HOWLUCKYAMI

Every situation is unique and much depends upon any exclusions your policy may have, so this is just my experience. I had my orientation on 9/22/08 and, after much research into the procedure, began tackling my pre-requisites on 9/29/08. My insurance paperwork was submitted on 11/18/08 and I was approved by the morning of 11/21/08. My surgery is scheduled for 12/16/08. I attribute much of my success with approval to the bariatric center being a Center of Excellence. They were also very well-versed in submitting for insurance and were familiar with the "i's" and "t's" that needed to be dotted and crossed. I hope you have as quick a turnaround as I did! Good luck to you!

Don't do Starbucks runs much these days (weaning off caffeine) but when I do it's a grande non-fat half-caf latte. That's pre-op. Post-op, if I go, I'll probaby do the same, but make it "short" instead. Only 68 calories in a short vs. 136 in a grande.

Good morning all! I am posting here because I can't scream and dance at work. I JUST GOT MY APPROVAL!!!!! The call came about half an hour ago. I've been approved and my surgery is scheduled for December 16th! I have been hoping and praying for weeks for this day. Because of my job, I am pretty restricted by the amount of time I can take off (family business, understaffed, been here forever, small office...you get the drift). December 16th was THE most workable date my surgeon had on the books, as it would allow me to take time off during the relatively slow period before Christmas. I'll be able to wrap work up on the day before surgery and then take off the next 13 days if I need them. I didn't even take that much time off when I gave birth! The most amazing part is that spots were being filled up so quickly with my surgeon's office (he only does surgery on Tues/Thurs). He has 9 other patients awaiting approval and it was really going to be a longshot that I was able to be approved in time to get the 16th. I made the decision to turn it over to God and let him guide the process. My prayers have been answered! I couldn't be happier.

Kim..fantastic news about your band date! I think that having surgery around Christmas is probably the best present I could get this year. I hope it is for you as well! Keep us posted on how it goes. And if you get your hubby to cook you DEFINITELY have to share that secret!

No news yet...thanks for asking! I do know that it's in the review process and that I should have an answer by the 26th. I pray each day that God will guide my paperwork through to a quick approval. My surgeon is running out of slots for this year and I am so hopeful to be banded Dec. 16th. How about you? Have you heard yet? Keep me posted!

My fingers are crossed for you! Could you cross them for me as well??? My paperwork was faxed off to Anthem BC this Wednesday and I'm so anxious for approval. Was really hoping to hear from someone today as I've read so many posts for people who were approved the next day! I'm praying for a Dec 16th surgery date. Good luck to us both!!!:cool:

Just my two cents...not on the pros/cons of drinking coffee, but how to wean yourself off it. I've been a heavy coffee drinker for more years than I care to count. One of the goals I set up with the dietician was to wean myself off coffee. I found this tip to be very helpful for me. When I started in my attempt to cut it down (out), I was drinking out of a VERY large latte cup. The first week I filled it 3/4 instead of all the way. The second week I switched to a normal sized (much smaller) cup and filled it. The next week I filled that smaller cup only 3/4. By the 4th week I was quite happy with half a cup and even skipped it altogether for 2 days. This week I will continue with this amount and since I'm pre-op will likely switch to decaf next week and try it until my surgery. It's been a slow progression, but I am happy to say that I have not had one headache (knock wood) and I've lost that "gotta have a cup of coffee" feeling that I used to wake with each morning. Best of luck to you!

Hi Delores, Are you going to Valley Care in Pleasanton? I'm going to have my surgery there with Dr. Lee. So far, the process has gone very smoothly and they really make if as easy on the patient as possible. You can schedule all your appointments in one day and can even do your ed classes over the phone. I'm a couple of days away from submitting to my insurance for approval and hopefully that will be smooth sailing as well. Love to hear from you! Emily

I think your hubby had it right...WOW is definitely the word to describe you and your journey. Thank you for sharing your experience. You're quite an inspiration. I hope you will update soon...would love to see how you are doing!!!

Hi Vera, I want to preface by saying that I am not banded, but am in the process of getting my insurance approval to be. I struggled with most of the questions you referenced, and since I have no background I'm not even going to attempt to answer any of them. I just want to urge you to visit the Frequently Asked Questions are of this website, as you will get much information from there. Read, read, read, and then read some more. There's lots of good stuff! Best of luck to you!

Unfortunately, there are several states in which an unqualified person can vote. I live in California and I know this to unfortunately be true with our state. You don't have to show any kind of ID when you vote, so our state is ripe for fraud. Isn't it interesting though that we haven't gone for a Republican presidential candidate since Reagan? Where are all those nasty vote suppressing, disenfranchising Republicans anyway?

I am not basing my opinion on what I want to hear. I base it upon educating myself about both sides and weighing the information as objectively as possible. I would be willing to listen to the claims of Republicans "disenfranchising" Democratic voters. I want a fair election. One qualified voter with one vote. It is my belief that neither side is playing 100% by the rules. Those who refuse to acknowledge any wrong doing by ACORN have no credibility in my book. ACORN's unscrupulous efforts are well-known and well-documented. A failure to even consider the evidence that keeps piling up against them speaks volumes.

Yes...it's a good thing Americans can trust their unbiased and balanced media to present both sides of the voter fraud/suppression issue!

I don't know about anyone else, but I'll make you a deal. I'll read up on your claims if you promise to do a little honest research into ACORN. Anyone who doesn't educate themselves about ACORN and the way they have consciously tried to fix this election (and other), simply refuses to see the truth.

My dear Gadget...I can hear the opposition rattling as I type! The slamming will soon begin. "Of course...she's quoting a FOX report! Those blasted Republicans always fall back on FOX!" So before that goes too far, let me commend you for your balanced reporting...to get AP to speak even remotely favorably of the McCain/Palin ticket is quite telling and I think you're right...it's going to be closer than a lot of the polls are making it out to be.

Wow! It happens that fast????? Oh my is right! Congratulations...we'll all be rooting for you!

Just saw you replied! I live in Alameda County, so we're neighbors of sorts. What doctor does your mom have? I've got Dr. Lee and so far he's really great. It's a very thorough program...I think your mom's in a good place. Good luck to you both! I'll look forward to hearing about your progress!

It's not that you have an opposing opinion, its that you IMPOSE your opposing opinion. Most people are willing to listen to both sides (myself included), but you just keep on regurgitating the same hate-speak so often that it's hard to give any credit to what you post. IMHO...you're so radical in your posts that you actually de-value what your side stands for.

I haven't been here long, so I'm wondering if (s)he just rambles on like this all the time and I should learn to ignore him/her.

Yeah...but only if you have more than one and he doesn't have any!

I don't know....do you think it's safe for her to be driving in her condition?

What the heck do they put in that purified drinking water?

If you think you're going to convince anyone that your opinion is valid, you might start by losing some of the one-sided, anti-Republican rhetoric. Like Obama, it's coming across as "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."

Hello kettle...this is pot. You're black.

Since you asked... What he tried do? Well, for years he tried to get people to believe that Fannie & Freddie were "not facing any kind of financial crisis." And what he was eventually able to do? He got his boyfriend a really cush job at Fannie and pocketed over $40,000 in campaign contributions from them as well.