6 Months to Wait GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[whiterabbit 2]

So I found out yesterday that all of my band will be covered 100%. Good news yes but sadly I have to have 6 months of doc reviewed weight loss. I am crossing my fingers and hoping my constant contact with my PCP for over 2 years will be enough. Every visit we went over my diet and work outs. If it does count then I should be banded as soon as next month. The second I found out my husband's insurance might cover things I ran out and got my EKG and sleep study to cut the time down. My doc's notes were delivered on Friday so I should know by the end of this coming week what I have to do. Man I am so bouncy I feel like i am going to jump out of my own skin! :bored::wub:

[BetsyB 9]

I know it seems like an impossibly long period of time, but really---with all the other stuff you have to get done (clearances from cardiologist, pulmonologist, psychologist, etc.) ---not to mention all the learning you have to do---the time will pass quickly.

I had years of documentation of weight-related doctor visits, as well as documentation from Weight Watchers. For my insurance plan, the clock for the period of supervision did not start until my first appointment with the bariatric surgeon. The stuff preceding did help establish the need for surgery, but did not reduce the wait. In retrospect, this was a good thing. I really geared myself up for the surgery, and was very well-prepared when the time came.

It will be okay--you can use the time well, practice all the behaviors you'll need after surgery, and be all set for success.

[susi1662 3]

I have my 1st consultation on Tuesday. I will be told then what my insurance will cover and what will be my out of pocket expenses. I was told that my insurance does require a 6 month medical supervised diet and exersize, so I am ready for that. I am anxious to get this going, but I look at this 6 month process is a time for me to really get used to dieting and being more active, and also give me more time to learn about the band. As Betsy said, I think we will be kept busy with all the other things we have to do, that the time should fly by. (I hope so!) Let's get thru this together! We can do it!

[whiterabbit 2]

I have my clearance from my cardiologist as well as my pulmonologist (i have a heartmumer). As far as education goes I have been going over things with my doctor for almost two year now. My first visit to my lap-band doc was actually pretty amusing. When he asked me what I knew and how I have been getting prepared his jaw nearly dropped. I told him "You are going to be cutting into my body like I am not going to know all the ins and outs long before i come and see you." I have been working on eating and not drinking for about 4 months now and rarely slip. I have really worked on chewing my food more and even (with the ok of my PC DOc) did a liquid diet just to see if I could pull it off.

I am ready to go so the thought of waiting 6 months makes me want to pace like a caged tiger. If I do have to do the entire 6 months I am sure I will find a positive spin on it and find a way to pass the time in a positive manner. :bored:

susi1662- I wish i could exercise. I had a good flow going but when we moved a few months ago i hyper extended my left knee and other than swimming I am grounded. It is very frustrated

Edited April 4, 2010 by whiterabbit

[BetsyB 9]

Whiterabbit, I understand. I really do. I was prepared, too. But if your insurance contract stipulates the supervision, I think it's realistic to expect that you will be spending that time waiting, no matter how well-prepared you are. Insurers don't care about your preparation; they care about the contract they have with you. And they stick to it. So the timing of your approval hinges on that---100 percent.

Hopefully, your contract stipulates that supervision need not be by the surgeon. With luck, the work you've done with your PCP will count. Most of us had this same wish--and for most of us, it has not proven to be the case.

A single phone call to your surgeon's insurance specialist, though, will give you an answer about this. S/he will know what your specific policy requires, and put an end to the speculation.

I hope you don't have that wait. But if you do, the time can be a gift. Because mastering some of the post-banding skills (not knowledge, but behaving in the ways you'll behave post-banding) will give you a real leg up in terms of postop success.

There is plenty to learn and practice. Have you started eating the way you'll eat when you're banded? Have you started taking tiny bites the size of a pencil eraser, and chewing each very thoroughly? Have you stopped drinking with meals, and for at least 30 minutes after? Have you asked your surgeon his stance on snacks---and eradicated them, if he's a three-meal-a-day guy? Have you started sampling Protein supplements to find out which you can stomach? (I recommend Inspire powders from Bariatric Eating.) Have you cleaned out your pantry and freezer, and restocked it with band-friendly foods?

Again, I hope you get the news you want. But if you don't, it will be okay. Before you know it, you'll be banded--and you'll be in great shape to succeed. Good luck!

[whiterabbit 2]

Have you started eating the way you'll eat when you're banded? Have you started taking tiny bites the size of a pencil eraser, and chewing each very thoroughly? Have you stopped drinking with meals, and for at least 30 minutes after? Have you asked your surgeon his stance on snacks---and eradicated them, if he's a three-meal-a-day guy? Have you started sampling Protein supplements to find out which you can stomach? (I recommend Inspire powders from Bariatric Eating.) Have you cleaned out your pantry and freezer, and restocked it with band-friendly foods?

As far as my bites and eating, for the last two months (since i decided hands down to get banded) yes i have. Small bites, small portions and learning to chew my fod completely. it sucked at first but i turned it into a game at the dinner table with my husband and children to make it more fun.

Drinking with meals (as I said before0 I am still working on. my hubby and kids are great at reminding me when i do it without thinking. I have even tried a week of a liquid diet and it was no where near as bad as I thought it was going to be (and no where near as hard as quitting smoking was )

have not bothered to ask my doc about snackers because i am not a snacker. I eat 3 meals a day and that is that. it took about 8 months to get away from snacking (oh man not snacking whle driving was HARD!)

I have been sampling protein supplements but so far I have not found anything that does not completely suck. i am sure i will find something that will work.

Cleaning out my pantry and freezer was done years ago due to having an autistic and a ADHD child. Their diets are very strict and we are a farmers market and cook from scratch kind of family.

If I have to wait 6 months I will deal with it but I -really- hope I do not. It is not really the 'rush to get thin' and more the sick and tired of being in massive pain all the time. over the last few months since my injury I have had to limit my rather extensive work out to just swimming and i HATE it. being Fat and active was do able being fat and unable to work out is making me NUTS

My lap doc is very hopeful that i wont have to wait the 6 months. My documentation with my PC was very intense including my work out logs and a few contacts with the trainer at my gym.

[catmom50 0]

I know it seems like an impossibly long period of time, but really---with all the other stuff you have to get done (clearances from cardiologist, pulmonologist, psychologist, etc.) ---not to mention all the learning you have to do---the time will pass quickly.

I agree Betsy with the time going by fast. I had to do a 6 months supervised diet with my PCP after I had been to the surgeon and got the insurance involved. It was a time of learning for me and a time to start making changes, and also to be aware of my overeating etc. I also had plenty of time to get all the tests done, sleep study, scopes and what ever else I needed.

The 6 months flew by, and now here I am 5 weeks post op!

Hang in there white rabbit

[Marine mom 3]

The time whizzed by, I agree. With our insurance the 6 months didn't start until the education meeting, and then it really wound up being 9 months due to a rescheduled psych eval.

[pmcelligott 0]

just starting my journey. Had my seminar at Northwesterm memorial in chicago. Will need the 6 months supervised dieting. My previous WW didn't work as I kept stopping and starting. For reading the varies post I anticipate this will be busy getting ready.

a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wzz659f/">

<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wzz659f/weight.png"></a>

Edited April 6, 2010 by pmcelligott
additional

[kennas_yaya 0]

I am just now starting the whole process. I am told that my 6 months will start with my first visit to the dietician after seeing the surgeon. I told them i have been seeing a dietician already, but apparently it doesn't count until I have seen the surgeon.

I am from Maine, by the way...any other Mainers on here?

Good luck everyone! I am excited to get started on this journey!

[new_journey4me 1]

Hello - I had to do the 6 month review with a nutritionist as well. I'm finally done one week from today!! Wahoo!! I started this whole process in August '09 and I thought it was going to take FOREVER to get here, but actually time flew right on by! As os next week my stuff will be submitted to my insurance company - keeping my fingers crossed that I will be approved - and I'm hoping to be banded in May sometime! So excited and anxious!

These past 9 months have been very educational - I did so much research I was even schooling my nutrititionist. She was impressed on how much I knew. Hang in there - 6 months will be over before you know it!!

[♥Amy♥ 5]

I was told I would be required to do a 6 month diet. My initial consult was 1/7/10. I had all my clearance tests done by the end of February. My paperwork was submitted March 2nd and I was approved for surgery for March 24th on the same day but I also had done a lot of work prior to seeing this surgeon. I had originally planned to see another but I wasn't happy with him or his office. I felt like I was just another paycheck for all of them. Plus my insurance said 6 month or 2 year cumulative weight history so whomever reviewed my paperwork at HIP of Greater NY on March 2nd must have been in a giving mood :thumbup:

But I have to say that if I wasnt already familiar with the process and the dieting and what was expected of me before and after surgery and I hadn't done the extensive research on the surgery that I did I would not have been comfortable with jumping right into surgery. You'll want to be as prepared as possible. You def want to know what you can and can't do when it comes to the band. You don't want to mess it up. Like everyone else said, the time will go by very fast. Use this time to find out all you can and learn all you can about the band and you! Good luck!! :thumbdown:

[SBeth 1]

I totally know how you feel! When I found out mine would be covered I wanted it done the next day, but I am having to wait 3 months. However, now that some time has passed I am SO glad I've had to wait! I feel so much more prepared now. Now I feel like the band will truly work for me. Take the time to learn and enjoy learning about how wonderful your new life will be!

[kennas_yaya 0]

Thanks for all the positive replys! I am sooo excited to be beginning this journey! Good luck to you all as well....keep posting...can't wait to hear how everyone is doing!

[susi1662 3]

I started my 6 month "diet" yesterday. I did see the surgeons dietician, but I can go with my PCP, so it will be much cheaper for me that way. Aince I have so long to wait (10 months), I'll just keep seeing my pcp for a weight check until December.

We're all in this together, and I hope the time will fly by like everyone says.