guinessgirl77

I work in a small office luckily and we are ALL overweight. So they are real supportive. I think its personal choice.

I know this sounds crazy but... What is it going to be like after my surgery when all my friends are getting together for dinner and drinks and invite me and I can barely eat? I start my pre-op diet on 8/23/07, my surgery is 9/4. For example, the guy I have been seeing for a long while now and his parents are wanting to meet my parents. Well they want to do it this weekend over dinner before my pre-op stuff starts. I feel like that because of what I'm doing, the people around me are changing too. In one sense I can see why they don't want us all to go to dinner and me just sit there and drink a Protein shake. Another thing, have you banders just came out and told people what you did so that when they saw you eating only 1/2 cup or so of food they understood why? I'm just being paranoid I guess. Just curious.

Every single one of those topics were covered in my seminar. Other than the insurance questions because they work with so many companies they couldnt answer about individual companies other than BCBS of NC. (BCBS of NC does not require a prior approval) Good luck getting things answered

wow, i think there are a lot of us!

My pre-op is low carb-slim fast, SF Jello, SF popcicles, and low sodium broths and thats it. Oh and lots of exercise... I have already been experimenting with the all liquid thing. I did it just for 4 days last week. Lost 6 lbs. Its really not that bad. By the morning of day 3 I was not even hungry until 2 that afternoon. So that was when I had my first shake. We'll all get through it I suppose.

When the human body is in a healing process its survival instinct is to not let anything go if it can. Sure, I too read about people losing lots the first weeks but I've also read where people haven't. Just let you body heal up. You have a good few weeks to go. Don't stress and do what the doc's tell you. Best Wishes!

September 4th is the date for me! Pre-op diet to begin 8/23/07

Hi, I am Jo-Ann. Just got my date today. September 4th is the big day! I can't believe its less than 4wks!!!!!!!!

Relax, let me guess you have Aetna? or maybe not. A LOT of companies require this. You just have to play their game. Basically, from the insurance standpoint they want to see if you can stick to something for 6 months before they pay out a whole lot of money for something that you will have to stick to for a lifetime. Its a game... They are not expecting to see you lose a bunch of weight supervised only to then turn you down. If you do what the Doc's say for six months and only lose 1 lb or none at all, you will still be approved. Just play their reindeer games sweetie! It will all work out. I know you're frustrated. This will all pay off. Hang in there!

Dr. Cook out of Hickory Surgical Weightloss Clinic of Frye Regional Hospital.

From Center Moriches, but now in NC. Just wanted to say hello to my fellow NY'ers. I miss it!

Its really not bad at all. The lady I met with sooooo nice. They have even called to check on me to see that I was approved. I will certainly do my post-op follow up with them. Mine lasted a couple hours (mostly just BS'ing and talking about family history and my weight gain historty) They basically want to see that you are mentally compotent enough to undergo the surgery and comply with the post-op regimen and make the lifetime commitment this requires. I took the MMPI (Minnesota Multi-Phasic Personality Inventory) which she had me do about 376 true/false questions out of 500 something. Let me tell you these questions, alot of them were sooooo silly like, " I would enjoy the work of a carpenter". or "I hear voices telling me to do bad things". etc. I had a good laugh, you will too. I had fun doing mine. If I could afford to see her regularly, I would, just to chat with her. LOL Good luck and don't worry a bit! They want to help you get approved!

Wow that is so exciting! Congrats. The surgery clinic said I should leave my H&P next Tuesday with a date for my surgery (looking like september). Good luck!!! Keep us posted!

Whats up NC peoples! So glad to see some people from NC on here. I'm up in the mountains in Boone. I am using Frye Regional with Dr. Cook and Dr. Cox in the Hickory area. Feel free to email me at guinessgirl77@yahoo.com. History and physical exam with the surgeon scheduled for 8.7.07. Also, any NC people with BCBS of NC?? Just curious as to how they pay out after in-network discounts etc. I know its 80% after the deduct. Nice meeting you all! JoAnn

Well I don't have any current issues other than controlled asthma since childhood. Have extensive family history though of cardiovascular disease. We're not a buch of long livers in my bunch. So I would imagine there is much to talk about except my need to drop about 115lbs. thanks for your answers! I can't wait for surgery

Greetings everyone from Western NC. Been lurking around the boards for a little bit and I was just wondering (or haven't looked hard enough) what I should expect at the history and physical exam. All I know is that I am pre-approved for surgery and I should leave this visit with a date for surgery. Thats really all they told me when she scheduled my visit next week? Just curious about questions and tests if any that I should know about. T I A Have a great day!

Hello to everyone! I'm new to all this. I have my health history and physical exam with the surgeon on August 7th. Began this whole process the first week of May and it seemed like it has taken forever to get this far. Now it feels like surgery is around the corner. They have estimated sometime in September. They said I may leave my physical with a date for surgery. I am doing this pretty much alone, I have my support person but I do not personally know anyone that has had this procedure. So, I'm glad to meet all of you and read about everyones up's and downs. I can't wait to start living my life again. Reading a lot of the stories here are very inspiring. Take care everyone!