kim2bhealthy

I knew that I had an exclusion on my policy from the beginning, but I had to at least try to get the insurance to cover it... My surgery will cost $18,000, so I felt it was worth the few months delay waiting to hear from them and appealing.. All I can say is its worth a try! Is self-pay an option? Is your insurance through a small business? I thought United was one of the better paying Insurance copmanies..

WAY TO GO TOMMY O! I love a take-charge kinda guy! Good luck in the new career and with the 6 month challenge.. See you in SIX!!

Hello Desperate, and welcome to LBT! Exclusions are a tricky thing, and their are lots of people on this forum that can offer you help in this area.... The first thing that you need to do is look at your policy and see exactly what the exclusion says, and how it is worded... I just lost a several month long battle with my insurance company over their exclusion. It basically stated that "surgical treatment for obesity" is excludded. I tried to argue that I'm morbidly obese which is a different diagnosis from simple obesity, but they didn't go for it. I appealed twice to them and to my state's Department of Commerce and Insurance and lost... So I will be a self-payer. From what I've read, its almost impossible to beat an exclusion. Do you have co-morbidities such as Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, etc? Good Luck!

Go Becky! Sounds like your ready to kick some more butt with the help of your band! 148lbs?? That's soooo awesome!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Hello all! As my surgery date looms closer, May 26th (YAAHOOO!!).... I've found myself wondering about bandsters who have always been big or obese... I weighed more than my older brothers at birth, and still weigh more than them now.... I remember being about 7-8 years old and hearing people tell my mom :"she'll slim down as she gets taller", and obviously that never happened. I'm wondering about the success of lifetime "fatties" pardon the term, with the band. I know a lot of you guys gained weight after having babies, developing sicknesses, emotional reasons, etc.... Are their any life-time fatties like me who are achieving your weight-loss goals? Thanks for your imput.. I love you guys! I guess I'm just feeling insecure about being one of those people who are unable to lose even with the help of the band... I have this nagging thought in the back of my mind that says "you were born big, grew up big, and will always be big".. Help!

Thanks so much everyone, you guys have made me feel so much better! I've been pursuing my band since the first of January, and now that I actually have a date, I have to admit that I'm a little "freaked out"... Might just be my good ole' lack of self-confidence popping up.. I will never be a size 4, I'm just not built that way, and I don't want to be that small.. I'm just afraid to fail...This is just such a huge life change, and plucking $18,000 out of my 401K this morning to pay for the surgery put me into a little tail-spin as well. Thanks so much for your re-assurances everyone! I know one thing, I'm going to follow all the rules, eat tons of protein,exercise, and drink my water! Thanks again everyone, keep um' coming!

Welcome Marci! This is a great thread because you can "compare notes" with the other newly bandeds! This entire forum is chock full of great info, so read away! Congrats on your band and your progress this far!

Welcome Marci! This is a great thread because you can "compare notes" with the other newly bandeds! This entire forum is chock full of great info, so read away! Coongrats on your band and your progress this far!

I'm not looking forward to the Upper GI swallow next week! EEK! I like the Viactiv Chewable Vitamins (Chocolate) I love the Viactiv Chewable Calcium (Caramel)!

Good Luck to everyone being banded this week! You are in my thoughts! :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: Hoping all of you banded May Bandsters are doing well! Thanks for the list 3loves! GO MAY 2006 BANDSTERS!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

WOOOOOHOOOO!!! WAY TO GO DALE JR!!!! I told the guys at work on Friday that he was gonna win one this weekend!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: EARNHARDT JR. IS BACK! Glad to see Tony and Harvick in the top ten too!!!

Sharon - I don't mean to intrude on your thread... I was wondering what made you to go with the RNY and not the band? Good Luck! Definitely keep us posted!

Go Janet and Mikey! Great NSVs!

Thanks ladies!

Well, I began this process back in January with the first Seminar.... and I finally got my surgery date today!!!! Yipppeee! Never thought I would be so excited to have major surgery! My date is Friday, May 26th! :biggrin1: :biggrin1: I have to do a two week liquid diet beginning on May 12th (Glucerna based). I figure if I can survive that, I can handle the rest.... Unfortunately I will be forking over $18,000 for the surgery as I have been denied by my insurance company for the third time (exclusion). Insurance companies are evil! (well, most of them)....:angry In the mean time, I'm hitting my favorite restaurants! Look out Olive Garden!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Susan - can you post a link to purchase this? I can't even find it on GNC website... Thanks for the info!

Thanks Susan! I tried the Glucerna shake this morning, it was pretty good, and it kept me pretty satisfied for a couple of hours.... I think I can have up to six of those a day along with the other "liquids". Wow 15 lbs! That's awesome! I think I can do it, I'm definitely motivated! I gave up carbonated drinks in January and haven't had one since, so I figure if I can give that up, I can do this.. Thanks for the encouragement!

Thanks everyone! Welcome Kelly & Teresa! Now, if I can just survive that two week pre-op liquid diet. Any tips? It includes Glucerna Shakes, popsicles, chicken broth, etc. Teresa, you may want to post to the May Band Crew Thread as well.. that's where all of us May people are posting! Here is the thread.. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=215151#post215151

My doctor requires that his patients drink one of the Isopure Protein drinks a day for the first week or so after surgery... I've gotta go buy some.. I'm glad to hear that you guys like them!

Way to go Carrie & Trisha K.!!!!! You girl's rock! I don't think I've seen a 1 on the scale since being a toddler! Seems like I went from an 8lb baby to a 310lb blob! I'm soooo pround of you guys! Hope to see you in onderland in the next year or two! Heck, I'm just ready to get back into 2ville! :) :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat: :bananapartyhat:

Well.... I hate it when people noisily blow their nose in a restaurant (older men, in particluar have a habit of doing this). I hate it when people on the freeway going 75 MPH stop to let people merge into traffic... I hate people who cant merge into traffic.... I hate to get a wet dish or utensil at a restaurant... like I want to put my yummy cheese biscuit on a wet plate??? YUCK!!! I hate for people to chirp a cheery "GOOD MORNING" at me the second I walk in the door at work... Oh, yeah? What's so freaking good about it? (Not a morning person). I don't mind hey or hello, its just "GOOD MORNING" that gets under my skin. I hate for people to leave stuff that they think needs my immediate attention piled in my desk chair... I hate it when the men in my family leave the kitchen cabinet doors open and "Little Debbie" wrappers on the counter... We have TWO garbage cans in the kitchen!!! I hate it when my brother doesn't flush the toilet and my dog decides that she is in the mood for a soggy toilet paper snack... GROSS!!! I hate it when people take me for granted.... Thats all for now....

Got my date today! May 26th! Have to start a liquids-only diet (high protein) on May 12th.. I'm self pay...

God Bless Leener! I am adding you to my prayer list. I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Know that you are not alone!

3loves.. LOVE that Graphic! Yep, I didn't like seeing Tony upside down on Saturday. I'll have to listen to the race today... GO DALE JR!!!

SleepyJean- I know what you mean... I had a similar experience with my doctor... Thanks to everyone on LBT I had a list of about 25 questions for my surgeon during my initial consultation. I said, I have some questions to ask you and he was like "thats fine, but I'm not gonna answer questions that were answered at the seminar or on the video that you watched". When I started asking similar questions to what you have listed, he was impressed that I had done so much research and ask such involved questions. I would never have even had a list if it weren't for LBT.. As I read threads, I jotted down questions to ask.... My very first questions was "how many of these surgeries have you performed." This in my mind is one of the most important factors in the success of your band because they perfect the technique with practice and experience. I have learned so much from this forum.. I'm ready for my band!