tcbgirl

I am leaving in about 2 mins. Leave me the info and I'll try to reach them, if not, i will do it monday.

They do not open on weekend. What type of insurance do you have? I know you have Aetna :-)

My date is April 7th. Please let me know how it goes. Alisa

Jodi, If you want me to call and get info for you (since it is a long distance), please feel free to let me know. Alisa

It is in Nashville. Here is the number (615) 284-2400.

Jodi, Here are the fees that I’ve paid so far. 1) Co Pay to see the pcp for 6 months total $120 (I have to do the 6 months weight management thing per Cigna) 2) Psyche Evaluation $225 3) Pre Op co pay $30 (specialist), I got to meet the surgeon, talk to the nutritionist and it cover the pre op testing and all. 4) For Vitamin, per the surgeon, I bought the over the counter one and that is it. Try to call Baptist one and see what they said. Here is the number 284-2400. Let me know what they say. Alisa

Jodi, I don't mean that I have to pay $8,100 out of pocket. Cigna approves me and I only have to pay co pay for the surgery and co pay for each fills. The $8,100 is the cost in Mexico, which is half the cost in the US. About your weight history, did you get your physical check up last year? I mean female check up, if so, you can use the weight there too. What about weight loss center like Weight Watch, Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, if you attends there at one point in time, you can use the weight there. If you have the 2006 one is great, just gather all the info as much as you can, if you miss out one year, there should not be any problem. If you go to the doctor this year for something, don't forget to let them weigh you so you can have 2009 weight. If you want to know what your requirements are, call Aetna and asked for the requirements and don't forget to ask the name of the person you talk to. BTW, my psych evaluation cost me $225 , yep, my insurance does not cover at all. Does your pcp supports you? If not ask the weight loss center to recommend you the doctor that has been doing it for a long time. For me, my pcp does not support me, so Baptist reccomend me to see Dr. scales, i went to see him for 6 month and he wrote me a reccomendation letter. What is the program fees? Talk to you later, Anissa

Jodi, My surgery has moved to April 7th now since i have no one to help my husband with my 3 little monkeys The reason why I picked him was because I have 2 co worker that went through him, they loved him and he has been doing lap band the longest in the group. I work closed to Baptist Hospital too so that is a plus. I started my journey since June and just got approved last month. I been through all the requirements and the only reason that I got it is because I have sleep apnea. I just found out I have sleep apnea in Jan 2009. if the insurance did not approve me, I would not be able to have it done. I have 3 little boys (ages 4, 3 and 15 months) at home to take care of too. I thought about Mexico since it cost half of what they charge in the US and Dr. Ortiz suppose to be the best; however, I still have to come up with $8,100 that I don't have :tongue2: Do you know what Aetna's requirement is? If I can help you in anyway, please let me know. Alisa

waynes6, Dr. Spaw is at Baptist and I just had a chance to meet him last Thursday. He seems really nice and down to earth. He went over the surgery with me and show me the picture (inside the stomach). He went through all my question and was not in a hurray at all. I also met the dietitian and also got my surgery date. They wanna do it on March 17th but since i need to rearrange babysitter for my 3 kids, I chose March 31st. I also have to do some pre op testing too. I have to swollow barium and they wil x-ray and see if my stomach is leaking and if the barium passes through ok or not. I need to have blood work done all before the sugery day. Has the insurance approve you yet? I will definitly keep in touch with you. :party: Alisa

Hi Guys, I am in need of a new scales since the one we have at home is broke. What brand and model do you suggest? Thanks, Alisa

Cigna approved my lap band surgery Hip Hip Hooray! I am going to meet the surgeon on February 26. I cannot wait :smile: By the way, I have to be on liquid Protein diet + one lean cuisine meal for 2 weeks then 4 liquids diet (no solid) for the week before surgery. Any advice on which Protein Drink will not make you hungry that much? What I need to prepare before I see the surgeon and the dietitian? Any recommendations is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Alisa

Thank you so much for telling me the name brand. I am going to look at it over the weekend. Alisa

Hi, I have been lurking for quite sometimes and it is time for me to introduce myself. My name is Alisa, I am 33 and have 3 fantastic boys ages 4, 3 and 1. I have started the journey since the beginning of June and just got approved yesterday. It has been a long hard road but at the end it paid off. Now my new journey begins, I will see the doctor and nutritionist on Feb 26th. I am excited and scared at the same time. I will update again when I get more info from the doctor. Have a great day, Alisa

Cigna approved my lap band surgery Hip Hip Hooray! I am going to meet the surgeon on February 26. I cannot wait :smile: By the way, I have to be on liquid Protein diet + one lean cuisine meal for 2 weeks then 4 liquids diet (no solid) for the week before surgery. Any advice on which Protein Drink will not make you hungry that much? What I need to prepare before I see the surgeon and the dietitian? Any recommendations is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Alisa

Thank you so much everyone. I am going to wait till I see my doctor and ask about the drink that you guys recommended. Thanks again, Alisa

Thank you so much for the recommendation. I am so excite about this. It has been a long 9 months and finally it is my turn :-) Alisa

I called Cigna today and they said my lap band procedure has been denied due to lack of 5 year weight history. I told them that I gave to my insurance person but may be the fax did not go through. I did fax them myself just now. I called my ins. person and told her this and she said oh I forgot to fax them. I have to wait another week now so hopefully, I will approve soon. Alisa

I am in the process of waiting for the ins. to approve. If I get approved, 2 weeks before the surgery my doctor requires 2 liquid meal and 1 lean cuisine a day. I used to drink slim fast and other liquid diet and it made me hungry after an hour. Any recommendation on other brand that has more Proteins? Thanks, Alisa

Thank you so much for the tip and information. I hope the insurance approves me. I cannot wait! Thanks again, Alisa

My insurance person just submitted my info today. However, she did not give them my 5 year weight history. I was ticked off since she knew I will give her all the history tomorrow. She said she just wanna know if it will flies. I'll let you know what happen. Alisa

Well, I am in the process of getting Cigna to approved. Have not send it all the document yet since I need a sleep study too. I am just wonder though, after surgery, how soon can I hold my baby. My 12 month old is about 20 lbs, he is very attached to me. If insurance approve me, my mom will be taking care of him for me both day and night. My baby sleeps with me and my husband; however, he will not let his daddy hold him. When can I resume my normal activities? Thank you so much, Alisa

This is my last month of doing this; however, I have gained 9 lbs in the first 2 months because of the side effect of the medicine that the doctor put me on for shingles. Will they deny me because I gained weight? Should i continue the evaluation past 6 months to cover the first 2 months that I've gained? Thanks, Alisa

Heather, I did not cheat at all. I've gained 5 lbs in 1 week after I took the med (Lyrica). Lyrica usually treat people with depression but they use on people who has nerve pain too (shingles included). I was shocked at the weight gain; however, my pcp told me that one of the side effect is gaining weight. I am going to tell him to please mention about the med he put me on. Alisa

Juli and McMadame, Thank you so much for your reply. You guys make me feel so much better. Thanks, Alisa

Hi :wink2: My name is Alisa. I am 32 years old with 3 little ones at home. I am in the process of getting the band approved by my insurance (Cigna). Dec 19th will be my last visit with my doctor since he is a nutritionist too, I don’t need to join the weight watcher. I am also having my psychiatric evaluation on Dec 17th which they said it would take 3-4 hours. What do they ask you anyway? Why does it take so long? My questions for you guys that have been through this (getting insurance to approve). Do you think the insurance will approve me? My BMI is right at 40.5. I did not lose any weight with the nutritionist, instead I have gained almost 10 lbs due to the medicine the doctor put me on for shingles and I cannot lose it. I don’t have high BP, Apnea, Diabetes, High Cholesterol. The only thing I have is acid reflux which does not happen as often. I am really looking forward to the band; however, I also do not want to get my hopes up if the insurance refuses to pay. Has anyone been approved under the same condition? Thank you for all of your help. Alisa