FireDust

Well. The seminar was really good. I'm still taking it all in, but I feel more comfortable with my decision to go with the band. I was amazed with Dr. D's patience at some of the folks in the seminar who were kinda... umm... silly (ie, pitching a fit about having to lose 20 prior to surgery, seriously people, isn't the point of this to lose weight?) I called this morning and have an appointment on August 28th at 2 p.m. I feel like I'm running through Jello right now, like I'm operating in slow mode or something. Holy crap, I've really started the process!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, everyone... I feel better today actually. I think I'm just running through everything in my head and letting it all get to me. I WANT this, I've been researching for over a year and know this can make a huge difference in my life (hense why it's scary!!!) I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow!

I think I'm scared because I'm taking a big step forward. I'm 27 and I've been fat for 27 years... never known anything else...

So I'm finally rescheduled for a seminiar this Thursday with Dr. DiBeniditto in Rochester, NY (I think I spelled his name wrong, oops). I'm actually a little nervous. After all the research I've done and I felt so comfortable with moving forward... now I'm frankly a little scared about taking this step. Anybody else feel like this?

I didn't get to go! My sister, who is 9 weeks pregnant started bleeding yesterday! :w00t: Needless to say, there was no way I could be away from home last night. She's on complete bed rest now for awhile, hopefully everything will be okay. So... my plans get pushed back... but family is family and you gotta do what you gotta do for them... grrrrrrrr :thumbup: Life sucks sometimes.

Awesome news. I called and got signed up for a seminar with Dr. D on Thursday of this week - he does seminars in Rochester and in Lockport, so I'm going to go to Lockport even though it's about a half an hour extra driving time - figured I may as well get the info I need so I can get the ball rolling. You are all great helps!

I'm having a terrible time getting the people at Highland to return my calls regarding an insurance question. I've left 4 messages in two weeks and no call back... makes me worried about their customer service. For those of you who have Dr. D., what is his staff like in regards to actually calling you back?

You are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My boyfriend is also not supportive of my desire to have the lapband. I've made peace with the fact that our relationship will probably come to an end if I make the decision to have the surgery. As difficult as it is, you have to remember that this is your life, your future and your health that is as stake.

The surgeon I've been in contact with is sending me out a packet of stuff, so hopefully I'll be able to get everything taken care of through them and just have to worry about getting a letter of support from the PCP... we'll see! It's so silly that they make us jump through so many hoops... but, I suppose that's how they know who is serious and who isn't!

Okay, so I've called BC/BS of Western New York a few times this week trying to find out specifically what I needed to do to make sure I start the process correctly so they can't deny me down the road when it's surgery time. The first girl I spoke with told me "oh, you don't have to do anything special, just find the doctor you want to use and then there's some paperwork you have to do". I thought to myself "yea right" So I call again, the second girl tells me that they can't tell me what the requirements are or if my policy covers it. I tell her that according to the policy, it's covered if it's medical necessary. She says "oh, well I don't know how you prove that." Very helpful. Finally, I call the health advocate line where I speak to a VERY nice girl. She tells me my doctor has to call this special number to get the requirments for whatever has to be done to show it's medically necessary... Do they really think doctors have all this extra time on their hands to do this????? oh, and by the way, the surgeon I've picked out accepts BC/BS, but not the specific policy I have.. so now I have to find a new surgeon. Joy of joys. Okay, which brings me to my question. How in the WORLD do you navigate the joy of BC/BS of WNY?????

I'm south of Rochester, but I'm signed up for a seminiar there in June as it's my closest hospital that does the surgery. Do you have a doctor yet?

It looks like Highland will be my hospital as well. I'm just going for my seminiar in a couple of weeks. Kind of scary to think the care there isn't too good... do they make you stay the night or can you go home the same day?

Yesterday I had the first visit with my doc to discuss the LapBand... much to my surprise, she seemed very unenthused about the whole thing. She said she has had a few patients with the lapband and they are doing very well, but was very... I don't know, unsupportive I guess, though she said "yes, I think the time is coming that you need to do something" I'm wondering if that is because of the whole 6 months supervised diet thing that my insurance requires, she was sorta "well... we've never run into an insurance company that requires that before, most doctors are too busy for that". So now what? She gave me the number for the hospital near here (still an hour and a half away) that does the surgery so that I can attend a seminiar, but what good is it going to do me if my doctor doesn't have the time? I'm in a very rural area and doctors here are pretty few and far between... so I don't know what to do...

I know everyone is right. There have been many days lately where I've just wanted to walk away from him and say "see ya!". It's tough though, he really is a good guy. I just can't see him supporting me through this, I need a man who WILL support me 100%.