I can't believe it! It is really happening! 1/12 is my date! I went to my first information session in 9/07! It took me 16 months to get my act together, go through the 6 month supervised medical weight loss plan and then follow up with all appointments, etc. I will be having my surgery with Dr. Ren at NYU!

Can't Wait!

January 5th!! Congratulations

01/14/09 - first consult 11/06/08... maybe I have good insurance or something because I haven't had to jump through many hoops at all...?

I've been really nervous about hoop jumping but so far it hasn't been anything unexpected. Pulmonolgist, Psych Eval, Several visits with the nutritionist and nutrition doctor, 2 Support groups, an educational session ,a pre-op appt with the surgeon ......and a partridge in a pear tree:wink2:! I have my final final visit with nutrition MD on monday where she supposedly is going to "sign off" on surgery and then wednesday pre-op with surgeon. After that it will be in the insurance gods hands.

I don't have my date yet but I'm really thinking it should be in Jan!! I called the insurance and they said they received it a week ago. Once it is approved, the dr will schedule me in about a month so it is really looking like Jan unless I'm not approved and have to jump through some hoops too, haven't yet.

DO WE HAVE A NAME FOR JAN??

I'm in Ontario Canada so we have to pay for it ourselves - no hoops for me! So it's a matter of when! I could do it in December but I'm thinking I might like to enjoy Christmas without being on liquids and mushies! So I think I'm a January 09 like you! Looking forward to it but panicking a bit the more I stumble onto negative experiences and such! How are you all feeling?

January 8th here...It only taken me two months to get everything done and approved from insurance. I am now just sitting around and waiting for the 8th to come. Boy that is making me more scard than just getting it done. I hate to wait on things.

Exercise - what kind and how long is the best way for to loss the weight? When should I be starting this. Any help would be very helpful.

My docs suggested walking. I have been slacking lately due to school...but...I was walking around 3 miles a day. I plan on starting that back up next week. Running of course is the best way but it is really hard on your body. I used to do 3minutes of walking 3 minutes of jogging plus 5 min warm-up/cool down periods for a total of 40 minutes. I felt awsome when I was doing that.

January 2nd, 2009 here! It's taken me from July of '08 to get all of the paperwork, testing, poking, prodding, fighting with insurance, etc... to get this date. If I've learned anything, I've had to be my own advocate for this whole process. If I didn't keep on top of the insurance, the doctors, the physicians group, etc...I would have never gotten where I am today.

We can do it! I'm really excited! Any bandsters have any advice for me! Our offices are closed golbally from the 19th through the 5th, and I'm taking that first week after surgery off to recover, so HAPPY THREE WEEKS OFF TO ME!!! :cursing:

January 12th for me too!!! I'm really excited, but I know once Christmas passes I'll be a nervous wreck as it gets closer.

I am a Jan bander!! No date should get it in a week or so, BUT they said Jan for sure, I am getting nervous though and anxious to get it over with already!

29 more days for me! I'm more excited about the banding than I am Christmas!

I found out at 6:30 this morning that I was approved for January 9th. I went to see my surgeon on Tuesday morning and they sent in my info to the insurance that day so it took less than 48 hours for insurance approval. It took me 7 months to get to this point.

I have to say if there's anything I learned through this process is to make sure that the surgery scheduler is familiar with your insurance. I told her more than once that BCBS Federal Standard Option did not require the 6 month diet but she said that her office had dealt with this and yes they did. Well on Tuesday after asking her again about the insurance she finally said that she was not familiar with my insurance. In my personal opinion if I had pushed it more I could have had surgery by now. But what's done is done. I am too excited right now to care :wub:

My pre-operative liquid diet starts the day after Christmas how funny is that! :whatchutalkingabout It is two weeks prior to surgery. I have one more final weigh in on the 6th and so far I have stayed 20lbs down.

Jan 19 for me. I didn't have to jump through insurance hoops, just had to save my pennies. I am going to Mexico. Two of my friends went to the same Dr.

I got insurance approval this morning!!!!!!!!!!!! I am soooooooo happy!!!!

Hi all you January 09 bansters!

I'm joining you!!! My surgery is Jan 19!

I'm excited, and it can't be Jan 19 fast enough...

Let's stick together!

Can't wait to hear all your experiences...