Ok Banded pro's this is my first time posting , I would like to know if n e 1 has been banded in columbus, ohio at the Mt. Carmel hospital and if so how was your experience? I have just sent in my first set of paper work to be approve by their Dr. Also they are charging $300.00 for administrator fee (paper pushing to the Ins.), not to mention I will have to spend another $200.00 for their nutritionist and this $500.00 is not covered by my insurance:faint: . Are fee's normal? I was just wondering because I feel as much as the surgery cost, these things should be included! N E help would be nice

Sue, I am praying for you. Hang in there its gonna work out.

I wont be able to afford any plastic surgery. i have decided it will just be better to look good with my clothes on and not worry about what i look like with them off.

when i get to my goal i will need a Tummy Tuck, but will probably have to settle for some kind of girdle!

the other day i was at a picnic. there was a really pretty girl there. she had on shorts but her legs looked awful. the skin literally just hung there in layers. i wanted to ask her if she had bariatric surgery, but just could not get up the nerve.

now if my legs looked like that i would get the money somehow. but i dont think i will look that bad

Sue---one one hand, you are so lucky to only have one co-morbitity. no arthritis? no foot problems? no diabetes?

on the other hand, i hope dr choban can convince the insurance company to pay.

Charlene called this morning...Dr. Choban was not able to persuade them. Then I called BC/BS and spent 20 min. having them tell me that LB was not covered in my policy! I said ( among other things) then why was I denied because of BMI and lack of co-morbids? Finally they decided that I did have coverage but just did not qualify! I have a year to appeal.

I do have arthritis in my back and foot and joint pain...but those are not qualifiers for them. I think my B/P is through the roof right now! I will appeal but without much hope.:think

that is awful. try to remain positive. you have nothing to lose if you appeal, so go ahead and fight the good fight.

but by all means, dont let this effect your health. after all you are 62 and you are in good shape. so even if you have to lose weight the old fashioned way, you still have your health!! your fate is still in your hands--you havent gone over the brink yet into diabetes land or heart attack ville!!!

Sue, I agree with Debbie, Don't give up yet! Fight, you have nothing to lose at this point. What are they saying you have to have to qualify??

Hi Ladies,

Sorry I have not been on lately. My computer was down.

My update with the process is that I am on my 3rd month of Dr. supervised diet and exercise and I have gained 10 pounds since last month!!!!! What the heck is going on???

My DH is currently off work and we have had to tighten our budget and I was not able to send in the $100.00 payment on the payment plan that Charlene set me up on. I will still try to get my clearances out of the way.

I have written a letter to my pcp asking him to write me a prescription for a handicapped placard. It is getting harder for me to walk due to my back, legs and of course my weight. I hope he will ok it. I have to park so far away at work and it just tires me and makes me out of breath. I'm only 41 and don't want to be this way.

Brighter, better things are coming my way I just know it. I'm not going to give up.

Thank you ladies for wondering where I have been.

Have a great day!!!

dorothy--my handicapped sticker expires at the end of this month--and guess what? i am not renewing it!!!

Hi Debbie,

I'm so happy for you!!!! I have put it off for a long time and just could not make myself ask for one but I have to at this point. Hopefully by this time next year I will not need mine.

Have a great one!

my doctor made me beg for it last year. but at that point i was willing to beg. my knees were killing me and so were my feet. i could barely walk--it felt like i was walking in pudding.

when i would come into work everyone would ask me "whats the matter" my only reply used to be "this is what happens when you weigh 300 pounds and have to walk"

i am so happy to have the old debbie back!!! I didnt think i would ever get her back!!!

Dorothy--you can reverse it, too!!!

Deb...losing weight the old fashioned way is what got me where I am today! That kinda felt like a smack!:Banane30: I was looking for a hug.:think

sue--sorry, but i am just saying that you should not give up even if you cant get the surgery. hopefully, you will get it.

you are still in good health and you want to keep it that way.

Alright ladies..............Where are you???? I have had a crazy couple weeks with work, but no one has posted at all last week? What gives?

attendance is falling off here.

i was away all week on vacation. i didnt lose any weight but the good news is that i didnt gain any either. that is not bad after riding in a car for hours at a time each day and eating at restaraunts all week.

i think i will get an adjustment when i go see dr choban on the 1st. i have been feeling hungry more often.

i will be glad to get back to a regular routine, though, even if that means back to work.

we went for a bike ride this morning. i havent ridden in a month. it just about killed me.

BTW my BF and i made up. so all is right in the world again.

it was a good learning experience for me. i was taking him for granted and not giving our relationship the attention that it needed. and now that i am thinner i feel much sexier.

while on vacation my girlfriend and i went on a tour of the QVC studios. they have a store there. i spent a crapload on jewelry!!! but it sure was fun.!!!!

Hello everyone! I have been very busy! First with the Church Women's Retreat, and while dealing with that my Brother-In-Law at a massive stroke on the 11th and Passed away last Monday he was only 43 and we are having a very hard time dealing with it! I am still at 38 pounds lost, I must be eating to much:omg:. Although people are noticing my weight loss and it feels great hearing them say so, I think I should be losing weight much faster!!

Debbie I see you have a Nov 1st. appt. is that your next 6 weeks appt.? If so I guess I better call and scheldule my appt. because we are on the same schedule time. This time I will ask Dr. Choban to fill me up tight I need to start dropping faster to make me Happy:D.

How is every one else doing? Man I feel like a stranger on this thread, it's been so long since I last posted, I hope every thing is going Great for every one.

Okay Debbie I called and schedule my Fill, I was not able to get in on Nov. 1st. she was able to squezee me in on Nov. 8. Thank goodness or I would have had to wait until Dec. 6:eek:. I must remember to schedule my appt. before I leave the office.