Apples2

I'm from MN. Anyone have Dr. Fortier for their surgeon. Have seen him a number of times for pre-op visits and have had a favorable impression. How about anyone else?

Oops...I am sure you don't find my reply interesting enough to post it twice!!!!!!!!

:thumbup:Welcome Joann, I am in the pre-op stage. Started 10/07 and have three months left. Have done my psch visit, nutritionist, have seen my surgeon a number of times and have attended support group meetings. I am definitely looking forward to after the surgery so I can get on the road to the rest of my healthy life. I have lost 33lbs since starting and feel soooo much better. More mobile and just all around happier with myself. I can answer some pre-op questions. But, there is so much info from people at this site. There are people that are in the medical profession who have had the lap band. They are full of great info. Good luck on your journey.

Welcome Joann, I am in the pre-op stage. Started 10/07 and have three months left. Have done my psch visit, nutritionist, have seen my surgeon a number of times and have attended support group meetings. I am definitely looking forward to after the surgery so I can get on the road to the rest of my healthy life. I have lost 33lbs since starting and feel soooo much better. More mobile and just all around happier with myself. I can answer some pre-op questions. But, there is so much info from people at this site. There are people that are in the medical profession who have had the lap band. They are full of great info. Good luck on your journey.

Thanks for the greeting, Ky. My girls are from Sydney and Canberra. Know their families from Queensland and one of the moms lives at The Entrance. How about you?

I had the feeling when you talked this morning about BCBS requiring 6 mo., that I would need to follow that guideline also. Not a big deal. Will just do it and smile while doing it. I also dug up everything I could but was really short info in my files. Mr. dr. just didn't document when I would come in with weight concerns. He would document that I had joint pain but would not refer to my weight. He would document my acid reflux but would not refer to my weight. He would document that I was increasingly getting more tired everyday but did not document anything to do with my weight. Just frustrating. I am willing to do anything I need to at this point to get the approval. I am really going to hit it hard, lose more weight each month and go for the approval again. Good luck with yours...hope you are approved on the first try.

Hi Aussie girls...good luck to you both. Have been to your lovely country a number of times. Had two exchange students live with us ten years back and keep in contact with them and their families almost daily. I miss them terribly and hope to get back to your country next Feb. Both my husband and I feel that Australians have to be the friendliest people God put on this earth. Got a little off the subject. Kygie...hope your healing process is a short one. Aussiechik...hope to be hearing soon that your surgery is over and you are on the mend. AUSSIES ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lizalee...forgot to add...good luck with your approval. Please do not become at all discouraged by my denial. It will happen for me. It's just going to take a little more time than expected. Please keep us informed. I'm pulling for you. Every situation is different.

Hey Lizalee, Well, waited all day and could hardly take it any longer. Emailed my Dr.'s office manager to see if I was going to hear anything today. Denied. Denied on the basis that BCBS would like to see me do the whole 6 months instead of just the three. Now I need to continue on and my paperwork will be turned in again in three months. The nurse did state that they did not turn me down because of any other factor...just tht they want me to do the entire 6 months. My dr. was so sure on Tuesday when I saw him that I would have no trouble getting approved after the three months. As far as I know, most of his patients to get approval in that time period. I am not sure if I will have to see the nutritionist, psych, etc. all over again. I am supposed to be getting a letter from my ins. co. shortly (never know when that will be). I was upset for a bit when I found out but just emailed the nurse back saying I was ready to continue with the next three months. I am in this for the lifetime benefits so what is three more months? I just hope that I can continue to lose and be proud of how I am doing. I know that I am going to try as hard as I did the previous three months. I am not going to get discouraged. I actually am surprised at how at peace I am with their decision. I appreciate you checking....I guess that's what we are all here for. I have relied on this sight the last week to get me through some things and I have certainly appreciated everyone that I was able to talk with. :thumbup:

I am actually considering not going at all. Our trip is to a casino and they are filled with smoke and I don't want to get caught with nicotine in my system just because of second hand smoke. My friend is great. I know she would keep her distance with her smoking.

Most insurance companies are the opposite. Out as soon as you open your eyes

Oops..Gillibean....saw that you said you quit 2 mo. b/4 surgery. Thanks for the reply

Gilliebean...how long b/4 surgery did you quit? Like I said, I have not smoked since Sept. but only smoked about a pack a week but if I had a drink, I smoked more. It was easier just to quit. I have a two day trip planned with a friend who smokes and we are sharing a room. Maybe I will just ask her to smoke outside so the second hand smoke does not affect me. At this point I a soooooooo paranoid about anything stopping this surgery.

I think I totally lucked out. My surgeon comes weekly to OUR clinic and hospital. I only had to travel to see psych 45 min away and that was it. As said above, whatever distance you need to travel will be worth it. Good luck with everything!

I, too, have had so many questions answered. Most were already answered...I didn't have to ask...I just had to read. I have a good support system in my husband but he really doesn't know exactly what I am going through. I go to this site and there is always someone with an answer. Why did the hospital keep you overnight? Take care and Happy Healing

Don't worry about the psych. I worried enough for everyone. It was a breeze. I kicked myself afterward for worrying so much. Pretty simple. I had a test that lasted about 1 1/2 hours...basic questions...some were "way out there". Talked to dr. for 45 min and that was about it. She just asked questions about any psych history, weight history, family history, etc. You'll do fine. Good luck!

Forgot to ask. Who is your surgeon? I'm with Dr. Fortier. Felt as if I could rely on him as soon as I met him. I have had good feedback on him

Nice to talk to another MN person and wish you luck with your pre-op process. How many months are you into it? My doctor just had me do a three month. Started Nov 12 with my first visit to him. Weighed 236 at the start. I am down 36lbs in the three month period. Should hear from his office manager today whether they will approve or not. Think I am a little nervous this morning? I have co-morbidities but none that were documented in my clinic file except for high blood pressure. Had talked to my GP about joint pain, family history of diabetes and heart disease, etc. and a couple of years ago talked to him about getting into the lap band program. Again, nothing documented. So my dilemma is that there's not enough documentation for weight, diet plans tried, when I would visit my dr. and talk about just how my weight had affected my health. My surgeon tells me not to worry and he thinks it won't be a problem since I have done so well in the last three months. He documented all my co-morbidities and sent them to the BCBS. They contacted his office earlier in the week and were questioning what diet plans I had tried in the last few years and wanted proof. That got me thinking and scared that they were going to turn me down. Just need to get through today until I hear something. BCBS might just make me do the full six months. There are worse things. My surgeon is so confident that they will approve this week. We'll see. I will keep you informed.

I quit smoking way back in Sept. b/4 I went to my initial program meeting on Oct. 1. I have a silly ? My dr. is pushing for a Feb 19 surgery date (still waiting on ins. approval). He wants me to start the 10 day liquid diet as soon as I hear if I am approved (I am supposed to hear tomorrow). Last week my husband had a conference at a casino. I spent a lot of time just playing and sitting in a lot of second hand smoke. I am just hoping that it won't affect me if my dr. happens to test for nicotine. That would be just too much. Does anyone have an answer for that?

GraceUtah.................what a great job on your weight loss! Wow! You must be so proud and feel so good. I am pre-op, have lost 36lbs and am in waiting for ins. approval. I am to hear something tomorrow one way or the other. I can hardly breath. The anticipation is just too much. I want this so badly!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Nat, I imagine that my band date will also be in March unless I hear something soon from my ins. company. I wish you luck. I decided that I can handle anything that comes my way. Have handled so much with what comes with being overweight...it can only get better!

I am on pins and needles waiting for insurance approval from BCBS of Minnesota. Was told by my doctor's office manager that I would hear within 14 days. All paperwork was submitted on 1/29. Got a call yesterday saying that they needed some sort of documentation to prove that I actually had tried a diet plan in the last couple of years. (For some reason there were very few weights documented in my clinic file over the last 10 years...even though I discussed my weight issues with my GP numerous times). Was able to find a receipt from NutriSystem and provide it for them. Anyway, since that phone call I have been in a panic thinking that maybe the insurance company won't go for it. I know I should be patient and think positively. I was told last night by doctor's office manager that I should hear by Friday. I can't sleep and feel sick to my stomach. I know that this surgery is the best thing I can do for myself. All I want is to live the rest of my life healthy and to be able to do all the things I used to do. Is that too much to ask for? I know the band can help me keep my eating in check and that can only be a good thing. Just need to get through today and tomorrow.

Good advice, Periwinkle. You can be so close yet so far away when you want to be accepted to the program. Good luck with your surgery (and the days anticipating it). If I get approval this week, I should be able to have the surgery on Feb 19

Need to clarify that my BMI was at 39 and had been for more than five years. My surgeon wanted me to be at the 40 mark

My surgeon kind of helped me out with my BMI. I suddenly got shorter. Drank lots of water on the way to my appt. and b/4. Couple heavy, layered sweaters, heaviest jeans that I could wear. It all worked to get my foot in the door. But, have been waiting for approval from ins. co. and they are questioning everything. I am on pins and needles.