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Hello. I wanted to put something clever in my subject line so you'd want to click the post and read it... Anyway, my name is, perhaps not surprisingly, Jonathan. I'm scheduled to have lab band surgery at the Molding Clinic in TJ on January 11th. I just found this site, and due to some (albeit unsupported) statements against the Molding Clinic, I have to admit I'm having some concerns. I had a frustrating experience with Humana. I knew I had an obesity exclusion (excluding weight loss surgery or any other treatment for obesity) and when I called Humana to ask them about it, I quoted the part of my coverage document that stated it. They told me there was still hope, that I needed to go through preauthorization and then let the appropriate division in Humana make the decision. After receiving the preauthorization request, I was told that they were going to deny me, because I had an exclusion in my policy. I told them that I *knew* I had an exclusion, and that I'd pointed it out before, and the person told me that the customer service representitives have to tell patients what I was told, because they're not "qualified" to interpret a coverage document... or something to that effect. If you're thinking what I've typed here makes no sense, then you're at the same place I am. Anyway, my understanding is that I'll have no luck appealing the decision, since the policy clearly states that WLS is an exclusion, so I've decided to go the Mexico way. A couple of years ago I lost 100 lbs, and swore to myself I'd *never* gain it back. I went from 316 to 215. I'm now at 330 lbs. I'm sure my story isn't unique in this group, so I'll stop it there, and ask a couple of questions. 1) Does anyone here have good or bad experiences with the Molding Clinic they'd like to share? I did a search, and didn't really find much, other than what I mentioned at the start of this post. 2) When I was going to have surgery in the US, I was told I had to be on a strict, low carb 2 week pre-op diet, designed to shrink the size of my liver. I've read here that some people have been on a 1 week liquid diet before surgery. I was told by Andres at the Molding Clinic that no pre-op diet was necessary. Any thoughts or comments on the pre-op diet thing? I look forward to the fellowship and support I'm sure I'll both find and give in this forum in the years to come. Jonathan

Tina, Take a deep breath and take the process one step at a time. The approval part with insurance (in my opinion) is the most tedious part. Do you have a letter of medical necessity from your primary care physician? You can see samples of letters and give one to your doc to fill in the blanks. I found a sample on obesityhelp.com and I used this sample coupled with records. I am sure that your doc office can help you with the precertification criteria. You picked a very good doc to do your surgery. Ren and Fielding are the two of the best. Regarding supportive or unsupportive folks, I had the same situation. A lot of folks dont know what the lapband is and they try to compare it to the bypass. My mom kept saying to me, "Why do you want to have the surgery that Al Roker had?" She figured one laparoscopic surgery was like another. NOw she is so proud of my success and sends my pics to everyone. Mostly people who love you worry cause they just dont understand how NON-invasive the lapband surgery is and think you should just be able to lose the weight with traditional "Dieting" which we all know does not work long term. So hang in there, do lots of research and be comfortable with your decision. All of us have been here and you are on your way to a healthier life.! Babs in TX 334/188/170 -146 6/23/03

Tina, Congratulations to you! It's a tough decision, and it takes courage to decide to change. Change is the most frightening thing we go through in life. Many people stay fat and unhealthy because of this fear. I was afraid that the Band, or any WLS surgery for that matter, would change everything about my life. And so far it has. But the changes have been good. I no longer fear change, I welcome it. People in our lives have no idea how to be supportive, I'm convinced of that. I'm also convinced that many of the people who seem so unsupportive think they are being just the opposite. But remember, change is a frightening for them as it is for you. They too are afraid. After all, any change in you could result in a change in your relationships. They are afraid, and their fear has no reason behind it. They forget that you will still be YOU whether you band or not. They forget that your quality will shine through. You are afraid, and it's normal. Change is scary. Everyone you talk to knows someone who's best friend's aunt, had an acquaintance whose youngest daughter had the surgery and she only lost the weight on one side then her left leg blew up like a zeppelin and they went in and found the band broken into seventeen pieces and lodged near a perfectly preserved donut in her uterus. (preceding ludicrous story for illustration purposes only). So, if that kind of thing bothers you, by all means, keep it all on the down low. It's your life, and your business. But fear not. The beauty of the band is it's safety. Low complication rate. Non invasiveness, and ease of reversibility. Of all the courses out there it is the logical choice. I had to decide. I picked this, and now I'm one month out, it was easy, fast, and nearly painless. Well, a lot less painful than my overactive imagination had drawn it for me. Diet and exercise do not work. Lose the weight, gain it back, plus a little bonus. Will power is good for the next meal, and maybe for months, but sooner or later the will power fades, and we fall into our old ways. If the will power worked there would be no fat people, no alchoholics, no addicts of any kind. The way I saw it the only way to go was to choose between a short life and a longer one. Keeping my messed up relationship with food was the short life, the band was the longer one. Follow your own star. Make your own decision based on who you are. One thing about these people here, they know how to be supportive, visit often, read the old threads. Contemplate. But move yourself to action. As Red says in "Shawshank Redemption" it's time to get busy living, or get busy dying. I suggest living with the band, you'll smile more than you do now, you'll laugh daily. Good luck, and glad to see you here.

Today I go for a ct scan at 1:30, an ECG at 2:30, and the nutrition class at 2:45. Then my next visit with the surgeon to go on my protien diet on the 29th. And, finally another endoscopy on Nov. 4. Whew! Been to the doctor on an average of once every nine years since I was eighteen. Usually for broken bones and stitches. This is more medical attention than I like. But, it will be okay. Am I getting excited? Yes. I'm a little surprised by how unsupportive I feel my wife is being. I took six days off work for the surgery, and with my regular days off it means I'll have ten days after surgery to recouperate enough to go back the day after Thanksgiving. Now I have tons of time (hundreds of hours) that is paid time off, and although my job is really easy (the heaviest thing I lift is an ink pen) I felt that the ten days wasn't overboard as to time off. Patty thinks I should go back to work as soon as possible. Don't know where that's coming from, but it rankles a bit. I have always taken the position that whatever she decides for HER body I will be behind her 100 percent. Wish she did the same for me. She suggested that I have the surgery on the 16th, and since my regular days off are the 17th and 18th I could go back on the 19th. I think it's too early. You folks who have gone through it, what do you think?

Congratulations! I bet your very excited and nervous all at the same time. I think the hubby's get scared and don't know how to admit it so they come across as being unsupportive. My Hubby can be like that too. I finally got him to admit that he was affraid. At least you have the support of your friends and of course all the great people here. I myself have not been banded as of yet so I will look forward to hearing you banding story. Good luck Amy

Good morning, I certainly do not want to offend you in anyway, but I am a very direct person. As much as you love your mother, (it is obvious you do!) she is toxic to you as you begin and continue through this journey. It sounds like she had some unrealistic figure in her mind of what people should weigh. My mom is 5' 1 inches and weighs about 105. I am 5' 6" and weigh 233. I started at 334 pounds. Now most people would never be able to guess my weight. My personal trainer says I look about 175-180 today. I went home for Christmas and at that time, I had already lost 75 pounds. My mother did not acknowledge the weight loss and instead started pointing out other imperfections like a mole I have on my neck. Her comment was "Why don't you have it removed? Now, I have had this mole (it is tiny) for at least 18 years. Why was it necessary to focus on this? Also, as I reached for a piece of italian bread, my mother says, "Are you really supposed to be eating this?" (Another zap!!!). And the amazing thing is I paid for this abuse!!! (it was my money that paid for the trip!) My older sister who eats boxes of Teddy Grahams and weighs in the 140 at 5' 6" isn't the most sympathetic person either. My brother who is 6 ' 1 and weighs 200 (He is a personal trainer) was the worst one of all. Oh, You are having elective surgery, he says. "Why don't you just lose weight by eating less and exercising?" (no, #@* Sherlock!!) I had to avoid all of the unsupportive family members the first 6 months of banding. That is the only solution unless you are able to tell your mother to back off for a while. It is possible to set groud rules from the beginning though. You could say to your mother that when you are together, weight loss and what you should weigh are offtopics since you differ on what the outcome should be. If you can't resolve, give yourself a break from her and surround yourself with supportive positive people who understand what you are going through. Good luck!!! Babs inTX 334/233/180 -101 and counting 6/23/03

Dawnsunshine, I didn't tell anyone except my husband, mom and 3 friends that I was having surgery and I made them all keep quiet. When I make a decision, nobody is going to change my mind. Especially something I've wanted so bad for so long. I didn't want anyone saying unsupportive things that would make me worry. So what THEY don't know won't hurt ME! The next time someone says that somebody died from having that surgery, ask them how many people die in car/ airplane/ pedestrian accidents? Do they stop going places because they could potentially get killed? Probably not. Do what you have to do to be happy and you won't regret it.

hey Babs that website looks great! I sent them off all my info and hopefully they will accept me - seem like the perfect solution - get to have the surgery done in France by an expert, and get fills/follow ups done in England where I can have questions answered and receive support in english! Incidently I went onto one of the Yahoo french support groups last night, and even though my french is a bit rusty, it broke my heart to read how lonely and unsupported most of the women seem to be. Some of them didn't even know another overweight person. Really sad. I only know one other obese person, but we are great support to one another, and I don't know what i'd do with out this support site - thanks so much for all the trouble you went to Babs - you're the best xx:D