soon2bhotmomma

Congrats, Girl!

I am waiting for Cigna as well. I was Submitted Last Wednesday or so my surgeons office said to me that day they were going to submit me. It could have ended up being Friday. You know Drs.

I know someone who Cigna took 30 days. I am hoping mine is as short as yours. I live in Vermont and I know it all depends upon your State and Your policy and your employer.

God willing I do not run into any problems.

Elizabeth

Abby,

as with anything in life there are pros and cons. I have been overweight my whole life as far back as I can remember, and it took me two years of research to make the decision, to no longer be obese and do this for myself and for my children. I did not want to die of a heart attack and leave my husband with two young children, so really what is the worst, fighting for thin and at least trying and making an attempt or not trying and nowing that you could have less than 10 years with your family.

And to be honest the gastric bypass, has a lot of complications in the research I have found, lap band does not have nearly as many complications.

So my advice is google and compare with either a surgery clinic in your area the two surgeries or sit down and talk with a surgeon they are your best resource.

Good Luck and I hope that I have helped. It is a very scarry decision to make. But one that you will be glad you made once it is all said and done.

Best wishes elizabeth C.

the 5 hours of pain sounds a lot like gas pains too. you should not experience a full painful feeling for that long.

no you cannot and every clinic is different so I am learning. At my clinic I go to my dietician said 300-500 is probly where we would be starting out. However it sounds like your in the full liquid phase, so usually they are not too worried about caloric intake that much. Just that your getting it into your body. Have you tried, Soups and Jello? Something with a little more density?

Best Wishes

Elizabeth C.

Jana, welcome to the Vermonter Board. And Welcome to vermont. Where are you going to be moving to? There are support groups depending upon where you live.

Elizabeth C.

Leese,

All I can say about your subsequent visits is show that your trying, and they will be happy at least Ellen will be, if that is who checks in with you. I've actually been told to slow down and ended up jepordizing myself, so now I have to get back into that frame of mind where I was when I was loosing so well. I feel like they jinxed me by telling me to slow down. However I also don't want to take the chance of not getting approved by Cigna either.

Elizabeth Clouatre

Cyndi,

That is all we can do is one day at a time. That's all I do. Life is too short to get all stressed out.

If I can be of any help or support I would be happy to help. I have not had the surgery yet, hopfully by June, I have about 2-3 more months of the 6 month diet Cigna requires.

Babbs, my husband works on the presses in as a roll tender. He's been there over 12 yrs.

I have lost 20 lbs since meeting with Dr. Forgione, and 50 total since June last year.

Elizabeth Clouatre

no its not considered physician covered diet. It says it in the Cigna guidlines, they do not considered it as a phys. directed diet. You need to be seen by you pcp or a dietician.

I hope this helps.

Elizabeth

Cyndi,

I feel like I know you, you've said your a new teacher and you live in Northern Vermont. Did you recently graduate from Johnson State College? I bet we've taken a few classes together, did you work at Bakersfield Elementary?

I think the quality of insurance coverage varies from company to company, like you said. Lane press whom my husband works for employs over 1000 people, so their coverage maybe alot different than someone who employs say 20 people.

But non the less I hate them they are expensive and coverage is sucky for what we end up paying out of pocket. Better than having to pay 100% I guess.

Good Luck and keep up the chin, I know what you mean about the never ending weight loss.

I go for the nut. class on 2/6, I have a sleep study on 2/25 and after that I am not sure what is in store for me.

Elizabeth

I have not gotten banded yet, but so far Cigna has paid all but my copays. As long as I do what they require of me, 6 month phys. diet they will cover the surgery as long as they see as a medical necessity, which from what my primary doc says it is a medical necessity, and she told me what doc. Forgione wrote to Cigna he can talk it up pretty good too.

So don't worry too much.

Elizabeth

If you don't mind me asking Dozy why did you get your band removed?

Elizabeth

There is one Here!! I know what you mean I lurk here for fellow Vermonters there are some here on other boards.

How is everything going?

Elizabeth

Thanks Cyndi for the heads up, another woman I've talked to who has dr. forgione Cigna paid all but $100. So who knows? I have Cigna through my husband as well. He works for Lane Press, and I've talked to the HR people who have talked to their Cigna contacts and they say its covered, and so far I've only had to pay my copays.

But I do like Dr. Forgione....I live in Saint Albans Cyndi Where are you? If we can meet up and if it would help you to get to the meetings I would be happy to commute.

Elizabeth:smile:

I have not heard of PDA software for exercise and nutrition. However Calorie King have software for your computer, they also have a book/s for such a thing.

I have not purchased it. I have done the trial offer, not too impressed life is too hectic in my household for electronics. Unless I had a PDA, I have to write everything down and keep it with me, in order to keep track of every morsel.

Elizabeth

Yeah that sounds fantastic a friend of mine and I were planning on going to that one. i work in Winooski and she runs an in home daycare here in northern vermont so we were going to meet up at the hospital as well. I was going to have my hubby drop me off.

Hope to see you there.

Elizabeth

Well, I will be the first to say I am from Vermont. I live in Northern Vermont, Almost near Canada.

Elizabeth

Hello fellow Vermonters,

I am from Northern Vermont, and hoping to have Dr. Forgione do Lap Band surgery on me in April or June, it all depends upon my insurnace company. I have Cigna and they want me to do a 6 mth physican followed diet/exercise plan.

Elizabeth

Who do you have for Ins. if you don't mind me asking. I have Cigna and they require a 6 month physican followed diet. Which with my docs, letters and my health history they will approve me quickly, since I have been following a 1500 cal. diet since at least Oct.

Elizabeth

I will just be glad when I get my phone call or those infamous words "Your approved" than I can relax a bit more. Sitting on the edge of my seat every month stinks royally, not knowing, but next month the paperwork should get submitted than hopefully all will go a little more smoothly.

Good luck to those of you having surgery next week. At least you all get to have a last hooah for the holidays.

Merry Christamas and have a safe and healthy new year.

Elizabeth:)

I knew going in that I was going to have to wait at least 6 months, as the surgeons office told me if I had Cigna it would be at least 6 months till I could have surgery. Still they said no guarantee of surgery two months going in, as insurance may not approve. The uncertainty of all of this is very nerve racking.

But like you said so worth it in the end, when we are skinny or at least thinner and healthier.

Elizabeth

I too have Cigna, and will be submitting my information soon. What can I expect from them? I believe I have everything they ask for in terms of meeting their expectations. I am still in the process of the 6 month diet with my physician.

Congrats on you approval.