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HI All:) Currently I'm waiting on insurance approval and am trying to get all my ducks in a row as the anticipation is killing me:faint:!!!! Curious about protein shakes, I know that there are alot of different choices out there and everyone has their own tastes but I'm curious if anyone has used Isagenix post op? The system is originally intended for weight loss but the shakes in the program have 23g of protein per serving and when I used them before they tasted pretty darn close to a Wendy's Frosty. Tried the Whey protein from the health store before and it made me want to hurllllllll. They also have this liquid vitamin stuff that doesn't taste great but I figure it will be good for the liquid phase. Has anyone tried it post-op?? Welcome to Isagenix, World Leader in Nutritional Cleansing if ya wanna check it out:hungry:

Hi all- Not sure if this is the proper place for this posting but wasn't sure where to put it, so please forgive me if it's in the wrong spot. I started this lab band process in September and am moving forward with pre-op testing and insurance approval. Unfortunately in the mean time I have learned that I have rheumatoid arthritis. So since this is such a fabulous place for answers and support I'm wondering if there is anyone out here who has RA and what if any affect that has had on the fact that your banded. RA is an autoimmune disease and my concern is with putting a foreign object into my body it will kick my immune system into overdrive making my RA worse. Any thoughts?? :help:

I'm planning on using the Isagenix shakes pre and post op. They are part of a program designed for weight loss that I have used before (I lost weight but gained it all back---u know the drill) but anyway I think that the chocolate tastes like a Wendy's frosty and it has 23 grams of protein per serving. If you add the unflavored Isapro whey protein to the mix it adds another 18 grams per drink so 41 grams total. Not to shabby!! They also have this liquid vitamin stuff that tastes god awful (just being honest) Ionix Supreme but it's packed with all kinds of nutrients and is in liquid form so it will work well for me post-op. It's kind of expensive but Unjury is expensive too and since I already know that I like the taste of this stuff I'm going to stick with what I know. Welcome to Isagenix, World Leader in Nutritional Cleansing if you wanna check it out.

bourgda, I think I understand what your saying. You don't want to go thru all of these tests and the expense of them if there is a chance that your insurance will deny the surgery at the end. As long as you have referrals from your primary for the pre-op consults they should be covered by your insurance. At least that has been my experience with Aetna, I actually consulted two seperate surgeon's and had my pulmonology, nutritionist, psych eval, Upper GI and US and all of it was covered by Aetna pre-op. Just had to pay the copays. Hope this helps.

Becky So sorry for what happened to your daughter. Thought that school's had no bullying policies and where the heck was the lunch moderator while all this was going on? Flavor Flav is a reference to the reality show on VH-1 best analogy that I can come up with is the ghetto version of "The Bachelor". All these crazy chicks are trying to "win the heart" of Flavor Flav a has been rapper from the early 90's. But the chicks on the show get nuts and fight verbally and physically over this little tiny scrawny man. It sounds like your daughter has a good head on her shoulders and is apparently popular with the "in crowd" so maybe this chick is just jealous of her. I would definately contact the school and tell them that you will not tolerate your daughter being bullied and if her grades or attitude starts to change because of issues with this girl you will contact your attorney. That will put them on notice that you expect your daughter to be learning in a safe environment. Good luck!!!

On Steff's advice (among others) I'm using South Jersey Bariatrics as well. Called last Monday and had an appointment with Dr. Ing on Friday. I've looked into several programs and had consultations with a few surgeon's in PA and NJ. SJB is my final choice.

Hi Tamara, you aren't the first person who has expressed dissatisfaction with the way things are handled al LVH. I too live in Allentown and in fact work in a hospital (not LV, although I have worked there before). I initially looked into the program at LV and then down at Temple in Philly. Temple has a $600 non-refundable program fee with the same stipulations that you mentioned from LV. After reading these boards I decided to call South Jersey Bariatrics, called on Monday had an appointment Friday with the surgeon, Dr. Ing. Appointment was at 11:00 and I was taken on time. At Temple I sat there for 90 minutes with no apology or explanation of why my time wasn't considered as valuable as theirs. SJB's coordinator, Tina, couldn't have been nicer on the phone and the office staff seems cool. They also require you to go through all of the pre-op testing, (think everyone does) but I just felt much more comfortable with the whole set up. I don't feel like a number. Their program fee is $250 which covers the two weeks of pre-op food. It takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to get there but my comfort level is worth the drive. The other plus is that they do the surgery as an outpatient so I can be home the same day. Temple makes u stay overnite. Sorry for going on and on but I guess what I'm trying to say is that Lehigh Valley isn't the only player in the game (although that's what they want you to think) Can you tell I don't like that hospital...lol Do some research, read the boards, try to find a doctor that will value your business and that you feel comfortable with.

Ok, so my surgeon requires a non-refundable program fee of $600 before they will schedule you for the dietician, psych eval, or try to get insurance approval. I've been reading these boards for awhile now and for the most part everyone seems to be happy with their choice. My concern is if I change my mind or should I say chicken out:kiss before an actual surgery date, not only will I still be a chubmeister I'll have only lost weight in my wallet. How confident were you going into your procedure? Second thoughts? Would anyone not have had the surgery knowing then what they know now? Be honest I can take it:biggrin1:

Thanks for all the great advice, ya know when ya just don't have a good feeling about something it's probably better to look elsewhere----so that's what I did. Called South Jersey Bariatrics on Monday and I have an appointment for this Friday--woohoo!! Their program fee is $250 as opposed to $600, and Tina their bariatric coordinator couldn't have been nicer and was happy to answer the questions that I had. Can't wait to be in the recovery room

Hi I'm in the same boat, I called and spoke to the office coordinator and I'm having all the pre-op stuff under Aetna then switching to Keystone Jan. 1, only because the coordinator said that they have more success with approvals with the Blues as opposed to Aetna. Spoke to the rep from Keystone and she said there is no pre-existing condition clause in their policy. Proof of continuous coveraga alleviates that issue. Good luck!

Your bariatric surgeon's office isn't calling you back? If that is the case then you can go to your primary care physcian and they can call and get the results of the UGI and US. Having a fever for a week is not something that you want to play with. Even if it isn't your gallbladder, your primary can at least diagnose what it is. Good luck hope your feeling better soon.

I agree with both sides of the coin, $600 is a small price to pay for a new lease on life, my concern is that they say it's non-refundable even if insurance denies coverage and I can't have the surgery. They also won't even attempt insurance approval until after the appointments and the fee is paid. The other thing that made me kind of nervous about the whole thing is that in the patient welcome letter it basically says "don't call us we'll call you", your "allowed" to call them once to see how the process is going and that's it. I understand that they don't want to be inundated with calls from anxious patients but if I have questions I want to be able to pick up the phone. This is a prominent surgeon at a prominent university hospital. Not the best first impression. I think I'm going to look elsewhere. On a side note Donna, I hope you and Blanche have a long healthy and happy life together. Congratulations:)

That's great, I love Royal Carribean--what boat are u going on? We were on Freedom in January and had the BEST time!! Have a great trip.

Hopefully you purchased trip insurance or have some through your credit card, I always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If you have medical complications while you are on your trip it is very expensive to see the on-board doc. And I agree with Wheetsin, make sure your doc knows of your plans and see if they have any advice for you. Haven't been banded yet so I can't give you any advice on the food end of things. But as a medical professional and a die-hard Royal Carribean cruiser, just make sure you have the medical end of things planned for. Other then that, lay back and enjoy the sun, can't think of a better way to recuperate---Have Fun!!!

I had to do an Upper GI last week preop, which includes esophagus and swallowing in the study. (I'm an x-ray tech as well). Upper GI and US of the gallbladder are required pre-op tests of my surgeon. Haven't been banded yet so that is all I can help with but I hope it all works out for you.

Ok so now I'm worried after reading all of the nightmare Aetna stories. I was under the naive impression that approval wouldn't be that difficult but it appears that it is. So as someone else mentioned it is open enrollment time and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with Keystone Healthplan East. Don't get it, if it's a covered procedure why do they make it so difficult?? Dang!!!:faint: Anybody have KHE that can impart some wisdom on me//

Thanks Valerie, hopefully it won't matter if I lose some. But god knows if it does matter I can put it back on in about 3 minutes..lol.

Hi All, I just started the complicated road to being approved to have the surgery. I just barely meet the BMI qualifications for approval, and so in anticipation of my consultation with the surgeon I allowed myself to eat whatever---which I generally don't do and have probably put on 10 pounds in the meantime. At this point I have my UGI and US scheduled for tomorrow and am collecting all of the necessary documentation to be sent in for insurance approval. My question is: Is it OK to start to lose weight at this point on my own or should I wait until the insurance makes a decision? I'm really uncomfortable where I am right now and can lose probably 15 on my own but I don't want them to weigh me again and then say I don't qualify. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I know they do the procedure at Easton Hospital, Abington Memorial, Temple has a program both downtown Philly and at Jeanne's Hospital. I live in Allentown as well and I am going to be going down to the Temple program at Jeane's. Doctors down there have alot of experience and being in the healthcare field myself I have not been overly impressed with LVHC--it's too big you become just a number.

I am so sorry to read of your horror story. I'm an xray tech at hospitals for the past 13 years, and can't imagine the complete lack of consideration they showed for you as a patient not to mention an employee. It does not speak very well for the institution that you work for and are ultimately entrusting your life to. I don't know that I would be comfortable being under the care of a hospital that shows such blatant disregard for one of their own. Hard to believe that things were so disorganized that you did not hear from her until today. I agree with your grandfather, I know that you have probably been working toward this moment for a long time but carefully consider wether or not you trust these people with your life at this point. You have to do what makes you feel comfortable and I hope it all works out for the best. Hang in there!!

From what I understand they do the Band at Lehigh Valley, Dr. Boorse. Me personally I have an appointment down at Jeane's Hospital near Philly with a Dr. Kowalski, they are affiliated with Temple and he performed more then 75 procedures last year---which experience is very important to me.