PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

So I have a doctor at Kaiser that is so anti weight loss surgery. She says that my comorbids do not qualify (GERD & Depression). I cannot afford to pay out of pocket because I am so financially screwed right now. I am so bummed. I will continue on my yo yo dieting because it is so damn hard!!!!!!!!!! I feel like I just have to starve sometimes because I am always hungry or have cravings. Then I get bummed out because I can't have a piece of cake or ice cream with my family. I am so lost and depressed. I thought I found something that would actually work and now I am knocked down again. Helllppp!!:huh2:

Hi All, I have Tricare Prime and am about to start the process. My PCM placed my referral and I am just waiting on my letter so that I can sched. a first visit with my surgeon. My PCM and the nurse at Dr. Nye's office said Tricare is easy to get approved and that start to finish is about 6 weeks til surgery. Anyone had hsi happened or not happen? Thanks for all you help! Karen

How much do the pre-op protien shakes cost?

Dr Feiz' office is supposed to contact me tomorrow to begin the arrangements for all of my pre-op requirements. Hopefully it will go smoothly, and then of course pending approval of my insurance. But I am very excited.

I have my 2nd pre-op appointment on Tuesday and on that date, I'm supposed to get my surgery date. I've gotten all of my financial obligations out of the way. It looks like my surgery will be scheduled for January sometime. They want to rush me in before the end of December, but I don't want to do it until after New Year's. If I wait until January, I can enjoy an entire year of having my out of pocket costs maxed out on the insurance and can save a lot of money that way. :tounge_smile: Besides, it just feels right...a new year, a new band, a new me! I'm so excited (a little nervous too, but that's normal). I can't wait to get this going.

Hi everyone.... Well, yesterday I jumped on the band wagon! Everything went fine, in the OR at 8am and home in my bed at 1:30 :biggrin: I feel ok, just my belly is sore from the stitches and muscle manipulation. Other than that I really don't feel any different yet. I've been drinking the Special K protein H20 and eating SF jello cups, well ate 1 jello cup-took a while. Just finished some nice warm coffee. Planning a nap now after a dose of my liquid Lortab. Broth for lunch and dinner I guess. Take care,

I've been doing a little research into Lapband surgery for the last couple days. Correct me if Im wrong... What I've learned is that for Lapband to be successful you must use your own will power and restraint, when it comes to eating. And you should excersize. Isnt that what Lapband is suppose to do? Eliminate the "will power" factor, the one thing that has prevented a good number of us from losing AND keeping weight off in the first place?? Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but if I cant lose weight by diet and excersize, why should I expect to lose weight with the lapband if Im expected to follow a strict diet and excersize? I appreciate any input. Thanks. Ni…

Well, all the red tape is done, and I have been approved by my insurance company. I am going through a program in Irvine, CA called The NEW Program, and the surgeon is Dr. Brian Quebbeman. I go in for surgery on February 2nd. :laugh:

I'm considering this surgery, but I definitely don't know enough about it. Can anyone give me an quick explanation in layman's terms? I'm very confused by all this medical mumbo jumbo!

I looked up these Drs. on the True Results website. If you are using these surgeons- just ask if they are doing you procedure in a true results facility or a hospital. Probably depends on whether you are outpatient type or need an overnight stay. I was given a card that if I refer someone- the person gets $500 off their procedure. I only have one and it expires 12/31. really don't want to just thow it out if it can help someone. justbanded@gmail.com Austin (Dr. Marsden) Atlanta (Dr. Hart) Dallas (Dr. Benavides, Dr. Fox, Dr. Marsden) Houston (Dr. Hollis, Dr. Spiegel, Dr.Spivak, Vuong, Wilkenfeld) Ft. Worth (Dr. Carter, Dr. Marsden, Dr. Smith,Dr. Snow) Phoenix (Dr.…

please let me know and I will send you the card that was given to me when I had my surgery. It expires 12/31 I just found it in all my papers and would hate it to go to waste! I am in Houston, so if you are local it's easier- but it probably applies to any true result center in the US

I've been on the boards for several months and have read 3-4 books on lapband procedures as well as talking to a relative who had it done so I know that it is a long tedious process to actually get to surgery, but I think that finally sunk in yesterday. I went to see my PCP to tell her I was interested in the surgery and will be attending a seminar in a few weeks. She was very supportive of it and spent a great deal of time talking with me about the risks and benefits of the surgery. At one time I was considering changing PCPs as she hasn't always spent the time with me that I would like and I have occasionally felt rushed. I saw one physician I was considering swit…

has anyone had the lapband surgery done at the maples surgery center in winnipeg? I'm considering getting it done there. I need all the feedback I can get. Hoping to have it done in Jan/09 - scared and excited.

Hi All Well i start my liquid diet tomorrow i am about to go shopping to get my supplies i just wanted to know how everyone else was doing on theirs i have 10 days of it go to:thumbup:then i get my surgery on the 29th and already i am so nervous i know it is going to be hard work and i am so ready for a new year and a new me. if anyone has any advice to help me get through the liquid stages i would really appreciate it i would also love to hear your stories and how you are all doing :ohmy: look forward to hear from you all and i hope you all have a great christmas and keep the good work going:thumbup:

Hey gang! I've been reading all the different posts tonight and a question popped into my head. Carbonated beverages. I have heard they are a no-no. However, some have said you can have them after a few months. Is this something that is doctor specific? I am a confirmed Diet Pepsi and Bud Light lovin gal. I haven't had either in about 4 weeks, since I quit smoking. But tonight I had a craving for both, so I made a wine cooler w/ Diet 7-up, and wondered if that would be acceptable once I was banded?? Thanks in advance!

Anyone having or have had surgery performed by Dr. Rehnke? I am scheduled for banding on the 23rd and have some questions I would like answered by patients. Such as, did you follow the pre-op diet exactly? How did the surgery go?

Hi, Iam new to this site. I have been thinking about the lapband I am 5'5 and weigh256. Medicaid said they would cover this but not the cost of the food what is this? A pre-surgery diet? I would like honest answers about the whole procedure, what to look out for with the surgery. Any help would be great!!!! Thank you bonbon1:thumbup:

I found out today that I need to pay my surgeon $1500 before I have my surgery. $500 must be paid at my appt on Tuesday and the rest must be paid by 3 days before surgery. I'm planning on having surgery in January. This is the out of pocket costs and deductible and program fee that I'm required to pay after insurance kicks in their part. I know there are companies out there that will provide financing for medical procedures, but I was wondering if anyone knows of a good reputable company that would give a loan to someone with not so great credit (I had a bankruptcy 7 years ago). Thanks for your help. Tina

What is a fatty liver pre-op diet and why wold I need one?

Exactly that, in 7 days ill be able to eat mushies and have no clue what they are can anyone help?

I got a referral card given to me when I got my band. So if anyone is getting it done and is using true results, please let me know because it can save you $500 off the procedure. I just remembered I had it- and it expires Dec 31 Ask your surgeon if they are sending you to a true results center (which was the surgical hospital I had my procedure done in) please email me if you have any questions thanx justbanded@gmail.com

I finally got banded on Tuesday 16th December and was discharged the afternoon afternoon after. I gotta tell you that first day was really painful but I think it also has to do with the factor that my doctor repaired my hietus hernia. I'm still very sore which is natural but I think the worst is behind me. I lost 16lbs on my pre op diet and I'm hoping I can drop more over the next couple of weeks. I am offically a bandit!

i spoke with Dr. Ortiz' office, and they told me that i will need to lose 5% of my body weight before the surgery. My question is, how on earth am i supposed to lose 15+ pounds when I've had such a hard time in the past? I'll follow the eating guidelines they give me, and I do exercise already, but it's very hard for me to lose weight - heck, that's why i want the surgery to begin with!

My insurance denied me because the counselor in the pysc eval said that I have post traumatic stress disorder that stems from my childhood and being raised with an alcoholic father. I sleep walk and talk but am not suicidal and do not think about death. Is their anything that I can do to get approved. I don't really think that within 1 hour and some questions, it is fair that he label me with PTSD. I was really looking forward to this and now I feel my chance is gone. Any words of advice?

I have a few questions Im hoping someone can help me answer. How frequent do the bands slip? Im looking at having my surgery done with TLC Edge in Plano, TX....does anyone know anything about them? Is there anywhere I can see detailed ratings of specific doctors? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Christy :shades_smile:

Iam getting banded in january, however due to my sleap apnea i been using a cpap machine. would i have any problems using it after i get banded.

Well guys I finally got a date!! I have been waiting since Oct! Jan 15th is the day! I am super excited to get this started and verrrry nervous as well, saying goodbye to my comfort friend is scary, but so exciting! My husband is deployed and I am super ready to get started for him to come back to a new wife! Anyway had to share my excitment!

Im on a few meds and am wondering how to handle it. I havent gotten my band yet but am wondering how others deal with this since I wont be able to just take my handful of pills and swallow. does anybody take meds and how do you get them down?:smile2:

How long was it before you guys started driving again? I work pretty far from my office, and I'm going to request that I be allowed to work remotely for a week or so after surgery, but I'm wondering if I should request more time? I'll ask my doc at the pre-op visit, but I just wanted to get some idea of what to expect in the meantime. Thanks!

What made me realize I needed help was : 1. Went on vacation in Vermont to see my hubby graduate from Norwich and the seatbelt on the plane was almost too small. 2. Upon getting there Norwich is a military school therefore the entire campus had no elevators just stairs millions and millions of them and my back and knees hurt everyday. 3.When I got winded playing with my kids and my 5 year old asks me if I'm okay. 4. Looking at myself in the mirror and seeing my pannus hanging over my pubis and feeling ugly. 5.Wanting to be cute but no matter how hard I tried I never felt like it.

Hi, I've been lurking for months, getting my insurance documents in order. Suddenly - it looks promising that I'll get banded in January! Yay! I'm a non-insulin dependent diabetic, wondering how I can possible do a sugar-free pre-op liquid diet without having a full blown sugar crash. If I go a few hours without eating anything (like today when shopping) I start getting the shakes until I get my sugar up. How will this work out? Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

I have a pre-op appt this thursday and I was wondering what do they actually do? Will they be doing blood work? I have no clue, this is my first time getting surgery.

The FDA issued a black box warning about two prescription oral sodium phosphate products - Visicol and OsmoPrep - used for bowel preps. The warning is also for over the counter bowel preps such as Fleet Phospho-soda. They all can pose the kidney risk of acute phosphate nephropathy which is a type of acute kidney injury. Talk to your doctor if any of these are recommended for you prior to surgery.

......does the port get in the way during sex?:confused_smile: Are there better or worse places to have the port put to minimize accidently moving it during exercise, sex, etc?? Thanks, Diana

Hi. I'm pretty new here (just found this site last week). I'm getting banded on Wednesday, Dec 17th. I'm wondering how many of you are over 50? From what I've read, most of you are younger -- some much younger. I'm worried that I won't heal as quickly and that my skin won't shrink. I'm afraid I'll have all this skin hanging down and my boobs will look like tube socks with golf balls in them. Doesn't that sound sexy? Anyone out there with similar concerns? Pam

Weighed in at 220, BMI is 40.9. Doc will dictate a letter for Tricare. Once I get my psych eval done, all will be submitted and according to the nurse, approval/denial turnaround time has been about 72 hours. So here's hoping I can get my psych done at the beginning of the new year and and start this new life.

Hey all. I am in the process of jumping through the insurance (Cigna) hoops. I have completed my 6 month supervised diet and psychiatric evaluation. Last week I met with my nutritionist. She reviewed a diet plan that is basically a diet plan for someone who has diabetes. She told me to write down everything I eat, how much, what time, how many calories, how many carbohydrates, the place I eat, and my emotion at the time I eat and to come back to see her in a month. She also said, "I don't mean to scare you, but I have declined a recommendation for this surgery to other clients for non-compliance." This is why I am a little worried. She said that she had a woman wh…

I had my first appointment with my GP on Oct. 1. Because of my insurance I have many hoops to jump through in order to have the surgery covered. So far I have gone to a seminar explaing both lap-band and RN-Y, met with a dietician (with another appointment scheduled for January), signed up for some phone life coaching thing, and met with 2 psychologists. Psych #1 said I had emotional eating issues that she wants taken care of by psych #2 before I have surgery. I now have 3 more appts. with psych #2 in the next month and a half. I still have to meet with a physical therapist (missed first scheduled appt due to a freaking root canal), and lose 12.5 pounds by April 13. …

Howdie All and Happy Thanksgiving! I have a tentative surgery date of Jan. 8th. I've been on Depo Prevera for 5 years and was told that I cant get my next shot, which Im due for Dec. 13th. Wondering if anyone else has had to skip their BC before surgery and if I ask them to give me my shot right after if they will do that. I have my pre-op appointment and bloodwork on Dec. 23rd. (Merry Christmas to me!) and will ask them then, but I thought I would come here and see if anyone else has had an issue with this.

Hi :wink2: My name is Alisa. I am 32 years old with 3 little ones at home. I am in the process of getting the band approved by my insurance (Cigna). Dec 19th will be my last visit with my doctor since he is a nutritionist too, I don’t need to join the weight watcher. I am also having my psychiatric evaluation on Dec 17th which they said it would take 3-4 hours. What do they ask you anyway? Why does it take so long? My questions for you guys that have been through this (getting insurance to approve). Do you think the insurance will approve me? My BMI is right at 40.5. I did not lose any weight with the nutritionist, instead I have gained almost 10 lbs due…

My surgery is Dec 11th. I'm day 6? of the preop. I've lost about 13 pounds. I'm gettign my period. I just read that you're spread eagle on an operating table in a room full of people totally naked while the doctor stands between your legs? WTF? That sounds like my worst nightmare come true. Then I read on here how so many people don't even drop weight, can't have their fav foods ever again and are on lifetime doctor visit supports for things like twisted ports and erosion or stuck stuff or whatever. I'm REALLY very very nervous. I'm sorry because i don't wnat to spread the freaking out to other people awaiting surgery but I could use a little support.

My surgery date is December 5, 2008. I'm excited to start my new journey. I'm also a bit nervous, which is to be expected. I know I have a long ways to go and am welcome to any support from those who are in the same boat as me.:smile2:

i have to b on a liquid diet, i believe for 14 days before surgery. but can anyone tell what the hell is the liquid diet????

Can I share with you all, hopefully one of my last, fat girl embarrassing situations? No one would get the magnitude of this unless they've had similar things happen. We lost power at our home due to the ice storm. It took me by surprise, it shouldn't have but it did. I wasn't prepared for crisis with my home, children etc. but also with my food plan and eating. Lesson learned and I see how easy it is for me to get off track and put things on the back burner when it comes to me. So here is what happened to me. It started when they brought out the very teeny tiny cots that we were supposed to sleep on. I knew just looking at it that it was very flimsy and made …

Just banded 12/10. Surgery wasn't too bad but first day out was terribly painful. Not the incisions, but the gas pains were killing me. My stomach was bloated so big. Nothing I did could make me comfortable, no amount of walking, laying down, sitting. Pain meds didn't touch the gas pain. Finally dh got me so gas - x and I felt a hundred times better. For those waiting, I know on here it has been mentioned don't forget your socks, chapstick, take off your jewelry, well I am adding, make sure you stock up on gas - x. :wink2:

after almost 2 weeks of fasting its almost time for me to get banded. my op is on tuesday morning and im counting down the days. i haven't weighed myself since last monday and when i was weighed i lost 6kgs (approx 12lbs) in 6days. im hoping by now i would've lost another 4-6kgs (approx 8-12lbs). can anyone give me any advice on what to expect when i wake up from the op? also how long after the op were u able to start drinking alcohol?

Can you feel a band even? I know sorry a stupid question I'm just still new to all this and want to get this all down before 12/15 when I meet with a dr.

Hey! My surgery is in 2 days and I am so excited! I have a few questions for those of you who have already been banded..I was just wondering how much you all lost the first few months of your surgery? How many calories should I try to eat a day during my stages? How many calories should I eat after I begin having my fills? Are there any tricks to Protein shakes to make them taste better? Sorry for so many questions, but thanks for your help!!!

Hi; I just had lap band on 1/7/08. after 3 days in the hospitol I came home and tried to follow the diet given me. But everytime I drink or eat something I get sick. I wretch but nothing comes up. I have alot of gas and that may be the problem, does anyone know how long it takes for the gas they pump into your stomach to go away?? I have also been have a big problem with diarrea?? can anyone offer any suggestions??? Please respond to registered email address. Thank you so much!!:smile:

My doctor is having me take a sleep test in hopes of finding a way to have my surgery covered by medicare. Has anyone else had to work with Medicare? Any advice? I just want to get going. I have been reseaching this for a very long time.:confused2: