spoiltmom

When I started I was scared and nervous. I wondered if I was making the right decision and what my husband and family members would think. Now that I've really started researching and getting all the paperwork started I'm really not nervous anymore. I'm excited and I want the band now more than I ever have! I absolutely can't wait to get the surgery done. Now if my insurance would just hurry up and approve me.

He said it was because when a Bi Polar goes Manic they usually get non compliant and eat things they shouldn't which in turn messes with the band.

Are his notes hand written or are they electronic? If they are electronic that happens all the time and he can easily go back and fix it.

As of today they still show that they haven't even received the info yet:( Once they get it she said they can take 30 days to decide.

I passed it with flying colors. The psych doctor said he will write me a great letter to send in to my insurance company. He definitely thinks that I'm a great candidate for Lap Band and he's happy that I've made the decision to get it:) I was also supposed to have my dietary consult but here's what happened: My surgeon only uses one specific hospital. That hospital called ME and scheduled the appointemnt. They called yesterday to remind me of the appointment then called again at 9:30 this morning to say that my insurance won't cover it. She said If I pay up front they would do it for $125. I said fine. She said okay your appointment is at 11 so be here by 10:30. I got there at 10:30 they filled out my papers and took my money then sent me to the lobby to wait. At 11:15..YES 45 minutes later....they informed me that they had made a mistake and there wasn't a dietician in the hospital today so I would have to reschedule. I was so mad. I thought it was very unprofessional of them to make me pay upfront and not even check to see if the lady was there first. I demanded a refund. I told them I would repay them when I actually get to see a dietician:( The psych doctor said the main point of the psych exam is just to weed out the Bi Polar patients. Depression is fine and anxiety is fine as long as you aren't Bi polar.

You should definitely get another opinion. My friend's mom got the band at 400 pounds. She's now 160 and looks great.

I guess what's making me so nervous is I'm sort of borderline on their requirements. They require your BMI to be between 35-39 with 1 comorbidity. I have hypertension and sleep apnea but the catch is....they want the hypertension to be UNCONTROLLED and the apnea to be severe. My Hypertension is controlled with meds and my apnea is mild to moderate. SO I'm in a gray area I guess. Just hoping they take mercy on me.

I think that it would reduce your supply since you won't be able to eat as much. I may be wrong but if you want the band it might be best to wean him. I'd ask your pediatrician.

They should flat out tell you why right? Also if I am denied can I request that my insurance provide me with a copy of what was sent in for them to review? I'm waiting to see if I'm approved but I don't trust the insurance lady at my doc's office. I'm not even sure what she sent them b/c she told me she was still waiting on my medical records from my other physicians to prove my Hypertension, sleep Apnea and knee issues. I have co morbidities but they are not as SEVERE as my insurance requires so I'm sort of on the line as to rather or not they will approve me. If I weighed 20 lbs more they would approve me no questions asked. Thanks!

My BMI is 37.5 but my insurance will cover it at a BMI of 35 with one co morbidity. I have hypertension and sleep apnea so we're hoping I'll be covered with no problem.

I hope we all get approved!! The waiting is so, so stressful to me but I'm hoping and praying for approval for us all.

wow! I used to take a 1/4th of a Klonopin and it knocked me out all night. I'd be out for days with that combo. Did the tech tell you anything at the study? Normally if you have apnea the tech will tell you and they will put a Cpap or Bi Pap machine on you and complete the testing.

Well hopefully we'll all get approved! I'm hoping since my UHC doesn't have many requirements the approval process is easier and quicker. I need this so badly. good luck ladies!!!

No they won't help you they will reschedule you instead. You really need to be able to go to sleep on your own for a true result. Good Luck to you!

My friends mom was 400 pounds and she got the band. She's had it for about 2 years now and she's now at 170. She looks like a totally different person and she feels 100% better.

This is such a great encouraging post! Thanks so much!

I was worried and very emotional when I first considered Lap Band but like you it will help me regain my life and health and it's truly not the easy way out. It's not that simple. But I do think for me this is the best option. My family are supportive but my friends I haven't told yet.

I haven't been approved yet either so I could be wrong but I was told that it's fine if you have depression b/c the majority of overweight people do have depression. I have depression and my surgeon and family doc both say it's fine I should still pass the eval.

I'm waiting to see if my insurance company United Health Care will approve me and every time I think about it my stomach just turns. I'm so, so nervous and afraid they will say no. Even if they say no the first time I think I could get them to approve it on appeal but I really want a no hassles quick approval. My UHC doesn't have many requirements so I'm hoping I'll slide right through with my high blood pressure and sleep apnea. How in the world do you get through this part? It's absolutely nerve wracking to me.

Thanks ladies! I'm hoping I don't get denied b/c the insurance lady at my surgeon's office said she doesn't do appeals. So I would definitely have to do the appeal myself. I'm just nervous right now!

I have moderate sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome. I didn't fit the typical profile. I was dxed at age 24. I started having high blood pressure and fatigue at age 21. I was 190 lbs and I was told by my family doc that at that age there had to be a reason for my high blood pressure. He kept me on meds and did all sorts of tests. He even sent me to several specialists and then gave up and said I was healthy I just had hypertension. Then I went to work for a family doc. I kept complaining to his physician assistant about my blood pressure and how tired I was and he was like well you have sleep apnea. I said no way but he made me go for a sleep study and I tested positive. Come to find out uncontrolled sleep apnea causes high blood pressure. So yes it's possible you can have it and not know. I was told that if I get banded that my apnea should go away after I lose the weight. good luck on the sleep study!

the insurance lady at my surgeon's office said I should know by the end of next week if my insurance will approve and pay for the Lap Band. Keep your fingers crossed for me please. I can't afford to pay cash for this at all and the insurance will pay for it 100% if they approve me.

I started out by calling my insurance company to see if it was covered. They said it was and I didn't need a referral so I made an appointment with the surgeon's office at that point. I'd call your insurance first and ask them if it's covered. Good Luck!!

My insurance requires your BMI to be between 35-39.9 AND you must have: sleep Apnea Hypertension Heart problems Diabetes I have sleep apnea and Hypertension. The thing is they specify that your hypertension has to be UNCONTROLLED and your sleep apnea must be severe. My Hypertension is controlled with meds and my sleep apnea is moderate. So if they don't approve me at my current BMI of 37 with my comorbidities then can I just gain 20 lbs to get me at a BMI of 40? If your BMI is 40 you don't have to have any comorbidities and they will cover it no problem. I'm hoping that I'm overthinking all this and they will just approve me the first time. I so need this and I cannot afford to pay cash for it.

Okay I called my insurance company AGAIN and my dh's HR dept and what it all boiled down to was THE FREAKING LADY NEVER CALLED THEM!! That's right the insurance company pulled up all my notes and said that the only time she called them was today and she's never called them before that. So the lady called me back 20 minutes ago and said OK I talked with your insurance and they don't require the diet after all so I'm submitting this and hopefully you'll be approved by next week. I'm so aggravated with her. I knew she couldn't have called them b/c they wouldn't tell me one thing and tell her something else. Now I just HOPE they approve me. She said if they approve me right away then I can be banded by mid August at the latest. Cross your fingers for me guys!