TQUAD64

You really need to contact the insurance company to find out the requirements for WLS. In your case, it all starts with the insurance company. In my case, the PC started the process by alerting my insurance company to the fact that he is requesting referrals for a pysch eval, supervised diet, and/or lab work. Once my PC received the authorization for these referrals from my insurance company, we moved forward with the process. Yes, I had to provide I was over weight for a period of years. I cannot remember how many, but I had it well documented. Good luck!

I have learned that people make mistakes and give wrong information. Ask the insurance company to send you in writing the exclusion clause that states they do not treat morbid obesity and WLS. As far as utilizing a loan, I used Capital Ones Care program and took out a $5K loan for my Lasik Eye Surgery in 2007. I do not regret that and I love being able to see. If I had no insurance to cover WLS, I would look out all my options to having the procedure done, including going to Mexico. I am sorry this is happening to you. I hope you are able to find the resources to have the procedure.

Sorry playhead, but you have to follow your doctors orders. If he/she states 6-weeks then it is 6-weeks. I am not a doctor, thus I am always going to say follow your doctors orders and not to read to much into what other banders are doing pre-op or post-op for that matter.

Your doctor will include that in your discharge orders if they do not then ask your doctor. I was told not to drive until day 7-post-op. And honestly I did not feel up to driving until day 7 post-op.

Hello Minnah: You legally do not need to tell anyone at work the details of your medical issues. You are protected under HIPPA and you do have the right to take FMLA. Of course your co-workers are going to know your gone, but they don't legally get to know why. Your HR department should be aware of that. (There are some requirements to qualify for FMLA, talk to your HR department or do a Google search). I did not tell my co-workers. I went on vacation for two weeks and had the surgery. I had my bariatric doctor complete my FMLA form, so I could take time off work to go to my monthly doctor appointments. I requested that my doctor not use her stationary or any identifying stamps that stated bariatric on it. It is my right to protect my medical information. My weight loss has been slow and gradual, which is why I chose this procedure. People are now commenting on how great I look. No one has asked what am I doing to lose the weight. I thank them for the comments and tell them the truth. I work my butt off. I am now jogging on my treadmill for 60 minutes on an incline at least five times a week. I count calories, get plenty of rest, cut back on my portions and stopped the snacking. I have had many surgeries and I have never felt compelled to discuss those procedures with my employer and co-workers. Personally, I believe keeping my personal matters and job matters separate. When I go to work, I don't talk about my personal life and when I go home I don't talk about my work life. Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter. Best of luck to you!

Today: 60 treadmill 4% incline 3.33 miles jogging and power walk mix. Tomorrow morning back to the dentist to see why my gums are infected in area of the root-canal. Son-of-a-gun still hurts.

I drink coffee with lots of caffeine, my doctor would prefer that I didn't because it is believed to stimulate the appetite. Anyway, my doctor knows I drink it and we just leave it at that. As far as energy, your only five weeks out, I would imagine you body is still in recovery mode. As far as Vitamins, my doctor recommended I take B12, which I place under my tongue and it melts away. B12 helps with energy. Additionally, exercise will boost up your energy as well. Keep up the Protein, at least 90 grams.

Hi beautylocs, keep calling the scheduler and/or ask for the office manager to move this forward. My paper work submitted to the insurance company on October 14, the insurance company approved October 15, and on October 16 the bariatric center gave me a surgery date for November 11.

Does your insurance compay require you to lose 10% of your weight during the 6-month diet? I have never heard that before. I was told I would need to lose 10% of my weight during the pre-op diet, then that was switched to 10% of your excess weight. I was not given a set number of pounds to lose during the 6-month diet. I was told not gain weight during this time and not to go below a 40 BMI.

With my insurance I make a co-pay of $15.00, which covers the cost of the doctor visit and the fill.

There are people on this board who have been fully filled and have not reached restriction. It does happen, but this is not the norm. Restriction is fickle and is very different for each person. I have not reached my sweet spot yet, but I do have some restriction after a fill. It usually lasts for about two weeks. But that is just my situation. You will not know if the tool will work for you based on other people's life experiences with the band. I appreciate your fear, as I felt the same way, but sometimes we have to take a leap of faith and give it a try. There are no guarantees in life.

I spoke to the psych doctor for about 30 minutes. And then I completed a questionnaire at his office. I believe it was around 200 questions, multi-choice. I spent more time with the questionnaire than I did with the doctor. The questions were basically all the same but asked in different ways. Do I follow doctor's orders? Do I do things on my own without following orders? Do I feel suicidal? What type of support system do I have? Do I cheat?

Banded at age 44. wish I did it sooner.

I am pleased that we have a President who is articulate, professional, and appears to be inclusive. I have hope for the future. It will not be an easy future, but nothing ever comes easy.

I had no problems with the stairs after surgery, but I was moving slow.

I will never give up coffee. I drink it every morning. :cursing:

Did you check out the doctors/hospital forum? If you go there and do a search you might find other people who utilized this doctor and/or this hospital. Good luck!

If you have already been approved by the insurance company, then your initial weigh in will count as your starting weight. But a word of caution regarding losing weight now. My insurance company assigned me a case manager. The case manager happened to be a nurse who had WLS. She clearly told me not to lose any weight, specifically not to go under a BMI of 40, until the insurance company approved me to see the bariatric surgeon. Now the insurance company approved me to have the 6-month supervised diet and the pysch eval, but they had not yet approved me to see the bariatric doctor. This was a very stressful time, because here I am on this 6-month supervised diet, trying not to go under a BMI of 40, in fear of being denied. Crazy! Once I was approved to see the bariatric doctor and she weighed me in. That was considered my official weight for the insurance company. After that, I was approved for surgery and started losing weight in preperation of the surgery. Not all insurance companies are like mine. This is just my experience and may not yield the same results for you. Good luck!

Hi Wendy: Welcome to LBT! You are going to find great resources and support on this website. Good luck with your journey!

Hello Aquanet: I have Blue Shield of California managed by Hills Phyicians. This is what I had to do. 1. Meet with my PC to discuss WLS and to have him send in a request to the insurance company for approval to start the process. 2. Once approval came through, the insurance company authorized me to see a doctor for the pysch eval and to start seeing the nutritionist for the 6-month supervised diet. 3. I was assigned a case manager, who is a nurse, and who has had WLS. 4. I was also given a choice to complete the 6-month supervised diet with my PC or with a nutritionist. I went primarliy to the nutritionist, because she was a free service and did Saturday appointments. But there were times I saw the PC. I hope the info is helpful.

Tea and coffee decaf and hot chocolate sugar free.

I have the same issues. I drink a warm beverage first thing in the morning and by mid morning I can eat.