Melisa1

MUFFINGAL...please let me know how you are doing and what they are finding as the cause of this sensation in your throat. Im two weeks from being banded and gosh im soo worried that something like that will happen to me. Let us know if and how it gets better?

Dont worry...have your Dr write a letter stating all your problems associated with your weight. Have him write why he thinks you are a candidate and how the surgery will help you. I did this and i got approved with no co morbidities. My bmi was right at 40. If you have co-morbidities it should be ok. It does help to have that supporting letter from both your dr and the surgeon though. good luck!!

THAT IS AWESOME!!!! I am soo happy for you! How long have you been banded and how much weight have you lost? Im in California too, near Santa Barbara and i will be banded October 23rd. Im very excited.

Its been "9" days!! You need to be way more patient with yourself. You arent even supposed to be on mush yet! 2 weeks liquid, a week or two or mush, then when your body is ready you move to solids slowly, introducing them a little at a time. I would say maybe after the first month you will be able to eat more normaly. Not right now. In time you should be able to eat the same foods only in very very small bites, chewing it into a paste. Give yourself lots of credit for doing this but be patient and know that in time you will be able to eat normal. good luck!!

It all depends on how much weight you need to loose. The band is mainly for patients who need to loose 50-100lbs. If you have alot more than that to loose i might suggest the other. With the band you loose 1-2 lbs a week on average depending on your body and how well you stick to what you are supposed to eat in the different phases. With gastric bypass you loose much faster. I would stick to the band unless you are way more than a hundred lbs over weight and have alot of medical conditions due to your weight. Good luck! :tt1:

Sounds like you have too much of a fill. I would try one of two things. Try to eat tiny portions. The size of an eraser on top of a pencil and chew at least 20 times. or have some of the fill taken out. If you throw up too much it can cause the band to slip and you dont want that!! good luck

lololol thank you guys! I really needed that. every bit helps me. I love reading what you guys put!

That is too funny!! I get banded on the 23rd of this month and i already feel like i am an emotional rollercoaster!! The moment i found out the insurance approved me i was going omg its REAL now! Ive cried a couple times, hoping this is the right decision im making. Im just really scared, kinda confused and nervous about the whole thing yet excited at the same time.

Im soo frustrated with my insurance right now i could scream!:frown: Ive called them about 6 times now and they say the same thing every time. They say they cover for morbid obesity only. ok...so yes im morbidy obese! ok so i wanted to find that in writing. I searched through all the papers and couldnt find anything talking about bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery. It does state that it doesnt cover weightloss programs???? What the heck?? But everytime i call they tell me its covered for morbid obesity. Ive gotten the booklet from my husbands HR department and it states nothing about WLS. What should i do? They are telling me something i cannnot find anywhere. And ive asked them to send me something in writing and they wont? Anyone know anything or have words of experience or advice for me?? I need it.:thumbup:

shortgal what state are you from? not that it matters i was just wondering

Thank you guys!!! I really appreciate all the info. I think what is going to help alot is the letter from my pcp. He stated all my problems associated with being morbidly obese and how he recommends this surgery for me. I dont know if i have a chance but i will fight to the end if i have to. especially since they said on the phone twice that i dont have to have that five year history!!!

yeah my husband is trying to calm me down right now. He is telling me that it might vary by employer too. I just dont understand why when i call them they are telling me no that all i have to have is a letter of pre determination and then im hearing this 5 year bmi stuff. makes me crazy! lol all i can do is hope for the best at this point. makes me exhausted thinking about it.

so did you end up just paying out of you pocket? What about them telling me over the phone that i dont have to have that? I specificly asked them that question and they have told me no.? The lady in the office said to document it becuase she has known of cases overturned because of documentation. I just cant believe that they wouldnt state that in the policy if that were the case?? Do you know if that was stated anywhere in your policy?

Thank you ....im trying. Do you think the fact that ive asked them that direct question several times on the phone and documented dates i have a chance or could that be stated somewhere where i havent read? Someone told me they have to state that in your policy if thats the case?? Do you know?

OH AND....everytime i call my insurance....i ask them if i have to have 5 years of a bmi over 40 and they all say no. They said it doesnt state that in my policy at all!!! Ive documented everything too.?? We cant find it in writing and all they are telling us is it is for "morbid obesity and we have a pre determination letter from the Dr.??

omg dont scare me like that lol....my weight has fluctuated and my bmi has been under forty up and down up and down. its been more like 38-39-38-40 and now its been forty lately. I dont have any co-morbidities except for gastro esophical reflux disease (gerd) which i dont even know if its a true co-morbidity? However, besides the gerd i have arthritis in my right hip, depression/stess anxiety, stress incontience, and asthma symptoms lately. My PCP wrote and "excellent" letter of pre determination too. He thinks this would be the BEST tool for me to prevent diabetes since my dad already had it at my age!! Do you even think i have a fighting chance??

bjblev its UHC choice plus...thank you very much for helping!!!!

I have UHC choice plus. Everytime ive called they say its not coverd except for morbid obesity. Ive documented it twice now. But when we look in all our paperwork we cant find it.

I have UHC choice plus and im dying to know if they will approve me. My BMI is right at 40.1. Im 230lbs and 5'3" and should weigh like between 113-135 according to ww. so im 100 lbs over weight!! The only thing is i dont have any co morbidities. I have gerd, depression, arthritis in my hip, and back pain but no "co-morbidities" like high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnea. does anyone thinik i have a chance?? Im soo sick of being fat i cant stand it.

It depends on how close you are to them. If they are close friends of yours that you work with...share and tell them you really need their support and encouragement. If you guys arent really friends and you feel tension in the air at work...dont tell...its none of their business. Thats just my personal opinion. good luck.

thank you soo much. every little bit of help makes a big difference. :tt1:

asap!!! dont give up!

Hi guys....hey does anyone have a sample letter for insurance i can take a look at? I have UHC Choice plus. Ive been hearing different things so i am hoping and praying i get approved. Just incase i dont, id like to have a letter prepaired for appeal. any infor or suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks guys!!!!

Does anyone have a sample letter i could look at for insurance? I have one but id like to look at others out there that helped with approval. Thank You very much! melisa1@verizon.net