Shannon28

Oh man, I really hope its not going to take that long. Sorry it took so long for you, thats ridiculous! When we were done with my psych evaluation she said she would start writing it up then. I don't really know who is at fault in my case, she may or may not have turned in the report by now but Im more angry at the weight management place for their lack in communication. And it only seems like they start doing what is needed only after being asked about it.

Thank you Elizabeth! I'm glad yours was processed quickly, hopefully when mine is submitted it won't be a very long wait. I've been told our insurance isn't as strict as most insurances but I still worry about not getting approved. I started everything back in September and was told I could probably have the surgery in October of 2011 but some financial things came up and I had to wait until January to proceed. I hate having to wait and not knowing if they are doing everything they are supposed to without being asked. They only called the psychologist to ask for her report AFTER we called them, so it makes me wonder how long they would have waited to get that. This has probably been the most stressful thing I have ever done and I can't wait to get it over with.

Thank you for your reply. It is extremely frustrating! I was trying to keep my cool about it but since for some reason they never answer their phone and for some reason are extremely slow about getting my papers out... I've lost my cool lol. And if they turned my papers in this week, and I add up the insurance approval wait (30 days)... then the 2 week pre-op diet, well it falls right on the same week as my wedding anniversary and my birthday lol. Thats going to be a super hard week for me if thats when they schedule it but I would never postpone it any longer. I'm trying not to stress too much about it but the wait is sooo hard right now.

Thank you! That gives me a lot of hope! My BMI is pretty high (51.5) but I don't have any major health issues so far. I think I will give them a call tomorrow and see if they know anything yet. Congrats on getting approved, I hope your journey goes along smoothly!

I'm waiting for my approval also. I don't have diabetes or high blood pressure either so I do have that worry of not being approved. Our insurance isn't very strict on terms of having to be on a 6 month diet or anything like that but I do still worry. I finished everything I needed to do last week so I'm waiting on the insurance, they said it could take 4-6 weeks. To me, waiting is the hardest part. Good luck, I hope you get approved quickly!

1. I want to be able to play with my kids without feeling like I'm dying. 2. I would love to go on fun dates with my hubby where I can actually do active things instead of just watching a movie because there's no walking involved. 3. Going to the doctor for certain things and NOT being told thats it because of my weight would be nice... I swear I go in with a cold and I'm told it's because I'm overweight lol 4.My biggest goal is to live a long life with my wonderful family!

Thanks for the replies everyone! I was completely scared about having this done but hearing from everyones experiences makes me feel a whole lot better. I talked to them this morning over the phone when they called to remind me of my appointment and it is the barium drink. Although I'm not looking forward to swallowing the barium I do feel a lot less stressed about it. All of this is so new to me, I've never had to have any type of tests done other than the occasional blood test and the gross diabetes drink test lol. And to Meredith , thank you very much for telling me about drinking a lot of water, I will definitely do that.Thank you very much everyone and I hope to be able to answer some of these questions to others one day!

I'm finally starting to get everything going again on my lap band journey. I was going to have it back in October but some things came up and postponed it. So now I'm back and got a few tests scheduled. My first test is coming up on the 27th and I was told it was an Upper GI. In all my excitement over the phone making the appointment (and my kids yelling in the background) I didn't think to ask any questions. But is an Upper GI where you swallow the barium or is it the endoscopy? At first I was thinking it was where they used the endoscopy because at my seminar I was told I would have one but the more I research and google it a whole bunch of topics come up about Upper GI's and barium. Im happy to do either one because I need this surgery but just wanted to be prepared for what I'm going to have to go through. And if it is an endoscopy, are you asleep during it? Thanks!

Thank you Mck for the response! You made me feel a lot better about getting it done especially since I thought it would take a long time. I should be fine as long as I can hold it down! lol

After a lot of research I have decided to go to Dr. Jaime Ponce for my first consultation, I haven't found a single bad thing about him and he is very experienced. I was wondering for those of you that had him as your doctor did you have to have the 6 month supervised diet? Did he require the 2 week pre-op liquid diet? I don't see him until the middle of next month but I'm trying to find out what to expect. What was your experience with Dr. Jaime Ponce? (Not to be confused with Dr. Ponce De Leon)

Thanks for the reply! Its nice seeing someone else going to the same doctor. I had my consultation and I'm not required to have the 6 month pre-op diet, just the 2 week diet. Right now I'm waiting on my primary care doctor to send the letter and then I can proceed with the tests required. I'm having mine done at Hamilton so our insurance will pay more. If all goes as planned I can have the surgery at the end of October. But since its taking a long time for my primary care doctor to send in the letter I'm afraid its going to delay it. Either way, I'm still super excited about this lol. Good luck to you and wish you lots of success with the band!

Thats awesome! Congrats! : )

Heres my list.. 1. Start shopping for cuter clothes 2. Be able to walk long distances without my thighs chaffing 3. Not being afraid to sit in a booth (I think I have a phobia of boothes now lol) 4. Being able to see my feet when I look down 5. Stop avoiding fun places like amusement park 6. And most importantly...Being able to run after my kids without feeling like it's going to be the death of me!

I see what you mean by band bashers now. I went in for my first consultation today (YAY!!!!) lol, anyways, when I sat down in the waiting area another woman was in there talking about her surgery. She had the sleeve recently and was talking about her very bad experience with the Band. She was talking to another man there about how the sleeve is the only way to go, and how horrible the Lap Band was. I was sitting there minding my own business hoping she would just stop talking eventually lol. Then she asks me if I had surgery already. I told her no and then she asked what I was having done. I told her I was going to get the Band. And oh boy did she not like that. She kept trying to talk me out of it. I repeatedly told her that I thought this was right for me but she was acting like I was stupid for choosing the Band. Then she was like "Well, it looks like you made up your mind". She was very rude about it and had some nerve trying to change other peoples decisions. Luckily I don't care about what people like that say and not easily talked into something. When I have made up my mind no one can change it. Other than that woman in the waiting area my consultation went GREAT! I loved the Doctor and the staff is amazing. I feel extremely comfortable with my decision for the Lap Band and the Doctors/Nurses that are going to be working with me.

I went to the doctor 2 years ago after finding a lump in my arm and underarm, I was scared to death but was told they are only lipomas and they aren't life threatening. Only the one under my arm hurts but nothing major so I'm not having them removed. My question is.. Do any of you have them and if so when you started losing weight were they easily visible? You can't see mine but I'm assuming it's because I'm overweight but I have seen them on thinner people. It's not a huge concern of mine because I just want to lose weight and get healthy but it got me thinking because I was told I probably have more than those two.

I'm still in the process of getting approved but the band is the only way I'm willing to go. Like you I don't want any re-routing or cutting done. I think a lot of people are negative towards the band because you lose weight more slowly, which I always heard that losing weight slowly is the healthiest way anyways. Also I hear a lot about about people who get banded gain a lot back but I don't "personally" know anyone that that has happened to. I know it "can" happen but its not the majority of bandsters. You will know in your heart which is best for you.

I hope it gets rid of my heartburn also. I have had constant heartburn since the birth of my second child and sometimes it's unbearable. Can't wait to get this surgery to start feeling better. I need to lose weight to fix my joint problems, if it got rid of my heartburn also it would definitely be an added bonus!

I haven't been banded yet but I've thought about this also. I have a 3 year old and a 12 month old (boys) and both are very active and like to jump on mommy. I'm a stay at home mom and my husband will only be able to take the actual surgery date off. I keep imagining my kids jumping on me one day after the surgery and busting my stitches. The day I had my second son (c-section) the first thing my oldest son did was push on my stomach while getting up and it was the worst pain I have ever felt, I kept checking my stitches to make sure he didn't do any damage lol.

Hi Crissy! I hope everything goes smoothly for you and you get approved quickly. I'm sorry about it having to be put on hold but I'm glad your able to get back to it. I wanted this surgery back when I turned 21, I was (and still is) severely overweight. I did a lot of research back then but wasn't ready emotionally plus I wanted to have kids first. Im now 27 (after having two kids) and feel emotionally and physically ready. I don't know how much more research I can possibly do lol. I wish you luck with your primary care visit and your tests and hope that your insurance will be good to you.

I would be excited too! Congrats on getting approved! That's the thing I'm worried about the most, the thought of surgery isn't bothering me at all but not knowing if I will get approved is driving me nuts lol. My seminar isn't even until the 8th so it seems like forever, but it's mandatory so I will do everything that needs to be done. Congrats again on your surgery. You will do great! Do you have a date scheduled yet?

I'm waiting to tell my in-laws until after I get the surgery and lose some weight. I don't need any negativity right now and although most of my husbands family would understand there are always those couple of people that have nothing better to do than put me down. As for my family, I told everyone I could possibly tell and they are excited for me. I have a very supportive family and know they will be with me 100% even if I don't lose the weight. It is a personal choice and everyones situation is different. But for me, I'm telling the supportive people in my life and will let the less supportive know later down the road. (if at all lol)

I am so glad you asked this question because I was also curious about this. I'm a stay at home mom to two boys and we only have 1 car between my husband and I. We do have stairs but it's hard for me to go up and down them because of my knee problems so I'm trying to think of other things I can do. I might give in and get a treadmill, and I would love to try hip hop abs. I always see it advertised on TV and think that it looks fun.