EJ01111

Littleroo -

If your new insurance carrier does not cover Dr. Oritz (as he is not in their network ?) you might be able to get your PCP to request on your behalf that your surgery be covered out of network. You obviously have built a trust with Dr. Oritz and that means everything when one is having surgery. Although I am not a patient of Dr. Oritz, it is quite obvious to me he is held in high regard and is an experienced surgeon. You maybe be able to mention that as well that he has more experience etc....

Good luck but don't take "no" for an answer either.

EJ

WOW... I am not certain WHY anyone would write such a highly charged post. Of course all surgeries carry a risk.

I was more concerned about going under than I was about the placement of the Lap Band. The risk of being put under was less than not being here for my child due to obesity induced medical problems.

Save money by dieting ? hmmmmmmmm don't Americans spend in excess of 1 billion dollars in exercise cd's, equipment, diets, diet cookbooks ?

Any surgery carries risks, we all know that going in. Why do you assume that none of us had the intelligence to research what we were doing before doing it. Through my life I have lost hundreds of pounds on every diet imaginable, I have also gained hundreds of pounds. I finally realized I needed a tool to help me and did research very thoroughly. Whatever risks I found, my feelings, as well as my doctors, my husband and the rest of my family that my weight was a bigger risk. I am no where near my goal weight and have already been able to lower dosage on pain medications for back problems, I'm breathing better and although I have a long way to go, I am already starting to pull out clothes from the last diet that have been packed away. I feel sorry for your brother of a friend, but for me and it seems just about everyone on this forum, we truly feel that we made the right decision.

Hi John R.

My surgery was covered by my BC/BS. Although I did not have any serious health risks (eg. cardio, orthopedic, etc) I did qualify under the height/weight and BMI. I also did not have the blessing of my PCP and BC/BS approved it on the first request.

BC/BS has become very proactive in helping their clients and issues of weight. All I had to do was write a check for the co-pay.

Best of luck to you and if they say "No" first time, keep at 'em ! In the long run it is cost effective.

EJ

Kevin,

I am brand new to the forum. I am schedualed to have my surgury Jan 8th. I am in the midst of having it approved by BC/BS To you think I will have difficulties.I have found this site to be very helpful and informative. So thanks everyone for being so supportive.

John R. - Congratulations on your pending surgery! We will all be crossing our fingers you will get the clearance from your insurance asap. Keep us updated! You are right the Bandsters here are awesome... all of them. I look at it this way all those here that are banded or planning to be banded or believe in banding as a tool for healthy living are Banisters. We all want to be better healthier people and see that the band is a means to the lifestyle we crave. I am with you this site offers what others can't... It's hasn't been polluted with dishonest people. Dishonest as in members that can't be real with themselves. The bandsters here are real people and not afraid to expose their true feelings online to help themselves and others that visit the forum. Good stuff.... Thank you for joining in and letting everyone know about your personal journey. Best wishes! Kevin

Hi Marie - Congratulations on taking the intial steps that will change you life forever! The one thing I wish I had been prepard for was that I felt as though a horse kicked me right in the stomach. Boy I was taken by surprise. After the first couple of days I started to feel much better and did not need the presciption. Of course everyone is different and you may have more pain or less pain (I hope for you it is less).

Best of luck to you and please let us know how you are doing ! Take care !

EJ

Hmm, things I wish I had known before surgery. I wish I would have known that it was going to take several fills before reaching the right fill. And how much extra time and energy it takes out of your life to coordinate fills. Fortunately my job allows me to travel and I am in Arizona right now, so I can make a run to TJ via car. But still my first fill I was up at 3am drove 7 hours to TJ, bought insurance to cross the border in my own vehicle (US insurance is no good in Mexico), got lost trying to find the clinic, found the clinic, got my fill, waited 2 hours to cross back over the border, and drove 7 hours back to my apartment. Second piece of insight my next trip to TJ I think I am going to walk accross the border and catch a cab. But I don't regret my decission although weight loss is slow (the standard 2lbs per week), since I am not one of the high BMI people.

Hello everyone,

First I am totally fine it was sliming (yuck). Secondly, I feel AWFUL, I am not a patient of Dr. Ortiz. I live on the East Coast and I was looking for an on line support group for the Lap Band. I found it with you wonderful people.

I would like to stick around and discuss everyone's concerns, progress etc. Unless I see any objections, I will check in ?

Thanks, EJ

I am 10 days post op and I have been doing beautifully. Last night I took a bite (which I should not have) of my husband's sandwich, I had "graduated" to mashed potatoes and thought a tiny bite would not hurt. BOY ! was I wrong. I immediately realized I made a HUGE mistake. We were traveling overnight from Thanksgiving and my husband made me drive. So, between the larger than "tiny" bite and the begining of car sickness, I started to vomit. It was all mucus but it was over the course of an hour. It was not violent but I am terrified that I have done something to my lapband. My port area still sore from the surgery, seems to hurt a bit more now, but it could be from me poking at it to make sure it is still there !

I delibertly took more of my protein drink than usual to see if I would get my "fullness" feeling, that was 2 hrs ago and I still have that feeling. Am I just completely overreacting ?