chasingadream

Congrats on that accomplishment...it is a lot of work getting the pre-op stuff done! Im finishing up my psych this tues and nutritionist next and then they will submit. It is nerve wracking hoping they approve it and quickly! Please let us know how it turns out for you.... Are you being banded in 3 weeks 8/5 or 3 months.....you had 2 different dates posted...hoping its the earlier for you!

YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING, FABULOUS! You are such an inspiration for a wanna be bandster! What a tremendous accomplishment...words truly can't convey what an impact this has on me! Thanks for sharing your journey....good/bad/ugly/and in between! You, like a few others on here, keep it honest and real for those yet to experience this journey! and for that I thank you! ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF YOUR SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENT!

That's amazing...congratulations...still waiting to be banded.....very inspiring...can u post before and after pics...always so motivating to see others success!

Hi Fabulous....Im not banded yet either but i met with my surgeon and have just finished all my pre-op testing AND 6 month supervised diet with my PCP. It seems like many insurance companies require this...for different reasons as a requirement for possible approval. Basically, you need to visit your PCP to be weighed in by your DOCTOR and discuss/implement a weight loss program and exercise program. I pretty much maintained my weight during the 6 months (up and down a pound or two here and there). My surgeon's office gave me a form that the doctor had to fill out each of the 6 months that will be submitted to the insurance company with the tons of other reports from all of the testing that I had to go thru. Hope that helps....good luck...it does seem like a lot to go through...i'm just trying to focus on the end goal of getting banded. Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the insurance company unless you self-pay....i've jumped thru all of the hoops and within the next week or two will have all my stuff submitted and i hope and pray, like many others before me, that i will receive insurance approval without any problems... ...good luck!

Not banded yet, but my sister had gastric bypass, and had similar situations...isnt that good to have documented though, some insurances will cover skin removal if chronic situations arise from it...just a thought?!

Sounds like you were a true success! One event at a time....way to go!

Way to go!

You look wonderful!

Sounds like you are off to a great start....you sound so POSITIVE...that is great to hear...still waiting to be banded...nice stories like this are so reassuring.... Hope you continue to feel and look great!

Im not banded yet and try to learn from all situations posted here....how are you doing....why do you think you got "stuck"...how was the doctor and the office....im going to the same place!

Hi Tilly, Im NOT banded yet, finishing up pre-testing...I decided on the band with plication because it has lower complications from surgery, is reversible if necessary, and most importantly I did not want my anatomy changed permanently as with other WLS. My surgeon does lots of bands...if you are not happy that your surgeon doesnt do that many or is pushing you towards something you dont feel in your heart is what you want....keep searching for someone who will listen to what YOU want and help you decipher the pros and cons! Good luck to you!

Im NO doctor but I just came back from my upper gi series and there was a newbie doctor with the doctor watching as I drank the Fluid...he told me to tighten my stomach and he told the other newbie doctor it was to see if i had reflux....don't know if that helps any but thats what they said!? Good luck...let us know how your appt goes! Best of luck to you!

You guys are truly saving me right now....Im still finishing testing and after the number of "bad" news posts lately I have been doubting my decision to be banded. I was seeing more bad than good and letting it get the best of me.... I know everyone is different and from your experiences you are working the band the way it is meant to be but sometimes there is so much "negative" stuff around here that as a wanna-be and workin' to be bandster it gets really scary to read it all. So for you that posted above THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Im NOT banded (yet) but I had stomach spasms several years back and they told me it was gastritis...I felt like I was going to die it hurt so bad....I feel your pain....and they doctor did give me meds to stop the spasms.... Feel better soon!

You guys are ALL amazing.... seasoned bandsters always there to give support, advice, and honest experiences... newbies, sharing the immediate good, bad , ugly and uncomfortable, and then the "soon to be's" hanging on every post...ummm THATS ME.... Finishing up some of my pre-op testing and hoping for a surgery date sometime soon.... Seems as though the possiblity of ACTUALLY being banded seems so far away and impossible to reach...ugh... So for now I will continue to listen and learn from all of your experiences! Thanks for that!

Thanks for your story dalia93-- I am in the pre-testing phases and am hoping for a surgery date in sept (ugh--seems sooooo far away) ...and YES...you are an inspiration. I too lurk for hours at a time looking for the success stories and trying to learn all I can from the success stories and the strugglers as well! Im hoping by the time my surgery comes I will have fully "wrapped" my head around all of the information I am taking in. I do know there is WORK involved and happily I am not afraid of that!!!! Perhaps you could post a before and after pic on your profile....I always find the pics to be so powerful! Thanks again for the inspiration!

Ok...thanks....just wanted to check on that...that is good to know...good luck to you!

LOl...that is GREAT! Thanks for the chuckle!

Glad to hear you are feeling better...oh my, that is the same doc I am using...have things been better with them in dealings with the office? Just wondering!

Thanks to all of you for putting a smile on my face and hope in my heart ....just waiting and waiting these days...still pre-op testing!

You look amazing...thank you for the inspiration....looking to have a surgery date scheduled soon! Always great to see such a success!

How long since you had the banding...have you had any problems or has your experience been a postivie one??? Do you have any addt'l info from your surgeon about the plication and long term results etc.... Still trying to get as much info and feedback as possible....thanks!

Hi, It was offered to me by my surgeon when i went for my consult....im in the testing phase and am planning on doing it with the lap band. Plication is when they fold your stomach in on itself and stitch it closed so your stomach looks like a banana. Its like the sleeve but they do not cut part of your stomach away. My surgeon explained it like this ,because i wanted to know what is actually done to your stomach with plication.....he said, your stomach is like a book and is made up of layers...they stitch the cover of the book together so they are not stitiching thru your entire stomach. I was also told because they don't "invade" the stomach it is potentially reversible....my doc is part of an investigational study documenting the cases he has.... so that is my understanding of the procedure....i've put up a couple of requests on here as well about plication and have had several responses....perhaps you can locate them...im still trying to figure my way around here... i've seen several people here who have had it and many of them have not had any fills in the band because the plication is helping them...im sure many of them will share their experiences....everyone i've spoken to on here has said good things. It is not recognized by insurance yet since it is still relatively new to the US but has been done in other countries for some time from what i've found online.

That's great...congrats to you....thats sooo motivating

I found this topic "Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again?" under Forums Home in the Post Op section...sorry I dont know how else to get you directly there.... I found reading these was great....i am in the testing phase and understand the nerves and going back and forth with your decision. This really helped confirm the great things that can happen with the band....im ready and willing to give it a try and to make it work for me..... Good luck to you...keep us posted!