Drs Cook & Cox at Frye in Hickory?

That would be me! Pre-op. I go for my H&P on May 1st with dr. Cooke. I have heard nothing but great things about them both! The testing is time consumming, but it is good to be healthy going into it all. When do you hope to have surgery and what kind? I am shooting for late May or early June. The Clinic has its own forum on line so go there if you haven't. You will love Meridith and Lisa they are the only two I have actually talked with. I met Dr. Cooke at the Ed class and he is very kind and informative. I bet it is nice in Boone, My husband went to ASU. read my blog and see where I am at, we can talk more.I have friend named Monica that had surgery there in Nov.she is so sweet and helpful. I will tell her to write to you. She is my Angel for surgery. Have a Blessed day! Labugmom in Mooresville NC

What's H&P? I'm going for an educational class on May 2nd. Seems like 99% of folks go for RYN but I've decided on Lap-Band. I've heard that RYN folks , a few years after surgery, are getting banded because they're stomachs have stretched. I have read the hickorysurgical webpage which is very helpful and I have a RYN friend and a Lap-Band Friend. I've sent in: application, PCP referral, labwork, psych eval and I hope somebody is sending in all the info to my Cigna Ins. I'd like to get the surgery ASAP. My birthday is early June and thought that would be good timing. Keep in touch, Joanna in Boone

The way it has been for me is as follows. I called the office in February probally the first week. I filled outthe paperwork online, I went to my pcp and got his approval, then he ordred the test I needed to complete a physical. I had a colonoscopy. Endoscopy, stress test, echocardiogram, mammogram, bloodwork, psych exam, and have had two breast biopsies,. I worked very hard for days actually weeks getting all the paperwork to hand to meredith at my education class. She called me and another girl in to say our paperwork was going straight up to the clinic with lisa.( that is a good thing) lisa has to review it to make sure it is all in order then she calls in about 10 days,mine was longer (cause she had surgery and was out a week ) to schedule the h & p which is a history(medical) and a physical with the surgeon. I am scheduled with Dr. Cook the 1st of May @ 9 am.I thought about lap band but went with the other. I plan to ask about the stretching of the stomach. You have to do what you want. I am 50 also. B/d is August 18 th. It would be nice if we had it the same time huh? Just follow the directions they sent you ,then lisa will do the insurance call after the surgeon approves you.Does your insurance cover the surgery, make sure to call and get the answer. Did you have a physical from, pcp in the last 12 months? Also get your medical records for past y 5 yrs and make sure you have enough on them to prove your weights. You only need to have one weight for each year, it needs to be a bmi of 40 or 35 with co-morbib conditions.I will look forward to chatting again! Labugmom lynn

Thank you Lynn, for the detailed response, Frye sent me a packet of stuff. At this point I have everything completed and sent in: 1) psych eval - I was recommended 2) 5 yrs of weights with PCP notes 3) PCP referral letter 4) annual physical and lab work 5) application I've kept apologizing to PCP for pestering her and staff to dig up all this history on me. You know how busy they are and I'm wanting copies of all this past paperwork. yes, my Cigna ins will cover if medically necessary. I have 39 bmi with Diabetes II. I recently had to start injecting insulin. Jock called me a few days ago and said I had to do six months of a physician-supervised diet. I relayed this to PCP and she said of course I don't mind you coming in monthly but I don't think your ins will cover the monthly visits because it's out of the ordinary. When I go to the education class on May 2, I'll ask about it. I suppose I'll just keep jumping through the hoops until... I guess it's Cigna that requires the six-month physician-supervised diet. Isn't it funny that insurance companies and people in general don't think fat folks have ever been on a diet or know anything about diets? Heck, Mama and I were counting carbs back in the '70's. I get annual mammograms and it just so happens that I have my first colonoscopy scheduled in June. My 51st birthday is in June, and I would have liked to have the surgery done on my birthday but looks like it will be several months away for me. Would have been better at my workplace too if I was off or recuperating in the summer but I'll just have to go with whatever. Yes, would be great to have a buddy that goes through the WLS at the same time. Take care, Joanna

I live in Mtn. City , TN, but "do" everything in Boone! I went today for my appt with Dr. Cox. My surgery is scheduled for June 13th. Im happy to read such good things about them on here. It makes me feel alot better.