jackiemhornig

Hi all. Last night I got winded going up 4 stairs at my parents house. This made me feel just miserable. I am realizing how tired I always feel and how winded I get doing the most simplist task!!! I can't stand it anymore. I feel like I am jumping through hoops doing everything the insurance company wants me to do - once I have completed everything and paid hundreseds in copays - then everything is submitted to see if I am approved for the procedure - which bothers me a bit. I wish they could tell you ahead of time once they get the letter of necessit from my PCP - but the surgeons office told me I have to get the report that I completed my three month nutrition program with Aetna first - that won't be until December 30th - I have done everything expected - and waiting until after december to find out if approved is driving me nuts..The tiredness is getting to me and I feel just awful about myself because I am so tiredSorry to complain just having a bad day.

Thank you - you have made me feel so much better.

Thank you both. Nancy do you have Aetna QPOS - that is the plan I have. I think the stress of thinking I could be denied makes me a little nervous..I am going to try and start walking in the evening again with my husband and hope that helps me feel better and not so tired all the time. Getting up in the morning is just hard anymore because I am so tired. I had the sleep apnea test and I think I to have a mild form of it. But I suffer from edema and hypertension.I wanted to start losing weight on my own to get prepared but I am also wondering if I still need to be above 40 BMI at the time of my last nutritionist visit on 12/30 or will it be ok if I lose some weight by then? Any help must appreciated.Glad you got approved - You ar being banded on Monday!!! So happy for you...when did you start the journey with the lap band?

Hi All I have a question and I am waiting for my surgeons office to call me back but figured would see If I could get some answers here.I have Aetna QPOS and the band is covered when precertified so I am going through all the steps required.I had my first appointment with the diet/nutrition center on 9/30 and my second is today 10/28 and my third in on 11/25 - now yes these are 3 appointments one per month for three months, but it does not equal 90 days? Is that going to be a problem when they send in my paper work for the approval process?I am just not sure and want to make sure i am doing everything right? I assumed when I made the appointment it had to be three months back to back not really 90 days?I have my sleep apnea test this saturday night and my appointment with the cardiologist this Friday - then other then the last diet class in november I am done and will have all my requirements met?Anyone with any advise for me on this would be greatly appreciated.Thanks so much. I am still having trouble replying to posts - I can post but for some reason not able to always reply.

Hi all. I had my pshy evaluation and the dr said she highly recommended me for the surgery that I suffer from mild anxiety but no depression - I mean yes of course my weight gets me down at times but not full blown depression where I need to be medicated or anything like that.Do you think I will get denied becuase I do not suffer from Depression? I do suffer from High Blood Pressure, edema, back pain, possibly sleep apnea, and problems with my bladder becuase of the excess weight? I just don't know if that is enough?Any advise would be appreciated. I had to pay $140 for the dr to write the letter for my insurance company - so I don't want it to be the cause that I get denied by Aetna.

I am surprised they did the suregery. I was told that if you don't do the preop diet to cleanse the liver of fat they will not do the suregery and reschdule it until you lose those 10 or 15 pounds. They say it is harder to perform the procedure when the liver is fatty that is the point of the preop. But of course I love your way much much better.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so very much for all your help. I can't even imagine what a big help you are on this site.This is what I have scheduled for the nutrionist for Aetna requirements as of today.1st. September 302nd. October 283rd. November 254th December 30If I am correct we figured this is 91 days so I should be ok. Do you think this is ok. I am trying to hard to do everything right to avoid getting denied.

Hi all. My name is Jackie, I am a lurker but have posted as I am in the process of being banded as well.I keep reading post by people who are keeping their surgery a secret? I don't understandy why? I would think people would want the support system of their friends and family? After all from my understand there is nothing to be ashamed of in taking this extra step to help us lose weight to improve our health and overall life?I have told my close friends at work, my personal close friends, and most of my family. I want their support - I would think that would be easier. I don't want to lie to anyone when they ask me how I lost the weight becuase I am sure we will all get that question?Just want to find out why keeping this a secret is a good idea? I mean did I do wrong by telling people in my life?

Hi all I have a question. I just called my dr office but have to wait for a call back. With my insurance Aetna QPOS I have to have 3 months of the visists with the dietition I had my first visit on 9/30 and my second visit tonight and the third on Nov 25? What I am confused about is that these are three visits within three months but it is not 90 days? So i am not sure what this means or what I need to do or if I have to change something around?Does anyone have any advise. Sorry if I posted under the wrong forum - I am still trying to figure out how to fully navigate this site.Sorry for the misspelling I am work and trying to rush.

This is for Newtolapband. I tried to reply to your post and for some reason I am not able to. Please feel free to email me any questions you have jackiemhornig@yahoo.comI will be more then happy to help you with any questions that I am able to answer for you.

Thank you everyone for letting me know. I just wanted to make sure I did the right thing for me and I know I did. I love having a support system. And so far I have heard only positivie feedback and everyone is all for it.

Hi everyone. Looking for some help. Last night I had the breathing test with the pulminary dr. I failed the test and need to go for an overnight sleep apnea test? I am not sure what this means - I don't have trouble sleeping that I am aware of. Will having sleep apnea cause my insurance to decline me the lap band surgery. So far I got the clearnace from my primary, the psychiatrist, attended 1 of my 3 classes with the dietitian and nutrionist - only two more to go and then just the appointment to get cleared from the cardiologist and I am done.Another question I have is - how long after you complete everything does it take to actually get a surgery date. i am hopping to be done with all the preop stuff the insurnace company requires by the end of November - so I was wondering how long it takes before I have a date. Any advise would be really helpful. I am nervous and scare but finally see the light at the end of my tunnell.sorry for the spelling mistakes....sneaking on from work so trying to be quick

Fantastic Information ladies. Thank you

Hi I am pretty new here. I am from central nj and am in the process of getting the surgery approved. I already have my letter of necessity from my PCP, I got clearance from the Psychiatris, I have to go for a sleep apnea test on Nov 1. I already started the nutrition classes at our local hospital. My second class is the end of this month. My insurnace only requires 3 (1 Per month). Then I just need clearnace from the cardiologist which i also see at the end of this month and then hopefully I am good to go. I was trying to navigate this site to see how the insurnace approval goes for people with Aetna? But I have no idea how to navigate this site yet. My bariatric coordinator advised me that with Aetna it is usually pretty fast - they respond with in 2 days of when everyting is submitted. She said they are good with approving. I am just nervous of course, because I have my heart set on this and want it so badly. I wanted to find out about people experience with Aetna insurance. If anyone has any information, please let me know.I appreciate your help.

Yes I would ask the bariatric surgeon for some names of pcp's he has dealt with in your area - make sure they are in your ins plan, make an appointment, be upfront with him and tell him your history and your current pcp's views and i am sure he will give you the letter of necessity required by the insurance company.Don't give up - very easy just find a new doc they will give you a letter.

Hi Everyone!! I am so glad to be here and start this process. This site is so informative and has been so helpful already. I just recently made the decision to have the lap band procedure after debating for the last two years. I am so happy that I have made the decision. I feel like there is light at the end of this tunnell for me.I just started the process, I got the referral from my family dr to go see the bariatric dr - that came highly recommended so I think I made a good choice and he is in my insurance plan. I had to fill out a complete questionair from the bariatric dr and it took a while and and it really confirmed for me that I am making the right choice for me and my life.I have lost and gained 100lbs on my own a two times in my life. I am 34 years old. I have gained and lost the same 20lbs more times then i can remember....I hope to put an end to the roller coster.I know I am an emotional eater and I am also full blooded italian - so my family eats to celebrate everything - even just what day of the week it is....lolI am 248 pounds and about 5ft 5inc tall. Most of my life my weight was 180 - I spent my twenties at 145 for about 10 years....I spend a majority of the time caring for my husband over the last 10 years who was ill, but is on the road to a full recovery!!! So now it is time to take care of me and I am happy to be able to do that...I am so looking forward to this. I wanted to find out if anyone was able to tell me how the insurance part of this works. I am hopping it is covered but not sure how long the approval process takes? Does the bariatric doctor work on getting everything approved? I figure it will be a 6 months process from beginning to surgery? But not sure....Any help would be greatly appreciated.Looking forward to hearing about everyone and their success and struggles and making new friends.Jackie