TracyinKS

MustangElf: I empathize with your situation, but truly look at the silver lining. You have lost 22 lbs and kept it off... isn't that better than gaining 22+ ? For me I look forward to being satisfied after a few bites.... I PRAY for it, but that is me, and I've been doing a lot of internal "work" because I also know that I will be breaking up with my best friend.. food.... I've also been working on the small bites and chew, chew, chewing.. I eat way to fast and that is going to be a BIG habbit to break. Everyone is different, everyone has different expectations so I can NOT speak for what yours were pre-banding. I would suggest you call your company EAP (Employee Assistance Plan) and talk to someone about your eating issues.... (ours offers 6 free sessions to employees and their families, per issue) its confidential and FREE. What ever you decide know that I wish you luck on your continued journey. :rose:

Thanks everyone! I will keep posting my updates.. hopefully it will help someone. :rose: (mainly it helps my sanity to put it down)

Mine was required by my INSURANCE company, not the surgeon, so I had to find one on my own.. ended up going down the provider list until I found one that only required ONE visit.. (some wanted a minimum of 3) I paid $200 out of pocket (but used my FSA card for reimbursement)

Thanks Mew....... I don't know what the 1/10/2007 is about... the only think I can come up with is the 10th is the date my surgeons office FIRST called them to see if they indeed did cover it AND found out what the requirements were for approval. (That's the day I found out I had to do a psych and nutrition eval)

WHAT?! NO COFFEE THE HORROR!!.... (the havoc it would cause for my loved ones and co-workers):heh: Luckily my doc allows it

Just for grins, I logged on to my Insurance Member website to see if they had added any info about my approval.. and low and behold IT WAS THERE... all in black and white, but do you see the typo???? Its also there in black and white...... hint.. Authorization Period.. 12/31/2007 to 01/01/2008..... YEAH RIGHT! (THIS IS WHY.. I'm a HUGE proponent of employees logging IN to their insurance websites) Better to be PRO-Active rather than RE-Active! Here is the information about the entry you chose: Authorization Number: 07xxxxxxxxxxx2 Authorization Status: APPROVED Authorization Period: 12/31/2007 to 01/01/2008 Rendering Provider: MENORAH MEDICAL CENTER Service Location: INPATIENT HOSPITAL Facility: MENORAH MEDICAL CENTER Days: 001 Authorization Status: APPROVED Authorization Period: 01/10/2007 to 01/10/2007 Rendering Provider: YOUR PROVIDER Service Location: INPATIENT HOSPITAL Service: 43770 LAPAROSCOPY, SURGICAL, GASTRIC RESTRICTI Units: 001

Mine was $160.00 and I used my Flex Spending Account to pay for it. (and it was required by my insurance)

BILL! That really stinks!

Put an update in my BCBS SC thread.... I found a TYPO on on my online authorization!!!!!!!!!!! says my authorization period is from 12/31/2007 to 01/01/2008 GRRRRRRRRRRRRR... I have sent emails to my contact to fix this......ASAP

First I was extremely HAPPY because they have my approval.... all set.. then guess what I found an ERROR.. a typo... look at the authorization period..... uhhhhhhh... duhhh..... 12/31/2007?? So I have emailed my bcbs sc, contact and asked them to FIX the typo ASAP! Last thing I need is a typo holding me up! (THIS IS WHY.. I'm a HUGE proponent of employees logging IN to their insurance websites) Better to be PRO-Active rather than RE-Active! Here is the information about the entry you chose: Authorization Number: 07xxxxxxxxxxx2 Authorization Status: APPROVED Authorization Period: 12/31/2007 to 01/01/2008 Rendering Provider: MENORAH MEDICAL CENTER Service Location: INPATIENT HOSPITAL Facility: MENORAH MEDICAL CENTER Days: 001 Authorization Status: APPROVED Authorization Period: 01/10/2007 to 01/10/2007 Rendering Provider: YOUR PROVIDER Service Location: INPATIENT HOSPITAL Service: 43770 LAPAROSCOPY, SURGICAL, GASTRIC RESTRICTI Units: 001

Melissa: CHOCOLaTE FISH! OMG just typing it makes me want to hurl! LOL MORE POWER TO YOU!

Woooooohoooooooooooooo!!!!! congrats!

Good Morning Everyone! Here is a GOOD LUCK and Happy Banding Wish for our very first FEBRUARY BANDERS! b_Russell - 02/01 CadillacDave - 02/01

Wooooooooooooohooooooooooooooo!!!!! Congrats! I got my approval yesterday, so we can do the happy band dance together!

HELLLLLLLLLLLO FELLOW CHIEFS FAN! I'm from North of the River in KC... This place is awesome... I am proud and happy to say that I just got my approval TODAY and now I'm off to review the PRE and POST op checklist like gas-x strips, heating pad, and liquid adult tylenol

I was not talking about your employer I was talking about the particular BCBS COMPANY you are talking too.

Yes I live in Kansas City, but our corporation has locations in multiple states, and our insurance benefits are administered in South Carolina.. The BLUES (as bcbs people call them) are all different companies and BCBS of KC works with BCBS of SC for benefit coordination. So even our people in Colorado or Montana all have their benefits administered out of Columbia South Carolina..... After reading all your posts I really think you have a bassackwards company to deal with. and in not so polite terms I think you are screwed, and you are smart to self pay... Good Luck

WELCOME!!!!!!!!! congrats on your band.. and congrats on your mushies!

APPROVED TODAY by BCBS South Carolina! Documentation including psych and nutrition evals were faxed Friday morning, and my doc got the approval call today. Waiting on the scheduler from the surgeons office to call with a date, and yes in my company's medical SPD BOTH the bypass and gastric banding are spelled out as approved, and yes it had to be medically necessary.... meaning a BMI over 40, or 35 with 2 comorbitites. I qualify with a BMI over 40, and have NO serious comorbitities... The doc has to submit your BMI (to qualify for medically necessary) and yes BCBS will pay for it, because my docs office called them after my consultation and specifically asked them if they covered it and what was required for determination. YIPPPPPPEEEEEEEE FOR ME!

THANKS MEW! (oh and if I had to go self pay I'd hop a quick flight to Denver and go with www.lapbandrockies.com ) under 10K... and all your consults are done over the phone... check out the Dr. K thread....GOOD LUCK with the insurance route though, and keep us posted!

Mommy202: I hope you hear from your doc soon! I got GREAT NEWS TODAY.. BCBS has approved me, now I just have to wait for scheduling to call me!!!!!!!!! This is becoming a reality.. HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON!

Wow I'm missed a lot of great posts today... I'm home with my little guy who is sick, and he finally got down for a nap........ I posted my good news on my 1st consult thread and the insurance thread.. but I'm so dang excited I'm going to post it here too!!!!!!!!! I'm APPROVED, now just for the date...... but it is a reality now....... Hello Tracy, Good News, BCBS has approved you for the procedure and a letter is on its way. So Congratulations!!!!!! As far as scheduling you for surgery, we have to have the approval letter in hand before scheduling. Allow at least one week for us to get this letter. They just called me today regarding the approval so that usually means the letter will go out today or the next couple days. Once we receive the letter, Nikki will call you to schedule. FYI: We are getting overwhelmed with approvals right now and Nikki schedules surgeries in the order she receives the approval letters ( to be fair ), so it may take her a couple days after receiving the letter to call you and there may be a wait on surgery. I know we had talked about this before, but I’m just letting all of my patients with approvals know the situation. Congratulations!!! Rachel

My little guy is home from school sick and so I'm on momma time today... I decided to check my work email and loooooook at what was waiting for me! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY! Hello Tracy, Good News, BCBS has approved you for the procedure and a letter is on its way. So Congratulations!!!!!! As far as scheduling you for surgery, we have to have the approval letter in hand before scheduling. Allow at least one week for us to get this letter. They just called me today regarding the approval so that usually means the letter will go out today or the next couple days. Once we receive the letter, Nikki will call you to schedule. FYI: We are getting overwhelmed with approvals right now and Nikki schedules surgeries in the order she receives the approval letters ( to be fair ), so it may take her a couple days after receiving the letter to call you and there may be a wait on surgery. I know we had talked about this before, but I’m just letting all of my patients with approvals know the situation. Congratulations!!! Rachel

I'm home with my little guy today and I decided to check my work email while he is down for a nap.. and LOOKEEE AT WHAT WAS WAITING FOR ME! Hello Tracy, Good News, BCBS has approved you for the procedure and a letter is on its way. So Congratulations!!!!!! As far as scheduling you for surgery, we have to have the approval letter in hand before scheduling. Allow at least one week for us to get this letter. They just called me today regarding the approval so that usually means the letter will go out today or the next couple days. Once we receive the letter, Nikki will call you to schedule. FYI: We are getting overwhelmed with approvals right now and Nikki schedules surgeries in the order she receives the approval letters ( to be fair ), so it may take her a couple days after receiving the letter to call you and there may be a wait on surgery. I know we had talked about this before, but I’m just letting all of my patients with approvals know the situation. Congratulations!!! Rachel IF I COULD DANCE A LICK>>>> I WOULD BE "BUSTIN A MOVE" RIGHT NOW!!!!

Welcome! You might wander over to the State link and look under OHIO. Good luck on your journey... I would say the first thing is you need to find out if you have to do a 6 month supervised diet.. because if you do.. START NOW.