I have been looking around the boards for anyone from Georgia. Am I all alone here?:welldoneclap:

Welcome. We are here to help. Tell us what you need.

Hi All, I've never posted before. I am covered under State Health HRA and attended a telephone conference today and was informed that Lapband procedure will be covered effective 1/1/09 through UHC and CIGNA if you have HRA or HDHP plans. This is the information in the Decision Guide. Treatment of Morbid Obesity at approved Centers of Excellence for members who meet the medical guidelines and complete specified requirements. I contacted UHC but they did not have a list of the requirements yet. My surgery was scheduled for 12/8 because I would be self-pay and had to get the money together. I have cancelled now and will wait to see what the requirements will be. Just wanted to let everyone know that may have State Health and have been waiting on this.

Thanks for the support ya'll. Tomorrow I go see my Dr. Crawford and my nutritionist. Still nervous.

I'm ready to get this show on the road.

Hi All, I've never posted before. I am covered under State Health HRA and attended a telephone conference today and was informed that Lapband procedure will be covered effective 1/1/09 through UHC and CIGNA if you have HRA or HDHP plans. This is the information in the Decision Guide. Treatment of Morbid Obesity at approved Centers of Excellence for members who meet the medical guidelines and complete specified requirements. I contacted UHC but they did not have a list of the requirements yet. My surgery was scheduled for 12/8 because I would be self-pay and had to get the money together. I have cancelled now and will wait to see what the requirements will be. Just wanted to let everyone know that may have State Health and have been waiting on this.

I have been going through the process while on United and so far, all has been smoooooth. <knock wood> Good luck!

Rondapooh1, how did your doctor's appointmen go?

I am from GA and I was banded on 9/25/08. :w00t:

Welcome, Jess! How are you doing since your surgery??

Rondapooh1, how did your doctor's appointmen go?

Hi all! My appointment went really well. I like Dr. Crawford. He's fun but still serious if that makes sense. I also saw my nutritionist today. She was very nice and told me to call her anytime. My pre-surgery bloodwork is on the 16th and surgery is the 21st. They said I won't have to even stay overnight probably which is great. Dr. C compared it to gallbladder surgery (which I had a couple of years ago) in regard to recovery time. That's great since I was back to work the next week.

I start my full liquid diet next Tuesday. I did convince them to let me have home made vegestable Soup at night. Dr. Crawford agreed as long as it was meat free. YEAH. I think I'll survive now. :tongue:

Hello Georgians,

I live in Dublin, GA but had my surgery in Savannah at Memorial Bariatrics- Dr. Oliver Whipple. I was banded on Sept 23, 3008 and things are going very well for me so far. I have one more week on full liquids then I start soft solids. My doctor does 21 days of liquids then solids. I am sooo looking foward to eating some food that I can chew. Nice to meet you all.

Speck- I am glad to see that you are doing well. Yeah Sept Samuri's

Hello Georgians,

I live in Dublin, GA but had my surgery in Savannah at Memorial Bariatrics- Dr. Oliver Whipple. I was banded on Sept 23, 3008 and things are going very well for me so far. I have one more week on full liquids then I start soft solids. My doctor does 21 days of liquids then solids. I am sooo looking foward to eating some food that I can chew. Nice to meet you all.

Speck- I am glad to see that you are doing well. Yeah Sept Samuri's

Welcome! Glad to see a fellow Dubliner on here. :biggrin:

I know there are more of us out here, but they haven't spoke up yet. LOL.

No, you are not alone. I am from Lawrenceville, GA. I have done everything just waiting for 1 class and a consult. Hope to see u post again.

I am in Columbus and getting banded by Dr. Lin with Emory on 10/28, can't wait.

I'm post banded. I can't say enough about DeKalb Medical Center. They were all so good!

Hello fellow Georgians! I am in Atlanta, and am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Hart on Halloween.......SO I'm seriously gonna be a SMASHING PUMKIN!!!!:thumbup:

I just started my pre-op diet today, and it is a real treat :smile2:. I am nervous and scared, and keep thinking what if my liver doesn't shrink enough, hope I don't have to reschedule, blah blah blah......

Best of luck to you all!

I went to the seminar in Athens with Dr. Mejias this week. I really liked him and felt comfortable. I went to my PCP to get my referral and she is not terribly up on bariatric surgery since after some discussion she said gastric bypass and I told her no, that I was wanting to be banded. in the end she requested that I let her and to do her homework to make sure that she referred me to someone she felt was good. She was going to consult with some gastro docs that she works with alot and get their opinions.

As alternative to Mejias, she mentioned a Dr. Proctor in Gainesville and someone else at Northside that she had heard of. In essence, she wanted someone who has done a lot of the procedures and has a good reputation.

I really liked Mejias and appreciated the fact that he only does banding and uses the realize band. I checked Proctor and he seemed to be more focused on gastric bypass which I DO NOT WANT! Should I tell my PCP that if she wants me to go to someone else?