Talyn

hey I would recommend anyone in NSU. I had my band placed a year ago, -doing very well. I love Dr Wolgomouth, he didnt do my surgery however Mark A. Fontana, did. T

hi I work in a desk job as well. I had my surgery on a thursday, spent one night in the hospital9had a repeat barkium in am to check placement). And was home later that friday. I returnend to work on Monday, a bit tired but very capable of doing my job. I felt great and continue to feel better every day.

Kaykay The best advice is to find out exactly what your insurance company means. You could spend all day second guessing and wasting valuable time. find out what you need to know/do and then refocus. As a recently banded patient and an RN, who happens to work for a managed care company I wanted to put in my two cents worth. Losing the 10% should not be an issue, my surgeon required a liquid diet to shrink the liver prior to sugery, during which I lost 20 lbs in about 10 days. The diet restricted me to I think 10 grams Protein a day and less than 700 calories. It gave me an excellent "jump start" and showed that I could lose weight. Depending on how much weight you need to lose, the liquid diet phase may be extended. If so , you gain tthe advangate of more weight loss and therefore a lbigger edge. :whoo:Hope this helps. T

I had my surgery 9/19/07 and have thusfar lost 60 lbs. I have also gone from a size 26-28(tight) to a size 20/22 depending on the cut. And down 2 shoe sizes from a 10w, to a 9w. I have had one filled 10/04/07 and will see the doctor again at the end of January. I have good restriction in the morning. I have been working out atleast 3x week, and walking the other days. I have also signed up for a belly dancing class which starts next week. I see hugh(pun intended) differences in my stamina, outlook on life my sex life and how I sleep. All have vastly improved. I am looking forward to buying cloths next spring. (i've been getting clots off of freecycle.org). Why buy when my size seems to change weekly ? Also am glad the holidays are over. This was the first year that I didn't cook a turkey, why bother as I can eat poultry of any type--makes me way sick. so we had ham instead with yummy sdes. Funny how hard it is to cook without tasting things, but I survived it.

I paid $495 as a program fee. It was due at my first consult with the surgical group here in Virginia Beach. The fee covered the nutrition classes, all post op md appoitnment co-pays, the exercise class. After the consult if the group felt you were not a candidate they returend your fee immediately before you left the office. I think the fee serves two purposes; it shows committment on the part of you the patient and it covers all of the incidentals that the insurance does not cover. As far as "it is due to how the insurance companies search for ways to end up denying us". I have found that the reason for most denial is due to bariatic surgery not being a purchased benefit or that an MDO has not completed all of the necessary/required information needed to facilitate a favorable decision.

fyi: Medicaid is your primary, Medicare is always secondary if there is any other type of insurance. In your case the state (Medicaid) is rspoinsible before the federal govt is(Medicare). You would need a prior authorization for DMAS or from your Medicaid HMO if there is one(i am a nurse analyst)

sounds like you did the right thing ! I go to the gyn no less than 3x a week, I have meade it as much a part of my routine as drinking water. I miss it when I don't go. and the traners have been so supportive ! Keep up the good work !

I have always had a very active sex life. I was banded on the 19th of September and have thus far lost 58 lbs as of yesterday ! I have had 1 fill and feel amazing. My honey of four years is so supportive. He has always been complimentary about my body and that has not changed. His compliments have only increased. Sex is FANTABULOUS! I can get on top now and ride like the cowgirl that I am, lol. Also makes oral(me receiving) so much easier, as my fat stomach is rapidly dissappearing and no longer in the way. Not to mention how much more stamina I have. We can try different positions because we want to not just because they are needed due to my size. Oh and one more thing, he swears things are "tighter" below (lol).:embarassed: This morning we were snuggling before work and he chukled and said, honey I can feel your ribs and your belly is becoming concave. And you know what--he's right. I can feel a rib or two myself. One of the things I asked my bariatric coordinators about was sex after surgery, and it seems that very little has been researched about it--as if previously fat people never have or had sex. As a doctoral student I am seriously thinking about writing my dissertation on the subject. What do you guys think ? T

hey I just wanted to say congratulations ! What a great accomplishment.

Just got back from my 12 week checkup with my surgeon. I've lost 58, count em 58 lbs.. Time to do the belly dance ! LOL. So to Celebrate I''m gonna ....go to the gym! Oh did I mention I won a random drawing for working out. $200 visa card. I'm rocking this ! My journey has officially begun. Talyn:clap2:

LOL. One BJ= 1.5 gram protein. Beleive it or not one of my friends is a statistician and just had to calculate this, roflmao. It's not about the protein, this is his "reward' for stopping smoking when we got together about four years ago.

I was banded on the 19th of Septemebe,r I was back at the gyn on monday the 24th. I rode the stationary bike and walked on the treadmill. Talyn

lol, I asked my doctor the same question BEFORE the surgery. My husband is used to his BJ every morning before work. I was banded in September and trust me, as a southern lady( we never spit !). Actually, I may write my doctoral disseratation on sex after weight loss surgeries. There is so little information out there... Talyn:bounce:

Cali The letter means that your insurance company has denied the services as the are outside of your network. Most insurance companies will not cover out of network care, unless the care is not available from an inplan provider. Hope this help Talyn(rn, managed care nurse)

HI Megan I'm in Va Beach as well. I had my lap band 9/19/07. The best thing to do is to call member services and ask if yu have the welght loss surgery rider. I am a claims nurse for Anthem PHC . First thing first, make sure you have the benefit. If you do then boy have I got a group for you ! Sentara Norfolk Surgical Group. Talyn:)