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Thank you, I will attempt to try again with the insurance company again tomorrow. In my past experience I would call the # on the back of the card and get routed and re-routed to another # until I got back to the original # without ever speaking to a person. I understand exactly what you're saying and I will try to get them from early in the morning.

Thanx, that's exactly how I feel. Psyched and ready to go but now I feel like I need to go another route. Once again looking for a diet. How did you lose 40 lbs before surgery?

Thank you for your reply. If rush approval is an option in my case I hope they request it.

I was originally given a surgery date of March 8th but all of my pre-surgery appts. were not done and I was told that it would take my insurance company (GHI) from 60-70 days to review and hopefully approve my case. I submitted all of my paperwork on 3/16/10 that was 68 days ago today. I went on vacation last week and had every hope that when I got back I would have a message waiting on my phone telling me that I had been approved and I needed to call to set up a surgery date and start my pre-op diet. Well that didn't happen. I called the surgeons office today and spoke to the admin.assistant who up to this time has been rather cold. I was told that they had to resubmit my paperwork last week because GHI says they never received them. If I hadn't called today I would never have known that and would still be waiting like a dummy. I broke down crying. I'm crying now as I type this. I'm not a cryer but I feel so helpless. My weight is climbing steadily and I feel ugly and I am dreading the Summer. I guess my tears made the formerly cold asst. feel bad because she said she would call GHI next week to try to rush them through. I'm now looking at another 60-70 days to finally get word. I don't know what I'm asking or needing with this thread but does anyone have experience with this? I guess I just needed to vent. Do you think I should try to find another surgeon? I'm in NY. The surgeon is Dr. Gorecki at NY Methodist . My insurance is BC/BS - GHI. Please don't suggest I call the insurance co. that's like trying to reach Obama at the White House. I feel like giving up maybe doing the HCG diet or something else. Sorry for the long post. I just feel so helpless and defeated. Thanx in advance , Dee

My Dr. recommended I look into the LapBand over 2 years ago. I had tried everything but I was still determined to lose this weight on my own. WRONG!!! I can lose weight on my own . I just can't keep it off. I finally went to the seminar with Dr. Fielding at NYU and that actually convinced me to go for it. His speech and the facts he stated convinced me. One thing He said that actually moved me was that only 1 in 50 people would be able to lose 20 lbs and keep it off. The things he said just hit home with me. I also in the meantime have been gaining even more weight . I'm getting older and becoming scared of dying from a stroke or whatever from having HBP. I have a good life and I don't want to die young. I go on great vacations and I want to be able to enjoy myself without feeling self-conscious about my big butt and thighs and gut. I then started the process but NYU does not take my insurance so I had to find another Dr. that would. I'm now anxiously waiting for approval and can't wait to be banded. I also have been reading a lot and finding out all I can about the surgery. I can't wait now. I feel like it will be the beginning of a whole new life for me.I only wish I found out about this surgery years ago.

Hi Dawn, I'm currently waiting for approval from my insurance. I too am hoping to be banded by Dr. Gorecki. I sent you a PM.

It is really unbelievable how different things work in different places. You've been approved already without any testing or anything. I had to do a 6 month supervised diet. All of the tests including an ab/ultrasound, pulmonary test, endoscopy, cardiac ultrasound, nutrition and psych counseling before they would even submit to insurance. Now, I'm anxiously waiting to see if my insurance will approve. I think you're in a better place because at least your working towards a sure goal. After all I've been through what if they deny me? Call your Dr's office to ask your questions because all Dr's seemingly have different protocols. If not I suggest you read a book or 2 . I learned a lot from Weight loss surgery for dummies and Dr Robert Sewells' book about weight loss surgery .

I read Khalilah Ali's book , really good. Now that I'm typing this I may read it again. Her story resonated with me. I've also read Weight loss surgery for dummies. Very helpful. I'm reading Dr. Robert Sewell's book about weight loss surgery. I forget the name. If you check on Amazon there are a lot of books about weight loss surgery there. I may check to see if there's anything new, since my approval process is taking so long. :thumbup:

I'm going through the same thing right now. I submitted all of my papers to the doctors office on 3/16 and have not heard anything yet. I was told by the woman that handles every thing at the office that it takes from 60-70 days for my insurance co. to approve the surgery. She was not the most cordial or friendly person so I don't want to call her again to see if she even submitted the papers. I hope she did and I hope to hear very soon that I've been approved. I'm keeping a positive thought because I have every reason to be approved for the surgery. I'm 5'2" and pushing 260 lbs and I also have co-morbidities so I fully expect to be approved. These Dr's know the ins & outs of insurance so if your chances are small of being approved most likely the office would have told you. The bottom line is they want to make money so they don't waste their time . In the meantime I have started to lose weight on my own. I went back to my low carb w.o.e. and I'm beginning to exercise again. I would really like to lose about 30 lbs before my surgery after surgery you have to commit to exercise anyway so why not start all of that now? Think positive you'll be approved

Thank you. I am concerned if my papers were even submitted. I just feel uneasy with the attitude of the office personnel. There's always something. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Any new people seeing Dr. Gorecki? Last week I finally finished all of my tests and appts. and submitted everything to his office. Even though she got raves in a previous post I find his assistant Jessie to not be so pleasant to deal with. Very abrupt and why are you bothering me attitude. I have been in this process for a long time and after submitting all my paperwork I was told by Jessie it would take from 60-70 days for my insurance to approve or not. I have GHI BC/BS. Of course I'm very anxious . I really don't want to bother calling the office to see if my case was submitted and how it's going. Has anyone else had experience with this or his office? Any advice.

Just wanted to say thanx for the responses. I have visitors from out of town so I have not had a chance to get back online but I have been reading the responses. I know it is a wait and see thing but I am just anxious and ready to get rid of the thunder thighs. :scared2: Thanx again everyone. PS: I hate when someone starts a thread and then you never hear from them again.

I have not been banded yet. I have my psych consult next Tuesday and then all is done and I have to wait 60-70 days for insurance to approve. I have really big thighs even had them before I became so obese. My thighs are the size of some peoples waists, 31-32 inches each. I'm already worried that once I reach goal I will still not be able to wear jeans because then my thighs will be smaller I know but flabby and looking like a wrinkled Shar-pei. Is there anyone else that has been banded and had humongous thighs? What were your results after hitting goal? I know I'll never be a swimsuit model but....:frown: Short of a surgical thigh lift and becoming a marathoner can anyone give me some insight on results after weight loss.

I was just going to start a new thread about this. I have the biggest flabbiest thighs in the world. I haven't been banded yet. I'm going for my final Dr appt on Tuesday and then it takes about 2 months for my insurance to approve. However, I'm already afraid that after I lose my weight I still won't be able to wear a great pair of jeans because my thighs are the worst. My thighs are the size of some peoples waist lines like 31-32 inches. I'm afraid once I lose the weight they will just be hanging loose and ugly. Short of having a surgical thigh lift has anyone else had thighs like mine? what happened after the weight was lost. Oh, I'm thread jacking . Maybe I should stat a new thread. Sorry OP :frown:

If you're doing a very low carb diet then that's very common to have no BM's for days at a time. When I was doing low carb I would use a couple of drops of Milk Thistle in my Crystal lite every day.

^^^What she said, plus that combo of that salty chicken broth and milk sounds a little stomach curdling. No offense to you personally but just reading that made my lips curl up. Have some ginger tea or mint tea and let your stomach rest. I haven't been banded yet but I've read a lot and after a fill as above poster said you have to let your stomach rest and let whatever swelling go down before you start eating any solids at all. Hope you feel better soon.

This thread was a little reassuring as I am also afraid of vomiting.:smile2: I hate it with a passion. I would rather have projectile diarrhea than to vomit.:w00t: I plan on being extra careful when I finally have my surgery but I'm still worried. This is one of the reasons I put off really starting the process for 2 years. Now, I wish I had done it 2 years ago and I would be at goal by now. OH WELL!!!!

I just turned 55 and am in the process. I will see the psychologist next Tuesday and then all my tests will be done. My surgeons office says it takes my insurance company 60-70 days to approve so I'm hoping that I will have the surgery before June. My PCP recommended I do this over 2 years ago I wish I had started the process then , by now I would be at my goal and much happier. I would be looking forward to the Summer and buying my new Summer clothes instead of dreading it. You are not too old. By the time your 60 just imagine you will be at your goal weight off all your meds and feeling and looking good. We have to age anyway so you might as well do it feeling and looking your best and with less risks of all these pesky age and weight related problems. Go for it!!!

Yes, I read those 2 and a book about Muhammad Ali's daughter Khaliah that had the surgery done by the 1st surgeon I was referred to. They answered every question I could possibly have and then some.

For all of you that have no idea of what you're doing or need more questions answered and for some reason or the other don't have access to information. I not only stalked this site which Quite frankly was discouraging to me sometimes. My Dr. recommended me for the surgery over 2 years ago but I read so many discouraging things on the site about PB'ing and band slippage that I kept putting it off thinking I can lose it on my own. I had to finally admit to myself that I couldn't and I came back. Well anyway, I know not everyone likes to read but I have read 3 books about the surgery and I really feel that I know enough to teach a class now . The most informative and simple to read and understand was Weight Loss surgery for dummies available at your book stores and Amazon where I got mine. I have read about everything from how to start considering if you qualify for the surgery , the insurance process, how to find a DR. What to do before the surgery . How to get ready for the surgery. What to take to the hospital. What you will feel like. What to do on the day you come home. What to eat before and after. How to search for a self-pay Dr...just everything.

Great!! I'm glad someone's dream is coming true. That will be here before you know it. So exciting!!

Thank you all for your responses. I was out today . I had to meet with the surgeon again and the nutritionist (again). What a waste she (the nutritionist ) made me feel so uncomfy. It is so obvious that they are just churning people out. She hardly looked up at me and asked some perfunctory questions then started to drone on and on about all the stuff I already know and that was it. Out of there in less than 10 minutes. At least I didn't have to pay out of pocket for it. Bad news for me though, as I was getting ready to walk out of the office I was told that even when I finish the testing it takes my insurance company 60-70 days to approve the surgery. So I will not be a March bandster. I'll be fortunate if I can have it done in May or even June. I am so depressed I felt like crying on the subway home. I slipped this morning on all the ice in the street and twisted my already weak ankle. I just want to crawl in the bed and pull the covers over my head. I am so fat and uncomfy that the only thing I can figure to do now is to start my low carb diet on Monday and try to lose like that. I cannot face another Summer being so fat and bloated. I am really bummed . Thank you all again for your words of encouragement. Jodi, finding me, kujhawkrulz everyone I read every word and I appreciate them. I addressed them earlier from my iPhone but the message was lost.

Thank you finding me...just depressed today. I'll get over it. Thanks for caring. I appreciate your words. Dee

Hey all, Snowing again today in NY. I was going to see the psych today but decided not to . I'm not much for taking the bus & train and definitely didn't want to navigate all of that today with snow on top of snow on the ground. I've already broken my ankle 2x in the last few years. I think that's another result of my weight. I'm a little depressed today. I went to the mall yesterday with my DH. I wanted to buy a Coach wallet that i had been looking at and a bag . Have you ever just felt invisible? That's how I feel, invisible. I'm standing in the store with my big down coat on and my long matronly skirt to hide my fat and my boots on and I just feel invisible standing there waiting to be helped and being ignored and I feel inside that's it's because of my dowdy , fat body now. After I finally got someone to wait on me I went across to the MAC store and same thing except as I walked in one of the young girls says "hello M'am" UGHHHH!!! How did I ever get here? How did get so fat that I'm having surgery to help me solve this problem? I have been told my whole life how pretty I am and then it turned to you have such a pretty face. Now all I feel is fat and unattractive. OK, I just had to vent somewhere. I'm too embarassed to tell my DH how I feel and my friends would never understand.