I finally got the nerve up to call back the people from the WLSC... I had signed up for a seminar, taken an online survey, and asked for more info.. several times, but always chickened out when they called me.....

Well yesterday I called them back and tomorrow I have a consult appointment, they faxed a boatload of paperwork to me to fill out and have ready.

I will then have the road to insurance approval. Even if I don't have insurance approval, they offer a self pay price of 17,500 for EVERYTHING including the consult and a year of unlimited fills.........

I am nervous about having foreign objects in my body, but I don't want to go the gastric bypass route. I have 2 close friends that went that route and both have done wonderful, but I know it is not for me...... They both say it is the best thing they ever did.... one is about 4 years post op and the other one is 2 years post op.. both started out well over 300lbs and both lost well over 100 lbs.......

Anyway.. I just wanted to post an intro, and thank everyone for all the info.:girl_hug:

I hope to be a bandster in 2007!

Tracy

263.8/263.8/149;)

Just got set up for my nutritional eval.. Jan 22nd!

So... I guess I'm at a standstill until I get both these appointments out of the way.....

I just got an email from my doc..... I guess with my insurance I have only one choice of hospital, and that hospital is already booked into MARCH!

THAT SUCKS! (pardon my language)

Keeping everyone updated......... I have my psychologist eval tomorrow... the dr. told me to plan on 3 hours.

I am internally dealing with the fact that I may not be able to get my surgery scheduled until late march or even April.......

Have a great Tuesday

Good luck with the psych eval, Tracy! Since I work with a medical social worker my surgeon's coordinator faxed me a sample psych eval letter and let my co-worker copy it for me so I didn't have to go through an actual psych eval and it was free! It will be the only thing free for me since I'm going to be self-pay, LOL! Hoping for a cancellation and February date for you!

Tracy,

It sounds like things are really moving along for you. My consultation is next Tuesday. I can hardly wait. Since I will be self-pay, I don't think I will have to undergo anything further so I'm hoping to be banded in February. The longer I read all these posts the more excited I am to start this journey. Hope the eval goes well. Keep us posted.

Sharon

Thanks Mary & Sharon!

I am leaving my office in a little over an hour......... (my boss thinks I'm going to a nutritionist) but my nutritionist appointment is next week.

567 True / False questions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YUCK

Note to self: DO NOT SAY THE WORD "depressed" to a doctor of psychology!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to explain that I was DEPRESSED when I looked in my closet and found nothing to wear.

I was only his 2nd WLS eval... so he was looking at me wide eyed...

Thank the good lord that I am well versed on this subject because I ended up educating him and his intern on the procedure, and they both just looked at me wide eyed, shook my hand and said good luck with your procedure! LOL

Way to show 'em, Tracy!

LOL! thanks Mary!

Sheeesh... That's a lot of questions!

I had some tricky ones but then she added them up in front of me using a calculator.. I kept waiting to see what she wrote and then i saw the word "NORMAL" ... wooho! lol

Kelsy: I WISH he would of scored it for me, but he said he'd TRY to get it done by the 25th. Said he had 7 others in front of me.

Had Nutrition Eval yesterday and she approved me for surgery! YEAH.... now just waiting on the letters.

Oh and I called my insurance company today about my Flex Spending account Visa Card... (the vendor code of the psychologists office DECLINED) and I had to use my personal card.... I followed up with a claim form and today's call.. they are issuing a check to me TODAY....... and I forewarned them about the nutritionist bill and they cleared it.....

She didn't have an electronic reader so she waited to call it in today.. I had already faxed the receipts and docs so that it would process.....

ON both claims, I made sure to include the procedure code of 43770 for Lapband, explaining that the services rendered were REQUIRED by the determination department. (I don't know if this helped, but I know it didn't hurt)

Looking back on this my process has been pretty quick....

Heres the schedule:

Nov- December 2006 - Made solid Decision, but knew I needed to wait for the new insurance to kick in January 1, 2007

Jan 6 - Seminar - Free

Jan 8 - Surgeon Consult - $150.00 (used my FSA card)

Jan 17 - Psych Eval - $200.00 (FSA card was declined but later reimbursed)

Jan 22 - Nutrition Eval - $160.00 (used my FSA card)

The rest is TBA

TracyinKS-

I just want you to know how much I've enjoyed reading your posts. You should be commended! I hope you get a date soon.Please continue to keep us posted on your journey. It seems like you got alot of your appointments out of the way and quickly.Horray for you. I'll be waiting to hear more about your journey.Gigi

thanks Gigi!