Chris61

I just wanted to let you know that my wife and I have been approved for the Lapband surgery. We received word from the doctors office that she has been approved. So we get the letter will set a date. We are looking at being in bandland in September or October. This will depend on the doctors schedule and work schedule. My wife will go one week and then I will go the next week. The doctor has said that we would be good for the new Inmed AP Advance Band. I will keep everyone update as to when will have surgery. I would also like to thank everyone for all their help and advice over the years. Thanks Chris Approved for the Band Dr. Minkin - Des Peres Hospital St. Louis, Mo 250/ :clap2:

I just wanted to let you know that my wife and I have been approved for the Lapband surgery. We received word from the doctors office that she has been approved. So we get the letter will set a date. We are looking at being in bandland in September or October. This will depend on the doctors schedule and work schedule. My wife will go one week and then I will go the next week. The doctor has said that we would be good for the new Inmed AP Advance Band. I will keep everyone update as to when will have surgery. I would also like to thank everyone for all their help and advice over the years. Thanks Chris Approved for the Band Dr. Minkin - Des Peres Hospital St. Louis, Mo 250/ :clap2:

Our doctor wants his people to not go to work or drive for one week. Then after that you are free to go. Just need to becareful with lifiting etc. Chris Pre Band St. Louis 250/

Iam ready for this and do not think I would back out. I have all ready had herina surgery years ago and know what to expect. The only thing I worry about is getting enough Fluid to keep hydrated etc. Chris Pre Band St. Louis 250/

I have received approvell from United Health Care and waiting on wife approval. Not sure what the hold up is with UHC. We are working with the doctors office and my companies benfits company to find out what is going on. UHC says they have nothing at all. So the doctors office is forwarding the information again and will see what happens. Once she is approved we are looking at doing it in November. She would go one week and then I would go the following week. We are seeing Dr. Minkin at Des Peres Hospitial in St. Louis, Missouri. Chris Pre Band Dr. Minkin St. Louis, Missouri 250/ :clap2:

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have been approved by United Health Care for surgery. Now we are waiting on my wife's approval. It took less than a month to get approval. Now just have to giure out a date. Thanks to everyone on this and all threads for the help, advice, and support. Will keep you updated as to when I will be doing it. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

I just talk with Dr. Minikin office and I have been approved for the lapband procedure. It only took about 20 days to get approval through United Health Care. They are now waiting on approval for my wife. So now will just have to figure out a good time when to do the surgery. Thanks for all the help and advice. Thanks Chris Preband St. Louis

We sure have a lot of the same threads. wish there was a way to combine them. I hope that everyone is doing well. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

I hope all is doing well. Have not heard seen much moving on this thread for a while. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

How are you and your husband doing? My wife and I are also preparing to be lapband in St. Louis later this year. Waiting on approval etc. Hope to have an update soon. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

Will be banded in St. Louis, Missouri by Doctor Minkin somtime in the 4th quarter of 2007 or 1st quarter 2008. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

Hi All: I justed wanted to give you an update on things since it has been a while since I posted. Sorry for the delay. Well we both went to see Dr.Minkin on Monday the 13. We went over the medical test that he required. We had figured that since we had not heard anything before the apt. we were fine. Thin he told us that they had allready since the request in for both of us back at the end of July. When he told us that I felt that this visit was a waste of time and money since he could have called on the phone. That being said, Iam glad that we did go because I was able to obtain the letters they had sent. So I called UHC to see if they had gotton the letters and they did not have anything in the system. So I faxed the letters to UHC and got a response back that not all the information that they were looking for in the letter or was submitted. However I do not know what was sent by mail/fax from there Minkin office. So I faxed the letter to his office and they can take it from there. They want five years and other information. I had to work very hard with my own doctor and had to go through my file myself to obtain all the information. I even had to write the letter. My wife is still having problems with here doctor but I feel we got them under control since we went to them on Monday before we say Dr. Minkin. Dr. Minkin did say they have up to 30 days to respond to the request and his exp. has been take that long. Were hoping for approval soon but not sure how long it will take etc. I did ask him that once approval is in how long do you have to get the surgery done. He was not able to answer that. Since we will not be doing the operations at the same time I have to schedule time off for both of us. I was thinking about work schedules, hoildays, etc. Then later in the day after reviewing the letter that he had sent I got to thinking about all the costs for both us and what we will have to pay out of pocket. We have maxed out the flex spending for this year that we might be better off to wait untill the new year. I really do not want to do that, I would rather start now but sometimes money holds you back. I know this is long but I wanted to make sure that I covered everything so you all know what is going on with us. IF you have any questions you can e-mail me. Thanks Chris Pre-Band St. Louis

Update Hi All: I justed wanted to give you an update on things since it has been a while since I posted. Sorry for the delay. Well we both went to see Dr.Minkin on Monday the 13. We went over the medical test that he required. We had figured that since we had not heard anything before the apt. we were fine. Thin he told us that they had allready since the request in for both of us back at the end of July. When he told us that I felt that this visit was a waste of time and money since he could have called on the phone. That being said, Iam glad that we did go because I was able to obtain the letters they had sent. So I called UHC to see if they had gotton the letters and they did not have anything in the system. So I faxed the letters to UHC and got a response back that not all the information that they were looking for in the letter or was submitted. However I do not know what was sent by mail/fax from there Minkin office. So I faxed the letter to his office and they can take it from there. They want five years and other information. I had to work very hard with my own doctor and had to go through my file myself to obtain all the information. I even had to write the letter. My wife is still having problems with here doctor but I feel we got them under control since we went to them on Monday before we say Dr. Minkin. Dr. Minkin did say they have up to 30 days to respond to the request and his exp. has been take that long. Were hoping for approval soon but not sure how long it will take etc. I did ask him that once approval is in how long do you have to get the surgery done. He was not able to answer that. Since we will not be doing the operations at the same time I have to schedule time off for both of us. I was thinking about work schedules, hoildays, etc. Then later in the day after reviewing the letter that he had sent I got to thinking about all the costs for both us and what we will have to pay out of pocket. We have maxed out the flex spending for this year that we might be better off to wait untill the new year. I really do not want to do that, I would rather start now but sometimes money holds you back. I know this is long but I wanted to make sure that I covered everything so you all know what is going on with us. IF you have any questions you can e-mail me. Thanks Chris Pre-Band St. Louis

Hi All: I justed wanted to give you an update on things since it has been a while since I posted. Sorry for the delay. Well we both went to see Dr.Minkin on Monday the 13. We went over the medical test that he required. We had figured that since we had not heard anything before the apt. we were fine. Thin he told us that they had allready since the request in for both of us back at the end of July. When he told us that I felt that this visit was a waste of time and money since he could have called on the phone. That being said, Iam glad that we did go because I was able to obtain the letters they had sent. So I called UHC to see if they had gotton the letters and they did not have anything in the system. So I faxed the letters to UHC and got a response back that not all the information that they were looking for in the letter or was submitted. However I do not know what was sent by mail/fax from there Minkin office. So I faxed the letter to his office and they can take it from there. They want five years and other information. I had to work very hard with my own doctor and had to go through my file myself to obtain all the information. I even had to write the letter. My wife is still having problems with here doctor but I feel we got them under control since we went to them on Monday before we say Dr. Minkin. Dr. Minkin did say they have up to 30 days to respond to the request and his exp. has been take that long. Were hoping for approval soon but not sure how long it will take etc. I did ask him that once approval is in how long do you have to get the surgery done. He was not able to answer that. Since we will not be doing the operations at the same time I have to schedule time off for both of us. I was thinking about work schedules, hoildays, etc. Then later in the day after reviewing the letter that he had sent I got to thinking about all the costs for both us and what we will have to pay out of pocket. We have maxed out the flex spending for this year that we might be better off to wait untill the new year. I really do not want to do that, I would rather start now but sometimes money holds you back. I know this is long but I wanted to make sure that I covered everything so you all know what is going on with us. IF you have any questions you can e-mail me. Thanks Chris Pre-Band St. Louis :whoo:

Stevee: Does your employer have a flexable spending account? Or do you quailfiy for the HFSA that is self directed for individuals? You could put x number in for next year and start right after 1st of the year. Plus it's tax free and would reduce your taxable income. Iam in the process of trying to find out the total cost from are doctors so that we can figure out the ded. We might what untill the first of the year since we have maxed out the flex account this year we put in the max amount. Also you might have your taxes ready to file in Jan. and us the refund to pay for the surgery. just a thought. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

Well be banded in St. Louis, Missouri once approved by insurance. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

I have heard about the program and seen the ads for it. Iam going to Dr. Minikin at Des Pers, Hosp. in St. Louis. My wife and I have an apt. on Monday and keeping fingers crossed that he approves us and send in the paper work. The tests are done expect for right before surgery. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

How did they turn out. I wonder if they video tape each time they do the procedure as documation of how it was done etc.?

My wife and I are looking into getting banded. We have done all the pre-op and see the doctor on Monday then submit to insurance. We hope to do it late this year. I will keep every one posted. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

Why put it off? You should go and find out what is required etc. You will be surpised how long it will take to get everything togehter and in place. I have been working on it for at 3 months since we made the doctors apt. went and meet him, did the medical tests. We go on Monday for final approval and not sure how long it will take to get word from UHC. Along the way we have had road blocks from doctors about getting the right information. I would think about it. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

Mine was fairly smiple. Took about 15 minutes. He justed to make sure I understood that it was a tool and not cure all. What was funny about it was he wanted to learn more about my type of work and what an Engineer does. I told him that there is many differant types of Eng. in construction. I feel that it's was a waste of time and money. But understand why the doctor wants to cya himself. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

In the yahoo group there was a person that was 10 years out. She was part of the Band Trails and is doing well. They have replaced here band with an updated one she stated. Chris Pre Band St. Louis

The AP Band is in use in the US. My doctor Dr. Minkin is using it. The first of July he had placed the first two into a couple who was doing banding in St. Louis. My wife and I are going to see him next week for final approval and have him send in the insurance paper work. I am going to double confirm with him that we get the new AP Band. He also said that it costs about $ 4,000.00. I have also been reading reports that they feel the all lot of problems witht he concurrent bands being used will be greatley reduced or gone away with this band. I hope that this answers your questions. Chris Pre Band St. Louis vcw61@excite.com

My wife and I have been married for over 15 years and we are going to do this together. We both need this tool. SHe has a few more medical problems than I do. She had talked about doing something but had not done anything untill I told her a couple of months ago that I was going to do it and I would like here to do it also. We are both supportive with each other on this. This last weekend I think sealed it for both of us in doing this was the fact that we went to Kings Island in Cincinnati and had some problems with getting in on a couple of rides with the kids. She has been having problems with her one doctor on getting a letter done the right way and I feel she is going there on Sat. to get all the information for the letter so the doctor will get it done since his people do not seem to understand what is required even with the draft letter and information we had sent. i had the same problem and had to do it also. I even told here I would go and take care of it for her if she wanted me to. We meet the doctor together and did all the pre-op requirements together. We go back on the 13th of this month and find out the results and then have the doctor submit the paper work. I wish you the best of luck and hope that your hubby comes around. I would even print these out and write him a letter if you are not able to talk with him about it. Thats what I did and look where we are with it. Chris Pre Band St. Louis Dr. Minkin

Congradulations Eddie on the up coming marriage. Chris Pre band