Carrie

Please do keep us posted, with you being in Bellevue and on Premera we maybe dealing with the same branch of Premera. They denied me at first, I submitted my appeal and have gotten a letter stating they have gotten my notice of appeal but I haven't heard anything from them. They are covering my lap band removal but I am paying out of pocket for my sleeve expenses (around 8K) and hope for reimbursement if the appeal goes through post-operatively.

My big fat brain is starting to mess with me. For some reason the closer this date gets the more nervous I have become. I have a beautiful and intelligent daughter who is almost 6 and starts Kindergarten next Monday. Only 3 days before my surgery. She comes looking for me if I am in the bathroom a bit longer than she thinks I should have been, just to check on me and walks away. She has a very sweet and pure heart. Then I have a beautiful yummy rolly 19 month old girl with eyes bigger and bluer than any sky you have ever seen. No matter if it's when I pick her up in the morning from her crib to feed her breakfast or just running to the grocery store down the street after only 4 minutes in the car, she has a giant smile on her face with little white popcorn looking teeth. Sometimes she can't handle it inside of herself and must squeel in order to contain herself. I know tomorrow is never guaranteed. My 6 year old will have fague memories of me holding her close and rubbing her belly, giving her "baby messages" after a bath, sharing my Lavender night scents speficically for her. However my baby would have very itt memories of ME. People can tell someone that another person loved them but I dont want resentment toward either of my babies. I don't want one mad at the other because she got more time with me. I know being on liquids for so long is not a good idea and that my banded days are coming to an end but I am down right terrified of Anesthesia. I have Epilepsy and with both you know you will lose consciousness but never know when. Then you wake up not sure who or what is going on around you. I'm always looking for my kids are scared someone is trying to hurt me or even worse my kids. I've warned those with the magic juice that knock me out then they just stand there acting shocked when I try to get a good right hook in. I have 5 days until my clear liquid diet on Wednesday. 5 Days to fight the urge to cancel or reschedule. So we can see. I guess I have until they put the magic shot of juice in right? :huh0:

Eventually you will need a new picture on your name badge! Of course the day they call da po po on you will be the ultimate in I lost all my weight and my co-workers didn't recognize me!

This time next week I hope I'm feeling well and relaxing after having surgery the day before. I plan to take my notebook to the hospital as they have wifi. I went yesterday to Dr. Castro's Pre-Op class. At first I thought it was kinda dum to make a pre-op/post op who had originally lost 140 pounds before my band went all bitch on me to attend such a class. It started at 8 am. They had a slide show presentation with several different speakers. They had the Bariatric Coordinator Nurse over Methodist to talk to us, She was a Gastric Bypass success story. They had a nutritional lady come in and teach us about the nutritional stuff we needed to know. Here are a few tips I learned: 1. Pay attention to the # of servings per container. 2. Get 60-80 grams of Protein each day in order to burn FAT NOT the LEAN MUSCLE we want to keep. And remember the 10/10 Rule instead of couting calories. Less than 10 grams of Sugar and less than 10 grams TOTAL FAT per meal. So basically keep it less than 30 grams of fat and 30 grams of Sugar PER DAY and you should lose weight. Much easier than keeping track of calories. They said stuff low in each of those two things are naturally lower calorie, so no calorie counting needed. Then we had this really (I'm sure nice) REALLY, REALLY pumped up Exercise Phsyiologist (sp) come in and talk about exercise. And of course we all had our Psych Evals. I passed with no problems except with the advice to take more time for myself because ALL mothers give give give until they are dead for others and feel guilty for taking a second for themselves, I'm sooo guilty of that having my 5 year old and 19 month old. It's pathetic. I also saw Dr. Castro for my last pre-op visit. The more time I spend with him the more respect he earns from me. Coming from a VERY picky person who worked for an "Old School" do the best for the patient doctor I am hard to surprise. Dr. Castro continues to surprise me with how serious and how much he CARES about my success. I am apart of his research study he is currently doing in order to hopefully make the Sleeve a more "Insurance Acceptable" method of WLS. I think that the ONLY reason the horrible Lap Band and Realize Bands are on the market is because of the money and power the makers of both have. :huh0: It's definately not a safe product in my opinion. Today I went for my pre-op testing. I had about 6-7 tubes of blood drawn. An RN named Happy (that's her real name) drew my blood and got it on the FIRST time which is RARE, so I was very Happy with Happy. lol. Next Happy did an EKG and she commented on how nice my heart was. Then on for a chest X-ray to make sure I don't have anything that might make me a good case for pneumonia. This process has really been different than my previous experience with the Lap Band folks, Dr. Castro also does Gastric Banding but he is even picky with WHO he does and who he recommends for the banding. I just get the impression he doesn't recommend it that much anymore. I also got two great books filled with invaluable information such as protein powders that other recommend, suggestions on foods to eat when and how and recipes. They even put in what to order at fast food places. I may post some of it on the forum boards AND on my here (my blog) when I have more time. I must continue to low fat diet and try not to lose weight. Because I have a low BMI and primarily drink my meals, I was not placed on a Pre-op diet. I was told NOT to gain weight to keep my Liver as happy as possible. On Wedneday, the day before, I start a clear liquid diet. Then nothing to eat after Midnight. I must take a shower both Wednesday night and Thursday morning in a special scrub they use on pre-ops to help keep infection rates low. I am to arrive at the hospital at 8am for my 10am surgery. So at this point, I've done everything to prepare except the two showers. Now I just sit back and enjoy the last few non-painful days with my family and kiddos. I expect to be in a lot of pain because of other medications I take that can interfere with pain meds and my Epilepsy that makes certain pain meds unavailable. Please keep me and my young family in your prayers on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 10am Central Time. Thanks, Carrie

Awesome. You can do it, Next goal get under 210, then under 199!

Please let me know when the next one is. I may still be on liquids but it's really more about company these days rather than food.

I'm so happy for you that this experience was soooooo much better than last time. It's great to hear that the second crew was compassionate enough to understand the pure trauma you had been through before and respected and cared enough for you both as a patient and fellow human to make sure you were comfortable both physically and emotionally as one who had been put through what you had could possibly be. So rest on and before we know it your signature willl change, the scary story will be gone and you will be at goal.

I named my band Pamela several years ago after Pamela Anderson. It's made mostly of silicone and saline and can be very bitchy depending upon the hour.

Mine is paying for band removal because I am having a lot of problems from my 5 year old dinosaur band causing weakening in my Esophagus. HOWEVER, they refused to pay for the sleeve. I am paying the difference between the two which is $8,000 and my insurance is paying for band removal at 100%. Of course because I've been on liquids for 6 months because of my band I want this done ASAP so I am still fighting to be reimbursed via insurance on the conversion to the sleeve. If you have BCBS many of them cover the Sleeve, however some such as mine consider it "experimental"

I have my pre-op class that Dr. Castro requires for folks having surgery all day this coming Thursday. At that time I will have a useless psych eval as I'm already on liquids mostly so what food am I exactly giving up for this surgery? lol I will also see Dr. Castro immediately afterward for my pre-op exam. The next day on Friday, I get blood and labs done at the hospital then it's nice and quiet until the day of surgery. I have to be there on the 26th at 8am for a 10am surgery!!! I'm getting nervous and excited all at once!

I still have a bit of comprehension (sp) in another bariatric surgery. I've had the Lap Band since 2005 and I'm considered to have a dinosaur band. What I am wondering are there any folks here who have been sleeved for over say 4 years? If so, how has things gone after the honeymoon period? Any common problems? I know a lot of times people are very active in forums then once they get fixed or lose weight they go along happily in their day to day life and the ones that mainly come here (that I've seen) are 2-3 years out at the most or pre-op like me. Thanks!

In your situation it's obvious you can't lie about what you have done. I would just say something like an Uncle who was obese saw you struggling and left you enough money to have the surgery. They don't need to be so far up your butt to know everything. If you are going in the medical field and it sounds like to be a doctor this is really just as much as an investment in your future as finishing medical school. It's tough to be 300lbs and tell your 180lb pt. to lose weight!! They are going to be thinking well you need to also, etc. I'd leave it as an inheritance and vague. Maybe through in a few tears of how awesome and close the "uncle" was. I know I'm horrible. :biggrin0:

Looks like my band removal and conversion to VSG will take place on Thursday, August 26, 2010. My sweet Hubby's birthday. I would say it's his birthday present, but I'll save that for when I'm at goal and get my boobs done...lol.. I've lost most of the weight before and he loved me then and he loves me now. I am so blessed to have a hubby simply put, loves me for me, even the imperfect, not convient parts of me. I've known him for over 13 years and we have been married almost 9 years. It's nice to know that no matter how things ends up he supports me 100% no matter what and I the same. :crying: I do believe in true love. It's harder than hell to find and trust me I've been pretty close to it at times in other relationships. I want this surgery so I can watch my babies grow up and have babies. I want this surgery in order to be able to grow old with my husband, cause he's definately a keeper in my book.:lol0::thumbup::thumbup::lol0:

You and I are on the same day. Wanna be my Sleeve Sista?

on this coming Thursday? I'll be there barely awake at 8am.. zzzz

My date is a few weeks out. I originally had the Lap Band back in 2005 and went from 297lbs at surgery down to the 160's. My husband and I had been married for 4 years at that time and we had our first child who had just turned 10 months old. About 6 months after I had my band put in my husband had his put in. He lost 20 pounds to this day. At this time we are both banded. I'm consistantly in the 220's and he is over 350lbs. He has promised me if I am successful and happy with this surgery he will follow me again and have the sleeve done. We didn't have any problems with me being "successful" with the band and especially with him not being successful. We have since had another baby, so we have two kids under the age of 5 and intead of weight loss, we are much more concerned about the health we have and our ability to provide our babies with a happy and active childhood. He loved me fat, he loved me thin, he loves me fat again. I think if your connection is more than just physical and at a deep enough level then it will last. I'm not a person who goes out, I have my babies at home and I have the rest of my life to go "out" but my babies won't be babies forever. That's just my experience with the weight loss and our relationship. I wish you guys the best.

Anyone else have the same date looking for a buddy?

Is anyone welcome at the group or only Baylor patients?

I was wondering you follks who had your bands removed if you go to send it home as a "consulation prize" kinda like the little stuffed animals you overpay for at the fair? I'd like to see the little crudder that's made me miserable for 5 years!!

I am in a desperate situation as I am trying to get the other half of my funding in a few days to secure a date to get this thing (lapband) out and a sleeve done. I came across a website called PatientSource.net and it all looks legit but for the weirdest reason it won't let me apply. I was wondering if it ws legit at that point. Anyone else use them and get approved? Is there a catch?

Who had the 1k worth of origination fees? The company u went with or Surgeryloans.com

I'm not actually with Dr. Aceves at the moment. I've had problems with my insurance (who hasn't!) and been exploring my options. I couldn't get a final number from the office manager as my insurance did approve my band to be removed by declared the usual "investigational" crud on the sleeve portion. My US surgeon is Dr. Manuel Castro in Dallas, he is going to do the band removal under insurance and while he's in there he will convert me from band to sleeve for $4,500 and I'll have to pay another $3,500 to the hospital for a 2 night stay and extra anesthesia. So out of pocket it looks like I'll end up paying 8k for both the removal and sleeve. I have half the money, looking to get the other half now.

I just read a distubing email from Nina with Dr. Aceves. She stated that the leak rate after a revision to VSG is 3x greater in those of us who are banded then switch. I can understand that if I was eroded or something but I'm not. Has anyone else ran across this information?

It took 8 days for Dr. Castro's office to get back to me. Maria called me the day after my consultation telling me that because my insurance would not file ANY appeals on my behalf. Basically my insurance denied me on my old doctor and because they used the correct code and then the Dr. Castro's office will NOT file under the same code because it's a waste of time. I have several phyical reasons behind why I don't RNY but apparently that doesn't matter apparently there are no case exceptions to the rule. It's this surgery and the bad side effects. Maria said she would call me back with the cash out of pocket price difference for the sleeve since they would already be in there doing the band removal. Apparently that difference is almost $13,000. I wrote my own appeal letter yesterday and listed who my new doctor was since they refused to do that much. So until either I can figure out a way to pay the difference or insurance goes through I'm SOL with liquids and pain and all. LUCKY ME..

I've had this stupid band for almost 5 years. The past 2 years have primarily been mushy and liquids with ZERO Fluid in my band. I'm on my third surgeon, the first had all his patients taken away from him, the second was just an extention of the first and refused to tell anyone how bad the first surgeon had messed up our bodies, covering for him. I went to a doctor who specializes in band to sleeve conversions recommended by a lady on here. She has the exact same insurance and criteria and apparently she will be getting a huge bill in the mail as I've tried to get in touch with her privatly but her insurance refused to pay her claim based on the codes they used to get the approval. She was approved but the doctor used a less specific code and apparently got "caught". So now the Office Manager type insurance lady at the doctor's office (who I freaking LOVE the doctor) is like oh you;re on this insurance yeah your friend, blah blah blah. Totally NONE of my business but I know. My insurnace approved removal of this torture device aka The Band but refused the sleeve procedure saying it was experimental. It was my old doctor's office who submitted the Pre-Qual and they used the ---75 code that I don't remember it all. The new insurance lady refuses to even try to file saying they have already denied me what's the point. I sent out my own awesome appeal yesterday and the new doc and insurnace company should get it soon. The new doctor offered to let me pay the difference but that's about $12,500!!!! For the doctor, anesthesia and 2 nights in the hospital, I offered to just show up for tests as needed because I don't live far but he is damanding two nights in the hospital. I'm really upset. I'm back on full liquids and can barely swallow meds yet I haven't had any fluid in my band for 3 years.