bandmenow

Hey that sounds wonderful! I am just getting started, myself. I am going to my primary physician this Wed. to get a letter of necessity for my surgen. Then I will meet with the insurance biller at the hospital here, to see about getting an insurance company to pay for it. I'll have to wait out the signup waiting period once I go with an inusrance company, but it will be worth it! I can't wait to go to my consultation and set a date! I really want it to be before Christmas! Wow, what a gift that would be! Health...the gift that keeps on giving! My BMI is 39.4 and hopefully that will be enough to satisfy the surgeon. I am ready to plead my case if there are any problems. Let me know how you do! P.S. How were all of the tests? Weird or uncomfortable? Or both! LOL

I hate when people act as though RSVP means nothing what so ever! I'm not banded yet so I can't give you much advice. However, I can honestly say, the next time there is left overs, I would sneak Wal-Mart bags of it into your guest's car before they leave or feed it to a run-away dog!!Anything to get rid of it! That's why I dread Thanksgiving and Christmas! The damn left overs! Good luck with your next fill! Nichole

THank you, everyone, for your replies. I see my primary physician this Wed. to plead my case!! LOL I'm ready to do anything, even switch insurance providers, to get this surgery! I keep thinking, "You want me to be bigger for this surgery? Ok, give me a sec. I'm sure I can gain five more pounds before the surgery date!" The point is, I shoudn't have to. THanks for all of the encouragement!

That's great Cindy! I'm going to my Primary Physician Wed. to get an approval letter for the surgery. I'm going to Memorial as well. I want to attend the orientationOct. 16th at the Choo Choo....will you be there? I'm going to try to find an insurance provider before I go through with the surgery. But in case something doesn't work out, I've planned to self-pay. I think about the loads of money I've thrown into useless diets and schemes over the last ten years and realize I've spent that much money already! What's $18, 000 more?! LOL

Oops ...forgot to ask you...how have you done since your surgery?! I am so excited! I have to wait to be told I am a candidate first. I will be crushed if I can't!

Hey thanks for the info. Whooo...that was a mouthful. I'm going to talk to my primary physician Monday to get a "necessity letter" the surgen needs. THen I plan to check out some insurance companies that have covered the surgery for other people. I'll leave Blue Cross of Tennessee if I have to damnit! LOL! I'l try it this way first, but it's nice to know the alternatives. THanks! Nici from Chatt-town

I live in Chattanooga and want to have lap band. I was curious as what the cost woud be without insurance, I cannot be covered on my insurance plan. I have signed up for a meeting at MemorialHospital in November but the anxiety is killing me! I was curious if there anyone else in Tennessee has an idea of the cost. Nici

I'm looking at my stats; 5'5 height, 238 pounds and BMI of 39. When I confided in my best friend that I have considered the lap band surgery, she looked at me like I was crazy. I asked her, "What?" She sat there for awhile and said, "You're not big enough to have the surgery!" I was stunned. I thought about what she said and questioned whether or not I would be accepted for the surgery. I keep the reasons of why I want the surgery, going throuh my mind continuously. 1. I have been overweight since the age of 9. 2. I have been on every diet ever existed, even Optifast. 3. I have prolems with my knees due not from amy particular injury but just has developed over time. ( I believe this is from walking around for years with an excess of weight). 4.I am tired of YO YO DIETING 5. I AM TIRED OF LANE BRYANT 6. But most of all, I am tired of being told to watch my calorioe intake and exercise and all will be well. Especially now, since my knees will not allow me to do any extensive walking or running. So, I stand in front of the mirror and think, "Am I really overweight or do I just have some distorted body image?" Then I stand on the scale and it reads, 238. My theories are confirmed all over again. THough I am aware that lap band will only fix the inside pat of my weight problem, I know I wil have to work on exercising, which I enjoy doing believe it or not. I can't wait to be able to speed walk without worrying about my knees swelling! I was curious if anyone out there has ever been told they were not a candidate because the weren't "big enough," though you felt differently.