Good News! My Pcp is giving me a referral to a surgeon. I weighed in at 224.8 and bmi of 41. I'm nervous of course wondering what the surgeons requirements will be. But I am so excited to have made it past step one. Woohoo:w00t:!! I believe this means I am on my way to being a bandster. Wish me luck with the surgeon and the insurance. Does anyone have any advice for me at this point...like don't lose any weight til I see the surgeon? Stuff like that.

that's what made me really look into lap-band....a few months ago my mom was at our PCP checking in (she had GB a few years ago and looks amazing) and when the PCP asked how I was, she told my mom that she already knows the new surgeon and is recommending me for the surgery. She thinks I'm a great candidate and referred me to start the process :tongue2: I'm excited and going to the seminar on 3/13...

A lot depends on your insurance company's requirements. Some require that the surgery site be a "center of excellence" which means they have done x amount of surgeries (I am not sure of the whole criteria, but if they have the "center of excellence" label that is a plus). Many also require a documented 6 month (or two 3 month) diet attempt, and a BMI over 40 plus 100 pounds overweight, or a BMI of 35-39 with one or more comorbidity (ailments afftected by weight: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, reflux/GERD, sleep apnea, joint arthritis and there may be a few others I can't think of). You will need to attend the bariatric seminar, have a consult with the surgeon, a psych evaluation (some may also want a stress test or echocardiogram), and when these are complete, your paperwork is submitted to the insurance company. I needed a 6 month diet so I just used the dietician on the bariatric team. Cost me $35 and I had to document my weight every other week, then at then end she wrote it up and I had to take it to my PCP to sign off. Once that was done my paperwork was sent. I am not-so-patiently waiting for approval. Hope this info helps.

I do have co morbidities. Type II Diabetes, High blood pressure, High Cholesterol, Arthritis of the knee and years ago I was told I have mild sleep apnea. I am hoping for a good surgeon that has done many lap bands. We'll see who the PCP office refers me to. I will check out the surgeon once I have a name and ask many questions. Thanks for all your help.

Start/224.8/Goal/120

oh yeah...all of that i already know...it's the same process basically as going for Gastric Bypass...the hospital team has been doing this for a LONG time...we just have a new surgeon to the area, that's all...thanks for the info though