pgh3rivers

I do exercise, a lot and i am fat. I spoke with the people at McGee. They said is hould only have to see the nutitionist once before surgery. The classes should allow upmc to give me the green light.

oops i meant may.

My insurance doesn't accept WW journals as proof of a 6m medically supervised diet. I did ww online. i lost 7 pound sand then gained back 12... i had a lot of trouble sticking to the program. I started my 6m of medically supervised dieting 4 months ago. I am hoping to be approved for banding in march.

if you have kids- i hope you remembered to have somebody watch them. congrats on the anniversary

Wow Inoh. A two day hospital stay and 2-4 weeks off from work? Is that typical? I am in the McGee program and I thought the overnight stay was one day and about a week recovery.

I went today. It looks like I won't be going tomorrow. The snow has started to fall in the 'burgh. I REALLY hope the kids in this area aren't off tomorrow.

I would take Sheetz anyday over WaWA. I did have a decent sandwich at the Williamsburg Wawa this summer.

In my opinion- an 18 year old "kid" that just is smoking pot is almost refreshing. I have quite a bit of experience working with teens and most kids today are busy raiding the family medicine cabinet. Maybe we all failed generation RX by pretending like Pot was the cause of all evil. I think if we spoke with kids truthfully about pot we wouldn't have kids thinking pot was the same as the vicotin/ritalin/oxy cocktail.

Ohhh, the Sheetz headquarters. Sounds like fun. I've never been there but I did fill up my tank at the Sheetz near the Airport last night. :cursing:

I'm not sure what is in Altoona other than a Penn State branch campus and the original Sheetz gas station. What part of Pittsburgh will you be staying in? There are plenty of gyms all over the place. If the weather is nice you might want to check out Kayak Pittsburgh or Venture Outdoors.

Barbie, Glad to hear your power is back on. I saw on the news that areas in Hampton, Shaler, and Penn Hills all still without power. I have a great uncle in Shaler. Luckily he isn't at home right now. Stay Warm!

McGee claims that if you attend the 6 month program and you are turned down by your insurance they will refund the cost of the 6 m program. I would speak with them and your pcp to see what you can do to be approved.

I have read this message board since it started. Since I don't smoke pot- I really didn't have anything to comment about. I do have to say this- I think that this forum is a great place for people to be open and ask honest questions they might be afraid or embarrassed to ask in person . I am disappointed to see some members attacking other members because of the age of the poster or the life choices they make. I think it was very great that someone started this thread. I have more respect for an 18 year old who speaks honestly about smoking pot than the people who are judging them. I like to enjoy an occassional drink or two. Maybe at 27 years old, I could find better ways to spend my time- but that's the choice that I make. It's the same with the people who smoke pot and post here. It is the choice they make.

I am a gym rat. I haven't been banded and I am still fat but I fell in love with the eliptical machine at the Y. We've been spending quite a bit of time together since we first met.

I am excited that you are attending the McGee classes as well. I think that I am going to get the band. I figure that if I fail with the band I can always try something else in the future. The band seems to be the safest choice. Do you like the classes so far? I had a bad weight in during the last class. The nutritionist weighed me. She told me i had gained 5 pounds since the classes started and that i had better loose them or she was going to hold me back. I know that being sick isn't an excuse, but I had a NASTY cold last month and didn't exercise much. I wasn't please that i was threatened to be hed back by a woman wearing a shirt that didn't cover her belly button.

I have the same doc! I am seeing him in two weeks and am VERY very nervous. I also have UPMC and have been worrying that they will reject me. I am attending the Weight loss class at Magee each month.

I'm not sure where Hammarville is located. Did you mean Harmarville? Harmarville is quite a hike for me. I live on the west side of the city. I would like to find a support group over here.

Thanks I will. I really don't understand why several family members are so negative about the band. They seem to think it's horrible to do and a waste of time because I will fail with it. I don't agree and schedueld an appointment with my pcp on the 7th of feb and an appt with the dr. at mcgee on the 14th. i am interested in what they will have to say. i have two uncles and a cousin in her early 20's who had GB. One of my uncles had a lot of complications, which makes me NOT want to have gastric.

Thank you for sharing. I am attendind the McGee classes and am not having a great experience in the class. Most of the people are set on the Gastric Bypass. I am not even close to being as heavy as some of the people and I do work out often. I think theband is best for me and my body. I made the decision to pursue the band and have encountered a large amount of negativity from the other group members. Many think banding is a waste of time. If I went through all of the classes and was turned down by upmc, I am sure I would give up. It means a lot to me that you are willing to share your experience with the insurance company.

Thanks for responding. I've been nervous that UPMC will reject me. If they do, I will be really upset that I attended the classes at McGee. The McGee classes are expensive.

Where did you have it done Rollin? (too bad bout dem stillers...)

6 months with a nutritionist to have upmc approve the surgery? i am taking the 6 month course at upmc, do i need to be seeing a nutritionist monthly to have this approved? I have upmc health insurance.

I decided on a dr at mcgee. the only obsticle now is my family. many of them want me to have gastric bypass. the think the band is much worse for my health.

Pittsburgh