sweetbean70

OMG!!! I have thought for years that I am some sort of freak b/c i have male-patterned facial and body hair and couldn't lose weight no matter what I tried. I didn't realize that my now-becoming-irregular periods are also a symptom of PCOS due to chronic weight gain. I am crying like a baby while sitting here typing this message b/c I have been so down on myself for so long and so very frustrated at all the medical personnel who just perscribed a cream for the facial hair and told me to just "lose weight." I am going to a new dr. on April 14 to discuss my PCOS concerns. I WILL NOT SIT BY ANY LONGER FEELING LIKE A SUB-HUMAN b/c of my size and excess hair. Thank you so very much for making me feel not so alone:)

Hi Kim! I live in Newark, OH (about 1 hour east of Columbus). I have not had my surgery yet. I am going for my orientation meeting at Mt Carmel West on April 8 and have a PCP appt on the 14th for bloodwork. I am a self-pay, so I should hopefully get all my ducks in a row quickly and have my procedure by the beginning of this summer. :confused: That is unless I have to have more testing than what I thought I would need. My mother is also having the lap band surgery, but her procedure is being paid by Medicare. We are hopeing to be able to have the surgery at the same time. Good luck w/ your recovery and I hope we can stay in touch.

Hi Coley! I'm also just beginning my weightloss journey and live in Ohio. My mother and I are getting lap bands together. Her dr. recommended Dr. Price at Mt Carmel West in Columbus. We are going to an orientation meeting there on April 8th. Is your insurance covering the cost of your procedure or are you a self-pay like I am? I have found that this forum has been VERY helpful:) Good luck and lets stay in contact.

Hi Stephanie. Plz don't feel like you are weak and/or a failure for seeking counseling about your feelings. The lifestyle change that comes from having the band is stressful enough let alone having to deal w/ unfeeling relatives. You could very well have a chemical imbalance that is contributing to your feelings. As for the loss of your grandmother, let her memory be your guiding light. It may sound silly, but I lost my grandmother whom I loved w/ all my heart. When I have a success, I swear I can hear my grandma cheering me on in my head. When I have a setback, I hear her telling me that she is proud of me and that I shouldn't give up on myself. Let he memory of your grandma be your Guardian Angel. Good luck!

Well... I just got off the phone w/ my insurance company (UHC). Of course, the policy that my employer bought does NOT cover any sort of weightloss procedures/plans (surgical and non-surgical). The Customer Care Rep told me to write an appeal letter and that I would have an answer from UHC within 30 days of them receiving my letter. Has anyone else had to write an appeal letter to UHC? If so, what was their decision for you? What type of info did you include in your appeal letter? Did you have your dr. write an appeal letter as well? THANKS!

THANKS!!! I appreciate the advice:)

Hi! I was just wondering if you did have Dr. Choban do your surgery? I am going to have the lap band procedure done and Dr. Choban at Mt Carmel West was recommended to me. How was your experience? Cost? Thanks!

Hello. I am just starting my lap band journey. My mother and I are doing this together and her doctor recommended Mt Carmel West. Did you have your procedure done there? Who was your surgeon? What was the cost? How was your experience? Thanks! :wink:

Hi Thinner! I live in Newark. I am just starting the lap band process and would love to hear about your journey:)

Hello. I'm just beginning this whole process (again). I looked into getting the lap band almost 3 years ago, but gave up after finding out that my insurance (UHC) has a WLS exclusion policy. Now, my mother and I have decided to do this together and I will be going the self-pay route. I would love to hear from anyone who had the procedure done in the Columbus, OH area, particularly at Mt Carmel West. WHERE?/WHO?/COST? :wink:

I'M SOOO EXCITED!! My mother and I have decided to get banded as a partnership. We both need to lose over 100lbs each. She had a kidney transplant in 2004 and is having trouble w/ sleep apnea and her legs due to her weight. I'm just starting to have health problems conncted w/ my weight (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, arthritis). I also have kidney disease, but I am not having the complications that my mother had that required her to have a transplant. Her doctor suggested that she have the procedure done at Mt Carmel West because there is a doctor there that does the lap band procedure w/ only 1 incision. My mother is 65. Her surgery will be paid for by Medicare. My insurance policy (United HealthCare) does not cover weightloss surgery. I will be paying for the procedure out of my own pocket. HAS ANYONE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS PROCEDURE OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET? GOT ANY TIPS FOR ME?:biggrin: