WEESIE

You are on the right track by making sure you have all your appointments done quickly. My insurance approval went very quickly. There are a few things I did that might have helped keep it moving along. 1. I called my insurance company and had them read the exact requirements for my surgery to me. I know the surgery center did it, but I wanted to make sure that I had it down specifically. There was one difference between what they told me and what insurance said. So, I called back and talked to three people to be sure. This saved me at least a week because the surgery center believed that I had to have records of weights from the last five years from my doctors. That wasn't on my policy so I insisted that we file without that. In a hurry here. 2. I stayed in touch with my provider to see that it had been submitted. It took several days to get it submitted and I made it clear to them that I was on a time crunch due to my work schedule so this might have helped a bit. As soon as they told me it was submitted, I started keeping in touch with my insurance. Once it was faxed to them it took a couple of days for them to be able to even see it had been received. 3. Once my claim was received I called several times a day to see where it was in the process. I learned the process from anyone who was patient when I called. They did tell me that I had a right to call as often as I wanted to. They told me that they had to make a decision and notify us within 15 calendar days of receiving it, but my estimated surgery date was before that and if it wasn't done two days before that date they would escalate it. This estimated date was not even scheduled, so that was a help to know. 4.On one of these calls they gave me a number for this case. Try to get that and it will make your calls go much faster. Also, knowing what date the doctor has entered as your surgery might help 5. When I finally was told that it was approved (I had called twice this day but at 4:00 I got the word), I got the approval number and called the surgery center. They only check twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday and I got this on Thursday after they checked. So I called them and gave them the number. At this point they got on the ball and I was in surgery within a few days! In summary: Stay involved and remember that it is your insurance company. There is someone there who will talk to you.

Congratulations on joining the land of the banded. Sounds like you are doing very well already. Everyday gets better.

Angel, I'm sorry you're having a hard time. Just remember this won't last long compared to a lifetime. I have been hungry today also. I just did something that I don't know if I'm supposed to do but I added a teaspoon and a half to my GNC 60 cookies and cream protein with unflavored, unsweetened almond milk. It tasted so good and I was able to drink more of my protein drink. If any of you know about the peanut butter in the liquid phase please tell me. Angel we will get through this. You have done the right thing for your health.

Your humor helped relax my fear from all of the reality stories. Now to teach my husband to have a sense of humor. But, I hope I'm one of the ones who doesn't have this stuff.

Hi, I was banded on Wednesday, May 25th. I also had a large hernia repaired. I went home the same day but it was an uncomfortable ride. I am amazed at how quickly the pain goes down. I could easily do without pain meds today, but taking them keeps my blood pressure from going up so much. I was banded by Dr. Holden at True Results in Richardson Texas. Today was my first day to go out and I went to my grandson's HS graduation. It was almost too much but I'm glad I went. I am really hungry today. I have only had one protein shake because I'm too tired to make another one. I'll try to get one in soon.

Wow Girl! I'm impressed that you got out so soon. Did you get very tired? I went to my grandson's HS graduation today and it wiped me out. I thought how strong I was because I've been walking but sitting up and visiting for two or three hours was really too much. You did really good with not eating anything there. You will be that skinny hostess before you know it.

NJGirl, Thank you for the recommendation. I will go to Amazon and order it now. I hope it is available on Kindle so I don't have to wait. And how are you doing today?

Jen, I feel for you. It is difficult being in the post op recovery and also having issues with hunger. I read someplace that egg drop soup is high in protein so I decided to try it. My husband bought me some at a local oriental restaurant. We cooled it, skimmed off the fat and I ate the broth minus the eggs. It made me feel like I had some real food. I don't know if it will help you, but maybe it can get you over the hump.

Becca I have not experienced this with weight loss, but I am sure that he will find you beautiful. He saw the beauty of you inside and out when he married you and he still will. Remember that he is going through a lot while he is away and you will both learn to adapt when he is back. It might be difficult at first, but just think of it as another opportunity to get to know each other and fall even more in love. When my husband came back from Viet Nam he was like a skeleton but I still saw him as handsome. You will feel the same about him and he will you as well. We look forward to hearing about it when you have a chance.

Wow, this is unbelievable. Do you feel like the before pictures are you? You are like two different bodies. Good work!

Coley, I was banded on May 25th. I have been having the same problems with knowing what these feelings are. I have figured out that when I have those sharp pains I go walk as long as I can while holding my stomach because the movement hurts. I sometimes apply a little pressure. After a few minutes of walking the burps start to come. I burp a lot. I try to walk until the burping slows down, but sometimes I dont have the energy to keep walking. I also had pain today that I was sure was hunger, but the pain med made it go away. So, I guess it's not hunger. As far as sleeping, I have some heat packs with clay in them from WalMart and I microwave them and go to sleep with them on me everynight. If my husband or I wake up during the night we heat them. These things help me. I hope some of them will help you. Oh, and the deep breaths you talked about. Be sure you are using your little respiratory thingy so you don't get pneumonia. I have to make sure I have pain meds active before I do that.

I don't have any words of wisdom based on experience so here is a BIG HUG. You have come so far already. Keep on keeping on and you will reach your goal before you know it. I admire all your progress thus far.

Thankyou for responding. I am glad that the poll feature works. I thought it would be fun to try it. I love your name "nomorejellybelly". How do you like the aftercare there? Is there usually a long wait? I will be going in about 4 weeks and am anxious to get this going.

It sounds like you know what you want. You will find a way to do it. Don't give up.

It sounds like you know what you want. You will find a way to do it. Don't give up.

I think you are doing very well. Just think if you were to lose that much in the next 13 months how much better you will feel. When you started 13 months probably seemed like a long time away and now here you are. Also, remember that this time those pounds are gone for good because you have your tool. You never have to lose those same pounds again like most of us did in the past.

Wow! Your are really working it. You and Bandy are a great pair. Contratulations.

Hi, I am 61 10/12. They never winked at me when I went through all the preparations. I have been on blood pressure meds since about 1986. Now I'm on three different meds and it is getting harder to control. I had surgery Wed. 5/25/2011 so I don't know much about how it will work yet. I am looking forward to being healthier. The only time my age was mentioned is when I had to stay in recovery three hours rather than one hour and they told my friend I was doing fine considering my age.

Welcome and congratulations on your new life. I was banded Wednesday, so we are close to the same age. Looking forward to seeing you around.

Hi, I am looking for other Texas and particularly Dallas area Bandsters. Look forward to meeting you all.

Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences. Today is my second day since surgery and I am already feeling hungry. My liquid diet is for weeks one and two. Yikes! I am older (61) and had a large hernia repaired. I wonder if that's why my liquid phase is longer. Anyway, all of your comments might help me get through it. Thanks for being here.

Amanda, I suggest that you make sure you aren't sick with something else before you just assume it is the band. When you say your urine is dark, there are different degrees of dark. You can try getting more fluids down, especially water and see if the urine looks more normal. If not, you might visit your PCP before jumping into any additional unfill. Good luck.

Mandy, Looking forward to hearing how it went. Take care and welcome to the land of the banded.

No, you are not jinxing yourself. We should always make sure things are not left unsaid. This surgery is very low risk, but so is going to work or taking an airplane flight or any number of things we do everyday! I think it is a good idea (now that you mentioned it) to have a letter for each of our loved ones ALL THE TIME. In addition to trying to make sure we always part on good terms each day or go to bed only after we make sure those in our house know we love them, this letter is a great idea. I had my surgery on Wednesday and never thought of it. I wish I had. I think you should use this as an opportunity to make sure you have it on paper for the future. It probably won't be needed for this surgery, but it is inevitable that we will all come to that point. Your loved ones will appreciate it when that time comes. In the meantime, relax and enjoy the time you have.

This moved quickly as I had hoped it would. I attended the seminar on April 30, 2011 and was banded on May 25, 2011. I was fortunate because it was covered by insurance due to a BMI or 36 with more than the required two morbidities. The one that concerns me most is my blood pressure. I am on three medications and my blood pressure the day of surgery was 170/101. It was up when I came out of surgery which kept me in recovery for three hours as they brought it down. My blood pressure is my main concern--even over losing weight. Today is going better. I Have walked a total of 33 minutes in short laps around my driveway. I think it took me about four trips out to make it, but I did. I am looking forward to being able to walk that long in one stint instead of several. Food (or liquids) is already getting old. I feel like I am getting hungry, but I'm thinking maybe it is partly hunger. I was skipping my pain meds, but decided to go back on them for a while longer. The hunger feelings are better since that so I guess some of it was pain. I splurged on a few ounces of egg drop soup for dinner (minus the egg drops). It tasted good and I didn't feel so deprived. Just two days ago the thought of food was nauseating. Today I am obsessed by it. So I have made a vanilla protein shake and added some orange water flavoring to it. I am letting it freeze while stirring it every few minutes. I hope it tastes like ice cream by the time it is time for me to eat again. This might be my first day to get all three shakes in.