Allison0927

very well said - and great job on the weight loss!

i was approved monday morning and just got my july 5 surgery date this afternoon - the time between monday morning and this afternoon was horrible - i'm not an emotional person at all and i was on pins and needles the whole time watching my phone. Don't worry you'll get your date any time and all will be fine =)

congrats on making it through and keep us posted as you go!

my doc allows 3 protein shakes and 2 lean cuisines per day pre-op - i am counting my blessings....

So.... July 5 is the date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did pretty good on timing considering I just went to the seminar the first week of April. I'm excited, nervous and so happy to be headed toward band land.... =)

that's ok steph - the more the nutrition appts the better - that's the most important part in my opinion - good luck to you!!!!!!

very, very well said! Congrats on getting your date - my insurance approved me today - waiting on pins and needles for my date too - keep the positive thoughts they will serve you well!

37 - married with a 5 year old son - one and done so if a major oops happens fine otherwise - i won't be experiencing pregnancy while banded like some others on here (God love them and I'm glad they are going through it and can give advise to others). What about you?

awesome!!!! it sounds like we are almost the same weight - would be funny if we get the same surgery date!!!!!! I keep watching my phone waiting for the call from the dr's office with my surgery date - since I know the insurance company called the dr. office this morning with my authorization code before the insurance co. called me - I'm thinking they should have called me by now with the surgery date. The only reason they may not though is every Wed. they do a roundtable with all the surgeons and a few key hospital staff to go through the list of candidates for final approval from the surgeon with input from all - that is when they may decide to send the candicate for more testing etc. Then it's possible the office is waiting for that roundtable Wed. before approving me - still this waiting is terrible =)

My nutritionist said that the diet coke thing is because the carbonation actually STRETCHES the small pouch because of the carbonation - she told me that there is a female champion eating contest pro that actually drinks a bunch of diet coke before contests in order to stretch her stomach and make room for the extra food. I am a huge diet pop fan but it is not worth stretching my pouch - that will defeat the purpose of the surgery - so I have come to terms with giving up both diet pop and my favorite weekend treat - light beer. Neither one is happening after surgery (which is likely at end of June - received insurance approval today- yeah =)).

YOU ROCK!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! =)

WOW you are even faster than me - and I thought I was being speedy gonzalez! Yes - definitely stay in touch and on these boards all the time (they say research shows those that spend more time on the boards and/or with support groups lose more weight - I believe it too!). How much are you trying to lose and what state are you in?? (My name is Allison by the way)

GOOD LUCK! =) you will do great!

So my nurse case manager from United Health Care just now called me - I'm approved! The doctor just sent the packet to the insurer Friday and already approved by Monday morning - very fast! Just waiting on my surgery date now - hoping for end of June. I'm so excited!!! I weigh 273 - looking to lose 120. This board has been a God send! To be banded - Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton - soon! My insurance did not require a supervised diet and I only needed a proven BMI higher than 40 for last five consecutive years - but understand it only took me less than 2 months from the seminar to insurance approval - and I'll be having my surgery within a month of that I believe (so total of 3 months from attending seminar to surgery). Anyone out there that is looking for the quickest point from A to B - I have a tip (if you are able - this entails missing work in some instances) - take the very first appointment you can get (surgeon, psychologist, nutritionist, sleep consult/study). I was able to get my primary physician sign off and pschy evaluation done before my first appointment with the surgeon. Just be as efficient as you can be with meeting all the requirements within as short a time frame as possible. Again - GOOD LUCK TO US ALL and for the year + bandsters thank you so much for all the tips and inspiration on this board! =)

I LOVE IT - GREAT RESPONSE TO THAT IDIOT.

my surgery will be next month - but i was cath'd for my C-section - and never even knew it - and I was awake (but completely numb) for that one. I was so grateful for it after the surgery - couldn't get up and never had to pee - it was great. No pain at all - in or out.

I am having a sleep test next week as well - i am under the impression from my surgeon that he will not cut on any patient that has NOT had a sleep test - even when there's really no indication of apnea. When later I questioned the barriatric office further about this (when they called to refer me for the sleep consultation) I was given an alternative explanation - that I needed to do it "in case" my insurance - which does not require a co-morbidity in order to cover the surgery since my BMI is so high - tries to deny me. My paperwork for approval is being sent to my insurance company tomorrow. I know they will approve me - but the approval will likely come after I have done my overnight test which I am dreading. I know for a fact I do not have apnea - my husband has raging bad apnea and I know what the symptoms are very well. Even the sleep doctor said he very much doubted I have it after my consultation with him last week. Oh, and my insurance company won't pay for the overnight test if I end up testing negative (the most counter-intuitive thing ever). Yet, because I have come this far, I will keep doing everything I'm told - jumping through every last hoop - to get to the end game - the surgery. The joke is - if I do have apnea - isn't the weight loss from the surgery supposed to cure it? I think it's a racket - again, though, I'll do anything and everything I'm told for that surgery.

my nutrition couselor told me about a male patient (she didn't specify whether he was planning a band or gastric bypass) who gained 30 POUNDS between the first surgeon consult and surgery. He claimed he went on a "goodbye tour" of all his favorite eating stomping grounds - Golden Corrale (huge buffet) being his favorite and a frequent goodbye spot during this period. I have caught myself eating much more liberally than usual although I wouldn't call it an out and out binge. That is scary about the surgeon not doing the surgery if the patient gained more than 5 lbs between consult and surgery - but it's a GREAT deterrant to keep on track before surgery. My packet is being submitted for insuranc approval tomorrow - WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!! =)

good luck tomorrow and be sure to tell us all about your surgery!!!!!!!

WOW that is awesome - Dr. Siddiqui is doing mine this summer - I see this post is a few months old how are you doing on success these days???? and how much exercising have you been doing (number of days/time) just wondered - thanks!

great job - you look fabulous! Question - I think on your last pic you mention 'no makeup and hung over' - can you tell me more about alcohol after banding? (Please everyone no lectures about wrongs of alcohol, calories, lowering inhibitions - exchanging one addiction for another etc.) - truth is alcohol is the only liquid with calories that I ever drink - and I know if I'm being realistic I will eventually want my weekend drink(s) here and there after banding. You mention sorority and drinking - are about my age and build (pre-op) - so we have some things in common and I just wanted to know how alcohol and the band have mixed for you. Thanks!