BeTheBuddha

Anyone in the SFV w/ lapband? Can't seem to find a support group for bandsters in the SFV close to Burbank/Toluca Lake. Mine's at Cedars but it's mainly for gastric bypass patients. Too far to go on a weekday as well. Would like to find a group that meets in the evenings (after 7pm) or on the weekends. OR LET'S START ONE! I figure we can try to get a room for free at the library or a local college to meet and discuss. What do you think? Or meet in the park - somewhere not food-related!

I know a lot of people go to Fill Center USA in Garden Grove. I believe it's $300 for the first visit and $150 thereafter.

I started a band group on Yahoo Groups for Los Angeles area people but few joined. I did join Smart Bandsters on Yahoo Groups and it's a great group of people to get band advice/info from. One of the members wrote a lapband book that a lot of people use/refer to.

I had BCBS at my old job and will eventually have Aetna at my new job after my 90-day probation period is over. I had the surgery right before I left my old job and will have my fills covered under COBRA during the 90 day period. I am curious to see if my employer's Aetna plan will cover my fills and if there is a wait period for pre-existing conditions (since for Aetna it will be considered as such).

My doc makes his patients wait about 6 weeks between fills. I felt no restriction whatsoever after my land band surgery. Even with my first fill (3 ccs in a 10cc band) I don't feel much restriction at all. The nurse told me it takes about three fills to start finding your "sweet spot".

Hi: I am curious to know if anyone has had to switch insurance companies during their lapband process (i.e. one company for the surgery, another company for the fills). Here's my problem: I got approved for surgery right before I got a great job offer. I had the surgery before I left my old job (BCBS insurance) and my new job has a 90 day probation period before I can start my new insurance (Aetna). During the interim, I will do COBRA, of course. But will I have to get re-approved by Aetna once I start that insurance so that I can get fills in the future? How do I go about doing this? And have you ever had to do this yourself?