faithmd

I was just DENIED!!!!!! I didn't lose the 5% of my excess weight as required by my insurance company during my 12 month MD supervised diet program. I had a heart problem in the late summer (since been fixed) and went on a medication for five months that made me totally sedentary. I didn't want to do a stinking thing! And I gained 27lbs on it. My high was 371, my starting weight (the one they use) was 344. So in order to qualify, I have to be 335. Granted I've lost weight since being fixed in December (I'm now 347.6), but even with a letter from my doctor stating that the weight gain wasn't totally my fault, and even with my case manager pleading my case to the medical director for the Ins Co. I'm denied! I can try again next month... One positive thing, once it was submitted it only took a couple of hours...

Thanks everyone. I am feeling pretty (momentarily) defeated right now. But amazingly I think I've had a pre-band NSV of sorts...I haven't picked up a fork or a spoon and shoveled anything into my mouth that I shouldn't have. I'm getting MAD. Now, how to get another 15lbs off in three weeks... (my next PCP appt is 4/25)

I read about this in Time as well. So it's not just "urban legend."

We (the surgeon's office, my PCP and my insurance company's case manager) were so sure I'd be approved. We worked very hard to have everything lined up, and we did. But I had V-Tach and had to be sedentary for five months. My case manager said that as long as everything was met, she's had many approved the first time around. So I guess I was really counting on it. I guess it would make life easier to ba even smaller for OR, but DAMMIT! I've been working so hard already, I want the band to be that extra tool... Maybe I just need to do Optifast now...grrrrrr! Thanks for your encouragement, waterlily! I think you're right, I know lots of folks get denied the first time.

I was just denied a few minutes ago by a different company. Call your conpany and ask if there are complex case managers who handle bariatric surgery claims. I have one and she's been a godsend. We did everything right, but I was denied because I didn't lose what I needed to over the past year on the MD program (not my fault, but that's another thread). Get the name of a case manager and then that person is the go-to person for you. S/he will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do. good luck!

DENIED!!!!!! I didn't lose the 5% required by my insurance company over the past year. I had a heart problem (since been fixed) and went on a medication that made me totally sedentary. I didn't want to do a stinking thing! And I gained 27lbs on it. My high was 371, my starting weight (the one they use) was 344. So in order to qualify I have to be 335. Granted I've lost weight (I'm now 347.6), but even with a letter from my doctor stating that the weight gain wasn't totally my fault, and even with my case manager pleading my case to the medical director for the Ins Co. I'm denied! I can try again next month... One positive thing, it only took a couple of hours...

lapbandrockies.com

WOOHOO!!!! Excellent NSV!!

Had a phone call a little bit ago from my Case Manager and she's received my stuff! We went over it and I gave her my newest weights from my MD appt last week and from my cardiac rehab on Monday. She said she might be able to get back to me today, but I told her to just tell me tomorrow. Come on tomorrow!

Woohoo!!!!!

Now those are REALLY high in carbs. But deeelicious! I did forget to mention that, to look at the labels for carbs/protein/etc... I will likely be using the veggies and the meat baby foods, but yes, the fruits are quite high in carbs.

Baybee, I'm sorry things aren't looking your way right now. there is a surgoen in Denver who is not too much more than the Mexico doctors (a lot of whom taught the US doctors how to place the band!). I have a question for you and I don't mean for this to sound rude, but...Didn't you say you have been married, are now divorced, it looks like you are 25, and are again in a committed relationship? Mom lost her job (I'm sorry about that, too, that really stinks!) recently and wouldn't likely have been paying for this anyway, right? So if you are an adult who has been married and divorced, then why on earth would your mom putting her foot down and saying no have anything to do with what YOU choose to do for YOUR health? Just because SHE is misinformed, that doesn't mean you should not do something for YOU. Food for thought... And I do wish you luck, the website for the surgeon on Denver is www.lapbandrockies.com

And you can band a RNY if (or when, for some folks) it fails.

Yes, you can.

Hello, welcome and good luck!!

Not sure, I have a few of those little cans of pineapple juice already stocked in the cabinet, though. (Just in case) I was shoppin there the other days looking for cinnamon supplements and noticed the bottle of Papaya and Pineapple enzyme. I remember reading in one of the other posts that some folks swear by papaya, and that pineapple juice is also good for unblocking. So I thought, for $2.49, I'll get it (also just in case). I haven't picked up the meat tenderizer yet, though.

Hello there, welcome to LBT! Here's a link to another thread that discussing kids and the band, hope it helps: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/attn-moms-post-t30759.html?t=30759&highlight=lifting I also suggest you ask your surgeon what his or her rules are for lifting post-op. Many are different...

Hello, this is an ages old question here, there are many many threads that ask Band Vs. Bypass? or Why not Bypass? The search function on the blue toolbar will garner you even more than I am about to list, but here are some links to other threads that have asked this question, I hope these help. Sometimes it's good to read what others have written at different times: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32584&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32079&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30997&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=31480&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=31341&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=29259&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=28724&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=28690&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=27483&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=25642&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=25022&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23454&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23760&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=21480&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=20624&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=18165&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16868&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16350&highlight=bypass http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.phpt=15378&highlight=bypass

I found a great combination papaya and pineapple enzyme chewable tab at Trader Joe's for something like $2.49

Here's a link to the thread that explains all the various abbreviations, hope this helps, there's lots of odd things said on here http://www.lapbandtalk.com/abbreviations-and-they-t7959.html

Here's a link to a thread similar to yours where I posted my list of pre-op questions that I asked: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/questions-ask-consultation-t32224.html Here are links to other threads that might be helpful: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/pre-op-qu...6.html?t=31866 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/pre-op-qu...5.html?t=31865 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/questions...5.html?t=28945 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/some-ques...1.html?t=12541 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/questions...7.html?t=20287 __________________

Congrats on your appointment!! You titled the thread in such a way that you might not have gotten many looks. A suggestion for the future would be to title the threads so that they let the reader know what's in it. Like: First appointment tomorrow, what to expect? Or somethinglike that. Since you haven't gotten a lot of responses (or to use anytime), I would suggest you use the wonderful Search function found on the blue toolbar on the upper part of the page. It's been a great help to me. Many of the questions you have asked have loads of good answers out there. First, I don't think any of us can tell you how long it will be until surgery. Boy, how I wish we could! Certainly since you are self pay and you've gotten things done already (in terms of testing, etc) it should take much less time. It will depend on some factors: Does your surgeon require a pre-op diet? Will you have to order it? What is the surgeon's schedule? How far ahead are they scheduling OR's? Will you have to meet with a dietician (you probably will tomorrow)? You may need an appointment for things like blood draws, EKG, etc. just before surgery. In terms of what to ask your surgeon, there's a few threads about that, and here's a link to a whole forum that's helpful: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lap-band-faqs-f73.html

And use the search function here and look up UHC, I've read some nightmares about them, and others where it's been totally excluded.

You might want to join the Yahoo group:bandstersinsurance It's all about insurance and being banded. But remember, your policy may be very different from mine, even though we may both have the same insurance company because of exclusions and riders.

The nutritionist I saw last week didn't say a thing about giving up carbs (though I already have given up simple sugars and enriched flours, etc.). they do caution you about the possibility that breads and rice may get "stuck" (may not, it's different from person to person). The thing about simple carbs is that they are really awful. They only provide calories, without nutritional value. Now if you are talking complex carbs, whole grain breads, sweet potatoes, etc...then you are getting more bang for your buck. You will be taking in so many fewer calories, I think the thought is to make every one of them count.