Tory09

Thanks for the info. Yes I already called my insurance company before I started all of the medical appts and they said they did cover weight loss surgery and to include lapband. My husband works for a large company and they even have a dedicated call number just for the employees and their families. They said all I need to do is have it preauthorized/preapproved just like I would if I had any other surgery. Keep your fingers crossed for me as I am so nervous about the approval.

I am sure you will be approved... cause if they said you didnt do the nutritionist or psych eval - then you would have def been denied... I am praying for you!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy for you! That is terrific news!

I had my remaining appointments done this week so I guess I will call the Drs office on Monday and see when they will send the information to the insurance company.. Please keep me in your prayers... I so hope I am approved for surgery... Thanks everyone!~

I will pray for you to get approval. Please do the same for me... I am so scared of this process but anxiously hoping to get the surgery... Keep us posted!

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to post here since I am excited but nervous and anxious too.... I have done the orientation, met with the Surgeon and he thinks i will be a perfect candidate, had preliminary blood work done lipid and metabolic panel, met with the psychiatrist (said the same thing)... Now I have to do a sleep study on Monday night and then the nutritionist appt on Friday... after that the paperwork will be sent into the insurance company. Keep your fingers crossed for me... I am so excited but nervous at the same time. I am right at 40 bmi and have BCBS PPO of Va. I am praying I will get approved.

Greg, I made them remeasure my height and I was 1/2 inch shorter than I thought so it changed my numbers and the scale showed I was right at 40 bmi (of course that was after I put my 2 blackberries & my keys in my pockets... I did not want to have a bmi of 39.5 - I read too many posts on here about that you need to be at 40 bmi to get cleared/approved. I dont know why they want a sleep study, I guess to see if I have a comorbidity... I am nervous and anxious to get this week over with...Keep your fingers crossed for me...

Stajin, That is great news! I am so happy for you... I feel like you were feeling ... excited to get all these preliminary tests over with. I have a sleep study on Monday night to do and then the nutritionist appt on Friday... after that the paperwork will be sent into the insurance company. Keep your fingers crossed for me... I am so excited but nervous at the same time. Good luck to you! Keep us posted.

Things will certainly get MUCH WORSE with government run healthcare. You think healthcare is bad now, it will be horrible if gets approved. My opinion is to get the surgery now before things get worse! Just my 2 cents ...

Thats fabulous!!! What state are you in? I have BCBS PPO in Va so I hope I get approved quickly too. I have to do a sleep study on Monday and have my nutrionist appt on Friday next week. Good luck to you!

Has anyone had blood tests done? These would not be the preop ones... Since I dont really have a Primary care doctor, my surgeon ordered blood tests on me to check my cholesterol, liver enzymes,etc. I had them almost 3 weeks ago but no one ever called me. I have 2 more appts before the paperwork is sent into insurance. I have a sleep apnea test and the nutritionist appt next week. The surgeons office said for me not to call them they will call me to followup... My question is this - has anyone had blood tests and did you get the results or did you get them at your next surgeon appt. I wonder how many appts you get with the surgeon after you initial one and after surgery has been approved? Please advise! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!:thumbup:

I am so happy for you... everything has gone so fast for you! That is awesome. I have 2 more things to do and that is a sleep study on Monday and my nutritionist appt next friday. I did all my blood work the day after I met the surgeon for my consult. It has been 3 weeks and no one has called me so I guess they dont bother you with the results, guess i will hear about my results at my next appt? I just had to do a lipid test and the full metabolic profile ... Take care and keep us informed Tory... :juggle:

What is a diffused fatty liver ? I remember when I had my diseased gall bladder out that they said my liver had was enlarged and had higher liver enzymes in my blood meaning that my liver was a fatty liver. THey didnt have any problem with the operation though... I told my surgeon about this and had lab work 2.5 weeks ago but no one has called and told me any results... has this happened to anyone else?

Hey BestBette, I sent you a private message on here. Yes you were right, the scale was low! My bmi wasnt 40 either but they said it was close enough. Read the private message and reply to it Have a good night!:thumbup:

Wow that is great! I hope all goes smoothly for me. I am nervous!!!!!! I am ready for my journey to begin! I hope their scale isnt lite as I am barely on the 40bmi .... teetering on a pound or two. I am going to wear a sweater too. Can you wear shoes on the scale? That may help lol :biggrin: I will let you know how it goes today! You can also email me at torytory99@gmail.com if that is easier :smile2: Good luck to you!

Hi Guys, My name is Tory and I am just starting on my journey. I went to the lb seminar recently and this week I have my appointment with my surgeon. Keep fingers crossed for me please. I think I am at 40 bmi so I wont need to show all those other co-morbidities because I am not sure if I even have them. Thanks, Tory

Karen I am sorry to hear that! Hopefully things will get better! Iteachurkid - do you have BCBS? I do... that is awesome you have done excellent with your weight loss! I hope my story goes like yours - quick approval and quick to surgery YOu must feel so proud! That is wonderful! I cant wait to get there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How are you all doing now? Love to hear from you all! I am just now starting this process and am going for my first appt this week at Richmond Surgical... Thanks Tory

Congrats on the awesome weight loss~! That is marvelous!!!!!! Even though you were self pay, did you have to go thru alot of tests? I just dont know what to expect except for psych and nutrionist parts... Thanks!

How are you all doing? I havent seen any more posts since March on here. I have my first meeting for my evaluation this week. Wish me luck! What tests did you all have to have done besides the psych eval and nutritionist part before they submitted to insurance for approval? I am so scared but ready to do this. Scared of the approval process! I am 40 bmi with no comorbidities really... Take care, Tory~

Good luck to you! The 20th will be here before you know it! I guess if your self pay, the process goes alot smoother, huh ? and quicker? What type of tests do you have to get done? EKG, throat exam - dont know what its called? Some ppl on here have to get colonoscopies... but I dont think that is the norm, do you? My friend that got his done a few months ago said it took 4-5 mnts for all the tests to be done. That seems along time to me, but I will just have to be patient. Tell me what tests you had to do? or have to do for preop! Keep in touch and best of luck to ya:wink2:

How did the process go with Dr. Brengman? He is my dr too. I get to see him this week for my evaluation. Good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Fellow Richmonders... Please tell me how successful you have been since your Band-ing ?! I go to see Richmond Surgical this week and am ready for this next step in my life although I am scared too! Did you guys choose the realize or lapband AP? Just wondering. I have Anthem BCBS PPO... how long from the point of meeting the surgeon for your eval did it take to get your insurance approval and then your surgery? Sorry I have so many questions, I am a newbie here

What kind of tests did you have to do before the insurance paperwork was sent in? Did you have to do EKG, etc or is the preoperation just before your surgeries took place?

Hi guys, I meet with Dr. Brengman this week. How long from the time you met with him or his office until you got the lb? Any comments are greatly appreciated !