waiting for insurance approval

hostasforever · August 17, 2007

:help: Hello everyone:

I'm just starting the process .I've been to the seminar and consultation .now Ihave to do that darn 6 months of recorded diet even though I've been dieting for 20 yrs. and see the head doctor on aug. 30 .Anyone have any encouraging advice ? I'm kind of feeling down having to wait the 6 months. sue

pashmina · August 19, 2007

Hi Sue,

Congrats on getting to where you are now! I still think making the decision is the biggest part. I was where you are back in May. I had seen the surgeon, asked my questions, and having made the decision wanted the surgery THAT DAY; only to have a slew of specialists/poking and prodding and potential insurance refusal in front of me. All those appointments go a lot quicker than you think, and you WILL get there! Stay positive. Also, your insurance may not require a full six months. My surgeon threw the same lingo at me as a "just in case they don't approve right away". My insurance approved after only 3 days with my file. I didn't have to do six months with a new doc (I was seeing a nurse practioner), and I'm 10 days post-op now. The time really did fly.

Keep your chin up, remember why you're doing what you're doing and feel free to scream in frustration every so often! Best of luck.

DHawley · August 20, 2007

Hello Sue, I too have to go through the 6 month stuff. I actually go to my pcp today to get started. I have not seen the surgeon yet. I do all that in October. I put that off for a few months hoping that it would make the time go by quicker. Good luck to you. Darlene

hostasforever · August 21, 2007

hello valerie Thank You for the words of encouragemet

i needed them .Sorry It took me so long to get back to you . But my son-law is having back surgery . How is it all going 10 days post off ? Are you glad you did it? Are you very sore and is it hard to eat ? Hope alls well sue

hostasforever · August 21, 2007

Hi Darlene Thank you good luck to you too. good thinking about stretching out the time it's to late for me to do that I already have all my appointments set up . sue

Wendell Edwards · August 21, 2007

:help: Hello everyone:
I'm just starting the process .I've been to the seminar and consultation .now Ihave to do that darn 6 months of recorded diet even though I've been dieting for 20 yrs. and see the head doctor on aug. 30 .Anyone have any encouraging advice ? I'm kind of feeling down having to wait the 6 months. sue

A very common thing among Lap-Band patients is a sense of anxiety over different issues.

A common denominator of those issues is a sense of frustration due to a belief system in which the patient feels as if they are "Behind schedule".

These feelings are self-generated, and usually come from a desire for things to happen "Right now".

I know that it seemed like it took FOREVER to get my insurance approval, and I wanted it right now.

Then it took forever to get my surgery scheduled, and again, I wanted it right now.

Then the surgery came, and as I was waking up in the recovery room I was slightly disappointed that I was still fat, because I wanted the weight to be gone "Right now".

As time passed without restriction, I wanted that... you know the rest...

Then restriction lessened, and I wanted it back right now.

And the weight kept slowly coming off...

And somewhere along the line, I began to realize that weight loss with a Lap-Band is NOT a "Right now" type of thing.

Lap-Band surgery and the weight loss following surgery requires PATIENCE, which I admittedly was in very short supply of when I started this journey.

And it began to dawn on me that before Lap-Band, if I wanted something right now and didn't get it, I sometimes got food instead of what I wanted "Right now".

I used the food to substitute for whatever it was that I wanted, but could not have just yet.

Now I am a more patient person, because of my experience with Lap-Band. I understand that things in life worth having are going to take time.

And being normal sized is going to take some time.

It took me 38 years to get to my all-time high weight, so if it takes me a few years to get back to a normal weight, well, that's OK.

I am just going to try to enjoy the ride.

vterry63 · August 23, 2007

My employer and benefits people reviewed the lap band requirements for our health insurance and decided that 120% greater than your ideal body weight was not a reasonable requirement for lap band and they got it revised. The requirement is that the BMI has to be 40 to qualify. SO.....I finally got to go see the surgeon. I had already had the sleep study (sleep disorder diagnosed); EGD (GERD diagnosed); and documentation of my high blood pressure and orthopedic problems. This past Monday I had my liver ultrasound, and have gone through the required nutrition class and I also got all the blood work required (which shows my A1C as 6.6 and fasting glucose as 125, so am now considered prediabetic-type II ....which will help the cause as well!). I have to have my psych appointment and after that, my file will be reviewed by my insurance for approval (hopefully!). I had my left ankle "reconstructed" today in surgery so that hopefully will soon be able to start walking for exercise. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm hoping for the surgery either in September or early October.

I am looking forward to keeping up with everyone's progress, ups and downs during this journey.:whoo: