New to the group!

Greetings All! My name is Chareen and I am from Clayton. I have just finished the process of appointments and am awaiting insurance approval from BCBS. I have chosen Dr. Enochs and will hopefully be having lap band surgery within the next few weeks/months. In the meantime, I just had my gall bladder out on Monday and am doing great! Just wanted to introduce myself and say congratulations to all of you for your successes! I have been reading for a while, but have just posted.  Add me to your prayer lists... Chareen

Chareen, Welcome!  We have a super group of people from the Triangle area here!  I just had my lap-band Thursday, with BCBS.  I was approved very quickly, I hope you are as well.  Feel free to chime in any time around here! Lori

Hi Chareen!

Have you been lurking on us? LOL  Glad to have you posting. Your going to be a bandster girl!

Welcome to the board. Jump on in here and get your feet wet! I hope you have a speedy recovery from your gall bladder surgery.

Welcome Chareen, glad you're not lurking anymore!  Good luck with your approval, from what I read BCBS is usually fairly prompt.  Please keep us updated and of course you'll be in our thoughts and prayers. Take care. Ellen

Thanks for the warm welcome!  The reason why I have been "lurking" is because I have been so scared that I would never get to this point in the process.  It just seemed so far away! I have hit a lot of bumps in the road to detour me from my journey. It has not been a smooth process to say the least. I have had some reports lost, been told I needed a full psych (as opposed to just a letter of candidacy from a psych) and then gall bladder thing, amongst other things. My fear now is that I won't get approved... Just curious, anyone have the same experience with lap band and gallbladder? I thought the lap band and gallbladder could be done at the same time but my surgeon refused to do it together saying it could lead to infection. It's a done deal now, but I was just wondering... Thanks!

I can't speak to the Lap Band/Gall Bladder surgery specifically, but I had my Gall Bladder out during my Lap RNY.  My surgeon's only concern about doing the two together was that if the RNY was a difficult one, he didn't want to put my body through anything it didn't need to go through.  Fortunately, I was a fairly routine surgery and he was able to do it.  I can't imagine it'd be all that different for Lap Band, it's in the same area right?  Each surgeon is different though, and it's best that they do what they're comfortable with.  Good luck with the approval process.  We'll be here to cheer for you. Take care. Ellen

Chareen -

It's great to have you join us. We look forward to getting to know you.

Please feel free to post questions and offer advise.

All the best in journey to a healthier you.

Barbara

Hi Chareen and Welcome! Don't worry it will happen.  Read my profile and you will see!  I think many of us have the same fear that it will never happen as we begin our journey to this new life.  I remember how devastated I was back in November when I consulted with that doctor who said he would NEVER approve me for WLS.  Until that moment, I hadn't realized how much I wanted it!  Just keep chipping away at the requirements and you will eventually wear them down. Then you can share your story with others to give them strength and hope and encouragement!  For instance, on Tuesday I was advised that I was approved by my insurance company and am scheduled for surgery on July 24th! Again, Welcome. Suzanne

Welcome aboard Chareen!!!  We are glad you have joined us.  There is a lot of great people who post on here as you probably already know if you've been lurking and reading!  Everyone is very supportive of each other and quick to help you out with any questions you might have.  I will keep you in my prayers for a speedy approval from BCBS!!! Hugs, Donna