Hello everyone ,

I've gone to a seminar for the lap band and starting to get the documentation Aetna will need to see if they will aprove me.

Im so afraid to get my hopes up , because I had to fight my insurance ( Tricare Prime) at the time to approve my breast reduction which I appealed and it was later approved .

Fighting just for me gets to be so depressing , I despise how I have let myslelf get body weight wise .. so Its so hard to have the drive to even think of fighting with my insurance.

My BMI is almost 40 , have high blood pressure and major migraines , and back problems ..but im also a worrier and always plan for the "what if's "

just venting I guess . ..and words of encouragememt would be apprecited .

Good luck with your quest. Hopefully, your insurance will approve with no problems. We will keep our fingers crossed

Oh yeah. The Joy of fighting with the insurance company. I started that battle in the fall of last year.

I will say only this - it is totallly worth the fight - even if it takes you 4 mos like it did me. Just knowing that even though I broke EVERY bandster rule this Thanksgiving, I still only ate less than HALF of what I ate last year - it was great.

I felt like I was eating NON STOP - and I sort of was - but it was Bandster portions. No deprivation with half the food. Just think about that while you fight. It will make you all warm and fuzzy.

Hugs!!

I have Aetna too (managed choice, not HMO) and the approval process was pretty fast once I had all of the required info together. Make sure you get everything they request and then some! I've heard that Aetna HMO is more difficult to work with. It is totally worth it...good luck on your journey!

It is worth the fight!! I was banded Sept 11 aND AM DOWN 34 POUNDS. i WENT to Dr yesterday and my blood pressure is lower than when I was on meds. I had not taken my meds since surgery and this was my follow up with my regular Dr. Hang in there and be strong!! Totally worth it all!! I have no regrets but we all go thru the scared stage I guess. Especially with the insurance company paperwork etc.

It IS so worth the fight! I didn't have an option with my insurance. Our Teachers' Health Trust had an exclusion on all bariatric surgery, so my DH worked hard to find the money. It was worth every penny.

I was banded on Aug. 7, and you can see my results below. My life has changed with the courage to do it and the price of a car. Without doubt, it is/was the single best thing I've ever done for myself and my family.