Chris61

My doctor kept us home for a week. Keep in mind that everyone is differant in how they react to meds, surgery etc. I had surgery on Wed and was home on Thursdays and a minor thing surgery on Friday slept the whole day and felt great on Sat. So for me it was 3 days. I was up and walking right after surgery. Chris

I have UHC and my wife and I were approved in no time. If you would like to see a copy of the letter we used e-mail me. If you have problems with you main doctor as my wife did you can use or OBGYN and get his/her support also. For the matter you could use your other doctors. UHC requires at least 5 years of weights with BMI etc. We were both approved in less than 30 days. The hardest part for us was getting all the history together since we had moved all around. Chris

What type of insurance do you have? Have you check with them to see what they require. I have an example of a letter that my wife and I used and we were approved with in 30 days. What most doctors and insurance requires is a certian amount of time showing the weights you have, have you tried to loose weight, what medical issues that you have Ie: irregular hear beat, asthama, high blood pressure, sleep apena, pre or diabetic. Knee and leg problems. If you would like e-mail me your address and I will forward you a copy of the letter wwe used. The biggest thing that takes some time is putting together all the weights from over the years together. You can use all the times you went to the doctor, obgyn etc. I was right a 39.5/40.0. I hope that this will help you out. Chris

I would suggest you call the Hosp. and ask to talk with your anesthesiolist about your concerns that you have and ask him if you can have pre meds to comfort you and also other meds to comfort you when you come awake. Keep in mind everyone is differant in how they react and handle the meds. For me I was excite going in because I was doing this to make myself better for my wife and kids. I also was at peace with myself and also felt comfortable with the doctor doing the surgery. When I came out I was fine and did not have any pain expect for gas. Some people were surpised that I was up and walking so quickley. You will do just fine. Chris

I also have a cpap machine and have lost 33 pounds since being banded and have notice that Iam not tired etc any more. I notice I take it off a lot at night and my setting has been changed. I will be seeing my doctor next week to talk more about the weight loss and if I should do another study. I had one 7 months ago. Once I know more about what he says next week I will let you all know. Chris

Iam from St. Louis and want to wish you good luck with it. You will do just fine. It should not be a problem with getting in for fills and that. I work out of town all week and so I just adjust my schedule to get into see the him. My wife and I were banded in Sept. and have had 2 fills. He only does them on Mondays so I work my schedule around his. He also will work with me on it also. We go about every 6 weeks for a check up and at that time he will deceide if you should have a fill or not. Are doctor does them in under x-ray and only takes about 15 minutes to do. I was only laid up for about a week and then could only left x number for a couple weeks and then anything after that. I would talk with your doctor about the type of work etc. Also another thing to keep in mind everyone is differant in how they will react to surgery and pain. I did not have any problems and no pain expect for gas pains. My wife was more tender and had some pain for a few days. If you have any questions ask here or e-mail me. Chris

I lost 3lbs since I was at the doctor in Nov. go for a fill on the 28 of January. Wife is down 5 lbs also. Chris

I have also herd that you loose the fat around the stomach araea also. I go and see the doctor on Monday and hope to get a fill the following week. This is the same thing that Iam going to ask him about. I guess I just do not understand body physics like I understand normal physics. When I find something out I will let veryone know. Chris

Another idea is to drink more water/flavored etc when you fill the hunger. You will drink more once you are banded also. This is just a thought to help you get through this. Chris

It is really amazing how insurnace companies work. I have UHC and my wife and I were approved within one month. We only had to show five years of stuff. We did have a hicup with the getting approved first but we feel that was do to the letter that here pcp wrote. So we went to here OBGYN and he did the same letter and was approved with in 15 minutes after it was refaxed to UHC. If you would like to see the letter e-mail and I will forward you a copy. Good luck with getting approved. It is great having both of us being banded. We help each other out. Chris Chris

I had inteernal stiches the disolving kind and glue. Chris

Kaninag - I would just call your doctors office and have them resubmit everything that they had sent to the other insurance company. I would also call your human resources office and/or insurance broker and talk to them about what is going on and see if they can help push it through. You might be sureprised that it is the same people you are dealing with now. I know it is tuff. We had problems with UHC and getting my wife approved but we kept on them and sent another letter from another doctor and she was approved within 15 minutes of them getting the fax letter from the doctor. Now we are having problems with them paying for the fills. Funny thing is they have paid for 2 sets of fills from the hosp. but nothing to the doctor yet. We have been working it both sides and hope to get an answer soon. If you have any other questions just ask away. Also keep in mind that most states say that they must answer you within 30 days of a request. I know some people here has said it takes longer. Chris

I was born raised in Cincinnati. Ohio. My wife was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri We have been now back in St. Louis, Missouri for the last 4 years and now go back and forht to Indy, In but we (I)have lived in Warren, PA Columbus, Ohio (I) Cleveland, Ohio Chillicothe, Ohio Hays, Kansa (I) Warrensburg, Mo (I) Gunnison and Grand Junction, Co. Brownfield,(near Lubbock) Texas Daphane,(near Mobile) Al Lake Mary,(Orlando) Fla Jacksonville, Fla Amazing how fast time flies over 25 years. Chris

I also have notice that I burp a lot sine I have had the band. In talking with the doctor he says that some people swallow a lot more air than other people do. I also have sleep apena and swallow air a lot because of the breathing machine at night. Chris

My wife was banded the same day as you were. Sorry to here about the loss in the job. I hope that you still have insurance. Have you had a 2nd fill yet? We are going in Janaury and should have fill # 3. The one thing that are doctor says we need to do more of is excerise. He says that will help the most. One thing that I have notice so far that a lot of people talk about is the fact that they get a fill and then within a week or two they ready for another fill. This is going to be one of my questions next week when we go for a check up. I do not understand how the body works as it relates to physics. If you have any questions or need someone to chat just e-mail me. I understand about being out of work. 5 years ago I was out for a year looking for work. Chris

My wife and I were banded in St. Louis by Dr. Minkin in Sept. 07. If you have any questions just ask away. Chris

Welcome to the group. Iam from St. Louis also. Who is your doctor? My wife and I were banded in Sept. 07 and doing well. If you have any questions just e-mail and will try to help steer you in the right direction. We had are bands done by Dr. Minkin at Des Pres. Chris

I would suggest that you get a person name, phone number and fax number. Also get a complaint number that can be put on the fax and paper work. My wife and I had the same problem with United Health Care but once we had that the doctors office was able to resend and obtain approval. If you have any questions just e-mail me or ask on here. Chris

My wife and I had to crush are pills the first 6 weeks after surgery. Now we are doing fine. How ever one thing I did learn was that some of the meds that I was taking the doctor did not want me to take anymore unless I used them only a certian amount of time ie 1-3 days and had to take it the a good coating for the stomach. Make sure that you check with your band doctor about the drugs you are taking as they might effect the stomach and throat area and could cause problems witht he band. There is a list on here of stuff you should not take until you talk with your band doctor about. Chris

My wife and I had to spend overnight in the hosp. The next moring we had an x-ray to make sure that the band was in the right position and that we could swallow. Chris

I have sleep apena also. I was tested before I went to the band doctor. I do have a cpap machine and doing well with it. You just need to do at least on night at sleep clinic and then they might have you come back if they did not check you out for a machine at the first one. I feel that is one of the reason why I was approved for the band. Chris

Bandster I would like to suggest the following, 1) Keep in mind that the end of the year is coming and it will be tax time. You need to take a real close look at how you will file them this year. Since you self paid you should be able to get a lot back. You might need to file alone so that AGI of 7.5% will be less for you. This should help to pay down your bill. 2) I would go and talk with the doctor and find out why he is not able to get you. Then I would set up a plan with him in regards to how often he wants to see you and when you can get fills. My wife and I did this the other day and he wants to see us every 6 weeks and then will see about fills. We have both had 2 fills and I know I need another one. Just take it one day at a time with things. Also I would suggest that you talk with him and your other doctor about what pills you can and can not take. I would even try to find a band friendly doctor who can help you with weight loss. 3) As far as burping and gas, my doctor said that this is comon. He said that some people are more prone to swallow air. I also have sleep Apena and feel that this is also causing me to burp and pass also. 4) I would also talk with your doctor to see if he has differant hours. I would also go and talk to your employer about how often you will need to go to the doctor etc. If there is anything else we can help you with you can PM or e-mail me. Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and things will be better in 08. Chris

We had 7 inches in St. Louis over the weekend and I sholved the drive way and side walk with no problems. Did not have any port pain, breathing problems, or wanting to stop like I used to. Hope you are doing well Rain and that your hubby port is doing better. The only problem I had with the port was a slight infection the 2nd day out and the doc gave me some meds to take and have not had any problems with it. Even with the 2 fills I have had. Chris

Last night was really great for the wife and I. The Y was great. We both noticed how much we have lost since both being banded in Sept. and felt great afterwards. All I can say she and I really enjoyed it. Chris

Good Luck on getting approved Shinny. I used to live in Hays, Kansas and understand what you mean by being out in the middle of no where. Miztrniceguy glad to see that you are doing well. When will your wife be having surgery? It will be good that you both will be doing it together. My wife and I were done back in Sept. and doing well. I used to live close to the KC area. I went to college in Warrensburg, Mo and have a couple of friends in K.C. The company that I work for is doing the renavations at Royals Stadium and we are looking at doing some other work in town. Chris