Hi,

My name is Renee and I have been lurking here for about 4 months while I was working on getting approval from my insurance. I have First Choice through Western Teamsters. They require 12 month medically supervised diet and exercise. I started with getting a letter from my ob/gyn who has seen me for the past 12 years. We have documentation that my weight has been a struggle for me for years and that he prescribed phen/fen for me (which worked), along with some other diet drugs, which didn't work. Then I was asked to provide a letter of medical neccesity, which my lapband surgeon provided. My case had to go to an outside medical board for determination and that happened on 12/4. That process can take 30 days so I haven't been super agressive about calling. I called yesterday and the lady asks all the questions about the ss number and stuff and then she says :" oh my, it was approved just today, you will be receiving a letter" I about dropped to the ground. No proof of 12 month exercise and diet, no fight, nothing. Just an approval. I was prepared for a fight, I had documentation for the last 6 months and I figured I would have to wait another 6 if need be. I can't believe it. I started to cry. So for everyone just starting the process, have faith. It isnt always a fight. Sometimes it goes smoothly. I am truly blessed. Now I have to do all the hard stuff, like quitting caffeine and birth control and the 2 week liquid diet etc. But I am on my way!!!!!!!

Thanks for listening!

Wow, congratulations. That's awesoome.

Love your story. Congratulations on the insurance approval. That is such an exciting thing to happen. Best of luck on your lapband journey. Happy Holidays.

Congratulations!!!!

Congrats! Congrats! Congrats! Here is hoping that the rest of your journey will be as incident free as getting your approval was. keep us posted... and welcome!

becky

WOW.. that is simply AMAZING and gives me hope! Also gave me an idea to call my OBGYN they can easily give me a letter detailing my struggles with weight, and at my last pap she gave me some phentermine for weight loss.

THANK YOU FOR POSTING!!!!!!!!

Welcome and congratulations Renee! This board is an awesome support tool and the people are great as I'm sure you've already found. Good luck and keep us all posted.

Kathy, banded YESTERDAY!

Thank you everyone!

My girlfriend was banded a year and a 1/2 ago and told me about this board. I didn't start lurking here until I found out my husbands insurance would cover it. I see that there is alot of support here. I am sure that I will be needing it as this journey begins. I can't wait until the tool is in place and I can start using it. Looks like January 12th is my surgery date, at this point.

Kathy, how are you feeling?

renee

Yay, I'm a January bandster too. My surgery is 1/18/07. At the end of my signature, there is a link with other January bandsters too, feel free to join us.

Congratulations again on a speedy approval from your insurance company!