I recently attended a seminar given by Foothills Weight Loss Center and am gung-ho about the lap band surgery! I would love to chat with anyone near me! I have my initial consultation on 3/10 with Dr. Ray. Will post with updates! good luck to all! Jodi :wink:

Hey Jodi, Good for you! I actually saw Dr Ray too. All my documentation just got sent to the insurance company. It has been agonizingly slow! Hopefully, I will get an approval soon. Glad to see you are close, perhaps we will run into each other at one of the support groups!

What did you think of Dr. Ray? Just curious, I haven't been to my intial consult yet, going on 3/11. I am very anxious about the whole insurance thing. We have Aetna, I have read good and bad things on here about them, mostly good though, so I have a good feeling about getting approved.

Also, what made you choose FWLC as opposed to Parkwest or Baptist? Yes, I am nosey I just want to get as much info as possible about all the options available! Have you attended any support groups yet? I am actually in Knoxville, so one near me would be good. Anyway....thanks for the reply, I would love to chat as we go thru this process!

Good Luck! Jodi

Hey Jodi, I have only seen Dr. Ray once, well twice if you count the edu seminar he did. He seems to be a spirtual/religious kind of guy. That is ok with me as long as he is not pushy with it. Anyway, ..

I chose them becasue I wanted a group that was a Center of Exellance. I use to work at Covenant Health and was involved with them when they were getting the Center of Exellance certification. I honestly did not know about Baptist - I don't think they are a COE, but not sure. And that answers the last question - I know WAY to many people at Covenant and do not want to have the surgey there. I kinda believe there is not such thing as 'privace' as my little brother use to say.

I have been to several support groups - 1 last night in fact. They paired the pre ops up with a post op so we cousl ask questions and stuff. I ended up with the guy on the web page that has lost 150 pounds. It was way cool and he had a lot of really good things to say and pointers to make. You'll like Dana too - she is the program cordinator (gosh wish I could spell!) she is a band pts and has lost 95 pounds so far.

The insurance bs is the worst. Initially they said 6 months, I have BCBS and my work policy required 2. so, after the 6 was up we sent in all the papers and it was denied because my work policy requires 12(in 2 years)! Man was I aggervated. I had to hunt down and stalk this retired doc I had been to early in in 08 and get my chart. It took about 6 weeks and 75 dollars, but I got it and we sent everything in again on 3/2. I expect to hear from them next week. The first request was 2 weeks to the day before we heard and it was over new years day week.

I would love to chat too! I have good support, but like they said last night, the ones that really understand are the ones going thru it.

keep in touch and I will be thiniking of you on Tuesday.

I was a little confused, your work policy requires 12 what in two years? Doc visits or weight checks or something? Yep, need all the good vibes I can on Wed. I gues I am more nervous about the money than anything, I wish I knew ins would approve me, before I forked out the $$ upfront. It is very tight financialy for us right now, and if I waste $750 for nothing, well...you can imagine. There is just no way I could do this out of pocket.

Where was your support group meeting? I'd like to come to one soon...talk soon! Jodi

Hey , just touching base to see how you are doing! I had my first visit with Dr. Ray. You're right, very religous, he talked more about that then the surgery. I am a religous person, but well, geeze....

Anyway, things look good, looks like I can do the 3 month Pre-op diet, then they will send in my paperwork . I am keeping my fingers crossed... I have to lose around 15-20lbs. by my surgery, so I am working on that, plus I have psyh and upper GI appointments scheduled.

His staff is extremely nice by the way, loved the insurance lady, and my nurse. They all seem very well tuned to what has to happen to progress you thru all the red tape. Hope to hear good things from you.

Hi Carol,

Congratulations on making the decision to investigate gastric banding surgery. That first step was one that I put off for a long while. I'm so glad that I went through with it. Banding has improved my health and changed my life.

I was banded last August by Dr. Boyce at Parkwest Hospital. He is a really excellent surgeon with a very supportive manner.

I'd be happy to discuss my experiences with you.

Bryan

Brian,

HI! It's so good to hear from people close by! I am in the beginning stages, just went for initial consult on 3/11. I feel very fortunate that we have good insurance and a great set of people working with me at the docs office. I will start my required 3 month post opt diet officially on 4/7 with my PCP, but I am making small changes right now. Trying to prepare myself! I believe I am down about 5 lbs.

You look great! Have any good advice? I will keep in touch!

Jodi

Hi Waynes6, thought I would pop in with an update. My surgery is finally scheduled for 4/30. I had trouble with the office getting it scheduled. I got the letter from the insurance company that I was approved and finally after 12 days and several phone calls, I called the office manager. I was finally scheduled that afternoon. I travel with my job about 50 % of the time and if I do not get things scheduled out 2 to 4 weeks in advance I am in trouble. My preop visit with Dr. Ray is tomorrow.

I posted in another forum questions about Dr. Ray. I had someone strongly suggest that I look at another surgeon due to the doctors having lots of complications. It has kind of freaked me out, but I am ready with all my questions tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.