After receiving all but the last medical clearance from my doctors and having been attending my bariatric group appointments and going to support group for almost 2 months, NOW my insurance company informs me that before I can have a surgery consult and have a surgery date set I must go on the pre-surgery diet and go for monthly dietician and psychiatrist appointments for the next 4 months (total of 6)! At my first visit to the office I was told that I might want to try to GAIN 10 lbs, I suppose to please the insurance company and convince them of medical necessity--despite the fact that I had a 35.5 BMI and have sleep apnea. At the next visit, however, I was told to start the pre-surgery diet (two shakes, one small snack and 3 oz Protein, 3 oz veggie and small salad for dinner. From having been on Medifast, I can remember starving all day with the shakes for Breakfast and lunch and would have a headache by late afternoon. I can't believe that you have to fight your willpower and appetite for 4-6 months prior to surgery just so that you will be ready for surgery and know how to eat right.

So I went crazy and ate tons of junk food for the past 3 weeks, only gaining maybe 3 lbs. Not to mention at this point I was feeling discouraged anyway and went on a major binge after the call today when I heard the discouraging news.

I really hoped I could have this surgery in the winter and be well on my journey by the time I have to fly from NJ to NC to spend a few weeks with my daughter after the birth of my grandson (first grandchild for me!) in early April. I'm 57 years old and I am more than ready for the lap-band. Will I be able perhaps to go for frequent checkups after surgery at Duke, assuming I'll have been banded about a month before? Will have to ask my bariatric group.

UGH!!!

Next time put weights in your pockets. Or hold a phone book...most docs are savvy to that insurance game and discourage gaining more weight to qualify for the surgery. I don't your weight specifics, but I would discourage the use of junk food to increase it. Just my two cents.

Have I been where you are! 2 1/2 months after first consult I had lost 30 pounds and had scheduled my surgery. As I was starting a preop diet my neurologist told me the blood clot he was treating was not suitably desolved. So my surgery was postponed for a unspecified period of time (at least you have a deadline). I had to wait another 5 months before having surgery.

One thing I think is important to understand is the band is not the finish line. It is the start! It took me 6 months to get restriction. So the 5 months I had to wait weren't that different than the first 6 months AFTER surgery.

Even with restriction so much of band success is mental. You mention eating junk. The band will never stop you from eating candy. Ever. Now is the time to learn new eating habits. One thing I did was to go online and look up how many calories were in some of my favorite restaurant meals. I was stunned. This helped me to make better food choices eating at home and out.

As to getting medical care while you are out of town. I would call doctors at the hospital near your daughter. Many doctors will not treat someone elses patient. Some people use fill centers which I don't think are the same as a surgeons office.