wemdawg

I was banded on July 6th and have lost about 34 pounds. Slow going, but now I have 4.75CC in my 10CC band as of a couple days ago. I am just now feeling the restriction and fullness that I was hoping for. Best of luck to all!

This is the example letter that I gave to my doctor: http://www.lapband.com/local/files/payment/7AMLA223_SampleLOMN_L11_010408.pdf Good Luck! :crying:

Last Monday, my doctor asked me to do the single incision surgery for my Lapband surgery tomorrow. From what he told me, this will benefit me in recovery time, scarring, and pain. He explained to me that this is the same surgery and no additional risk, but it is done at one incision site with smaller instruments and the port will be on the right side instead of the left. This single incision site is one of the places they would have used during the normal 4-5 incision surgery, so if having difficulties, they can easily transfer to the normal surgery. I hope this helps..

I was also informed that I needed to do a 6 month (consecutively) diet with my physician within the last 2 years. My surgeon's office said that they have got it approved before using the physician monitoring of 3 months in correspondence with Nutritionist classes. It worked for me! Keep in mind that once you submit all your paperwork, the worst they can say is they need more information. :tongue2:

I only did 3 months (3 times) of diet monitoring with my doctor and a corresponding 6 week nutrition class with a nutritionist. They call this the "multi-discipline" approach. My doctor sent in a letter with my family history, diet attempts and all weight history he had on me. The nutritionist sent in a letter with the exact diet I was on and all weekly weigh in's. Of course, I also sent them every personal weight history I could find in the past 5-6 years in a nice little spreadsheet with what kind of diet I was on for each date. Plus a copy of the CURVES diet and my whole CURVES exercise schedule for the 2006 year. It was probably over-kill, but it did the job and I didn't have to do the complete 6 months. Once my surgeons office got all the paperwork from my appointments and me, they submitted the whole file to the insurance company, as well as a "dummy" surgery date to push it through fast. My surgeons office called me 6 days later telling me I was approved. :redface:

I also have Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ and was just approved on the first try. I was also very worried about getting all the proper paperwork and heard several horror stories on being denied. Believe me, you do not have to worry about being denied. Our insurance does approve this type of surgery. If they do not on your first time, it really is not a DENIAL, it is just a pending of more information so they can make the APPROVAL decision. Chin up.. I hope this helps.

I apologize for the "YUCK" suggestions..

I am being banded 07/06/09, 1 more month to go! How about: July Jitterbugs July Jazzers Jubilent July :blushing:

Hello! :tt1: This is my first post, but have been reading the message boards and going through the process of the seminar, pre-op appointments, and group support meetings since January 2009. I am hoping to have the LB surgery sometime in July by Dr. Louis Balsama in Stratford, NJ. That is, if my insurance (Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ - Direct 10) approves me on the first round.

I am excited to say, I am approved for surgery! I really thought BCBSNJ (Direct 10) would write back asking for the full 6 months of diet/nutrition physician counseling since I only did 3 months and corresponding 6 week nutrition class. Of course, I sent them every weight history I could find in a nice little spreadsheet with what diet I was on for each date. Plus a copy of the CURVES diet and their whole exercise schedule for the 2006 year. I am so shocked and surprised! My surgery date is scheduled for 07/06/09 (since I have so much going on in the month of June). I cannot wait!!!!!!! :smile:

When I made my ticker, I put in the highest weight I have been, which was at the end of last year. Which was when, I started doing Zumba twice a week and eating lower carbs. In February, I saw my doctor to start my diet/weight monitoring (insurance requirement) and he recommended a reduce calorie diet. Then in March, I started a 6 week course with a Nutritionist (again, part of the insurance requirement) and it just ended last week. SO, long story short, I have lost weight REALLY trying with exercise, reduce calorie/carb intake, and tips/counseling from a Nutritionist. I have done this many times before, but as with everyone else, my weight loss is not sustainable.

1/20/09 - Attended Bariatric Surgery Seminar at Kennedy in Washington Township with Dr. Balsama. 1/21/09 - Verified insurance covers Bariatric Surgery and Dr. Balsama is in network. 1/21/09 - Initial phone questionaire with Dr. Balsama's office, pending call back to schedule appointment. 1/26/09 - Attend Bariatric Surgery Support Group at Kennedy in Stratford. 1/27/09 - Called Dr. Balsama's office, scheduled appointment. 2/11/09 - Call from Dr. Balsama's office requesting additional general information (address, phone, SS#, insurance information, etc.). Also, automated call from Dr. Balsama's office stating time and date of appointment. 2/12/09 - Call from Dr. Balsama's office verifying that I have a referral letter from primary doctor, if needed for my insurance. 2/13/09 - Appointment with Dr. Balsama in Washington Township, informed of all prerequisites for surgery and did the required lab tests/blood work. Made appointments for Radiology, Medical Doctor, GI/EGD, Nutritionist, Cardiologist, Gynecology, and Pulmonary Doctor. 2/18/09 - Medical Doctor and Cardiology Clearance Appointment. 2/20/09 - Cardiologist Appointment. 2/23/09 - Radiology Appointment. 3/09/09 - Psychiatry Appointment. 3/10/09 to 4/15/09 - Nutritionist Appointment (every Tuesday for 6 weeks). 3/17/09 - Pulmonary Appointment. 3/18/09 - Gynecology Appointment. 3/20/09 - Medical Doctor follow-up and GI/EGD Doctor. 3/23/09 - Sleep Study Appointment. 3/31/09 - Endoscopy Appointment. 4/24/09 - Medical Doctor follow-up. 5/13/09 - Dr. Balsama Appointment. 5/14/09 - Submitted all paperwork to BCBS of New Jersey. 05/21/09 - BCBSNJ Insurance APPROVED Surgery. 6/30/09 - Pre-Op Tests at Hospital. 7/6/09 - Surgery Day! 7/22/09 - Follow-up Appointment with Dr. Balsama.

1/20/09 - Attended Bariatric Surgery Seminar at Kennedy in Washington Township with Dr. Balsama. 1/21/09 - Verified insurance covers Bariatric Surgery and Dr. Balsama is in network. 1/21/09 - Initial phone questionaire with Dr. Balsama's office, pending call back to schedule appointment. 1/26/09 - Attend Bariatric Surgery Support Group at Kennedy in Stratford. 1/27/09 - Called Dr. Balsama's office, scheduled appointment. 2/11/09 - Call from Dr. Balsama's office requesting additional general information (address, phone, SS#, insurance information, etc.). Also, automated call from Dr. Balsama's office stating time and date of appointment. 2/12/09 - Call from Dr. Balsama's office verifying that I have a referral letter from primary doctor, if needed for my insurance. 2/13/09 - Appointment with Dr. Balsama in Washington Township, informed of all prerequisites for surgery and did the required lab tests/blood work. Made appointments for Radiology, Medical Doctor, GI/EGD, Nutritionist, Cardiologist, Gynecology, and Pulmonary Doctor. 2/18/09 - Medical Doctor and Cardiology Clearance Appointment. 2/20/09 - Cardiologist Appointment. 2/23/09 - Radiology Appointment. 3/09/09 - Psychiatry Appointment. 3/10/09 to 4/15/09 - Nutritionist Appointment (every Tuesday for 6 weeks). 3/17/09 - Pulmonary Appointment. 3/18/09 - Gynecology Appointment. 3/20/09 - Medical Doctor follow-up and GI/EGD Doctor. 3/23/09 - Sleep Study Appointment. 3/31/09 - Endoscopy Appointment. 4/24/09 - Medical Doctor follow-up. 5/13/09 - Dr. Balsama Appointment. 5/14/09 - Submitted all paperwork to BCBS of New Jersey. 05/21/09 - BCBSNJ Insurance APPROVED Surgery. 6/30/09 - Pre-Op Tests at Hospital. 7/6/09 - Surgery Day! 7/22/09 - Follow-up Appointment with Dr. Balsama.