Jodi73

I called Aetna yesterday, and I still couldn't get a straight answer. The person did a live chat with someone else and everything. I was trying to figure out if I needed to go to the nutritionist once every month for the three months, just once for the whole thing or what....she said I needed to go weekly, to the nutritionist, excercise therapist, etc..., I said I really did not read that in what I have read on the website. Thats when she did the chat, then came back and said my PCP just needs to coordinate with the nutritionist, and document the excercise, etc. So basically, I am still not sure what coordinate with the nutritionist means. Monthly, weekly or what! Geeze, the 6 month diet is souding easier right now, whats another three months for the rest of my life right! No doc around here offers the Multi-Discp. program, so I am kinda on my own with this, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, and congratulations! Jodi

Can you tell me exactly what you did for the three month diet? I have Aetna POS II and I keep getting conflicting info on the nutritionist requirement. The CPB on their website is just not clear to me! As in, do I need to see them (nutritionist) once, or for all three months? Any help would be greatly apprecaited! Jodi

By the way, I have Aetna POS II. I have heard they are good about approving!

Maybe its just me with some wishful thinking, but the way I read the Clinical Policy Buletin it says: Excercise Regimen.....supervised by excercise therapist or other qualified professional. Behavior Modification supervised by qualfied professional Should your PCP not be a "qualified professional"? Mine documents my eating, excercise, behavior, everything...at my monthly visits. (I have had two so far) I have to bring in my food and excercise journals for her to look over, very detailed! Only the reduced calorie diet program need to be supervised by an actual nutritonist or dietician. And...it doesn't say that you need to have three consecutive months documented with the nutrionist, just that you should be "supervised" by them and have a consultation. To me, it seems like the one visit my doctor requires with their nutrionist will suffice. Plus of course the monthly visits to your PCP. Well, at the end of my three months, we will see I suppose! I will kick myself if I should be doing something now, and am not. I just can't afford a lot of this extra stuff! We have a max out of pocket of $2300, my hubby is already at his "limit" with that, if you know what I mean! I am sure to try and go see an "excercise professional" would cost a fortune! Yikes... If anyone reads something differently in the CPB, or has other experience with this, let us know! Good luck to all! Jodi

Like the poster before me, I have a 32 oz bottle at work. I drink 3 of those a day. To help me, I add those little Crystal Lite packets to each bottle. They are only meant for 16 ozs, but I find that its just enough flavor to make me drink, and only 10 calories! Also, try putting a glass by your bed at night, if its accessable, you will drink it! Good Luck! Jodi

I will pray for peace for you! Good luck, we will be thinking of you on the 22nd!

I had my first of two required psych visits yesterday. It wasn't bad at all! He went over how when we are not eating (with the help of WLS, hopefully) out of boredom, stress, happiness, sadness, etc. you will need to start examining your true "inner self" and your motivations for your previous destructive behaviors. He said it was a real eye opener for a lot of his paitients, and that most people only really start "getting it" after they really start keeping track of what and when they eat, then how they feel after it. Also, keep track of how you feel during the day, ups and downs, what causes them and how you cope. He did recommend food journaling, but REALLY stressed journaling about your moods, and your energy levels. Makes sense to me, you can see what foods make you feel good, what foods make you feel crappy. Then...this is what we all need to do, modify your behavior to keep on the "good" end of things. Personally, this is where I hope the band can help me! Good luck to you, let us know how it goes! Jodi

This is the first time I approached her about WLS, so I was a little nervous. SHe basically said to really think about what I wanted to do. That she has had some patients that have had the surgery loose a lot of weight, some have not. If I am an emotional eater (who isn't, I say) to think long and hard about having the surgery too. Emotional eaters can still eat all day, just small amounts, and not loose very well. I can't say that I eat every time I am hapy, sad , etc., but I do eat for pleasure and reward. I recognize that, thats the first step right? :sad: She suggested really checking out the doc, making sure they have good aftercare, etc. All good advice. So overall, she did not push me one way or the other. I feel better having brought the subject up. I do not have to have a referral or anything, but I did want to get thouroughly checked out before going on with this. The good news is, I am healthy as a horse! Cholesteral a little high (208) nothing diet and exercise won't fix. The bad news is, I am still on the fence about the surgery, I have spent $270 on program fees already, and another $400 or so in coinsurance and deductables for my pre-op testing. I do not want the fact that I have spent a lot already sway me. I just really want this to work for me. I am scared to death that I will be one of those people who loose nothing! I know its up to me to succeed, but if I have never succeeded before, what makes me think I can succeed now? The fear is all consuming, but so is my weight, I am miserable with myself ! It seems it is all I think about some days. Is anyone else going thru this? The self doubt and fears of failure yet once again? Thanks for listening to me ramble, sometimes it helps to just write it all down! Jodi

Thank you to all the those with advice! I am doing a lot of soul searching, and talking with those who know me best. I am starting an excercise class at a local church next week. It's cheap and close by. A friend and I have commited to going 2-3 times a week. She needs to loose quiet a bit too, hopefully a cohort will help me stay motivated. I have always been good at getting one thing going good. As in I exercise really well, but eat bad, or eat right, but am not active enough etc. If I can get into a habit of exercising, then get my food right too....I think thats where the band will help me. If all the puzzle pieces would fall into place, I truly think the weight would come off pretty easily. It has before, then I fall off the wagon, and gain it back. plus some! Again, thank you, good luck to you all too! Jodi

IMHO The band is a tool, nothing more. I too have dieted down 50-75 lbs many times. I now need to loose much more than that. Thats what dieting got me. I have around three months to go an my supervised diet, and frankly, I am not sure I will go thru with surgery either. Not out of fear of the surgery, but because I am not sure I am ready. I know I have to make some BIG changes in how I think, and what I do on a daily basis. I am hoping this "supervised" diet will help with this. It is my first time dieting with accountability to someone other than myself. We will see....I really understand your questioning, and have debated with several people these same things. I am still on the fence...reading this board helps, talking to people who really know me helps too. Good luck to you! Jodi

I recently attended a seminar given by Foothills Weight Loss Center and am gung-ho about the lap band surgery! I would love to chat with anyone near me! I have my initial consultation on 3/10 with Dr. Ray. Will post with updates! good luck to all! Jodi :wink:

HI, I am also in the first month of the "3 month" option for Aetna. My doc told me just to have my PCP document what I was doing for exercise, how I was doing on my diet, my weight at each visit, etc... He said that would be enough to show behavior modification. We will see I suppose, they seem to know what they are talking about, and have saw lots of Aetna patients, so I tend to believe them. Let me know if you hear differently! As for the exercise do you take it to mean we have to go to a trainer? I know the nutritionist is necessary, but I wsan't clear on the exercise ... Good luck! MAybe we will be scheduled for about the same time! Jodi

OK, Tell me about this "generation 2" I am scheduled for July, and I would like to know as much about the different types of bands as possible! Thanks! Jodi Super job by the way!!!!:crying:

OK, my dream shopping trip....hmmm. I would love to go into Ann Talor and find that perfect little black dress. The one you can dress up for date nights, or dress down for days. Also, I can't wait to find a great holiday outfit for the next employee Christmas party. I didn't even go to my hubby's last year, I couldn't stand the thought of all those people looking at me, wondering why he would even be with me...ughhh, the negative self perception is bad! I did go to my employee party, then stressed the whole evening about having to walk up front, in front of everyone, to get my annual bonus . Imagine dreading getting your bonus, thats about ridiculous. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THIS WEIGHT OFF!!!!:crying:

My bmi dropped down around 4 years ago, but was 40+ the last two yrs. That is making me nervous too! It makes me feel better knowing you were approved quickly! Mine will not be submitted for three months, so.... By the way, did you have to do the three month or six month diet, and what are the factors there? Jodi:rolleyes2:

Dawn, I am in TN....Knoxville specificaly. Keep in touch, and let us know your progress! Jodi

I have Aetna POS as well.....They have a very detailed CPB on their website. Just do a search for CPB on the home page, then obesity on the next (CPB) page. It details exactly what you need to do. You mentioned having done the 3 month diet. Just be sure your doc noted your weight, and what you talked about at your monthly visits. That seems to be a common hang-up with approval. The lap band doc and staff will also help you a bunch with the details, remember they do this everyday, and have most likely dealt with Aetna before. They seem to be one of the better ins. companies about approving from what I have read here. I am in my beginning stages as well, starting the pre-op officially on 4/7, really starting now :tt2:. Hope this helps! Jodi

Brian, HI! It's so good to hear from people close by! I am in the beginning stages, just went for initial consult on 3/11. I feel very fortunate that we have good insurance and a great set of people working with me at the docs office. I will start my required 3 month post opt diet officially on 4/7 with my PCP, but I am making small changes right now. Trying to prepare myself! I believe I am down about 5 lbs. You look great! Have any good advice? I will keep in touch! Jodi

Hey , just touching base to see how you are doing! I had my first visit with Dr. Ray. You're right, very religous, he talked more about that then the surgery. I am a religous person, but well, geeze.... Anyway, things look good, looks like I can do the 3 month Pre-op diet, then they will send in my paperwork . I am keeping my fingers crossed... I have to lose around 15-20lbs. by my surgery, so I am working on that, plus I have psyh and upper GI appointments scheduled. His staff is extremely nice by the way, loved the insurance lady, and my nurse. They all seem very well tuned to what has to happen to progress you thru all the red tape. Hope to hear good things from you.

:w00t: Looks like its a green light for me, for now! The nurse said I could do the 3 month post-operative diet( we have Aetna) instead of six, they have a psychologist on staff, so those appointments are scheduled for a couple of weeks from now, and everything will be submitted at the end of the three month diet. The insurance chick at the office seemed to think Aetna would approve rather easily, I hope shes right! I cant wait to get started! One more hurdle jumped!

Thank you! Down 2 pounds on pre-op diet! Yah!!

Hey, I would suggest a book my doc hands out when you start this process. Its called "The Real Skinny on Weight Loss Surgery" I have only read about half, but so far it has been very informative, somewhat funny, and inspirational. the authors had RNY by the way, but there is alot of info on LB in there too! Good luck to you! Jodi

More detail, we do not pay co-pays at office visits, just 20% after the fact (in network)

Thank you so much!! We have specifically Aetna POS II.