Sweetness

Oh great, that is so nice of you to pull everything together and host it at your house. I met Sylvia last week, what a nice lady .. I forgot to ask her her email/info wanted to wish her good luck if you happen to have it.. I feel so bad for Sue, she is so sweet and that is so horrible to hear about her husband.. Thanks for the update..

Yayayayay congrats! You are an ispiration!!!

Wow what an accomplishment, I would be very proud too! Congrats!

OH that makes sense then about Sue and Michelle. Sue also mentioned doing Teleconference numbers, were we specify a certain time, and we all can dial into a 800 number and have a facilitator. That would be great too if he attended everyother one.. or once a month even. Wow that great he is in high demand, makes me feel even more confident with going in for this surgery and his great reputation. Thanks for the info, and keep me in the loop

Thank you all so much for the responses! Vera, I cant remember the ladies name, I was not able to talk with her, everyone seemed nice though.. Michelle and Sue mentioned that tonight ( I have to attend another meeting) is the last time they will be doing the group. Something about a contract/and personal problems... All of you have great advice and thank you for being so supportive. Carol, I wont be able to attend tommorrow night but is that a weekly meeting? Are there any other support group meetings for lapband in San Jose/Gilroy Area other than Wednesday Evenings? Vera, Do you attend the Wednesday meetings? Delarla- Good idea about the chapstick.. and lotion.. I am a lizard too! And your right Darcy, ill try not to overdo it... Truth be told .. my mom and i love to take 100$ to the casino ( havent been in about a year) and I was thinking we could take a drive up to cache creek or the closest one to gilroy and play some 5C machines.. but .. that driving would probably really bother me.. Ill stick to playing cards or something at home with her and my sisters I think Dr. Mckeen is great too, so far he and his staff have been so great. Carol, I saw your stats, we both have the same starting weight...I hope mine are like that this time next year! In fact .. all of you have and are doing wonderfully! I cant wait to join the club.

Oh, good idea on popsicles.. will do that.. and your right about buying a lot of the liquid stuff.. i didnt think of that either and will take that into account. and the pillow. ~ thanks again for the great advice.

You look so beautiful ! Congrats!

Hey Everyone, Just am so excited to say that I finally have a surgery date! January 19th will be my day I have completed all of my pre- op tests.. which included: 1. abdominal ultrasound-found gallstones.. but will wait till after surgery to remove if necessary 2. echocardio-done 3. ekg-done 4. 2 nutritional consults-done 5. primary physical and letter-done 6. Overnight sleep study- done 7. Psych eval- done (Im not that crazy!! ) 8. Bloodwork-done 9. Educational course and support group- Jan 4th and 11th I waited for my insurance to switch to PPO ( thats why January) and they are saying so far they they will cover 70-90% of the cost which is good with me! Im excited about this change, and so nervous. Im afraid of the pain with fills and surgery.. but most importantly afraid of failure. I want this tool to be what i needed to finally have a healthy body weight and keep it that way. Im so scared that ill fail like i did with being overweight my entire life.. Im sure you all know the feeling I am talking about. I am glad I have found so much helpful information here with you all and the support will help me along the way! Thank you all!

Hey Vera, I live in Gilroy My Doctor is Dr. Robert Mckeen he is located near Good Samartain off of the 85 and Bascom. Small world!

Thank you both for your support. I will continue to study hard... i dont care how long it takes me, i just want to get to the point of being healthy and stay there forever! I know it will take work, but I want sooo bady for this tool to be the answer along with working out hard and eating healthy. You all are my heros! Thanks for your information

Just curious if anyone has been able to get approved for coverage with United Health Care PPO using a non-innetwork physician but in network hospital. So far they are saying the hospital is covered under my insurance but the full surgeon bill would NOT be. Leaves about 7,000 to 8,500 for me to pay. But, they said if he is the only surgeon with in 30 mile radius of my house to do this there is a chance i would be covered. ( currently he is the only one with in 25 miles. ) But, not sure if they mean bariatric surgeon or lap band surgeon.. Argh... Insurance companies.. such a pain!

Candy, This sounds almost exactly like what I am going through with UHC. Glad to see there is hope! I will definitly get things in writing.. good idea new hope.. and my surgeon also said that they were willing to negotiate price etc. Still have to wait for PPO to take effect.. about month and half yayaya.. having last of tests these next two weeks.. sleep study, and psych exam how fun

Hello, As far as i know, my best friend has Kaiser and had to go through a year of monitored diets, then has to go through another 8months of group meetings/and loosing 10% of her body weight before Kaiser will do her surgury. (and she's having gastric bypass) As Far as United, I changed to PPO because i can use an out of network doctor. But, you company will have policies if their plans cover the procedure....You can probably call and ask. Mine does cover it, but a 'exception' or 'case study' had to be opened.... and a BAZIOLLION tests had to be done.. but im ok with those! HOpe that helps...

Wow those are GREAT Thank you so much I appreciate it!!

Hello Everyone, I was wondering if any of you had any good links to personal journal/inspirational lapband websites where someone has been tracking their progress.. I have found a few online; in yahoo groups but keep running into gastric bypass ones.... thought you guys might have some to share! Thanks

Hey Thanks for sharing the pictures.. I think your looking great!!! What is the link to the regular website where you have your first pictures at? You look happy in these pictures and 12lbs is so good ... congrats on your success!! Keep up the good work and keeping progress pictures are an awsome way to view your accomplishments

HI Pam, Congrats on your loss thus far! Glad to hear it went well too! How long was your recovery after the surgery? You lost a lot in your pre-op diet... what did it consist of and how long were you on it? Wish you continues success!!

Hello All, Just wanted to introduce myself.... My name is Shae and I have been reading your message boards for a month or so... you all have so much helpful information and Its great to read 'first hand experiences". I am 28 years old, and live in the Bay Area, Cali. I have been overweight my entire life.. can remember being put on diets in the first grade. I did have one successful weight loss about 2 1/2 years ago and dropped over 100 lbs... but quickly regained it... the 'feeling of full' is something i have the hardest time with. So, after reading about gastric bypass and lapband, I have decided lapband is the way for me... I have almost completed my pre-op tests.. 1. abdominal ultrasound-found gallstones.. but will wait till after surgery to remove if necessary 2. echocardio-done 3. ekg-done 4. 2 nutritional consults-done 5. primary physical and letter-done 6. Overnight sleep study- next week 7. Psych eval- TBA 8. Bloodwork-next week. Because I am currently on UHC EPO, I have switched to PPO to cover the Doctor I will be using ( Dr. Mckeen in San Jose, California). So, after open enrollement this month, it will take effect Jan. 1st, 2005. I hope to be in by the end of the month! I am excited about this life change, and I think the holiday season will make the time go by quickly...but on the other hand im VERY nervous. Surgery will Scare the heck out of me, but also scared about pain after and FILLS. The whole needle thing I will HAVE to get used too. lol. Just wanted to introduce myself, and am very happy i found you all on here.. You are all such an inspiration... my heros.. hehe. I wish you all continued success! Sweetness

Awww you all are so nice! Yeah I called the doc about removing it during surgery... he said he only does that for gastric bypass patients. But, since my mom had hers removed this summer i have a feeling they will need to do it later in my life anyways.. so I will ask him again and bug bug bug... You are right.. get it while they are in there! Thank you for the tips on starting to drink my liquids 'outside of meals'... I need to start doing that as well as getting my butt on a regular exercise program. I bought a treadmill and placed it downstairs in front of the TV so i would have no excuses of being bored while walking on it!