A little sad...

[marmar 0]

I am self pay but that didnt matter i still had to attend 3 meetings and it took forever I had to do all kinds of testing. It took about 10 months for me

[PATCHELTON 0]

I am not sure about Highmark, but I have Blue Choice, and I had to do a 6 month diet attempt. The seminar is full of information, plus you can ask questions. The psych evaluation is to make sure your head is straight about why you are doing this and if you are doing it for the right reasons (They don't catch everyone--I know one person who had the band and can eat anything she wants as long as she eats slowly--she has had many fills--eats crap, doesn't exercise, doesn't go to group support, and lost all of 20lbs--says she is "disappointed" in the band). The dietician will review food choices and give you guidelines for pre-and post-op. The entire bariatric team is there to help you be successful. Use the resources.

I spent the 6 month diet period coming here and reading books about banding (Lapband Solution and Lapband Companion are two that I bought). I also used the time to try some of the Protein drinks and Vitamins I would need after surgery. I subscribed to OH (wonderful magazine on obesityhelp.com) and WLS Lifestyles (I think I found the link on bariatriceating.com). There are many sites for Vitamins, drinks bariatric friendly foods. Use the time to learn as much as you can. You won't be sorry.

[ParrotheadCathy 0]

I never went to a seminar until I went to serve as a patient to answer questions for potential questions. I went through True Results and they offer the option of a "one-on-one" just by calling and scheduling. Because I went in having obviously done my research, that ended up being my first appointment and I started the process that day. That was 1/2/09 and I had surgery just over a month later on 2/10/09.

[dilyn517 0]

I know it's hard hang in there. My seminar was 8/08 and I was banded 8/09 with a whole bunch of insurance/doctor requirements in between. It goes fast!

[Figleaf 0]

To - So_it_goes

This is so good to hear... I'm getting nervous about The DAY!! (I get banded on the 20th sep). I havent had a problem with the pre-op, but i'm only doing that for 10days.

Edited September 12, 2009 by Figleaf
not aimed to the right person

[moneypenny 0]

Hang in there -- learn the process, know what the surgeon requires and know what the insurance requires and work it. I went to a seminar in July, learned everything the surgeon needed (psych eval, dietician, sleep study) - went to my primary care doctor, had him order a referral from the insurance for all 3, plus a referral to the surgeon. Went to the surgeon's office 2 days later to get my first weight in (had to lose between 5% & 10% of body weight prior to surgery)... checked my insurance online referral system and once I saw the referrals post, I was on the phone scheduling my appts --- everything clicked along and all the pre-op work was done in 4 weeks. The surgeon's office then sent to the insurance for approval, insurance kicked it back the next day for more info (and I was calling the insurance company asking what was going on), then the surgeon's office sent back more info (but I had to call them and let them know the insurance needed more info, and then they checked "that" email box and saw the insurance request for further info) -- they sent it off... and voila it was approved the next day, which was a Friday... Surgeon's office was working toward getting me on the schedule anyways, so 3 days later was my pre-op appt, then surgery the next day. It pays to know what is really required so poke around and make sure you are getting all your ducks in a row so to speak. i.e. if the surgeon you will see at the seminar has pre-requisites, get them started.

Best of luck -- I know the waiting is agony -- I actually had tried to do this 4 years prior, and insurance sent me to a gastric bypass only doc -- scrapped that, and I knew I wanted the lap band... hit my breaking point again in July.

Keep after it -- it will come through.

[wacogurl 0]

Hang in there -- learn the process, know what the surgeon requires and know what the insurance requires and work it. I went to a seminar in July, learned everything the surgeon needed (psych eval, dietician, sleep study) - went to my primary care doctor, had him order a referral from the insurance for all 3, plus a referral to the surgeon. Went to the surgeon's office 2 days later to get my first weight in (had to lose between 5% & 10% of body weight prior to surgery)... checked my insurance online referral system and once I saw the referrals post, I was on the phone scheduling my appts --- everything clicked along and all the pre-op work was done in 4 weeks. The surgeon's office then sent to the insurance for approval, insurance kicked it back the next day for more info (and I was calling the insurance company asking what was going on), then the surgeon's office sent back more info (but I had to call them and let them know the insurance needed more info, and then they checked "that" email box and saw the insurance request for further info) -- they sent it off... and voila it was approved the next day, which was a Friday... Surgeon's office was working toward getting me on the schedule anyways, so 3 days later was my pre-op appt, then surgery the next day. It pays to know what is really required so poke around and make sure you are getting all your ducks in a row so to speak. i.e. if the surgeon you will see at the seminar has pre-requisites, get them started.

Best of luck -- I know the waiting is agony -- I actually had tried to do this 4 years prior, and insurance sent me to a gastric bypass only doc -- scrapped that, and I knew I wanted the lap band... hit my breaking point again in July.

Keep after it -- it will come through.

Thank you so much for sharing! That is all so very helpful... I planned to call my insurance on monday anyways but you just gave me that extra push...anything to help push things along... there is nothing i dislike more then to chase my tale trying to get things done and having to go back and forth so like you said find out everything they need and get it going! Thanks again

And thanks to everyone for sharing you guys really keep my head up about the waiting process! I really appreciate it!:tongue2:

[wacogurl 0]

**********UPDATE*********

Ok so I took everyones advise and yesterday I got on the phone and made some calls! I still have to wait until Oct 19th for the seminar BUT I talked to my insurance BCBS and found out everything I need... and this whole having to wait thing is going to keep on.. but at least now I know what I have to get done. But the best part of it all is that I will be required to do a 6 month supervised diet, but I have to wait 6 months anyways for my insurance to cover me anyways for this procedure! I have to have had my insurance for 1 year prior to the procedure and that will be in Feb which is when I would be done with my 6 month diet if i start now! And in the mean time I will go to the Seminar, see the surgeon, get my psych eval, and all they other little things done, so when Feb roles around all i have to do is the pre-op diet and I am on my way!!! That totally made my day and made me realize that this wait is going to be worth every minute!!

Thank you soooooo very much for all your support and help!

On my way to be a healthier thinner person!!!

You all ROCK!!!!

[Hopeful216 0]

Yeah, it takes seemingly forever. There are a lot of tests, but they just want to ensure you'll survive surgery. The preop diet it a good way to get started on your big losing spree. I lost 44 pounds preop and it was nice to be able to take that momentum into the post-surgery life. Use your time to find out as much as you can about the Lap Band and the lifestyle you'll need to follow.

Good luck!

PS: As for the diabetes thing, there's a good chance that it'll disappear as you lose weight. A lot of the type 2 diabetes is caused by excess weight. Every time I've lost weight below a certain number I've been able to ditch my diabetes medicine. I already was able to get rid of the insulin shots.

Julia congrats on your successful weight loss. You recently mentioned something about learning about the lifestyle you will be following after the procedure. I was hoping you could give me more insite into this lifestyle that I will be living after my procedure. Noone has ever gone over what I may expect to deal with after the surgery. Thank you