mufasas-mom

that's so funny - my daughter and i are also planning a 'girls' vacation in March 2013 we are going to Cozumel for a week - i've been purchasing size 8 shorts, and new swimsuits already - I can't wait to drop at least 40-50 pounds by march of 2013 (7 months of being banded).
my last visit with true results is Aug 1st - then submit paperwork that day (at least that's what they tell me) - should be banded sometime late in August (pushing for end of the month due to holiday on Sept. 3rd - that will give me time for the 2 week pre-op diet.
so freaking excited to get this going after the 6 month dreaded wait......

Here is my list of questions I have for my surgeon - am I missing anything? I already know the brand of lapband (Allergan). I also have a diagram of the stomach/chest area on my questions list for him to draw where my incisions will be, but it's not showing up here when I did a cut and paste. I was going to ask about diet restrictions, but i remembered that I'll be getting that list on my next visit.

1) Where will my port be placed?



a. Want to avoid the ‘golf ball’ protrusion from stomach area



b. Low profile port


2)Where exactly will my incisions be located? What are the approximate size(s) of the incisions?

3) What size will my band be? 10cc?




4) Will I have any saline added to the band at the time of surgery? Is a double check done to ensure there is no leakage of the band or obstructions prior to closing me up?




5) What will be the size of my ‘new’ esophagus? As is, I take Lunesta for sleep; will these become a problem for me after surgery?




6) When will my first fill appointment be after surgery?




7) What in your opinion are the leading causes of band erosion and/or failure of the band?




8) According to Allergan it seems that 11% out of 299 subjects (or roughly 33 ppl) had band slippage or pouch dilation – what do you think is the cause of this?



9) What attributes do you think makes the best candidate for lap band long term success?



10) MEDICATIONS:



a. liquid form of pain med



b. Zofran ODT 4mg will be needed for anti-nausea

just spoke w/insurance person and she is getting the info together from the person who actually does the billing and will email me. we shall see.... i did ask what brand of lapband and they use the one made by Allergan - also it's low profile port - and no single incision - still 5 little holes....

Yes, the doctor (Richard Benavides) is in network. So it they bill that way, I guess it makes sense. Just wish they'd confirm it with me....really irritating me. Going to call again....

Hello - i'm one visit away (Aug. 1) from having my docs sent for insurance approval and obtaining my surgery date. I am really concerned with True Results as their facility (surgery center, not general offices) is NOT a part of my UHC Bariatric approved surgery centers - nor can my insurance advocate with UHC find them anywhere on her database.
True Results keeps telling me that they will bill In Network and all will be fine....but that doesn't sound legal to me. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?
i've emailed the 'insurance expert' at TR and placed a read receipt on the email -so I know that she opened it up and read it, but has yet to reply to me. I've also left 2 voicemails for her - I'm getting pretty pissed at this point and am thinking of obtaining my records from them and going elsewhere that i know is covered with my UHC Bariatric program.

my body is a run down shack...but glad yours is a temple!! religion is like politics - does nothing but cause arguments - i avoid at all costs.

my body is a run down shack...but glad yours is a temple!! religion is like politics - does nothing but cause arguments - i avoid at all costs.

I'd call your insurance company and get the EXACT qualifications yourself - not the doctor's office - then go to your insurance company's website and search for the doctor's which ARE in your network - get all the documentation and paperwork from the place you just spent 8 months with - and bring it to a new doctor's office that's in your network.
i cannot stress enough how it's the PATIENTS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain all the insurance requirements and be on top of things - this is a very important step you are taking for your health - why would you leave that up to some morons in a doctors office....
let us know what your insurance company says.....you may have been denied in the beginning from something simple like missing paperwork - you must call and speak to your insurance company rep. - look on the back of your insurance card.....

put that money aside for your new wardrobe!!!

For all, please remember that it is your sole responsibility to follow up with your insurance company to ensure that all requirements are being met in order for the surgery to be covered. I had my 4th appointment on May 30 (dietician) and May 31 (psych eval which was pretty fun). True Results receptionist made my next appointment (5th appt.) for July 2, I informed her that I needed to be seen each month and not to skip a month - she said my insurance required that i wait 30 days inbetween appointments. So i called my insurance company, and this is horse crap - If i didn't call the insurance company - I would of had to start all over with the 6 months again, and then I'd be looking at next year and having to pay all the out of pocket costs involved (as i've reached Max out of pocket and ded for this year -so all is covered at 100%).
i just accepted the appointment and did my own homework - word of caution - I know that they (True Results) are a money making profit center - but this could of cost me dearly had I not stayed on top of things.
the receptionist was so freaking rude - as I was driving to my psych eval I got a phone call right as i stepped into the elevator - it was 12:01PM and my appt. was 12:00 - WOW one freaking minute late and they start calling to make sure I'm still coming - as i said before the receptionist was so rude - you would of thought i was 15 min late or so....but they make me wait 10+ min every time....and I'm the 1st appointment of the day each time - I am there by 7AM (so i don't have to miss so much work time) or earlier. I'm sure the surgeon is fine and such - it's the staff there that piss me off....actually it's the front desk staff - the nurses and such have been great.
Please DO NOT EVER trust the doctors office or surgery centers to fully know your insurance - that's your job!

thanks - that's one of the tests they are doing tomorrow morning - have to fast tonight after midnight....no coffee in the morning so i feel sorry for those nurses - I'm gonna be quite the grumpy old lady....

i also have uhc - and it is up to the employer as to what is put into the policy -which is why everyone's is so different even though they all have UHC. My company (PepsiCo) requires the 6 month pre-supervised visits if you have BMI 40+, if you have BMI less than 40 you must have 2 co morbidities. So far my 4th visit is end of the month as well as psych evaluation. I think the 5th visit is the EKG and lung capacity test (testing out your oxygen levels they told me). My BMI was 41.1 - although it's dropped to 38.6 as of my last visit - the nurse said 'you know your insurance will require the BMI over 40" to which i corrected her - my insurance only goes by the INITIAL BMI which was 41.1, so it's not an issue. She sort of had me freaked out and worried - but i re-read my notes from my UHC Carewise nurse, and i was correct, BUT i called my Carewise UHC nurse just to double check...thank goodness my notes were correct. All ok.
You have to contact your insurance company to make sure you have all the facts correctly so you ensure there are no surprises - ask about copay - ask dr for written estimate of surgery costs so you can make sure after you've done all you are to do with the 6 months diet, psych eval,, EKG, blood work - that you know what exactly to expect.

I've not been banded yet - but i went shopping for some really pretty smaller plates so that when i do get to eat, the plate won't look so darn empty. don't know if that will work or not yet....we shall see. hope to be banded in August 2012.

Hello fellow Texans! I live in Princeton Texas and am just starting this journey. I am so excited - at 4'11" i currently weight 201 with a BMI of 41.1 - so for insurance purposes I qualify without any other medical issues. I have UHC Core insurance - so i have to do the 6 months and the various tests, and today i have my appointment with the bariatric nurse who works for UHC and i have TONS of questions for her!!
Did any of you use True Results? I am going through TR in Richardson, they are fantastic - it's nice going somewhere knowing they have all been banded so they 'really' know what it is like.
Congrats to all of you who have been banded already - i'm thrilled to be starting this journey as i've been looking for the Tool that will hold me accountable for years....and I think that the lap band is just that.
I'm sure as the dates get closer, i'll be asking you guys lots of questions.
good luck!

My cubicle at the office is completely trashed....but I'm so glad that they didn't go the 'over the hill- black decorations' route - as i am pretty sure my kids will take care of that....
and for my birthday gift to myself this year ----- LAPBAND. i hope to be banded by August this year....already started the visits (have to do 6 months - 4 to go) and of course the other testing - which will be in June or July....
and by next year.....watch out - this hot grandma will be back riding her motorcycle and living life!!!!
have a great weekend everyone!
Diane

My cubicle at the office is completely trashed....but I'm so glad that they didn't go the 'over the hill- black decorations' route - as i am pretty sure my kids will take care of that....
and for my birthday gift to myself this year ----- LAPBAND. i hope to be banded by August this year....already started the visits (have to do 6 months - 4 to go) and of course the other testing - which will be in June or July....
and by next year.....watch out - this hot grandma will be back riding her motorcycle and living life!!!!
have a great weekend everyone!
Diane