Emilie1

What does pre existing mean? I also have CIGNA and have yet to file, I am still trying get all of the paper work in from various Dr's. My psyc eval was on Aug 13 and she still has not sent the report to the surgeon. I am also waiting on my PCP to send the last three years of medical records to the surgeons office. If I had waited till the surgeons office requested them it seems that I would never get the surgery. I would have thought that they would start requesting things after my first visit so they would be ready to submitt it when I was done testing, but that was not the case. Oh well good luck and me know what else CIGNA has to say. Thanks

When you really need your time just let them know that you are leaving your phone at home. Don't take it with your. Do it for more and more time each week till they are use to not being able to get in touch with you. Also it sounds like you have three full time jobs. That is alot and you really do need to schedule you time in there without interruptions. Good Luck.....

The same thing happen to me. Just ask your Dr if you can be evaluated by someone out of their practice. Call around to other Bariatirc Dr and find out who they use for their Psyc evals and then see which ones your insurance covers. If they don't cover any of them than just start calling ones that your insurance does cover and see who will do it. My Dr. had a letter to the psychologist explaining what they wanted. Just look out for the psychologist that wants you there for like three visits. Also as far as the 200 goes for out of pocket that sounds about right. My Surgeons psyc eval was 300 others I called when I thought I was going to pay out of pocket were between200 - 600. I would think that you can do the same with your nutrition consult. Good Luck.

My son is going to be so dissappointed. He was planning his whole 12th birthday around that movie. I will have to break the news to him when he wakes up. At least one of us gets to sleep in.lol

My vote for the is for the smashing pumpkins.

Is there any test for fatty liver ahead of time. My surgeon said that I did not need a preop diet because my BMI was not high enough. It is 43 and I have seen people with lower ones than that need the preop diet. I have lost weight since I decided to do this about 20lbs, and will continue to try to loose till my date in October. I hope this is enough. I would be devastated to be opened up and sent home with out the band.

Who is your insurance? I am not required to wait six months also and was wondering what your insurance did require from you?

I have been inspired by all the stories I have read....I really don't know exactly why I got to this point other than I like to eat. I have always been active in sports and in High School was great at soccer. I was a size 18 when I graduated High School, but don't know how much I weighed and did not feel huge, just thick. Two years out of high school I know that I lost weight because I was poor, no money to eat regularly so I went to school, worked and jogged for fun. Two years after that I went up to a size 20/22 I still don't know how much I weighed. I was 220 the year before I got pregnant with my first child. I lost 60 of it by phentramin and exersise(starvation again, but I did not know better) I got pregnant in 1996 and weighed 175. I gained like 65lbs for my first child and never looked back. My biggest addition is/was fast food. I would always, and I mean always order way too much. My latest has been McDonalds I would get between 5-10 chicken nuggets, a double cheese burger, large fries, and a large coke. As I would eat it I could just see my arteries clogging and would often think how awful it would be to keel over with that much food in me.

Hi, I also have Cigna, but have not been banded yet. I have a few more test before it is sent for approval. Anyway, I think what you pay is based on what type of plan you have. My plan will cover everything, all I pay is Dr copays and a hospital copay. Cigna should be able to tell you exactly what you will have to pay. I have called them a million times to check on what I need to qualify and they have always been easy to talk to. Good luck.

I decided in June that I wanted to be banded and since then have been researching and practicing how to eat. I figured if I could not commit to eat right before surgery the band might not work for me. I chew and chew almost all of the time.(sometimes I forget, but usually not for more than a bite or two) After I have chewed it to death I start to swallow and then (this is gross) spit it back up and chew a little more. I see it like a bird feeding its babies. One thing I agree with is that I tend to loose interest in eating or it is just not as enjoyable. Oh also, since June(about two months now) I have lost 21 lbs. Yea:thumbup:!

for the October bandsters to get started. I am planning to be banded on October 13th if all goes well. I have my psyc evaluation this week and am getting my 5 year weight history from Drs to send to the surgeon . My BMI has to be 40 for 5 years and/or 100 lbs over ideal weight for five years I am not sure about #1, but am sure that I have been 100 over for the past five years so I should get approval easily. Once I get it all in I will keep you posted on my insurance approval hopefully it will come quickly, if not I will be calling a bugging them constantly.

I come to this site everyday to read what others are posting about their bands. I read questions and concerns that others have. Sometimes I even have information to offer(but not often as I am not a bandster yet). If I gett approved by my insurance I plan to be banded in October. I should have everything submitted to Insurance by next week.(I hope) Right now my obsession is the post op diet, how to make it as easy as possible for something so hard. I know how much Fluid I need to take to keep hydrated and how much Protein I need, but how many calories do I need? How do I get all of those calories in and keep my intake sugar free. I was planning on reg. Gatorade, but just read that it has to much sugar. I am planning to have the same thing every day at the same time to make sure that I stay consistent and get everything I need nutritionally. Oh yea I just read a post about someone who used a sippy cup to make sure they did not drink to fast, I had never thought about that, but it sounds like a great idea, slower than a straw which was what I was going to use. Well thanks for letting me rattle on about my obsessions.

Thanks for all the great information. I did see a nutritionist and plan to see another one before surgery. The one I saw was not very impressive every question I had she referred me back to the Dr. She basically just told me what products I would be using after surgery. I plan to use the sippy cup because I to am a gulper of liquids especially when I am thirsty. I plan to try to be at least at 900 calories for the liquid part if I can I will make it more. I just don't know if I can drink that many calories.

My insurance also does not require a six month wait. Where in texas are you? Can you go to another Dr? What is your insurance? It is rare that you do not have to have the six month wait and that is probably why your dr. is telling you to do it they just are not use to seeing it not done.

I am not banded yet, but have/had three kidney stones in each kidney. I was told to make sure that I drink lots of lemonade. I make it myself with lemon juice and splenda or sweet and low. I drink four eight oz cups a day and have not passed a stone in a year. Don't know what happen to the stones they may still be there. I asked at my nutrition consult about the lemonade and she told me to ask the Dr. I believe my kidney stones were a combination of dehydration and untreated UTI. I to am concerned about staying hydrated after being banded and also how my new stomach will tolerate the lemonade.

Shelly, I am not banded yet but am trying to get everything done for my insurance to pay for it. I think(but am not 100% sure) that your insurance company will require proof of your 6 month diet which would mean a claim once a month for six months from you Dr. You can check with your insurance company and see what they require and exactly how they want it. That is what I am doing. Good luck and I am sure someone else will have more information on the letter to the insurance.

Does anything make it easier? Also the liquid and full liquid thing...how soon after surgery are you usually hungry? Leslie or anyone else is there anything you can look back on and say if you had done it different it would have been easier in any way? I am nont being banded until October, but want to be as prepared as possible. I love this site it has answered all of my questions and even motivated me to go to one of my Dr.'s siminars which in the begining I was not going to do.

Why is your wait so long? Have you called the insurance company to see if they have all of the information that they need? Some where on here I read that the surgens office can cause delays by not sending in all of the required information. Good luck and remember you can always call and see where your referal is at with the insurance.

Hey in San Antoino, who is doing your surgery? I am seeing Dr. Cavazos there, but am from Austin area. Good luck on your surgery.

I also have cigna and have been told four times now that I do not need a six month diet. I do need to have a five year history of having a BMI of 40 or above or having a BMI of 35 or greater and being 100lbs over my ideal weight. There might be one period of time where I was not 100lbs over my ideal weight, but it was only for a very short period of time. I just hope that CIGNA does not turn around and tell me that I need the six month diet. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Thanks......

Paula where in Tx are you from. I am starting on my journey also and am planning to get my band in October if all goes well. Good luck on yours and let us know how it goes...

Those of you who were banded by Dr. Cavazos how was post op diet...how long on liquid before full liquid? How soon to mushies? I am not planning to be banded until October, but would like to be as prepared as possible. Thanks for any info....

Has anyone heard of him? Has anyone been banded by him? Please let me know....Thanks Emilie

I am just getting started on my journey. I had my first consult with the Dr on July 18th. I need to have an upper GI done and a psyc evaluation. My upper GI is done and my psyc eval is next week. If everything is good I hope to get approved asap and be banded in October. My insurance has said that I don't need to have a six month diet I really hope they do not come back and say that they were mistaken. I will keep you updated..... Thanks for the info on Dr. Cavazos.

Hi finally I have found someone who has been banded by Dr. Cavazos. What was your experience like? Did you like him? Have you had a fill was he able to acsess your port easily? Any info would be apprciated I am trying for an October band if everything goes well. Emilie