shrinkAdink_05/10

The problem is this...I made several calls to our Insurance company to let them know I was having LAP-BAND® surgery and the person said it was covered. Well, I didn't believe them. I figured the person was new, or didn't know what LAP-BAND® surgery was, so I called again a few days later to get a new person and ask the same questions. This person too said, "yes, this surgery is covered" This person was even more helpful giving the link for the pre-surgery requirements all of which I met except for the psych eval. They even gave me the link to print out the form to file with the insurance company since the doc I was using did not file with insurance and wasn't in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. I was self pay in the amt. of $9875. which includes 3 months post op. After that he only charges $25 for fills. During the surgery he did find that I had a hernia and repaired that as well. Now that I have had the surgery, and before I have filed anything with the insurance company I find out that I was required to call in for a pre-auth for surgery. We just switched to Blue Cross from Aetna in January. Aetna didn't require pre-auth's (I had foot surgery and bladder surgery last year and never got a pre-auth, unless the doc did this for me??) So, now I am wondering if anyone has delt with this issue and what the outcome was? Any ideas on how to approach this when I file for reimbursement from the insurance company? I paid with a credit card and while I will be very disappointed if they won't cover anything...it is stll the best thing I have EVER done for myself and I would have still been a self-pay regardless. My primary care physician said he will do whatever it takes to help me get this paid for as he has been treating me for the last 8 years for obesity with nothing but a yoyo effect. If you have any advice on how to approach this at time of filing I would GREATLY appreciate it! (Do you think they would even cover the hernia portion of the surgery??) THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ADVICE!!

I am in Colorado Springs. Dr. Kirshenbaum in Aurora did my surgery. He was the most affordable that I could find for self pay and he has great reviews. ($9875 w/ 3 months post op and only $25 for fills ) I asked someone about the bullets and they said they taste really bad, so I am done wasting money on products that will never be consumed, so I am simply going to consentrate on getting it in other ways. This morning I made and egg w/ skim milk and shredded cheese. I put enough milk in it so that it was about the consistency of pudding when it was done. Sounds gross, but didn't taste bad at all after adding a little garlic salt and pepper. I am drinking skim milk between meals instead of the Protein shake as it has no fat and a good dose of protein. I think I am getting plenty since my hair is still not falling out. I have gone on low fat diets in the past and my hair fell out like crazy, so at least I will have a clue what is happening if I start getting wads of hair in the tub. (Last time this happened I felt bad cause my husband who was balding very young and quickly came out of the shower and had a horrified look on his face and said, "Ang, OMG look at all the hair that fell out just when I was taking a shower!" I laughed SO hard:lol:....I had forgotten to clean out the drain and we have the same color hair) I have been lucky so far with no serious hunger, and have yet to feel starved which I was really scared about before the surgery. I was afraid smelling food would send my belly (and brain) into a frenzy wanting to eat desperately, but that hasn't been the case at all. I enjoy the feeling of smelling good food cooking without the desire to actually eat it. This part has been so far the best part of the lap band for me. I am however starting to feel hunger so I am looking forward to my first fill on June 4th. I made the mistake of watching a YouTube video showing a girl having a fill and now I am scared! Looked pretty horrifying since I HATE needles, lol.:tongue2: I was gonna go by myself, now I am dragging the hubby and the baby along to hold my trembling hand. So, scale has moved yet again but I felt up to a long walk around a lake here in town. We made three laps which is 2-3 miles so I am hoping this helped something somewhere in this body of mine. I think when you get to start the "mushy" stage you will feel much more satisfied. When do you get to have your first fill? That will help too I am sure. Have a good week, keep up the good work!:smile:

SWEET!...After posting no weight loss for the last 9 days, I finally lost another pound. That was a GREAT way to start my day!! It's only a pound, but when I think of it in terms of what a pound of hamburger meat looks like, then that's make me happy. I don't really have a well rounded meal plan yet obviously since i am only 2 weeks out, I am sticking to boring at the moment. I have a pack of oatmeal in the morning, can't eat but about half the pack, I share the other half with my 11 month old daughter. Our appetites are now identical, lol. For lunch I have been having either mashed potatoes or potatoe soup with shredded cheese mixed in to help get some more protein. Dinner has been refried beans with cheese and sour cream. For a snack if I feel I need one i have had apple sauce, pudding, jello, popsicles, skim milk, carnation breakfast drink. I found some diced ham in the sandwich meat isle and plan on mixing that in with mashed up sweet potatoes when I transition into the chewing stage. I also had a smashed up boiled egg a few days ago and it went down well, stayed down and didn't make me feel yucky. I am not doing the protein shakes, just can't...they all taste gross or too thick or too sweet etc. I take 2 gummy vitamins and 2 tums in the morning also. I sip on water all day but don't manage to get down more than about 12 oz at most. This is something i really need to work on, but didn't drink much before the surgery eitherunless it was Coke or Dr. Pepper, which isn't good as i have had kidney stones in the past. Urologist told me then, adults living in Colorado need to be drinking a minimum of 1 gallon of water a day if they have issues with stones..:thumbup: HA!

I was banded on May 5th. Consultation weight was 212 lbs. After pre-op diet at pre-op apt. April 30th, 196 lbs. By May 11th I was down to 186 lbs and now for the last 9 days NOTHING is changing...so frustrating. I suppose I have gone into starvation mode and my metabolism is at a dead stand still with the little that I am eating. I can't wait to start my exercise program to get the scale moving again. Of course I am happy to report that at pre-op I was in my tight 18's and today I was able to get into my size 12's. They were snug, but not uncomfortable.