JerseyGirl80

I went to a seminar in July 2010, I made an appointment with the surgeon at the seminar for August 2010. At my first appointment with my doctor I was given a perscription for blood work, a chest x-ray, an EKG, a pysch evaluation, and a sleep apnea test. Every insurance is different in their requirements, I have Aetna which from what I've been told is one of the easiest insurances, they don't require a 6 month diet like some do. They just required proof of me being overweight for 2 years, my current weight to be on record for 3 visits at the surgeons office and they wanted co-morbidities. During September and October I got all my tests done. By Novemeber we were just waiting for all my test results to come in. My next visit with my Doctor (early Decemeber) I was asked when I'd like to have surgery, I decided after the holidays would be the best, so I was scheuled for early January. But due to a change of my insurance at work, I had to rush it all and wound up only having 9 days to prepare for surgery. But luckily all went well and I was banded on December 13th 2010. So in total my process was 5 months.

The gas will pass, just keep walking around as much as you can. My Doctor suggested taking Gas-X strips which helped. The pain in your back and shoulder is most likely trapped gas. I had horrible pain in the center of my back as soon as I woke from anesthesia, it was the gas. I had these pains for the first 5 days after surgery, it was moving around my body trying to find a way out. You just gotta keep moving and let it out.

If you have good insurance and you are physically and emotionally ready to make this step, do it, don't hesitate, you don't know what could happen. I was very close to not having mine because of the insurance change at my job. My Doc doesn't take the new insurance which was devastating news and I was on edge for days waiting to hear back from the Doc to confirm my clearance for rushed surgery. Luckily the office staff was amazing and was able to get me a surgery date right away. Otherwise, I would have had to start the process all over again with another surgeon, more tests, more dieting blah blah blah. And from what I understand the requirements are harder to meet for BCBS (my new one) than Aetna (my old one).

Thank you. Seriously, I really think the hair is worse than the weight for me, that's sad! I've had the worst time losing weight too. I was diagnosed with it almost 2 years ago, I knew for years that it was what was wrong with me, but it took me a while to see a doctor about it. When I told her I was considering the band, she said "that's great because with having PCOS, significant weight loss would be almost impossible to do yourself." My doctor is treating it with metformin and birth control, the combo of those drugs are supposed to do some great things and also help with weightloss, but we will see, I just started with the meds so only time will tell. I was a little over 300 when I started all this, I'm down about 27 pounds so far. I'm hoping with the meds and the band, weight loss will be a little easier.

Hi Allison, I'm new here too, I just had my surgery Dec 13th 2010. I also have PCOS and struggle with many of the symptoms as well =( so I feel for you. My endocrinologist is confident that this surgery will help with alot of the issues I'm having due to this frustrating problem. That was my main reason for making my final decision for having this surgery. I'm hoping it will help with any infertility problems I might have in the future as well as the other things that burden me daily.. I got my fingers crossed for you too as you wait for your approval! Good Luck!

Hi PeaceQueen, I was in your shoes, my first step was going to a seminar and making an appointment with the surgeon. I didn't know him, I wasn't referred to him by another doctor, it wasn't suggested to me by my doctor to have this surgery, I just kinda dove right in. My boyfriends mom and sister happened you be patients of his so I figured I'd check it out. I knew I met the requirements, size wise and my family history, to have this done. It was just a matter of finding out if I had any co-morbidities and if my insurance would cover. If you find a great surgeon, like I did, the team at his office will help you do what you need to do every step of the way. I met with him and he asked me specific questions and I was prescribed blood work, a chest x-ray, an EKG, and a sleep apnea test on my first visit with him. Every insurance is different, some require some crazy things and make you jump through all sorts of hoops or go on 6 month diets, some are not so difficult as long as you have some record of you being overweight for X amount of years and/or a co-morbidity. It already sounds like your insurance is open to this surgery, your Docs office will know what to do to get you approved. Don't get overwhelmed or discouraged, like I said find a great Doc who has a wonderful staff and they you guide you along your journey. Hope this helps. Good luck!

I'm fairly new too. I really had no pre-op diet, due to the fact that my job had decided to switch insurance providers come the new year. My original surgery date was set for January 10th, so to make a long story short I had about 9 days to prepare for surgery, talk about stressful! I was told to just eat smaller low fat meals and to stop my birth control pills, that's all. I can't imagine being on liquids 2 weeks before and after, I was ready to kill someone after the first week! My surgery date was 12/13/10, and everything went very well. The worst part I'd have to say was the gas pains I had for about 3-5 days. I had the worst pains in my back as soon as I woke from anesthesia, so I was ready to get up and walk around right away to just let all the gas out any which way it was willing to fly. The only surgery pains I had really just felt like "work out" pains, just that burn from too many sit ups. After a day or 2 the rest of my body was feeling that way too from lifting myself. I never realized how much I actually use my abs, or lack there of, to get up and down. My Doc was nice enough to allow me to cut my 2 week post-op liquid diet a few days short and I was able to eat "mushy" food for Christmas. In all honesty and to my surprise, I was able to eat pretty much anything right away. Doc gave me one piece of advice, "don't eat anything that walks on land and you'll be fine" as long as I chew it to death. I guess I'm a bad girl because I did have a very little bit of turkey but I did ok with it. I was fuller much sooner than I normally would have been, but was able to eat more than expected. My diet now is mainly focusing on Proteins and veggies. I have to admit the holidays are tough and I've only just begun this journey. I can't wait until next week so I can start fresh, start working out, and prepare for my first fill on Jan 18th! Good Luck with your surgery! Be happy and excited, there's nothing to be afraid of, maybe just the gas hehe

Congratulations! I hope you are doing well. At first I wanted just water, mainly out of fear but after a few days I started to feel a little hungry so I tried a little soup and it was filling and satisfying. For liquids I was mainly focusing on water, plain water or adding crystal light or true lemon, which I love. True lemon is just crystalized lemon flavoring incase you haven't heard of it. My other fluids were Protein shakes, low calorie gatorade, sodium free boullion (can't spell?) sugar free hot chocolate, and any kind of low fat low sodium chunk free Soups I could find.

quote name='JanB23' timestamp='1293448030' post='1550625'] Stick to mushies, eat slowly and try not to be tempted to eat too much. Hope you had a good Christmas. Good luck and enjoy your journey. I did my best at not eating too much, although i was surprised at how much I was able to get down without a problem. I don't have alot of restriction but I did notice I'm not able to eat anywhere near as much as I can normally scarf down. So Christmas went pretty good aside from gaining 2lbs, but in my defense I went from liquids to my first foods on a holiday, so I wasn't too upset! Thank you for posting! I hope you are enjoying the holidays.

Hello everyone! I'm new here and this is my first post so be gentle.. I am 10 days post op and I'm feeling great! I'm a tad nervous about Christmas, my Doc has allowed me to start mushy foods tomorrow. I'm excited to be eating again (this liquids business is for the birds, seriously). I've been starting to get a little more hungry in the last few days so anything I can chew on sounds good to me right now hehe.. Any tips for my first time eating after surgery, especially since it will be in front of a shmorgishborg of goodies? ~ Happy Holidays! ~