5jacks

Two weeks!! My date is January 18th !! The hospital called today and scheduled the pre-op testing for the 10th and it seems real now. A little info on me....overweight since about 12 years old, 38 year old mother of 3 boys, 11 years old and 7 year old twins. ALso have a very supportive husband who has said and done all the right things through this process! Went to the seminar on June 4th and finally got approved through insurance the end of December. Am scared, nervous, excited and ready to get it over! Love the January bandsters thread, I can so relate to most everything you all are thinking and feeling right now! Good luck to all, can't wait to "meet"you!

I think it will be in January....was hoping for December but didn't get approved by Aetna until the 19th of December. SO I was thinking January, then the surgeon said February 1, a few days later they called back and had an opening for January 18......I'm not gonna know who I am by the time this is over!!!! So as for now I'm January 18 by Dr. Malley in Kansas City. Good luck to all!!

For those of you already banded....if you already had a scheduled date and the surgeon called with a cancellation would you have done it? Or if you did it do you regret it? My surgery is scheduled for February 1 and they called today and said they had a cancellation for January 18. As far as help, kids, and all the daily life stuff I can't seem to come up with a reason not to up the date. As for mentally, just want to make sure I've got everything done and taken care of in time..... Also don't know if I can stand to wait until February knowing I could do it in January! UUUGGGGHHH....it is helping to vent a little and write it all down. Any help or opinions are appreciated!

It's funny deep down I knew it was the thing to do....no doubt I really want the surgery. Guess I just needed to hear that I'm doing the right thing! What's really funny is I always say that if it's meant to be it will be......well, when I called the surgeons office to change to the earlier date the lady told me if I wouldn't have said yes then we wouldn't be able to do surgery till the end of February...or later. Apparently the hospital already blocked off those times for something else! So, once again, if it's meant to be it will be!!!! Thanks again all....ONLY 20 MORE DAYS!!!

Okay, I've had time to sleep on it and I'm definitely going to change to January instead of February. The wait is what is driving me crazy so why not get it over quicker. My doctor doesn't require any sort of pre-op diet so that helps. He just says to do low fat for the 2 weeks before. Other than that everything else can be ready in time. Wish me luck, and thanks again for your support!

Thanks....I guess I've got to see things written down, you know the pro's and con's list. I can't come up with any logistical reasons not to up it. So guess I'm a January Bandster instead of February!! Now I've got to try and get some sleep, although not sure that will happen very quickly.....I'm so excited!!!! Thanks again to everyone for your support and quick responses!

Thanks for the quick response! I'm kind of leaning that way. Husband originally said to give myself time to get ready and keep the Feb. date, but he also said it was my decision and he'd be there for the ride. I have an 11 year old son and 7 year old twin boys. They are old enough to fend for themselves a little and know what's going on so that shouldn't be a factor either. Talking this out is making me decide to switch to January......boy I sure do have trouble with change!

I'm approved!!!! After 6 months of insurance requests I finally got my approval letter today! There are so many emotions that I want to jump and cry and throw up all at the same time! My husband and kids are almost as excited as I am.....looking forward to a healthier, happier mom! Anyway, didn't want much else, just had to share my good news with good people who understand.

Finally heard from the surgeons office. February 1 is the big day! Now I'm getting a little nervous.....not changing my mind but now it's not if, it's when! Thanks for all your support, it really helps to get through this whole process knowing you can hop on here and find answers at any time.

Enjoy every single minute of pregnancy and then remember to enjoy and savor every single minute of that baby after it's born. They grow up too quick.....I just tucked my 7 year old twins into bed and my 11 year old is on a coon hunt tonight. Was telling someone the other day that I would do just about anything to have to boys as babies again, even if it was for just one day!

I totally know what you mean about your "last" fat Christmas! I was hoping for a December surgery but by the time insurance came through it is now going to be February 1. It is such a blessing because I'm not sure if I was ready to give up my last fat Christmas mentally.....does that make any sense. There has now been time to deal with it and hopefully it'll all sink in when the time comes! As for the fridge crying.....in a year from now you'll be laughing at all that food while holding up your pants so they don't fall down from being too baggy!

Have you tried calling them? I had the seminar in June, have been doing everything the surgeons office said pertaining to insurance....the first time they sent in a request it was about 2 weeks until I was denied. I did the things required and sent in an appeal (the surgeons office did that!). After 6 loooooong weeks I called the surgeon and no response so I called the insurance company myself and 2 days later I had the letter saying they had reversed the original denial. Apparently the fax was sent to the wrong department, as soon as they realized it they took care of it. This has all happened this last week so it took approx. 6 1/2 months. Good luck, I know it's really hard to wait! My surgery was scheduled this morning for February 1......yay!

Thank you everyone.... I haven't found out about a surgery date yet. The surgeons insurance lady only takes care of insurance papers a couple days a week. When I hadn't heard from the insurance company for 6 weeks I took it upon myself and found out that it had gotten sent to the wrong department, two days later I got the paperwork. So it didn't surprise me today when I called to see the next step to take and she wasn't in again. I'm still so excited.....can't think of anyone else to tell so gonna have to calm down a bit for the night! Thanks again, I have really enjoyed "peeking" in on you all this last few months. I've learned so much (some of which I didn't want to know!!) and can't wait to learn more the next few months.

It all depends on your insurance and /or if you're self pay. I had the seminar in June of this year and am still waiting! My insurance required 3 months supervised diet. Then when the surgeons office submitted it there was a wait, just to find out I was denied.....needed more medical information. Now that has been done and waiting once again! All insurance companies are different, be patient and know that if it's meant to be it will be!! Good luck, and check out all the forums on here...it really helps a lot!

FullofGrace, Did anyone ever say what the lady actually died from? Was it during surgery and was she healthy or not? It amazes me that we don't hear of many deaths. Makes me wonder if we're getting the truth about the surgery stats or not.

I'm getting tired of jumping through Aetna's hoops so guess I'm going to have to start playing the lottery! Does anyone have suggestions for fighting insurance companies? I've worked on this since June and just found out today that I have to prove I've been fat for more than 5 years?!!?!?! Hello, the 3 ring notebook of weight loss attempts for the past 15 years wasn't enough? UUUUGGGGH! Going to hang in there, I'm a firm beleiver that everything happens for a reason. Thanks for listening!!

The appeal was sent to Aetna on Thursday. Hoping we got enough proof. Was able to get the ob/gyn to go back to 1999 so hoping that is enough documentation. Isn't it amazing that being embarrassed about the our true weight and not telling the truth is coming back to bite ya!! I hadn't realized I was doing this so much till a chiropractor that I started seeing in February sent in a letter to support me for the surgery. Apparently I lied on his forms also and he never weighed me!! I almost called him back to make him add the extra 30 pounds on the letter to make me look worse!!!! Don't give up, if it's meant to be it will be!

My insurance (Aetna) also requires 5 years of "proof". I also threw a fit when being weighed at the Dr.'s offices, boy am I glad now that most of the time they didn't listen to me! I had to go back to 1999 and get OB/GYN records showing weight and then there was a couple of years with no visit to any doctor (no lectures, I'm going on a yearly basis now!!). Anyway, found enough information and the appeal was sent in on Thursday.....my fingers are crossed! Good luck with your fight, I know it's frustrating but beleive it will all be worth it in the end!

I've been feeling like a stalker in your lives....figured it was time to introduce myself, say Hi and Thanks for letting me lurk!! My name is Lisa, I'm a 38 year old, SAHM/farmer. I live south of Kansas City, one husband, 3 boys (an 11 year old and 7 year old twins). Started researching the band in June with high expectations of getting it done during the summer. Of course that didn't happen with insurance but all the doctor appts, psych eval and dietician appts. are over and waiting on approval from insurance copany. It will be 3 weeks tomorrow and I truly beleive it is the longest 3 weeks of my life! Every time the phone rings I run! Thanks for listening to me, wish me luck and thanks again for letting me eavesdrop the past few months!

My back is constantly going out. Makes me feel totally helpless and with 3 kids and a busy life that's not a good thing. I keep blaming my back trouble on my weight but would like some other opinions. Has anyone who had back troubles before banding been back-pain free since loosing weight? (Back is out at the moment so I'm probably grasping for straws!!!) Thanks for any good or bad news!

Thank you all! They don't seem to be able to find anything in scans or x-rays (had more than my share!). I live on a farm and slipped a disc in 1992 trying to crawl over a gate with 2 buckets of feed to feed pigs. Never had any problems until pregnancy. With my first son it felt like everything was cut off. For absolutely no reason I wouldn't be able to move my legs to stand. Then the next pregnancy (twins) it was the same. Except for that, I didn't seem to have too much trouble but over the last couple of years it is getting worse. I was out of commision from Christmas last year until about April. Finally found someone to get it back in, have stayed with him throughout the summer. Usually make sure I go right after Sea Doo rides, baleing hay, planting crops....you get the picture! Once again as soon as I got done combineing I was hurting really bad. It's sad when the life/career you have chosen puts you in pain. I love living in the country and being married to a farmer but am sick of this back going out. Thanks again for any and all opinions. It really does help to "vent"!!!!

BekahBoo....Thank you for the support! It's funny, everyone in my life always says I'm always looking at the bright side of things, you know, if life gives you lemons...make lemonade kind of gal. Just seems that I want the surgery so bad it's hard to wait for someone to "approve" it for me! But the difference in cost is worth the wait so you're right, I need to look at it with optimism, everything happens for a reason! THanks again!! ralheit.....sounds easy, right?!! Well, except for poison ivy on an almost monthly basis (I live on a farm and love hunting, mushroom hunting and just being outdoors!) I really don't go to the doctor. The doctor pretty much has a standing order at the pharmacist for poison ivy meds! I'm there with the kids a lot but not for me to get weighed. I finally called my ob/gyn for weights. Problem there was, went on a regular basis before my first son was born eleven years ago until about 6 months after my twins were born in 1999. After that I guess I took a couple of years off from the exams so we don't have a yearly weight for 5 years in a row. They are going to send in for the past 8 years hoping the insurance company sees that not much has changed! Thanks for listening to my problems.....it really does help to release a little on here knowing that you guys all understand!

I have Aetna....First appt. with surgeon was in June, went through "the hoops", surgeons office sent paperwork in for me. After about 3 weeks I was denied....said I had to prove I had been overweight for more than 5 years and one more month on the dieticians 3 month evaluation. Hopefully I'll get all my sign-off papers from the dietician and PCP this Friday and get started on the appeal. I'm hoping for a December surgery, fingers are crossed! Anything else I can tell ya just let me know!

Fantastic NSV's!!!!!!!! Can't wait till I'm there....I'm wearing a 30/32 now, hoping for surgery before the end of the year?!?!?! You give me hope and ispiration! THANKS for sharing!

I know exactly what you mean.....i've got an 11 year old and 7 year old twin boys. They freak out if I'm a second late getting them off of the bus after school. And if I'm not here and their dad is they are full of hugs and kisses all night long as if I've been gone forever! I'm not banded yet, but, from what I understand, the risks are so minimal that it's not worth mentioning. You will have a hard time finding "bad" things happening during surgery. The worst I've heard for the most part is complications afterwards with the actual band to make a person remove it. If it means that I can sit on an airplane seat or take the kids to Disneyworld and know I can fit in any seat there, plus add an extra 2 years to my life then I'm all for it. Just my opinion but I feel like the good outways the bad.