ReneBean

We do self esteem here. We are big into loving ourselves. Hang around. You'll see. :]

BMI over 40 = Morbid Obesity. Body Mass Index. Do a search for "BMI". There is a link to a BMI calculator somewhere on this board. :]

Sorry for the scare - but asking for that much info over the phone is just plain weird. Glad you were able to verify that number!! :]

(((hugs))) Sorry you are having distress... I am hoping some of our wise banded elders will be able to help you out. In the mean time, call your band doc. Based on my readings (no band, yet) Dry Heaves are not a good thing. Call your doc!

So, call the insurance company AGAIN. Specify that you are trying to determine if they cover "surgical treatment for morbid obesity". I had to fight this with my insurance company, too. They told me they did cover it - I got all the pre-testing done - and THEN they told me they did NOT cover it... It was an error. Also - check your company policy - because even if your insurer covers treatment, your employer may have a specific exclusion for bariatric surgery. Even if you find that there is no specific exclusion and your insurer covers it - they will probably deny you the first time - on general principal. Be prepared to make and appeal. (I am waiting for mine to be reviewed, right now.) For more info - read all the threads in the insurance forum - from the top down. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both of us. :]

Be sure that when you call them, you specify Morbid Obesity. Most policies don't cover treatment for Obesity - but lots of them cover treatment for MORBID Obesity if it is determined to be medically necessary. Good Luck!

Never too much info from you, Crystal. So happy for you and your hubby! Give him a big squeeze from all of us and tell him we're all rooting for him, too - even though this is your place. :]

Here's the link to the Journal of Obesity Surgery: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/09608923 You can access the abstracts for free. :]

Que es "Fresco"?? I have never heard of it? Exactly what does it mean, Ira? Do they have it everywhere? Does it still taste like Taco Bell??

Underwear creeping, Crack up... hahahahahahahaha (Yep, 40 going on 12...)

GREAT Idea... It worked for Jared, right? I wonder if we could sell a KFC diet?

Yeah - I did it. Misery loves company. If I have to know - so do you. Just call me Eve.

Rock On, Ray!! Its great to hear that things are GREAT!! :]

I guess it's ok to hi-jack my own thread for a minute... I won't know much on the insurance front until next week. I have submitted my appeal - but they have 30 days to process it. I am going to harass them (ever so politely) every week until they Get-R-Done... I guess we will see... I can never eat Taco Bell with a clear conscience again! Hear the rending of clothing and the tearing of hair? WAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Hey Betty! Whatcha doin' on the computer? Cindy - I'll give you first crack at editing. Once I get the first chapter together, I will send it on for your review. (If the book is boring - I will stop, there...) I thought I would wait until I retired, too - but I may as well do something productive while I sit here with nothing to do! Eileen - what are you feeding that child? Cookies flying - going home from school? Madness!! How is the little urchin? Hope she feels better soon. TTL

I would go to the appointment. Not necessarily for the consult - but just to be SURE that the person you were talking to was really at Cedar Sinai and not some criminal stealing your identity... To ask for that much information over the phone is EXTREMELY odd. I would run a reverse search on that phone number that you got off the web-site AND off the direct number just to be sure it belongs to Cedar. And if you can't find it in directory assistance, or it isn't correct, I would contact the authorities. If the number from the web does reverse search to the hospital, then you can go back to being just irritated. I don't care WHAT they say, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give out personal information about yourself to anyone on the phone without being absolutely sure of who you are speaking to. Phony web-sites can exist, so don't take any chances. Go to 411.com or your local phone directory web-site and do a reverse search by phone number to be sure that you are really connected to who you think you are. And if you aren't sure who you are talking to, then don't provide the information. Just a caution. Technology is a wonderful thing - but it has also made it easier for the criminals to get to more people....including you. Perhaps I am over-cautious... I work in the mortgage industry and I see fraud everyday, so I get to be paranoid. :]

Happy Bandiversary!!! Congrats on your FABULOUS success. You started about where I am now - so you give me great hope for my future. I guess if Insurance pays for the surgery, I will have to put a little cash aside for my future PS! :]

If you are a Trekkie or a Trekker - the Experience was great fun. Don't forget to stop by Quarks for some Tranya... MMMMMMM. And, of course, there is a TON of Star Trek parephenalia to buy... I am the proud owner of a Tribble and two giant Soup mugs... M&M World was 4 floors of shameless marketing... If you can get past the actual candy, it was fun, too. Have a great time!!

The sun is shining and all is right with the world... We still have nothing resembling Fall, here - but I hear that it is on it's way at last. I can't really harass the insurance company until next week... So this week I decided I would start writing a book. Since there is no work for me, and since that means I will probably be laid off eventually, I had better start working on some outside source of income. Hey, if I write the Great American Novel - maybe I can quit this crazy mortgage business and become a professional writer. Other than that, there is nothing very exciting going on... How is everyone else?

Thanks Doc. Yep, that one was so good I used it in my insurance appeal. Hope it works! Hunzi, I had other references that I posted in the insurance sticky thread and If you would like to see my letter, I will be happy to e-mail it to you. :]

Keep Safe, Dianne. Check in here when you have access to a computer - cause we'll be worrying. (hugs)

Yep - Eat salty food the night before and drink lots of Water. That should do it. :]

Goodness! I HOPE you aren't elderly... I shudder to think what that might mean for me... Congratulations!!

DeLarla!! *slap* You let Lisa go! She has things to get done. :]

Fat? Nooooooooooooooooooo....... of course it would have to be something good! (or is that bad?) And common sense is completely lacking in more and more people these days. Even what I consider to be very casual for an office is WAY more than most of my co-workers do... Casual is good - for me. I am always shocked by the gals that show up in the low-cut, high hemmed, midriff bared stuff at work. What is this? Union Avenue? Geesh. They are all crazy - or they really think that they CAN sleep their way to the top! On the insurance front... I just got off the phone with "Ida" at Blue Cross... She says that the appeal was "keyed in" as of 10/13... so, the clock starts ticking as of the date that I actually faxed my request. Now, once again, I just have to wait. I guess I will call once a week until I hear something... I figure a little polite harassment will be good for them. Everybody keep your fingers crossed.