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Hi Patti Sue,

I'm doing OK, thank you. I've lost 30.8 lbs since surgery and 13 pre-op for a total of 43.8. You are going to love Dr Aceves and his staff...all are very attentive to you! I am still corresponding with Dr Aceves thru his office nurse, Gaby. I'm still dealing with trying to eat very slowly and chew my food till it's practically liquid but it's...

Sent you a friend request. I see you are also a Dr Aceves patient. I had my surgery with him on 1/06/2011. Priscilla

Hi...me again. Saw the Cardiologist today to get results of the 30 day monitor I wore. Says I have extra heartbeats at night which can be caused by sleep apnea so now I have to have another sleep study (last one was 3 yrs ago). My pulse rate runs 100+ so he changed my HP medication which is supposed to help both problems. He asked me when I'm having the surgery and I told him I'm having 2nd thoughts. How are you doing Katie? Are you still glad you had it done? Please let me know...I just can't seem to decide. Priscilla

Hi Katie, sorry it's been so long! Haven't been on for quite awhile...meant to answer much sooner than this. So how is the solid food going? Still hungry waiting for your 1st fill next week? Congrats on your 27lb loss...that is so awesome. Haven't gone to anymore support groups...still a little difficult to drive all that way (still in a splint). I heard from Verizon...they decided to keep benefit the same...min. of 40 BMI so I still don't qualify. VZ advocate told me to go ahead and file a grievance against Anthem due to the fact that Anthem gave me incorrect information and if they still deny, then I should appeal it. I'll write that up this weekend and send it to Jayne who will then send it to "LapBand Reimbursement." Their lawyer will get involved and file it since they were given incorrect info also. Jayne calls it "LapBand Reimbursement" so I think they also verify that the patient is eligible and then reimburse SWLS when they put the LapBand in for that patient. Priscilla

Hi Katie,

How are you these days? You must be on solid food now! Are you still glad you had it done? I'm getting ready to file my appeal (have to write my story) on the advice of my Verizon advocate. She said Verizon and Anthem are supposedly talking with one another as to what benefit policy to finally adopt for Lapband and bariatric surgery. She has no idea when that will final be decided so she said I should just go ahead even if I get the lawyer for Lapband involved. My Echocardiogram came back fine and on my third week with the heart monitor. I have to wear it 30 days so that will be out of the way soon too. I got my cast off and now I have to wear a splint day and night except when I do my OT exercises or to take a shower. I'm going to OT 2x/wk. I haven't lost any weight and need the surgery! Write when you get a chance. Priscilla

PS. Have you gone to a support group meeting yet?

continued from 1st message...

Here is another thing to add to my bad luck lately...I had another hearing test today and I have lost a little more hearing. The audiologist said I will be facing the need for hearing aids within the next 3-5 years! I don't like this aging process at all!

Now looks like it would be at least 6 weeks before I can have the surgery. My Advocate from Verizon called last Thurs and said she does not have any info for me yet but hopes she will this week. I've been waiting for her findings before filing an appeal but if she doesn't come up with something this week, I'm going to have to just go ahead and file it. I can't wait forever!

You probably won't get a chance to write again before the surgery so write again after you get home and feel up to it.

Priscilla

Hi Katie,

I'm sure you'll do just fine but I understand your being nervous. Close your eyes and try to relax and use your "mindseye" to picture how you'll look and feel a year from now and this should bring you joy. This is going to be one of the best things that ever happened in your life! What time do you have to be there?

Went to the cardiologist today. Does not feel that I had a heart attack. My ekg showed the same today as my preop one but he said this kind of abnormal reading is actually very common with normal people so I should not worry at all about it. Have to have an echocardiogram though which would show it. Also have to wear a Holter Monitor for 30 days. Said if I get approved for the LAP-BAND???, then I would need a Nuclear Stress Test before giving me clearance.

continued on 2nd message...

Hi Katie,

Anthem denied me again today. Said that even though I was given incorrect info, was my responsibility to know my benefits. Told me it was on the Verizon website...NOT! VZ confirmed it was not on there either. Explained to VZ all the steps I took, they agreed I did the right thing. So my VZ advocate is still working my case. Hopefully I'll get an update on Mon. Called Jayne so she could put everything on hold. We'll probably have Allergan and their atty file the grievance next week. Lady who called me with the bad news told me I should definitely file a grievance which seems strange since I'm told it was my responsibility to contact VZ in the first place to get them to verify my benefits. When I asked what's the point...she just said I should do it. Wondering if she knows something that I don't know...like maybe someone different would be doing the review this time. It's not looking good for me to be a May bandster with you Katie after all.

Priscilla

Hi Katie,

I have another update dated today on my Bandster.

Priscilla