Hello, this is my first post to this forum. I'm wondering if anyone has Union Pacific RR's Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield innsurance and what your experience has been with them in obtaining approval for surgery.  Also, if you happen to have UPRR's United Healthcare insurance and how they have been about approving surgery.  I had a lap RNY in Nov 2001, that wasn't successful at all. I never have had any symptom of the surgery other than some scars from the incisions.  I've never dumped, never had feelings of fullness, never gotten sick from overeating, and I still had heartburn and hunger after my surgery. I lost weight initially while I was still on the liquid/pureed stages of the post-op eating. Once I went to solid foods I completely stopped losing weight. Since then, of course I've gained it back with interest.  When I met with Dr. Forney, he informed me that my post op experiences weren't what they should have been and suggested that my RNY wasn't done correctly. He ordered an upper GI and said my stomach was so large that he didn't believe it was possible that it had actually been reduced to the size it should have been - in fact he felt it was large enough to do a revision and do a lap-band over the bypass. I'm in the process of getting everything together once again to go through the insurance approval process. Right now I'm doing yet another dietitian supervised diet as I understand BCBS requires the supervised diet to be within 2 years or something like that of the surgery and I hadn't done a supervised diet since my many attempts prior to my bypass. Anyway, just wondering if there's any other railroader wives out there who have experience with the railroad's insurance? Anyone with experience getting approval for revisions from RNY to lap-band (band over bypass)? Or anyone with any suggestions on how to push this through to an approval? Thanks, Michelley

Hi MJ, You might check out the grand island support group. They could give you some information. Does a doctor have to monitor your diet or could you do it with a dietician. You could see one at the hospital in your area. Email me and I can give you information about the support group. Good luck. Mona

I am suppose to have my 1st appointment next Monday  in ogalalla and I have recieved nothing in the mail. Don't know where to go , time nothing. Can you give me some phone numbers. I can't even find those. Geuss I am nervous.

Hi Cindy,I have a date also.Mine is June 12th.We live in Central City,Ne.Probably my biggest worry is being 6hrs.away from Dr.Holloway&Dr.Forney****ep thinking what if something goes wrong,because I'm so far away.The staff there is so great. I guess i know they'll have all the answers(I'm just nervious I guess)I went to a group seminar in March of this year.It's so hard to believe they got my insurance approval and work-up so quick! All worked like  fine tuned clock-work.I'm VERY Impressed.Good Luck,                                               Jill Garrett                                                Central City,Ne.68826

Hi Jeannie, congratulations on your upcoming surgery. The followups are done in Ogallala at the hospital. You can have your family doctor take out your staples in 7-10 days after surgery. It is totally normal to be nervous before surgery. I look forward to meeting you and getting you ready for your journey. See you soon. Mona