Angel76

Received Precertification letter from Cigna with approval code stating that surgery was medically necessary and a covered benefit on 10/12/10. Had lapband surgery on 10/27. Now I'm in the 2nd appeal stage to get Cigna to pay my surgeon and hospital bills ($17,000 worth!!). How in the world can this be possible? Does anyone know what my next step should be if the 2nd appeal is denied? Has anyone ever had this happen to them. Should I hire a lawyer?

I will be 3 months post-op on 1/27 and rarely have port pain. I feel that my port is healed pretty well. So my silly question is....have any of you thought about and/or rode a roller coaster since your surgery? Would you even consider doing this? I have a fill appointment Friday and plan to ask my surgeon her thoughts, but I wanted to get your thoughts too.

I was banded last Wednesday, 10/27. It was done with the spider method (one incision) so I'm sure my stomach was inflated with more air than usual. Can anyone tell me when the bloated feeling subsided for you and what helped to relieve it? I've tried Gasx and MofM. So tired of feeling like this!!

I started my two week Pre-Op diet today. I'm suppose to drink these nasty Protein shakes twice a day, and I can't get down the first one. Nasty taste and even nastier after taste. Did anyone else substitue the Protein Shakes for a Protein Bar? I know those are much better? Don't think I can get through these two weeks on the shakes. Any help you can provide is much appreciated!!

Thanks for the response Paigey! It's a powder mix from my surgeon's office. I can't mix it with milk as that is not acceptable on her pre-op diet. I will give unjury a try. Maybe the unflavored protein that you put in soup would be best for me?

I haven't been banded yet, but have been through my required dietitian meeting and hope to be banded late Sept/Early October (still waiting on paper work). Per my Dietitian I am to have 1 day clear liquids and the Full Liquids (liquids you cannot see through) Day 1 to 14. At this stage I can have High Protein Shakes. I've read on this site that they do make unflavored protein powders that you can add to chicken broth. I plan on getting me some before my surgery. I want to make sure I'm getting plenty protein. Well Good luck! It looks like you are doing great so far!!

Thank you, Thank you!! These are some great questions. I have them all wrote down to ask.

So I have my first meeting with the dietitian Monday. I have no idea what to expect. My fear is that I will be taking in so much information and then walk out with tons of questions I need answers to. Did you have any questions after your first visit that you wish you would have asked after your session was over? Do you have any tips that will prepare me for my session?

Carosel2002, how did you get the bariatric restrictions card? Is it something you have to obtain from your surgeon?

Hi All, My surgeon requires Clear liquids Post-Op day 1, then: Full Liquids day 2-13 Soft/Pureed days 14-29 What were some of your favorite foods that got you through these stages? I'm trying to make a food list for these stages so I am prepared ahead of time. I hope this will help curve the hunger and keep me from getting board. Any insight is greatly appreciated!!

Good Luck JVW! I'll be so glad when I'm there. I've had laproscopic surgery in the past and it's not bad. Keep us posted!!

Hello All, I am a Mother to two of the best boys in the world and married to my soul mate. He loves me unconditionally, but I found in the recent years that I have stopped loving myself. Because of this I find it hard to let anyone love me. Even though I am overweight and classified as Morbidly Obese I currently do not suffer from any comorbidity, however I know it is in my very near future if I do not take action now. I hope to have the banding procedure done by 8/2010 before this disorder takes it toll on my body and organs. I am a nature lover and absolutely love the outdoors and its natural wildlife. My goal is to one day kayak in my favorite place in the word - Yellowstone National Park with my three boys at my side. I am...Angel and this is the beginning of my weight lose journey. The journey to start loving myself again and to live a new healthy lifestyle.

In the beginning, I found the best thing for me was to give my insurance company a call and get the facts from them. When I decided on my Surgeon they also called and verified what I already knew. My Surgeon and her office staff have been awesome so far. She has a dietician and a psychologist in her office. They will schedule everything for me. I will begin my office visits in May and then be ready for my Surgery as soon as my 6 month "Physician followed" diet is over. I'm looking at my 6 month diet as a "getting ready" for banding phase. I'm starting to drink more water and practicing healthier eating habits. It can't hurt, right! Well good luck on your journey! Keep us posted!!

Hi Lori, I'm right there with you. It was a relief to actually discuss it with my Family Physician and get the ball rollen. I have attended the free seminar. My insurance requires me to complete a 6 month Physician followed diet. I'm only in month 1 of that. In May I will begin to schedule all of my other visits with my Surgeon, Dietician, etc. So I hope to have my surgery by 08/10. I know this is the right choice for me in my WL journey. I'll be glad when the actual date gets here. I wish you the best of luck Lori. Keep us posted!!