Hello all,

I have been lurking for a while and didn't want to post until I had something to post. Today I got the referal I needed from my doctor to the WLS program at Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding CA. I am very excited to be starting on this journey and hope to be approved by Blue Cross CA (Calpers) insurance after I complete the program at Shasta. Anyone have experience with this program? God I hope this works for me, I see all the success stories on here but it is still hard to believe that I will be able to get the weight off with the help of the lap band but I am still going to try.

Here's to a brighter lighter future :cool:

Congratulations on starting the program!

If you post this in the CA forum, I bet you'll get more responses. The Doctors and Hospitals forum is another great place to get feedback.

I'm from CA, but the SF Bay Area so I'm not familiar with your program.

Hi Photofire, I am from Redding also, but didn't go thru their program. As you can see I was just banded a little over two weeks ago. Are you going to Shasta Reg. meeting this coming Thursday? Maggies:shades_smile:

I have a house in Redding I was banded on 9/26 and have now lost 25lbs I was banded in Medford I have military insurance. where are you having your surgery?

I so would have had it done in redding but I didnt know they did it there. They have support groups to? wow We spend most of our time in our home in Happy Camp. I am so happy that I got the band i have had a few issues such as eating bread that got stuck YIKES I am happy that you have been approved.

Hi photofire:

I was just banded on November 11 and I have Blue Shield (Calpers) Hills Physicians.

Once I completed the insurance requirements, my primary care doctor and surgeon submitted my paper work to the insurance company for Lap Band surgery. The paper work was sent October 14 and I was approved on October 15. It all happened vey quickly.

I have never heard of Hills Physicians? What were the insurance requirements for you?

Hi Photofire, I am from Redding also, but didn't go thru their program. As you can see I was just banded a little over two weeks ago. Are you going to Shasta Reg. meeting this coming Thursday? Maggies:shades_smile:

Hi Maggies, I just got refered on Friday so the program hasen't even called me to let me know yet so I didn't even know about the meetings yet. I will be calling them on Monday to try and get everything rolling :thumbup: So excited, I am new to the area too so hoping I can meet some new friends at the meetings :thumbup: Actually I am in Lake California just outside of cottonwood. I started to excersice a few months ago, and I also joined our local roller derby team...go beavers...LOL

I had to complete a 6-month supervised diet with weigh ins. I completed a psyche eval. Those two items were required by my insurance company.

The bariatric doctor required that I attend a pre-op support meeting. Complete an introduction meeting. Complete a nutrition class.

Then the bariatric doctor required me to complete an upper GI and a Hpy-lori test. Plus I had to have had a recent mamogram, which I always have annually.

Then I had to complete bllod and urine work, an ekg, and a chest x-ray, which was completed four days before my surgery.

Hills Physcisians administers the Blue Shield insurance program in my area. I actually have Blue Shield Net Value Calpers.

Hello i have finally got approved by cigna insurance this has been going on since january im on my pre op two week diet im getting mine done in austin texas by dr patel this is a dream come true the same insurance company turned me down two years ago dr patels people really know how to work the system for you

Hi Maggies, I just got refered on Friday so the program hasen't even called me to let me know yet so I didn't even know about the meetings yet. I will be calling them on Monday to try and get everything rolling :rolleyes2: So excited, I am new to the area too so hoping I can meet some new friends at the meetings :tongue2: Actually I am in Lake California just outside of cottonwood. I started to excersice a few months ago, and I also joined our local roller derby team...go beavers...LOL

Sounds like you are already into excersing a lot, which is a great start. Let us know when you get approved for surgery. Maggies:shades_smile:

I just got the invite I needed for the Dec 2nd seminar. Is that the same day as support groups by chance? I would love to meet a fellow local bandster! Especially since I don't know anyone here :thumbup: