soccermonster31

I was banded on Wednesday. Wow, what an experience. The day started off pretty bad for me. My veins like to "hide" so it took 3 people several tries and finally a ultrasound to get my IV in. Coming out of anesthesia I was in terrible pain, coughing and then threw up several times. It took them several minutes to get me to calm down. Once in my room, things got a little better. The pain meds made me pretty tired, but they had me up and walking about 6 hours after surgery. Walking around made me feel a little better. I did spend one night at the hospital, got very little sleep and was uncomfortable most of the time. I'm home now. I'm trying to not take much pain medicine. I am still sore and my bellly button where my single incision is. I also have been coughing up mucus regularly. I keep getting a sharp pain in my upper chest, almost like I need to burp. Oh and my stomach hasn't stopped growling at me, which hurts as well. So far it has been a rough couple of days. I just keep telling myself that it will be worth it in the long run.

I like the unjury shakes as well. Definately the best I had tried. I am just so ready for tomorrow and for week two when I get to start mushie food. I am sooo tired of liquids!

I am using the best surgeon in STL who also does the one incesion surgery. He required a $200 program fee at our first meeting. I told them I wasn't comfortable paying that until we had decided to go forward with surgery and I needed to know exactly what the $200 was for. They gave me a generic description that they use it for general office overhead, um hello, all dr offices have overhead. But I did agree to pay it once we set up a date for surgery and I knew is office would be working with me. But I was kind of shocked at the $200. No way would I pay $1000. Is your insurance covering you 100%? Some offices will take the program fee out of the final payment that you have to make. I would ask them! Also check around with other good surgeons in your area and use it as leverage if they charge less. These surgeon offices are usually pretty competitive for patients and may work with you. It never hurts to ask!

Ignore them! I'm on day 7 of my preop diet. All I could have was clear liquids, no protein shakes. And I lost 15 pounds and dropped a pant size! Tomorrow I will be banded and on my way to a healthier happier new me. And how I feel about myself matters way more then what any one person could say.

I'm excited and nervous too. I thought I had to do the 6 months of monitored weightloss and would have surgery in Feb of 2012. But a month ago (I was 2 months in) they called and said I didn't have to do the monitored weightloss. So I've had to rush prepare myself for tomorrow. I think that is what is making me the most nervous. I keep having to reassure myself that I am doing the right thing. Do you know about when you will be having surgery? If you have any questions about preop or need any kind of support just let me know I know I wouldn't have made it through this last week of Clear liquids without a good support system of personal friends and friends on this forum.

Hey Breeze I am in STL and getting banded tomorrow! I had similar issues as you at 27! So I know what you mean when you say you need to lose the weight to save your life! Which surgeon are you using?

Hope everything went well this morning! I go in tomorrow morning for my surgery.

I think you look great! Seeing your weightloss really inspires me, and encourages me that getting banded this week is the right thing to do. I think that you should do what you want to do! If you are being healthy and working out, then keep on losing! What ever makes you feel good Great job so far and thats for being an inspiration!

Good luck ladies! I have surgery on the 26th. We Can Do This!!!!!

Thank you for bringing up this topic. I have the same worries about being banded and how my husband is going to react. Right now he is doing ok at not eating in front of me since I am on my liquid diet. But I know that it won't last forever. My biggest beef is that he probably needs the surgery to. People ask me on a daily basis if we are doing it together. He, however, is content just the way he is. And if you really press him about his weight he tells me he can do it on his own, but isn't interested in doing the work. I think he will be there for me at first, but at some point will either decide it is time for him to change or he will go the opposite extreme and stop carrying about his health all together. But everyone on here is right. It is your decision what you put in your mouth and your journey to a healthier lifestyle. Nobody can do this for you.

I like the unjury to. chocolate and vanilla. I was not a fan of the strawberry mixed with Water though. You have to buy it online, but I get my shipment in 2 days.

Your surgeon's office might be able to give you a good time frame as well. My insurance girls were amazing and knew exactly what I needed and when and then who to call to push the approval through.

I didn't have any issues with UHC. I'm using it as secondary insurance under my husband. My insurance excluded bariatric surgery but his did not. I was originally told I would have to do the 6 months of monitored weight loss, but 2 months in they came back and said I didn't and could have surgery right away. I just had to have a medical recommendation from a primary care physician. I was approved 6 hours after they submitted the approval paperwork. I didn't have any medical issues, just a BMI over 40. Our plan is covering the surgery 100%. I know this probably isn't typical, but I feel extremely lucky how easy the process has been.

I went in for all of my preop testing today and also started my 7 days of clear liquids. Still hard to believe this is all happening in the next week! I'm excited but still nervous. Ready for the 26th to get here.

I start my 7 day preop diet of only Clear liquids next Wednesday. I was looking forward to having all my favorite things this week. But instead I'm sick and have no appetite! So now I'm just using it as a motivator to say that I can make it through next week! And I tell myself everyday how much I love sugar free Jello and being able to freely eat it for 7 days will be a great blessing, lol. I also clued my coworkers around me to what was going to happen next week, and they said they would do the diet with me as support! I work with a great bunch of people, but I assured them they didn't need to be starving themselves for a week. Just to keep an eye on me, and don't let me head towards the kitchen!

Thanks for asking this question! I was wondering the same thing. I have PCOS as well and hadn't had a period in 10 months. My gyno gave me medicine to start it and I have been bleeding for 2 weeks, and no signs of stoping! Surgery isn't until the 26th, but I tend to start and stop and then start again. Good luck on your surgery

Thanks I live in Saint Louis. Where are you located?

Just found out today I might be an October Bandster! Scared and Excited all at the same time. Looking at October 26th. Good luck everyone!!!

I have been researching and considering bariatric surgery for a little over a two years. However, my insurance included an exclusion, and my husband kept switching jobs. Finally three months ago he started at a new company that has great insurance. We checked to see if it included weight loss surgery and it did! So we added it as my secondary insurance and we found a My New Self Seminar to get more information about surgery options. I had done some research but the seminar made this a real option for me. My insurance required that I do 6 months of monitored weight loss, so I started those appointments the week after the seminar. It was and eye opening experience. I had avoided a dr's office for years. I wasn't to the point of having diabetes or any other comorbidities but I was boderline on a few tests. That was enough for me. I knew I had to change my life! Today, 10/6/2011, I got a call from my surgeons office. They had FABULOUS news for me. I actually didn't need to do the 6 months of monitored weight loss (I was 2.5 months in) and they had sent in my paperwork THIS MORNING! Yikes, I was shocked, scared, pretty much anything but excited. I thought I still had 4-5 months to prepare myself...and now they were telling me I could have surgery in 2 weeks! I have spent the rest of the day thinking about it, and I am ready. I was approved by insurance this afternoon and I hope to schedule my surgery for 10/26/2011! I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time the next few weeks in this forum, so please leave me a note. Tips, Encouragement, Support I need it all right now!