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Hi. You go to Settings, then there is a list under that, select Notifications....Good Luck!

Thank you all for your responses and support. I did my due dillagence at they beging by checking with the insurance company when I first started the process. My Dr office checked with them to pre qualify me. The part that makes me angry and upset is that I would have expected that the insurance coordinator as a professioal would have known what qustions to ask, as in does the employer have special requirements and what are they. My employer cannot be the only one who does this. When I started the process it never dawned on me thet they would have this requirement, different from the carriers. I am not even sure whyI called and asked more questions that day. I just wanted to make sure everything would be ready to submit in December. I do believe everything happens for a reason and maybe this was not the path I should take for my journey. Good luck to all of you !

Thank you for your support in this. I am trying to decide if I should complete the nutrition counseling for this month ( last session was scheduled for today) or not. I was so upset yesterday I did not go to work! I was told by the nurse that my employer does not bend on this requirement for a bmi of 40. The thing that upset me the most is that I called and asked about coverage, and the Dr office did the same. Also I am upset that the insurance person at the Dr office either did not know what to ask or just blew it off. She was kind of flippant with me when I spoke to her yesterday, just said oh yes I had another patient that was denied for the same thing recently. I am kind of mad right now, and am thinking did you even think to let me know or just go on my merry way thinking I would be approved? The other plan my employer offers requires a bmi of 40 and 5 years of weight documentation with a bmi of 40 for the entire time. I may look into my husbands coverage. He has United but his open enrollment is in June. So do I keep plugging away or take this as a sign that it was not meant to be? Not sure what to do.

I just want to give everyone heads up regarding insurance coverage. I spoke to my carrier BC/BS of New Mexico. They do cover lap band for patients with a BMI 35-40 who have co-morbidities, without a huge list of other hoops. That was the good thing I have been very excited because knew I was qualified and just had to wait it out.and go through the steps. I called again today and asked some more questions. What I found out is that even though those are the requirements for the insurance company , my employer has tacked on another more strict condition and you have to have a BMI of 40. No exceptions for co morbidities, or the fact that the plan covers it. I am so upset right now. ( crying of course ) So I either an sol or I would have to gain a minimum of 25 lbs to qualify. So I am basically out the $450 program fee I paid, and the $250 copay for the endoscopy. I was too upset when I spoke to the surgeons office to ask for a partial refund of the program fee. ( they will probobly remind me that it was non-refundable) Anyway just a heads up for those who are borderline, to not take the insurance companies or surgeons word without asking a ton of probing questions, and restating the information back to them, to make sure it is correct.

This is an amazing journey of self discovery. My heart is so sad, yet inspired you are able to put this place you are in into words. Also I feel hopeful because just expressing it is a huge thing, even in this somewhat anonomus forum. We all can relate to the "What if I loose the weight and and not happy" dark thoughts. There are many skinny unhappy people in the world. No matter if you have 85 pounds or 285 pounds to loose we all struggle with our demons. Loosing weight in and of itself will not make you happy. I do think that it gives you the confidence to put your toe out the door and try something you have yeaned to do ....go to the park, fish, walk the dog in a new (!!! ) place, say hello to a stranger etc. These things wll inspire you to do new things...and That my friend will lead you in the direction of " happy " .Happy is not a destination, it is a state of mind, It is a decision we make, and it becomes a habit and soon it is a part of you. The dark place becomes smaller and the heavieness receeds. Enjoy your journey the Lap Band can be a tool to get you where you want to be. Sometimes the place we wantto be is the scariest of all. Just take baby steps!

I saw the clip with the 2 female patients on his website. One showed what she ate in a day. It consisted of several large spoons of yogurt and some other not identifable mushie stuff. If I had not already researched the band and what you can eat and the changing of eating habits I woud be completely turned off by it and would not even consider the band. . I cannot imagine eating unidentifiable food for the rest of my life. Foertunately I know that this is not necessary and it is possible to eat most regular foods in moderation. ns reach ny health goals.

medicgipson, I LOVE your post and question. I am in the 3 month supervised diet phase of my journey and hope to have my banding party in late December or early January. I have had the same feeling reading these boards, about people trading one compulsion for another. I have lost and gained the same 75 lbs at least 4 times. My issue has been that even the motivation of how great I looked, what size I was, how great I felt, how much energy I had I never learned how to maintain the eating habits required to keep the weight off. I am a food addict, I am a happy-mad-sad-bored-tired-eater. These are mental hungries. They will still be there after I get my band. However, I am confident that once I reach the "sweet spot" and have good restriction the band will assist me in not overeating. I am not a fan of throwing up, gas pain, productive burping etc. and see this negative reinforcement as a very good thing. It will be my job to concentrate on learning new behaviors to deal with the mental hungries. I do have an advantage in that I actually like healthy food. So what I eat will not be a problem. What I need is help with portion control (I have a tendency to eat waaay past being full) which I am confident the band will do for me. I asked my surgeon if it was possible to be a regular person who eats only when hungry and stops when satisfied, she said yes and gave me a time line of about 2 years to get there. I can live with that. What I cannot live with is having to continue to add medication for blood pressure, high cholesterol. and eventually diabetes to my list of pills. ...Good luck with your journey and decision! Ann

I am not telling many people. I do not need the horror stories or the negativity. I have listened to many conversations that others have gone through it and watched the emotional fall out. My Husband and adult daughter know. I will tell my adult son when I have a surgery date. I have 2 friends at work I have told, one had bypass last year and the other is just a good friend. That is all. I may change my mind after I am approved but I doubt it. Probably after when I can be of encouragement to someone who is contemplating the procedure. I figure it in nobodies business. .I must say it is HARD sometimes not to tell because it is on my mind ALL the time! However this is a personal decision, just like getting banded, so what ever each of us needs on the journey is what is important.

Maybe the way they go in , nose or mouth , depends on what they are looking for. Or just Dr preference. I am glad I had anesthesia. I had a scope of my nose years ago ago and found it pretty scary. I have a deviated septum and cannot breath through one nostril. I was sooo claustrophobic and thought i was going to suffocate. My ENT said afterward we should have given me some sedation.

No they go through your mouth. When you get there you have an IV placed, for fluid. You wait around for a while then the anesthesiologist will sedate you a bit, then take you to the operating room, Then the last thing you will remember is rolling onto your left side and having a bite block thing put in your mount to keep it open, then you wake you wake up in recovery. You will probably have a slightly sore throat. They will give you the results of the scope, and you wake up some more and go home. It is actually pretty simple....Good Luck!

Has anyone experienced increased reflux, mucus production and coughing after having the endoscopy? I had mine 3 weeks ago, they found a large hiatial harnea, the size of a tangerine. My chest hurt for a week after that and I have had a real problem with coughing and mucus ever since. I take Nexium for the reflux. Since I started that I do not have the sore throat in the morning or the acid taste in my mouth. But I have had a real issue with the thick mucus, enough to really interfere with my sleep. When I went for my follow up I was so surprised about the hiatal hernea that I forgot to ask about the coughing and mucus. Thanks !

I applaud you for checking into the benefit/risk for these medications. In my earlier post was not trying to make it sound like you should blindly take what ever the Dr tells you to take. I am a firm believer in research and education for all patients. I started Lipitor this week after my Dr made sure my liver function was ok. My reason for taking is is that my numbers have jumped drastically in just 1 year. I have added fish oil ( my Dr said to take 4000 mg per day ) and also am really working on changing my diet. Fortunately my husband is very much on board as his numbers are up as well ( he already has has a heart attack and stents placed ). Do you eat oatmeal? I know that this is a foot that binds with cholesterol. I did pop onto the Crestor web site and see that they have a savings plan you can join to lower your costs. Lpitor has one as well and they will cover the cost so lower my copay to $4.00! Good luck and a huge congratulations on your weight loss!!! I am hoping for my banding party to be in December as I have to finish the 3 month sup diet. Again Good Luck and congratulations you have done an amazing job!!!

It kind of depends on your insurance coverage, if they require referrals or not.Check int centers of excellence in your area for a good program. I understand how frustration it is for one of your Drs to tell you to loose weight the normal way. My pulmonoligist told me I did not need WLS and I should buckle down and do it the old fashioned way. I would not care but he is the guy who signs off on my ability to have anesthesia ( i have asthma) so I am a little worried about it.3I also know that these decisiond are between you and yur doctor. Just thought I woul give my perspective on it..**** Luck.