My name Kelley I am form alabama and was banaded 11-2-06 by Dr. Black in Anniston. I Have lost 12 lbs so far. Would like to talk to other people in my area.

IIt's really inspiring to read how everyone is doing...and was even more inspiring to hear Tammi talk at the support group I attended.

Why thank you, kind sir!:biggrin2: Good luck with your upcoming surgery, and let us know how everything goes.

Andy, I'm gonna be recovering from surgery right along with you, but I have a feeling I'll be in a LOT more pain than you! I'm getting plastic surgery on 2/15.

And, before anyone who has seen me at support group says, "Oh, but you don't look like you need plastic surgery!", I gotta say, "Thanks, but you haven't seen me naked!" :Dancing_chief: Or, even in a bathing suit for that matter. But, hey, maybe I'll wear one to the April or May support group meeting!! (Oh, wait, don't hold me to that. I don't want to have to slip on stripper hose like Kirstie Alley on the Oprah show.) :rolleyes2:

Tami

hey im from mobile im home 2x amonth i live in west palm beach now ,,,,,

i still miss mobile

war eagle!!!!!!!!!!!!

War Eagle!

Congrats Andy!!

My BCBS Policy doesn't cover it..but my doctor required me to do the psych eval. Was kind of cheesy, and akward. He asked me what me now would say to 13 y/o me.. and if I would hug me... mmhm. I put on my cheeriest "I'm sane, surgery me!" face.

And Hey Rocket City, I'm in Huntsville too :tongue:

For those of you using Dr. Miles or Schmidtt I was wondering what happens next.

I finished up my 6 month supervised weightloss plan with my PCP last week. She had already submitted my information with her letter of recomendation the month before and planned on resubmitting the information for the last visit.

I have done my sleep study and support group. Had all my labs drawn. Will Dr. Miles office call me? I am wondering if my dr. submitted my history or is that something Dr. Miles office would request from her. This has been a long process and I just dont want to miss anything.

Did you contact the Dr.'s office after your last PCP visit, or did they contact you?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!

SRR

For those of you using Dr. Miles or Schmidtt I was wondering what happens next.

I finished up my 6 month supervised weightloss plan with my PCP last week. She had already submitted my information with her letter of recomendation the month before and planned on resubmitting the information for the last visit.

I have done my sleep study and support group. Had all my labs drawn. Will Dr. Miles office call me? I am wondering if my dr. submitted my history or is that something Dr. Miles office would request from her. This has been a long process and I just dont want to miss anything.

Did you contact the Dr.'s office after your last PCP visit, or did they contact you?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!

SRR

Hey! Dr. Miles will be doing mine also. A few weeks ago, I emailed Neoami (Dr. Miles' pre auth lady) and asked her the same thing. This was her reply -

Hi Wendy,

Once you've completed the 7 consecutive visits, they can be faxed (205) 838-3497 to me. You won't come back into the office until your pre-op visit (approximately a week before surgery). Once I receive everything, I'll file your insurance and we'll get a letter in the mail from BC/BS with the decision. Have you viewed the video(EMMI) online?

Thanks,

Neoami

Have you already went in for the initial consult with Dr. Miles?

Hey! Dr. Miles will be doing mine also. A few weeks ago, I emailed Neoami (Dr. Miles' pre auth lady) and asked her the same thing. This was her reply -

Hi Wendy,

Once you've completed the 7 consecutive visits, they can be faxed (205) 838-3497 to me. You won't come back into the office until your pre-op visit (approximately a week before surgery). Once I receive everything, I'll file your insurance and we'll get a letter in the mail from BC/BS with the decision. Have you viewed the video(EMMI) online?

Thanks,

Neoami

Have you already went in for the initial consult with Dr. Miles?

Thanks for the quick reply... As you can imagine, this is all I think about...LOL

Can you give me her email address? That is who they keep saying that I need to talk to... You can PM it to me if you do not want to post it on here.

I had my first initial appt with Dr. Miles in October. I really liked him. Since you are using Dr. Miles too, let me ask you this. You mentioned the Emmi program. Let me ask you this. Last week I got an email with a new Emmi video to watch. But the video was for "after" I had received my lapband. Do you know if these are automated or if they are triggered maybe by my information being submitted.

Would love to talk your experience too. It would be nice to have someone nearby that knows what I am talking about. You can email me at fordgal88@bellsouth.net.

Thanks again!!

SRR

I never had any luck with emailing Naomi. I called almost every day when I completed my 6 month program. She kept telling me she had everything but that last visit, and a week after my last visit was sent to her, she told me she didn't have my psych visit letter or my sleep apnea information. It was around the holidays so most everyone was out. I was LIVID. Why did she keep telling me she had everything then wait til the last minute to tell me she didn't? Long story short, the psych office had someone else's notes in my file, and vice versa - they had to look for my paperwork - ugh! They found it and faxed it. The sleep apnea folks said that the Dr's were out thru Christmas - that's when I lost it. I started crying on the phone (out of anger) but the girl on the phone didn't know that. She jumped hoops to get my letter and finally I got my approval immediately!!! WOO HOO!

THENNNNN I was going to have to wait a WHOLE MONTH for my surgery - NO WAY...... Out of the blue, Naomi called and said that she forgot they were open on New Year's Eve Day - did I want to schedule then??? HECK YEA!!!!!! I had my surgery on the 31st of December - HAPPY NEW ME!!!:tongue: My point is, don't wait on them - be proactive and stay on top of Naomi - she's SWAMPED!! And very nice!!! I was just anxious and got pissy! :cool2:

I'm 1 month out and have lost 20lbs.....BUT not without my 'incidents'. All I have to say is......follow the rules - they are there for a reason!!! I feel good now but had to get my saline taken out last week due to a "small" issue. I get it back on the 11th....can't wait to get started on this weight loss journey!!

Good LUCK!!!!!!

Sorry I am not sure. I was a self pay and mine was done totally different. My sister has just finished her 6 months diet with her pcp. She has turned all info over to Dr Schmitt and is waiting to hear ferom the insurnace co. Good luck. Don't quit ! Whatever you have to do to get this done do it!! It is wonderful

I pre-registered at the hospital today. I had to get bloodwork and an ekg along with a consult with the anesthesiologist. My surgery is one week away. February 14th will be here quick. I start my pre-op diet in the morning. Low sugar, low carb, high protein with lots of water diet. I am so excited!

:regular_smile:

Once they had everything, they submitted mine on Friday. I knew within minutes! The key is Dr. Britt's office staff make sure you have what you need before they turn it in to BCBS. There is a chance they will not accpet it online and have to fax it in, which will take longer for approval. I in the moring to meet with Amy in Dr. Britt's office and to schedule my surgery. I hope that I can have it next Wednesday:thumbup:. Keep it up. It will be worth it in the end.

Bama:

Good luck on your surgery. Dr. Britt and staff are wonderful. I was banded on 2/14/2008 at Marshall Medical North by Dr. Britt. amy is great and the pre-op class with her is very informative. Elizabeth will actually schedule your surgery. If you have started you pre-op diet, then I would think you should be able to have surgery next week. Keep us informed.

:biggrin:I am so excited! Went today to meet with Amy (she is wonderful). Scheduled my surgery for Tuesday, March 4! Yea, it's my birthday. So now, it will be a new beginning. I am so excited. I go on the pre-op diet in the morning. I had my birthday cake tonight:) Didn't get to meet Elizabeth. Did meet Darlene! Love her! They are all so kind in the office. I am counting down the days!:blushing:

Congrats Bama. where will you have your surgery? Good luck.