few patients so far. That's the trouble living in a rural area. IF I were to consider going to another city to have the surgery done, how do you deal with follow-up, fills, etc. It sounded like the program they have there is quite intensive, with weekly support group meetings, etc. I wonder if I could attend those without actually having my surgery done by the doc there, seems a little awkward. Any thoughts? Thx for listening

Hello everyone! I have been reading for a little while and am really thinking LB is right for me. BUT< since I'm the queen of procrastinators, I haven't had the guts to do anything about it...until now. I FINALLY picked up the phone and called to register for the upcoming seminar. She said the date was posted incorrectly on the internet and the correct date I have a conflict for. Disappointed, I hung up and felt like I had taken a step backwards. I didn't want to have to wait until June for another seminar! So, I had a little talk with myself....Why let other plans get in the way of making such an important step? What was more important?? I really was afraid if I didn't go now, I may never. I called back and registered and I will just have to change my other plans. Now, I have to talk to my dear husband. He doesn't know I have been considering this surgery and knows nothing about it, I'm sure. I hate to even bring up the subject with him. How can I tell him? Anyone have any ideas? Thx for listening, Laura