Karenwinpa

:w00t: I do know that here in PA, you must have a Doctor in a center of excellance, and see your pcp for 6 months dieting with calories, before you can start the surgery process, I know I have been waiting for 2 years and finally my surgion received his center of excellance. I'm getting started my first visit with the surgion is July 1, 2010 I can't wait :thumbup: This is a dream come true, I've been overweight since I had my son 29 years ago. Lose 30 lbs. and then put it back on plus more, I am ready for a new life...

yes I did lose 30 pds with the doctor, but I have done that before and next thing you know it has crept back on. :smile2:

:smile:Thank You Dawn, I will put you on my buddy list, and I will be sure to keep in touch. Thanks again...

:smile2: I had to wait this long because my insurance needed Doctor Marley to have his Center of Excellance or they would not cover me. And he finally got it so I have all my doctors visits in for 6 months and I have seen one doctor required, and I have 2 more to do and I am ready.

From Johnstown, PA and just getting started and looking for a support buddy. I would love to have any help or info and that someone who can tell me what I'm doing right or wrong, I'm not afraid of the truth. :smile2:

:smile2: I have finally made it, I have been waiting since fall of 2008 for my surgeon to get his Center of Excellance so my insurance would pay for my surgery....Well yesterday I got the word, and I am moving ahead with all of my paperwork and doctors appts. I am so excited I can't stand it, it couldn't have come thru at a better time I have been dieting and losing very little because my son is getting married next May. Now I am ready. woo hoo

Hello all, I joined LBT last Dec. 08 and due to the insurance hoops I had to go through, and waiting for my surgion to get cetified for my Insurance to pay for it, I'm looking at a date of Dec. or Jan. I can't wait to get it done. I'm looking for a mentor to guide me through from the beginning to the end and there after. Karen:smile:

Hi Amber I am now going through the steps to be approved. call 1-800-lap band and explain to them what insurance you have and they will tell you what you have to do. I have to see my pcp for 4 to 6 months straight and do a diet with him and he fills out the papers and summits them to the surgions office. have you gone to a seminar yet that would be your first step. and from there they will lead you the rest of the way. let me know whats up with you :smile2:

Laura my first step would be to call 1-800-lap-band you tell them where you live, what insurance you have and they will tell you whats up. Like where to go to a seminar, what doctor to see and if it covers you which it should. Just call the number and someone from there will help you

Unsure; if you don't mind me asking how much does it cost to have the surgery done in Mexico I have been so curious about this compared to what are insurance pays.

GEE I feel like you just wrote my feelings. I too just went to my seminar on the 14th. And I am so ready for this to happen. I am now working with my insurance and I may not get to have it with the surgeon that I want. I may have to go to a center of excellance to get it done so my insurace will pay. But I might also wait it out for a couple of months til my surgeon gets his center of excellance label. I just know that I'm so ready for this new way of living.:wink2:

Hi Jenn, you are in the same stages as I am. I have seen my pcp and go to my first seminar tommorow the 14th. There I will find out what I will have to do for insurance, etc. But I have been on here for 2 months now just reading an going to chat room and reading what is going on in there. It did alot of good being here because it has made me so relaxed about haveing this done and someone will always answer your questions. Take care and good luck:smile2:

Congrats. Sherry on reaching your goal. way to go. wooohooo!

I;ll help too, but I'm like you StacyIam i'm in the prelimenary stages haven't even got approval. But I'm on here constantly lately. Karen:smile2:

To see the actual surgery go to YOUTUBE and type in lap band procedure and it shows you the whole surgery.:wink_smile:

queenie that answered all my questions. now i guess i will start my process next week. thanks Karen:smile2:

Queenie was wondering what all you had to do pre-opt. and how long did it take you from first starting til surgery date. I'm looking for a time period. Karen

okay everyone wish me luck, I'm contacting medicaid in my area to see if they cover the surgery. I'm so nervous you wouldn't believe. I have all my ducks in a row for everything else now it's just up to them. wish me luck Karen:thumbup:

Blaze what part of PA do you live in, since you have Keystone Mercy. Not familiar with that. Karen

Blaze I live in Johnstown, I have state access because I'm disabled. I hope it covers the surgery Karen

I live in PA and am disabled and on Medicaid does anyone know if they pay, and what all do you have to do. I want this bad I have a BMI of over 40. Thanks for any information anyone has. :thumbdown: Karen

slim2be I am glad to hear of your wonderful outcome, now I have more hope for myself. I know I'm not alone on this, the clots was my main concern I take coumadin daily. So thanks for the hopeful wishes. Karen:thumbup:

Catherine Ray I love your dog, oh and thanks for the information. I have a male maltese named sammy he is 9 months old and full of puppy. I'm glad you responded because as I have been reading post I see where people get off meds, my concern is my history of dvt blood clot. Thanks again Karen

Hello to all, I already introduced myself, but I have some important questions. Has anyone had many health problem prio to getting banded such as blood clots, diabetes, high cholestral, etc. I take up to 20 pills a day and this is my main reason for wanting banded to help get me off of these pills and make me healthier. Anyone else out there had these or some of these problems please respond on your journey. Thanks Karen in Central PA:confused:

I am so glad to see so many of you from my area. I will just be talking to my pcp next week. But I will probably go with Doc. Marley seeing how I called there office and got all the information about it. I know I have a long way to go til surgery but I'm so over ready. I can't wait to meet alot of you at the support groups at windber. Wish me luck with my family doctor. Karen