Newbie: Just saying Hello

Hello all I just wanted to say hello. I'm awaiting approval from Aetna for Lap band surgery with Dr. Vig at Barix Clinics.  I've been so excited this week. I feel like I'm finally getting near the end of the wait and I am so ready to start my new life! If anyone has advice, tips or would be willing to offer support I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to share your expirences with Aetna or lap band. Thank you Juli

hi juli! welcome a-board i had rny at barix in groveport-only met dr vig briefly but very nice guy!my surgeon isn't there anymore you will love the place--i can'thelp on the lap band tho-- i am very willing to offer support tho! i'm up north by toledo but sending hugs and prayers your way!

Awww Thanks. I can really use the support. I really don't have great support. I've recieved some but very little positive support from family and friends.  I think they are jealous or feeling like I will leave them behind once I have met my goal. Sigh

Sirry to hear that. I just want to say. Contrats on going the long rad anyway! If you are lacking support  in other places. You will get it hear. Everyone has been very supportive and helpful in the ohio forum.  I thuink reading the personal pages and the  the threads have reeally helped me make the decision to have the surgery.  GOOD LUCK

Thank you. I'm finding the more I am in the forums the more I know I'm doing the right thing no matter what anyone else feels. I'm so happy that this exsists.

Hi, Juli.  I have Aetna, and I was able to get approved for my RNY on the first try.  All I can say is just to make sure they have ALL the documentation they ask for in their WLS clinical bulletin, and don;t be afraid to follow-up with them on the status of the request.  Everyone I spoke to at Aetna was very nice and I'm glad I followed up, because somehow the first submission from the surgeon got lost and we had to send it again (how a 50+ page fax gets "lost", I have no idea!)

Don't worry what other people think.    Some will be supportive and some will not (and who falls into which camp may surprise you!), so just lean on those who ARE and ignore the rest.

Lora

Lora,  Thanks so much . I hope I hear from them soon. I'm having alot of anxiety over the approval. I almost called Aetna today to see if they have recieved my request and if there was any chance it had been approved but I was scared to hear I might have been denied. I dont have alot of problems and I'm pretty healthy. I'm afraid based on that the will say its medically unnessesary. I see it as preventative and very nessesary. I have already ,lost a great deal of weight on my own. I once topped the scales ate 378 pounds and have kept nearly 100 of that off for nearly 4 years. But dispite having established and maintained healthy eating habits I simply cannot lose any more weight. I have been big  at various sizes all my life.  I know that I cant lose and keep it off without the help of this surgery. As for support I've already been supprised. At first my mother seemed very supportive but then she started making comments like "I'd better get busy. I can't have a daughter that is smaller than me". She is a size 16. I mean can I not have just one moment of glory in my life please? She also said she would be there to help me after the surgery but has since changed her mind also.  Some people just dont understand and have told me I shouldnt do it. Others say nothing at all. I tell them Im doing it for me , noone else. Until they have walked in this fat girls shoes I dont expect them to have a clue. I do have one person in my life that has vowed to be there. My best friend Tiffany. She has been thru this process and understands what I need to do.

Hey there.. I have Aetna.. but was excluded due to a company policy.. nothing related to Aetna. I have Lap Band.. and love it.. down 77.5 lbs since December.  I did pass up Dr Vig to go to Dr Curry in Cincy.. I live in Cleveland..

Good Luck on your surgery and let me know if you have any questions.. Amanda ps.. if you haven't seen any pictures of the incisions, I have one on my profile.

Amanda, Yes I did see the incisions. I actually looked at your pics the other day and they arent as bad as I thought they would be. Congrats. As far as Company exclusion I don't know what our policy is. I do know they want us to be fit and healthy so I hope everything will be ok.  All I know is I have Aetna Choice POS II. Again congrats on your surgery and your weightloss. You are looking good girl! Juli