I am currently researching my insurance options for Lap Band surgery. I have found that my current insurance company, Coventry Direct Access POS, has a policy exclusion for any surgery for the treatment of obesity. Since I'm in the beginning stages of this process and have seen so few responses regarding Coventry, I'm going to pursue getting approval from them regardless of their policy exclusion. Hopefully, Dr. Lavin and his staff will be able to get this approved for me. Wish me luck.

UPDATE 12/6/04
After attending Dr. Lavin's seminar and contacting Coventry, I have been informed that Coventry will not pay for the surgery, regardless of medical necessity. As you can imagine, I'm extremely disappointed. For now, I will research my other options.

UPDATE 1/2/05
I got married today!! Here's a wedding photo. I'm approximately 275 lbs. in this picture.




UPDATE 7/7/05
I have switched healthcare providers but am still unable to receive approval for the surgery. My husband and I are going to consult with our accountant to see if a medically necessary procedure can be deducted on our taxes. If so, we're going to self-pay for the procedure.

UPDATE 7/21/05
Current Mood: Excited!!
I have decided to go the self-pay route since my insurance company won't pay for surgery. So, I met with Dr. Lavin today to go over all of my pre-op information. Everything went extremely well. Since I'm in excellent health, I will be doing the outpatient lap-band surgery. My next step is getting my blood work completed. Following that, a surgery date will be scheduled.

UPDATE 9/16/05
I had my lap band surgery today, which went very well. I was walking out of the surgery center an hour and a half after the completion of my surgery. The nurses were amazed at my quick recovery from anesthesia. It didn't seem that odd to me though. I was awake, walking around, and drinking water so it felt natural to go home.

Here are my surgery day photos.


UPDATE 9/26/05
I am 10 days post-op and am down 11 1/2 pounds (starting weight was 274).

UPDATE 11/13/05
I'm close to 2 months post-op and I'm down 26 lbs. I can eat pretty much anything now but have stayed away from rice and coconut, per the doctor's orders. Things are going very well. I look forward to my stats a year from now.

UPDATE 12/3/05
I've only lost another 2 lbs. but I'm not getting discouraged. I don't think my 2 fills have worked properly so I'm going in for a 3rd on 12/6/05.

UPDATE 12/16/05
Ok, I'm down 32 lbs. as of today - I'm at 242 pounds.

UPDATE 1/25/06
Official weight today is 226 lbs., which is a total weight loss of 48 pounds.

UPDATE 2/1/06
Woo hoo!! I finally made it to my 2nd goal of 50 lbs. lost today!!!

UPDATE 2/16/06
Official weight today is 219 pounds. My total weight loss is now 55 pounds.

UPDATE 2/23/06
I just wanted to share a personal goal with everyone. I am a member of a lap band message board and started a weight loss challenge at the beginning of January. My starting weight was 236 and my goal was to lose 20 lbs. by March 1st.
I hit my goal early....today!

UPDATE 3/17/06
Official weight today is 210 pounds. My total weight loss is now 64 pounds. Here are some updated photos.



UPDATE 4/8/06
Official weight today is 204 pounds. I'm down 70 pounds since my surgery date.

UPDATE 4/16/06
Official weight today is 202 pounds. Here are some recent pictures.


UPDATE 5/3/06
Official weight today is......DING DING DING.....198 pounds!!!

UPDATE 5/22/06
Official weight today is 199 pounds. Here are some recent pictures. My 6th fill at 2.8cc was too tight so I had .3 removed. I gained a few pounds - back up to 202 - then had another small fill of .2cc on May 16th and have gone back down to 199.


UPDATE 6/27/06
Official weight today is 192 pounds. Here are some recent pictures.


JULY 13, 2006 - STARBUCKS MEETING
Today, several of us SE Louisiana people met up at Starbucks in Mandeville to chat and get to know one another. Here's a picture...from left to right: Stefanie W., Daydream Believer, Evan, Debbie Farrell, Tracey W., Madeline (I think? Tracey, please correct me if I'm wrong), and me. We had a great time and I hope to meet up with everyone again soon.


UPDATE 7/24/06
Official weight today is 186 pounds. Here are some recent pictures.



UPDATE 8/31/06
Official weight today is 182 pounds. Here are some recent pictures.