StacyS

Hi All, I would like to know if you have had your lapband surgery by either of these Dr.s in Pasadena, Ca. I am up in the air on which doctor to choose and would like any recommendation as to which you may have used! Thanks, Stacy

ok, so I went to my appt today and they said I need to pay a $600 program fee, that's not covered by my health insurance....has anyone else had this surprise? I know of another doctor who charges a facility fee too....what's going on????

So, I've been doing a lot of research between the band and the sleeve and have come to the conclusion that I'm going with the sleeve. The main concern for me is all the complications of the band, the fills, the possible corrosion of the stomach, the leakage, the slips, the PBs, the restriction of food, etc really got me thinking... I went to a new doctor today since I was unhappy with the slow responses I got from them, as well as feeling as tho I was just a cow in line for the cattle call, and spoke at length with a girl there who was trying to get a crossover surgery from the band to the sleeve. She might not be able to get the surgery since her stomach is so damaged from the band. After reading statistics....I've decided to go with the sleeve over the band.

Oh, and if you go into www.verticalsleevetalk.com and read their posts, they're almost all positive, unlike here......

O no....they put you to sleep and you wake up not even knowing you had it done. You will be really tired for the rest of the day tho...don't make any plans, you might just sleep and sleep once you get home. I did!!!

Call your insurance every day for a status!! It'll set your mind at ease!!!

I called everyday to check the status!! Insurance knows you are anxious and are pretty good about giving you updates!! You're not bugging them.

OMG, I'm so frustrated!! They had all my paperwork and told me they would be submitting to my insurance for approval last Wed and guess what? They havent! I called my insurance to see if they got anything and they hadnt, then I got a call from an office worker at my surgeon's office asking me who my Primary Care Physician is.... This tells me they are just starting to gather all my info to submit it to insurance! WTH? Dont they want my money? Why are they lagging? I know I'm one in 1000 people but how can I gently ask them to hurry up with my file without pissing them off???

Everything happens for a reason, right??? Well, this doctor's office has had my last straw! I QUIT!!!!! I found another doctor who's staff is much nicer, more attentive, and does not charge a $600 out of pocket fee! Considering that I need to start all over with a 3 month supervised diet, what better way to start off with a new doctor who has a friendly and professional staff?? Plus, they were referred to me by a friend who is extremely happy with them! HA! Take that you unprofessional, apathetic, money hungry doctor's office!!!! I'M THROUGH WITH YOU!!!

Thank you so much!! I will ask tomorrow if they will count my initial visit as month 1but that still leaves me with 2 months. I am going to a support group on feb 2, but would that really count?

All my paperwork was submitted to insurance on monday to BCBS-Fed, which included a 6 month supervised diet I did last year....well they told me today its too old and I need it 3 months prior to surgery!!!! So I now have to do a 3 month diet with a nutritionist?!? I'm so frustrated!!! I tried calling the doctors office to see what my options are and of course didn't get a hold of anyone!!! Please, any advise or words of encouragement would be appreciated!!!

No, don't stress!!! BS is great. Call them tomorrow and get a doctor. They can get you in if you tell them your situation and everything will work out!! Find a new doctor or see if your last doctor is covered and go with them. It won't be too difficult.

Status update: Insurance will not accept my 6 mo supervised diet I completed last year. They need it to be 3mo prior to surgery request! Therefore I must do another 3 mo supervised diet!!! I'm so frustrated, discouraged, and depressed. Of course when I called the doctors office to find or what my options are, I didn't speak to anyone!!! I swear I HATE this doctors office!! Bit I don't want to start the process all over.... And of course my husband made it worse by saying "its only 3 months. What's the big deal?" Ugh!!!!! You have no idea! Sorry, I'm so pissed and feel like crying!! I guss I needed to vent. I'll be calling my doctor tomorrow to see what I need to do to get this taken care of....wish me luck cuz it'll be a long ass 3 months!!!

Good luck!!! Just when you think you've got it all lined up, insurance will throw you a curve ball. They did to me today!! Told me the supervised diet I did last year is too old and now I have to do another 3 mo supervised diet!!! Here I was thinking I would be approved today and be making my surgery date but no..... So, I wish you all the best and hope you don't go through what I'm going through!!! Please keep us posted!!

Just got of the phone with insurance...the supervised diet I provided them is too old (3/10) and I need to have 3 months prior to surgery!!!! I'm so frustrated!!!! So now I have to wait another 3 months?!?! I tried calling the doctors office and only got voice mail!!!!! UGH!!!!!!

Congrats Rachel!! I'm waiting for my approval and will be posting my Approval soon (hopefully)!! Very happy for you! When is your surgery date???

Status Update: My paperwork was sent to BCBS- Fed on Monday, 24 Jan... I called BCBS and they said they should have approval/disapproval no later than Friday, 28 Jan. I'll let you all know how quickly I get an approval!!!

You did it!!!! All that waiting paid off, huh?? Yay!! I'm so excited for you!! I'm waiting for my approval right now. Hopefully before the end of the week!!

Status Update: Got an email from the surgeon's office this morning... the paperwork was faxed to my insurance yesterday! I then called my insurance co and verified they received it! They have and are working it now. He said it should take about 5 days for approval so I will be calling back on Thurs and/or Fri to see if I've been approved!!!! Horray!!!!

Remember, the LapBand is not a MAGIC POTION that instantly transforms you into being a skinny bitch. It's a TOOL to assist you in your weight loss. If you are not focused in the journey and are not giving it 100%, then of course you are not going to lose weight! I'm really surprised at how many people get frustrated with the hunger issue and the restriction issue.... the LapBand is a tool, not a cure! You have to work hard and it will work for you! Yes, you will be hungry at times- that's when you grab a Protein shake or some celery with Peanut Butter. Restriction? Well, it's not the ability to never be hungry again, it's the part where you've had enough to eat and you feel restriction cuz you just ate 1/2 a cup of food and feel content!! Please, if you work with your lapband, it will work for you!!! Go get another doctor and get a fill. If it's been over a year since your last appt, it's about time for some adjustments!!

I highly advise to call both! My insurance told me they covered 100% but when I went to see the only LapBand surgeon my insurance covers in the surrounding areas, he charges a "Program Fee" of $600 that is above and beyond what insurance pays. I then called other surgeons even though they may be farther away from me and they too had Program Fees or Facility Charges which are an out-of-pocket expense that is not covered under insurance. So, I would call both and see what exactly your insurance covers and what your surgeon charges as out-of-pocket fees..... Be very prepared!!

Oh, I have a battle ahead of me too!! I'm currently waiting for the doctor's office to get off their butts and submit to my insurance for approval.... then, after they do that, I'll have to wait in aggony again for the approval! At least your just waiting on the insurance co. Have you called them to find out the status? I have BCBS Fed and they are really good!!

Ok, so I'm all ready to get the lap band... I'm just waiting for the approval from insurance and then all the pre-op testing to be done; however.... I have this friend who is putting doubt in my head about my surgery. She has had the Sleeve done and is sending me all these sites that bash Lap Band and sites where people have crossed over from the band to the sleeve due to complications!! I've already decided that the Lap Band is something that could really assist me in my weight loss journey but the more I'm reading these things the more I'm doubting my decision and considering the Sleeve... Please HELP!!! Should I actually change my mind and request to have the Sleeve done or stick with the band and "hope" it works for me w/out all of the possible complications and risk not losing weight and risk having to do a cross-over surgery later????

Thank you all so much!!! For those of you who have gotten the band over the sleeve, how have you done? How much have you lost and what were your struggles?

I think all doctors are different. This isn't something from insurance, its an out of pocket charge from the surgeon. Your lucky no supervised diet. I have to have 3mo