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Hi! Looking for both a Buddy and Mentor. First a Mentor that can guide me along and then a Buddy that is having surgery around the same date to share experiences. Age 47 Female Married 25 years Business Analyst Michingan Starting weight 262 Goal 150

Hi, Kari ~ First of all, congratulations on th 94 pound loss. I hope I am there a year for now. I'm in Oakland County and in the summer I'm in Hillsdale County. I'm having my surgery at Royal Oak Beaumont by Dr. Krause. I started this process 15 mos ago because insurance wanter 12 mos of documentation, etc. So now I can't believe I'm finally having surgery on Monday. I'm nervous. Not for the surgery part, but this major change that I will be making. So now that you are a year into it, would you do it again? Any words of wisdom for me? I've read all the materials, etc. But nice to talk to someone who actually has been through it. Carol

CTGhostHunter ~ Looks like we have the same belief in being private. Good luck on your journey.

Hi Mindy ~ I'm looking for a mentor and thought you may be a good match. I'm being banded on June 9th. I'm 47, current weight is 262, BMI 41. This seems so sureal, I cant believe in 6 days I am finally having the surgery. It was a 15 month process for me to get approved by insurance. I am soooo nervous. I'm a very private person and only told my husband. Only my manager knows I'll be out for surgery, but not what type, the rest of my peers just think i'm out of the office. Looking forward to talking and sharing more with you. Carol

I'm very private. I only told my husband once I was approved and he is very supportive. My work only knows I will be out for surgery, but not what for. My surgery is June 9th and now I have an issue; my husband had to go out ouf town, so now I will have to have my 19 year old daughter take me in. She just thinks I'm going for some female stuff.

Maria, My surgery date is also June 9th and I've been kind of experiencing the same thing. I don't have to do any special pre diet and I've been eating all of those favorite foods one last time. Not over doing it though

Has anyone received Short Term Disability Payment for time off work for this surgery? I'm not sure if they will count it as Elective. My company automatically puts you on FMLA after 3 days and then STD will pay after 7 days if approved. If not approved or I miss 6 days or less of work, I have to take it without pay or as vacation time. One more week until I'm banded!!!

Good point about if insurance is paying it is not elective, and BCBS has approved it. I guess I'm lucky, my short term policy will pay 100%. Thanks!

Thanks everyone for the responses. So sounds like most have been able to receive short term disability, I was afraid they would consider it as elective surgery. I guess the trick now is to make sure my doctor does not give me the approval to return to work until after 7 days. My company does not give us sick/personal days and I'm too stingy to give up my vacation.

Have you thought about getting a job yourself with insurance benefits? Keep in mind that even if you get the surgery done before the insurance expires, that after the surgery there is going to be on going doctor visits that will nee to be paid for.

If any of you have insurance that provides Health Care Advovate services, I advise that you get set up with one. Most BCBS insurances provide this service and is free. You will get assigned to an Advocate that will see your case through to approval. They will also provide advice, answer surgery questions, etc. They will also be able to help you build your case in the best way so thay you get approved and not denied. Many insurances not only want the 6-12 months supervised diet with a doctor, they also want to see that you meet with a nutritionist montly, have a psych evaluation, and meet with an excercise trainer quarterly, plus there may requests for blood work, stress tests etc. So before you are denied and disappointed, as I was, get connected with an Health Care Advocate. Good luck to you all.

Wow 4 days! You got lucky. It took 2 months for BCBS TX PPO to approve mine, pluse the 12 mos of supervised dr visits.. My band date is June 9th....good luck!

Yes just received approval from BCBS TX on May 8th. I was concerned because I did have BCBS MI and my company switched us to TX in Jan. I was nervous when this happened because TX has the same policies as IL and heard of all the issues with getting IL approvals. I understand the key to being approved is based on the case your doctor presents on you. Contact BCBS TX immediately and get assigned to an Health Care Advocate, they will work with you during the whole process to make sure you and your doctor provides all of the necessary documents, tests, etc. Good Luck!

Hi! My band date is June 9th. I'm from Michigan. Will be married 25 years this August and have a 19yr old daughter. I work full time+ for an IT company. Looking forward to the surgery and can't believe the date is finally here, it took me 15 mos to get my approval.

After a very long 15th month process, insurance finally approved my surgery and got my date just today. So happy to finally join a monthly group. I'll be banded by Dr. Kevin Krause, Royal Oak, MI. I am really nervous. I meet with the nutritionist tomorrow to review pre-op diet.

Rhapsody ~ Thanks for sharing your surgery experience. I am also a patient of Dr. Krause. I started this process a year ago, insurance request was finally sent last week to BCBS and if all goes well I should have a April surgery date. This forum is the best! Nancy

Hi all...It's been 12 months that I started this process...Request was submitted to BCBS last week and surgeon says if all goes well with approvals, I should be on the schedule for April. My birthday is on the 17th and sure sould be a nice birthday present for me. Good luck to you all!

Hi...Has anyone gone through the approval process with BCBSTX? Unfortunately my company changed insurance from BCBS of MI to TX for 2008 and I am just completing the 12mos of a weight reduction plan that was required by MI. Looks like TX only required 6mos but there are a lot of other requirements to be approved. I am so discouraged finding this out as would have been all set with MI.

Please let me know your experience if you had surgery done by Dr. Kevin Krause in conjuction with the Beaumont Weight Control Center (Royal Oak, MI)....Thanks

Hi!...I just found this board today. I have not had surgery yet. Before my insurance will approve surgery I must first go through a 12 month program. This includes meeting with a doctor and nutritionist monthly and then quarterly I have meet to with a psychiatrist and exercise therapist. I have 4 more months to go and then hopefully i will be on my way to surgery. But I still have not decided if I will do gastric or lap-band. Any of your comments on why you chose to do lap-band would be welcomed...thanks