I am set for surgery June 4 with Dr. Adam Smith or Dr. Craig Ferrara. Anyone have any experience with them?

I am set for surgery June 4 with Dr. Adam Smith or Dr. Craig Ferrara. Anyone have any experience with them?

hi. so how did your surgery go?

am interested in lapband but not sure if i'm a good candidate

mimo-

The pre-op liquid phase really sucks! The good thing is that I lost my hunger around day 4, but I am getting a bit weak....good weight loss though! Only three more days to go!

Good luck on your first fill tomorrow!

Thanks! I'm excited about it. it'll feel good to have some restriction I think.

Best of luck with your surgery! I'm sure everything will go great. The staff at the westside hospital is wonderful.

One thing I'd definitely suggest, though, is to be sure to sleep at least the first night in a recliner. I didn't listen to that suggestion and regretted it. If you don't have a recliner pick up a wedge pillow. Those are also helpful when you're back in bed and wanting to sit up but your tummy is still sore.

Dr Smith is good. He did mine a year ago. Didn't really start losing the weight good until severl fills (8.25) from Sept - Dec . And now seems like I having to start over getting fills... had one in March last week, feel no different seems like before band not sure what's going on.

How exciting for you that have had the surgery with Dr. Smith. Unfortunately, my insurance company Lovelace HMO has denied me, I appealed and they denied again. I am working with Henry at the hospital, but this is absolutely ridiculous! I am so disgusted with the insurance company right now.

He did mine last week... I'm pleased so far. I had minimal pain afterwards.

3kidsmom -

I spoke with Paula today before the surgery and she said that they are having a horrible time with the Lovelace insurance company. There are two people scheduled for surgery tomorrow that they think will have to cancel due to denial from Lovelace.....they still haven't heard a final response as of this morning!

I really wish you luck. Henry will absolutely go the extra mile to try to get you accepted. He is VERY good at what he does!

Good luck to you!

@3kidsmom--

My insurance was denied as well, I self paid the 15500 to have it here in Albuquerque.

I recently found out that you can have the surgery in texas with Dr Smith for $9900 and then get your fills here in abq. If your insurance doesn't come thru that might be something to consider. I wish I'd known it was so much less in texas than it is here.

Thank you HappyMom and Mimo:

I am reviewing the appeal process through my employer (office of personnel management) which is the last step. Good to know the surgery for self pay is cheaper in Texas. May have to go that route. This insurance bureaucracy is so stupid! Yes Henry has been great, and he said Dr. Smith was meeting or going to meet with the medical director for Lovelace HMO. Hopefully we can get some results.

3kidsmom - have you heard back again from Lovelace? I also have them as a carrier and curious about your outcome.

terri0826,

No luck! I have not appealed to my employer yet, which would be the last step. I am still contemplating another appeal. The main hang up was that according to Lovelace I have not made substantial efforts to lose 20 lbs or 10% of my weight and surgery is not medically necessary. I think this entire insurance thing is a racket!

I am sorry that the insurance company isn't working with you on this.

My 'efforts' to lose weight meant that I had to photocopy my WW meeting weight booklet (from 2007) and provide copies of my bank card statement for the WW online service (2009). I qualified for surgery with a lower BMI but I had two co-morbidities.....diabetes and high-blood pressure.

Are you on any medication for diabetes or high-blood pressure? Since the pre-op diet I am now off of Metformin & Januvia (diabetes meds) and Benicar & Hydrochlorothyazide (HBP meds). The cost of these meds were almost $450/month for the insurance company. They will make back the cost of the surgery in less than 2 years time. Maybe you can use that as an argument.....if you are on meds.

Do you know what 'subtantial efforts' means to you insurance company? Is it monitored weight loss from a dietitian or just participation in WW?

Good luck to you. I hope that the talk that Dr. Smith had with the Lovelace insurance company makes a difference. You would think that since Lovelace hospital offers the surgery that their insurance company would actually be on board with the procedure! Crazy huh?

I should have done that before, I've attended WW and another doctor monitored diet program with weekly diet logs, etc. I assumed (incorrectly) the 6 monthly visits with my doc monitoring diet and exercise and the psych eval would be sufficient.

I do not have any co-morbidity, and this is another reason Lovelace said it is not medically necessary. I think its a bunch of BS

I still may be able to dig up my old diet logs and appeal through my employer.

Thanks for the info

I should have done that before, I've attended WW and another doctor monitored diet program with weekly diet logs, etc. I assumed (incorrectly) the 6 monthly visits with my doc monitoring diet and exercise and the psych eval would be sufficient.

I do not have any co-morbidity, and this is another reason Lovelace said it is not medically necessary. I think its a bunch of BS

I still may be able to dig up my old diet logs and appeal through my employer.

Thanks for the info

I have Lovelace HMO. I am worried they won't approve me. I have pre-diab and I think I have sleep apnea- Haven't been tested- I just take sleeping pills. I have a 36 BMI. Do you think there is a chance? I haven't talked to my Doctor about this I am just going to seminar to get information.

Hello everyone my name is Robert. I am having surgery by Dr. Smith on November 4th. It's great to hear that you all have had good experience with Dr. Adam Smith.