Barbara266

I had my band two years ago in July. My band holds 4cc and I have about 2.8cc. I have been successful and lost 70 pounds, slowly. Although this has been a good thing because I really don't have any hanging skin. I have never been unfilled and have rarely vomitted. I figured it took me a life time to put the weight on so I was patient to see it come off............and enjoyed every pound lost and every smaller size I reached. This past year I lost 19 pounds, I am on target but I figured after not getting a fill in a year I decided to give myself a little help to get the last 25 pounds off. I had a little tightness in my chest which eventually past and for the first time something got stuck and I had trouble getting it up. I was uncomfortable for a few days and extremely nervous, and thought the band slipped or eroded, etc. I calmed myself and it got better. I probably should have left the band alone and just tried better at eating less, but I will admit I have relied so much on this band that it has become my best friend.....lol. We have to remember the band is only a tool to HELP us to get the weight off. Don't over fill for the sake of losing the last 20..... losing the band because of an over fill would make us very sad! Barbara PS My Doctor & NP are wonderful, and very professional and I highly recommend them. Obesity Surgery Support Group at Lawrence Hospital, NY, NewYork-Presbyterian affiliate Dory Ferraro, MS, CS, ANP Daniel Davis, DO,

I have been obese most of my life, I have a BMI of 40 and after a year of researching I have decided to have the LAP Band. I already have attended my seminars, nutrionist, nurse practioner, psyc doc and I have been seeing my doctor for about a year. Unfortunately, I have only seen her every 3 months, now they tell me the Insurance Company may require I see her every month for 6 months. Someone please give me advice about how I can get a round this.:think I am so disappointed to have to wait another 6 months and still not know for sure if they will cover me. Please advise.

Well, this is what I have learned. My doctor did document the visits and the weights and we submitted it. However, it was denied. What they requested was more detail. It should state on each visit that the patient was counceled on diet and exercise, and continues with the plan, the weight should also be listed. You will need 6 months of this. They also requested documentation from the past 5 years to prove that I have been overweight for a long time. We have re-submitted it and my NP is doing a Peer to Peer today, wish me luck I will let you know how it goes.

I don't think she has to worry about losing her license. Cigna requires every conversation, weigh in etc. be documented, she was unaware that was required. Therefore, she had to go back into the memory bank and document our conversations. Thank God I have a journal that she made me keep of all of my weights. We just needed to put it all down on paper so that it could be submitted. Anyway, the NP has approved all paper work and has givien me a tenative date of April 18th. Just waiting on good ole CIGNA.

Well, the doctor was willing to add all of my weigh ins to the notes, hopefully it will be good enough for the insurance company. The Center for Obese Surgery that I am dealing with is wonderful, they do everything for you. I filled out a complete patient profile that answers all of the questions that most insurance companies ask. They seem to have an extremely high success rate with getting insurance carriers to cover. After reading all of the horror stories about coverage I am hoping they are just as successful with mine. Right now the NP is reviewing my file to see if all is in order before it goes off to Cigna, if so they usually here back form them within a few days. So please, wish me luck!

Thank you for the advice I will contact my doc tomorrow! I will let you know how it turns out.