How do you begin

Hi, this is all very new to me. I am 38yrs and have a BMI of 46. I am very interested in the Band. I have asthma,GERD, allergies, depression,Bi-polar, hyperthyroid, degenerative disc disease,neuropathy in both feet,chronic radiculapathy in both legs but primarily in R, 4 bulging discs,permament nerve damage in both legs, stress/urge incontinence. I have not worked since 11-2005 due to my physical conditions. What do I need to do to start this journey? I am not sure about my insurance as we have only had it since May. You used to be able to look up insurance carriers on this site, but I do not see it now. I have not been on type of diet in years due to the depression and I honestly saw no point in it anymore, as it only made things worse. Lose 20lbs put 30 back on,etc. As you all are familiar with. Do I start with that? Or do I contact the surgeons office? I just don't know where I should start. The one thing I do know is if I have to do 1yr of supervised diet, there is no way we can afford it. Our finances are so strained the way it is. Any and all comments,suggestions,ideas will be appreciated and welcome. As you all are the experts having gone thru it yourselves. I figured there was no better place to start. Thank you and GOD bless.

Start with a visit to your primary care doctor. Talk to him/her about the surgery.  Then normally you will need notes in the Dr's file recording your weight for the last 5 years.  It will also be helpful if the notes reflect a "you need to lose weight" comment each time.  The Dr. will normally send you to see a dietician to consult with you about healthy eating and get you enrolled in a program working your way toward surgery.   It will seem odd, but meeting with the surgeon is one of the last  things on the "to do" list.   The program I was in had everthing coordinated through the dietician.  She helped keep me on track with appointments with the correct people in the correct order.    Call your insurance company and ask for WRITTEN requirements to qualify.  Then just follow everything to the letter. Best wishes, 

Thanks for the info. I have not been seeing my current Dr for 5 years. But all I can do is schedule an appt and talk to her. Your suggestion about the written requirements from the insurance company is great. But I am still going to ask my husband for the booklet to see if the only surgeon in town is in network. Just a thought, but will having something documented from my counselor help.  Thanks again. Anyone else have any thoughts/suggestion?

I made an appt to talk to my primary doc and then called my insurance company to see what info they could send me regarding their approval process and if it was covered. All in all it took me just a tad over a year after getting the ball rolling to actually having surgery. Good Luck Jodi