Hoping to be an August Bandster

ShelbyD · 06-19-2008, 04:46 PM

I just got approval from my insurance company today and go to the doctor next Tuesday to get a surgery date set. Hoping it will be late July or early August. I work in an elementary school and I want to be back to normal when school starts.

My psych eval was pretty easy. We talked for a while and then I had to fill out a questionaire with about 200 questions. Most of it was the same questions asked different ways. Mainly wanting to know if I had drug or alcohol problems.

ShelbyD

rambokitty66 · 06-19-2008, 05:07 PM

When he asked me to count backwards by 7's I laughed and said you have to be kidding........but I did it.
It really wasn't a difficult evaluation.......the nervousness was the worst part.
They just want to make sure we are stable enough to follow through with diet once we have the surgery..........

rambokitty66 · 06-19-2008, 05:12 PM

How long did you have to wait for approval Shel?

ShelbyD · 06-19-2008, 06:04 PM

I went to the weight loss doctor 4-28. Had my phsyc eval and nutrition counseling on 5-5. I did not have to have any weigh ins for my insurance but it still took the dr. till 6-10 to file with my insurance. Got my approval today. I had to call my insurance company the doctor's office did not let me know that they had recieved the approval. So I'm not sure how long it actually took for the insurance to approve. I just got frustrated and called today and they said it was already approved!!

soontobehottie · 06-19-2008, 10:32 PM

Shelby Congratulations!! That is awesome....it seems like a long road but not that we are all kind of at the end, it goes pretty fast!! I hope that I get all I need done ackomplished on Monday when I see my doctor. I am sooooooo ready to be thin again...would you believe I used to work at Hooters? I don't even want to think about the orange shorts!!!:biggrin2: Okay because I probably couldn't even get in one leg

!! Good for you calling the insurance company, I am happy that you took matters into your own hands...here is something really good to remember on the journey...IF IT IS TO BE ITS UP TO ME!!! Good luck

Tigmonster · 06-20-2008, 10:59 AM

Hello everyone,

I'm still waiting........I have psych eval, and 2 group meetings to complete, and those aren't til next week.....does anyone know if I am supposed to call them when all this is completed or do they KNOW when I complete it? I have a feeling I'm not going to be an August bandster, some of you are already getting dates for August and I'm not even done with my pre-op stuff yet.....I'm getting discouraged.
On a different note...how do I get my posts to look all jazzed up and pretty like yours? Mine is so BORING!

Jodie

soontobehottie · 06-20-2008, 12:08 PM

Jodie,

Don't be discouraged!! Just keep plugging alone and it will happen for you, you have brought yourself this far!! Sometimes I think we all forget how hard the battle is, its just one step at a time thats all.

As for letting the surgeons office or whomever know you are done, my surgeon gave me a check list sheet and a fax number to have the primary doc fax the results over and also sign the check list...but don't get me wrong I will be all over the doctor to make sure that gets done!! For me once all that is complete the surgeons office will send a request for authorization to the insurance company. But I was impatient or proactive however you want to look at it and called the insurance company and asked if it was covered, they say it is.

Lastly, to jazz up the posts you can do a couple things, go into edit your profile and do some stuff there and also I saw a post yesterday somewhere, you can search for it, to add the ticker to your signature...

rambokitty66 · 06-20-2008, 05:32 PM

I hope my authorization goes quickly. I have an appointment on July 21 to hopefully set a date.

Lanakila · 07-05-2008, 07:56 PM

I don't have a date yet, but hope that I'll be in with you folks in August! I work at a university, so I can relate to needing to get this done early in the month so that I'll be a couple of weeks post-op before the hubbub starts.

I got lucky on all of my initial appts. Silly, but my insurance would only pay for RNY if my BMI was over 50, so I actually had to lose about 10# before the doc could even consult for a Lap Band. I saw him for the first time on 6/23. Fortunately, he had a brand new nutritionist who was coming into the office for consults once a week and since she was new I was able to get in last week. I have a long-term shrink, so that appt was a breeze. Nice to not have to go through an entire history! I had, had a chest x-ray last year as an eval for chest pain with a new primary care doc, so only needed that one transferred. Only thing left is to wait for the reports from the foodie and shrink docs to get to the surgeon and we'll be able to pick a date.

I'll keep lurking, and keep you posted!

aclubb · 07-05-2008, 09:42 PM

Jodie - I did get approved and I'm scheduled for July 16th! Woo Hoo! I am on day 4 of my liquid diet and noticing how much I use food as comfort now that I don't have it. But I've stuck to it so far and I am deteremined to make a real life change with the band. Good luck!

pj_txlady · 07-13-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aclubb

Jodie,

I am not a patient person either. I started the process in March and am still waiting on the insurance to approve me. I was approved, then denied and now waiting on my appeal to be looked at. I did the psych eval (scariest part for me) and the nutritional eval (piece of cake - haha). I am SUPER excited and I can't wait. I hope to be "banded" and recovered before my baby's 2nd birthday in mid August. Let me know how it goes - it's good to see another person waiting around!

Sorry to hear it is taking so long for some of you to get approved. Hope you get answers soon. My surgery date is Aug. 4th. My first appt to see the lap band Dr. was May 7th. Got Insurance approval May 14th. Had to see psycologist and nutritionist, then date was set. Good luck to you.

pj_txlady · 07-13-2008, 10:19 PM

My pre op appt is this friday the 18th.

*wnt2lose* · 07-17-2008, 01:35 PM

Hi everyone!

I am hoping to be an August bandster as well.

I am just waiting for my insurance approval. Hoping to hear in the next week or so. I am so glad this board is here for support and encouragement. I look forward to being a loser!!

I am so ready for a change!

Jackie:biggrin2:

Tigmonster · 07-21-2008, 03:01 PM

Hello all,
Rambokitty......what's the word? Did you get a date for surgery today?
Congrats to all of you who have their band dates. I, of course, ran into another snag....snafoo....speedbump....whatever you want to call it.
I have been done with all my "homework" for about 2 weeks now, the surgeon's office finally called me to tell me they have everything they need to submit to the insurance BUT....my surgeon is out on personal leave until September and they can't submit the paperwork until he dictates the notes from my FIRST visit with him onto paper to submit with the rest of my file. NICE! So I'm very upset and looking for another surgeon who will accept my paperwork from my first surgeon and take me in and let me continue where I left off instead of starting over. I've waited this long, and to have to wait til September (if he even comes back they said) and then get approved, and then set a date. It will be Christmas for crying out loud! URGH!! I'm so frustrated!

Oh and to have to gain weight to get approved is insane! Are they for real these insurance companies? Oh yes let's risk your life a little more before we tell you you can go have the surgery. DUH!

Haha,
Not in a good mood, can you tell?
Jodie

Lanakila · 07-21-2008, 03:58 PM

Tig, I am soooo sorry to hear of your trials! I think us Augusters should get our collective Karma together and send "shame-on-you" mind rays to all who are blocking your efforts. Then we'll tell them "So There!"