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Well, tomorrow is the big day, FINALLY! I have been on a liquid diet for 5 days and I feel like eating my arm off! I have lost 8 pounds total before surgery, and I can't wait until I reach my goal! For now, I just have to say, I am getting banded tomorrow at 8:30am, North Cypress Hospital, by Dr. Waggoner. Please pray for me and See you on the other side! Ark

Hey Guys! Thank you for your support! I did it! I finally got my band! Surgery went well, Dr Waggoner is awesome, he also corrected a hernia while he was there by the way. I didn't have pain on the incisions, but gas pain that was (is) killing me! I am still at the hospital since I am still unable to pass gas. I have walked, walked walked, sipped liquids every 15 minutes, and still those stubborn gasses are stuck! I will be discharged later today though. I will keep you guys posted!

I am getting banded tomorrow too! I am nervous, but I can't wait to start my journey post op. Good Luck, and see you on the other side! *hugs*

How was your surgery?? How do you feel!?

Thank you BlairE! and yes, the same thought has been passing through my mind! I am actually looking forward to Summer, and to actually BE A PART of my family photos, This is going to be the year for all of us! Good luck to you too and congrats!

Thank you guys!

I got the call today, I was APPROVED! after all these months, after doing one thing after the other, after hanging in there without losing hope, my surgery date is going to be on Wednesday, January 12th! I am excited and scared, it's like reality finally hit me. I was rushing through the seminar and surgeon visits, then the 3 months diet, then all the exams, getting everything ready for Tricare, getting the clearance from my PCP, then the paperwork sent to insurance (2 nerve wrecking days!) then the call... Now it's just 5days on a liquid diet and I'm done. I'm getting banded... I really don't know if I should laugh or cry, I definitely feel like doing both!

I'm going to be banded on the 12th too! North Cypress Hospital; Houston, Texas!

I was approved today! I will be banded on the 12th so I might not be able to go to this meeting BUT I do want to meet with you guys! so, I'll send my email on a private message so you can send me the questionnaire!

I was approved today, getting banded on Jan 12th!

When I went to my first surgeon app he told me that I needed to lose 10 pounds before surgery. He also told me that I am headed to weight loss, so why not start losing right away. Even if I am not told about having the liquid diet I think I'll do it anyways, at least for a week. You'll lose weight, reduce your liver size a bit and get your body on full mode on for what your post op liquid diet would be.

Have anyone tried Shakeology for the Pre Op liquid diet? I love Shakeology but I don't know if I should take that or the one my doctor tells me. I am not at that stage yet, hopefully would be there soon! (I can't believe I am actually looking forward to not eating!). So, What Protein Shakes are the best in your opinion?

Hi, I was kind of in the same situation. I have 100 lbs to lose and I am only 26. My doctor said the Vertical Sleeve would be better but Tricare doesn't cover it. He said that There's a point when the lapbanders get "stuck" and stop losing weight as they used to lose in the beginning. I don't know if that's true or not. He also said Gastric bypass could be a better option than the band but I have met a few people that after losing ALL the extra weight, they gained it back, and that scares me! So I politely said no and that my only interest was the band. Because, worse case scenario, if something goes wrong at least they can remove the band and that's it. Taking a portion of your stomach or "re-tubing" it it's more invasive and there's more room for a mistake and if in the future you want it reverse, you can't. It's a personal choice, do your research and do whatever you think will be better for yourself. Doctors are wrong sometimes, your inner voice is never wrong

Oh I can relate! you know, I was really thin once. I was merely 108lbs. that was 5 years ago. Then I got pregnant, twice, got carried away with bad food decisions and no exercise... no I am double the weight I used to be. I am 4'9" tall, so I am a very short morbidly obese 26 year old! When my son was 6mo I got pregnant with my daughter. It happened so soon and unexpected to everyone that now when they see me hide behind huge sweatshirts from the old navy plus size section, they joke about me being pregnant again... soon, and unexpectedly. I laugh, not to cry... although I do cry inside, how did it happen? how did I become this? I don't even recognize myself when I look at the mirror, somebody told me on Christmas eve "what's wrong with you? your eyes look sad, you don't only look older, you 'feel' older" I know what's wrong with me, almost 100 pounds that I can't get rid off on my own because it's like I reached the "no return" point. I can't exercise because of excruciating pain on my knees and ankles. I used to climb mountains, I used to swim, roller skate, I used to be a gymnast. Now, I feel like I am a 80 year old woman, and I'm not kidding, my energy is gone along with my joy for life. But you know what? It never hit me before... I was packing on pounds and never noticed, until one day I didn't allow anyone to take pictures of me, and after 8 trips me and my family took this year, we got home and i started seeing pictures of my kids enjoying our vacations... I wasnt in their pictures, it's like ME, their mommy, never existed in any pictures, or in their childhood. Then it hit me... I am wasting precious time, I am wasting the opportunity to create and preserve memories with them. And unconsciously i was avoiding the pictures because of my weight. That's why I started the process for the lap band... Sometimes things like this have to happen in order for us put some value in ourselves, our lives and our bodies. I learned my lesson, now I am on my Quest of being healthy and happy, and also raise 2 healthy and happy kids. I am looking forward to be banded and start my new chapter, and be as healthy as I can be!

Hello, I am new to this site, and I have a few questions regarding lap band and Tricare standard. First, I want to say that I have been in this process for 3 months now, on Monday I have my last dietitian appointment until they submit all the paperwork to Tricare. I am 4’9” and weight 208lbs. I have 2 co-morbidities and I also meet the 200% weight requirement. So I am confident I am going to be approved. My first question is regarding SWITCHING DOCTORS PRE SURGERY. I didn’t know I had to get a Tricare physician, so I just went to one I found on my own and I have just found out that I might be stuck with self paying the private surgeon. So, can I switch doctors before submitting the paperwork to Tricare? Do I have to start over? Do I change doctors after Tricare approves? My second question is regarding TRICARE STANDARD COPAYS. I thought lap band surgery was going to be covered 100% Now I have read that I might be paying up to 1,000 out of pocket. Is that true? How much money out of pocket did you have to pay with TRICARE STANDARD. Thanks in advance! I look forward to meet you all! I really need support while going through this!

Wow! Quite an ordeal! But it was all worth it I see =) Well, I am going to keep my last dietitian appointment on Monday, and then tell them I found another doctor (on Tricare's page so tricare should be ok with him) and transfer all the paperwork to this new doctor. Hopefully that can be done, and hopefully I won't experience any delay on the process. I definitely don't want to be stuck with bills or copays, so I guess I just have to be more patient. It's been 4 months since I started this process and it feels like an eternity. I am so glad I found this board, now I don't feel so alone and clueless about this! I'll keep y'all posted!

Hello, I'm new to the boards but I am from Houston! Northwest near Cypress to be exact! Looking forward to meet you all, I am still in the process PRE OP, on Monday I have my last dietitian consultation! I want to be banded asap but I have had some complication choosing doctors that are on Tricare's network. It is being sorted out though, although now the surgery date won't be as close as I thought and wanted to. Nice meeting you all!

Thanks for your post, it was really helpful, I sent you a PM though

Thank you so much for replying! I called a Tricare approved doctor today and they told me to go to my last dietitian appointment and then tell them I want to transfer to the new doctor. Whew! I already met my catastrophic cap, so hopefully I don't have to pay much!