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

Charlene called today with my surgery date...March 17th. Whooo!! Can someone who had Dr.Choban please give me a step by step of what to expect? You checked in and then what?

Niki..you will be 5 days ahead of me...good luck! and keep us posted please.

Are you scared? I am.

SpecialK..maybe we will have the same date!

SUE--

Incredible and so lucky --- St. Patrick's Day...

Hi Everyone-

I am patiently awaiting my pre-approval into Mt. Carmel's program. I dropped off my paperwork 2 weks ago today. I was at the February 5th seminar and wasted no time in getting the paperwork into the office. I have Aetna Choice POS II (Open Access) insurance, so anyone with pointers please let me know. I have all my records from my various doctors that I visit on a regular basis and my endocronologist has a documented diet for a year. I have also started the three month diet with a dietician and my pcp as a just in case.

My mom has been approved for her banding with Dr. Curry on April 15th.

How long did it take everyone else to hear if you were accepted?

Thanks-

It took almost 3 weeks for me to get the acceptance letter...and boy that was a looong 3 weeks. And then came an even longer 10 months!

SpecialK...wow...the same day! Maybe we can walk the halls together.:thumbup:

Hey Sue and Specialk~ I'm green with envy about your date:lol:.

Welcome ndwife, you have come to a great place for support.

Hi TM..didn't think I'd ever get here! My daughter says she is going to paint my belly green before I wake up! LOL

Sue, I knew you would make it! I am jumping with joy for you.

Hi Everyone-

I am patiently awaiting my pre-approval into Mt. Carmel's program. I dropped off my paperwork 2 weks ago today. I was at the February 5th seminar and wasted no time in getting the paperwork into the office. I have Aetna Choice POS II (Open Access) insurance, so anyone with pointers please let me know. I have all my records from my various doctors that I visit on a regular basis and my endocronologist has a documented diet for a year. I have also started the three month diet with a dietician and my pcp as a just in case.

My mom has been approved for her banding with Dr. Curry on April 15th.

How long did it take everyone else to hear if you were accepted?

Thanks-

Welcome NDWife-- I have the same exact health plan and I can tell you that Aetna denied my initial submission from Charlene and the doctors due to not having my 5 year weight history --as soon as she sent that in, plus my sleep clearance report, cardio clearance, psych clearance and proof of diet - I had two appointments with dieticians plus about 9 months of WW program log book, then I got approved on Feb 18th. I got my surgery date on Feb 22 and it will be March 17th. Hope you can join us at Polaris Mall for the lapband group fun get together. See the thread for it under Ohio.

Kathy

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes. I received the big envelope today in the mail. I was very excited. I have the diet documentation through my doctor, no food logs due to a house fire in December and all of that stuff was thrown away due to smoke damage. Hopefully the conversations that the doctor has documented from the last year will do. I am seeing a dietician right now and he is helping me prepare for life after surgery. I also have a great recomendation letter from my pcp with a 5 year weight history attached. We will see, I may get lucky.

My mom and I are planning on coming up to Polaris on March 8th. I can't wait to see some before and after pictures. I am sure that I will be ready to write a book after this.

Special Kay- one more thing, were you able to pay your co-pay for the consultation and such? I know there is the program fee and nutritionist fee for them, but I do have to do a pulmonary evaluation and psych eval and was hoping that they take co-pays. Also, were did you do you eval?

Thanks-

Sue and SpecialK---that is so neat that you are both getting banded on the same day!!!

Deb,I think so too!!! It will be nice to have someone at the exact same stage to compare notes with.

well ladies...hold down the fort while I am gone! I will be back March 7th, and I will try to bring the warm weather with me...

-niki

Niki~ I hope you have a great vacation with your family.

Hi all! I was banded on Feb.20 with Dr. choban and she was great. So five dys out I'm doing well only pain now is right at the port site(I think) Liquid postop diet is a drag but I've Lost 8lbs since the day before surgery. would love to hear more on events in the area. Keep me posted and good luck I know how excited u all are!! haven't figured out how to updatee my weight loss ticker but I'll give it ANOTHER TRY