Congrastulations to you and you sound so happy.  Thanks for posting for the rest of us about your 3 years anniversary. It helps keep us focused.

Update -- So I had my consult with Dr. Eibes and his staff yesterday. All very nice. I was surprised to hear their practice is going towards more bands than RNY's, which is what I initially wanted to do then got convinced only the RNY was the way to go. Now I'm back thinking the band will be great. I had doctor's notes faxed, and it's ready for insurance submission. I had my psych eval already, and that's fine. My doctor's notes from the past three years are S L I M. On two visits she noted obesity, of course ongoing high blood pressure, and just in June my interest in WLS. I think on a 2004 visit she noted past diet attempts and failure to sustain any weight lost. I mean the file is realllllly slim. I could build quite a history from 2002 and before, back to mid 90's. I'm hearing that what's most recent is what they need though. The nurse coordinator said she's optimistic, but she could never say for sure what an insurance will do. I have BC/BS of MN. I requested in June with my PCP to start a physician guided diet, and will probably keep records and go weigh again maybe on Monday for July and get her to note that I did. That will give me two consecutive months of weigh-ins if I need to have a diet on record for approval. August will be here in no-time, and that'll make three months, so it won't hurt to be doing so. I guess they won't get the faxes til Monday, then she said it would be within several days they would get it submitted, depending on how many they had to do as to how fast. I still won't feel like I'm really "on the way" with this process until there is insurance approval, but I attended the seminar at Dr. Eibes' office this morning, and I scheduled the consult for next Friday. Yippee!

GRINNELL, GRINNELL, GRINNELL.... I not only had my surgery there (lap RNY)  I work there!!!  We do it all, including lap banding. Call the Grinnell Surgeons office and schedule a consoltation... They will take good care of ya!!! Any more questions feel free to ask. Stacey

Generally speaking, if it's not a covered procedure you are not going to have much luck.  It it's on with medical necessity, you have a chance.  Talk to a case manager at UHC to be sure of the terminology. 

Your closest doctors would be in Grinnell and Des Moines. Grinnell has Doctors Coster, Sundberg and Kermode and the hospital is a Center of Excellence for BCBS insurance. Methodist and Mercy in Des Moines both have bariatric programs. Since my wife and I both went to Grinnell I can tell you a little about it. They are equipt to handle very large patients, If I remember correctly they have even operated on 600 pound patients. The beds are extra large and the nursing staff is well trained. It is a quiet hospital that is easy to get around in and they are willing to accomodate your family members. The surgeons (we both had Coster) have excellant reputations. They do not talk down to you because of obesity. They are very in tune to the mental issues and the ramifications to your life caused by obesity. Ask questions, they will answer. In fact, I took a 2 sheet list of questions and Dr. Coster took the sheet and wrote down the answers so I would remember his answers. Ask questions and do your research. This is a life altering surgery. We both had RNY. Should you choose Lap-Band (not to be confused with laparoscopic RNY) there is Dr. Eibes in Des Moines, not sure if there are others. If you wish to go with the  DS procedure, I believe the nearest doctor is in Omaha. Good luck in your process of determining what type of surgery and which doctor. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]  Hawkeye Mike