2muchfluff

Progress!!! I have my psych evaluation scheduled for April 7th. That will be the beginning of that 6 months. So, if all goes well with that, surgery will be sometime after the first week of October. Countdown is underway!:smile:

Hubby went along, and we attended another WLS informational seminar at another location. I really liked the presenting surgeon. He was very knowledgeable and had a sense of humor. The presentation was more relaxed than the first one I attended. He stopped to answer questions throughout his hour-long presentation, and then was available after for private questions. Hubby liked him, too and so that is a big plus! I already saw my regular family doctor and he is all about helpiing me with the 6 month diet, and even gave me food lists and offered to give me adipex. Now I just have to get the head doctor appointment set up. I called today, but had to leave a message. The wheels of progress are turning..........slowly. But at least moving!

My doctor tried to get both done at the same time, but the insurance company was the ones who wanted it to be two separate nights. Go figure????

Thanks, Yolanda. I asked about the previous tries at weightloss through a doctor when the nurse called me, and she said they would accept it, if it were 6 consecutive months within a certain period. I am going to the doc Monday, so I will see what the records show then. I went to the informational seminar last night and was a little less than impressed. The surgeon was nice and informative, but very rushed, and when it came time for questions, he answered a few and then got a call and had to leave for a surgery emergency. Hmmmm..... Then when I brought home the paperwork that they supplied, it points out that they collect a number of fees up front even if you have insurance. I don't understand that. UHC has their own behavioral health outfit that has to approve any counseling etc., but they had their own counselor and dietician that they want to charge for. I know UHC won't buy that. They have to preapprove that type of thing. They charge for the support groups and everything. And they had all their fees for aftercare outlined that had to be paid before the office visit, etc. It was kind of disappointing, because it just smacked of money, money, money. I am going to try to attend at another surgery center next week and see if come away with a different impression....

I was very interested in the band when I first heard of it, but when I read about issues that people had with it, (pain and throwing up), I put it out of my mind. I have had my share of gastro problems and was not in the market for more. Besides, at the time, insurance did not cover any weight loss procedure. Then in January, I met someone that had the band, and had lost 40 pounds in 3 months and was doing very well. So, I began considering it again, especially since insurance now covers it. I knew I did not want bypass because of the nutritional problems, etc. I contacted Bariatric Resources right away to get the ball rolling, even though I was not totally convinced that I would have any surgery. Then, I was in the doctor's office with my daughter and met a lady whose son had the sleeve and she was raving about how wonderful it was and how it was so much better than the band. I came home and started researching it, and it did sound much better than the band for me. Especially, since I have other health issues that require me to take a lot of NSAIDS at times. And my insurance, UHC, covers the sleeve now! I still hadn't made up my mind for sure until I came across this site. Now I am convinced that the sleeve is what I need to finally get this weight monster under control! I have an appointment for a bariatric Nurse to call me on 3/10 to begin the process and work out all the details. I was told that I could go ahead and get an appointment with a surgeon, but I am trying to figure out which one would be best for me. I am leaning toward one at Memorial Hospital at Savannah, GA. I know that I will have to participate in a supervised weight loss program for 6 months and do the psycological exam and the whole nine yards. That is my journey so far. I am so glad to have found this forum!:crying:

I called the surgeon's office this morning and was invited to an informational seminar on Wednesday. They will check out my insurance coverage and get me an appointment after that! Can't wait to get started!

KK, I don't know what all the comorbidities are, but I do know that diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea are three of them. Unfortunatley, I don't need the comorbidites because I have it all sewed up with my bmi, which is about 44 or 45 I think. I hope things work out so that you can do what you need to get your health under control.

Congrats on your decision to change your life! I too am planning to change mine as soon as I can. I was just about sold on the lap band, and was talking to a lady who had bypass and was at my daughter's plastic surgeon to get a tummy tuck. I knew I didn't want a bypass because of all the nutritional problems, etc with that. The lady that was with her told me her son had had the sleeve and just loved it and lost over 100 lbs. I had never heard of it before that day. When I got to checking it out, and especially after coming to this site, I decided the sleeve was for me. I can't wait! I hope you do great with yours, too.

The caller from Bariatric Resources asked me a few screening questions to make sure I was eligible for WLS. Like height, weight, comorbidities, etc. She gave me numbers for 4 different suregeons and told me to go ahead and set up appt with the one I wanted before I got my call back from the bariatric nurse. She told me about the 6 month supervised weight loss, the phsych exam, etc. I have been on supervised diets with a physician before, so I am going to ask if that would count toward my 6 months. Would be nice if it could be retro like that.

Thanks for the pointers, Mary! I see that your surgeon is in Atlanta. Are you a fellow Georgian? Duh, I see now you are from Atlanta! I tend to put things off, too. But, I need to get on the stick and make an appointment with a surgeon. I just didn't want to jump out there and maybe get someone I didn't click with and wish I had waited. I will go over to the OH site and look around.

Yes, from what I have read, I am pretty much anticipating the hernia repair. Did you have a lot of pain from that repair?

Thanks, Tiff. I had read on other posts about your band nightmares, and even though I haven't had any weight loss surgeries, the problems that you and others have had sound a lot like what I have experienced with hiatal hernia and other gastro problems. Part of the top of my stomach would slide up through my herniated diaphrgm and become trapped, sometimes for days at a time. I couldn't eat, sleep or even drink a teaspoon of water sometimes without starting the agony all over again. The first time it happened, I thought I was having a heart attack. That is why I am so hesitant about something literally doing the same thing to me.

The Bariatric Resources is kind of like an answering service for the UHC people that run the program. Be prepared to wait a while before they call you back. I waited about 2 weeks and then I was not home when they called. Then they called again about a week later. I got an appointment with a Bariatric Nurse to call me back on 3/10 and she will be able to answer questions, and will be my caseworker, so to speak. Be patient. It will be worth it in the long run.