I wanted to start a thread for those of us who are waiting "with bated breath" for our surgeries in March.

I am supposed to start Optifast on February 26th. I am currently waiting for the shipment, including my surgical package to be delivered. Once I get my package I am supposed to call the clinic.

Ever since committing to this surgery (which I am paying for myself via a personal loan) I have been obsessed with reading everything I can about it and about people who have had it. I am still kind of hoping for some kind of "divine word" about whether or not it is the right thing for me to do.

I am "only" 75 lbs over my ideal weight but am type II diabetic. I am trying to figure out if my reason for doing this is my health or my vanity or a combination of both. The diabetes needs to be gone (when I am 20 lbs lighter it is gone) but I am sure looking forward to losing the weight and actually keeping it off for more than 20 minutes...

My surgery was approved byt the Insurance Co! So I am on schedule for 3/5. The pre-op is going pretty well so far, although I do resent having to restrict myself before I am acutally restrticted if you know what I mean. On Monday I go to the hospital for pre-op testing..I am pretty sure it is just bloodwiork/chest xray and ekg. So I am definitely on the road.

Mags

Great Mags!!!! I am so happy for you. How long did it take to get the insurance to approve or did you have to appeal?

Hi Mags!

I know how your feeling! Here we go!!!!!!

Gail

Alas, I was turned down by my insurance company - apparently, my BMI is too high for their criteria for LB; they claim it's not clinically proven to be valuable at my size (BMI 58, I think). It's slightly disastrous, because my surgery was scheduled for 3/15, and I've arranged my work schedule around that date (very difficult to do, high stress profession blah blah blah). And the surgical coordinator is away until 2/28 - I should be starting the preop liquid diet the next day.

Wah.

So now what do I do? I have Empire BC/BS, and am going with Dr. Fielding at NYU in NYC...

(Sorry - this is probably the wrong forum. But, like, wah!)

(I'll go poke around in the insurance threads.)

Oh, there are just so many ups and downs in these chats--as in life! I'm sorry about your insurance disappointment, Fenton. Hope you can work things out and continue on your weight-loss journey.

I just got good news--my application "looks good" but has to go through final dr. approval (I'm self-paying so no insurance woes--just other $$ woes :omg:!). But I'm scheduled for the pre-op seminar on Wednesday and have a tentative surgery date for Monday, March 19! Woohoo!

A question for you all: my dr. doesn't require a pre-surgery diet. Should I be worried about that? Also, they do the surgery in their clinic on an outpatient basis. Another reason for concern? I don't know. Sounds like they are just making it easy on us but maybe they aren't as careful? No sure. I'll continue to investigate (until they put that needle in my vein!) but any help is always appreciated. Good luck, all!

Hi March bandsters, I too am a March bandster the 14th is my date in Albany NY with Dr.Singh. I started at 218lbs 5ft 0in (42BMI) I am currently (aprox) 195. my personal goal is 140. However my IBW is 95-116lbs. Best of luck to all.

Hi All,

I went to see my GP today (local Dr surgery) my hubby insisted I checked with them that they would support me after (on top of the bariatric surgery support) I was amazed quite frankly, my GP was in all favor, and asked me how I managed it as she had a patient that she was desperate to get help for, I explained I was self paying, it turns out that the county I live in will not pay for this type of surgery, and yet in other areas they do, bit of a post code lottery here. I asked her for pills to give up smoking and support, as I am ready to give up, and a little worried about the anasthetic, she suggested I cut down, but did the treatment after the surgery after a couple of weeks after the op, shes probably right, as she said its too much to try and do it 'all' and have problems. I am amazed at the support for the lap band surgery I have got, and the consultant sent a two page letter to my GP practice explaining about the surgery...wow...

Alas, I was turned down by my insurance company - apparently, my BMI is too high for their criteria for LB; they claim it's not clinically proven to be valuable at my size (BMI 58, I think). It's slightly disastrous, because my surgery was scheduled for 3/15, and I've arranged my work schedule around that date (very difficult to do, high stress profession blah blah blah). And the surgical coordinator is away until 2/28 - I should be starting the preop liquid diet the next day.

Wah.

So now what do I do? I have Empire BC/BS, and am going with Dr. Fielding at NYU in NYC...

I am really sorry to hear that. I really wouldn't know what do next, but I hope you can get everything resolved quickly. Let us know what happens!

Hi March bandsters, I too am a March bandster the 14th is my date in Albany NY with Dr.Singh. I started at 218lbs 5ft 0in (42BMI) I am currently (aprox) 195. my personal goal is 140. However my IBW is 95-116lbs. Best of luck to all.

Congratulations and Welcome x-ray chic!!!!!!!

Hey Gang!

I'm going for my preop class on March 1st and will have my surgery on March 19th. Any other March 19th banders? or Dr. Abkin patients (NJ)?

I'm nervous, excited, hopeful, optimistic and still in disbelief! Good luck everyone and cheers to a whole new life.

Virginia

Welcome to the group X-ray Chick!

X-Ray chick and I are having our surguries at the same hospital with the same surgeon a week apart :clap2:

I know this is going to work for me because I am determined to MAKE it work. I've worked so hard to get to this point and I finally am seeing it start to pay off.

Yesterday evening I got a phone call from CDPHP (my insurance) and I am APPROVED :clap2:

I can't wait to lose even more weight!

My band date is March 5, 2007. Dr. hamn - Plano, Texas. I am so excited I do not know what to do with myself. Of course I have those times when I worry about the outcome, but I just pray and stay as grounded as possible. I llok forward to a hot summer in texas "wearing shorts"!!! Hooray:clap2:

Good luck to all you beautiful people :kiss2:

WOW. there are a lot of people scheduled just for the month of March. Makes you think, how many people have already gone through this and the number that are yet to do so. I have only known about the LapBand for 1 year and I cannot imagine all this popularity.

Heartsmile

I'm March 5th too in Fort Worth Texas!!!!

:clap2: :clap2: