Hi all. I'm Katherine from Chicago (a nurse), I've been overweight most of my life and I want to be healthier for myself, my children, and my patients. I went to the lab band seminar June 8th, was approved by my insurance company June 15 and I have my first consultation with the surgeon and nutritionist tomorrow (June 23). I think this hospital is different from most stories Ive been reading about here, because they check your insurance for approval and criteria before they even schedule an appointment with the surgeon. I'm so excited and eager to get banded and start this new journey.:smile2: I hope to inspire my husband whose also overweight at 350 lbs (I'm 274lbs currently). Anyhow, just wanted to say hello. This is my first time on this site and I'm learning my way around .

Welcome, Katherine. I wish you lots of luck on your journey.

Mimi

Hi Kathyrn,

what type of insurance do you have that was fast!!

Thanks for the Welcome! I have BCBS HMO but with this plan, I had to choose a PCP GROUP, the PCP GROUP I chose was RUSH HMO (this was the first time i'd ever heard of this), so instead of BCBS approving me, my PCP Group in conjunction with BCBS approved (when they called BCBS) they were told criteria is up to the PCP GROUP and therefore they had none. At first I thought, this sounds suscpicious so I called BCBS and was told the same thing, then I called my HR department and was told the same thing, then I called RUSH HMO and again, I was told the same thing. I called my surgeons office back and asked them were they sure. And so in the morning, I'll be sitting in his office. :biggrin:

Everything seems to be working smoothly...good luck on your journey!

Thanks! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on your pending apporval. I met with the Surgeon today, have appointments for Nutritionist, GI, and Psych all next week and a follow up appointment with the Surgeon scheduled for 7/14. My surgeon says if everything with those appointments work out and my lab test are okay, I'll be able to start my pre-op diet on the 14th. Whoooooppppppiiiiiiiiiii!!! :biggrin:

Katherine, I am in the same boat as you. Went to a seminar and received a call from the Weight Management Institute today. They are going to check the insurance and get the records from my PCP. I am so looking forward to the "new me." :thumbup:

So, last week.... I had my upper GI with barium, nutritionist appointment and one more (can't think of it right now). My nutritionist is also a fitness trainer and wants me to come to two more classes before she'll release me for surgery (bummer) ! But on the other hand, maybe it's a good thing, naw... I've heard all the things she's saying several times before. My next class is on 7/24 and then the third class is your last and she sends my records tot he surgeon. All my labs, CXR, EKG are done, and I'm very anxious. I was so excieted until she dropped this major bomb on me.

The god thing is, my insurance doesn't require a time frame for nutritionist visits and I can see her every 2-3 weeks (and I only need to complete 3 classes.