2boys3cats

I have a 1/12/09 surgery date and can't wait! I begin the pre-op diet on 12/29. My surgery is with Dr. Ren at NYU. Good luck to all !

Hi, It varies from surgeon to surgeon, and even patient to patient, so I suggest you consult with your surgeon. I am being banded on 1/12/09, and will begin my liquid diet on 12/29/08 - for me, it is Optifast shakes for Breakfast, lunch and Snacks, with vegatables and a shake for dinner. It will be tough, but I am looking at it as a jump start to my new life! Good luck to you! When are you being banded?

Thinking of you and hoping all went well yesterday! Let us know!

My date is January 12th - one month from today! I can't wait! I have been waiting a long time for this, took me a while to get my act together to get a 6 month medically supervised weight loss plan, and then the psych exam, nutrion assesment, etc. Counting the days now - actually want the holidays over and done with! Good luck to all!

I guess I have been clueless for a long time, I thought the HR/Benefit people who deal with the insurance benefits can see all of our medical claims. Is this not so?

Way to go! I am impressed, and can imagine that you are too! Keep up the great work, and keep us posted! I look forward to following in your footsteps. My surgery is 40 days away on 1/12/09

I'm not a fan of blogs, in fact they tend to annoy me. People writing away about the most mundane aspects of their life and posting publically about such. What gets me more, is when they are hurt or furious with comments about their blog. What do they expect? It is a public forum and there people are annon who enjoy poking fun, or just being plain honest under the cover of a screen name. The blogger who posts photos of him/herself and his/her family should realize this and take it for what it is worth, or don't post publically. Never the less, I am finding it important to document my weight loss journey and will hopefully keep my words and boring tales to a minimum. I am 41 days away from surgery. I don't know exactly how much I weigh, but it is somewhere in the 235-245 range. Nice! 5 foot 3 inches and somewhere between 235-245. - - Who is this person? I've battled my weight since I was 4 or 5 years old. I remember the school nurse commenting and maybe even laughing when she weighed me in kindergarten. I was always an active kid, and did everything all the other kids, and sometimes more. I got a horse when I was ten, and was responsible for caring and feeding him 7 days a week. I played sports, played dolls, rode bikes and went to horseback riding camp with my horse. It was at this time, for the first time, I lost weight - - a lot of weight! Somewhere between 30 - 40 lbs. I can remember running down a hill and losing my blue jeans -- honestly, having them fall right down and land by my ankles! It was amazing! It all happened in 6 weeks when I was in 6th grade. Then I returned home, and with it came my old habits. The weight returned and with it came more. I got older, and continued to ride, as well as ski race, play field hockey, swim team and all the other things teens do. I knew I was overweight, but thankfully, it never got in my way. I went on to college - it was my Junior year when I again shed a significant ammount of weight, and felt great. I had dates and boyfriends and spent my Jr. Year Abroad. For the most part I kept it off until my first year of work, when it slowly returned - - a few pounds a month, and finally a return to being significantly over weight.

I'm not a fan of blogs, in fact they tend to annoy me. People writing away about the most mundane aspects of their life and posting publically about such. What gets me more, is when they are hurt or furious with comments about their blog. What do they expect? It is a public forum and there people are annon who enjoy poking fun, or just being plain honest under the cover of a screen name. The blogger who posts photos of him/herself and his/her family should realize this and take it for what it is worth, or don't post publically. Never the less, I am finding it important to document my weight loss journey and will hopefully keep my words and boring tales to a minimum. I am 41 days away from surgery. I don't know exactly how much I weigh, but it is somewhere in the 235-245 range. Nice! 5 foot 3 inches and somewhere between 235-245. - - Who is this person? I've battled my weight since I was 4 or 5 years old. I remember the school nurse commenting and maybe even laughing when she weighed me in kindergarten. I was always an active kid, and did everything all the other kids, and sometimes more. I got a horse when I was ten, and was responsible for caring and feeding him 7 days a week. I played sports, played dolls, rode bikes and went to horseback riding camp with my horse. It was at this time, for the first time, I lost weight - - a lot of weight! Somewhere between 30 - 40 lbs. I can remember running down a hill and losing my blue jeans -- honestly, having them fall right down and land by my ankles! It was amazing! It all happened in 6 weeks when I was in 6th grade. Then I returned home, and with it came my old habits. The weight returned and with it came more. I got older, and continued to ride, as well as ski race, play field hockey, swim team and all the other things teens do. I knew I was overweight, but thankfully, it never got in my way. I went on to college - it was my Junior year when I again shed a significant ammount of weight, and felt great. I had dates and boyfriends and spent my Jr. Year Abroad. For the most part I kept it off until my first year of work, when it slowly returned - - a few pounds a month, and finally a return to being significantly over weight.

I have made the decision to keep this surgery very private. I tested the waters with a few people and got very negative results, thus, knowing how I operate, I believe keeping this part of my journey private will be the right decision for me. I am wondering what to tell work ( I know my HR people will know what the surgery is) - I had my gall bladder out in 2003, so I can't use that excuse. Is there another surgery that I could mention I had that won't need much explanation? I am not one to make up stories, but know that people will ask ( they are always more direct then I am). What have any of you said you are doing or why you are out of work?

Kplant, I see you are having surgery with Dr. Ren tomorrow. Good luck! I am behind you and scheduled for 1/12. Please let us know how it goes!

Good luck! I see you are from NYC - where are you having your surgery? I am about 6 weeks behind you - with surgery scheduled for 1/12 at NYU. Hoping all goes well, and look forward to reading your posts !

I can't believe it! It is really happening! 1/12 is my date! I went to my first information session in 9/07! It took me 16 months to get my act together, go through the 6 month supervised medical weight loss plan and then follow up with all appointments, etc. I will be having my surgery with Dr. Ren at NYU! Can't Wait!

Getting Closer! I finally have my consult with Dr. Ren on Wednesday! I joined this board well over a year ago...but now, I think I can see the true beginning of my weight loss journey, so here I am again! Wow, this journey finally feels like it is moving along! 6 months medically supervised weight loss, then collecting all the documentation and finding out I actually need 2 years of dcoumentation of being overweight! The first information session over a year ago, then the psych exam, the nutritional assesment, the physical, and wow, 2 days from meeting with Dr. Ren herself! To me it is ironic that it is the day before Thanksgiving! Also, back in July or so, I calculated that the Monday before Thanksgiving would have been a good day for surgery for me - timing wise. That didn't work out, but, hoping it will be soon! Question for NYU'ers with Cigna - when can I expect to get a surgery date? Months from now, or perhaps early January? I know you can't tell me for sure, just wondering what other people experienced. Also, for Dr. Ren patients, they say to bring your spouse for the consult - is this 100% mandatory? My spouse is traveling and won't be available. I don't want to reschedule! He is 100% behind me on this and will be there for surgery, etc. Any insights and experiences you can share will be appreciated!

Wow, this journey finally feels like it is moving along! 6 months medically supervised weight loss, then collecting all the documentation and finding out I actually need 2 years of dcoumentation of being overweight! The first information session over a year ago, then the psych exam, the nutrional assesment, the physical and wow, days from meeting with Dr. Ren herself! To me it is ironic that it is the day before Thanksgiving! Also, back in July or so, I calculated that the Monday before Thanksgiving would have been a good day for surgery for me - timing wise. Question for NYU'ers with Cigna - when can I expect to get a surgery date? Months from now, or perhaps early January? I know you can't tell me for sure, just wondering what other people experienced. Also, for Dr. Ren patients, they say to bring your spouse for the consult - is this 100% mandatory? My spouse is traveling and won't be available. I don't want to reschedule! He is 100% behind me on this and will be there for surgery, etc. Any insights and experiences you can share will be appreciated! Thanks!j

Just wondering if any NYU patients who have Cigna PPO have had this happen - I went to the information session in Feb 08 - began my 6 month med. supervised weight loss program in April 08, had psych exam and nutritional assesment , completed my 6 months med supervised weight loss, submitted dr.'s note. and two years of medical history. I have a 41 bmi and 2 co-morbidities. Now NYU is saying I need letters from the dr.s from 07 and 06 saying that they recommended lapband. I didn't even know about lapband until late 07. Has anyone had this happen? Because I don't have these letters I can't get appt with the surgeon - Dr. Ren. Any thoughts?