MrsMyers10

idk how, sorry

Created a new FB account today just for lap-band friends etc. and to track my weight loss for when I get banded/have some accountability or just support when I need it. The more support the merrier so look for me if you'd like! name: DakotaRae Banded

I schedule my official surgery date this Wednesday and cannot wait! Hoping I can make a friend around my age (22) who will also be banded soon...everyone who I've told about my surgery for the most part is supportive, but I was hoping to find someone who actually understands what I will be going through.. I'm from Louisiana (Baton Rouge area) but it doesn't really matter to me where you're from... =)

Okay! You're definitely way ahead of me, lol my surgery date is February 15th.

I find out my surgery date 12/21! Most likely your doctor will put you on a liquid diet 10 days before your surgery...(protein shakes, chicken broth, etc.) to help shrink your liver.

Okay, so I've noticed everyone talking about how they had to do a sleep test, pulmonary testing, etc. before they could get cleared for surgery. I'm just wondering if anyone out there hasn't had to do any of this, besides the usual pre-op blood tests. I keep asking if i'm going to have to do any of these things, or any of other kinds of test and they told me no, just the usual blood-work you have have done before all surgeries.. Is this normal? and also, another question kind of off subject but here it goes... My biggest concern after being banded is the whole 'no drinking while eating'. I always have a glass of Water, bottle water, etc. in my hand, I am ALWAYS thirsty. I can down 3 glasses water or more during meals, and I tried not to drink anything today during my lunch and I seriously thought I was going to die! Do y'all find that it gets easier to do overtime, or that you can at least sneak a few sips in during meals w/o it washing your food out of your band/stomach to the point of constant hunger? I wish I knew why I am so dang thirsty 24/7 lol

So I was wanting to get an early start on trying out Protein shakes so I know which ones I can tolerate when it comes time for my pre-op diet and also so I can start adding them into my diet as Meal Replacements. That way, when the time comes I'll be use to them and it won't be such a shock, considering I've heard all the horror stories of how hard it was! So, just wondering what shakes y'all enjoy the most/have the best nutritional value and where y'all get them from. Thanks!

Took 2 days for me, but I think it's b/c I kept calling BCBS and drove them crazy, haha.

They're saying all I have to do is blood-work? Weird.

My surgeon is Dr. Jonathon Taylor. That's great Grider, I hope I can get by on the shakes/ w/e pre-op diet I'm put on!

Thanks ladies!

Hi Crystal, I am in the same boat as you! I'm also 22 years old with high blood pressure and am a pre-diabetic.. I've decided to definitely get banded and have struggled with who to tell/who not to tell. I'm not ashamed with my decision at all but I do feel like it's not everyone's business. I chose to tell my closest friends and family, and although most are supportive I have had some pretty negative feed back from a friend and a family member. I'm past it now and know I'm making the right decision for me and my health but it did set me back for a little while. In the end you have to do what is right for you and the people who judge you for that shame on them! Tell whoever you feel comfortable with, but keep in mind you will find out who your true friends are! Good luck!

Found out today my insurance will cover 85% and 15% will have to come out of pocket..called today and got exact amount I will have to pay upfront and although it could be worse I still regardless do not have this much money just sitting around. I was hoping and praying I could have my surgery by January but I don't think I'll be saving that much money anytime soon..I was so ready, and idk if I can handle the wait now..

Yeah I thought they would just bill me too! Oh well, I called again today, apparently I have a $400 copay, $400 deductible, have to pay doctor atleast $700 upfront and facility will be billing me about $2500 but will have to pay $1200 of that upfront.

I don't really want to have to change surgeons, I really liked the one I'm with now and I'm pretty particular but I felt really comfortable with him, so I was pretty happy about that. I think I just had myself so hyped up and ready to go when I realized I might have to wait an extra couple months I overreacted, lol. I had great plans for my tax returns this year though, lol! But I guess what better use to put it towards my health!

I actually already applied for care credit and I was turned down. I talked to my Doctor office/facility and neither will budge. I guess I will end up pushing my surgery a couple months back and use all my tax money to pay b/c i reallyyyy want this!

Just wondering how long it took y'all to get approval from your insurance and is there anything I can do to speed the process up? I'm so readyyyy now!

I called my insurance and neither of them have anything on file yet. Makes me really aggravated! Been trying to call dr office to see what's going on but can't get anyone and no one has bothered calling me back yet.

Goodness, how annoying. I'm nervous because I have blue cross primary and secondary but I know only my secondary policy covers lap-band. I'm worried about if they see my primary deny they are automatically going to deny also and will have to appeal.

consultation was today! Went really well...now just waiting for insurance approval! So excited... I'm going to have the choice between Lap-Band or the Realize band, what are the differences and what did y'all choose? Anyone heard anything negative, one VS. the other?

Oh, okay. Good to know, thanks!

Goodluck today! Hope all went well!

So, after finding this website and reading all the positive things that cab come from WLS (banding especially) I've decided I really want this. So I have a consultation this coming Monday, so excited! I wanted to see if y'all had any suggestions on questions to make sure and ask. Also, the lady I spoke with said I could go ahead and schedule a surgery date during this visit. Did y'all have a long wait? I'm also nervous about how long it's going to take for my insurance to approve me, I've already called and verified it IS covered by my secondary ins. But not my primary. I just hope they don't have any stupid stipulations like waiting 6 months on diet, etc.!!

Four hours?!?!? Oh my gosh, no one told me how long it would be. Apparently the way my surgeon does it, the consultation is actually a big group of people considering WLS and he explains every procedure in detail then answers questions and addresses people's concerns and then if you are still interested you stick around and he will meet with each of us one on one to further discuss everything and schedule surgery if all goes well. I just got a ton of emails with forms i had to fill out and now I have to contact my PCP and get all my medical history to bring with me, and they're already looking into my insurance coverage so when I go Monday if everything is there and good I can go ahead and schedule my surgery!! Now I'm stressing out about getting all that stuff together by Monday! I was thinking things were gonna be easy breezy but now I'm realizing this is going to hectic! We can definitely be nervous together lol..Keep in touch and let me know how it goes! Or if you just need someone to chat with about everything..I don't have many people I can talk to about this anyhow.

I am currently considering WLS. I'm leaning towards the Lap Band but still weighing all my decisions. (No pun intended, lol!) So obviously I have lots of question and concerns and figured y'all would be the best to ask! Here are my questions for now/concerns: Did you consider any other weight loss surgery options? What were they, and what made you finally choose Lap Band? Do any of you have any excess skin horror stories? Did any of you have Cosmetic surgery/tummy tuck etc. to correct excess skin and your insurance paid for it? When can you get your first fill? How many fills did it take to feel restriction? Any of you became pregnant while having the lap band ? Were there any complications? Did this negatively affect your weight loss journey?