StLouisGal

I have always wanted to ride the mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon,:seeya: ride in a dog sled, go on a float trip in a canoe, ride all the rides at the amusement park with the kids, keep up with the kids at the amusement park without a motorized wheel chair, go to the theater, go to the movies, ride in an airplane without being miserable.:smokin: run a 5K not have to ask for a sturdier chair when visiting. (I don't want to break my friends furniture) Ride a bicycle This is my list of things to do as soon as I get small enough. But the most important is to be healthy.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery by Jessie H Ahroni PhD, ARNP This is a very basic book on Lap Band. I got it for my DH and children to read (adult children) so that they can be supportive and helpful as I transition to a new way of life. It is written in plain easy to understand language.

After about a month of waiting and frustration :confused:with my insurance company, my doctor's office finally called :phone:this morning to say I had been approved and can now make my pre-op appointment. :biggrin1: I go for the Pre-op on January 30 and we will set the surgery date then,:eek probably mid to late February. I am excited.:clap2::clap2::clap2: I've been hanging around the NewYears Knockout thread but I guess now this will be home.:whoo: Take care!

Welcome to our band. I have my pre-op on January 30 and hope to be banded in mid to late February. I started filling out paperwork to get the time off work. It's almost as bad as the insurance paperwork. My boss is extremely supportive and says I should take as much time as I need. HR is wanting all the i's dotted and t's crossed. Soon it will all be a dull memory and I will have my band and :car:on the road to being normal sized. Take care and good luck with getting the date you want. :seeya:

Congratulations! Your ball is finally rolling again. February will be here before you know it and you will be on the band wagon. :prrr: Waiting is the pits isn't it! :rose:

I think it helps to make it pretty too. :rose: Get out your best china cup and saucer to drink your protein shake from. It will make you feel special. Pretty plates make even the most ordinary food seem special. You are special and should treat yourself like it. Take care:seeya:

:Dancing_biggrin:Great News!:hurray:Your persistence paid off! When will you get your surgery date? I'm so happy for you!! :huh2:

I'm not looking forward to the pre-op diet :pray2: but if that is what it takes, I'll do it. :thumbs_up:I should get my surgery date on January 30 when I go for pre-op classes and testing. I'm hoping for mid to late Febuary. I am soooo ready. Take care of yourself and good luck next week.:wink2:

A suggestion I read on a web site somewhere was to use a small saucer and an infant feeding spoon to help with portion control and bite size. It makes you think you are getting a plate full of food. My kids gave me a collection of pretty little plates and 2 ounce pinch bowls for Christmas so when I get my band (hopefully mid Febuary, I will be ready. I thought it was a good idea.

4Jin: I am so glad I was wrong and you were right!:pray2: It sounds like you may get an answer this very day! I'll keep praying. AmyMT: Thanks for the invitation. I would love to be an honorary member of the New Years Knockouts! This is such a supportive board.

Oh 4Jin, that is just how I felt with my insurance. Unfortunately they are holding all the cards. Because in their book, not all the information needed was there (doctor's id number was missing) they have an excuse to reset the counter until 30 days after they received your complete file. :mad::rant: It is not fair and I don't think they realize that they are dealing with people's lives and emotions. To them it is just an elective surgery. Keep hounding them, at least it makes you feel like you are doing something and sometimes the squeeky wheel does get oiled first. When I told my SIL about the problem I was having she said "It's a blues product and they are impossible to work with" She works in the healthcare field. Apparently BCBS feels they have the monopoly and can do things their way or the highway. Hang in there. We are pulling for you! :pray2::pray2::wink2:

This is me on our anniversary trip to Louisianna last November. I was at about 289 in this shot. 293 was my all time highest. :eek:

But there are some pretty cool February Bansters out there too. It's good to have friends in lots of places. :eek:

At least you found someone who treated you like a person with real needs and concerns.:eek: Keep calling. Persistence makes things happen. We are all behind you and praying that you will hear soon. Hang in there.

Hey Ladies, Enjoy this stage of your life, We have had AARP cards since my husband turned 50. Getting the discounts is great! I don't look my age (fat hides wrinkles:wink2:) and I certainly don't feel it. I am by far the oldest person in my office except for my boss who is 13 weeks older than I am. We have a blast working with the young kids on the university campus we work on. I am looking forward to getting my band so I will have more energy to do more things but this decade is by far the best I have had yet. I was :frown:too busy in my twenties and thirties raising my children and teaching school to enjoy it, :sad:too depressed in my forties with college bills, job changes, empty nest, sick parents, etc to enjoy it and now in my fifties I have gotten myself a red hat :party:and a red Pt Cruiser:smile2: and am enjoying life.

Hi! I'm so glad I found this spot. It is good to have so much support and suggestions. I just received my insurance approval a few days ago so I am now waiting for my pre-o classes (a one day class required by my doc to meet with dietitian, exercise specialist, nurse, coordinator, surgeon, etc. preop testing and set surgery date. ) That is Jan. 30. I am hoping for surgery in mid to late Febuary. It's been a long road but I can nearly see the end.

Hang in there! We are all pulling for you!

4Jin, At least they have everything they need now. Like you said in an earlier post, if they were going to deny it they probably would have done that a long time ago. It is a stalling tactic to see if you will give up and go away. BC/BS is good at BS. :frown: Amy, congrats on six pounds.:smile: Every pound you lose now, you won't have to lose after the band and you will be that much closer to your goal. You are doing great! Hang in there with the liquid diet. I've forgotten, do you have a specific brand of liquid you have to use or are you on your own to pick something that is tolerable to you? :Banane42:

I am so sorry they are treating your this way. I would call the insurance company back later this afternoon (I know it is a Friday and they may not answer) For you to go through another weekend not knowing will be terrible.

It's still worth a shot to call the 1-877 number and see if you can get a live person on the phone. Sometimes the larger the corporation, the more pull they have. (and the better their reps are)

Have you tried the benefits coordinator at your work. It's usually in the HR department. Maybe a call from them would light a fire under some of these folks.

4JIN, We are on a roll.:roll: You will be next! Yesterday was my day, Today is Amy's and tomorrow is yours. :girl_hug: After that we can say this has been a very good week. :clap2: and we will all be on our way to a healthier life.:hug:Hugs and prayers to you!:pray:

Congratulations. It's time to celebrate. :clap2: Here is a toast with your protein shake. Good luck. :gluck:Wow you are only a week and a half out! Hopefully I am not far behind you.

I've heard good things about that center. Do you have a date yet?