Hello everyone... My name is Christina, and i'm like most of you are or have done.. i'm beginning my lap-band journey. I have Aetna, and I spend my time reading the horror stories.. eck... or success stories.. Here's to hoping I get approved, lol! I have to complete the 6 month diet plan, and I will officially get that started in August. I'm a full-time college student pursing an A.S in Medical Technology with hopes of transfering to a 4 yr University for my bachelors.. I want to do clinical testing. I am considering obtaining phlebotomy certification as well, which is funny because I have a thing with needles, lol! I live with my boyfriend, and we have no children. Just kinda taking life day by day right now.

My name is Tammy, and i'm just now getting my referral to a specialist for the lapband. I can't wait, I'm so excited, but scared at the same time. My journey will be longer, I think, because i've got medicaid. If anyone knows anything about this, please let me know.

Christina,

I have Aetna and had no problem getting approved after doing the 6 month plan. I had surgery early this month and they have been good throughout. It can seem like it takes forever sometimes, but hang in there.

Linda

Hopefully in 8 months ill be saying the same, lol! I have my psyc eval and meeting with a dietician at the end of July, and I'll have my first meeting with my doctor either at the end of July as well, or August... i'm hoping that'll place me around Feb. if all goes well maybe I can have the surgery for valentines day, lol! I'm facing the issue of BMI requirements though.. I had a BMI of 42 in 2006, nothing recorded in 2007 (I had no insurance), and and a BMI of 45 April of 2008.. either way, i'm guessing if they deny me 'coz of no BMI for 2007 , i'll just have to wait til April of next year, for 2 consecutive years. lol I'm hoping I won't have to go down that route though!! :bored:

Hopefully the BMI issue won't delay you. I can tell you that in my case because of a mistake my papers were sent in without my former Dr.'s records, so it was really just 1 year of weight history submitted and they approved me with no problems. I don't know if it was because my BMI was so high (49) or if it helped that I had a comorbidity, but either way I was really lucky.

Good luck to you- it sounds like you are being realistic about your timeline.