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Dear Meg: I have CIGNA too. When I started I had a BMI of 38.5, under the 40 needed for approval. But I had high BP,high cholesterol, and acid reflux. Those issues (comorbitities) helped to get me approved. Be careful with your "weight loss" program. You don't want to lose to much weight. Tell your doctor that you're exercising and following the rules. Try to lose a few pounds one month and gain a couple of it back in the second month and keep doing that. If you show too much progress, the insurance company will say that you've proven you don't need the surgery because you can do it without. Which is BS. Usually if you are at the stage where you are, you've already done all that and it just didn't work. This surgery is the best thing I have ever done in my life. Good luck. Brian

I work for CIGNA. Let's say your bill is $20000 and BCBS pays all but $2000. When this claim hits CIGNA, they'll look to see if you've met your deductible with them. If not, they won't pay anything until it's met. So let's say you have a $500 deductible with CIGNA. CIGNA would apply $500 of the $2000 to your deductible, you're on the hook for this amount. Then they'd pay their portion. Let's say you have 10% coinsurance. Then they'd pay 90% of the $1500. What's left over you pay. This isn't just how CIGNA works, this is how all secondary payors process their claims. It puts more of the bill on you and reduces the amount the insurance companies pay out of their pocket. These days it almost doesn't pay to have double coverage unless you're getting it for free.

For me, it comes off pretty fast. Just try to think about the foods you eat, make sure you do protein first, and eat the most nutritious foods before anything else. You should do well. My two month surgery anniversary was on the 13th and I'm down 44 lbs already.

Could be a hematoma. Nothing to freak about though. Just make sure you have your surgeon take a feel. Definition is below. I had the same problem and that is what they told me it was. It's shrinking on its own now. Hematomas exist as bruises (ecchymosis), but can also develop in organs.There are two kinds, an intermuscular and intramuscular hematoma. Some hematomas form into welt-like formations that are hard to the touch. Such a formation is a sac of blood that the body creates to keep internal bleeding to a minimum. In most cases the sac of blood eventually dissolves, however, in some cases they may continue to grow or show no change. If the sac of blood does not disappear, then it may need to be surgically removed.

Hey guys. I am trying to gauge what to expect right now. I had surgery on February 13th. At the time, they put in 3 cc's of fluid into the band. A week after the surgery I was having really bad shoulder pain so they took the fluid out. I was on fluids for the first two weeks and never really felt any restriction even before they removed the fluid. They advanced me to mushies now. I'm getting in between 600-800 calories per day. I lost good my first two weeks (19lbs). It's been almost a week and the scale just isn't moving. I don't understand why with such limited calorie intake. I'm afraid that even when I get my first fill (two weeks from now) that I'm still not going to lose b/ca they are only going to put in the 3 cc's they took out. I'm not hungry so that's good. But why am I not losing? Will it just start dropping off all of a sudden? Anything you can share is appreciated.

I had surgery on Feb 13th. Was on total liquid the fist two weeks but now I'm on mushies. I lost 19 lbs after the first two weeks and now my weight is just stalled. I don't get my first fill for another two weeks. I am getting in about 600-800 calories per day so the stall confuses me. I would think my weight would be going down a little even without the fill. How come it's not? The doc told me I had about 3 cc's in my band that he put in during surgery. I had so much shoulder pain a week after, they took that out. Now they tell me that at my first fill they'll probably only put that much back in. I don't really have any restriction to speak of so I'm being very careful not to eat too much (quantity or calories). Any advice?

I was banded on the 13th of Feb and am just now feeling normal again. The pain for the first week and a half was a killer. I ate Gas-X and used a heating pad on my left shoulder for days. The pain got so bad I called my surgeon, went in, and they removed 3cc's of the primer fluid from my band. They then gave me 10mg of Percocet, which kicks Lortabs butt. I think it's just the gas they pump into your body during the surgery that gets trapped and has a hard time working it's way out. Go get checked by your doctor, and asked for the Percocet. Get the 10mg. You can always break the tablet in half if it's too much. I lived on the stuff for a week and it took the pain from a 9 to a 2 in no time. But I lived on those pain pills. Sometimes Lortab and Percocet will make you itch, but my doctor told me to take liquid benydril (sp??) and it relieved that too. I was so afraid that I had slippage or that something was majorily wrong, but some people just have more pain than others. Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better soon.

I'm also going in on the 13th. It's been a long haul with dealing with insurance and doctors, etc.. With just a little over a week to go I am getting really nervous. I don't like the idea of being put under and not having control. I guess this is where you just have to have faith. Anyway, I'll be sure to share my experience and look forward to hearing how yours went. I'm having mine done in Raleigh, NC. Where are you having yours?

Yep, this is my date for surgery. Anyone think I am crazy? I thought I'd join this group and get ready to get involved with everyone as we go through this. I am getting pretty scared though; mostly over being put to sleep - I don't like being out of control. I look forward to sharing our progress !!

I have a question for those of you out there that might be or have experienced this situation as it relates to getting insurance approval. My BMI is 38.5 and I have GERD, hypertension, and high cholesterol. My insurance policy (which is CIGNA) states that if my BMI is less than 40, I have to have one or more comorbidities. However, further down in the policy it states that hypertension qualifies so long as it is clinically unmanageable hypertension. My blood pressure is controlled by taking medication. Does this mean that it is "clinically manageable" Has anyone with a BMI<40 got approval even though their blood pressure is managed with medications? I also take prilosec and cholesterol meds, even if they can deny me on the hypertension, would the GERN and high cholesterol do it for me? I am very nervous about this. My authorization request was submitted last week after I have jumped through all of the hoops.

I have CIGNA and actually work for them; not that that makes any difference. I did all the paperwork, 6 mos of phys supervised diet, psych eval, the whole nine yards. I'm nervous too. My doctor submitted for authorization last Thursday (1/15/2009). I am very nervous. I have heard the same thing about CIGNA being hard. I'm nervous because my BMI is slightly below 40 but I have high blood pressure and cholesterol, and am borderline diabetic. But I was reading the CIGNA coverage position and it says that if your conditions like high blood pressure,etc.. are manageable, then they don't really count. Mine do seem to be manageable with the use of medications. So, I'll just have to see. I'm trying to prepare for the denial and find out how and what to do when they do deny me. The whole process is a bunch of BS. I'll post when I either get approval letter or denial. Should be something in the next couple of days I'd imagine.

Sorry to keep asking you questions, but you sound like you might still be able to put my mind at ease. When you say that you had GERD and high cholesterol, were those able to be managed with meds? I am hoping even if my high blood pressure is controlled with meds that my GERD and high cholesterol will do the trick (even though those are pretty much controlled by meds). My PCP told me that if I weren't going to be having lab band that she'd prepare to start treating me for pre-diabetes. She said that I am on the cusp of having type 2. I am sure nervous.

Thanks, Babbs. So your blood pressure was controlled by meds? If you don't mind me asking, what were the first two denials for? Who was your insurance? I am really nervous about getting approval. I am trying to prepare for the worse. I have just been working so hard toward this.