baylorjai

Thanks for that! I'm working on my Masters in History and I thought I would take the summer off to have this done...then my surgeon was going on summer vacation at the beginning of June and that pushes me out to June 30th...trust me I would rather do this sooner than later...I'm ready to get on with the rest of my life!

Oh my goodness!!! I have SO many questions now! I'm being banded June 30th. I know I have to start my diet June 11th. Please tell me all the things you are going through so I don't walk into this blindly. I have 3 months to look at all of this...and I'm trying to gradually wade into the pool. Right now one meal a day is a protein drink...by mid-April 2 protein shakes and 1 meal...and then by June I hope to be over it? Let me know if I'm totally off my rocker...otherwise I'm afraid I will continue the goodwill tour of the worst things I could possibly put in my mouth until June.

Thanks everyone! All good ideas. If you think of anything else...please be sure to let me know.

Okay...I finally have my date...and it's June 30th at UTSW with Dr. Rivas. I have a little more than 3 months to go until I get my dream. But I'm wondering what I need to be doing in the meantime. Any words of wisdom?:laugh:

My doctor's office submitted my paperwork for my 6 month observation, and all the other requirements by Cigna August 22nd...I followed up Sept. 3rd to make sure that Cigna had everything...they did. I haven't recieved a rejection letter...and it has been a month...should I call Cigna to see what's going on?

Thanks for that post! It's nice to know there are other people out there that are on the same path. I want to get mine done before the end of the year as well. I start Grad-school in January and I want this to be over with before I start on my next hurdle. :smile: I'll let you know what happens.

It is a rollercoaster. But at some point and time you will decide that the need to get this taken care of is greater than the other thoughts. You have to have faith in yourself and also use the support group on here. You can do this! Yes you won't be able to have the relationship with food that you once had. I have tried over the last 6 months to not drink while I eat. It's really not that bad...if you kinda prepare yourself for it and actually try it...you'll find that the love of yourself out weighs the love of food. I'm totally in this ship with you. I have these thoughts all the time...the only thing that is my saving grace is the support on this website.

:w00t:Hi! I need a buddy/mentor. I have been reccommended to get lap band for about 8 months now, but was rejected on first send out by Cigna for "Improper" documentation on my 6 month doctor visits...so here we are and I just finished my 5th month and on August 22nd will have completed my 6th visit, August 25th I will go and schedule with the surgeon. I have lost about 5 lbs. in the 5 months that I have been going to see Dr. Guth at UTSW. My BMI is 37.4 and my weight is 238.5. I want to loose at least 100 lbs. I live in Lewisville and commute to Royal and 75. I am also training for a 5k...the Turkey Trot to be exact. My surgeon is Dr. Rivas at UTSW and I love their program. So I need some one to play the big brother/sister role...I feel like I'm on an emotional rollercoaster with this...and I would love the support.

Grannie Jennie: Atta girl! Way to stick with it. I will be thinking of you on Wednesday. Let me know how it goes.

Okay...I have returned...we have been "properly" doing my doctor's visits for the last 5 months and next month will be my last visit and time to schedule my surgery. I know I've been marinating over this for the last 7 months and going through the process, but when Dr. Guth said next month we'll send off your stuff (again) and we'll be scheduling your surgery...there was two emotions...1) WooHoo...it's about time (2) Oh wow here we are...we're really going to do this aren't we. I feel like we've been talking about climbing a mountain for so long to do this amazing journey down the mountain and I'm finally about to the top and I'm in a little panic. Anyone felt like this? :thumbup:

Jenbug: I'm so glad to hear someone else is having some of these thoughts! Since Dr. Guth said that on Wednesday, it's like I'm on death row and I need to eat every last bad meal that I can get in my mouth. ARGH!!! I would love to hear how you are doing with the 2 week pre-op diet...I know I'm going to have to do the same...and just in general have a buddy during this phase.

I think you should be fine. You probably will have to do the 6 month visits...I know Cigna is a stickler for that. But with your co-morbidities you should be fine with your BMI. My BMI is only 37.4 and besides gerd and joint problems, that's all I have to go on. I need to loose a little over 100 lbs. Good luck Kimberly! Keep me posted it's nice to hear from someone who is on a similar path to mine. :thumbup:

With Cigna you have to have 6 months of documented doctors appointments specifically about your weight. I had those appointments but they were not clearly documented as much as Cigna wanted and there was really no way of getting around it. So at Dr. Rivas office they have a doctor who you literally go see once a month to be weighed and talk about your weight and progress. It has been great being in their office and getting to know all their staff and support programs. You might have already told me this but have you already sent off your paperwork and are you attempting to go through insurance or self-pay?

I just found out that after all the hoops that you have to jump through for Cigna...my PCP did not properly document my weight loss efforts. Now I have to start all over again. ARGH!!!! :cursing:

The doctor wrote an extremely moving letter. But Cigna doesn't care if you don't have the exercise program and diet documented properly.

Okay so I got everything in to Dr. Rivas and come to find out...I do not have the proper documentation for the 6 months excer/diet program. ARGH!!! I have to start all over again. I could just cry. So here we go again...starting all over. :cursing:

Yes I took the packet from Dr. Rivas's office concerning Cigna to my PCP that I have been seeing for the last 3 years...so we would know exactly what to do. He just didn't do it EXACTLY to Cigna's records...so all is lost. I think I'll be taking a trip to the batting cages. ARGH!!!!!

I am supposed to have a consult with Dr. Provost tomorrow the 14th...someone from his office just called and said that he was sick all last week and was not sure when he was coming back to work. They switched me to Dr. Rivas and now my appointment has been pushed back to the 21st. I have already waited a month and a half for Dr. Provost because he's one of the best in Dallas/Fort Worth...and now I'm not seeing him but one of his colleagues. I don't know how to react to this. If I insisted on seeing Dr. Provost it would be late February when I got in to see him. I don't want to wait forever...but I don't want to go with the wrong doctor. HELP!!! Has anyone had this happen before has anyone been banded by Dr. Rivas? Thanks for any help!!! :smile:

I have got all my ducks in a row except the psychiatric evaluation. I can't get anyone to call me back. Would you recommend anyone to do the evaluation? I'm so frustrated and my consultation is on the 15th. Thank you for any help! Jai Jai:help:

Okay so I am in the process of getting all the legwork done to be approved by my insurance. I have all the support in the world from my PCP and my GI doctors. But I'm just a little nervous but extremely excited! Has anyone had cold feet while they were going through the process? I meet with my surgeon on January 15th, and I'm attempting to have everything done before I go so I can get on my way. I know this is the right thing to do and will help my health and life tremendously...but I'm still a little scared of what happens after. Okay...enough rambling.:paranoid If anyone has any words of wisdom, I would greatly appreciate it!