Vicki Loichinger

Sending you positive thoughts. Pamper yourself a bit today. Your body has been through a lot. I think it is only natural that you should feel a bit fragile. Hormones can do crazy things too. Just be kind to yourself. And pat yourself on the back for a job very well done. Just gonna take some getting used to living in this new body of yours. Hugs

Welcome. The three months will go by faster than you can imagine and it is a good time to start some new and lifetime changes and habits. I started taking Vitamins regularly for one thing. The nutritionist will want food logs, and writing down what you eat and how much, does give you pause to what you are putting into your body.
I had the band seven years ago. I never lost more than about 30 pounds and have gained that and more back and forth back and forth, Now I am at the same weight as then. And none of my medical problems were every helped. I am having a revision from band to RNY on November 7. I wish I had done this in the first place, but like your family I thought it was to drastic but it is what i needed. So now I will do what I should have done and hopefully add some good years to my life. Wishing you the best and so glad you are here.

I really really understand what you are feeling right now, I did finally get approved, but hoops I jumped. And never felt so out of control of anything ever. They do have all the power, But sounds to me you have the reasons one would need for this surgery. Praying that you get approved quickly and you can get your life back. I want mine back too. Just wanted you to know that I truly understand how you are feeling. Please try to replace that feeling with HOPE. HOPE the most powerful thing there is to me. and I have HOPE for us all.

No judging here, just don't let it derail you, don't dwell on it, move on, tomorrow is another day. You are human after all. I just think we have to not have the old mindset of "i blew it, I might as well do it some more" nope we can't do that. It will happen again. But again don't let it get you so down on yourself. Sending you so much positive thoughts.

I would have to say this the heart wants what the heart wants even though he's a little lazy and don't help out around the house you put up with it. Sit him down and explain to him what you need from him. If you don't work outside of the house, you have to work inside. Let him know you're not his mother.

I would think the Insurance Coordinator from your Surgeons office would know the requirements of your particular insurance co before they submit for approval. So you may not have to do anything different then you have already done. You might have just had to prove medical necessity which your paperwork from your doctors would have shown. I sure can't say for sure every insurance company and Dr.s office is different. I hope you here soon that you are approved with no further hoops to jump through.

I too had anthem BCBS and I was approved on Friday. The approval process took about three weeks and they did ask for some more paperwork in the middle. But really I think it went very well. And if all the info from all my docs had been sent in the first time it would have been even faster.
So hopefully tomorrow I will get a surgery date
I have had my lap band for seven years and revising to the RNY.
I have no horror stories about my lap band it just didn't help me lose all the weight I needed and even when
losing weight the diabetes and asthma did not improve. I am kinda putting all my eggs in the RNY basket and
hoping I am one of the 80% that the RNY drastically changes the diabetes.
Wishing you the very best.

Please add me to the November list
November 7, 2012
12:30 be at hospital 10:30
Wow hard to sink in that it is really going to happen
Revision from lab band to gastric bypass.

Just some advice from me, I was losing my hair really bad too. I still am and I am 6 months out. Use Biotin. I take the pills I swallow and also the ones that disolve under the tongue. I also use the Garnier Fall Fight Shampoo conditioner and also the spray. The most important part of it though is the Protein. My doctor says to make sure to get 75+ grams of protein per day, I am staying close to 100grams. If you are doing all of this, then the Hair loss should be minimal. There will be some, but not to the point of balding. Good luck with all of this. It is so sad to see your hair coming out. I cried. If you do all of the above you should be fine. It should slow down at about a year out. There are a lot of hormonal things going on right now. Once your body starts normalizing all this will go away. Hope this helps

I wanna have sex standing up. Need 14 more pounds maybe I can do it then.

fingers, toes and eyes crossed for you. I got that call Friday and I was so happy and relieved. Now just waiting for a call with a date,
Wishing your phone to ring,
Hugs

welcome and take each day one at a time. And yes keep your eye on the prize. Gentle hugs to you and Best Wishes.

I am going to be thinking and sending you all positive thoughts and saying prayers for all of you tomorrow. Best Wishes to all of those having surgery this week.

I am going to be thinking and sending you all positive thoughts and saying prayers for all of you tomorrow. Best Wishes to all of those having surgery this week.

I tell this to my friends who are going through relationship issues with their significant other..."you knew this person, and accepted them as they were from the begining." I understand people change but I'm referring to the educational issue. Having a GED is ok, but in today's society its not enough to secure a position (most of the time). I understand where your frustration comes into play and lazyness should not be tolerated. DO NOT allow him to drive your car. If he loves you he won't put you or your kids in jeopardy! It's a huge risk since you are the bread winner.
I strongly believe ultimatums in situations such as these. Set standards and expectations and a time frame it all has to be accomplished by. I know you love him and this will be tough, but if you don't take care of yourself then who will your kids have to rely on? Make sure everything is reasonable, but make sure he sticks to the plan. If he's willing to do it...then he's a keeper. If not then he's fallen too deep into bad habits....and that's NOT good for you or the kids!
Best of Luck and remember to Love yourself first! I have two kids a husband...and if I don't take care of me first then I would never have energy for them!

that is fantastic, all of it, I am so very happy for you. You inspire me.

Tomorrow is the day, wow! I went and got a massage today. I highly recommend it. It really relaxed me and gave me a great send off.

Two weeks of liquid dieting & 21lbs down, & two weeks a surgery and a lifetime of praying I neva let myself get back here again to go. Im ready come on 10/08/12 (TEAM HEALTHY)

I feel a sense of calm today after getting the approval call yesterday. I am sure i will go through a million different feelings by the time day of surgery comes. But right now I feel calm and hopeful.
Wishing you the very best, I mean that with all my heart.

Sorry for the delay…
So when I got to the doctor’s office today first they did my final weigh-in which was not good because I gained 8 pounds and as a result they told me that I needed to start the liquid diet ASAP. I asked would it be Okay to start on Friday so I can prepare mentally. He said Friday was okay . I then had to take a little quiz (true or false) about gastric bypass. I got 100%
The doctor and nurse practitioner went over everything I need to start/stop doing and what to expect up until the moment I’m discharged. They also went over the possibility of complications and made sure I understood them, though they are highly unlikely to happen.
So here is my run down: Start liquid diet on 9/21, nothing by mouth after midnight the night before surgery, stop aspirin and all aspirin products as of today, get blood work done by the admission testing center 5 days before surgery (they will call me to schedule the appointment at the hospital), pre-registration (which is done 2-3 days) before surgery which is done by the hospital via phone.
What to bring to the hospital (this is for me) every patient is different:
Lip balm
Clean comfortable clothes to go home in
Something to read if I want, everything else will be provided (gowns, slippers, toiletries etc).
*Patients who use CPAP machine have to bring it with them along with their medication, bring walker/canes/wheelchair or any other assistive devices. None of this applies to me personally that’s why I said every patient is different.
On the day of, I have to be at the hospital by 6am and the surgery starts at 7:30am. I will be in the hospital for 2 night and 3 days. I have to buy a product call “Hibiclens” soap which has to be used the night before and morning of my surgery only on my stomach and under my breast. Hibiclens removes surface bacteria from the skin in preparation for my surgery. The procedure will take one and a half hours. By that afternoon they will try to get me out of the bed and active (moving) as soon as possible. This is to prevent blood clots.
On the morning of post operative day #1 I will be taken to radiology for a modified swallow study. The purpose of the study is to evaluate my new pouch via x-ray and determine if there are any leaks. They are leaving in some drain tube (I forgot what it’s called) for one week. It will be removed during my one week follow up visit. The purpose of the tube is to make sure they are no leakage after i leave. I guess they want to really make sure which I am very pleased with!!!! Once I am cleared by radiology I will be advance to a liquid diet. Before I am discharged I will be given one week worth of instructions to follow which I am happy about because I was becoming a bit overwhelmed. They assured me that they will be there to guide me step by step so it won’t feel so overwhelming.
The doctor also give my pain meds prescription which they suggest I get filled now, so I won’t have to worry about it when I get home after the surgery.
If you have any question, please ask…. I am sure I forgot something, but If I remember I will be sure to share when it comes back to me….. J

Although I'm supposed to be on a full liquid diet I let myself have a cup of hot and sour Soup to reward myself for putting up with my drs offices ineptitude and not having a meltdown/yell at them

Well I went in there last week just to make sure that they had all of my medical records and to see what was missing so I could work on it. Then I called them Thursday to make sure they at they got the ones that were missing. And that's when they told me about the letter from the PCP. So then I had to bug my PCP-which, luckily, I also work with him one day a week-and then I bugged him today to see if he actually did it. I am just a very organized person and like to have all of my ducks in a row. Not knowing what is going on really drives me nuts. haha

I also have PCOS but I have other symptoms. I also had my children when I was very ypune. I am 33 years old and My oldest just turned 19 so you do the math lol . Life happens for a reason Im glad you have your mom who helped you make up your mind and she will be a great support as well. I have IBS, PCOS, sleep apna. I decided for the RNY because I cant seem to lose anything a Lb there and here that s about it. I am very active and that kind of sucks being such a big girl and lugging all this extra weight around. People I noticed have been saying Im crazy for doing this as I am not that big. I tell them listen I may not look like Im almost 300 Lbs but I am you dont know what i go through or how I feel everyday or what my stuggles are. I am human and I want to live and be healthy. They say stop eatting so much. I look at them and say what do I really eat thats bad? They have nothing to say. I eat very well and I eat health. but when you have PCOS it slows things down or stops it. I am me . Kids and Hubby is supportive. I havent told anyone else in my family exxcept my mother in law. I dont feel its their business at all . I only see them once in a blue moon. so. The people on this site are great . Lots of information and lots of support. If you dont know something ask. Someone will surely know and if not they will find the answers, Good Luck and make sure you keep us all posted. Your a greataddition to our November 2012 group