rn2012

I hv aetna too, and my paperwork is being turned in on 11/17, im nervouse as all heck b/c i know aetna wants u to have a bmi>40 for 2 plus years, im keeping my fingers crossed

my paperwork is being turned in this thursday, so im hoping to hear something by mon or tues

Congrats on the approval, my insurance will be sent on 11/18, im nervous as all hell abt the decision. I hv Aetna, who do u have?

It has only been 5 days and waiting for my surgery is killing me! I just wish I could have the surgery this month or next! Waiting to February is going to suck. I was okay with waiting when I wasn't sure if I could even have the surgery, but insurance is a go, my health is a go....WHY WAIT!!! I kinda want to call and see if it can be done sooner!

What are all of you doing to make the waiting bearable?

Hi...I initially had a 3 month wait for my first consultation, which was initially sched for I believe OCT 11 at the end of July. However, I was way too anxious b/c i knew that my 90 days didnt start til the first consultatiton, so i called back the first week of Aug and begged to be called when someone cancels or resch, and i was told the problem with that is that most people only cancels the day b4, I told them it wouldnt b a problem for me and i would drop whatever just to take that appt, lucky me i was off of work for the whole month of August, so I rcv a call on the 16th of aug asking if i can come in the next day, I said yes with the quickness, and now my 90 days is up 11/17 and insurance wl b submiited on the 18th, so pls pray for me that i get approved

Hi

It depends on your particular plan u hv with aetna. I have Aetna too, and I had a choice of 6 months or 90 days, i chose the 90 days. My 90 days r up on 11/17 and thats when dr will submit insurance req

I have Aetna too, I have my consultation Tuesday. Is Aetna making you do the 6 month supervised diet?

Thanks,

Karie

Thanks nurseshay that was some good advice

Could it be your gall bladder? I had mine removed four years ago and it felt like chest pain and it felt like I was hvg a heart attack

I met Dr Tichansky already. He's awesome. I felt really comfortable with him and he answered all my ? and eased my mind. His staff is great too, Im hoping to hv surgery in Decemeber

Hello December Bandsters, I'm tenatively scheduled for Dec 15, as long as my approval comes in. My last dr visit is 11/16 and paper work with be submitted then

The nutritionist told me, that its up to me to decide if i want to take that gamble and start the preop diet, my surgeopn has alot of availbilty thanksgiving weekend, so thats why they said they tentatively booked me for 11/21...which prob means they didnt really put it in the system yet

My 90days are up on 11/16 and thats when insurance paperwork will be sent in, my problem is i want to get banded on 11/21, so that means i would have to start my 2week pre-op on 11/7, but if my approval doesnt come in 2 days then my pre-op diet will be for nothing bc i cant get surgery on 11/21, I picked that day bc im off the holdiay week, should i just wait til im approved and schedule the surgery then, i know really its a win win right, bc i would lose weight during that time, but im not trying to be on all liquids if i dodnt have to be

This post needs to be on the front page always

Hi, read the post Bandster Basics & A Day in The LIfe, under the Preoperation ??? and this post will settle all your worries

Hi all,

I am just starting out in my process. First I have to do a 3 month weight loss program under my doc's care and then I can get banded. I have met with the weight loss clinic that will do the surgery and will start the meetings with the dietician and meet with the doctors next month What advice can you all give me?

Thanks,

Heather

Hi, read the post Bandster Basics & A Day in The LIfe, under the Preoperation ??? and this post will settle all your worries

I thought I knew everything I was getting into until I came to this site (no offense.)

I didn't think that after surgery, having a band would be so much "work." What I mean by that is all the dieting. I don't get why anyone here ever got a band unless I don't understand. Most of what everyone says is they still watch what they eat, exercise, etc. Why get the band at all? Why not just diet like normal? What's the point of the band. I've been through my 6 months waiting with monthly visits to the physical therapist, nutritionist and program coordinator and they haven't prepared me for what I've read here. My surgery is in less than two weeks and now I am scared.

I knew I would need to change my life, but honestly I just thought that mean't less eating. Isnt' that the point of the band? If the band doesn't help you from overeating, what's the purpose of this over just doing say Atkins or Weight Watchers? I know it's a tool.

Maybe I am just freaking out. I think I was expecting to eat whatever I wanted (with exception of things that will get stuck) but just eating like a 1/4 of what I used to.

My problem has always been overeating. I thought the band would help with that.

I'm freaking out now.

Hi, read the post Bandster Basics & A Day in The LIfe, under the Preoperation ??? and this post will settle all your worries 168 pounds down, and over 2 years out...

I don't know what's wrong with me.....

I have everything approved by my insurance company, I've started a workout regimen (Kickboxing and swimming) and also curved the eating habits ...alot! Now, that have all that in line, I can't seem to schedule a date for the procedure . I seem to be getting cold feet worse than my wedding day!!! I've only been under the knife once and it was not for something like this, but the more I think about it, I start to panic. I hope this site bring a comfort to me by other people success stories that felt like me.

This post needs to be on the front page always

Oh wow, it looks like your dr's office dropped the ball, hopefully you will get approved with new info

What I was missing it my 3 month detailed report from the Doctor, I guess they sent July 8 but than only sent nutritionist report. I called Aetna and got a their fax appeal number and my dr is going to submit a more detailed report. Hope this is hleping

Sorry for the bad news, What do they mean not enough details, did u not have a 2 year documentation of weight history

Well Aetna denied me not enough details, even though I had been going to my PCP monthly since July 8, Nutritionist every 2 weeks since August 1, walk the treadmill, and go to curves 2 days a week. I have lost 19 pounds so far!!! Really frustrated don't know what to do?

I hv aetna too, and I hv the same dilemma, I hv been with my pcp along time but my bmi hasn't been exactly over 40 the whole time, close to it, so fingers r crossed. As far as how much aetna pays it depends what kind of aetna plan u hv bc they aren't the same, my plan covers 100%

Hi, everyone in my support group either had the sleeve or getting the sleeve, but im sticking to my band decision, eventhough they loss more quickly, I don't like the idea of getting 85% of your stomach removed

I went to my first support group last week, and i was the only one there that was getting the band,they were trying to convince me to get the sleeve, but im sticking with the band

Hi Everyone!

So I am two weeks post surgery and feeling great! The incision site is still a little sore, but really feeling good. I had to do a liquid and semi liquid diet for two weeks and that was rough, but I really had no problem keeping anything down or with feeling nauseous.

Today I started my pureed diet and have some questions. Again, all of the food I have tried so far has been tolerated well. My only complaint is that I kind of feel like I have food stuck in my throat, kind of like I can't get a good swallow in. I am not sure if I am just coming down with something cold wise, or if its related to my surgery. Anyone else every experience that? Is that normal?

My other questions is related to the fact that I am HUNGRY! Now, I have not had a fill yet, so is this normal? They say eat 2-3 tablespoons of pureed Protein, 1-2 tablespoons pureed fruit and same for an allowed starch. I had that all, sat for a while and was still hungry. Is this normal? I guess I was under the impression that after the surgery I would feel full after small amounts of food and I just don't feel that way. Will that change after I get filled in two weeks and I just have to wait till then?

I was at a group nutrition meeting yesterday and I was the only one who had the band; everyone else had the sleeve done. I felt like such an outsider because they were complaining of keeping food down, only being able to eat small amounts of food and lots of food tolerance problems. I just couldn't relate. I am just outside of the norm?

Thanks for any suggestions and comments.

Emily

Thanks everyone, i will arrange for a ride

Hi, just wondering if I would be able to drive myself home the next day after surgery

Well you just wrote exactly why your not doing so well. You can do it!! Pick 4-5 foods you do like and go from there. Pick a few protiens, a few veggies and try again. The great thing about the band is that it will be there to help you for the rest of your life. Maybe just go for walks to start and as you start to lose you can find a sport or something you enjoy to play.

Please don't give up - you worked hard to get the band in the first place!!

g

Honestly that is great. I don't mind losing a pound a week. I just don't want to gain. That is my biggest fear.