Hi Everyone!

I go to see the Dr. for the first time on Nov. 2 and I'm trying to make sure I'm as prepaired as possiable. I have a lot of information on the lap band, and my insurance, but I'm not sure about the diet history. Did you have to provide exact dates, weight, type of diet, ect... ??? I went on my first diet when I was ten, and I've been on like a BILLION since then...I can't even remember my phone number let alone my weight befor/after the ill fated cabbage diet... (to this day, just looking at cabbage makes me kinda sick) Ugh! I'm trying too hard or do I need to look into hypno-therapy to regain my "lost" diet information?

Thanks!

-Nora

I had to do the same and exercise history, as well. I ,also, have had weight problems since childhood. Just do the best you can. I went ahead and wrote a sorta summary and added to my paperwork. I talked about how from the 2nd grade I was put on diet after diet and had my food restricted by my parents and doctors in addition to the PE classes I took in college, skii lessons, you name it-I listed it. It's frustrating but just do the best you can. I know exactly how you feel! How can you list close to 30 years(for me) of diets and exercise?! I had to have 5 years of dr. documented weight problems. That was sorta hard for me because I hadn't had a reg. dr for several years -until 3yrs ago. So, I had to look up the dr. that delivered my last two children now 7 & 10. I was glad he still had my records. Good luck to you!

Hi, Nora, my dr. had a 1st visit form to fill out. It had several things listed that I would not have remembered on my own. I didn't have to remember when I did them. They're just basically trying to document that you have made attempts at weight loss and been unsuccessful. Best of luck to you!

Hi Nora,

I too created a summary of every diet, self-help book/program, etc that I could remember. I only recorded amount of weight loss if I thought it was a worthy amount and/or successful for some period of time. For example, the 6 years I spent going to Weight Watchers and how I lost 60lbs the first year on 'Fat & Fiber', then slowly (over the next 5 years) gained 40 of it back when they moved to the 'Points System'.

I believe any type of information you share helps your doctor and insurance company realize that you have exhausted all options and made every attempt to lose weight and keep it off.

Good luck.

I created a summary of most of the diets I had tried, but I did see a weight dr. for several years so I contacted his office and had a copy of my records sent to me, as well.

If you can get your insurance to cover the band, it will be worth the extra effort creating a diet history. Besides, how are they going to prove if your facts and numbers aren't exactly the same as the experiences you had? Write a story, I'll vouch for you!

Nora, here's my surgeon's website, www.lap-surgery.net . Click on pre-op questionnaire. It will list several different diet attempts by their names. Also, do you have any pre-existing health problems? Do you have any family history of health problems? Write down everything that you can think of to help win your case w/ the insurance company. You're your own best advocate. Good luck!

You Guys ROCK!!! Thanks to your advice and your links, I can do this, and if I can't I'll make something up, something way cool, like traumatic accident at twinkie factory, and if they ask DeLarla will back me up :-)

Thanks Again!

-Nora

I'll make something up, something way cool, like traumatic accident at twinkie factory

-Nora

Why didn't I think of that one? It's so much more interesting!