Fordgal88

LOL there are no silly questions!! I do not regret it at all. I am 5 days out and still just a little bit sore. But honestly it has not been hard at all. My husband has been great. He even took the kids out to eat last night so I wouldnt smell the cooking...(at least that is his excuse). Funny thing is, I have showed my stomach to more people than I can count...LOL! They didnt ask me about my port. I am assuming it is on my left side, because that is where I have more pain, I cant feel it yet though. HTH =) Shawna

LOL - No they did not use my cpap - in fact it stayed in my moms car for the duration! What a crock! They told me at my preop testing that I just needed to bring it and leave it in the car, so I did. Several people asked if I had it and I just told them it was in the car and they were like "ok" and that was it. I am feeling some better today. I am still sore and I did end up having that gas settle in my shoulder. Though it is not unbarable, its just uncomfortable. The pain meds do help and I fine that it eases up if I lay on that side. I am trying to get up and walk around every so often to loosen up. I think I will be okay to go back to work on Monday. I have 7 incisions. One big one in the middle - I am guessing from the hernia repair. I showered yesterday and took off all the bandages and they look good. Im just itchy where all the tape was (I have an allergy to the adhesive on tape and bandaids). So Wendy when do you start mushies? Tell me how that goes. Also can you give me an idea what you did for full liquids? I will start those Saturday. I am really surprised that i have not really been hungry at all. I drink tea and crystal light and eat popsicles and jello. I am ready for some soup or something not "sweet" tasting - I was never a big sweets person. Hope you all are doing well!! =) Shawna

I am back... In a lot more pain than I expected, but I am here. I got to Same Day Surgery about 6:30 and they took me straight back to pre-op. Veronica came in there and went over everything with me. She is so awesome. They gave me that shot in my stomach. I didnt even feel it. Then I went back into holding. The put in my IV (which did not hurt at all). Then they rolled me back to the OR and the last thing I remember was moving over to the operating table. I woke up in recovery and I was in some really bad pain. They kept asking if I wanted pain medication and I would say yes. Well they gave me 4 doses of morphine....ICK!! Morphine makes me sick. Well I get back to my little room and my mom tells me that I was back there for a long time because I had a huge hiatal hernia and Dr. Miles fixed it. That explains all the pain!!!!! But I got up and walked down the hall to the restroom and was trying to eat the ice chips and apple juice. They didnt make me drink it all (I drank a little over half - but it hurt to move). So they then gave me a shot of phenergan. So I slept the whole way home. I got in and went to bed. The pharmacy did not have any liquid loratab, and the prescription specified brand name so they couldnt feel it. I got my husband to get me some liquid tylenol. It helped a little. This morning I am still sore, but I can move a little better. I have had some tea and a popsicle. Thanks for all the well wishes! And thanks for the text Wendy, that really made my morning! I hope all of you are doing well!! Shawna

They told me today to bring my cpap, but I could leave it in the car. She said it just needed to be available.

Im home from my preop appt. It was pretty easy. The girl did great taking my blood (I am always impressed with anyone that can get my blood on one stick). I went on to Dr. Miles office. My son's friend's mom works for Dr. Miles, so I talked to her nearly the whole visit, which put me at ease. Dr. Miles was great. I felt like a heel, cuz I had no questions, but I could not think of anything. Oh and I was super excited cuz my copay was only $100 for the surgery!! I did not know what to expect there, so I used my Kentucky Derby winnings to pay for it - HOW AWESOME IS THAT!! I got home around 3 and drank that AWFUL fleet stuff! I really thought I was going to throw up! I just laid down and let the feeling pass. Now I am just waiting...LOL! The girl from Midsouth is on her way out with my new CPAP machine, how much you wanna bet me that - that thing stays in the bag tonight....LOL. Well as soon as I am able I will update yall on how it was! =) Shawna

Thanks so much Missy!! I am so glad you had a nice weekend!! Happy Anniversary!! 16 Years is such a feat these days! We are celebrating #10 in August! Well GREAT NEWS everybody!! I just got a call from Neoami and my surgery is on for TOMORROW! I was worried that they didn't get the information from Dr. Schmitt in time. I went ahead and started the Clear liquids this morning just in case. Good thing! She is supposed to call me back with my preop appt time this afternoon. I am so happy and nervous and scared all at the same time! Oh OT - This was a great weekend. DH and I have a tradition of betting on the Kentucky Derby every year. Usually I do not win (I am so not scientific - I pick by names). But I did hit an exacta and won $141!! WooHoo! Sad about the philly though. Just wanted to share!! I will post as soon as I learn anything! =) Shawna

Thanks for everything! I live in Blount County close to Locust Fork. Snead is about 45 minutes from us, that was a long drive for a little league game, at least we won!! Where are you located? Are yall going to the next support group meeting?

Update!! Great news! First Jessica called me back and told me that my machine was in fact defective. Turns out Midsouth looked up the serial number and mine was one of several with bad blowers. So at least I am not crazy. She told me that she was going to take the information I had and give it to Dr. K Schmitt and she would call me back by 4pm. Well it was 4:30 and we were getting ready to head to Snead for a ballgame and my cell rang. I couldnt hear her (I live in the boonies) and told her to call me back on my home phone. So I ran in the house and answered the phone and she said "Do you want the greatest news ever?!!" and I was like "DuH!!" She said that Dr. Schmitt released me and that she was going to walk up to Dr. Miles office and hand my release directly to Neaomi. I dont know if I will still get to keep the Tuesday surgery date, but at least all this mess is over! I am going to call Neaomi Monday and ask her if it was too late. I am so relieved to know that I was not crazy and that my machine was really broken! Thank you all for all your support! I really looked forward to your support everyday! =) Shawna

Congrats to your friend Di!! I think it is great that you will have someone right there with you banded. I do not have any co-workers with the band.... yet! I am sure that when I have mine there will be others, a lot of people do not realize that BCBS pays for it yet. Wow Wendy! 1 week already! I hope all goes well at your appt. Keep us updated! Okay now my update! Looks like my surgery will be postponed.... You are not going to believe this! I took my card (with machine - just in case) to Midsouth this morning for the download. She prints it out and makes a copy for me, doesnt really say anything, so I am asking her about the data. Then she tells me that it is only showing 1 day of usage!!!!!! So WRONG! I told her there has to be a mistake. She shows me the bar graph and it shows where the machine was on everyday, but only used the first day! I told her that is impossible, because I have used it EVERYDAY just like I was supposed to. She said that they data showed otherwise - by this time I am in tears because I have honestly done everything I am supposed to do and now faulty equipment is standing in my way. She did test the machine because I told her that the power had went out yesterday and it must have kicked the machine on, because it was running by itself when I got home from work yesterday and I thought it was supposed to cut off without the negative pressure. She tested it and ran it for 5 minutes and it never cut off. She still said that there was nothing wrong with the machine, but I insisted she send it back to the manufacturer, because there is something wrong with it. I left there AGAIN in tears and extremely upset. I get in the car and call Jessica at Dr. Schmitt's office and explain to her what has happened and I think it pretty obvious that I was very distraught. She said that she would talk to Dr. Schmitt and Neaomi and call me back. I still haven't heard from her and when I do, I don't expect there to be good news. So who knows when this will happen. Anyways I talked to my husband a few minutes ago and it made me feel better because he knows that I have been compliant (it just feels like they think I am trying to pull one over on them). I hope everyone has a nice weekend!! =) Shawna

Can I just say that all of you are totally AWESOME!! It is so nice to feel like I have someone on my side. Update First I got an email from Neaomi saying that there were not enough hours on the CPAP machine and that they would have to reschedule my surgery - I was HOT! So... I talked with Jessica at Dr. K Schmitt's office this afternoon and she agreed to let me take the card to midsouth on Friday (Im taking the machine too - just in case). She said that she would let Dr. Schmitt what was going on. She also found the note that said that they only wanted 5 days with 5 hours - She would also bring that up to the dr. So... I emailed Neaomi back and asked if I got the release on Friday - could I still do this on 5/6. She emailed me back tonight and said that would be fine, but she had to have it by Friday. I am a BC/BS pay. The sucky part is I work for St. Vincent's and I can only use St. Vincent's for the surgery cuz its their insurance. So I am kind of limited to Dr. Miles and Schmitt for the lap band. Word of advice to anyone looking at this and going to use Dr. Miles or Dr. Lee Schmitt for their lap band. Do not use Dr. Kim Schmitt for their sleep study. I recommend you use a person not directly related to the practice to get a more fair evaluation. So everyone please keep your finger's crossed that they will give me my release for surgery. =)

Girl if you only knew! I have no idea what to do, I am so frustrated I could cry! Okay before my vacation they told me 5 days of 5 hours. Well I called Dr. K Schmitt's office yesterday to see what could be done, well they told me to call Midsouth and have them send what they had. So I did. Well no one called me back. So I called Dr. Schmitt's office back this morning. Of course the girl I have been talking to was not there. They said that they would have someone else call me back. Well I finally broked down and emailed Neaomi and explained to her that I was extremely frustrated and that I needed to know what was the absolute last day I could have this to her before they would postpone my surgery. She emailed me back and told me that she had also called Dr. Schmitt's office and they were supposed to call her back. Well about 30 minute's later Dr. Schmitt's office called me back saying that I was not compliant according to the machine. I told her that I have done exactly what they told me too and it is not my fault that there was a problem with the card and I was tired of being treated like I was lying about it. She now says that I need to do it for 7 days for 7 hours a day. I explained to her that there was no way with my schedule to get in 7 hours a night (Really there is not - I go to bed around 10:30 if I am lucky and get up at 4am). So she says that its the rules and that is what Dr. Scmitt's wants and I told her that they told me 5 days with 5 hours and now they are changing everything. She said that she would talk to Neaomi and Dr. Schmitt and call me back. I bet they don't call me back. It wouldnt be so bad if I hadn't done what I was asked to do. I guess if they say I am not compliant then they will postpone my surgery and I will be forced to get a 2nd opinion from another sleep dr. Sorry so long, just venting....

Okay I have been jumping hurdles and dodging bullets for the last 10 months. I finally get approved, I finally get a date and now shot fired!! Okay as some of you know, I had the sleep study and they decided that I have borderline sleep apnea (really just above the mark). Well they put me on that demon possessed sleep apnea machine. Well it is the kind with the compliancy card, so they know when you are compliant. I sent it in after the first 2 weeks and they said it averaged 4hrs per night. Well they told me I needed at least 5hrs per night for 5 consecutive nights before the Dr. would release me. So I suffered through 5 miserable nights of no sleep and 6 horrible days of some kind of skin reaction to the mask. I sent in my little card before I left for my vacation (I was on a cruise and was not taking that thing with me). Well I get home and got my card back in the mail with a new one. I turned over the little envelope and there was a sticky note explaining to me that the card was blank and that it might be defective so I will have to do it all over again. WTH! So I called Mid-South to see if I could bring the machine in so they could look at it manually. They said no problem. So I am thinking "Whew!" Well I get there and get to the back with my spawn of satan machine and they say, "you know we can only get an average for the last 7 days, right?" I am freaking out and tell her that I was not even in the country for the last 7 days and this was for the reading that was supposed to be for the card I sent in before I left. She didn't care. It said that it had 108 hrs usage for the last 30 days, well HELLO take away the last 7 days and that comes to an average use of 5 hours per night! They wouldn't go for it, like I was lying! I was supposed to have my pre-op appt today, but neaomi said that they will not see me until I have this release from Dr. Kim Schmitt. So now I have to call them to see what to do. I am so frustrated! I had to bend over backwards to get the time off for the surgery (next week) and my mom had to swap her off day so she could be off to take me (she works for the USPS and its even harder for her to get off). My husband just started a new job and cannot take off. If they move the date, I am so screwed! Sorry I just needed to Vent. The only good thing is the home health place did agree that this was a little much and Dr. Kim Schmitt was one of their worst Dr.'s to deal with (that made me feel a little better). Thanks for listening (reading), :cursing:Shawna:cursing:

So how did it go Wendy? I just got back in town last night. I thought about you on Thursday! I am freakin out because when I got in and checked my mail I got my card back from my sleep study and it had a note saying that the card was blank!!! I dont know what I am going to do. I only have 8 days until my surgery and they want at least 5 days of data. I am worried that I wont have enough time for 5 days and mail it in and them to get the data to Dr. K Schmitt in time for her to release me. My whole family has made arrangements for this surgery and now what! Okay just a vent! I hope you are doing okay. Let me know. PS my vacation pics are in the gallary of my website 2 Chicks Takin Pics | =) Shawna

This is the same practice and hospital that is placing my band. I was in my nutrition class last week and they told us that Dr. Schmitt would be giving his patients the choice of the 2 bands. I am using his partner Dr. Miles and he has not yet had the training for the new band, so this is not an option for me. But I am kinda relieved that I wont have to choose... =)

I know how you feel. I was that way at first. As soon as I found out that bcbs started covering it, my life revolved around it. I talked about it all the time. Once I had my initial visit with the surgeon and had a couple of the supervised visits out of the way, things got back to normal. In fact I had several people as me if I was still doing it, because I hadn't said anything about in a while. Then once I was approved, my life started revolving around it again...LOL! Now I am driving everyone crazy again. It will get easier.... =)

Thanks for all the support!! LOL! Well I struggled through it last night. I put it on at 10 and woke up at 12am, 1am and 3am and at about 3:30 I pulled that sucker off and got in 1 hour of sleep without it. I had to be at work at 6 this morning. 1 down and 4 to go. I also sleep on my stomach or side and I have long hair and there is no way to put it up comfortably with the mask. But I am keeping those positive thoughts, it is worth the end result! I just love this group!

Just got off the phone with Dr. Kim Scmitt's office and they insist on 5-7 hours of documentation (from the card in the machine) a night. I honestly have tried and tried and tried to use that machine, but end up ripping it off at about 2am. I do not rest at all with it. So now they have agreed that if I give them 5 nights worth of data (5-7 hours a night), then they will release me for the surgery! So please pray for me to be able to tolerate this machine for at least 5 days! Any tips on how to make it would be greatly appreciated!! =) Shawna

I agree the lack of attention in the office can be a bit discouraging and maybe it is time for a procedural overhaul. I think leaving the scheduling and insurance up to one person is a bit unreasonable. I also find the sleep study a bit much. I am still waiting on a letter of release from Dr. Kim Schmitt. I just feel that this is an un-needed step for every patient. I can see for some, but when I am asked to exagerate symptoms to have insurance approval for the study - then there is obviously something wrong. I found her to be rude and more of a salesperson than a Dr. I did find the nutrition class reassuring that I am doing the right thing. I loved it that Veronica has been where we are and discusses the personal side of our decision. I thought it was great that she mentioned that there is a higher divorce rate among bariatric surgery patients. It made me think about how my decision to do this is not only affecting me, but everyone around me. I plan on really making my husband a part of this and hopefully I can drag him to a support group meeting so he can really see the scope of what I am doing. It was very nice meeting you today Wendy! I cannot wait to see how everything goes for you. =) Shawna

May 6 here!!! Originally wanted to do it April 14, but I am going on a cruise the 21st, so I didn't think that would be too wise.... May is great considering I will be turning 35 on May 25!! What a present!

I would go ahead and get a visit in with your PCP to get the ball rolling. I had been seeing mine for 2 months before I had my initial appt with the surgeon. There that your PCP has to have the weight watchers documented in your medical record. You might want to call BCBS to find out their exact requirements on this. Good Luck!

I think the 6 month supervised diet is an insurance requirement. As far as the sleep study - that is a Dr. requirement. I believe it is a safety measure they take because of the risk with anesthesia. You should attend their seminar. It is very informative.

I know everytime I have tried to start a diet I would go through some serious withdrawels... Enough to make me say "forget this!" Probably not just the caffeine and cigs, but probably all the refined sugar too. These companies got us over a barrel with these "convenience" foods.

Oh Cool!! Makes this world even smaller!! lol

I haven't heard at all from the medical supply place. Honestly, I think they are a bunch of crooks. First of Dr. Kim Schmitt's office actually told me to exaggerate my symptoms so that the insurance company would pay for the sleep study. I did not have any symptoms of sleep apnea. Then when I had the sleep study the girl that observed me said that I didn't even stop enough to make bc/bs's requirements to use the cpap machine. Of course Dr. Schmitt said that I needed another study. Of course that time I had it. My numbers were 1 above normal. Plus she required that I sleep on my back which is not how I really sleep. I just think that it is a way for them to make more money. I know my sleep study cost over $6000. When the girl brought my machine to my house, I asked her how much this would cost me. She said that it was gonna be like $400, I told her that was too much and she said that we could lease it. Well yeah you know what it cost 2 times as much when you lease it. My first two payments were $150 and then it goes to $40 a month! I have a 200 major medical deductible on our health insurance but what really stinks is my husband's plant closed in February and we had to swap to my employer's insurance so I got stuck paying another $200 deductible. They bill $386 every month to my insurance. I would have been better off to buy it outright. The girl completely misrepresented the plan. Sorry just a rant! Now 2 more weeks of no sleep! LOL

The first date they gave me was April 14. But I am going on a cruise on the 21st and didnt think that would be too smart. Then they came back with May 6. I am going to the Nutrition class on the 9th and my pre-op appt is on the 29th. They must have a method to the way they schedule, but I havent figured it out yet. Neomi said that they didnt receive my release from Dr. Kim Schmitt from my sleep study. I called their office and they never received the download from that dumb card. They are supposed to be contacting the medical supply company about it, so now I am making sure I use that AWFUL cpap machine again in case they ask for another download. GEEZ what a nightmare! I cannot sleep at all with that thing!:scared2: