rita326

Hello everyone! I have a dilemma that maybe some of you have had - my insurance requires a 40 BMI or 35 - 40 with conditions. I am a 38 w/o conditions - yet. My doctor is sending me for sleep apnea testing but I can't get in until late July for a consult and probably August for the actual test. I don't see my primary doc again until late July. In the meantime the lap band doc's office called me recently because I attended a seminar and want me to come in in mid July for my first meeting. That will include my first weigh in. My dilemma is I need to gain 12 pounds in less than 3 weeks (which doesn't sound difficult until you try it) or risk the sleep apnea testing coming back negative or I could hold off the weigh in for another month and have to wait even longer to have the lap band! Another issue is that you can't gain even 1 pound after your weigh in so I must be a 40 at least when I weigh in. I can't wait another day! And I don't want to gain another 12 pounds just for my insurance company. This is killing me both physically and emotionally. Anybody else having to go thru this? What did you do?

At the seminar the prices were in with the paper work, the lapband is $19,500 and the gastric bypass is $27,000. I think that is just the surgery, none of the extras. My insurance is BC/BS Special Care. I'm really surprised it will cover it because it doesn't seem to cover anything else but I do need to be 40 BMI or more by July 17 or have a major pre existing like Diabetes (don't have . . . . yet but if I keep gaining and losing like I am it won't be long) or Sleep Apnea which I will be tested for in August. I'm wondering if I should delay my first weigh in until after the sleep apnea test. I don't know, I just want to get started with my 6 months and get on the right track. I'm not a very patient person I guess.

Why did it cost $40,000 when they advertise only $19,500? If my insurance doesn't cover it I'll be screwed for sure coming up with 40. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me, I'm so glad to have someone to talk to who actually went to the same doctors I will be seeing. You know, that's not the first time I've heard something about Rachel in their office and I've only just started looking at this site this week. She must be a real pip. I bet she's the one that answered the phone when I called the other day asking questions. I bet you can't wait for school to start this year, what a great feeling! It's nice to be able to talk to people who have actually had the surgery, I don't know anybody who has had this done but I know plenty who should. How's everything going with your first fill? What are you able to eat at this point?

Mine does require the 6 months, but $20,000? I don't think my husband will go for it.

Thanks for the info, it just makes me sick to my stomach thinking about having to gain 12 more pounds. It goes against everything! With my schedule it's very important that I have the surgery before March so I don't want to wait another minute longer than I have to. I'm going to Magee, I went to the seminar with Dr. McClosky. I see you just had yours done, how does it feel? Aren't you just elated?

Lunabeane, where did you have your surgery done?

I was seriously thinking about that. Do they measure you as well? I'm from Indiana, about 50 miles NE of Pgh but I grew up near Monroeville.