bee in my bonnet

I just found this Idaho support forum. Very cool. I relocated to Idaho last year and live in Meridian. I have been severly overweight for years and have finally decided to take the plunge and get banded. I have chosen Dr Robert Cahn out at St Lukes in Meridian. My first appointment is tomorrow afternoon and I am so excited. Are any of you current patients of Dr Cahn? I hear that he is really good. He operated on a friend of mine 2 years ago and took out her appendix. I have been going through all of the posts trying to get a good idea of what getting banded is about. This site is very helpful and I can at least go into my appointment a little more informed. Those of you who had to do a sleep study, how long did it take you to get in? I hear that it can take quite a while and it has me worried. Who did you see for a nutrionist and psych consult? Dr Cahn's office said they would give me a list of doctors but still, it would be great to get some input. I want to make sure that I pick the right doctor. I chose my regular doctor out of a phone book and I am not to happy. My BMI is 48 and she says that I should just be able to lose the weight without surgery. I have tried for so many years and feel that the band will help me to achieve my weight loss goal of 150lbs. The Idaho forum looks pretty small. I hope that more support is out there in Idaho! Let me know what you think... Christina:lol:

Thanks!!! I will post how my appointment goes tomorrow. Wish me luck... Christina

Thanks Jelbel, that is good to know. I hope that I don't need a sleep study... What doctors did they require you to see? Psych, nutritionist, PCA, surgeon?? Did you have to go through 6 months counselling first? I read here that some people do. I appreicate the info!!! Christina:teeth_smile:

Hey guys, I have just started the process and the insurance I have is Empire Blue Shield EPO. I am trying to gether as much info as possible before going to my first appointment on Thursday. My insurance covers the surgery (if I get approved) at 90% with a $1000 yearly maximum. My BMI is 48 so I don't think that I need any comorbidities but I am still nervous. I really don't want to do a sleep study becuase in Idaho, it can take months to schedule. Do you know if Empire REQUIRES a sleep study? I am good with every other appointment that I need to go to but I don't want to wait for months to get in. Thanks! Christina

I weigh more now than I ever thought would be possible. I am 5'5 and my BMI is 48. Can you imagine? My blood pressure was always low but now I am hypertensive. It is very worrisome that I have no energy and can't breathe when I exert myself. I called my insurance before calling a surgeon and I have to jump through a lot of hoops but I hope that I will qualify. I do have some questions but I am not sure where to post them. I have been scouring the forums all day and trying to get as much info as I can. Does anyone out there have Empire Blue Shield? Is anyone from Boise, Idaho who has seen Dr Robert Cahn? Can you actually feel the band around your stomach or do you get used to it? I am sooo excited and I hope to have the surgery done by October. I am going to try and race through my appointments. Has anyone only gone through 2 months of appointments or does it take longer? I see that some people have waited 6 months to a year, but I am just curious. It has been very helpful to read your nutritionist and psych tips, thanks. Let me know if I can just continue posting under my newbie info or if should go some other place. Thanks!!!

Hi Everyone, I am 34 yrs old and very new to the idea of getting banded. I just decided to look into it last week and my first appointment is Thursday. I am very excited at the prospect of having hope to get my life back. I live in Boise, ID and am very limited in surgeon choices. My appointment is with Dr. Cahn. I am hoping that my insurance will cover my surgery but there are a lot of hoops to jump through first. Is it Thursday yet??? :thumbup: Christina