Long time reader, first time poster, as the phrase goes.
I have Aetna EPO, and live in NY state. I am a LPN, so I was pretty careful to do my research, contact my insurance, make sure that lap-band was covered IN MY CONTRACT, got my letter from my PCP, went to seminar at my prospective surgeons office....and then hit a hurdle.
I have been 'basically' the same weight for 9 years. I am 5'7.5 and currently 275lbs. However, the issue is, I have been pretty persistant in attempting to lose weight. I have done Atkins, WW, all that fun stuff. I tend to lose weight very quickly for a short period of time...and then crash and burn and regain it all just as quickly.
Case in point: Oct '07, I started working nights. I ate once a day, and the rest of the time consumed coffee by the gallon. I lost 68lbs in 5 months. Then I got shifted back to working days....and gained it all back in 8 months.
The surgeon's office is telling me that Aetna will most likely NOT approve me for lap banding due to the fact that I have not been a consistant weight for the last 2 years, and that I have fluxuated several dozen lbs up and down over the last decade.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Any way to fight it? I'm pretty much on my own as my PCP won't really fight for me.
Thanks!
-Ylissa
