It has taken me a year to finally say I am going to do this for me. Why has it taken so long? I did not know anything about LapBand or anyone who has had it. Now I do. I have been talking with a friend of my childhood friend. She and I have been friends for over 40 years. She put me in contact with her friend who had surgery 6 months ago. She has been a blessing. I have spent the last 7 years as my husbands caretaker. He has been fighting heart disease for 11 years and has had 5 heart attacks and triple bypass surgery. He has a whole list of other health issues. I have let myself go. I have felt that concentrating on me for a change was selfish. HOWEVER, I have convinced myself that I need to take care of me now. I do not want to have all the health problems, he has. Today I received my packet from the surgeon, to fill out. I will meet with him for the first time June 28. The paperwork is overwhelming, as my insurance requires proof that I have tried to lose weight. REALLY, do they think I would want to go through this if dieting worked? So I am hoping I can pass to get approved or I will be terribly disappointed. I want this so bad and feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders since I finally decided to do it. Wish me luck. Barbee

My insurance was the same I had to show proof. So I've been seeing a dietician once a month. I am on my fifth visit so only 1 more to go. But I must say I have learned alot as well as she has answered alot of my questions. To me it is helping me get ready.

Hi Barbee.

The one thing I can say is do not get disappointed if it takes a while. I started this journey last year in August and was banded in April. It takes a while to jump thru the hoops for the insurance company but well worth it in the end.

I called my insurance company and asked them exactly what the requirements were and then worked from there.

Good luck to you

One more thing, there is an awesome book called Bandwagon by Jean McMillan.

I am half way thru it and wish I had found it prior to my surgery, it is packed with wonderful information.

You might want to check it out.

Here is the link if you're interested. http://jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com/

Thank you everyone for replying to my post. Cassiem93, you don't have UHC for insurance do you? lol I am going to do some calling tomorrow to the surgeons office. I need to know how I am to prove these things. I have no way of proving I have done Atkins, Slim Fast, etc. Am I supposed to get something in writing from the two Chiropractors I have been to over the years. Am I to get something from Curves that I went to for a year. I think I understand, they will contact my Primary Care Physician, for my weight history? I will talk with them tomorrow and then start on the paperwork. I have been to busy today to start on it.

Grandma3, thanks for the information about the book, Bandwagon, and the blog site. I will see if I can get the book on my Nook. I will try not to get discouraged, now that I have made up my mind to do this. I am just feeling so good that I want to do this. I do not want to lose this happiness I have found.

Yup I have UHC