Poopsie

Hi everyone. I am scheduled to be banded on Jan. 11th and I'm just curious how your surgeon closed your incisions. Did s/he glue, staple, or stitch?

Will anyone with federal BCBS share their timeline with me? I just began my journey with Lapband. I cannot have a consultation until the doctor's office verify and receive a referral number. I just want to know how long it maybe until surgery(if it's approved). Thanks!

Hi Gingerbug, I just wanted to say that my beginning weight before starting my pre-op diet was 286. I am almost 2 weeks post-op and I'm 266 and finally my goal is 190 too. Let me know how you progress.

Congrats, Tamika on your date. I'm getting banded on Friday (Jan. 11th) but I'll gladly be your buddy. Right now, I'm wishing that I had someone that could give me details of what to expect from the time I arrive to the hospital and through. I know that each person is different but I think that some idea reduces the worry.

My surgery is scheduled for Jan. 11th and words cannot describe my excitement. Here's my situation. I'm on day 2 of my two week liquid diet and was extremely hungry today. I went to the Chinese resturant and got some egg drop soup. I bought a pint and only had 1 cup and the rest is there. Is it wrong to continue eating this? My surgeon says that I can have unlimited broth and I'm figuring since eggs are protein, it may be okay. Tell me your opinions please. If I'm headed off track, I want to correct ASAP! Thanks.

Thanks guys for the quick replys. I am so glad that I am still on track.

Jan. 11th here!

It only took me 3 business days.

:clap2:Yes, you read it right! I am approved and it only took 3 business days! I am so excited. I am sooo much more closer to being banded. Maybe I'll be a January bandster after all. My paperwork was submitted on Dec. 19 and I was approved yesterday. I just wanted to share my excitement.

Thanks, JDUB. How long has it been? I'm sure you're soon to follow. Have you checked the status lately? It just might be your approval day today!

Hi everyone. I need to vent a bit about my situation. I decided from day one not to tell anyone in my family about my decision to be banded. I know that they would be against it and I did not want to discuss it at all. I am up to the point where my surgeon has submitted it to my insurance company and if it's approved, I'm figuring that it won't be long from now. I told my boyfriend about it in a round about way. Actually, I lied to him and felt really guilty about it, then went back and told him what I wanted him to know without any more lies. After telling him, he said that I knew it was more than you were telling me. He then said "you want to get your stomach pinched, please don't do that." I told him that it's not a stomach pinch and that I want to do this. He then says "don't do it and that's all I have to say." Now I feel like I should have never said anything to him. He's going to be the one that's going to be caring for me and we live together, so I didn't want something to be wrong and he has no idea of how to help me. We've been together for 5 years now. He's never complained about my weight and seems as happy as when we first met and I was about 75 lbs lighter but I am not comfortable this way. He does not understand this. The way he said to me don't do it, gave me a feeling like don't do it or else. I am sure that our relationship will not end because I am still going to be banded but I don't want to argue about it and all I want is his support. I love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him. I must do this for me. How do I make him see this?

I had a sleep study a week ago tomorrow and got the results yesterday. I am blessed that I do not have sleep apnea. I don't know that there is anything that you can do to enhance the chances of having sleep apnea. Before you go to sleep, they hook up several electrodes to your face, in your hair, on your legs, a prong in your nose that measures when you breathe in and out through your nose as well as through your mouth, you have 2 chest straps and your finger in one of those things that takes your pulse. It is my understanding your results come from those electrode readings. However, I will share with you one thing that I remember that my doctor told me. He said that people without apnea usually wake up five times or less during the night. To anwser both of your questions - I think that they count the number of times you stop breathing and the number of times you wake up. And, yes there is someone that watches you ALL night long. When I could no longer sleep because it was past my normal waking time (4:50), I sat up in the bed. No sooner than when I sat up, she was on the intercom asking whats wrong and then came into the room. I hope that I've helped. Good luck to you!

I am wondering at what point is your paperwork submitted to the insurance company? I have already completed all of the items on my checklist for preparation but my surgeon's office hasn't submitted to my insurance company. I must mention that I haven't gotton my results back for my sleep study yet. I'm thinking that the results shouldn't have anything to do with my approval just what I need for the surgery. Right?

Thanks for the quick reply. During my sleep study, I know that I woKe up a couple of times, but I'm hoping that it was because I was uncomfortable with all those wires. The next night at home, I didn't wake up once. Well moving on, Good luck to you as well. I'll post my results when I get them.

Hi Lonestar5212, I had my sleep study on Wed. night and I am waiting on the results. I truely hope that I do not have apnea but I'm prepared to deal with and get treatment if in fact I do. I have questions though. Did you wake up frequently? Did you snore? How many times did they say you woke up per hour? Before being diagnosed, did you think that you had sleep apnea? I know that each of us are different but I'm anxious to know if I have it or not.

Hi Jeannie, I am glad your surgery was a success. I was wondering how things went with it. Honestly,I don't know where I am towards steps left to surgery. I still have to see a pulmonary dr, have an echocardiogram, and then get clearance from my PCP. I was really hoping to be banded this year or the 1st week of Jan. next year but who knows how long it'll take.

:help:How many of you were required to do a sleep study? The surgeon that I chose gave me a questionare to complete. It had about 10 questions that listed different things on "how likely are you to fall asleep when".... I answered them honestly but when I was done he said that anything over a 10 suggests sleep apnea. I now have an extra step by having to see a pulmonarologist and be cleared. If anyone else was required to do this, will you share your experience? And how long before the results?

Hello Linda, I have Federal BCBS also. I am just beginning my journey. I have to see a psychologist and a nutritionist. A friend of mine that has the same insurance was banded about 2 weeks ago, had to do them same in addition to a sleep study. In your benefits book, under gastric surgery, it mentions something about benefits are available for psychological exam to make sure of the surgery. I'm sure after that, it's approved.

Sorry that I'm so late responding. I work in SC. I know a few people that probably did inspections with you. I was certified to do route inspections this summer by Bobby Johnson. I also see that Pam sent out a list of all the inspections for 2008. Maybe we'll be on a team together. I'll be waiting on you to share your banding experience.

I chose Dr. Angstadt in Savannah at Memorial Health. I'm sure when it starts going, it will be okay. I'm just anxious and excited. Although it probably no likely, I want to be banded this year. No one in my office know except my PM. His wife was banded almost 2 weeks ago. I'll keep it a secret for a while - at least until I'm down 50 or 60 lbs. As always, thanks for your help and support.

I have BCBS and they cover the lap band procedure. My benefits book says that they cover the psychological part of this also. The surgeon that I chose office tells me that they only use one psychologist and she does not accept insurance. I ask how to go about using another and again all I get is they only use one. Next, there is a fee of $150.00 for the initial consultation and a program fee of $900.00 due before the surgery. This is in addition to $350.00 to the psychologist, $$$ copay for the hospital, and $$ to meet my deductible. Did anyone else pay a "program fee"?

<p>Thanks for all of your help. Maybe that's why I'm gaining weight also. Anyway, good luck to you on your surgery and I'm wishing you a speedy recovery.<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/happy.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" smilieid="60" class="inlineimg" /></p>

Can anyone tell me how to add a ticker? I just joined today and feel left out because I don't have a ticker. I went to tickerfactory.com and created one but how do I save it and make it appear with my posts. When I'm banded, I want to show off my progress too! Please help.:help:

Hello everyone! I just registered today but I have been reading post on this website for a while. I'm from Savannah. I've just begun my journey. I attended a seminar on 11-7 at Memorial and I am now waiting on an initial consultation. Savannah Bariatrics(Dr. A. and Dr. Whipple) will not see you if you're not paying cash, until they verify with your insurance if it's covered. I am anixious to be banded. Hopefully, I will be banded before the year's end!