Rainydayz

Wow that's great. I can hardly wait to get there! May I ask how tall you are? When I was at 160 I was still wearing 12/14. I think it's my junk in the trunk though. I've always been "bottom-heavy"!

Are doctor's leery about taking you on when they find out about your sleeve? I'm not going to Mexico but I'm thinking about what would happen if I move away from my surgeon. Would it be hard to find care elsewhere?

Is that the same as an "Upper GI"? If so my surgeon makes us get one, not the insurance.

Have you tried Crystal Light tea? I love sweet tea too and I don't usually like artificial sweeteners but the CL tea is not bad. I haven't tried the Mio things yet. I will.

I don't know what or where to find the exclusions section. I'm bringing the clinical policy bulletin and if they something else they can ask for it.

My insurance (Aetna) says 6 months and 3 have to be consecutive. I have some from 2009 so I'm hoping I'll only have to do 3-months now. I'm the same way as you. I'm unemployed right now and want to get this over with. I'm out of school so I should be looking for a job. But I really want to get this done and over with first.

Well i called to clarify what I was supposed to bring and it turns out I can just print the clinical policy bulletin off the insurance website. A little hassle but not as bad as having to get the whole policy and lug it with me. I still don't know why they can't just confirm this info themselves like other offices. But there were about 60 people at the seminar so I guess this surgeon is a busy guy.

I've already fiven up soda on the pre-op diet. I was drinking almost a whole 2-liter of reg. Coke a day before. I've lost 7 lbs. just by cutting that and candy out. So I will probably just stay quit. It's not something I can't do without. I'm just as happy with tea or iced coffee. But if they say to give up caffeine then that's another story!

That's great to hear. I grew my hair long when I gained weight too because of it. When I was thinner I didn't have it but it's the first place I gained when I started gaining. My bf thought I might be getting a tumor or something there! Nope, just fat baby!

I don't know. I have my 1st appt. with the surgeon in a couple weeks. I will ask then. I wouldn't necessarily be discouraged by your surgeon's numbers. Has he done other types of laparoscopic surgery? I would imagine if a doctor is experienced with other lap surgery that it wouldn't be so much different. He explained that the death was because of complications with a revision and other things. You don't have those problems right? I have the impression that the sleeve is a quite simple procedure as far as surgery goes. But that's just from hearing them talk at seminars and watching stuff on the web. If you feel comfortable with him I wouldn't worry too much.

I just switched from a band doctor to a sleeve doctor. At the band dr. office they were going to get all the insurance info and tell me what I needed to do. At the new place, I'm supposed to bring them a copy of the plan and they won't even see me without it. The form says "If you do not have this information your appt. will be re-scheduled." Can't they obtain coverage information with my ins. card? I know at the dentist or any other dr. they always tell me what my insurance covers not the other way around. Is it that they are just too busy to be bothered with this extra step or what?

I'm so glad I found this board. I was going to get the band and was already doing the prep work and all, then i started reading posts from people like you that regret the band and are revising or have revised to sleeve. So I started reading the sleeve board. Not many at all that regret getting it. Hmmmm. So anyway, thanks for being honest and letting people know.

OK cool. Thanks. I really don't feel too bad about it. If that doctor did sleeves I would stay with him but he doesn't so I'm forced to go elsewhere. Can't blame me for deciding on a different procedure.

I started with a lap band program. I have one month-supervised diet done with their nutritionist. I was not charged for this visit. They said it was included in the "whole package." Now I'm switching to a sleeve dr. What do you think my chances are of getting my one-month diet record from the prior surgeon's office? I haven't told them yet I'm switching. Are they under some legal obligation to give me my records? it would be nice to shave one month off my diet.

Quite impressed. Although he didn't seem as enthusiastic about the sleeve as the bypass he still said it was a great and safe procedure that showed excellent results so far. Has anyone used him or Dr. Hart in Atlanta? I have an appt. to talk one-on-one with him in a couple of weeks. That's good. The other program I was going to wasn't going to let me have an appt.with the dr. until right before surgery. Anyway I probably have to start over my 6-month diet because I started out with a lap band dr. and he ONLY does the band. Now I know I want the sleeve. So I have to drive almost 1 1/2 hours but it is a very nice facility (center of excellence if that means anything) and the coordinator called me today after just getting my information last night at the seminar. She seems very on top of things. However, at the lap band place they seemed like they were going to handle ALL of it for me (make the appts for me, do the nutrition counseling etc. ) This place wants me to do all that with providers of my choice. In a way that's better because I know I'm not getting suckered into a bunch of appts. just so they can charge me more. (Like the last place referred me to a psych and I found out they wanted to make it four appts. at $200 each before they would give me a clearance letter. So Bogus!) But it does make it a little more work for me. But I have my checklist and am on my way! Excited and a little nervous.

So you actually only saw the nutritionist for 2months and they still approved? Hey that sounds great. I hope I'm so lucky.

It's good to hear that there are those who get tested and don't have it. I still haven't heard from mine so keeping my fingers crossed! Hang in there Lilu! We'll make it yet!

I have a seminar tomorrow night and I will ask the coordinator then. Since I'm really just one month in it's not that big a deal if I have to start over. At least I will already have the sleep study and psych eval done. I just hope I like the dr. tomorrow night. It's Dr. Johnson in Atlanta. If anyone knows anything about him I would love to hear from anyone! Also my insurance allows a 3-month diet as long as you can prove exercise. I'm guessing this means a personal trainer? I don't know. So I need to find out what that means exactly.

Here's a tip I read on the band board: keep a glass of ice by your plate. If you feel like you just have to drink suck on a piece of ice for a second or two or just drink what has melted. I will be trying this one.

I agree - find another pcp. I think I would have to ask for the studies that doctor was basing her opinion on.

Yes, the band surgeon only does bands. I wish he did both. I'm sure having a trainer is great but I'm mainly curious about what the insurance requires. What with all the tests and dr. visits right now I'm just trying to keep expenses in control. I will probably just do the 6 months diet. There is no requirement that I lose a certain amount of weight unless the surgeon requires it. The band surgeon didn't. I was just doing the diet because it's what my insurance requires.

I feel for you. I just had a sleep study Friday as well but don't have the results yet. But seriously, is there ANYone here that has had a sleep study and NOT been told they have apnea? I haven't seen anyone say that their test was negative. I'm wondering if it's just a racket to soak the insurance companies for the cpap machines! (I'm only slightly joking).

I'm one month into my pre-op supervised 6-month diet with a band surgeon's office. I have decided to switch to the sleeve. That probably means I will have to start over with the diet right? Also, has anyone done the 3-month multidisciplinary program? I have Aetna and they say either a 6-month supervised diet or a 3-month supervised diet and exercise program where you have to prove the exercise. I'm wondering if going to a gym counts for this or would I have to actually hire a personal trainer? Any experience or insight is appreciated!

Hi. I've been thinking about having the band for years. I just started seriously looking into it this year and went to a seminar and actually started my pre-op requirements. But as I read more and more on the boards I am seeing more problems with it. I hear every day of someone else going for a revision to bypass or sleeve from the band because of various problems. I had thought at first that well, I will try the band and if it develops problems or doesn't work I can revise. Then I started seeing posts from people having the band removed that had problems from that. Scar tissue and hernias etc. At least one I've heard of recently whose band is eroded into their stomach and they won't remove it because it is too dangerous. Sooo.... I thought it best that I should research all the options. I have pretty much ruled out the bypass because I have heard of people dying from it. I know, not many, but still. The sleeve seems like it's just what i want now. I'm still reading and learning though. I have a seminar this week at Johns Creek hospital Atlanta with Dr. Titus Duncan. If anyone uses him please tell me what you think. I also have a seminar scheduled with Dr. Hart. If there is anyone else in the Atlanta area with other dr. suggestions please let me know. I'm in the south metro area. Thanks!

I had my sleep study Friday and don't know the results yet. The tech told me that a cpap machine would speed recovery from surgery because it allows more oxygen in while you're sleeping. So if they tell me I need it I suppose I'll give it my best try. But I really really hope i don't!