What a great help everyone is!!! Next question...please...

Oh my goodness, thank you all so much for writing!! It definitely sounds do-able. My sister had mentioned  the same thing about "fill ups", but since my parents still live in Lutherville, I could always plan to stay over on the nights I would need/have an adjustment, I guess! Also I was so glad to hear that I wasn't being cheap, or putting money above my health (thanks for not judging).  I am considering Averbach, Singh & Von Rueden, who is now part of that group. Okay, so I think I am going to get this ball rolling! Any last minute - before taking the jump - tips I need to know BEFORE I make the call?  Any words of wisdom as to that 1st meeting, I literally have no game plan set up. Do I need one? Should I research at any other sites? I feel comfortable with what is going to take place procedure wise and how it works, why it works, my responsibility in making it work for the rest of my life, but I have NO idea about co-morbidities, insurance (although I know they cover it, but I will need pre-certification, but I am not even sure what pre-certification encompasses -  Does the office do a lot of the leg work in that respect (dealing with insurances, or am I on my own)?   I plan to be on this site for awhile (I am a huge message board fan---soooooo much info!!!) And you all will soon start to think "That Alicia is quite wordy", I am so sorry for that, I sort of write like I speak (very wordy)!! I will try to keep these as succinct as possible, but old habits die hard-----which, now that I mention it, is kind of why I am here in the 1st place!!!!   Thanks again for all of your (literal, factual help & wonderful support)    Alicia

Since your mom is in Lutherville, have you thought about GBMC? I really do like Dr. Moein, although I hear with Dr. VonR leaving the office had a hugh turnover, and I'm thinking he is probably swamped especially after the 60 minutes episode the other night. As far as insurance stuff, my doctor's office pretty much did everything. I had a BMI just around 43 and high blood pressure, and that was enough for me to get the RNY, I'm not certain about the lap band.  Good luck with it all.... Mary

Alicia, Welcome and wish you success on any procedure/method youy will choose to lose weight. I myself did have lap band two weeks ago.I didn't need to go to Dr.'s office every week. So far gone to Dr.'s office 2 times for consultations (one the first time, the other just before surgery) and once last week for post op exam. I havee to add I went twice in evennings for support meetings. These are all since past August 10 months ago. For Lap band, depending on your insurance. you need to first of all make sure insurance policy covers it. Sometimes employers (big or small company) exclude weight loss surgeries from their plan. The best way to know this for sure is to contact not only insurance company but to verify with HR of yours/ or your husband's work place and ask them to show or direct you to SPB Summary of Benefits for this year.  I knwo this formm experience of going through all the things and then Wham, insurance had exclusion policy. Usually if they cover WLS, they need BMI of either over 40 or over 35 with 2 comorbidities (such as sleep abnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, GERD)  Also,they will ask for many different tests bbefore submitting to insurance such as: 1- complete bloodwork 2- Sleep sstudy to see if you have Sleep Abnea 3- EKG 4- Chest X Ray 5- Lower GI sonogram  6- MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL is usually  6 months of trying very hard to lose weiht and it has to be either chroicled either by PCP,only for the purpose of losince weight or weigh watcher documentations,  that hadn't pssed more than 2 years. 8- a food tracker for a typical day or month (details of what you have been eating)

Hi Alicia:  Do what you feel comfortable doing and go to who you feel comfortable with.  As far as insurance, you are probably going to have to do a lot of the leg work yourself.  Keep good notes, document everytime you have a conversation with someone.  I know that when I started I had to have several conversations with my insurance company about coverage. (and I work in HR)  They would say, yes it's covered with pre-authorization and then wouldn't or couldn't tell me what pre-authorization meant.  Listen to the support group at your doctors office and don't try to "buck the system."  They usually know what your insurance company requires, even if they say they don't require it.  Go with the flow and do what your told (do I sound like a mother or what) and you'll be down that road before you know it.  It took me longer than I thought.  When I started out in August I thought I could have surgery by December ~ my insurance company told me that a 6 month "supervised / documented" weight loss program was not part of their pre-authorization, but the office staff was right, it turned out to be necessary.   Keep asking questions.