SkinnyMiniMe

You are entitled to your own medical records. You should call your surgeon that performed the surgery and request them to release your records to you. That way you can personally have them for yourself and take it to whatever doctor you pick.

Not much on here about GHI. Does anyone know how long GHI takes to approve??

I started today!!! YEAH I am doing Protein shakes and monitoring my calories. I also started walking. I took a nice 30 minute walk to and from my local CVS with my iPod and it felt great!!! I am considering hitting the gym next week Baby steps lol. I would like to lose some weight before the liquid diet and surgery. After I already started the journey why wait. Roe, maybe can start a walking group where you are or looking for a fellow bandster like you. I am thinking of going to the support group at my hospital even before the surgery. I am hoping to meet motivating and inspirational friends!!! Never too soon for some of those.

Click on this http://www.emblemhealth.com/pdf/med_guidelines/surgical/MG_Bariatric_SX_c.pdf if that does work then click on this http://www.emblemhealth.com/default.aspx?Page=12244 then click on Bariatric Surgery (6th linked down on the left column) Page 4 # 2 Fills are expected every 6 weeks until needed and not under floro. I guess they don't want to pay. My doctor said he only charges $100.00 for fills. So that is not too bad. I know your doctor quoted me $250.00 a fill. The office manager requested a copy of this too. So you may want to do the same. BTW GHI has changed some since becoming part of Emblem....so far i do not like the changes. I just found out my individual deductible is $100 more so $300 for the year! Anyways good luck.

This is good to know. Some reason I have a feeling that not many waitresses will know about this. I wonder if on the resturants websites? Got to check it out. Also not sure if kids menu as appealing then regular food menu. Since my husband will be banded too I think there will be lots of entree sharing in our future. :-)

Just thinking about you and wondering how you are doing? Hope all is well

TMI I know but... No more digging bras or and disappearing undies. Nothing worse then bruising bras and hurtful wedgies..

So funny I just went to my last Chinese Buffet last week. I was pissed, it was not as good as I remebered and I spent over $100 for my family and I to go. I first I was pissed thinking of all the nice clothes I could have bought with the $100 but then it ocurred to me...I officially broke up with Buffets! It was a bad relationship anyway LMAO. Seriously IF it had been the best meal ever I would have thought about it and dreamt about it for years (the food addict in me) Instead I was relieved and knew that I am on my way... GOOD LUCK BTW join the December Bandsters threads. I would like to keep tract of all my fellow bandsters and inspirational friends

Really??? FREE???...that is a great tip!!!

YES YES YES!!! I am still in the process but hoping for a December Banding Birthday So far these are the things I found and like... * since I quit Diet Soda (almost 2 weeks YEAH), I am hooked on MIO Water Enhancer (target sells it) squirt into water. Its in the same aisle as the crystal light. * I also bought the Thermos Intrak Hydration water bottle LOVE IT ($10 at target) keep track of how much you drink and leakproof. * GNC MyoFusion Protein powder (chocolate my fave so far) 30grams of protein per serving * GNC Blender Ball cups (great for your shakes on the go) I have a few. I have not tried it yet but I may try the crystal light hunger drink mix, it has 3g of protein and 5 g of Fiber per serving. I love tips too. I really want to know about Vitamins after banding. I want to make sure I take something to prevent hair loss.

WOW Shakey!!! That is great. Do you feel like you are doing all the work since you have no restriction? Or do you feel that the band has helped you with hunger? See working out is not the problem for me its the caloric intake. I am a food addict. Last year I was working out 5 days a week (no band) I managed to lose (40lbs) I was at 200.4 NEVER made to onderland. Mostly because I couldn't stop eating. After a month of no weight loss I gave it all up...now I am here 50 lbs heavier on my journey to get the Lapband. I have tried on my own too many times. I actually made to a size 10 before my second child. Hearing your story makes me hopeful...Losing that kind of weight in such a short time!!!! If I am as successful as you guys I will be doing the happy dance in my skinny jeans by summer WOOHOO :party:

Well I have not been banded yet but only my parents, husband and best friend know. Other than that my other friend who had the lapband knows. I really don't want to hear negative comments. It's my journey! It is tough because I am obessed with it and I want to talk about it all the time. That is why I am always on here. I don't think I will tell many people afterwards too especially at work. Although I am not sure, with weight loss success I may want to shout it out LOUD lol. Just a suggestion about Facebook. You could divided all your facebook friends into groups for example, High School friends, work friends, close friends, family etc., then you can choose which groups you want to share something with. They don't all have to know. Just keep in mind you can't prevent anyone from gossiping.

WOW!!! Thanks for the inspiration everyone. I am convinced that this will be the best I am going to do for myself. After the seminar for me the clear choice is the Lapband. My surgeon is only beginning to do the Pilcation with Lapband and that may be another alternative when I meet with him again. I am not totally convinced on the Pilcation yet so regardless the Lapand is a definite. I have hope that it will work lol...in fact I plan on naming my band "Hopey Will" LOL Knowing that I have to lose over 100 lbs is always mentally the hardest part about getting in shape. Never getting to my goal and gaining back the weight WILL "hopefully" will be a thing of the past and I "Will" live my best life in my new body!!! SOOO Looking forward to it. Good Luck everyone!!!

Insurance companies drive me CrAzY!!! Well spoke to the office manager and she too was surprised about the deductible...I guess the teamsters union has a different plan Anyway so I went onto my insurance website and it says that out of network I am responsible for 20% Co-Insurance!!!! NO WAY will I be able to afford that!!!! The office manager told me to call on Monday, so if she still is willing to take whatever they pay as paid in full which apparently is 80% of the bill then I will stay with my surgeon if not then I will have to go to an in network. Which means I may have to push back my surgery (SIGH )

Thermos intak hydration Water bottle $10 at target helps keep track of how much you are drinking. I also add MIO to my water also at target by the crystal light. Good Luck

Since quitting diet soda I bought the Thermos Intak Water bottle at target for $10 I LOVE IT!!! Its BPA free, spill proof, has a loop you can easily carry everywhere and the best part there is a dial on the top there is a rotating part (meter) that lets you keep track of how much you drink. Its 24oz bottle and you can track 6 refills on the bottle itself.

OMG!!! You guys are such inspiration!!! I hope to do the same when I finally get banded in December. I want to be in onderland by June! Wishing you guys all the SUCCESS!!! I want to hit the ground running with the band...any pointers or tips will be greatly appreciated! Are you guys still on shakes, what are your meals like, working out? I have read lots of inspirational stories and some not so inspiring on here. I just want to make sure that I do my part and hoping the band will do hers, so I can get results like you guys. I am hoping to inspire some newbies next year WOOHOO!!! LOL I even named my soon to be band "Hopey" I may give her a last name "Hopey Will"

I will be able to button my jeans standing up no more buttoning my jeans laying down again ever! I never want to be afraid to use the public restroom for fear that you can't zip you pants back up. No more painful, itchy, dented skin around my waist from wearing jeans all day. No more stretching clothes before putting the on. I am always stretching my shirts and sometimes my pants. I have be known to ask my husband to hold one end of the pant waist and play tug-a-war with me holding the other end.

I really can not wait to see your results!!!

I have had other surgeries and I am not too concerned. With all the pre-op appointments I am pretty sure that my surgeon knows if I am healthy enough to have this 45 minute procedure or not. They have checked all my abdominal organs, blood work, lungs, stomach and even checked for blood clots. That is more testing than the other two surgeries that I have had in the past.

Well Thanks for the advice. Since I started the process already in October my deductible will be already covered if I have the surgery in December. Its too late to turn back now. I guess you are right I will probably meet that deductible anyway in 2012 again with all the fills. I have a feeling I am going to see alot more out network doctors from now on. At least take advantage. Thanks for the advice about getting it in writing. I have a friend that was sued 5 years after by a lawyer and the doctor was no longer in business so she could not verify with the office manager. She ended up being served to go to court and settled out of court. Don't want that to happen. I think I am more annoyed that I called my insurance last month and they told me it was $200 deductible per individual and now come to find out its $300 and since its for my husband and I it will be $600 but that will cover it for the rest of the familly.

The thing is I am only responsible for my deductible which is $300 per person a year. Since we already went to the consult I am already responsible for and it will cover the surgeries if they happen as planned in December. My husband and I already discussed it...and we think we will continue with him. Then in 2012 we will continue too because we figure we will go plenty of appointments that it will make sense. After we are done losing the weight and maintaining we will consider switching so it won't be so expensive. I guess being skinny is worth it.

I think it is Emblem now...I know Dr. Holover takes it and that is the doctor I would switch to if I changed doctors ARRRRGHHH I got to make my mind up. I will have all my appointments done by 11/15.

Long story short. I had my consult almost finish with all my pre-op appointments. Come to find out my surgeon (who I love) does not take my insurance but will take their payment as payment. I will be responsible for my deductible. I called my insurance GHI last month and was told its $200, well the bill came in and now they are telling me its $300! My husband and I are both doing it so grand total will be $600.00. Then in January it will start all over again since its a new year! We are tentatively scheduled for surgery in December. I am thinking long term, $600 every year (until they raise the deductible again cause it never goes down) is a bit much when I can go to a surgeon that just takes GHI and all I have to pay is $20 per visit. So my question is has anyone changed doctor's before being approved? Was it a messy situation? Or should I just fork it over to be less difficult? First year or two I will probably easily exceed that deductible but I am looking far ahead in a few years we will have to see him less. So $20 maybe once or twice a year is better than $300.00. I was told first year we have to go in once a month. Is that true? What about in 2 or 3 years? HELP!

Just a suggestion...compare your clothes and you will definitely see the difference. I know our minds take more time to adjust to our new bodies. It happened to me last year after losing weight and now that I regained it back and some extra I finally realize how much skinnier I was. Now I am on my lapband journey. Hoping to be as successful as you and inspiring to someone else as you are to me. THANKS!!! You look great!!!!!