This is my first post but I've been a member for a while. I found out today that my insurance will pay for the surgery and have my psych eval scheduled for Sept 30. After he clears me (hope I'm not crazy!) it should be a matter of weeks for the surgery. Probably mid to late October if not earlier. I've been researching lap band for over a year and had made up my mind and was really looking forward to it. Now I'm kind of scared and wondering if I can really go through with it. Nothing like a reality check. I will go through with it, of course. I decided a while back that I will not go into my 40's like this. Not just for weight or looks but I know I've been lucky so far carrying all this weight. I doubt my poor body can take too much more. I already ache. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself before I started asking questions, like what is PB? I keep seeing it. I'm pretty sure its not peanut butter.

progressive burping. Some people have this with the lap band. Its like burping and for some people liquid or food come up with the burp

Well congratulations!!!! My insurance will not pay a dime…. I am out of pocket for my banding, but I can’t wait. I get mine on 08-18-2008! I even paid for my psychological evaluation. I hope it will be worth the $14,000!! Best of luck to you ... and the evaluation is easy,just answer what normal people would LOL! Oh yeah… I’m new too and was wondering about the whole PB thing myself?!

Congrats!!!on your approval. I'm in KY too. I don't think I'm too far from you. I live in Cave City, KY (near Mammoth Cave area). What doctor are you seeing? How long has the process been thus far? I have just had my first consult. Now, I wait for the insurance approval. I too hope to have my surgery mid-late October, 2008. Was the insurance tough to work with? Who do you have Insurance with?

Best wishes,

Welcome ! I was told "PB" meant "productive burp"...it happens when you don't chew enough or get too large a bite or something too dry etc...it rests at the top of your pouch but won't go through and you "productively burp" it back out. It isn't like traditional vomiting because there's no stomach acid. You may have some slimey saliva and it isn't fun, but it does happen. Some do it all they time, some only once, and some have never done it. I'm aiming for that last group but braced for the possibility!

Thank you for the info. Definitely not looking forward to learning more about that.

So have you gotten the band already? I am very fortunate that my insurance covers this surgery. Thats the only way I'd be able to do this - I can't afford it on my own. Is it $14000 for you? I asked my insurance and they were told it would be $15000. At the seminar, we were told by the doctors that without insurance the band is $17000. Go figure.

Thank you. No, you aren't that far from me. I'm just south of Louisville in the Ft. Knox area. An hour or so from you I think. My surgeon is Dr. Schuster with Louisville Surgical Associates with St Mary and Elizabeth Hospital. The process for me has not been that rough or that long, really. I researched for around a year and then went to a seminar June 30. I had my appointment with Dr. Schuster on July 15. Around 2.5 weeks after that, his office sent the letter of medical necessity. About mid August my insurance asked for a quote and then I found out yesterday that I was approved. The longest parts were the docs office sending the letter and me getting an appt with the psych doc. I'm told that will take about 5 minutes. The surgeons office said I'd likely be scheduled for surgery a couple of weeks after the psych docs report reaches their office. My insurance is with Blue Cross/Blue Shield Federal and I am very happy with them. My friend has another type of Blue Cross/Blue Shield and she has a couple more steps to go through before they will approve. I have found their customer service to be very helpful and friendly. I've had that insurance for less than 2 years so I'm pretty impressed that they approved. Where are you going for the surgery? My consult consisted of a couple of pokes, some deep breathing and showing me the band. It took longer for me to get there.

Thank you. I knew it couldn't be peanut butter. I'm aiming for the last group, too, but think I'll be in the often group. I get terrible hiccups when I eat something dry now. I can't imagine what it will be like when I can't drink when I eat. I guess that is why you have to chew so much.