Di4AU

Thanks everyone! Well, after sleeping on it, I'm STILL excited! I thought my feeble brain might start thinking of something else for a change once I had my date, but, NOPE. It's worse......:teeth_smile::thumbup: !!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!!!! Boy, it's happening so fast, I'm sure your head is spinning. But, it's so exciting! I hope you get to join May Flowers as I did yesterday!

After waiting three loooooooong weeks after insurance approval, I finally have a surgery date of May 22! I am so excited and ready to get started. I've been lurking here for a month or so and am so happy I'll soon be able to contribute. Although it's been 8 months since I started this journey, it seems like only yesterday I was sitting in a seminar wondering if this was for me. While jumping through insurance hoops I used the time to research and find out everything I could. Thanks to many of you who are so inspirational, I feel that I've made a wise decision. :rolleyes2:

May 22 for me!

I finally know where I"m supposed to be! May Flowers! I have a surgery date of May 22, in Birmingham, AL. I'm very excited and ready to get going.

Finally! I have a surgery date, May 22. I am so excited and ready to get going!

The Realize Band a new option for weight-loss surgery- al.com The article in the Bham news.

I'm not sure I want a choice either! After a couple years of researching the surgery at all, now I have to get busy on deciding which band! Hell, by the time I get a surgery date, there may be yet another band.......

Just read an article in this morning's Bham News, Dr. Schmitt started using the Realize Band last week. I would post a link, but can't find the article on al.com - Everything Alabama He said although popular opinon is the Realize band has fewer incidents of erosion, his office has had zero instances of erosion with the LAPBAND. The article didn't say, but I wonder if he's the first giving it a try in Alabama. As of last month, no one in Alabama was using it yet.

Well, I know that she has been out a lot lately, and this could be the whole reason for the back log. I gave myself my own advice last night, to keep the end result in mind. Anyway, I think I'll call next week and ask who could help me in her absence. Maybe I'll get somewhere!

I am getting really discouraged with Neoami. I called her back today as she requested, for a surgery date. She says she still doesn't have the calendar she needs and she's going to be out for a while. I'm to call her back the 21st or 22nd, she says she might have a calendar then. By then it will be almost a month since I've had insurance approval. I don't understand what the deal is. But, I am rapidly losing my charming personality

In my case, I first tried the nasal pillows which were more comfortable, but by morning my nose was all pushed up and HURT for a couple hours. So, I switched to a mask, just to complete the test. It kept me from sleeping soundly. It fit, I just like to sleep on my stomach and just couldn't do it. But, I completed the test and it's now in the closet waiting for surgergy.

Naps count! Also, it doesn't know if you're sleeping. Use it while you're watching TV. I had the same problem. Just keep thinking of the end result!

Everyone is covered (or not) by so many different types of insurance, it would be hard to address each one in the seminar. I felt they covered BCBS of Alabama quite well. I find it interesting reading these forums, it seems people go to seminars and sometimes it's months before they get an appointment to see a doctor. So, I think the circus might just be a well oiled machine (with a hiccup back at the office). I urge you to go to a support group meeting. I came away feeling really comfortable about the whole process. It was great to hear answers and see people who had actually been through the surgery and were at different stages of post-op. One woman even let everyone feel her port site. Don't be afraid to ask questions. And by all means, if you still don't feel comfortable find another doctor or even reconsider having surgery.

Oh, I agree, I was very impressed with the staff and especially Dr. Schmitt. He is definitely the man for the job, but I think if they are taking on so many patients, perhaps they need to take on some more staff.

I don't know what Neoami's system is for scheduling surgery, but, it is quite arbitrary to say the least. After faxing her my 8 months of records on March 24, I tried calling her after about a week and she never returned my calls. Finally, I emailed her and she said I should be getting a letter from BCBS in about a week. Last friday I emailed her again, suggesting she check on things, since it had almost been two weeks. Well, I got my approval letter in the mail that day. Today, I received an email from her which said, "you should get a letter any day now". So, I called her to tell her I received the (%#)(&$%&) letter and would like to have my surgery scheduled. After holding for her for over 20 minutes (no way was I going to hang up), she told me to call her back Friday, she MIGHT have a schedule for June then. She scheduled my friends' surgery for May 2 within a week of her sending in her records. So, I don't get it, but I'm not happy.......:frown:

It records time used, not time on. In other words, you can't turn it on and walk away.

Did you get a letter back from the medical supply that you were in compliance? Surely, that will be easy to straighten out.

It was explained to me, to stop breathing under anesthesia is not a good thing......

I haven't been banded yet, Michelle. Should be sometime in May!! Anyway, a CPAP was prescribed and you have to use it for two weeks. It has a data card in it and you send it back to them. You have to have an average of six hours logged for seven days. After that I put the ()&$%(*& back in it's case in the closet, where it will stay until surgery (required for surgery). If I slept on my back I would probably use it, because it is comforting to know you're breathing. But, I sleep on my stomach, so it's kind of awkward and I don't sleep well with it.

I'll be happy to swap with you. My friend here in the office just got her surgery date, May 2. I have to wait two weeks after hers! I would love to have mine April 14!

I didn't think I had sleep apnea either. I sleep like a baby. Evidently, I actually stop breathing A LOT and was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. I'm glad I know this before going under anesthesia and that weight loss should correct it. I wouldn't think where the records came from would be an issue. I assume different doctors are signing off each visit? Now, if you were having to go through the six month stipulation, you would have to be under one docotor's care.

The lady in my office who is also having lap band surgergy was referred to a psyc by our doctor (Schmitt), who was not in the preferred network, but she was able to choose another doctor who was.

The ENT Dr. Schmitt recommends for the sleep study, is his sister, Dr. Kim Schmitt. Her office and the room where they do the sleep study is there at St. Vincent's East. I had my appointment with her within days of my first consult and the study the next week.