Raf

I am going to try to call today - when I get a chance here @ work. Well good luck to you I hope you get approved and thank you.. I'll keep you posted.

My BMI is 44.4...... I am writting an appeal letter right now and getting another letter from my family dr. stating I have done all of this that they ask over the last 8 years...

I actually been through a whole diet program with my dr. for the past few years. They now want something from the last 12 months.... Well the last 12 months I have been working on getting the lap band surgery. I have seen different surgeons and finally picked the right one for me and went through all of the other stuff, like sleep test, cart dr. and x-rays and more. I am just so upset. I guess I'll write them a letter myself and see what happens. I just don't get the insurance co. they want me to do what I have done for the last few years for 6 months and they have all of that from my Dr. but they still want something else... I know someone that got this done that has the same insurance & same dr. She only did the sleep test & had x-rays done. She actually gained the weight to have the lap band done. I don't understand how she did it... BCBS of NJ Sucks!!!! Thank you for your response.. I will let you know how I make out.

I wanted to know if you had to go through a 6 mouth Diet program for them to approve you???? I am having such a hard time with BCBSNJ right now. They want something with in the last 12 months that I have done something like that.... Well the last 12 months I have been looking for the right surgeon and going through everything else to get this done.... I have sent them stuff from the last 8 years and now they want the last 12 months.... I am ssssooooo upset I just want to get this done so bad..

The one question I have is about my insurance I have Horizon BCBS of NJ. I wanted to meet with a few Dr.'s before making my choice on a Dr. Two of the dr. I have went to say I need to pay them 1700.00 or 1800.00 up front for the nutritionist and physiological part for me to get my surgery. This last one I went to says my insurance co will not pay for a surgical assistant so I will have to pay them 500.00 ontop of the 1700.00. Then the nutritionist that I have seen only once is the Dr.s Niece. They don't seem very professional at all. I called my insurance co and they didn't know what they were talking about when they said surgical assistant. Has anyone ever heard of having to do this?? Thanks Raf

You haven't pooped since your surgery. That is not good at all cause when you go you are going to have a very very hard time going. You don't want to strain yourself AT ALL. I would call your dr at leaste your family dr. After sugery (any surgery that is) you can get very very constipated. I did after I had a c-section. It was a very painfull experience. Your suppose to go to the bathroom before you leave the hospital after any surgery and they never asked me if I did. I didn't think anything of it until I had to go. Good luck

Just wanted to know if anyone has had Dr. LOUIS BALSAMA for their surgery? Does he have his own nutritionist & psychological program like west jersey hospital does? THAT REQUIRES you to GO or you CAN NOT GET THE SURGERY IN THEIR HOPITAL. I just might look into having him as my surgent. I just was just told by another Dr.'s office that I started out with that they wont do my surgery unless I use their "new beginnings Program" and pay 1,700.00 out of pocket. Why would I do that when I don't have to. I am using a my own nutritionist that my INSURANCE PAYS FOR and my own psych. that my INSURANCE PAYS FOR. I just wanted know if anyone has ever been to Dr. LOUIS BALSAMA.

I just want to know who out there has been re-banded, Why were you Re-banded?? And when did you get your first band?? :biggrin: I am doing all of the research I can before I get my band. Thanks Raf

Thank you very much for your replies. I think I will look into doing the nutritionist & physiological part myself also. Thanks, Raf

I just wanted to make sure because there were a few other people that had it done and it was not like that for them. I actually know about the new beginnings program at Virtua. I went to Dr. Goldstein first he out of voorhees and I really really like him. But I just wanted to go see different dr.'s to see if I had the right one for me. This last one I went to wasn't as good as Dr. Goldstein. I have another appt. with a dr. out of stratford and then after that I am going to decide what dr. to go with. I am really thinking it may be Dr. Goldstein. Thank you for your responce. So when did you start everything? and do you have to wait the 6 months before you get your surgery? Thanks Raf

Hi everyone I am new to this site and I am happy I have found it. I have been thinking about doing the lap band surgery for a while now. A few years back I actually thought about doing the bypass surgery but never totally looked into it. I have went to see 2 dr.'s so far and I am seeing another one in a few weeks to make sure I have found the right dr. to do my surgery. There is alot of questions I have I just don't know where to begin. The one question I have is about my insurance I have Horizon BCBS of NJ. Two of the dr. I have went to say I need to pay them 1700.00 or 1800.00 up front for the nutritionist and physiological part for my surgery. This last one I went to says my insurance co will not pay for a surgical assistant so I will have to pay them 500.00 ontop of the 1700.00. Then the nutritionist that I have seen only once is the Dr.s Niece. They don't seem very professional at all. I called my insurance co and they didn't know what they were talking about when they said surgical assistant. Has anyone ever heard of having to do this?? I have to cut this short right now. I will be back. I am getting ready to leave work and I will be back on later tonight. Thanks Raf