em1125

Tonja, My surgeons office started the insurance requests in May. I was denied thirty days later. In the beginning of July the surgeons office submitted the second appeal. I was denied again and had to cancel my surgery for July 25th. At that point, I knew I had only one more appeal to the insurance company and one appeal to the NYS external appeal so I decided to hire Walter and Kelley Lindstrom from Obesitylaw.com. I scheduled my surgery date and hoped that I wouldn't have to self pay. But whatever the decision was going to be, I was going ahead with the procedure in Sept. Walter Lindstrom sent an appeal letter (18 pages long) to the NYS External appeal and an appeal to the insurance company. According to the attorney's, the insurance company thinks that eventually we will go away and not fight. However, they were wrong. Once they received the letter from Walter Lindstrom and saw that the letter was also copied to the New York State External appeals, they knew how serious we were. I got my denial overturned in 14 days. Thanks to Kelley and Walter I didn't have to pay the wopping $23,000 LapBand bill. So here I am 3 days pre-op and looking forward to a better and healthier lifestyle. If they don't see how serious you are, they will continually deny you. If you prefer, think about calling Obesitylaw.com and speak to Kelley. She is amazing. They will not take your case unless they truly feel that they can get an approval from the insurance company. Best of luck to you and don't give up.

My surgeon didn't put me on any post op diet for the last two weeks. My surgery is 9/5 and I can only have liquids starting Sunday night. The hospital called me today to let me know the time on Tuesday (7:30 a.m.) and said that I can only have clear liquids starting Sunday night. So I asked them if Vodka counted as a clear liquid. lol I have been dieting and drinking Protein Shakes during the day and eating a ww meal for dinner for the last week. That's basically it for me. Good luck and wishing you a speedy recovery.

All of these posts have been very helpful. I will be banded on Tuesday and although very excited, I am very nervous that I will have gone through this for nothing. Not to lose weight would be very upsetting. I plan on dieting with my band to lose the bulk of my weight. I know I have read many posts that say we don't really need to diet b/c the band will enable us to eat less. But after reading that insightful chart that StrawartS put on (see wesite below). According to the chart, bandsters should be consuming 800 to 1000 cal/day. If you consume that amount per day and excercise, there is no way I couldn't lose the weight. The other issue that's gotton me very nervous is the idea of PB'ing all the time. That's not very healthy for the esophagus. I hope and pray that this will not be a frustrating journey. I don't mind working hard to lose the weight. But to eat healthy and less than normal and PB anyway is something that would frustrate the hell out of me. I am so sorry for some of you who have had such a difficult time with your band. I truly wish you all the best. I hope that I can go through this journey and not feel like this will be the most life altering experience. I know it will be difficult. I just want to lose my weight. I have 80 pounds to lose and my goal is to lose it in about 16 months. Wishing all of you the best. Thanks for all the positives and negatives. I want to go into this with my eyes wide open. http://www.lapsf.com/weight-loss-surgeries.html

I am happy to see that you all seemed to do fine post op. I will be banded this Tuesday. I think at this point I just want to get the surgery part over with so that I could begin my new lifestyle. It doesn't seem like there is much pain afterwards. My nerves are a little shot, but hopefully that will get better after I'm banded. want2lose, the best of luck to you. I know we'll have a lot to talk about since we will both be banded within days from one another. Good luck. This is an exiting time and one I should truly be embracing. Just a little on edge and find it hard to relax at this point. Wondering about the unexpected is difficult. I was atleast happy to read that you all did well afterwards. I hope I can say the same for all of us who will be banded in September. Regards,

So happy to hear you're feeling better. From your first thread I read, I would almost swear it sounded like a terrible stomach bug. You may have picked up a virus in the hospital. About six months ago I had the worst stomach bug that I have ever experienced in my life. I also went to the hospital for fluids. Water is the worst thing to drink y mouth if you have a stomach bug. Keep us informed on your progress. Regards,

Shellyj, I am so sorry that you're feeling so badly. I truly hope you will find some relief soon. The bright side to this is your down 68% of your weight. That's awesome and something to be proud of. You hung in there like a trooper. I thinks thats unbelievable given your problems. I see that you were banded in 2003. Have you had problems ever since the band? What kind of esophagus problems do you have? Do you mean that you PB alot. I would think that having that many problems is really not good for your esophagus. I will be banded in a week and I really need to know about the cons. I understand about PB'ing, erosion, slippage. But you seem to have more issues than that. Wishing you the best. Regards,

Wishing you all the best. My prayers are with you. I'll be banded in one week and can't wait. Regards,

Congratulations. Wishing you a speedy recovery. One week from today I will be banded as well. Looking forward to it. Best of luck to you. regards,

I am soooo nervous. After telling everyone at work about my Hiaetal Hernia surgery, my surgeons office sent the letter stating that I was having a surgical procedure and would return to work within 2 weeks. BIG PROBLEM: The letterhead read: Minimally invasive and Bariatric Surgery. If that's not giving it away what is? I am soooo embarassed that they must know at this point. What do I do? Do I just forget about it and let them think what they want. All they have to do is google his name and his name comes up as one of the leading doctors in Bariatric surgery. That's what happens when we lie. I wanted something to remain confidential and now the girl in personnel probably caught on. Knowing her she probably would blab it to someone else.

Okay, after all the insurance appeals and all of the hype about looking so forward to having the procedure, it's finally going to happen a week from this Tuesday and I'm a nervous wreck. I need help. :help: I have been having so much anxiety for the last few days. It started on Friday after I completed my pre-op. I haven't been sleeping at night and I'm not concentrating on daily activities. One part of me is very excited and the other part of me is very very nervous about the surgery. I'm having these terrible thoughts that I'm not going to wake up after the surgery or that something terrible is going to happen during the procedure. I have been extremely irritable and short fused. I'm also having terrible nightmares. I can almost feel myself going under anethesia in my sleep. In my dreams, I am telling the anethesiolgist to WAIT and then all of a sudden I feel myself going under. Very weird. And yes, I am a control freak. I'm constantly asking myself "What if" all the time. I don't think this is normal behavior. I have had other surgeries and I don't ever remember feeling this way. As I'm writing this, my palms are sweating and I'm getting short of breath. What if I get this done and I don't lose any weight. What if I don't wake up. What if something terrible goes wrong. What if my kids are without their mom. What if I PB all the time and can't have a "normal" life of eating? What if I don't know what to eat? It's really bad. Please help. I need some encouragement. Desperately awaiting your replies. Thanks. Regards,

Hi all, I'm getting myself prepared (stocking the pantry, food shopping) as I will be banded on September 5th.:clap2: I'm a little concerned. My surgeon gave me a booklet on stages of eating. The first day and the day after surgery I should consume pure liquids. After the first two days, he will have me on thin puree for two weeks. That diet consists of Soups, blended cauliflour, yogurts, cottage cheese etc. I don't see that from many people during the first two weeks. The 3rd and 4th week consists of thicker pureed foods. 5th week solids. Does that sound right?

Congratulations on being banded. Good to hear you're doing well. We'll be striking up the band in 11 more days. Can't wait. Wishing you a quick recovery.

Well it's official. I let my co-workers and administrators know that I was having Hiatal Hernia Surgery. The ironic thing was... I just got the results of my pre-op testing and my GI serious shows a hiatal hernia. Of course, it's not the one that needs to be corrected during surgery. It's a common small slide hiatal hernia. My family also thinks I'm going in for the same thing. My mom, husband, and younger sister are the only ones who know the truth. If down the line I feel like telling people, I will. But for now, that's the way it's going to be. It truly doesn't make me feel good at all. I'm not a liar but I'm sure feeling like one right now. I have to say though, the lie isn't hurting anyone but me. At this point in my life, I want to keep this part of my life quiet. I will be banded on September 5th. Thanks for all the good ideas and advice.

Hi all, I am so upset. I just found out today that I was denied the surgery. They said it was not medically necessary. I have a BMI of 39. If I'm not fat enough, that is truly pathetic. My surgeon's office is appealing the denial. Is that usually the course of action. I was thinking about writing a letter in addition to the surgeon's appeal. What does the surgeon's office do as far as appeals go? I need help. Please let me know what you all think I should do. I was scheduled for July 11th and now who knows when I'll get it done. Emily

Hi Bettina, I am so happy for you. Congratulations! My date is September 5th.

I got the best news today. I WAS APPROVED!! :clap2: Thanks to Kelly and Walter Lindstrom my denial was overturned. I can't believe I'm finally going to be banded. When Kelley and Walter took my case, I had a feeling that I would eventually get approved. I just didn't think it would be within 3 weeks of hiring their services. I am so thrilled yet soooo nervous. Thanks to all of you who helped me get to this point. This would have never happened if I didn't have the support from my friends at LBT. I am so grateful to all. Thank you very much. hugs,

Yes. My appeal is pending. I will know by Friday. I hired Walter and Kelly Lindstrom. However, I am self pay and if insurance approves it by Friday, then I don't have to worry about paying that hefty bill. I will continue to fight either way. I believe that eventually I will win this case. However, I'm not willing to wait. So, in the meantime, I will self pay. hugs,

Sorry, I got cut off. Anyway, the hospital called me today to pre-register. Reality is setting in. I am self pay as of today. I will know by Friday if insurance will paying. I'm set for September 5th and I am sooooo nervous, but at the same time really excited. hugs,

Hi all, I feel like it's been forever waiting for insurance to approve. I'm

Hi all, I guess I'm really nervous and I'm not sure that I believe it. I'm scheduled for September 5th. The hospital called today to pre-register me. I think that's when it really hit me. I am finally having this done. Wish me luck. Regards,

Sorry Penni, I wrote your name as Pam. It was a typo. Please let us know your grandson's name. My church will lift him up in prayer on Sunday. My prayers are with you and your family.

Pam I hope all goes well with your grandson. I am praying for him big time. I have two boys and I can only imagine how heart wrenching this is for the family. Keep a positive attitude. God's got it and all will be okay. Please keep us informed. hugs,

Thanks Mert. I am scheduled for Sept 5th. I will have an answer on the appeal Friday. Hope your feeling better and enjoying the banded side. em

I didn't think so. My surgeon just said he would write the letter as he has done many times to employers stating that the patient had surgery. I think that's all they need to know. em

cindyn, Can you give me some ideas on what you're stocking up on. broth, Jello, etc. Anything else. Protien shakes? Let me know. I just started thinking about this tonight. I am being banded on Sept. 5th. Another issue I was thinking about is cooking for the family. I told my dh that I won't be doing much cooking b/c it may be a problem for me. I'll be on liquids while everyone else is eating the steak I cooked for them. I don't think that may work for the first few weeks. Let me know.