Forestcat5

HEY CLEVELAND - I HAVE A SURGERY DATE!!! They called me at work today, asked me a few questions, then said "ok - your surgery date is Nov 5th". I am so amazed that this is really happening! Especially since I had been denied. I go on Oct 17th for the pre-op testing, then start the pre-op diet on the 22nd. So terrisch and sbee - please let me know how you're doing. And thank you for answering all of my questions. I'm sure there will be more! Where is everybody? Watching the Indians?? Forestcat

Congratulations on getting banded! So glad you found this site - it is packed with information and support. It has helped me A LOT. Welcome and let us know how you're doing! (LOVE your name by the way!) Forestcat

Hi Rollomosher - I also have cigna ins, (approved, waiting for surgery date) and yes, I had to do a "6 month Dr supervised weight loss program". And so far I've heard that everyone with cigna has had to do it. But don't get too discouraged - with all the testing we have to do, it can sometimes take 6 months to get all of them done, so the time goes fast. But be VERY SURE you follow cigna's requirements!! You HAVE to have a dr appt every month, go in and get weighed, talk about weight loss, then the Dr has to send a letter to cigna or your surgeons office (find out which one) documenting everything about your appt. AND (I really hated this one) the first appt with your Dr doesn't count!! It's just an informational appt, and cigna says the NEXT month's appt that shows weightloss and the Dr sends in a letter, is month #1. So be careful about that. But again, please don't get discouraged! It's just something we have to do, even though most of us have been dieting for 10, 20, 30 years - cigna wants 6 more months. I looked at it as the price I had to pay to get my band, and what I had to do for cigna to PAY for it!! Hang in there, and start the process as soon as possible. You'll be surprised how fast the time goes!! Forestcat

Angie68 - how WONDERFUL!!!!! Just imagine if you had given up and not gone to the consultation! This is exactly why we have to try,try,try again - even when someone tells us NO, or says "It's not covered". Best of luck on your continued journey!!! Let us know how you're doing! Forestcat

Welcome Kim!! What city are you having your surgery? Did/Do you have all your testing already? I was just approved this week and now I'm waiting to be contacted about my surgery date. I practically sat and stared at my phone at work all day, hoping the surgeons office would call! I'm having my surgery at St Vincent Hospital in Cleveland. Good luck on your journey to the band! Forestcat

Thanks sbee! Please tell us how everything went for you - and how you're feeling now. Have you been able to get in all your liquids? How was the pain right after surgery? My contact person at St Vincents called me today with a few more questions, and said someone would be calling me in the next few days to give me a surgery date. She said they are scheduling for Nov now. Congratulations on becoming a bandster!!!! Keep us posted! Forestcat

Thanks Terrisch!!! I called LaTonya this morning, and she said "Fax the letter over and we'll get the ball rolling!" She said she'd be calling me. What is the next step? Do I see Dr Ben-Meir again, or have the pre-op testing and get the stuff for the pre-op diet? Or all three at once? 19 lbs?!?!?! That is GREAT! I bet your clothes are feeling looser. And that is with no fill!! Any problems eating the solids? What tastes the best to you? Just wondering because sometimes people have said that things taste different after the surgery. Do you have to pay extra for your fills? I don't know if I do or not - but it doesn't really matter, does it? We're getting 'em!! Keep up the great work, and I'll let you know as soon as I get a date. (how long did it take for you once you were approved, to get a date? Wonder how booked up the Dr is?) Forestcat

Creatures in the water. Mostly in the oceans, but lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, mud puddles....... I like to look at bodies of water and go to the beach, might even venture out to about calf high, but that's it. I've had those instances where you've been in the water and something rubs against your leg.....next thing you know you're running ON TOP of the water to get back to land. If I see a program on the Discovery Channel that show all of those THINGS down there - it terrifies me! Whale watching?!? Forget it! I'd be the only person on the boat with my eyes closed.

jennypoo, I called cigna the day after I went to the lapband seminar. I just had to give them the info off my ins card and they looked it up, and they told me it was covered IF I met the requirements. I think it all depends on what your employer has specifically included in the company insurance coverage. Call cigna again and explain that you've been given 2 different answers, and you NEED to know which one is correct. And if you're comfortable with it, call your HR dept and ask if it is covered. Keep trying! Good Luck!!! Forestcat

Shawna - I was very comfortable with Dr Ben-Meir at St Vincent. I have had other surgeries, and the surgeons were always in a hurry during the appointments. I know they are on a very tight schedule, but I felt like they wanted me out of there as fast as possible, so I maybe didn't ask the questions I wanted to. But I didn't feel that way at all with Dr Ben-Meir. He may have WANTED me out of his office as fast as possible, , but he didn't make me feel that way. When he saw that my husband was there he asked if it was ok with me that he come in also incase he had questions. Then when he started talking about my weight, he stopped and asked me if I was comfortable with him saying how much I weighed in front of my husband, because he didn't HAVE to. I didn't have a problem with it, but I really appreciated that he asked. He came across as a very kind and highly capable Dr. Everyone else I've come in to contact with has been nice also. (the only "bad" incident was with someone at the check-in desk for a blood test in another area of the hospital, and I don't think she is necessarily affiliated with the Bariatric Center.) I am pleased so far with St Vincent's, and have no problem recommending them to anyone else. Best of Luck - and keep me posted! Forestcat

michiganer - Hang in there. I was APPROVED today by cigna after being denied by them about a month ago. And I believe it was the "peer to peer" phone call my pcp made that got me approved. She faxed over more details of my medical history, and called, and BOOM!....it all came true. So hang in there, don't call them any names yet (ever wonder if they read these sites?!?) and make some phone calls to your surgeon and pcp if you have one, until they find out what else cigna wants, fax it, then do the peer to peer. Good Luck, and keep us informed!!!

Hi Jiggleypuff - I think we are really fortunate here in Northern Ohio with all of the excellent hospitals. I don't think a person could go wrong going to any of them for the surgery. When I was researching lapband surgery I happened to see that there was seminar given by St Vincents near where I worked, so I decided to go. I filled out the forms, and got the ball rolling after that. Is there anything specific you would like to know? I'll answer anything I can, just let me know. And guess what? I got APPROVED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I see that sbee referred to me as a "him", but let me set the record straight - I'm a female cat. Forestcat

Here I am! I just opened the mail a few minutes ago, and got a letter from my ins saying I was APPROVED!!! My wonderful PCP really followed through! She called them, faxed them more information, and really went to bat for me. I want to be at St Vincents first thing tomorrow morning, my face pressed against the glass door waiting for them to open, run into the office and yell - "I'M HERE! LET'S GO!" No- better not...they might send me for another psych eval. But I WILL be on the phone with LaTonya first thing. I know I have to have pre-op testing, and the liquid diet, etc - but I'm[/color]"Red"]APPROVED![/color] By the way - who was looking for me?

Hi benson 1029!! I wanted to let you know that you are NOT alone. I also rarely go anywhere that I might see someone I know - which is pretty hard because I live in the same general area that I grew up in. Basically I go to work (they've always known me as obese), anywhere with a drive thru, and most of my shopping is done online. I've avoided wedding, funerals, and parties for years. And until recently, I wasn't aware I was doing it. I told myself I was too tired or didn't have anything to wear, or suddenly felt sick. Sad isn't it? But it was really always because I was ashamed to be seen. So with that realization and my increasing health problems - I started researching bariatric surgery. I decided that the lapband was for me, attended an information seminar, have had all the testing, and I'm waiting for approval from my ins co. (I was denied on my first attempt) Continue to read everything on this site, ask questions, go to your state listing on this site and maybe find someone who lives close by. I was almost ready to give up on the surgery when I was denied, but then I read a lot of stories similar to mine on the Insurance forum, and they gave me the inspiration to keep on trying. How great you are being banded in Nov! Do you have an exact date? Keep in touch..... Forestcat

Terrisch - I'm so glad to hear you are still doing great! We all know how it feels to have our weight plateau when we are working hard to lose it. But they say not to worry about it in the beginning because you need to heal..... Hard to do when you had to wait so long to even get the surgery - now you have to wait longer. Do you know if Dr Ben-Meir will give you the fill, or does a nurse do it? Well, I'm trying to not get too excited, but my husband had an appt with our Dr today (same Dr as me), and she told him that she had just gotten off the phone with my ins company, and they told her to fax over her additional information. I'm hoping this means they are going to submit me for approval again, but it also could mean that whoever she talked to is going to look at the new info to see if it might make a difference. So I'm planning on waiting until next week sometime to call my ins co and see where everything stands. Yes, my Dr is very supportive, and she's a truley nice person on top of it all. She's very easy to talk to also. She only has office hours 2 days a week, and I live in fear that she will retire in the next few years. Can't wait to heare how your fill goes!! Forestcat

Hey terrisch - where are you? I hope everything is ok. I had my PCP appt today and she said she has called LaTonya twice, but hasn't heard back from her. So she was going to try and call her again today. She wants to discuss an appeal letter. But just to be safe, we started another official 6 month weightloss. Of course THIS appt doesn't count - it starts next month when I go back for another appt. So 6 months means April.... Has the pain in your shoulder gone away? Any trouble eating? I hope I hear from you soon - !!!! Forestcat

terrisch - How are you doing? Still having shoulder pain or constipation? I'm hoping you're feeling better every day! I have been in a funk the past few days.....and eating everything in sight. But today I decided to make an appt with my Dr to start the next 6 month weightloss. My appt is this coming Tues. I also want to talk to her about an appeal letter. Eventhough I've read on this site that cigna never budges on the 6 month deal, I at least might try. I'll see what the Dr thinks. So I'm trying to shake off these blues and get back on track. Forestcat

I hope you are doing better today. Did you call Connie and ask what she might recommend? And as far as the pain goes - jeeze! What do you have to do - stand on your head for it to work its way out? Well, I talked to both LaTonya and my Dr today......and it doesn't sound good. Seems I didn't do, or explain, or handle, the 6 month weightloss right. I thought just telling my Dr that I had to do the weightloss for 6 months, and that I was doing Atkins and walking at work for exercise, and going in and getting weighed when I had an appt, or by the nurse was enough. But it wasn't. So it looks like I have to do it again. I am so upset I can hardly think. LaTonya said something about an appeal letter, but I'm not too hopeful. I just want to crawl in a hole. I'll let you know if I hear anything else. Keep up the good work!

I've met my yearly deductible also, so it sure would be great if I could get this surgery in before the end of the year......which just might happen if SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK AND LET ME KNOW IF MY PAPERWORK HAS BEEN SENT IN. I called and left another message w/LaTonya, but she didn't call back. My Dr isn't in on Mon, so I didn't call her. SOOOOO frustrating! I'm trying to think if I've read anything here about constipation. I'm sure fiber is best, but I wonder if we can take a laxative? Seems it would be too harsh. I'm so glad you are doing so well otherwise. I hope I'm as lucky! I'll call LaTonya again tomorrow, and call my Dr's office, and hopefully get an answer.

Hi andielmt - I was also VERY disappointed when I found out I had to do a 6 month weightloss and exercise. But you know what?.....the 6 months are going to come and go anyway........might as well use them to work towards a healthier life!!! If it was someone you loved who had to do something for 6 months that would most likely extend their life - you would encourage them to do it - right? So this is me encouraging you to GO FOR IT! Forest cat

Hi Jiggleypuff! Great to hear from another Clevelander! I'm also waiting for my paperwork to be sent to my insurance (CIGNA). I want a surgery date so bad I can taste it. Did you have to do a 6 month Dr directed weightloss? How long has this process taken for you? I've been working on it since the first of the year. Please keep in touch and let us know when you hear fron your insurance!

bfyneNtyme - Thank you so much for this information! I was denied by cigna a few weeks ago for not having enough documentation of the 6 month weightloss. For whatever reason, the surgeons office only had 2 months of documentation from my Dr, but sent it in anyway. I have been trying to be patient and not bug anyone too much, but after reading about your experience I've decided to "call, call, and call again!" I called the surgeons office and my Dr's office last Thurs and left messages asking them to call me back to let me know if the rest of my documentation had been sent in, and neither one called back. So Monday morning they will be hearing from me again. And if it WAS sent in - the next call is to CIGNA! Thanks again!! Forestcat

mammawxfive - I have cigna insurance and just finished the 6 month Dr supervised diet. And no - my Dr didn't just fill out the form. I was VERY disappointed when I found out I had to do it. I mean c'mon - I had already been on every diet known to mankind, lost and regained hundreds of pounds, and now you want me to wait 6 more months after I've made this life-changing decision?!? But you know what - with all the testing we have to have before surgery, scheduling appointments and trying to schedule them around work, waiting for results of the testing - took 6 months anyway. So I looked at the diet as ONE MORE THING I HAD TO DO before I could begin my journey. And finding this site has been a GREAT help! Gathering information, getting to know people in the same boat, and many times - being highly entertained, the 6 months weren't all that bad! Best of luck to you!!

My favorites: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, Doobie Brothers, Pretenders, Marvin Gaye, and Motown, to name a few.

Terrisch, No heartburn/reflux sounds wonderful! I take 2 Pepcid's a day, and HAVE to take them or I'm miserable. I've read posts where people have reflux after surgery and they didn't have it before. Wonder why? Has anyone noticed anything where you work - like have they noticed what you're eating (or not eating)? I have a very nosey officemate, who watches everything I eat now because he knows I'm on the Atkins diet. I think I'm going to start taking my lunch to the cafeteria next week, so it isn't such a sudden change after the surgery. Which is a shame because I really like the quiet of the office while I'm eating, and playing solitaire on the computer, or making calls. I even had to ask my boss if I could use an empty office to make calls to my Dr and insurance company because I needed privacy. (he knows I'm having hernia surgery) He said it was no problem. Making these changes are going to be worth it though - just for my peace of mind, and for keeping my private life PRIVATE. I hope your pain goes away soon. So weird to think about the gases still floating around in there. I've had other surgeries too where they used gas, so at least we know the pain WILL go away..... I'm going to try to only have an Atkins drink for lunch today. Besides preparing myself for the liquid pre-op diet, I want to start losing weight now so people notice it before the "hernia" surgery. So stupid to have to do this. But I've had a lifetime of people making my weight their business - and I've had enough. I'm ready for this to happen!! You're so lucky to have already begun the journey!!!