Sandy3

Thank you all for your responses and support. What good advice leatha G. Maybe God felt I wasn't ready to use the band as a tool and work with it. Who knows. I only know that I am the only one who can make the healthy changes I need to make (w/his help of course.) It would be too hard to stay away from this site. Too much info and support. Afraid I might miss something important. I do believe that a resolution will come from something I will read on this site. I don't plan to stop searching, just putting things on hold for now. Trust me you will be the first to know if God changes his mind and let's me get banded. Sandy

Well I just wanted everybody to know that I am ready to stop beating a dead horse. I just got notice from my employer that they are not financially able to add the ryder that I would need from the insurance company in order to have the surgery. Initially Paramount HMO (my insurance company in Ohio) said they had an exclusion. Now I believe they do allow the surgery if the employer adds the ryder. So now it appears that my employer is the one with the exclusion. I haven't talked to HR one- on- one as I just got the notice yesterday. I plan to see what's up. Right now self pay is not an option. I had made a decision to turn this over to God and said I would accept whatever the answer was. I feel I have done everything in my power, so it appears that for now the answer is that the surgery is not for me. The good thing is that I met a wonderful therapist and addressed some issues. I will be seeing a Pulmonary Specialist and be having a sleep study as I believe I have sleep apeana. I am involved in aquatic exercise. I plan to focus on getting healthy, but I am done with the obsessive need to lose weight. I think leaving all of that in God's hands is the best thing. I will let Him guide my next steps. My philosophy will be "I can't. He can. I'll let Him." Thanks for all your support. Best wishes to all no matter what stage of the process you are in. For some reason, I don't feel defeated. I feel my prayers were answered. This isn't the answer I wanted but I prayed for His will and not mine. Can't argue. If it is meant to be, it will happen, in His time and not mine. I'll check in periodically. sandy3

The Toledo Blade reviewed a book in today's paper. I thought I would share. "What happens to me is this: I get fat. Then I get fatter and fatter, over a period of years, until I'm fatter than I've ever been. Then I get thin again. But when I get thin, I'm never as thin as I was the time before. And when I get fat, I'm always fatter than I was the time before." THE HUNGRY YEARS. By william Leith. Gotham $25. That's it in nutshell! Sandy

I just met with Dr. Schram at Barix in Ypsi. I was told he travels between both clinics. He said he has done about 80 bands and over a thousand By-Pass surgeries. He said he has never lost a patient on either surgery. He told me that self-pay would be $15,500 (I believe). Have you read the posts by Dr. Pleatman. I believe he charges $12,500 and that includes fills for 2 years. I am from OH and Ypsi is very close. Pleatman is in MI too but I do not know how exactly where. There are a lot of positive comments about him and he actually posts on this site. If I have to self-pay the $3000 would sure make a difference to me. Good Luck Sandy

Thanks for the support and feedback guys. How about a thread called "Experience Challenged" Jack? I like the sound of that one. You are too funny. Pam, I am going to check w/HR to see if I can borrow on my 403b. I had heard at one point that our employer does not allow that. I know people say that you shouldn't touch retirement money but, if I don't get the surgery, they're going to be using that money to bury me. SSoooo.... You know, I was watching a minister on TV last week. He was saying that if something is for you, God will give it to you in His time. He said that if you are somehow able to manipulate the situation and get it before you should have it, it will "turn to dust in your hand." I WANT THE SURGERY 10 YEARS AGO!! But what he said struck a nerve, especially since I want to be cremated when I die. If I insist on rushing things, not only will it turn into dust, but so will I. I always enjoy your posts Banded for Life. Your positive attitude about the results of being banded give me the encouragement I need to keep on keeping on.

Anybody interested in starting a 55 and older thread? I am 61 and agree w/Jack. If I don't get this surgery, I am sure I will not be around much longer. I just found out that I am only 5' tall, down from 5' 3". I weigh 280. (Just diagnosed with osteoprosis and taking meds). Was tested for sleep apnea years ago and diagnosed w/being on the borderline. Have gained about 50#'s since then. Surgeon wants me to get sleep study. I am resisting. He said if I was having Gastric Bypass he would insist. I want to be banded. I have to admit that lately I have been wakiing up 2-3 times a night gasping for breath. I cannot sleep on my back ever. I know I snore. As I read postings on this site, I am thinking more that I need to follow through w/the sleep study. It was not painful after all, just unpleasant. Better safe than sorry. I also have some heart problems and high blood pressure along w/panic attacks. He mentioned a stress test. Right now I can't walk even short distances w/o feeling like a fish out of water. Stress test scares me to death. Also have asthma. He wants pulmonary function test and asthma under perfect control before surgery. Also the usuual lose 10-15#' before to decrease fat on liver. So now I know what I need to do. I need to grow up, face the facts, get sleep study, stress test and asthma under control while losing up to 20#'s. As you all know I have plenty of time since the referral is just now being submitted to the insurance co. I have 2 adopted teen-age daughters and a 5 yr. old grandson. If I want to be around for them I need to get busy. Following through will mke me healthier after the surgery. You guys help me to keep my feet on the ground. I love the support and information on this site. Funny, I take all these meds for various medical conditions, yet was basically in denial that these conditions are serious and need to be addressed. God has laid out the path and with His help and yours I will keep my feet going in the right direction. Thanks for listening and most of all for sharing. Sandy

I had an orientation at Barix in Ypsi MI yesterday. I am from Toledo area. So far so good. Dr. Schram met w/me one on one. He instructed me to lose 10-15#'s for fatty liver. He wants a Pulmonary function test and documentation from my Cardiologist that I can tolerate the surgery. He said he wants my asthma under complete contol before he would consider surgery. Barix insurance dept is going to submit referral to Paramount insurance co. He has a good reputation. There is a site for Barix on Obesityhelp.com . They have facilities in MI and OH. There are testimonies from patients who have had the surgery. They just started doing the Lapband. Dr. Schram has done about 80 since May. He works at both MI Barix clinics. Tthe facility looked good. He stated he has done thousands of surgeries (ByPass) and has never lost a patient yet. If I get approved I will feel comfortable going to Barix. Good Luck w/your surgery Sandy

Baron: You've got a fight on your hands alright! But it sounds like you're just the person who can do it!! Maybe you could find info on this site on Doctors in your area who are supportive of the surgery. That way you won't have to re-invent the wheel. Chances are if a surgeon knows that your insurance will cover the band, they will help you qualify. I've read on this site that some surgeon's offices do most of the work. I am going for a consultation at Barix Clinic in MI. today. They say they help you fight appeals. We'll see. I have letters from 3 physicians and a therapist recommending I have lap-band. My list of meds were so long I had to write two or three in the lines meant for only one. I am on 3 meds alone for heart and blood pressure, and have been for years. I have been getting ready to submit to the insurance for over a year: 6 months supervised diet, aquatic exercise program, psych eval AND counseling, referral to Nutritionist (as the 6 months of supervised dieting has had MIXED results..surprise...surprise). I hope I have most of my ducks in a row. Even with that I expect a denial. Surgery " for weight loss" is not covered under my policy...but it does not say they won't cover if "medically necessary". I am hoping that requesting the surgery to alleviate my medical conditions, not just to "lose weight" might work. Who knows? I am in for the fight too. I plan to appeal, appeal, appeal. One lady on one of the sites even wrote to the White House. Anybody got the President's address handy? Looks like Baron and I might be needing it. I wish you well Baron. Sandy

Thanks "with the band." I will try to answer in the fewest words possible. I wanted to go to Dr. Duckett. For over a year the office manager "Nancy" kept telling me to "hang on" they were signing a contract w/Paramount. So I did all the stuff to prepare..psych, therapy, supervised diet etc etc. Then " Nancy" tells me that she knew all along that the contract they were going to sign was for self insured companies only (25% of Paramount contracts) She told me on a number of occasions that it would do no good to appeal "They won't pay for it: they won't pay for it. And if you have an appointment for a consultation, you had better cancel it unless you plan to self pay!!" She also said "Why would you do all those things when you were not covered? You just wasted your time". I even went to the last seminar to help me determine my next step. Same old story from my friend "Nancy". No support what-so-ever. She was very negative. So while I agree they probably are the best and it would be much more convieient, I saw first hand that the "office manager Nancy" is not going to be supportive of my need to appeal in case of a denial. So that's the only reason why Barix. There is no fee for consulation, unlike Dr. Duckett which is $150 which Nancy made quite clear would be lost once I was denied. The lady next to me in the seminar was worried because she's not sure if her insurance would cover. I gave her info on this site so she could at least investigate her options after "Nancy" got hold of her. Thanks for the reply though. Who knows, maybe it will work out in the end. I can't have my PCP send a referral to the insurance Co until after Jan. as my company may be changing insurance. Once I know who the insurance co is going to be I can start the process. Or maybe I'll get lucky and get banded before the first of the year through Barix. This whole thing has been like being in a maze. But with each set back I gain more knowledge and become just that more determined to see it through. My life depends on it. Sandy

I talked to a rep from Barix clinic. She stated they have a contract w/my insurance Co Paramount of Toledo. The insurance Co has told me that they do not pay for WLS surgery. Barix just started doing lapband surgery. Dr. Schramm reportedly has done 80 lapbands in 6 mos. I have set up a consultation....no fee. She said they would send a referral to insurance co. Any feedback from members on this clinic and physician (good, bad and indifferent) will be greatly appreciated. Also is ther anyplace on this site or another that I can get info on how patients have rated this facility or physician? Thanks sandy

:Bunny YES!! YES!! YES!! One more for us. I read in our insurance policy (on line) that, if they did provide the surgery, which they say they don't, you should see a nutrionist. Wondered what that was about. Maybe it is so you can get on the "diet for life". That will be one of my next steps. What an inspiration sarcar! Way to go!

Thanks for responding Jodie. I see that you are 17. That made my heart sing. I know you must have expierenced a lot of pain in your life already because of being overweight. But thank God you now have the best (not perfect) tool to date so that it may save you a lifetime of suffering. Did you get banded? I read somewhere that they are doing a study. They are banding people who are simply obese in the hope that this will save them from becoming morbidly obese. The article said that this may be the wave of the furture. Some people have been getting this surgery on an outpatient basis. Wouldn't it be great if the price came down so that more people could afford it. Good for you Jodie. You are an inspiration to me. Keep fighting. I have read that some people are trying to get insurance to reimburse them. Please tell me more about becoming an Obesity Epedemic Activitist. I am ready to fight! Sandy