So, I am seriously ready to physically GO to the pulmonologist's office to sit and wait for my clearance letter! First, my sleep apnea results sat until I called to ask for them to be faxed to the surgeon, now the ONLY thing outstanding on my pre-op checklist is to get clearance from the pulmonologist for surgery. Both my surgeon's office and myself called them on TUESDAY to ask for this info! I just called today to check the status and I hear "uh... I have a note to remind myself for the transcriber to get that done this afternoon". WTH?!? Not to mention, she is such a rude lady. I mean, aren't THEY working for US? I really don't care--I'm going to continue to harrass her until that freaking letter gets sent. They should have done it TWO WEEKS AGO when I was in their office!!!

My surgeon isn't back in the office until tomorrow to sign off on my checklist so his assistant can submit to insurance, but I'm so worried this letter won't get in before then to submit and I've already lost almost a week getting this submitted. The upside is that I called Keystone HPE (BCBS PPO) and they said it typically takes 48 hours to approve, which is awesome! But, I'm just so frustrated that I'm stalled because of this witch. She is the only thing holding the submission process up and it really is just soooo disappointing.

I have been really upbeat all week despite the delay, but now it's just getting harder and harder to stay positive--I feel like I'm going to be waiting forever. I just want a stinking surgery date already!!!!!!!

Thanks for listening....

Relax. You will be banded for life. You are clearly on the right path to losing weight. I know it is fustrating because of course these people don't find it as imprortant as you do, but it will all get done. You will be banded before you know it.

You have everything. BCBS will get it and more than likely sign off on it quickly. It took me a week and that was 6 years ago, so hopefully it will take you days.

Have a glass of wine today and Celebrate the future.

I definately understand your frustration.....I saw the psy on 8/20 and she didn't send my doc 9/1....I had to called like 6 times. Just know things go extremely fast there after

I feel your pain!! Hang in there! We'll be banded before we know it! :thumbup:

I know it is hard waiting, it is driving me nuts too. I started all this in early May.

I have been using this time to modify subtle things in my behaviors , eating habits etc. I have lost 15 lb from that. I have been educating myself more and more about nutrition etc.

So be patient, we have to be, the more prep we do the more successful I believe we can be and dedicated with the right information and support.

We are making a huge lifetime commitment here.... longer than most marriages LOL right? That kind of puts it into perspective doesn't it?

Hang in there.

Hi Julian,

I am a very determined person and I took that form to my doctor and waited for it right there... :-) Seriously. Next morning, I took the form to my surgeon's office and I was scheduling my last appointment. That was on Monday. Yesterday I got my surgery date!

I can't tell you what to do, but a little pressure sometimes goes a long way. Some of these doctors office staff are very nice, but some really get on my nerves!

Good luck!

WOW! I am so glad I found this website, it sounds like I need to help my husband start now! We currently have Providence Ins. but I was told that Kaiser P. will pay for his lap band so we are switching Ins. when we can next month. My husband is 6'6 and his weight is 475, on top of being a diabetic, he has a host of other problems, sleep apnea, joint pain and we were told all these will go away once he gets the lapband or similar type surgery. We sure hope so! I see depression setting in too. I guess we should prepare for a "fight" with the ins. companies. His current Dr. says he is a prime canidate for it and will state that to help us. I am afraid if he doesn't, his life expectancy will be way too short.

Thank You for reading. His wife

Call the office every hour until you get what you want. Watch how fast it get's done. :biggrin:

Call the office every hour until you get what you want. Watch how fast it get's done. :biggrin:

Thanks! we'll take any advice we can! how are you doing with yours?