MileHighGreen

I wasn't banded until 12/20 but I have gained 10 lbs the day after surgery and have only lost 5 plus that 10 since. Mine is really slow and don't know if that is because of low a low BMI or not. I am not even close to your loss. Most people keep telling me to wait until I get restriction to worry about loss but don't careless with with eat now. I doubt this helps you but at least you are not alone. :eek:

I thought it was just me! I gained like 10 lbs the day after surgery. I have lost that and maybe 5 lbs but that is it. I am going on week 4 post surgery. When people are reporting thier huge post surgery losses do you think they include that gained in swelling amount? That would make my weight loss a lot more impressive! LOL. I can tell my middle is still kind of swollen because when I put jeans on the other day are loose every where but the waist they are tighter than when I weighed more. What is a girl to do? Wait for restriction I guess. MileHigh

Hello I would like to join the December bandsters. I was banded December 20th. I live in Windsor, CO and had the greatest surgeon (and his office staff are wonderful too) Dr. Micheal Johnell Greeley, CO. I am doing well. Got my post op check up today and everything is going well. Yippee I made it and I am a bandster. MileHigh

Well my surgeons office just called me they are submitting my paper work tomorrow for approval. Boy am I getting nervous. Maybe I shouldn't read so much on here and other forums. Keeping my fingers crossed. :rolleyes

Well the original submittal was back in the begining of Aug. Got denied, sent to ObesityLaw.com they took the case filed the appeal and found out last week it was reversed. Some people don't take that long so mine might not be best senario. I think as short as few days to longer than it took me. Keep calling so enough to verify that they have everything they need for review but not enough to irritate them is my suggestion.

Obesitylaw.com won my appeal so I got my date yesterday 12/20/07. My question(s) are these: 1. What would you have done to prepare for coming home if you knew then what you know now? (Keep in mind I live alone) 2. What do wish would have known that didn't know before having the surgery? Thanks, Lisa

Obesitylaw.com won my appeal so I got my date yesterday 12/20/07. My question(s) are these:clap2:: 1. What would you have done to prepare for coming home if you knew then what you know now? (Keep in mind I live alone) 2. What do wish would have known that didn't know before having the surgery? Thanks, Lisa:help:

I just got my denial reveresed and I am scheduled for surgery on December 20th!

As you well know Aetna doesn't answer specific questions. Here is their criteria Obesity Surgery. It lists both the three and six months requirements if they hadn't told you about it. I just got word that my appeal was submitted on Friday. So far I have been denied for reasons other than my 3 month program. Good luck! If it makes you feel better I have seen of OH that there are worse companies! Milehigh

Wish I could help you. I did the three month diet thing and submitted. So far Aetna has denied me because of the not being over 40 for five years. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea so I am hoping to get the decision overturned. I don't know if they will reject my supervised diet, exercise and behavior modification. Has anyone sent you the Aetna medical bulletin? Here is a link: Obesity Surgery That spells out their requirements. As near as I can tell you just have to submit and take your chances. Hopefully someone who got approved will respond back. The good new is that Obesity Law has accepted my file for appeal so I am hoping something good happens soon! Good luck and will try to answer any questions I can. MileHigh

Well... I got the diagnosis of sleep Apnea now and my current BMI is over 40 so even though I haven't been over 40 for the last five years I think they will have to allow the surgery! The LapBand company is picking up the fees for my appeal so I think it is good sign that they think I will win on appeal. Good to know you are up and about. I hope mine goes as well as yours if and when I get approval. I haven't done any form of child birth so I might not have your tolerence for pain. Did you even have all the discomfort I read about from gas during surgery? Congrats on the good food choice as the nutritionist likes to say! Keep up the good work!:clap2: I guess Aetna just likes picking on me. Although my BMI not being over 40 for last five was an easy pick for them to say no. :cry I will keep you posted. Lisa

Hey Mariposa, Hope you are doing well. Let us know how things are going when you feel up to it. Take Care, Lisa

Hey I am just thinking good thoughts for you tonight! Good luck tomorrow... I am very happy for you! Take Care, Lisa

Thank you for the story of hope. Last night I had to go in for my CPAP fitting. Whoever thought I'd be happy about a co-morbidity? This should stop Aetna from being able to deny the surgery because I didn't have any. I completed my three months before I submitted the first time so it will be interesting to see if they can come up with another reason. Based on what my doctors office said I think we will be sucessful on getting approval. I will be thinking happy thoughts and having good wishes for both of you on your surgeries. Keep me posted on how you are doing. You can send me a private message if you don't want to do it here. I am very excited for you. It is amazing what our dreams can conjure up when we are stressed or worried. A baby... well maybe later on you will. :notagree My suggestion is to picture everything going perfectly and having very easy recovery. Take Care, Lisa

I will say a little prayer that your surgery goes very smoothly and that you have little discomfort. Let me know how you are doing! Lisa:kiss

I just got word from my surgeon's office that the LapBand company has agreed to pay for my appeal. They sound pretty confident I will win on appeal, it will just be a wait. ISo, I have decided to use the time prepare and keep losing. Nobody said we couldn't go into this already losing weight. If I win, I am hoping the tool will just help me to develop the habits to keep it off for change! :clap2:

Congrats! I am still waiting to see if the advocate will take my case for appeal. When did you submit your paper work? Do you have a date already? Best wishes! Hopefully I will posting the same thing soon.

This is unusual from what I have been seeing. The surgeons office could only confirmation that my insurance didn't totally exclude paying for WLS before I submitted all kinds of information. I have been denied but am going to appeal the denial. If this is for real, and you decide go forward best wishes to you. You have been spared a bunch of hassle.

I am so glad you got a quick approval. I should know better I can never do anything the easy way. I am just trying to keep up the spirits until I get the letter and can take the next step. Keep me posted on how you are doing. Lisa:clap2:

I finished in July and submitted paper work. GOT DENIED. I am going to send it to an advocate to see if they think I can win an appeal. The reason given over the phone was that I don't meet the criteria. I have been over 40 BMI for the last two years but only over 35 for the three before. I have borderline co-morbidities. It will be a fight but lots of people are cheering me on. Have you heard anything yet?

I am so sorry how frustrating! I hope in the end it works out for your best interest. That might be a first. How long after your paper work was turned in until you got approval for the band?

There is site website that the nutritionist suggested to me called FitDay.com. It is free and really helps you keep track. You could start your logs now. What I a hoping will help me is that my PCP's (I had 2) talked to me weight, cholesterol some failed weight loss attempts. I didn't have the docmented medically supervised weight loss so I completed three months with Dr. Johnell's office. You are going to like them very much if your experience is like mine.

I have met with Dr. Johnell and am in process of trying to all that is required to get approval for a lap-band. Has anyone out there ever used Dr. Johnell and NCMC? If so I would like to know how your experience was. Thanks.

Do you mind my asking why they won't pay for fills?

If it is any consulation I have read about worse companys on here. LOL.