Hello from North Carolina.....

supergirl_nc · October 29, 2008

Hello everyone! My screen name is supergirl_nc (don't ask!) I am a 29 year old single mom. My surgery is scheduled for 11/18/08 and I am ecstatic! My journey has went fairly smoothly thus far. I have BCBS of NC and the local hospital is a BCBS Center of Excellence, which means my surgery did not have to get precertified......so fortunately no insurance hurdles here. I look foward to sharing my progress and reading about everyone else's.

lapbandtalker · October 29, 2008

Hi from Thomasville which is right next to Hickville.

Peanutband · October 29, 2008

I am in Raleigh or at least outside of it anyways. I hope to be banded also in Nov. on the 6th. I also have BCBS. How long did it take to hear back from the insurance company? That is all I am waiting on.

supergirl_nc · November 3, 2008

I am in Raleigh or at least outside of it anyways. I hope to be banded also in Nov. on the 6th. I also have BCBS. How long did it take to hear back from the insurance company? That is all I am waiting on.

Fortunately my hospital is a BCBS Center of Excellence, meaning that my surgeon has the go ahead to perform the surgery at his determination without prior approval. I know several people that have had the surgery at another local hospital that also had BCBS, it only took a week or two.

blmelton · November 3, 2008

I am from Morehead City. I had my surgery 7-07 in Greenville with Dr.Chapman. I have lost 77 pounds since surgery (112 since orientation class 1-07). Would do it all over again! :thumbup:

Peanutband · November 4, 2008

I got some bads news. I won't be getting band in November. It will be in January. My insurance is still working on my paperwork. Please pass me some of that magic band dust so things will go well for January.

SheenaRae99 · November 5, 2008

I live in Asheboro and will be banded in Greensboro on November 11th. It took me about 2 weeks to get my denial letter from the insurance company back in August. My surgeon appealed the decision and about 2 days later I was approved with BCBS. They would have immediately approved me for GBP but not for the lapband because my BMI was over 50. They are not allowed to make that decision for you so if you get denied for that reason... fight it! Good luck and I hope you hear an approval soon! :lol:

supergirl_nc · November 5, 2008

I got some bads news. I won't be getting band in November. It will be in January. My insurance is still working on my paperwork. Please pass me some of that magic band dust so things will go well for January.

Sorry to hear that Peanutband. I know it can be discouraging,but try to stay positive. I work in a doctors office and i know how hard the insurance women work to get approvals, trust in your surgeons office, they will work their tails off to get you approved.

supergirl_nc · November 5, 2008

Hi from Thomasville which is right next to Hickville.

LOL....North Carolina has a lot of "Hick"villes, but hey it is a beautiful state...gotta love it!

I was checking out your stats...wow you have done well...very encouraging. Any tips?

jmegirl · November 5, 2008

Greetings fellow North Carolinians!! I'm from Raleigh! I'm currently in Denver CO and my surgery is in 12hrs!!! I'm freaking out :lol: I'm a self-pay so I traveled to Colorado to have the surgery for $9950 with Dr. Kirshenbaum. Good luck to everyone!!!!

supergirl_nc · November 6, 2008

Greetings fellow North Carolinians!! I'm from Raleigh! I'm currently in Denver CO and my surgery is in 12hrs!!! I'm freaking out :smile2: I'm a self-pay so I traveled to Colorado to have the surgery for $9950 with Dr. Kirshenbaum. Good luck to everyone!!!!

Congratulations on your surgery..You are now an official bandster!! Hope everything went well! So are you going to have to fly to CO everytime you need an adjustment?

jmegirl · November 6, 2008

Congratulations on your surgery..You are now an official bandster!! Hope everything went well! So are you going to have to fly to CO everytime you need an adjustment?

Thanks!! 9hrs since surgery and I'm feeling fantastic!

Yes, every adjustment will have me flying back to CO, but only because I prefer to have him and his staff perform all my fills. I could go to Fill Centers USA locally, but as far as price goes, it's about comprable. Dr. K gives free fills for 3mos post-op, and then $15 fills after that. But a roundtrip flight is about $200-250. Fill Centers USA charges roughly $400 as a "start-up" fee just to get in the door, and then $250/fill. So I think in the long run it'll be better flying back to CO for fills.