MissMe27

Well I know right now because I just got the news I might be over reacting but I'm heart broken. I had my surgery on June 5th. My insurance covered everything! I didn't pay a dime. I had a couple fills last year and then my husband's employer changed to United HealthCare Choice Plus and I had to find a new doctor that was "in-network". So I thought I found one, I had my fill scheduled for today (I SOOO NEED IT) and I just got a call that our new insurance doesn't cover bariatric at all. So in order to get my fill there I would need to pay $250. Now I know that there has to be places that are cheaper. Can anyone suggest some in my area? I live in Chicago but can drive to the suburbs if need be. I'm just worried now, God forbid, something went wrong in the future then what? :wink: So sad. Thanks.

Hi all, I had my surgery on June 5th.... so about 9 months ago... I had my last fill 2 weeks ago and have had great restriction... all was well. I think I might be getting some sord of stomach bug... because I've been making constant trips to the bathroom and I'm very nauseous since late last night. I was gagging and throwing up a lot (no food just clear stuff :w00t:). This is not related to me having a big meal or not chewing right ... its just from the bug. I've been better for about 4 hours but I just drank some water and I feel a bit of "pain" when it goes down. I can't even say its pain but its just different. I guess I'm just really worried I might have damaged, slipped my band with all the gagging and throwing up.

Foxxy: I will def., look into the support group... you know I always wanted to be part of one but I don't think my old doctor's office had them or atleast they never told me about them. How cool.

ValJean & Abbypoo Thank you BOTH so much for your recommendations. I have an appointment for Monday with Synchrony Health Chicago... I hope it works out. I've heard A LOT of good things about them so here's hoping I agree. :cursing: And thanks for the support... I too didn't understand where the aggressive comment came from but that's OK I know from past experience in this forum that pretty much everyone here is super nice and helpful. I still come back and love everyone here. How's the LapBand working out for you guys? I'm about 5 lbs shy from hitting 60lbs... I was banded in June/2009 so I'm SUPER excited.

Thank you so much all! I appreciate your support and advice. This forum is the best.

That's a great idea, I'm going to email my surgeon right now. I appreciate that.

Hm, I guess I'll be careful with my forum "yelling" from now on. Sorry about that. :eek: I guess I'm the only fat person on here. :wink:

Wow, so aggresive, you'd almost think I was asking YOU to pay it for me. Listen I wish you the very best in life. Good luck with it all. I still don't see how this affected you enough to go off like that but hey, to each their own. jacelynn: thanks hun, I had to re-read my post just to make sure I didn't in fact ask for sympathy somewhere. LOL. Take care! And hopefully someone who isn't offended by my post will continue to share their opinions.

Wow, I guess working extra hours to pay the mortgage and child's tuition isn't enough sacrifice. We sacrifice SO MUCH just to pay our necessities right now, please don't sit there and judge me assuming that I wouldn't sacrifice even MORE if I could. Not everyone has the same income, bills, children, tuitions, family members with other health related costs, etc. I get what you are saying... you have no idea how much I prayed that my insurance covered my surgery. I praised God so much when it finally happened. I'm simply, due to MY OWN financial situation, trying to find thru fellow LapBanders, local referrals. Have a great day.

IF, my economic situation was diff., I would not be here trying to find a cheaper place to go. $250 is just NOT an option for me or my family at this point. Thanks anyway.

It has to be the employer... because I know that the new doctor I was suppose to see today is "in-network" for them so it must be something the employer asked to have removed from their policy. Please if anyone can refer me to a place I can get a fill for cheaper I'd really appreciate it. And to think I was upset about having to now pay a $40 specialist copay for fills now... :wink:. Times are just hard.

Hello, I've read in several forums that Biotin is a good supplement to take for hair loss. I haven't lost hair yet but I know from previouse diets I've done that I will probably start losing my hair... :wink2: Anyway, I've checked at local GNC's and drugstores and have not been able to find any chewable Biotin. Has anyone found chewable Biotin online? If so please let me know where and what brand is it. I found a couple but I'd really like to try a brand that somebody else has used because the ones I did find I'm not sure if they are safe. I read somewhere that well known brands are safer because they are regulated. Thanks!

Hello, I was just banded on Friday June 5th and I've been having a sip of V8, a sip of atkins shake here and there but I get full so easily. I feel fine, I'm not hungry, tired, dizzy but I know I should try and get a certain # of Proteins in every day. I am taking 2 chewable Flinstone's every day and Tums for Calcium... but other than that... any suggestion on what I should do these first days? I don't get to see my surgeon again until June 17. :grouphug:

Can anyone relate to this? I had my surgery on June 5th. I felt fine a couple of days later and couldn't stop talking about how little pain I had. Then on the 5th day after surgery I started getting this pain around my belly button. I mean I'm not crying over this pain but its definetly there. I've had it for 3 days now. It's kind of like a burning pain. I keep telling myself it might be gas? Can gas make my belly button hurt/burn? I only don't feel it when I sit still on my recliner or when I'm laying down. Thanks so much. I'm worried it could be something I did to myself because like I said for the first 5 days I didn't feel any pain.

Anyone? :bored:

wow all of these sound good, I can't wait to try them in a few weeks. :grouphug:

I am! I'll be banded in Chicago at Rush. Anyone else had to do some kind of liquid diet, how are those going? I've only lost about 7lbs. We should come back here on Monday and see how we feel, etc. :confused:

great! I'm on my way!

I must just be getting nervouse. Mainly, I'm a bit concerned about my congestion. I have been congested for about 4 or 5 days now. But that's it, I don't have any other aches, pains or anything else. No coughing nor sneezing. I believe its allergies but since the congestion is not too bad I haven't taken anything since I don't want to take a medicine that might put me in danger. Other than that I'm just scared about the procedure. I've done all the research, I know I want to do this... it's just so close now... that I'm nervouse. Also, I've been on a liquid diet (need to do it for 2 weeks total) and I've only lost 7 lbs, shouldn't I have lost more by now? I had a salad about 3 days ago because I was feeling really really weak. But it was just lettuce and a little bit of turkey no dressing or bread. My surgery will be on Friday June 5th. YIKES! :party:

Michelle: Good luck with your surgery on Friday. I pray we all come out of this in perfect condition. I didn't think about the stress-eater possibility. I've been so stressed lately. UGH! Then someone else I know doing this has lost 20 lbs doing her pre-op diet and I've only lost 7 so that made me feel like what if I'm not doing all I should. :frown: Anyway, all the replies have made me feel so much better. Thanks all!

Hello I live in Chicago and I am having Lap Band surgery on June 5 (3 days YAY!) I am 299 lbs (was 310) and my insurance (BCBS-IL HMO) approved my surgery. At work we have short-term dissability which in the 8 years I've been here have never ever used. My HR person thought that I would be able to use it for after the surgery because I only have 2 sick days left. Well they just called me back and said that if this is an elective surgery that they will not approve my leave. I wasn't sure what to answer, I mean I asked my primary care doctor about it, I brought it up, but he immediately said he thought this would be the best way for me to lose the weight I've battled with for so many years before I develop other medical conditions. If my health insurance is approving this should my short term insurance also approve it? I know that in a few days I will probably be able to be back at work but because I only have 2 days left I'm worried I wont feel good enough after only a couple days worth of rest. It makes me sick to think that so many people here have taken leave for "mental health" reasons but this will not get approved? (I only say that because I KNOW some of those "mental health" cases were a bunch of baloney). Any advice?

I will be looking forward to those...

Thanks for your answer, that makes me feel a lot better. I would not ever think about not having the surgery... I guess it's just me being so scared about procedures, you should see me cry every time I have a shot at the dentist. I shake and every thing. LOL! Thank you so much.

Hello! I've been here a few times... I started meeting with a surgeon for the Lap Band back in October/2008 and due to insurance issues had to switch doctors in January... well at last I have a date. I'll be having my surgery on June 5... so in less than one month. YAY!!!!! I'm pretty much ready... I want this so bad. The only thing I'm a little sad about is that a week after my surgery my little girl (3) has a recital and I'm worried I won't be able to go. Do you guys think I'll be able to sit thru a 2 hour recital a week after the surgery?? :thumbup: I'm sure my mom can help her get on the stage and stuff so I won't be doing anything physical.

Thanks ladies...I called the insurance and they said its not up to them, that the negotiations the surgeon was talking about are between him and the medical group (my hospital... I have an HMO)... so fine. I called the medical group and they have no idea how long these negotiations will take so the suggested I call my PCP and have him refer me to another sugeon. What a pain in the butt. But I'm totally on it. I'm waiting to hear back from my doctor's office.