sweetbean70

Hi! I am planning on having Dr. Curry @ JourneyLite (Cincinnati, OH) do my lap band procedure in June. I am having to pay for the procedure out of my own pocket and felt that JourneyLite's price, pre-op, and post-op care was the best total package. I will be traveling about 2.5 hours for the surgery. I am soooo pleased that Dr. Curry is opening a satellite office in Columbus, OH for I will be able to get my fills done there instead of having to drive to Cincy once a month. I have been in contact w/ the JourneyLite staff, including Dr. Curry. I ask a question on their website and within 24 hours I have a reply. I am going to the free seminar on May 7th (Columbus) and have my surgeon consult/dietician mtg/psych eval in Cincy on May 27th. I asked if it would be possible for me to have my surgery during the week of June 8th b/c I have that week off between school and summer school. Dr. Curry and his staff are trying their best to accommodate my schedule. :laugh:

Hello! I need to lose 15lbs between now and May 27th. I go to have my pre-op surgeon consult, dietician mtg, and psych eval at JourneyLite in Cincinnati, OH on the 27th and my surgeon wants me to lose this weight. I have done lots of reading about protein powders. During my research, I have read that MYOCEL powder is recommended to shrink my liver and to help me lose weight. I was just wondering if onyone on this site has used MYOCEL.

Finally! People who share my "love" of GRAMMAR BEEFS! Another peeve of mine are public signs that are misspelled. By the way, I had to fill out a questionnaire for a weight loss surgeon and one of the questions was... "How much weight do you want to LOOSE?" I corrected the error when I filled out my questionnaire. I wonder if I will be accepted into that program???

Hello. I am thinking about having Dr. Tace Curry w/ JourneyLite do my surgery. He is located in Cincinnati, but I understand that there are several other JourneyLite locations. The cost for the procedure is $12999 and that includes everything plus 1 year of fills.

Hello! I saw on your post that your surgery was today. I'm very interested in hearing about your experience w/ Dr. Curry and his staff. I live about 45 mins. east of Columbus in Newark. I am going to Dr. Curry's seminar in Columbus on May 7th and have scheduled all of my pre-op meetings/consults for May 14th in Cincy. I have already been to a seminar at Barix, Mt Carmel West, and I am going to a seminar at OSU on April 21st. I am paying for this procedure out of my own pocket. So, even though cost should not be your guiding factor, the procedure costs about $5000-$8000 less w/ Dr. Curry than Mt. Carmel West and OSU. I also like the fact that the total cost of the surgery covers the surgeon, hospital, anesthesia, consults, and post-op fills for 1 year. Looking forward to hearing from you soon and GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR JOURNEY!

Hello. My insurance policy does not cover WLS. It has a specific WLS exclusion stated. I want to know if an exclusion means that the insurance company will never pay for WLS or is there a way to "fight" your insurance company's exclusion policy? Has anyone on here ever been successful in getting an exclusion reversed? If so, HOW?????

Howdy! My name is Kristi and I live in Newark (about 45 minutes east of Columbus). I live w/ my hubby of 12 years, 4 pekingese pups, and 3 cats. My husband and I are both special education teachers. We do not have any children. I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. I was merely overweight during high school b/c I played sports year round. Once I went to college and became less active, the weight really started packing on. When I got married ('96), I weighed 255. Now, 12+ years later, I have ballooned to 325. I have also posted here on the PCOS Bandsters thread. I have been battling w/ PCOS (undiagnosed) since my early teenage years. I finally asked my ob/gyn in 1997 about PCOS after reading an article in Good Housekeeping about it. The dr. told me to use Nair and go on a diet. In 2001, I went to another ob/gyn and asked her about PCOS. She prescribed me a cream and told me that if I lost weight, the "hair problem" wouldn't be so bad. Well, it is now 2009 and I am no longer going to just accept what the dr. says b/c s/he has a medical degree! I am going to a new dr. on April 14 and this time I am loaded w/ info about PCOS. I know which blood tests I need and which meds might need to be prescribed. I WILL NOT LEAVE THAT OFFICE UNTIL I HAVE SOME ANSWERS!!! I have decided on getting a lap band to help me w/ my weight loss. I went to a seminar on April 8 at Mt Carmel West in Columbus. I have filled out my paperwork and will be mailing it back tomorrow. I am also going to attend a seminar at OSU on April 21. I want to get at least 2 perspectives before I commit to a facility/surgeon. I am also going to have to pay for this out of my own pocket. Therefore, I want to compare prices and what each surgery package includes. I am so excited about having this procedure! I am looking forward to chatting w/ E1 from Ohio who has had a bariatric surgery or is on their way to having one.

I just got back from the seminar at Mt Carmel West in Columbus, OH. It lasted over 90 minutes, but it was very informative. There was quite a large group there tonight. I have to fill out and send back a 16 page questionnaire and my insurance info. I should hear from the facility in 2-4 weeks to see if I have been accepted into their bariatric program after they have reviewed my paperwork. If I am accepted, I will then have a 1-1 consult w/ the surgeon (2-4 weeks). If I do not have to have any medical clearances needed, the surgery will be scheduled (4-6 weeks). So if everything goes well, I could have my surgery as early as the middle of June:) I do have to pay a $300 administrative fee and a $200 fee for the nutritionist once I decide to go ahead w/ the program.

Hello. I was reading the threads about insurance & financing when I read one bander's thread and it got me to thinking. Her insurance wouldn't cover WLS, but it would cover her hiatal hernia repair. She discussed this w/ her surgeon and he agreed to put a lap band in place while fixing her hernia for a much reduced fee. I have seen other threads posted on here that talk about having hernias repaired while also having the lap band put in place. Many people (including the surgeons) look at the procedure as WLS w/ the hernia repair "tagging along for the ride." What if it was looked upon as a hernia repair w/ WLS incorporated??? It is worth a shot for us self-payers to see if insurance companies do cover hiatal hernia repairs and then ask the surgeon if s/he would be willing to put a band in place at a reduced cost.

Hello! I'm not banded yet, but hope to be by June '09. I am going to the seminar at Mt Carmel West on April 8. Dr. Price has been highly recommended b/c he does the procedure w/ only 1 incision. I am a self-payer b/c my employer didn't elect to have the WLS policy rider added to our benefits. I know from reading all of the threads on this site that there are many in OH that had to pay for their procedure out of their own pockets. I would love to hear from you if you are one of those poorer (but thinner) souls!

OMG!!! This website and thread have been like a Godsend to me. About 12-13 years ago when the term PCOS first came into play, I went to my OB/GYN (1996) for my annual and asked her about it. She told me that the hair on my upper lip could easily be bleached or removed w/ NAIR and that I just need to go on a diet. I was too embarrassed to tell her about the hair on my chin, neck, cheeks, breasts, arms, and belly. Five years later (2001) and a different OB/GYN, I got the same lecture about my weight and she prescribed Vaniqua for me. Again, too embarrassed to mention all the places of have coarse, black hair. In 2006, I went to a seminar for the lap band. After finding out the procedure wasn't covered by my insurance, I thought my options were exhausted. Well, in Feb. '09, I decided to go to a new PCP. My appt. is on April 14. I have been doing quite a bit of research in the internet about PCOS for the past few months and gee... I have 6 of the main symptoms (weight gain, hirsutism, dark skin patches, skin tags, IR, and irregular periods). I am now going to my dr appt. loaded w/ information about PCOS, which blood tests in need, and the names of meds being currently prescribed for PCOS. I am also going to another lap band seminar on Apr. 8. I am going to pay for the surgery out of my own pocket. I am no longer going to just accept what ever a medical professional has to say just because s/he has a degree. I know my body! And thanks to this thread, I don't feel like such a fat, hairy freak any more! :confused:

Thank you for a most delicious pic of Mr. Stud:)

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!

THANKS!!! I appreciate the advice:)

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!

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:

Hello. I am just starting on my journey to health. My mother and I are both having the lap band surgery. Her dr. recommended she have the procedure done at Mt Carmel West (Cols., OH). She has Medicare and her costs will be covered 100%. I have UHC, but will probably be denied b/c of an WLS exclusion policy. I am going to go the self-pay route. Has anyone else had lap band surgery in the Columbus, OH area? If so, who was your surgeon and what was the cost? THANKS! :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: