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Thanks for replying LBT friends. I can't help I do feel depressed and I just don't know which way to turn but I'll make my decision tomorrow. The Dr. has gotten good reviews and the hospital is a good 1 in NY. I don't know if he's aware that his staff is so lax but I will make sure that he does after tomorrow. I'll update tomorrow. I wish I could go to the Dr's at NYU. I started with them but my insurance is out of network with them . They said they would accept whatever my ins. pays as final payment but I just don't trust that. I'm not poor so I just can't figure why they would do that. I would be afraid of getting hit with a big bill after surgery. HiMow , why did it take you a year to be approved? it's been almost a year in this process for me because I had to do the 6 month medically supervised diet and then finish my tests and now it's been almost 3 months waiting for approval and now their saying another 2-3 months so it will be a year in all or more for me. :biggrin:

Well, I did call the insurance company today myself. I got on the phone with them 1st thing this morning and surprisingly I got to speak to 2 people. They told me that there is no claim on file for me. So according to them the claim still has not been submitted. I called the surgeon's office back and spoke to the program coordinator and insisted that they get on the ball. I hate dealing with people that give you one excuse after the other for just being negligent. I told them that if they did not care and continue to treat me like I'm begging them for free services that I will pick up all my paperwork and go to another surgeon. She said that she will call me tomorrow but I'm not holding my breath . Now, I'm looking for a new surgeon. I hate this !! This whole episode makes me skeptical about the surgeon too and if I don't get a resolve tomorrow. I will write him a letter telling him so. I'm so depressed about this.

I'm still waiting to be banded but when I am I hope I have that problem. I'm afraid of being in "bandster Hell" as many refer to, not having any restriction and being hungry as heck trying to fight my cravings. Maybe you should try some Protein shakes to supplement your eating. I know eating too little can be a problem too. Sorry not much help. I just envy you at this point.

Thank you, I will attempt to try again with the insurance company again tomorrow. In my past experience I would call the # on the back of the card and get routed and re-routed to another # until I got back to the original # without ever speaking to a person. I understand exactly what you're saying and I will try to get them from early in the morning.

Thanx, that's exactly how I feel. Psyched and ready to go but now I feel like I need to go another route. Once again looking for a diet. How did you lose 40 lbs before surgery?

Thank you for your reply. If rush approval is an option in my case I hope they request it.

My Dr. recommended I look into the LapBand over 2 years ago. I had tried everything but I was still determined to lose this weight on my own. WRONG!!! I can lose weight on my own . I just can't keep it off. I finally went to the seminar with Dr. Fielding at NYU and that actually convinced me to go for it. His speech and the facts he stated convinced me. One thing He said that actually moved me was that only 1 in 50 people would be able to lose 20 lbs and keep it off. The things he said just hit home with me. I also in the meantime have been gaining even more weight . I'm getting older and becoming scared of dying from a stroke or whatever from having HBP. I have a good life and I don't want to die young. I go on great vacations and I want to be able to enjoy myself without feeling self-conscious about my big butt and thighs and gut. I then started the process but NYU does not take my insurance so I had to find another Dr. that would. I'm now anxiously waiting for approval and can't wait to be banded. I also have been reading a lot and finding out all I can about the surgery. I can't wait now. I feel like it will be the beginning of a whole new life for me.I only wish I found out about this surgery years ago.

Hi Dawn, I'm currently waiting for approval from my insurance. I too am hoping to be banded by Dr. Gorecki. I sent you a PM.

It is really unbelievable how different things work in different places. You've been approved already without any testing or anything. I had to do a 6 month supervised diet. All of the tests including an ab/ultrasound, pulmonary test, endoscopy, cardiac ultrasound, nutrition and psych counseling before they would even submit to insurance. Now, I'm anxiously waiting to see if my insurance will approve. I think you're in a better place because at least your working towards a sure goal. After all I've been through what if they deny me? Call your Dr's office to ask your questions because all Dr's seemingly have different protocols. If not I suggest you read a book or 2 . I learned a lot from Weight loss surgery for dummies and Dr Robert Sewells' book about weight loss surgery .

I read Khalilah Ali's book , really good. Now that I'm typing this I may read it again. Her story resonated with me. I've also read Weight loss surgery for dummies. Very helpful. I'm reading Dr. Robert Sewell's book about weight loss surgery. I forget the name. If you check on Amazon there are a lot of books about weight loss surgery there. I may check to see if there's anything new, since my approval process is taking so long. :thumbup:

I'm going through the same thing right now. I submitted all of my papers to the doctors office on 3/16 and have not heard anything yet. I was told by the woman that handles every thing at the office that it takes from 60-70 days for my insurance co. to approve the surgery. She was not the most cordial or friendly person so I don't want to call her again to see if she even submitted the papers. I hope she did and I hope to hear very soon that I've been approved. I'm keeping a positive thought because I have every reason to be approved for the surgery. I'm 5'2" and pushing 260 lbs and I also have co-morbidities so I fully expect to be approved. These Dr's know the ins & outs of insurance so if your chances are small of being approved most likely the office would have told you. The bottom line is they want to make money so they don't waste their time . In the meantime I have started to lose weight on my own. I went back to my low carb w.o.e. and I'm beginning to exercise again. I would really like to lose about 30 lbs before my surgery after surgery you have to commit to exercise anyway so why not start all of that now? Think positive you'll be approved

That's exactly what I'm doing. I found Dr. Gorecki at Methodist hosp. in Park Slope. I was afraid of just that being banded and happy with my loss and then being stressed by bills out the wazoo. Sorry that happened to you. Funny because that Advanced Bariatric ctr is within walking distance of my house but I have never heard anything about them. Thank you

Thank you. I am concerned if my papers were even submitted. I just feel uneasy with the attitude of the office personnel. There's always something. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Any new people seeing Dr. Gorecki? Last week I finally finished all of my tests and appts. and submitted everything to his office. Even though she got raves in a previous post I find his assistant Jessie to not be so pleasant to deal with. Very abrupt and why are you bothering me attitude. I have been in this process for a long time and after submitting all my paperwork I was told by Jessie it would take from 60-70 days for my insurance to approve or not. I have GHI BC/BS. Of course I'm very anxious . I really don't want to bother calling the office to see if my case was submitted and how it's going. Has anyone else had experience with this or his office? Any advice.

I have not been banded yet. I have my psych consult next Tuesday and then all is done and I have to wait 60-70 days for insurance to approve. I have really big thighs even had them before I became so obese. My thighs are the size of some peoples waists, 31-32 inches each. I'm already worried that once I reach goal I will still not be able to wear jeans because then my thighs will be smaller I know but flabby and looking like a wrinkled Shar-pei. Is there anyone else that has been banded and had humongous thighs? What were your results after hitting goal? I know I'll never be a swimsuit model but....:frown: Short of a surgical thigh lift and becoming a marathoner can anyone give me some insight on results after weight loss.

Just wanted to say thanx for the responses. I have visitors from out of town so I have not had a chance to get back online but I have been reading the responses. I know it is a wait and see thing but I am just anxious and ready to get rid of the thunder thighs. :scared2: Thanx again everyone. PS: I hate when someone starts a thread and then you never hear from them again.

I was just going to start a new thread about this. I have the biggest flabbiest thighs in the world. I haven't been banded yet. I'm going for my final Dr appt on Tuesday and then it takes about 2 months for my insurance to approve. However, I'm already afraid that after I lose my weight I still won't be able to wear a great pair of jeans because my thighs are the worst. My thighs are the size of some peoples waist lines like 31-32 inches. I'm afraid once I lose the weight they will just be hanging loose and ugly. Short of having a surgical thigh lift has anyone else had thighs like mine? what happened after the weight was lost. Oh, I'm thread jacking . Maybe I should stat a new thread. Sorry OP :frown:

If you're doing a very low carb diet then that's very common to have no BM's for days at a time. When I was doing low carb I would use a couple of drops of Milk Thistle in my Crystal lite every day.

^^^What she said, plus that combo of that salty chicken broth and milk sounds a little stomach curdling. No offense to you personally but just reading that made my lips curl up. Have some ginger tea or mint tea and let your stomach rest. I haven't been banded yet but I've read a lot and after a fill as above poster said you have to let your stomach rest and let whatever swelling go down before you start eating any solids at all. Hope you feel better soon.

This thread was a little reassuring as I am also afraid of vomiting.:smile2: I hate it with a passion. I would rather have projectile diarrhea than to vomit.:w00t: I plan on being extra careful when I finally have my surgery but I'm still worried. This is one of the reasons I put off really starting the process for 2 years. Now, I wish I had done it 2 years ago and I would be at goal by now. OH WELL!!!!

I just turned 55 and am in the process. I will see the psychologist next Tuesday and then all my tests will be done. My surgeons office says it takes my insurance company 60-70 days to approve so I'm hoping that I will have the surgery before June. My PCP recommended I do this over 2 years ago I wish I had started the process then , by now I would be at my goal and much happier. I would be looking forward to the Summer and buying my new Summer clothes instead of dreading it. You are not too old. By the time your 60 just imagine you will be at your goal weight off all your meds and feeling and looking good. We have to age anyway so you might as well do it feeling and looking your best and with less risks of all these pesky age and weight related problems. Go for it!!!

Yes, I read those 2 and a book about Muhammad Ali's daughter Khaliah that had the surgery done by the 1st surgeon I was referred to. They answered every question I could possibly have and then some.

For all of you that have no idea of what you're doing or need more questions answered and for some reason or the other don't have access to information. I not only stalked this site which Quite frankly was discouraging to me sometimes. My Dr. recommended me for the surgery over 2 years ago but I read so many discouraging things on the site about PB'ing and band slippage that I kept putting it off thinking I can lose it on my own. I had to finally admit to myself that I couldn't and I came back. Well anyway, I know not everyone likes to read but I have read 3 books about the surgery and I really feel that I know enough to teach a class now . The most informative and simple to read and understand was Weight Loss surgery for dummies available at your book stores and Amazon where I got mine. I have read about everything from how to start considering if you qualify for the surgery , the insurance process, how to find a DR. What to do before the surgery . How to get ready for the surgery. What to take to the hospital. What you will feel like. What to do on the day you come home. What to eat before and after. How to search for a self-pay Dr...just everything.

Great!! I'm glad someone's dream is coming true. That will be here before you know it. So exciting!!