Arkansas Bansters!!!

[mbsnow 0]

I go for my first adjustment on Monday. I can't eat of drink for two hrs prior. DR Mc does it under fluoro. I am very nervous. How did some of you transition back into eating food. What did you eat after the first intial couple of days of liquids?

[ouachita 0]

I was banded Feb. 19, 2007 by Dr. Luttrell and have lost 80 lbs so far (306 to 225). Good thing because now almost 1 year to the day my wife and I are participating in a "Dancing With the Stars" charity benefit for the local Christian Health Center in Camden. We're dancing the Waltz.

We spent today shopping for her a dress to wear - lucky me, I get to wear a tux with tails.

It's a lot of work but a lot of fun too, so far.:cursing: I have to say that ballroom dancing is darn good exercise and I have a whole new appreciation for the effort the shows participants put into learning their routines! Wish us luck, we need it!

If you aren't busy February the 23rd and like a good laugh think about coming over. We can use all the votes we can get.

[Sugarbear 2]

butterfly...Check with the insurance or with the surgeons office and see how much will be written off. My insurance paid the same as yours. But a lot was written off. Talk with the hospital they can help with that too. Also if you have met your deductible, you will not have to pay that over, I had not met mine so that meant another 500 for my doctor. I have arkansas BCBS. I had mine done at the hospital as an outpatitient. No overnight stay. Had mine in Texarkana.

[flowergurl 0]

HI there every one in Arkansas! I am considering a band and hve been to Dr. Wellburns seminar and was impressed. But i found out that Dr. Gibbs and Dr. John Baker are preferred providers for Federal BCBS-- nad SURPRISE Federal BCBS now COVERS lap band surgery !!! OMG !! is it possibel i could have this done and have my insurance actually PAY for it?!?!

Looking forward to hearing from all of you!!

I am starkiss_319 on Yahoo if anyone wants to chat.

Hello out there Arkansas! I posted around here sometime a few months ago (maybe it was like 7 or 8 months ago) about lab band in LR area with Dr. Wellborn. Actually, I attended a seminar & was told up front that they will not accept Federal BC/BS & will ask that I self pay. I do not have that kind of $ nor could I even finance it. At that point I felt like I hit a brick wall & didn't bother trudging through any other obstacles. Well, I'm back to lurking again. I wanted to know if Federal BC/BS will provide a pre-auth number & how did you get them to do it? That was the case with Dr. Wellborn is he said they will not give pre-auth, they just say they cover it if you meet the criteria (which I do) and will pay claims after the fact. According to Wellborn, they have had many problems with "after the fact" so they accept self pay and make the patient get the $ from the insurance company. Anyway, I had looked into Lutrell but my primary doctor said no & recommended Backer instead. I have not done any fruther research for fear of "rejection" so to speak. I guess I'm here for info and support. Thanks for listening if you got this far.

[bandster_1007 1]

i do not have federal bcbs, but i have bcbs advantage, and they have a written exclusion for anything obesity related....anything...

[melody_mary_42f 0]

Hey, Jacksonville here too, I spent alot of time today on the phone with Leslie at Dr. Welborns office. She is a delight., I would love to hear how you are doing in your weight loss. I am just starting my process...whew,,,,I hope to have it done this year.

[flowergurl 0]

Hi folks, I had the band on 3/5/08 with Dr. Baker. He & his office have been great. I am down 28 lbs thus far & feel absolutely wonderful! I can't imagine feeling even better as more weight is lost.

[arkie 0]

Hi everyone. I had a fill today. Lost 8 more pounds....

Dr. K. said she was proud of me that was where they want you to lose at, 1 1/2 pound a week.

This week-end I did yard work, rake and burn leaves and fishing. When I went in that evening I told my husband I don't remember the last time I have been able to work that long with out quitting.

My breathing is better.

[arkie 0]

Hi, had my fill yesterday. Lost 8 pounds.

What helped me start losing again was to keep a daily record of everything you eat.

You will be surprised at what you see.

Don't lie on the journal.

[bandster_1007 1]

melody, how is the process going with you? leslie is great, i e-mail her all the time (well i did before work took it away). she is very fast to respond.

[melody_mary_42f 0]

How is the weight loss coming? At Goal yet?

I too am considering using dr. luttrell......time will tell

[melody_mary_42f 0]

howdyy, i think i will be having my surgery w/ Dr. Luttrell.. The way I am working on financing, ,,,i just seem to be leaning in his direction. I went to the seminar this week and he was a delight. I have had the staple procedure back in the 80's and he is encouraging that I am a candidate for the Lap band, Ev en though I have been altered.

[jaybee 0]

HI there every one in Arkansas! I am considering a band and hve been to Dr. Wellburns seminar and was impressed. But i found out that Dr. Gibbs and Dr. John Baker are preferred providers for Federal BCBS-- nad SURPRISE Federal BCBS now COVERS lap band surgery !!! OMG !! is it possibel i could have this done and have my insurance actually PAY for it?!?!

Looking forward to hearing from all of you!!

I am starkiss_319 on Yahoo if anyone wants to chat.

I have this insurance as well. Just wondering if you went ahead with the procedure, and

if so how are you doing?

I had decided against it, but of course keep wondering if I should give it a try.

[Amanda Pierce 0]

I had the lap band on 3/5/08 with Dr. Baker in LR. I used Federal BC/BS and they paid everything within a month of having the sgy. I don't regret having the sgy at all. I am stuck right now, but I am going to start a food journal and see where I am messing up. :rolleyes2:

[flowergurl 0]

Giggle & I have the same insurance, same doctor & surgery on the same day...crazy huh? I just wanted to add also that I had no problems with Federal BCBS. My claims were all paid within a 2 month period. jaybee: If your BMI is 40 or greater, you should not have any issues with your insurance.