Blund

Go to the forum home page, and the third one down "General Lap Band FAQs..." has a couple of threads about what to ask the surgeon, what to have ready at home before the surgery, etc. It was helpful to me. I just had my 1st surgeon consult a couple of days ago. It lasted a good 2 hours and we watched a video that was more detailed than at the seminar I went to. The nurse went over my info and said I had a good chance for insurance approval. This is an exciting and nervous time. Hang in there!!!

My guess would be the surgeon's lawyer told her NOT to see you. But I too would find a different surgeon who would hopefully accept all of your pre op stuff. I'd be interested to hear how your meeting with her goes though.....

I haven't heard of anything either. But heart & lung problems would be the obvious areas to cause problems. Do you have a Bariatric Coordinator at your surgeon's office? Call and ask them. Thats what their for. I'm excited and nervous too. We just gotta hang in there!

MamaJava, I just LOVE your "summer goal: shorts." Same here! I might say "summer goal: public wearing of shorts!"

I know, this forum's great! Especially if you dont know anyone who has gone throught this. No one else seems to really understand. Your trip sounds like it was pretty hard. Did you go alone? I think most of us are not letting everyone around us know about surgery for various reasons. I read a good post from someone who told her kids and others that she was having her gall bladder out. That sounds like a good one...its very close in proximity and a little "less" of a lie??! I haven't had surgery yet, but I have trouble lying too. Not sure how I'll deal with that. I have learned so much from this forum and its a great place to vent. Good luck in your recovery!

I'm sure they see a lot of valium. They need to know, so they dont put you to sleep forever during surgery! I have read several threads from nurses. Maybe do a search and try to ask them?

Wow, 2 days? That IS fast! I'm sure my excitement now will turn into trepidation if I'm approved. After reading on here about pb-ing and only being able to eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a meal. Now when I eat, I actually think about that. There should be a home blood test to be sure you're getting enough nutrition. Let us know how things go. Good luck!

Holy S**t! The didn't have a generator to kick in when the power went out? At least now you'll know what to expect for your re-do. It was much easier for me the second time when they actually hooked me up to the C PAP machine. Its pretty cool how they can get all of your differrent readings while you sleep. In the morning, the guy told me "wow, you actually got more than 7 minutes of REM sleep!" I have my own C PAP machine now and its been great. After being on it for 2 months, I really feel the difference. Good luck

Wow, you're on here early! My sister in law & hub live in Lansing. I'm near Traverse City. Thats where we "country folk" have to go for pretty much everything. Good luck to you too.

Well, if you get this in time, I had my sleep study a few months ago, and was diagnosed with apnea. I have the C PAP machine and have been getting a lot more real sleep. I don't feel as tired during the day now. At my study, I was in like a motel room. They hook up wires all over. My head, chest, stomach, legs... Its hard to get any sleep with all that crap all over you, but supposidly they work that out with the results. They were very nice. I even got coffee in the morning. Since I didn't sleep much there, I went home and took a nap!

Yikes, that sounds gross. I'm not banded yet, but in my surgeon's paperwork it says something about eating some meat tenderizer when your tummy's is bad. I guess it would tenderize whatever is stuck down there so it can pass??? Licking pizza seems like the thing to do to satisfy a craving. After having 3 little kids and seeing what THEY can do to a slice of pizza!

I've had anxiety with my depression, but have been medicated for several years. Aside from the occasional monthly mood, I'm on a pretty even kiel now. Better living through chemistry, I say! It will help you to find some meds that work, sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right, so be patient. I tried to wean myself off mine a few years ago, and a year later I was a MESS again, and went back on. I'm not approved or scheduled for LBS yet, but have pretty much made up my mind to do it. I'm almost 44 and so sick of fighting this. I need some help, and I believe this is it. Sorry I cant relate to the pre-op anxiety yet. Posting here has been a good stress reliever for me. I'm excited about my first surgeon appt next Wednesday, and this site is keeping me busy instead of driving my DH nuts! I'm so glad I found this site. I have learned SOOOOO much. Chill out (try!) and good luck!

I printed the policy from the website too, and NOWHERE does it say anything about a 6 or 12 month supervised diet. I'm so relieved. I've done hundreds of WL programs, but dont have the docs to prove it. The BC policy says that my Dr must state that I've done everything else. (Short of LBS or wiring my mouth shut!) That she thinks it will help me, blah, blah, blah. When I called the seperate 800# for claims review, I got through to a person right away, and she was very helpful. I see my surgeon next Wed, the dietition next Thurs, and the shrink the following week on Fri. I'm excited, hopeful, but guarded until I get the BC approval!

What a pain for you! If only people would DO THEIR JOBS! But at least you got an apology from them, and like you said who knows how long it would have gone on. I can't take credit for the info. I learned it from here too. OK. Now. I read and re-read the BC "policy" that I printed off their website, and NOWHERE in their criteria does it have any time frame for being on a supervised diet! The 12 month diet requirement thing was in my paperwork from the bariatric surgery seminar I went to back in August. And everyone has been posting about it so I assumed I would have it. My policy shows a review date of 11/07 and effective date of 1/1/08. But (and a big butt too! lol! ) , just because its not written in the policy, doesn't mean they won't require it of me? Or maybe I'm just being paranoid. Its a good way to kill time until my appointments :frown: My surgeon appt is next Wed, my dietition appt is next Thurs, my psych appt is Fri of the following week. Are you talking about the Sparrow Hospital in GR, MI? I'm in N Mich. I think its no coincidence that we are called "patients" ha ha

You do look great BBK! I'm new to this forum from near Traverse City Michigan. Saw a post from someone else in the area from a while ago. My first surgeon appt is next week and I'm excited. I see the dietition the next day, and the psych the next week. I have California BC, and printed the policy statement from their web site. I'ver read it over and over and see nothing at all about spending 6 or 12 months on a supervised diet. If I pass all of the "tests" I think I have a good chance on approval. Can't wait to be on the other side of this!

Its all so confusing. That puts me at the ins co's mercy! I have my Weight Watchers weigh-in booklet from last year. I went for 8 or 9 months. Maybe they'll be ok with that. When I called my BC (of CA) she said max of 5 days for review/approval, IF they don't ask for anthing more.

Yeah, lets HOPE so! (crack?!) I had terrible morning sickness/nausea/fullness feelings when I was PG, to the point that I was losing weight. I would have 1 small toke to help so I could eat! Yes, bad, bad, mommy! I had a beer now and then too. (My kids are all fine and very smart!) Anyway, it REALLY helped me to be able to eat since I was dizzy and felt half dead. Even with being careful with smoking now and then, I still lost 20 lbs with each PG! Only to gain it all back and lots more after each kid! Not worth having another one for a quick weight loss though! No WAY I think in moderation, it would help pain and if someone is unable to eat at all. Just watch out for those munchies!

I must let you know, I live in Michigan, but have California Blue Cross. I know they are seperate, but I'm sure have very simular requirements. So far from what I understand, MI BC now only requires 6 mo diet, and CA BC still requires 12 mo. But call and verify. I'm going to too.

I have BC of CA, but live in Michigan. I'm getting excited about my first appointment with the surgeon, so I called BC and they told me 5 days max for review. Thats if they dont request anything more. There is a seperate 800 # for that dept on the back of my card.

Question. As far as the 6 months BC supervised diet....what if I have done that several times over the years, but dont have proof on paper? I moved, and my records are all over the place. I doubt if I could get anything if thats what they need. Or will they take my and my Dr's word for it in her written report? Or worst case, I could be looking at 6 months supervised diet from now???

I'm actually kind of looking forward to having a good laugh over the test! I might even be disapointed if I don't get one! -Barb

I'm not going to MX. I must have worded something weird. Others have posted about MX, and there seem to be a lot of people (self pay) that have and/or are going. It scares me. My surgeon is affiliated with our local (and only) hospital, and fortunetly is an approved BCBS surgeon. Your size sounds just like me except I'm 5'8" and 240 lbs. I think I will have them measure me like you said and maybe gain some extra BMI! I've been trying NOT to lose weight before my appointment next week. Seems really odd to be worried about that now! I like the gall bladder idea....right there in the same area. Not sure yet what I'll do with my kids. I would like to have their help during recovery though. -Barb

I'm glad you asked this. I was wondering what it meant too. I assumed it meant barfing, but it sounds like its between that and a burp? Something to be avoided I guess. :tongue: -Barb

"....society frowns upon depression?" What the hell does that mean?! Sorry, that just seems odd for a Dr to say to someone! I guess one might become depressed just after that appointment. Whew. I have my surgeon, psych, and dietition appt next Wed. I have to bring a 3 day food diary for the dietition and pay her out of pocket. They said to count on it taking 3 hours for all of it. After reading these posts, I hope I don't have a huge silly test. And I'll be careful to keep my test answers in allignment! I love that....the answers were one line off! I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time though....

Don't know why I didn't think about that, Mindy. Duh! I have my psych appt next week. I'll add this to my list of questions. Thanks