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JFC193 thanks for that post. To you and everyone else I guess I can take back my own words.... I am glad Star decided to tell her story. And what a story...it is very motivational....because I too ask myself...how did I allow myself to weight almost 230lbs. I might have been ranting too much.. But any loss should be greatly celebrating with WLS, diet pills or plain old fashion eating and exercising..... It's just upsetting when people in the celebrity spotlight don't want to motivate others.

Welcome...you will love it here... I have started my pre-op process. Today I have my psych eval. On Wed my support group meeting and next week the pre-op testing. I hope to be approved and banded by February...although some friends think it might just happen middle of January for me....I just hope for the best! good luck!:clap2:

thanks so much McQty! I guess the positive vibes ...well...worked...I loved the seminar. As a matter of fact the seminar was given by the surgeon I choose which was even better got to hear his personality a bit. I had my 1st consult, met him personally. And I am on my way to gather all insurance requirements. I am really excited now....today I have my psych eval! yikes... How is your band doing? How was your surgery experience?

I have my psych eval today. I will post tonight and let you know how it goes. My surgeon does not have a liquid pre-op diet. He does not have a preop diet for low BMI'ers. I questioned him about what I have read about the liver...he said that is usually the case for people with BMI over 44 He did not give me a diet for preop... he just said don't do the last meal syndrome or eat everything and anything ...follow normal eating and journal calorie count and gave me the range of calories I can eat and not gain. He suggested to start trying protein so when I get banded I know what works best for me and the diff tastes that you can buy outthere. He suggested Unjury protein. Surprisingly others on this site have suggested Unjury as well. I gave it a try...! It can be bought at the Vitamin Shoppe but you can order directly from them and it is cheaper! Welcome to the UNJURY Homepage I ordered the sample chocolate and loved it. I have now ordered to taste the other flavors. But I think I will be staying with Unjury. Hope this helps!

Hello everyone... I met with the surgeon. I have my psych eval next Monday...next Wed I go to the mandatory support meeting, then on Dec 12 Pre-op testing ...but due to people trying to cram in by Dec 31st I have to wait Until Jan 2 to meet with the dietician. but if all goes well I should be able to submit to insurance and hopefully receive approval and have a date for january!!!! I am so excited.

My doctor does not want any carbonated drinks neither. Or any drinks with empty calories.. But wine is allowed just seldom once or twice a month he said will be fine.

Hello.... I was wondering...that's the problem if you ask me I met my surgeon yesterday...and he heard a heart murmur.... He asked me if anyone has ever found it and if I have ever had an EKG done for it.... I am flipping out....NO not one single doctor has found it and obviously no EKG ever! Has anyone else had this problem.....I can't help but be worried. I told my mother and she was calm about it...she said it runs in the family that her father had one, she has one and my brother has one... ok where have I been living...I did not know about this... then again none of them have any weight problems only me! HELP!!!:help::help::help:

thanks snagrammy! your probably right..plus my doc didn't seem too worried about it neither.

CONGRATULATIONS BUTTERCUP! YOU DID IT! And it sounds like you are doing great...! Is your hunger gone?

Welcome Janet51!!! It is always nice to hear of lapbanders that have 3+ years under their belt!! How was your journey?:clap2:

Ladies what Star Jones said was if i'm not mistaken she had medical intervention!... She has not admitted directly to WLS. please...she still won't admit what procedure she had done neither ...but in a recent mag article...I read she said most people put lipstick, powder, credit cards, cell phone in their purses and she had to replace that with an oxygen thingy to breathe.....and that told her she needed help... ????!!(what a look in the mirror or the scale didn't tell you?)...doctors didn't tell you? ... too faced...idiot... what about the fact she said she had eating issues? and weight problems?... and was hiding under big hair and lots of diva attitude and accessories... so people would see more to her than fat! and that she went thru lots of therapy to get used to her new body.... And in the Tyra show she was asked how her skin just shrunk as it she never weight as much as she did how did she accomplish that... Ladies guess what her answer was.....oh...A lot of it has to do with genes...I guess I was 1 of the lucky ones that didn't need plastic surgery.... she is full of crap! Just clearly admit you had WLS and what type... Carnie did it! I think she is just another coward who in the back of her mind thinks If I don't tell and I eventually gain a few lbs people won't judge... yeah..ok..whatever! :rolleyes

I am 28! Hope to be banded at 28!

Dorr185, I went in for my 1st consult yesterday. The medical coordinator for my surgeon said exactly the same. She said BCBS usually excludes bariatric surgery from their plans, but that when they do cover the service she said it is one of the easiest to submit. they don't require much paperwork other than the basics that you did list on your post. She said if they do they usually just pend it instead of deny ..and they list specifically what they want in order to approve. And once info is sent to them she said they usually hear back within 2 weeks from them. I got so excited...she told me if all goes well with the testing... we could be submitted to insurance by middle of January and if they approve at inital submital I could be scheduling surgery by February....I am totally psyched now...as I was thinking mostlikely it would happen for late march 2008....!!!!

Hey...everyone I did my 1st consult today.... it went very well...love my doc got all the steps needed scheduled dietician appt & all labwork!! yeah!!!

I have to agree with the majority...go to a seminar. All my questions were answered there. Or on this site. I also purchased a book called Fighting Weight by Khaliah Ali it is her story with weight and her whole process of the lapband from beginning to after weightloss. I learned alot from that book. I am half italian as well and my mother offerred the same TT, Lipo and breast job...but I want to go for the alternative life long journey...plus I told her once I loose it with the band and keep it off for 6 months which i have never been able to do...I always lost but ended up gaining right back Once I keep it off the 6 months...she will be paying for my TT, although my insurance company covers it if I loose over 100 lbs.

I am so sorry to hear that......... It is so scary at the same time. I feel such remorse for the husband who gave it call after call and trying but was told to just monitor her... 48 years marriage ending that way...

Just bumped into this....it's worth taking a look! The 20 worst foods in America - Health - MSNBC.com:faint:

christasha congrats on your band date and good luck! I go to my 1st consult tomw ...I can't wait!!

Bandpal I read from another thread posted by wassabubblebutt this is the kind that we can do to make better choices. I hear you hoping that once I have the band I will assert myself that it will be me reminder to make better choices.. or the other option I guess is PB which am not banded yet...but definitely scared of already!

try purchasing the body bugg or actitrainer.

Canadagirl33, Wassabubblebutt said it well....from MO to just fat!....and normal around the corner! nice! Bandpal, sounds like you are doing awesome! now that the stomach is under control just the mind needs to be taught control. All in the mind?....or not?..... that is the question!

congrats kiki married and banded in the same year!

You all are such an inspiration to me!!!Great JOB!!! I think I have the same reactions to carbs....so I think i will be doing what wassabublebutt did! I can't wait to be banded!! AWESOME from 40's BMI to 30's...!!!!!! I know it might be different for everyone...but how many lbs did you normally loose before having to buy more clothing?

Thanks Ellisa, I was very surprised to hear the 100%....I was so excited...I couldn't even think for a moment....I always sorta thought my coverage wasn't worth what I paid...but they sure just proved me wrong... I'm sorry to hear about the copays and deductible....sorry to all self-pays...but anything less than self-pay is worth it to me!

I'm sorry to hear that circa. I agree with Ellisa just hang in there and make the most of it... have to tried to call the insurance to see what they recommend in this type of situation? I have been requesting records from all the doctors I have seen the last 5 years which I know all have weight records because I cringed everytime I got weighed. And so far I have received just three out of 6 but it took persistance on two of those including a very detailed letter faxed to all 6 requesting copy of the records. Hardest part I have had to do...