msdv

With 100lbs to lose and co morbidities you should be approved . If your ins. co. covers weight loss surgery they usually say if it's medically necessary and with the co-morbidities it seems to be. I am in your same boat and I was approved. I have 100-120 lbs to lose and I had HBP and deterioration of my left knee. My surgeons office is slow so I'm impatiently waiting for my surgery hopefully I'll be banded in August.

You need to leave this Dr and I would let him know exactly why. PLus you need to go to a Dr that is lap band certified. As I said in your previous thread I am going through something very similar and I have been looking for another surgeon. These surgeons don't understand that these snits in their office are a direct reflection of them. I have an appt with my surgeon on 8/3 and I'm going to tell him exactly how I feel and if he doesn't say something to ease my fears I will then request all of my paperwork and go someplace else. I think you should too and really think about how YOU feel and forget about these people being agitated or offended. Isn't that her job? I was just telling my DH these folks are acting like I'm a charity case and their doing me a great favor. My Mom used to tell me " always follow your first mind" it seems like you know you need to move on.

I felt like this too when I was deciding to have surgery until I went to Dr. Fieldings seminar also and that cinched it for me. He made the point that only 1 in 50 people will be able to lose 20 lbs and keep it off and that is with every help available to them. I know I can lose weight the "traditional way" I've been on every diet and I have lost weight. On my last diet I lost 50lbs but I have gained back 60 and I feel terrible. I decided on surgery so that I can for once lose the weight and have a very good chance of keeping it off if I do my part. I want to live my life and get off this yo-yo rollercoaster .

You all do realize that this post is close to 3 years old right? Whatever "friends" I lose because I'm getting thin and healthy were never my friends to begin with . POOF be gone!!!

Great for you. I went on vaca in MAy and I was so nervous not to fly but that the seat belt would not fit me. I too had to pull it out to it's full length and was right at the brink. I was so afraid that the attendant would see and ask if I needed an extension in front of my fit husband . I looked around and admired the ladies that had their excess strap hanging down and even were able to fold their legs in the seat and relax. I can't wait.

Don't lose hope. I agree with everyone get your paperwork ASAP. Wait to talk to your Dr. if he calls in a reasonable amt. of time. I'm sure he realizes he left a few people in the lurch and if he doesn't have compassion for that and calls you soon you may be glad to go to another surgeon. I had to do something similar. I started with the Dr's at NYU but then found that my insurance is out of network for them so I got my paperwork and found another surgeon that does accept my insurance. I got no flack at all about asking for my paperwork . I hope it all goes well for you.

Thank you for responding. At least you are more than halfway there. I wish you the best in getting the rest off.

Great positive thread. I'm not banded yet. I was approved but no surgery date yet. I can't wait to see some of the changes you guys have. This year I'm really starting to suffer from fat girls problems. Yesterday my DH had to buckle my shoes for me because I can't bend down to do it. I have not crossed my legs in years. I would love to sit like a lady with my legs crossed neatly and without it hurting. Even though I have a ton of beautiful shoes. When your this big it can be your only indulgence to buy pretty shoes but I would gladly replace them all if my feet shrunk. I would love to sit without worrying about who's seeing my belly sitting in my lap. I also spend a lot on great purses so I'm looking forward to the day when I can sit in a chair and my bag can sit next to me in the same chair. We're having a heatwave in NY this week and I hate it. I can't take the heat I wonder if it will be better for me when I drop 100 lbs? I can't wait to find out hopefully by next Summer.

I'm sorry that happened to you and glad you're doing better now. Did you meet your goal in the 2 1/2 years you had the band?

Now see that !!!! What if you didn't push it and just skulked away and went on with the 6 month diet for nothing? If you didn't say you were in a small town I would be sure you were in NY dealing with the same heifers I'm dealing with . Congrats to you!! I hope you get approved quickly.

Wow, I'm really sorry to hear that. It must be truly upsetting to even start to consider the surgery and then find out that you can't follow through. Can you consider self-pay? Can you call your insurance company and have them clarify their stand to you? Most insurance co. say that they will not cover unless it is medically necessary. I wish you the best.

So what if she gets ticked off???!!! This is btwn you , your surgeon and your insurance company. She cannot tell you to stop calling YOUR insurance co. This ticks me off because the people that work in my surgeons office delayed me getting approved for my surgery because of negligence , thinking they know it all and just bad patient relations. It is not up to your surgeons office personnel to dictate to you that you need to go on a 6 month diet if your insurance does not require it. These surgeons better recognize that these people are a direct reflection on them. If my Dr. did not have favorable reviews I would have gone elsewhere because of his staff. I had to go through all the testing and the 6 month med. supervised diet and then wait for them to take an extra 3 months to submit my papers. It has been over 9 months that I have been going through this. I finally just found out last Wednesday that I was approved for my surgery because I called my insurance co. I rec'd the letter from them on Saturday and still have not heard from my surgeons office. I'm waiting to see if I will get a call from them this week. If not I will call them Monday morning. Unfortunately a lot of people and even the nurses that work in the hospitals look down on this surgery and the people that choose to go this route. You have to be your own advocate as I was advised when I came here to vent about my frustration. This is your life (literally) it is enough in itself to decide to have this major surgery . The extra rigamorole that these folks put you through is totally over the top. Speak up for yourself . If you have to ask to speak to the surgeon and ask him if this is just his requirement regardless of what the insurance co. says. I doubt he'll say it is. They want to make their money and move on. I guess you can tell I'm really miffed about my situation and after my surgery I do plan on writing my surgeon a heartfelt letter.

Great!!! congratulations!! :bored: :thumbup: Now looking back you see that took you just short of a month. I know how it feels though to want to do it and get on with the next part of your life. Let us know your surgery date and how you're doing.

I was originally given a surgery date of March 8th but all of my pre-surgery appts. were not done and I was told that it would take my insurance company (GHI) from 60-70 days to review and hopefully approve my case. I submitted all of my paperwork on 3/16/10 that was 68 days ago today. I went on vacation last week and had every hope that when I got back I would have a message waiting on my phone telling me that I had been approved and I needed to call to set up a surgery date and start my pre-op diet. Well that didn't happen. I called the surgeons office today and spoke to the admin.assistant who up to this time has been rather cold. I was told that they had to resubmit my paperwork last week because GHI says they never received them. If I hadn't called today I would never have known that and would still be waiting like a dummy. I broke down crying. I'm crying now as I type this. I'm not a cryer but I feel so helpless. My weight is climbing steadily and I feel ugly and I am dreading the Summer. I guess my tears made the formerly cold asst. feel bad because she said she would call GHI next week to try to rush them through. I'm now looking at another 60-70 days to finally get word. I don't know what I'm asking or needing with this thread but does anyone have experience with this? I guess I just needed to vent. Do you think I should try to find another surgeon? I'm in NY. The surgeon is Dr. Gorecki at NY Methodist . My insurance is BC/BS - GHI. Please don't suggest I call the insurance co. that's like trying to reach Obama at the White House. I feel like giving up maybe doing the HCG diet or something else. Sorry for the long post. I just feel so helpless and defeated. Thanx in advance , Dee

Good for you. That took no time. I know you feel better now. @Beachbunny, if I don't hear by Monday I will call them. I'm busy 'til then anyway.

Yeah, my surgeons office has really disappointed me. If I did not have good references for him from others. I really would not feel comfy with the surgeon at all because of his office staff. I will tell him that too. I'm waiting now to see how long it's going to take them to call me now that the ins. co has told me they approved my surgery. I'm going with Dr. Gorecki at NYMethodist hospital. Starting to get a little nervous now that I know the surgery was approved. Wishing you the best. It was a long haul but it'll be here b4 you know it.

Thank you so much. Now, I'm starting to get nervous but in a good way. Anticipating a great outcome after all this hassle.

I wish you the best. Read my thread "I'm so deeply sad and frustrated" by msdv. Went through the same as you but much worse. You may have to be your own advocate. If you feel in your heart the Dr.visit may be a problem as a previous poster wrote I would go and get that 6th visit done so they can be consecutive. I like to anticipate and head off problems. Which surgeon are you seeing and what hospital?

Update: I took your advice and me & DH started calling the insurance co. ourselves. They told me this afternoon that I was approved. :biggrin: :thumbup: I'm so happy but nervous. We'll see how long it takes the surgeons office to call me. Hopefully , I'll be a July bandster.

Wow, I checked the site she paid $55.00 for that. I was going to go out and buy a toddler set of dishes and sippy cups but I would much rather have this. My Surgeons office is so patient unfriendly that I doubt if they had it they would give it out but I'm gonna wait before I shell out money for this. Nice idea though.

Sorry for your complications but I stand by my post. There are many threads on this forum telling horror stories and about complications with the band if the OP has done all the research she should have before making this decision I'm sure she has heard or read a boat load. Reassurance needed means that she was looking for "reassurance" about her decision. She didn't need a 16 year old coming in telling her what happened to her Mommy. However, this is just my humble opinion. Be well!!

I wish there was a Thanks option on this forum. Reading posts like the one made by Rolltide is one of the main reasons that I put off starting the process of being banded. Misinformation and horror stories. The Thread title is "Reassurance Needed" if you can't come in with anything encouraging and also factual why bother to post?

That's some good advice right there. I'm not banded yet. I'm waiting impatiently to be approved but I really like that advice about the sippy cup and toddler plates and bowls. I'm gonna pick those up this week at Target.

I wholeheartedly agree and can relate with everything that has been said so far in this thread. I too am 5'2" and creeping towards 260lbs. I never, ever thought that would be me. A woman that loves fashion and beauty and was always told how pretty I am. I'm now 55 and this weight is the bane of my existence. My Dr. recommended that I have LAP-BAND® surgery 2 years ago but like you I felt I can do this on my own with diet and exercise. I've been on every diet known to man and yes I can lose weight because I've done it before many times but the problem is I never reach my goal and I can't keep it off. I'm waiting to be banded so that I can feel like I have some control over my weight. So that I can finally reach my goal weight and so that I can keep the weight off for once in my life. I wish I had known about this years ago while I was in my 30's or 40's . I wish I had pursued it when my Dr. first recommended it Perhaps I would be banded and at goal by now. Other than my weight , I have a good blessed life however, my struggles with my weight take away from my full enjoyment. I have low self-esteem and I find excuses to stay in the house because of how I feel about myself. I don't wear pants or jeans because of my big butt and thunder thighs. I made an excuse and stayed home from my worship svces. today because I dreaded trying to find something to wear and feel comfy in. Take control of your life now so that you can enjoy it without the burden of being overweight and all the complications that brings.

Thank you for all of your responses, for some reason I stopped being notified that there are replies to my thread. Well anyway, I'm still in the same spot. The surgeon did call me early one morning to get my side of the story and I told him . I was impressed that he called me himself but I really did not get any resolve. He told me what we all know that insurance companies can be very unreliable and all that. He said that he would talk to his secretary and she would call me back. I'm still waiting for that call. I called my insurance company again and I was told they had nothing on file for me. I called the Dr's office again and I told the program coordinator the whole situation she too told me she would check and call me within the hour ...you know I'm still waiting for that call too. I finally asked my Hubby to call them. He is the Director of a large NYC dept. so with that and maybe hearing a man's voice would put a fire under them . Well she did give him a long story about how they sent my papers in on 3/20 to the address that was on the back of the card...can you believe that like they don't know where to send claims. To tell you the truth, remember I said when I submitted my papers the secretary was really cold to me. My gut tells me that she just put them aside and forgot about them and didn't submit them until I called . I will call the insurance company tomorrow again and ask if they have a bariatric claims dept. and see what I can find from there. Yeah, I was hoping that I would be on the lap band wagon for the Summer so that I could lose some and not feel so ashamed but I know now that whether I find a new surgeon or not that won't happen so tomorrow I'm starting the fat flush smoothie shakedown. I did it a couple of weeks ago and I lost 11 lbs in about 5 days. I would love to lose some good weight before my surgery anyway. Thank you for all of your tips and suggestions. Dee