stepoffaith

congrats to everyone on their fills and great to hear your news candy and wombat. it is always nice to read all of the posts on this thread. Prayers and thoughts are with you all. I have not posted in quite awhile but finally have news. I have a date. My surgery is scheduled for 3/18 so keep me in your prayers.

just replied to your other message jeanie. I am from Farmington, NM. Coming down to Albuquerque this weekend as a matter of fact. Maybe we can meet sometime. There are a couple of banders up here that I know of and I met a couple of ppl from Albuquerque at the seminar I attended. I am not banded yet. Do the insurance paperwork dance.

since your post was titled greetings from Albuquerque, should I take it you live in Albuquerque, NM? Just asking as I live in Farmington, NM.

I work in a doctor's office too. Sometimes they are the least sensitive places to work surprisingly. Shrug it off. You are doing this for yourself not anyone else. There are alot of people out there that will support you. Ignore those who don't.

Yes. It does get to that point. When we make up our mind it becomes consuming. I try not to let it be but it is. Daily I try to remind myself not to bug others and let them have time to do their job but it is hard. I want them to hurry with the reports, hurry to process everything, hurry to get it to the insurance and hurry to approve it so I can hurry up and have surgery!! I wanted it yesterday so you are not alone. I to feel like I am well read, well studied. I have friends and family who have had band and bypass. I have seen the good and the bad. I have already attended the seminar, met with the surgeon and done my pre reqs. Waiting for all the reports to get back to the surgeon so he can get the report to the insurance to see if they will say yes. Good luck in your journey.

Welcome everyone new. I tried calling my insurance only to get the vague answer also and I new all the lingo as I have worked in healthcare for many years. So instead I asked which surgeons were covered on my plan and they gave me the two that were. I contacted those two for information to see which I could get in with. One sent me information and a packet to complete, one said I must attend a seminar first. I figured the packet was the easiest but signed up with both. Turns out the one with the seminar moved faster, I got more info, there office was easier to work with in the long run, etc. I went to the seminar, got an appt with the surgeon, dietician, got a list of my pre reqs, made my appts and just finished getting my pre req testing completed. Now waiting on all the reports to get to the surgeon so he can get them to the insurance to see what they say. They call this a journey for a reason. First thing to pack in your suitcase - PATIENCE. Good luck and God speed to all of you. Read Read Read and learn. There is a wealth of knowledge on this forum. :cursing:

how big is this place? if it is big you can just apply and not mention that you have applied before. If it is not then yes, say you have applied for another position but would also like to be considered for this position and why. How you feel you are really suited for this position and would be a great asset to them. :party:

welcome JackieL:smile:

PTL wombat. you look WONDERFUL!!! Isn't it funny how we picture someone we haven't met? I had you all wrong!! Good but you are even better than I thought. You are soooooo beautiful. I knew you had a beautiful spirit in Christ-got that through your posts. CONGRATS wombat you are doing great.

Depends on who you ask to how much pain they say it is. Some say not too much some say alot. Most physicians allow you to take minor pain meds before the procedure like tylenol. Some will let you have lortab which comes in liquid for post banders, post procedure. If not banded can get in pills too. Yes, HPV can go away if procedure is done. Gardasil vaccines can be given to younger ppl even AFTER having clean paps following the dysplasia, biopsies and procedures. But only after the paps come back normal. Precautions need to be taken in the meantime or it can still be passed back and forth. Good luck through all of this.

Back at ya Candy. Get back on the "band" wagon and good eatin habits. You are going to do so well. I am losing a little, very little but a little so I am doing ok. Keep reporting on your progress

Praise God joyross. SO glad all is well. Everything is beautiful. Cold... but beautiful. Things are looking up, slowly in my family but in God's timing. My lapband process is progressing and for that I am very grateful. God is good. I went and had my EKG and chest xray today. My Blood pressure is back to normal but my PCP wants to monitor it for 2 wks. My psych eval is next Wed. So when I have all my paperwork in to the surgeon, hopefully soon then we will see. I am very excited to have it done although then the waiting game begins. I am trying to focus on work and working on preparing for surgery, eating less.... but sometimes its hard. I love reading this site it is so refreshing.

Welcome newbies. God Bless you all. Been reading all of your reports and brought a smile to my heart. Yes 2beme my name has gain lots of comments on the forums and chat room. It has been a blessing in its self. It reminds me daily I am walking in faith. Jaunderwood, God is blessing you, your day is coming soon.

Hi all. You are all in my prayers. Thor, can't wait for your praise report. 2bemeagain and wombat-thank you for your prayers. I felt 'em and here is my praise report. I saw the surgeon yesterday. The 4 hour appt was just that. Met with the dietician, surgeon....all I have left is the EKG and psych eval and neurology clearance (had a possible CVA last year). That is scheduled for Monday and Wed next week but waiting on psych eval still. The surgeon said my insurance moves fairly fast which is surprising to me. Hoping for date by April??? Maybe I am optimistic but then all things are possible!! Satan is still raging but I am taking one minute at a time. He threw obstacle after obstacle in my way but I went to my appt anyway and I was truly blessed. I knew it was God's will to go because I felt it in my heart - it wasn't God telling me to delay. You know sometimes you just know. Please pray for me and my husband. We are really having a tough time and I don't understand. After 27 years I just didn't think there would be such tough times. I love you all through Christ. Thanks for caring. Cindy And Thor--bring on that report!!

Hi everyone. I haven't visited for a couple of days. This week has been particularly hard. I have had some awful obstacles not related to the band thrown in my path. Satan has been attacking full force but by the grace of God I will walk strong. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am leaning on Phillipians right now. I see the surgeon tomorrow to see what he says about the lap band and if he will prepare my packet for the insurance and what he will require of me. My blood pressure has been ridiculous this past two days and I have never had high blood pressure but I am forging on. Please pray for me tomorrow as I meet with the dr. Thank you for being my sisters in Christ. Thank you for this website and sharing with me. In love, Cindy

Thor: please post again on the morning of your surgery or nite before. I want to pray specifically for you close to the time and I check this site daily. Don't worry about overposting. Dear Heavenly Father, we bring Thor to you this morning. She is full of excitement and anticipation of her upcoming surgery. She has some concerns and says she is scared which we know is normal for us humans but dear Lord as she goes into surgery, I ask that you releive her of all fear and give her your peace. The peace that passes our understanding. The security of knowing that she is wrapped in your arms. Guide her surgeons as they operate. Give them the knowledge, the calm the guidance that they need to perform this surgery quickly and efficiently. Father, be with her family. Provide them with the securtiy and peace of your love as the surgery is performed. Guide them to know how to help her as she recovers. Give her strength to ask for help when she needs it and for help to be available. Dear Father, we thank you for Thor and her love for you. God Bless You.

can't find it either. I always used it too

I am. (counting the days that is). It is amazing the amount of paperwork and red tape everyone requires these days isn't it? Sometimes it feels surreal. I am looking forward to my appt but it doesn't seem real yet. I keep telling myself not to get excited that this process could take a long time but part of me does not want to accept that. And I have so much to do this time of year...End of year accounting and all of that. I am trying to stay focused but this is my most procrastinating time of year. So much to do, so little energy to do it.... Keep me posted too.

that is awesome. Did you have esophageal erosion from having GERD that long or was it heartburn without the reflux? Congrats but be careful going off meds until you make sure erosion is completely healed if you had one.

welcome. so have you contacted a dr yet or just beginning research?? where are you at on your journey? And where in AZ are you at? I am from NM. Howdy neighbor.

I am anxiously awaiting for my one on one with the surgeon to see what I need to do and if he considers me a good candidate. My PCP said he does so I feel good about that. Like you, many of us have alot of faith in our PCP. Another reason the PCP doesn't want to let you down and they really are super busy. We counted the paper that came across the doc's desk yesterday via walk-in, mail and fax that the dr had to address (not staff) and there was over 75 pieces of paper! Thats alot when it doesn't count doing progress notes and seeing patients. Good luck with your progress.

I can't speak to why they would lean that way for a group of you. At my seminar the doctor himself did the presentation and he presented equally on both procedures, pros and cons. In the packet there was a question of whether we had already chosen what we wanted and if we had, why? He said that after an individual intensive exam he could make a recommendation but that it really depended on a lot of different factors to which one was best. Size, how much to lose, health issues... Hope this helps. Sounds like another opinion is a good one. Maybe that physician is better practiced at the roux-en-y? My doc also said that surgeons can go to a one weekend seminar to learn these procedures but the drs I chose did a one year fellowship, only doing bariatric surgery before going public. Check credentials and experience.

Haven't experienced that but can speak from an employee of a PCP. Many PCP's have their patients do a dummy letter that they can retype because there are so many different types of criteria out there. When a PCP can get the patient to write the letter they don't have to guess at what the patient or insurance might want. They are hoping that someone has done their research out there. And the patients are happier, not upset that the doctor forgot to mention the BMI or that they tried a certain diet or ....the list goes on and on. When the patient writes the letter and they forget something no ones to blame but themselves, they take the time to make sure it is as accurate as possible and it usually is more accurate than if the doctor has to go searching through your medical records for the past 3-5 years to find the details (which might not even be in your chart). Hope this helps.

Gh0st: You remind me of the times when my children were small. They take things very literally, we take things for granted. My 22 year old was pregnant this time last year, in fact told me about this time last year. I had such mixed emotions. Always wanted to be a grandma, did want her to wait til she was married but... anyway long story short- she lost the baby and I was devastated too. She wanted to name him Christian. I was never thrilled with the thought of naming a child Christian but all of a sudden I wanted a grandson named Christian very badly. The timing of your story is impeccable. It reminds me to appreciate what I have. When you pray tonight maybe you can ask your son if he is more comfortable with saying something like let me be more like Jesus. Its a great conversation starter. Jesus was kind, honest, giving...What a good mom you are. God Bless you.

crazy man. I am freezing. I went to work but feel terrible today. I had my surgery in 2002 when one tumor became two. But no fun going back and forth between drs. Are you prone to tumors because I know they tell me I am since I have had several now in different places throughout my body. Luckily, or by the grace of God anyway, I haven't had any since 2002. All were before that time. Tell Rick its to cold. Its much nicer inside this winter!