Initial Questions
Hey Everyone,
I'm brand new here, so please forgive me if I say or do something stupid, but I want to cover all my bases. I've recently decided that I want to have Lap Band. At 5'4" and 248 pounds, with poorly-controlled asthma, sleep problems, and mild mobility/flexibility issues, I've gotten to a point where I need to do something beyond what I've tried and failed over the last 10 years. I guess it finally hit me when I needed to get up on a stepstool and realized that I weighed more than its capacity, and spent the entire time worried that I was going to break it!
Obviously, I have a LOT of questions. My main fear, of course, is that I'm not going to qualify. Or that I'm going to go through all the preliminary stuff just to be turned down. What can I expect from the sleep study, the psych evaluation, the physical, etc? I've been told by some that I probably won't qualify because I'm "not obese enough." Well, I think at 110 pounds over my ideal weight I most certainly am! I've been wanting to try and lose a little on my own, but if I do that, will I then be disqualified?
I'm planning to call Dr. Alan Posner, who was recommended by a friend who had GB last year, and I see on this site that he comes highly esteemed. So I've picked my guy...now what? What can I expect?
I'm brand new here, so please forgive me if I say or do something stupid, but I want to cover all my bases. I've recently decided that I want to have Lap Band. At 5'4" and 248 pounds, with poorly-controlled asthma, sleep problems, and mild mobility/flexibility issues, I've gotten to a point where I need to do something beyond what I've tried and failed over the last 10 years. I guess it finally hit me when I needed to get up on a stepstool and realized that I weighed more than its capacity, and spent the entire time worried that I was going to break it!
Obviously, I have a LOT of questions. My main fear, of course, is that I'm not going to qualify. Or that I'm going to go through all the preliminary stuff just to be turned down. What can I expect from the sleep study, the psych evaluation, the physical, etc? I've been told by some that I probably won't qualify because I'm "not obese enough." Well, I think at 110 pounds over my ideal weight I most certainly am! I've been wanting to try and lose a little on my own, but if I do that, will I then be disqualified?
I'm planning to call Dr. Alan Posner, who was recommended by a friend who had GB last year, and I see on this site that he comes highly esteemed. So I've picked my guy...now what? What can I expect?
Hi there, I am pre-op too and going through the motions for insurance approval. I will answer the questions that I have had personal experience with but as we soon realize, everyone's experience can be different. I am also 5'4" and I weigh 232 lbs and I qualify because my bmi is at 40. I would imagine that you would qualify as well if your ins has similiar guidelines regarding BMI.
Sleep study: This was ordered by my surgeon after some routine sleep questions were asked. i saw the pulmonologist who asked additional sleep questions, measured my neck and examined my throat. I was scheduled for a sleep study two weeks later. I spent the night in a very nice hospital room that looked more like a hotel. I was connected to a ton of wires. It was very difficult to get comfortable and I was restless. I did get in enough hours of sleep for the study and I am going back in a week or so for the results.
Psych Eval: I met with a clinical social worker affiliated with my bariatric center. It was approx 30 min long and she asked questions about my expectations after surgery, did i binge eat in the middle of the night, body image, childhood history---did parents expect a clean plate after meals, was I ever touched inappropriately, etc.
Physical: Surgeon listened to my heart, did a rectal exam and general overview of ears, nose, throat, etc. Blood work was also ordered.
Losing weight prior to surgery: Its my understanding that the insurance co. is looking at your original BMI at your very first consult. Some ins companies and surgeons require a certain amount of weight lost--like 10%. My surgeon required approx 10-15 lbs and it wont' disqualify me from ins approval.
First steps: Make an appt with your PCP and schedule an appt to discuss WLS, call your ins and find out if WLS is in your plan, find out from the ins. what they want from you --ie. 6 mth physician supervised diet, 10% of weight lost, etc. Write everything down--who you talked to, the time, the date, etc.
HTH
Sleep study: This was ordered by my surgeon after some routine sleep questions were asked. i saw the pulmonologist who asked additional sleep questions, measured my neck and examined my throat. I was scheduled for a sleep study two weeks later. I spent the night in a very nice hospital room that looked more like a hotel. I was connected to a ton of wires. It was very difficult to get comfortable and I was restless. I did get in enough hours of sleep for the study and I am going back in a week or so for the results.
Psych Eval: I met with a clinical social worker affiliated with my bariatric center. It was approx 30 min long and she asked questions about my expectations after surgery, did i binge eat in the middle of the night, body image, childhood history---did parents expect a clean plate after meals, was I ever touched inappropriately, etc.
Physical: Surgeon listened to my heart, did a rectal exam and general overview of ears, nose, throat, etc. Blood work was also ordered.
Losing weight prior to surgery: Its my understanding that the insurance co. is looking at your original BMI at your very first consult. Some ins companies and surgeons require a certain amount of weight lost--like 10%. My surgeon required approx 10-15 lbs and it wont' disqualify me from ins approval.
First steps: Make an appt with your PCP and schedule an appt to discuss WLS, call your ins and find out if WLS is in your plan, find out from the ins. what they want from you --ie. 6 mth physician supervised diet, 10% of weight lost, etc. Write everything down--who you talked to, the time, the date, etc.
HTH
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