Just beginning process

Hello Everyone!!  I'm just beginning my process for Lap-Band Surgery!  I am very exicted and hope the process moves quickly!  I attended a weight loss seminar last week and have scheduled my initial visit with the surgeon for August 7th.  Just wondering if anyone has any great advice or words of encouragement.  I am extremely worried about insurance and the cost of the surgery, however I am putting my worries in God's hands!  Thanks for any suggestions or advice!

Hi, welcome to the boards!  As far as insurance goes, put your worries in God's hands and the phone in yours.  Call your insurance and find out what their requirements are for coverage.  When it's time to submit, give them a week and then start calling at least weekly to find out where you are in the process.  It's been the experience of more than a few of us that doctor's offices forget to submit things, insurance offices lose things, and no one does anything to rectify that until you make noise.  Be diligent and do what the doctor says you need to do, and you'll be fine. As I often write on here, do what you can to make yourself as healthy as possible while you are waiting.  Any weight lost is helpful for your surgery.  Walk daily, chew small bites slowly, start taking a vitamin to get yourself in the habit, and drink water.  Anything you do now to get healthier will help during surgery and recovery.  We're here to answer questions, if we can, and support, as best we can. Take care and good luck. Ellen

I will have to agree with the above post... start making little changes now so you arnt overwhelmed post-op... I started by cutting out soda, then cutting back on fast food and started working exercise into my everyday routine.. many people get "shocked" post-op because they feel the rug was ripped from under them... you may want to pick up books about changing habits or overcoming food addiction so you can identify some of your eating issues and have a good basis of how to deal... also finding a good support group and attending pre-op is a good way to learn from others :-) You can call the insurance and find out what your benefits would be... that should give you a good idea of how much you will have to spend for the insurance. If you have to pay a pecentage the surgeons office should be able to tell you how much they will charge you and give you an approximation of the hospital. Good luck!

I can't really add to the excellent advice you've already been given but just wanted to say good luck and hope you have a smooth and speed process!!

Hugs, Donna

 

Thanks for all the terrific advice!!  It's feels so wonderful to be able to talk to all of you (it's just not the same sharing all of this with my husband/family).  I really appreciate all the kind words.  I'll keep you posted!

Best wishes and you got great information from Ellen and Jennifer. That should get you off and running!

Hi and Welcome, you will get alot of support and help on this site.  I agree with the first post.  Make sure you have all your ducks in a row especially when it comes to the insurance.  Make sure you have all the documentation not just records from your PCP but any weightloss attempt you have made and documentation to back that up.  I made the mistake of only having info from my ob/gyn which whould a low bmi not thinking duh low bmi because I was dieting.  So now I am appealing the ins. co. denial.  Changing your habits now like Jennifer said is great to do now.  It will, from what I hear make things a lot easier in the long run.  Good Luck!!