beaglemom

Okay, the main reason I went with the group I did, was because they did lap band and because they took my insurance. After care has been atrocious and I should have realized I was going to have problems because they kept screwing up my billing. It's taken 5 fills to get to enough restriction and I have spent the last 6 months frustrated. Last fill was the final straw, the tech said, "Oh, I haven't been given you much in the way of a fill because we thought you weren't eating enough protein". Well, I really think the real reason is to get more money out of my insurance company. Oh, and when I went to support group and whined about not losing weight, they told me to a) get an unfill, :rolleyes2: see the dietcian, which all involves getting more money out of me. So I'm working with a different company right now, which doesn't charge for personal aftercare.

Yes, my fills are covered by insurance (BCBS of Texas, TRSActiveCare) + copay

I have had a fill for a week. I've been able to maintain my surgery loss (20 lbs), but not much else even though I am walking at least 30 minutes each day. Still having trouble with head hunger.

I've been working with TLC-Edge to get my surgery -- however my doctor has also offered to do my fills. Doctor is more convenient -- but TLC-Edge brought me this far? So what do I do? I'm thinking of keeping the doctor in mind for backups. TLCEdge has been very good to me.

Check your blood pressure. Low blood pressure can cause dizziness.

I have been on clear fluids for a week and just started on full fluids. So far, I've only had time to do Slim-Fast (drink of choice for my clinic which has surprised me). I was doing 3 Protein bullets a day but know doing only one. I'll branch out a bit this weekend. Healing well, but I"m at the itching stage. Dermobond is just breaking up.

He does run his own Weight Loss Center

I got banded on 5/21 I stopped taking the liquid pain medication Friday night. I took my last Tylenol dose last night but will probably take another before I go to bed. I'm not being brave I don't hurt. I do have some discomfort from time to time, but nothing that GasX doesn't fix. I've also walked on my treadmill 30 minutes each day which I think helped.

Too bad you can't fire him. I know I would be tempted to -- and I've had two situations with doctors recently where I wanted to fire them and haven't (no weight loss doctors). I think we're kinda of stuck with our doctors once we go through the surgery.

I got banded on the 21st too. A bit sore today, but I ditched the codeine last night, but will take if I need it to sleep today. Otherwise doing good.

I'm banded! Dr. Gonzalez was great -- done at TLC Edge. Have a major sore throat but everything else is good, but then I'm on happy syrup.

I'm having my surgery the same day. Ready to get it over and on with my life! TLC in Dallas, with Dr. Gonzalez

I'm scheduled for the 21st. I just want to get past that point.

I'm glad I'm going with a company that all they do is lapband. Their people really have it together next to yours. I will say that the primary care office gave us a bit of a blip, as they send two years of history, not 5, and I knew they had it. I had two other specialists that I see regularly that could help but didn't want to go there if I didn't have to. As to BCBSTX. You have to go to their website www.bcbstx.com and register if you haven't. Once you register, you log in. You can do some really good things, like have your EOB's there instead of in the mail, etc. The Live Chat is on the lower left hand corner, you click on that, put in your telephone number and then ask your question (there are some other clicks involved). They ask you for your date of birth, usually takes a minute or two and answer. They have been very helpful, and I didn't have to go through what seems like hours of telephone button pressing.

By the way, if your insurance plan has a Live Chat -- the BCBSTX plan does, you can find out your status very quickly and easily. That's how I was able to get the ball rolling so fast. They got my paperwork Wednesday, approved it on Friday sometime between 9:00 and 1:00 and had the letter sent out by the end of the day. I was able to get scheduled by the end of the day.

Scheduled for May 21st! Started liquid diet today (but was close to it before today).

I have been approved and schedule for May 21st! I started all this back in November, not really sure if I was going to go lapband or not. Did the insurance diet and while I was doing that, got the paperwork done. Have already been diagnosed with GERD, sleep problems, etc. so didn't have to have any of that testing. Did have to go through pysch, hours of multiple choice questons. Did my last visit on May 1st, paperwork was sent in on Wednesday and I found out through BCBS of Texas live chat that I am approve and have scheduled for May 21st. So there you go.

I have two beagles -- Macy and Maggie -- that I run in agility. So far, no one has said anything about a sleep test. My case manager is going to review my paperwork and send it in early next week.

It not only depends on the insurance company but the plan itself. I'm on TRS Active Care through BCBS of Texas and I had to go through 6 months of medically supervised weight loss, 5 year weight history from my doctors and a pysch evaluation. I finished everything on May 1st, and my case manager will submit next week. I have sleep apnea, diabetes, gastric reflux, arthritis and BMI over 50. I now wait for 6-9 weeks according to the insurance case manager. It's frustrating but I am getting there. Just jump through the hoops and you'll be fine.

If the doctor doesn't know, he can't do anything about it. Also make sure they know they won't get paid if it doesn't get done in time.

I will be doing my 4th month of medically supervised diet next week -- 6 months is required by BCBS of Texas. I have my history on the case managers hands. I have been under the care of a psychristic for several months who has agreed to do the psych evaluation -- I'm going to ask him for the paper work in the middle of March at my next visit. I have been diagosed with diabetes and am on an insulin pump. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and on a CPAP machine. Thus I have the co-mobilties, plus weigh over 300 pounds. My last medically supervised visit with be the first week of May, can I expect surgery in May?

I just can't imagine it's a problem. I've had two hand surgerys (carpel tunnel releases), and a catherization and it never came up and was on my medication list. I think the above surgeon has lumped all birth control together.