calunda

Okay, I am getting a lap band in Detroit at Harper hospital on the 24th of this month thanks to medicare. They provide the surgery, a private nurse and a hotel suite for 2 days. A plane ticket comes with them as well, but since we do not have the funds for my hubby to fly does anyone knows if there is any chance that medicare would pay me the $700.00 for ground travel? I know that that sounds dumb and stupid but I am a disabled veteran and the Fayetteville, Arkansas va hospital gives me $24.00 for "travel pay" to compensate me for gasoline from my Missouri home. Thanx:clap2:

<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/help.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Help" smilieid="256" class="inlineimg" />I just got my lap band on October 24th and am still not ingesting solids and yet am able to drink rather large quantities of fluids. I am afraid that when my first two weeks are up that I am going to be able to gorge.<br /> <br /> So, with that said: Does anyone know of a physician in Southwest Missouri: I.E. Branson, Forsyth, Springfield, Ozark, Nixa or surrounding areas who does fills for medicare recipients? Or who will let me make partial payments and/or lower payments?<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/rain.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Rain" smilieid="173" class="inlineimg" /><img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)" smilieid="8" class="inlineimg" /><img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/confused.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Confused" smilieid="11" class="inlineimg" />

I was just banded on the 24th of October and have been following my diet. My problem is that when I weighed myself today (sixteen days later) my scales only say that I lost ten pounds!!!!! I am able to fit clothing that are two sizes smaller.Has anyone else had this experience? It is so disappointing. Also, even though I only eat the foods and portions that I am supposed to eat I am not getting full. HELP!:help:

I have got to say that I have been really surprised!!!! I actually lost 27 pounds from October 24th to today...Thanksgiving 29 days ago! (Mind you I have not been weighed since November the 15th for a routine physical.) I am doing a lot better than I thought even though I don't always feel full.

Dr Edwards office lady informed me that he does not see patients that he did band. I live thirty minutes away from him and have to drive or fly to Detroit, Mi (804 miles away from Forsyth, Missouri) to the Harper hospital. It is a two day Grey hound trip so who knows, I might enjoy it. I always did like a good trip. Also, Harper does except Medicare for the fill appointments and I can stay at their International Hotel on the hospital Campus. Actually the bus ride is only $90.00 round trip with my retired military card and there is a small co-payment. I guess that you can easily say that considering everything, I will still come out pretty well.:whoo::eyebrows::clap2::clap2:

I posted an apology to the BELITE company and the members on this site yesterday saying that I am sorry for writing what I wrote about them. Once more it isn't true. They aren't WIENIES and I am truly sorry to have said such a mean thing. They helped me when no one would. Through them I was able to have the sugery that I was unable to get on my own in three years. They are professionals and dispite what I said they were there for me and their other customers as well. I want to apologize once more, especially if you are a future customer.

I had my surgery almost three weeks ago and I want to ask everyone about medications? I take anti-depression meds and have just been crushing them with no apparent problem.........is that okay? Has anyone had trouble taking their meds? Any kind of meds?

I was banded on October 24th at Harper hospital in Detroit and my scales say that I have lost ten pounds, but I am wearing dresses that are a size or two smaller (depending on the make I guess.) My measurements have changed a lot since then though. I lost 4 inches in the bust area, 5 in the waist, and 4 inches in the hips. I guess that that is better than nothing. Please, what ever you do, keep trying. Though I am newly banded I realize the positivity of banding together at times to give each other some much needed "juju." lol.

thanx, I needed that. I have to remember that it took me years to put on this weight.

Thanx I am going to email them today. I would assume that the Veteran's hospital will do it now that they have implemented the lap band surgery.

Can the lap band people please tell me what they pay for their fills? I am very curious to know what they cost from place to place. Also, do some doctors have financing? Take medical insurance?

I received my lap band through Belite on October 24th. Most of the ladies work there and some of their family members are lap band recipients as well. We drove the 804 miles from Forsyth, Mo and were put up in the International hotel on Harper Hospital's campus. The staff are very professional and understanding. I needed one pain shot of Morphine after the surgery and never needed anything for pain after that even though we drove back the same amount of miles as we came. I had no trouble on the ride back. Dr. Webber ROCKS! The scars are minimal. He also does the lap band surgery at Dingell Veteran's hospital half a block or so from Harper hospital. If you guys and gals are veterans check out the MOVE program at your local va first because it is free. (Unfortunately, the program takes about three months and then you wait for the surgery!) I am a veteran but got tired of the red tape and decided to go through Belite. Please read some of the opinions on Belite on this site. They basically say the same things. Also, be prepared to take at least $600.00 for your post surgery medicines! I was totally shocked to find that one out. When I told staff that and the pharmacy they acted as though that had heard that one before and just wrote me and my shocked husband standing there. I had no idea that that would happen, but now in retrospect I should have known that there would be after care meds. The 14 predrawn anti clotting syringes costs a staggering $280.00 plus dollars, the prilosec was a little over $90.00! I cannot remember what the pain medication and the last medicine costed. Could you imagine me riding all the way from Michigan to Missouri without that medication? I was so afraid that I wandered to the va down the street with my prescription and they graciously gave me the medications within in hour without giving me a hassle.

I have pain in my left side and it is about a week ago that I had my surgery. Do I need a fill? Does anyone know of a fill doctor in Branson or Springfield Missouri? What does a fill normally cost?

Yes I know. I had my lap band installed on the 24th of October and used my medicare. There was a co-payment of a little oveer $900.00 though.

You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got my lap band on the 24th of October, actually six days ago in Detroit!!!!!! I am not in as much shock at the enormity of it now. It seems to be as problematic as I thought. I have not used my pain meds since the surgery and my husband and I had to drive (the next day) 804 miles back home!!!!! I was only sore when I rolled around to sleep on my belly. My doc was surprised at how informed I am on the lap band. Since his name has been written all over this site I suggested that he check it out for himself. My doc, by the way is Dr Webber at Harper University Hospital in Detroit. And Dingell VA hospital down the street. He does the lap band procedure at both hospitals.

My cousin's girlfriend wants a lap band and lives somewhere in Texas. Is there any place in your state that accepts medi-cal? Do you know (for all of the medi-cal patient's out there) if they are covered???????

I do not know if the military does bariatrics yet. I am not even sure if I qualify for tricare. I do not even know if they pay for military wives and husbands to have it at a military post or a va???

You are so right! I really appreciate the free hospital and out patient facilities that the VA has for us 100%ers and the other vets. But face it, they have been known to pull a boner once in awhile. I am furious that I let one of the nutritionists talk me into going through the lap band (stapling or lap band.) that they are doing in little Rock va? They haven't started the surgery yet either.

My niece (okay my favorite "little thirty-four year old) is in dire need of a lap band. She has some medically related problems but no medical insurance. She and I have been trying to qualify for the surgery for almost three years and she is getting tired physically and mentally. Since she cannot afford to pay a huge loan, does anyone know of some medical loan company that will front a low monthly pay loan for her to go to Mexico? There is a catch. She had a bankruptsy two years ago.:help::rain::omg:

I called medicare yesterday and found out that the reason for me paying a large copay is because they have no proof that my bmi isn't 35 or more and there is no proof that I have any physical ailments that I would have that proves that I am needy. I sent Harper hospital copies of all of my presurgery medical papers and my letter from my physician states that I have sleep apnea, elevated sugar levels, osteoarthritis, hypertension and a bmi of 42. I have the original doctor's note and all of the other tests. I.E. Cardio (stress test, pulmonary test, physician's letter and psychologist's letter). After giving Harper hospital a new copy of my physician's letter, what should I do to impress upon those people to tell medicare to change my decision? As of yet, medicare hasn't been charged as I have not had the surgery.

With only eight days till my surgery, my hospital told me that I have a co-pay (with my medicare) of $900.00! It seems that a certain company that referred me to the bariatric hospital in Detroit told me more than once that I would have NO copayment. In addition, they never answered my emails or faxes asking for some brochures or books about Harper hospital before I go. They did not even send me any info as to where to report or what time to arrive in Detroit. I hope that if anyone is going to use their medicare insurance that they ask up front what their copayment is. Remember, you almost always have a copay with them. Dont let anyone use your desperation for the surgery to dupe you into going to a surgery thinking that it is totally free! Also, please, please be careful of any company that appears to be a "cattle prodder". Someone who procures patients and leaves them to piece out important information as to hospitalization, travel, and hotel fees. It would be easier to look the bariatric hospitals up on the computer and not contact middle person unless it is the facility itself. It seems that they work separately and have different interests. For instance, I know for a fact that Harper bariatric hospital can process all of it's patient's collections of medical records, insurance, presurgery tests, etc. Last (pardon me for venting), someone at the bariatric referral office called to tell me that she was sending me a copy of a liquid diet that some of us need two weeks prior to the surgery and the brochures and paper work for the hospital. I never received any of those things. I was lucky that my niece was able to tell me what a liquid diet consists of and about Vitamins because even though I have been okayed in time I was not told until today eight days away that I am doing the right thing.

There are two centers of excellence in Missouri. One in Jefferson and the other in Kansas City. In addition, I received a call from one of them informing me that they were opening a new one somewhere here in southwest Missouri within a month or so

One would think that tricare would gladly fund or do the lap band procedure since it will cut down on their patient's future medical bills.

I hope that if that happens to me next month that they find a glitch and not make me pay either!