Hello - I'm new to this board and this whole process. I've lost weight and gained it all back (and more) at least 3 MAJOR times. I've finally decided that I need to have WLS but my insurance (IHC) has a written exclusion. Is an appeal a waste of time? I need to decide if I should push them to cover or look for a job with insurance that WILL cover, as I see no way to self pay. Please, any ideas and suggestions are appreciated.

There is a group of lap-band patients that gets together once a month for an unofficial support group/dinner. Speaking of which, it is this coming Monday. Monday, January 16th. at 5:30 p.m. at Cracker Barrel by the E-Center 2283 City Center Ct. West Valley City, UT 84118 801-977-8221 Spread the word! Let me know if you are planning on joining the party. [email protected]

The Birthday Patrol is here to honor our very own: Darla Gaines of Council Bluffs, IA Deanne Kelly of Tucson, AZ JenniGirl of Herriman, UT Julie B of AL Kasandra Smith of China Lake, CA Robin Green of St Louis, MO Veronica Kendrick of El Paso, TX HAPPY BIRTHDAY ... YOU GO, DEAR FRIENDS, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!! God bless you and may all your wishes come true!! & {{{HUGS}}} & Melissa Mermaid & All Your AMOS Pals P.S. The Birthday Patrol celebrates your real birthday (not surgery anniversary dates). This way EVERYONE can participate. Click on "Birthday Patrol" (profile link) to find out how to sign up for the Birthday Patrol. Customarily, ONLY THOSE WHO ACTIVELY SIGN UP FOR BIRTHDAY PATROL ARE ACKNOWLEDGED BY A POST ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS. Please do not feel left out if you don't "sign up" ... There is no other system available to us for gathering this information. Birthday Patrol is NOT an official OH project. P.P.S. VERY IMPORTANT: If you have ALREADY REGISTERED for "Birthday Patrol," please double-check the list in about a week after submitting to make sure you're on it; the computer has not always been kind!

Hi TJ!! It is pretty quiet around. I forget about the Utah message board. I wish there was more action.. Merry Christmas!!! Jenni

My name is Patricia Drew, and I'm a doctoral candidate in sociology at UC Santa Barbara. I am currently researching people who have had - or are planning to have - weight loss surgery.
I'm looking for people to talk with about their surgery-related experiences - whether you've already had the surgery or you're planning on having it soon. This study focuses on why you decided to have surgery and how it has affected your life.
If you are interested, you can answer questions via email or engage in either a telephone or in-person interview. All information will be confidential and your name, email address, and other identifiers will be removed.
Findings from this study will reveal how and why bariatric surgery is important to patients. It will also show how weight loss surgery affects patients' social lives and personal relationships. Study findings may be published in OH Magazine, academic journals, and, potentially, as a book.
I have put up a website with more information about my research. The address is: http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~pdrew
If you would like to participate or find out more, please email me at: [email protected].
Thanks for your time! I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely, Patricia Drew