As of January 3, 2007, there is now one more stage to go: getting an official surgery date.
The certified letter arrived a couple of weeks ago--I have been APPROVED by the insurance for the adjustable gastric banding surgery. They had reviewed my medical records and based on the insurance criteria, I will be fully covered. So now it is just the matter of getting a date for the surgery itself.
My surgeon won't be back in the office until February, so it is likely I will be getting a date then sometime, maybe March at the latest. I'll have to go for an in-office appointment at least once before then; that much I am sure about. But after almost another year and a half, it is finally going to happen!
Now I am closer to my dream of great health, and a much, much longer life will be coming true! It can't get any better than that!