Hi,

Anybody out there? I live in Maryville and I'm going to a seminar on May 10th at Blount Memorial. I don't have high hopes that my insurance will pay. There may be an exclusion for any obesity treatment, but I hope to find out more at the seminar. If my insurance doesn't pay I will have to decide if I want to self-pay or ... what I don't know.

I have so many fears, questions, concerns running through my head. I probably need to write them all down. One of my biggest worries with self-pay is what if I have complications. Aside from all of the fears for my life and my health due to complications from the surgery, would I be opening this huge financial hole if things don't go well and i'm self-pay.

I probably need to post some of my fears on the general discussion board too. And maybe after the seminar I will be able to ask some of the questions I have to ease my fears. I don't know. I just don't know.

PS

I am waiting to hear from my insurance company. I was denied the first go around and now waiting to hear about the second. I will self pay if I don't get approved. I went to the support group held first thursday of every month in the BM Auditorium. It was great. There were women there who had lost 125lbs or more in about a year. They were encouraging and honest about their experiences. None regret having the surgery even though a few have had some minor complications. As far as self pay goes, you have to think about what your longterm health is worth. To me it is definitely worth the $14,000 or so it would cost to do the surgery. Private message me if you want to talk more and I hope to see you at the Lapband support meetings every month.

I lve in Maryvile and I had lap band surgery done by Dr. Boyce in Knoxville on April 14 of this year. I am extremely happy. I seem to have been lucky that I have had absolutely no "major" problems and very few minor ones. I chose Dr. Boyce because I did not care for the treatment I received by the staff at a local doctor here in Maryville when I was first considering surgery. Dr. Boyce and his staff have been wonderful. He is very gentle and concerned that you are a "happy" patient.