I'm new here :)

[brookepanda 0]

Hi there!

My name is Brooke, and I'm I guess you'd say in the begining stages of getting banded. I have my first consult on July 11th. I'm hoping it's smooth sailing from there, but I can't be sure. I don't know what I need to do beforehand to get it done. I have blue cross blue shield ppo and I'm not sure of the steps (or rather hoops) they make you go through in order to be approved.

A little about me

I'm five feet exactly

and I currently weigh 236 pounds

I have a beautiful daughter who is 18 months old,

and a wonderful and very supportive husband of 5 years.

We reside in Northern California, and I'm seeing dr. Jossert in San Francisco.

I've found a lot of useful information on this site and thought I'd introduce myself and say hi to all of you :thumbup:

[kiz 1]

Hi Brooke. I'm not too far ahead of you. I have my first physician appointment scheduled for next week. I've gotten a ton of information from this site. Welcome to LBT, and good luck!

[brookepanda 0]

Hi Brooke. I'm not too far ahead of you. I have my first physician appointment scheduled for next week. I've gotten a ton of information from this site. Welcome to LBT, and good luck!

Did you set up psych. eval on your own? I see it in your siggy that you've got lots of steps covered! More than I've got for sure.....

Where are you from?

[PATCHELTON 0]

In my case I had to attend an informational seminar, have a consult with the surgeon, have a psych evaluation, and my insurance (Blue Choice) required a documented 6 month dietary weight loss attempt. I used the bariatric dietician for that. They also accept Weight Watchers, and the like, as long as you have documentation. The surgeon asked for a stress test, my PCP threw in an echocardiogram (I work for cardiologists so I had them both done at work). Once the paperwork was all together it was submitted to Blue Choice (took 4 weeks for approval) then I had to see the dietician again for the pre/post-op dietary consult, and have a class with the nurse. Once the date was set, I had to call the hospital billing office to settle any outstanding charges not covered by insurance before surgery. Fortunately there were none. My out-of-pocket expenses were minimal. The insurance even covered an overnight stay in the hospital. After surgery you get followup appts (in my case 90 days post-op were covered under the surgery). The dietary consult covers 6 months of advice or visits if needed with the dietician. I started going to support groups last summer, joined this forum in November, and was banded 3/25/08.

Edited June 24, 2008 by PATCHELTON

[brookepanda 0]

Thanks for all the info!

Can I ask....

did you take your cat in for professional pictures?

[kiz 1]

Did you set up psych. eval on your own? I see it in your siggy that you've got lots of steps covered! More than I've got for sure.....

Where are you from?

At the seminar, we received a packet of information and it included a list of psychologists that do the gastric surgery evaluations. One was $300 and another was $100, so it's good to check around. Someone asked if their personal psychologist could complete the evaluation, and the doctor said it should be fine but to check with their office.

I'm seeing a doctor in the Richmond, VA area.

[brookepanda 0]

At the seminar, we received a packet of information and it included a list of psychologists that do the gastric surgery evaluations. One was $300 and another was $100, so it's good to check around. Someone asked if their personal psychologist could complete the evaluation, and the doctor said it should be fine but to check with their office.

I'm seeing a doctor in the Richmond, VA area.

ok thanks for the info!

my seminar is not until July 19th :sad_smile: