KMCD

I think I'm just going to keep tons of extra large napkins in my purse! I am absolutely NOT looking forward to that!!! I have been considering the gastric sleeve. I wonder if it has the same issues.

Man! How great it would be to get 80% covered!!! Congrats on getting your date! I don't have to take the classes. I am meeting with the nutritionist though. I finally got through to him. He had been out of town last week, but I kept calling and finally, the last time I called, I asked if I could make an appointment with another nutritionist outside their practice so I could just get it done. This must have done something because they had him on the phone in minutes...So, I see him this Friday morning! That is that last thing I need to do. I've had the blood work, the EKG and had a psych consult. I didn't have to meet with the exercise person because Dr. Fass felt that since I had completed three triathlons, I should be okay in that area. At this point, I am looking seriously at the gastric sleeve operation. He won't do that surgery and I think I will have a hard time finding anyone who will do it on me because I am not morbidly obese. I think I'm just getting really scared about having something foreign in my body and about having PB's and sliming -- I can't stand throwing up! Keep me posted!!!

Holy COW!!!! That sounds awful! But the way you were saying it made laugh until I was crying! I'm sure I won't feel that way when it happens to me...Thanks for filling me in:biggrin:

Hi all, I have a question. I was resigned to self-paying for my band. I've got it all worked out. However, now my mom and my Aunt are saying that I should be able to fight my insurance company and get them to pay for it. My thought is that when I signed on to my current job, the first thing they made me sign in the insurance coverage was that I understood that they would NOT pay for WLS of any kind. It is pervasive throughout their literature. So, I figured, what was the point in trying to fight it? Am I giving up too early? I really don't want to jump through the hoops of fighting these guys when I have less than a 1% chance of winning the fight. My BMI is 38, my BP is still normal (high for me though), I don't have diabetes yet and really my only co-morbidities are asthma and PCOS. I have about 70 - 80 pounds to lose and I'm getting it done so that I can keep the darn weight OFF!!!! I have gained and lost so many ridiculous pounds througout my life...what a pain! Thanks for the input...

So, I am assuming you ended up with the sleeve or gastric bypass? You make some really terrific points and I absolutely appreciate your candid opinion! I think with all my misgivings, it's time to call the doctor again and get more info. I completely understand what you mean by the lap band and the idea of permanence in WLS. I started asking questions because I want it to be permanent. My doctor says that about 4% of the patients in his entire practice will experience slippage or erosion. I'm just not sure I can get someone to do a sleeve on me if I don't have a higher BMI. I really don't want gastric bypass because I don't want to deal with the issues of b12 and all. Thank you for the input. It has really meant a lot to me. You are so close to you goal. How great that must feel!!!!! I would really like to hear more of your story...

Wow! Congrats on your weight loss to date!!! How impressive. My concern about the sleeve is that it is much more invasive and permanent. Plus, doesn't it cost about double the amount as the band? Really good thought though. I'm going to research both a little more closely and see what I get.... Thanks!

Thank you so much for all your replies! I went straight to the obesity law website and sent in an inquiry. However, I have little hope that it will work since they say that exclusions are the hardest to overcome in their FAQ section. So here's my next question. What if you have a complication (port flipped over, erosion, etc)? Do you have to self-pay that as well if your policy excluded you from having the surgery in the first place?:scared2: I still feel that I need this surgery, but my resolve is weakening. I am so afraid of complications. This is why I chose the doc I did. He has very few complications... Thanks for the help:sad:

Hi Bren! What a great idea! I might even start doing it now. We are already talking about when it happens and anticipating the changes. It will be good to get it down on paper and see the progress. Thanks for the suggestion! We might be down in your neck of the woods this week. Going to the zoo!!! I like your ticker! I created one, but I have no idea how to import it into responses yet. Thanks for posting!

I can't remember how long it took. But I didn't attend a seminar, I did the online seminar instead. I just couldn't face getting up there with a lot of folks. I'm so embarrassed about my weight. Plus, being a nurse, I didn't want to go over information that I already knew. I think they told me it took about 1 to 2 weeks to get the call for the appointment especially due to them being a little short staffed right now. It was okay with me as I knew I would have to be self pay and I couldn't do the surgery right away (I'm hoping for April, but it may have to be May). I think they research your insurance for you and they didn't realize I was self-pay. Have you heard from them yet? Thanks for connecting with me! I hope we can keep up with each other through out the process...

Hi newbie from Austin! I am from Austin too and I have just started the process with Dr. Fass. I chose Dr. Fass because of his reputation. I have also seen his work on our unit (I am a nurse). I am getting my psych consult next Tuesday and hopefully will have my nutrition consult sometime soon. I am hoping to be banded in April or May. I found this site to be really helpful so far. I am excited but a little more scared as I get closer to it. I know some folks have issues with losing weight in the beginning and I'm really worried about that. I know Dr. Fass is conservative and I like that, I just hope I can make it work. Good luck to you. I will post again when I get a surgery date...:scared2:

Hi! I went to SWTSU too!!!!! That was my first degree before I became a nurse later in life. And it was about 130 years ago! Wow! Life can be so amazing. I started reading some of the forums about the band not working and I have to admit I am a lot more scared now. I don't think its going to stop me. I am tired of the yo yo diets and I don't want my kids to think that its normal for mommy to eat strange foods to lose weight and then gain it all back. I want to know how to do that really cool weight ticker at the bottom of everyones posts. Can't seem to find that... Thanks for responding. I'd love to hear more about your stories...

Hi! I am new to this forum and I am in the process of getting ready to be banded. Dr. Fass is my surgeon. I chose him because of his reputation and because (I am a nurse) I have seen his work. Many of my nurse friends have worked with him and think highly of him. I am going for my psych eval next week and hopefully will complete my nutrition counseling soon. I am so ready to get started with this! I am scared and excited at the same time. I love looking at the pictures of folks who are doing so well. I can only hope that I will be there soon....:mad2: