HeavyDutyQ-tee

Hello everyone. I live in Romeoville, just off Weber Rd. (5mins from Bolingbrook). I started my LapBand Journey Aug 19th by attending a seminar at Bolingbrook Adventist Hospital with Dr. Vafa Shayani. I finished everything I needed for insurance this past Monday & Dr. Shayani's nurse (TAMMY) submitted all my info to insurance. Here it is two days later and I got an approval today around 2pm. I'm so excited and I have no one to really share my success with that understands what I am going thru. I would love to be involved in a support group. I will be setting my date on Monday. Just need to get an approval for time off from my job. I'm hoping for Oct 14th or Oct 21st. Just keep me posted on the support group idea. When & where??? I'm all for it!!! YAY!!! So excited to begin this wonderful journey!!!

Okay... So the nurse submitted all my paperwork to my insurance company (Anthem BCBS) on Tuesday Sept 13th... and here it is 2 days later n I got my approval for my surgery today. All I have to do is pick a date. I'm hoping for Oct 14th or Oct 21st. Just waiting on my supervisor to call me back and let me know what would be a better day so I wont inconvenience the work schedule too bad. So happy!!! I work nights and I'm suppose to be resting but I can't. This is the best news I've gotten in a long time!!! I have to do a 10 Atkins diet before surgery. Does anyone know a little bit about Atkins? What kinds of things would I be eating on this diet? Also any tips on what I need to get before surgery and what to bring with me to the hospital on surgery day? Thanks LBT family.

Hey Newlyfe2011... I just wanted to ask you a few questions... Did they tell you how much your portion will be out of pocket? Do you have to pay upfront?

Thanks everyone... I was under the impression everything had to be paid up front. I will definitely look into payment plans, financing, or even just keep saving and pay off the balance when I can. I'm so excited and hoping I can have surgery by next month. I am so pleased I found this website. It has been the best thing ever. U all are the best.

So I started my journey on Aug18th, 2011 by attending a seminar. I then had my consultation on Aug. 26 with my surgeon Dr. Vafa Shayani out of Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital in Bolingbrook, IL. I found out my insurance pays 90% and does not require a 6-month pre-diet or any referral from my PCP. YAY!!! I did all my test on Aug 31st, including Lab Work, EKG, and Upper GI. I faxed in all my medical, physical exams and weigh-in's for the past five years. I had passed my Psych Eval on this past Tuesday Sept 6th and my PCP gave me surgery clearance on Sept 7th. My last stop is Monday Sept 12th, when I visit the nutritionist. Then everything will be submitted to insurance. My surgeons nursing assistant says my insurance usually approves with in a weeks time. So this means I could be having surgery in October. I wasn't expecting it to be this fast. I'm a little nervous. Also, I might not have all the funds available for my 10% out of pocket expenses, which I don't know the exact amount yet. But if I have to wait a little while before I can actually do the surgery until I have all the money, will they make me go through the process of getting approved all over again??? Will they allow me to set my date a little further out? I'm just curious...

Hello Cakegirl!!! I'm new here. Just wondering what does NSV stand for? Btw, congrats on your success.

Thanks everyone... On my way now!!!

Hello LBT... I have attended a seminar and I had my consultation with the surgeon this past Friday (8/26/11). The nurse has already set me up for all my testing to be done on Monday. I will have an EKG, Upper G.I., and all my Lab Work. Also, on Tuesday I go for my Psych Eval. I guess my question is does an EKG or the Upper G.I. hurt or are they painful? What are they? Why do we need them before being approved for surgery? I'm very excited because my insurance doesn't require a 6month pre-diet, so if I get everything done and all the required paperwork submitted, I'm hoping for a surgery date in October!!! YAY!!! Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for all responses, tips, words of wisdom, and any advice!!!

Hello all... I am a new comer. I will be attending a seminar with Dr. Shayani in Bolingbrook on Aug 18, 2011. I was just wondering if there are any lap-banders that already used Dr. Shayani? What was your experience? How are the nurses, hospital, and the location? How long was the process from day 1 up until the actual surgery day? What are Dr. Shayani's requirements? Do you need a referral? Does he require a 6month pre-diet? Any advice and positive feedback or just general info on the doctor's character and personality will be greatly appreciated. By the way, I'm 33yrs old, my BMI is 51, and my insurance covers most of the surgery... Yay!!! Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

Thanks again everyone for all you answers and input. My insurance doesn't require any referrals. So Im going to just wait til the seminar on Aug 18th. Ill get to meet the surgeon n his team. Ill just ask questions then. I know no matter what happens, from what Ive been hearing and reading, getting Lap Band is a lengthy procedure and many steps have to be taken. So I just have to be patient. It's going to happen when the time is right!!! (Good things come to those who wait...)

Thanks everyone got all your input. I'm going to just wait til I attend the seminar. Another question, do all doctors require a referral? I don't have a pcp. I only get a physical once every year or two from my job. Its required cuz I'm a truck driver. What if I can't come up with years of medical records? Will that be an issue?

Hello. Im new here. Very interested in Lab Band Surgery. I have read and watched just about every article n video on the internet about Lap Band n I really wanna get going with the process. Should I wait n still attend a seminar or go ahead n schedule my first appt n get this show on the road??? Any suggestions are welcomed. Thx

Hello. Im new here. Very interested in Lab Band Surgery. I have read and watched just about every article n video on the internet about Lap Band n I really wanna get going with the process. Should I wait n still attend a seminar or go ahead n schedule my first appt n get this show on the road??? Any suggestions are welcomed. Thx