Candle

Nice!!! Great attitude! :clap2: (I was posting my reply when you posted that - lol!! Great minds .... )

Princesst - Wow!! That really really sucks! I know all of the waiting is frustrating and how angry you must be right now but I'm going to attempt to put a positive spin on this ... Maybe this happened for a reason? We've all been working so hard just to get the surgery day, that it feels like that's the finish line. It's really just the first step. You're going to need A LOT of after care, just think of the fills and possible un-fills alone. And god forbid you have any complications or need to switch insurance companies … It doesn't matter if your doctor is the best surgeon in all of TX if his support staff sucks. It's better to find out now. After the surgeon inserts the band, I bet close to 80% of your after care is done by his support staff. I fell in love with everyone in my surgeon's office. I'd say they played just as much a role in me choosing my doctor, as his reputation and experience did. They are all so caring, helpful, and patient. I've probably annoyed the crap out of all of them already and not once did I experience the negativity it sounds like you've been experiencing all along. Do you really want to go through it every time you need help or have a follow up visit? In the first few months when we’re all being hypochondriacs and calling them for every little thing, do you really want some bitchy nurse making you feel like you are wasting her time? Or worse … not even calling you back? Houston is a very metropolitan and HUGE area - you should have no problem finding another suitable doctor in your network. I wouldn't imagine you'd have to do all your pre-op tests again - the results won't be any different. I assume you did them all with specialists, not your surgeon's office anyway. Make some calls - talk to a few people on here. Seems like we have a lot of people in TX. Best of luck - keep us updated.

I just got approved with GHI this week!!! I have a self pay PPO plan ... I don't know how that differs from the HMO version. My BMI is in the high 40's so I'm not too familiar with their policy on BMI. They may want to see a few co-morbidities, most do if you are under 40. Make sure you do the 6-month diet w/ your PCP - they ALWAYS require it. If you get denied for some reason - buy a self pay PPO plan - mine is $415.00 per month. Way cheaper than the cost of surgery. Good luck.

Some how I missed this post! CONGRATS!!!! :whoo::whoo:

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :whoo::whoo::whoo: I'm so happy for you!!!

PS. My old plan even covered my consult with my Lap Band surgeon. I was surprised by that. (All he does is Lap Band)

Who does she have for insurance? I had all my pre-op tests (including 2 EKG's, ECHO, and stress test) done a few months ago when I had a policy with Anthem BC/BS and they were all covered. I just had to pay co-pays. There was a WLS surgery exclusion on my policy, so I've since switched to a different insurance company that does cover the Band.

You have to try your best. You don't want to have a fatty liver and have them have to cut you open. Plus, the more you change your eating habits now, the less of a shock it will be after surgery. I'm in the "last supper" stages as well but I am trying hard not to gorge myself. I'm allowing myself to cheat here and there on the things I know I will miss. My big problem is exercising - I just can't get motivated. I scoffed at seeing a shrink but she really helped me get my head in the game. Even though the $250.00 hurt – I’m glad I was required to see her.

I went to the meeting in March and I was NOT impressed. I wasn't expecting to learn anything new, as I've done a ton of research on my own but I did bring my boyfriend with me, hoping he would get something out of it. (he's not being banded but just so he'd know what to expect for me/us after my banding) We were both counting the seconds until the meeting was over. Dr. Geiss and a few other staff members spoke a little and they showed a short film strip. Then they had 2 or 3 successful bandsters get up to speak - I hate to say it but I didn't get anything out of their speeches. Most of what they talked about was specific to their cases and they were hard to hear. It just didn't seem well organized. I was disappointed. I was assured the post-banding meetings are smaller and more helpful and "supportive".

I'm being banded in Aug by Dr Geiss and like the idea of these support groups being a little closer to home. With traffic, getting to Syosett is a b!tch from Patchogue but ... the idea of meetings in a loud crowded place, SPECIALLY a restaurant, just doesn't appeal to me. Do you guys ever meet any where else? Parks, library, VFW, community center, etc ?

Long Island NY here Being banded on 8/27/07 at Syosett Hospital by Dr Geiss. Can't wait!

8/27/07 here Under MAIN LAP-BAND FORUMS go to MONTHY SUPPORT GROUPS then AUGUST 07. You'll see all the threads!

Hey guys!! I just got approved yesterday!! (approved in 1 week! ) My surgery is scheduled for 8/27/07. I'm in Long IslandNY and using Dr. Geiss. I can not wait!! I had to do a 6 month supervised diet and I feel like this has taken forever. My pre-op is a 7 day liquid diet with the last day being clear liquids. Then 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks mushies, and then back to regular food. I ordered a bunch of samples and seem to like the Unjury choc protein powder the best. The biggest things I'm worried about are: the obvious - not being successful, no soda (which I've been working on cutting out … but am drinking one right now - lol) no drinking with meals and sleeping on my back for awhile until the port is no longer tender.

Thanks guys! I am so happy and relieved!! I have my fingers crossed for all of you! You've been so sweet and supportive; I hope we can go through the process together! My doctor's office called me yesterday but I didn't hear the message until last night. (I've called and bugged them so many times, I'm sure they were just as relieved as I was!! lol) I have an appointment on 8/14 with the OR nurse to go over details and requirements for surgery. Then 8/21 at the hospital for pre-surgery testing. Then a final physical and clearance from my PCP on 8/22. They even scheduled my first follow-up appointment for 9/10.

I just got approved today!!

I'm approved!!! I'm approved!!! I'm approved!!! :whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo:

I'm approved!!! I'm approved!!! I'm approved!!! :whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo:

No, they are with specialists. I guess it all depends on what your surgeon and/or insurance require. I did my 6 month supervised diet with my PCP and she's the one that sent me to the lab for blood work. I saw: A cardiac doctor for the EKG/ECHO/Stress test. A pulmonary doctor for the breathing tests and she sent me to the hospital for a chest x-ray and the sleep studies. A shrink A nutritionist A gastro doctor for the Upper GI and Endoscopy I just got paperwork from my surgeon that states I have to go to the hospital for blood work 8 days before surgery and a final physical with my PCP the following day. It's a lot and very overwhelming. Good luck!

I had to have a chest x-ray. They also hooked me up to a breathing machine and had me take a bunch of different deep or shallow breaths and it gave them a printout. Something about lung function. The pain in the ass part was the sleep study - I ended up having sleep apnea and had to do the study 2x and just got a CPAP machine. (it took about 2 months) Good luck

Great post!! Unfortunately, this seems to be a problem in every forum I have ever posted in and no matter how much information and/or direction you give people, they just don't listen or are too lazy.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p I always thought it would be cool to have a feature that maybe asked you to input the topic of your post before you can start a new thread. Basically forcing you to do a "search" before allowing you to post a new thread. That's not to say people would actually take the time to read the results that pop up - but even if it cut out 25% of the duplicate topics it would be helpful.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Quote: <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by faithmd Jacqui, I read your posts and think to myself, that's the attitude I want and the way I want to eat.<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig --><!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig --> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <O:p<O:p</O:p For me ... she is one of the most inspirational posters here.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p Besides all the "standard" reasons for choosing the band over other WLS options, my big thing is, I want to lose the weight at a steady, consistent rate. I want to train myself to eat healthy and exercise. I want this to be a permanent solution to my weight problems. <O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p I don't want to lose 100lbs in 6 months and have that weird sickly look bypass people seem to get. I don't want to lose the weight by not making major changes to my eating habits - and in turn gain the weight back in a few years. I don’t want to live on a liquid diet. <O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p I want to learn to eat like a “normal” person. I want to be healthy!! This attitude is a major departure from my past attempts to lose weight. Up until about 2 years ago, the only reason I ever wanted to lose weight, was to look better and I didn't care what I had to do to get there.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p I'm hoping this change in my attitude and desire to improve my HEALTH will be the thing (besides the band ) that makes this weight lose effort different ... and effective. <O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p (sorry – didn’t mean to go off on a tangent there – I’m feeling very emotional tonight – lol)<O:p</O:p<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Err - I wish they'd fix the edit feature!

You look beautiful! Thank god I've never lived in a state that prints your weight on the license - lol!! I got a new license when I moved to NY last year - it is by far the worst picture of me EVER taken!! They made me put my head back to touch the board you stand in front of - it looks like my neck is the same width as my head - forget double chin. I burst into tears when it came in the mail - lol!<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Thanks for the words of encouragement. re CPAP: I've had it for almost a week and I've tried to use it every night. I use the ramp button but I always wake up within an hour or two all wrapped up in the hose, with the mask off my face. I'm a stomach sleeper and I think I just toss around and rip it off. If for nothing else, I was hoping it would help condition me to sleep on my back. I know after surgery, sleeping on my stomach won't be an option for a long time. I think it really bothers me too because I have to read or watch TV to fall asleep and I can't do either of those without my glasses … which I can’t wear because of the stupid mask. This CPAP thing has kind of put me into this weird depression the past few days. I know I didn’t get this heavy over night but the reality of the state of my health and the size of my body and all the related problems is freaking me out. I’m really disgusted with myself. How did I let myself get to this point?

Don't freak out! Your surgery isn't until 8/13/07 – that’s almost a month for them to approve! I would call your insurance company on Monday to make sure they got everything. Get the name of the person you speak with so you can call back that same person in about a week to make sure they have everything they need and the ball is rolling. Squeaky wheel gets the grease!