I Have Only Just Begun

[BarbeeM 5]

It has taken me a year to finally say I am going to do this for me. Why has it taken so long? I did not know anything about LapBand or anyone who has had it. Now I do. I have been talking with a friend of my childhood friend. She and I have been friends for over 40 years. She put me in contact with her friend who had surgery 6 months ago. She has been a blessing. I have spent the last 7 years as my husbands caretaker. He has been fighting heart disease for 11 years and has had 5 heart attacks and triple bypass surgery. He has a whole list of other health issues. I have let myself go. I have felt that concentrating on me for a change was selfish. HOWEVER, I have convinced myself that I need to take care of me now. I do not want to have all the health problems, he has. Today I received my packet from the surgeon, to fill out. I will meet with him for the first time June 28. The paperwork is overwhelming, as my insurance requires proof that I have tried to lose weight. REALLY, do they think I would want to go through this if dieting worked? So I am hoping I can pass to get approved or I will be terribly disappointed. I want this so bad and feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders since I finally decided to do it. Wish me luck. Barbee

[cassiem93 39]

My insurance was the same I had to show proof. So I've been seeing a dietician once a month. I am on my fifth visit so only 1 more to go. But I must say I have learned alot as well as she has answered alot of my questions. To me it is helping me get ready.

[Grandma3 73]

Hi Barbee.

The one thing I can say is do not get disappointed if it takes a while. I started this journey last year in August and was banded in April. It takes a while to jump thru the hoops for the insurance company but well worth it in the end.

I called my insurance company and asked them exactly what the requirements were and then worked from there.

Good luck to you

[Grandma3 73]

One more thing, there is an awesome book called Bandwagon by Jean McMillan.

I am half way thru it and wish I had found it prior to my surgery, it is packed with wonderful information.

You might want to check it out.

Here is the link if you're interested. http://jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com/

[BarbeeM 5]

Thank you everyone for replying to my post. Cassiem93, you don't have UHC for insurance do you? lol I am going to do some calling tomorrow to the surgeons office. I need to know how I am to prove these things. I have no way of proving I have done Atkins, Slim Fast, etc. Am I supposed to get something in writing from the two Chiropractors I have been to over the years. Am I to get something from Curves that I went to for a year. I think I understand, they will contact my Primary Care Physician, for my weight history? I will talk with them tomorrow and then start on the paperwork. I have been to busy today to start on it.

[BarbeeM 5]

Grandma3, thanks for the information about the book, Bandwagon, and the blog site. I will see if I can get the book on my Nook. I will try not to get discouraged, now that I have made up my mind to do this. I am just feeling so good that I want to do this. I do not want to lose this happiness I have found.

[cassiem93 39]

Yup I have UHC