nycm00

Hi Andre. I live on Long Island, but I am having mys urgery done at NYU. It is an excellent program. Check out their website and you can sign up for the next informational seminar. That would be the first step. You could check out the other programs in the city and see how you feel. NYU works for me because I like their approach to follow-up over the others. With the band the follow up and fills are almost more important than the surery itself. Dr Fielding has had the band for 8 yrs and has performed 8,000 band procedures. Christine

Hey Fenton, glad to see you back! You were missed. I will be starting my liquids on Monday for my March 24 NYU surgery. Thanks for posting about your experience it really helps me. I have cardiology clearenc scheduled for Weds this week and my GP and pre-admission testing will be done on the 20th. I'm scheduled to be banded on the 24th! I am so excited and wish the time to fly by....OK, maybe I just want to ruch through the 2 week liquid/low cal phase. Welcome to all the new shrinking shamrocks! Christine

Michelle: Glad everything went well and you are back home. I had those gas pains after my c-sections and they were bad. I pray I don't get any with this surgery. Christine

Fenton and Pipinje thinking of you today! Best of luck and speedy recovery! Christine

I'm looking foward to it too. I feel like it will make things more real. Christine

Fenton: LOL about the wallet. Can't tell you how many times I have done that, sometimes with the misplaced item right in my hand! YIKES! DId you sign up for the memory study being done at NYU? I was told about it when I met with Dr Ren. There was a form to fill out in my black folder. It's a study to determine if weightloss improves memory. I am thinking about signing on. Welcome to Momof321 and Scrappy Friend. Special K: Ithink it's great that you are doing the diet on your own. The whole fatty liver thing scares me. My pre-op liquid diet begins on Monday. Christine

Fenton: So sorry to hear about the snags you've hit with the pre-op appt. I too have to get cardiology clearence, and am having trouble getting in touch with the cardiologist I've used in the past. I don't want to go to someone new, because I am hoping to avoid having to do more testing before surgery and just use what we have. Good luck to you with the surgery! Christine

Good luck to all the March 3rd bandsters! Can't wait to hear your recovery stories ! Christine

"some turkey chili, low fat. Last time I pureed the larger chunks of turkey - it was delicious, but it sure looked as if someone had eaten the chili before me..." This made me laugh, because before long we'll be asting foods like this on a daily basis and happy about it! Christine

Hope you had a great birthday! Can you imagine what your picture will look like next year? I am having a very hard time imagining myself under a size 18....and at this point I would love to be a size 18! Hope you had a fabuous birthday! Christine

I am getting banded on March 24th by Dr Ren at NYU. I start the liquid/1000 calorie/high Protein diet on the 10th. Fenton: Do you get less hungry as time goes by with the liquid diet? I will be using up some medifast shakes I have and then doing the Slimfast shakes. Christine

The 2 week diet is to help shrink the liver before the surgery. I know some surgeons don't require this but I think it's really a good idea. I am an ultrasound tech. I have scanned myself and know that my liver is way too big and it's due to excess fat in it. During surgery the liver can flop right over where the surgery is happening, so if there is anything I can do to keep the surgeon away from my liver, I am doing it. Good luck withyour research! Christine

I am goign to NYU to have my surgery and will be doing a 1000 calorie liquid/high Protein diet for 2 weeks before surgery. I start on March 10th since my surgery is on the 24th. I have done medifast in the past and have some of those shakes. When those are finished I will do Slimfast Optima. They also give in for about a veggies Soup you area llowed 2 cups a day. I know I will also supplement with that during the 2 weeks. Christine

So sorry. I really don't have any advice other than asking your doctor to write another letter. I too have UHC and am waiting to hear if all is good. My surgeon's office told me not to be surprised if UHC asks for a 5 yr weight history. I know I will qualify, but it will be difficult to get the numbers since I have moved around a lot. I'd have to ask my OB/gyn since she is my most consistant doctor and ask for my non-pregnant weights. (I've had 2 kids in the past 5 yrs.) I do have my weight watchers weight loss history and would submit that too. Good luck and keep us posted.

I like the shrinking shamrocks. Christine

I had my appt with my surgeon today, and after jumping through all the insurance hoops, I finally have my date set. I am 37 yrs old and have 3 children 7,4, and almost 2 yrs old. My husband travels a lot, so I'm nervous about the post surgical lifting restrictions. I would like to lose about 130 pounds, but cannot even imagine it at this point. I am having my surgery by Dr Ren at NYU. I start my liquid diet on March 10. I am so ready for this! So happy to be joining you! Christine

Wow Wantolose, that would be really quick. I have been jumping through insurance hoops for months now. I have my consult with the nutritionist on Friday and hope to have surgery in March. Good luck to you!

I was able to get an appt with a GP that refers to NYU (the hosp where I plan to have my surgery). The appt is tomorrow. I am so psyched that they were able to get me in so soon and they were so nice on the phone! I have to sind someone to pick up my eldest son from school, but my two younger kids are taken care of for the appt. The only drawback is that this doctor is in NYC, so I have to take the train to get there. It's a 2 hour ride there and a 2 hour ride home. It will be well worth it if I can get this surgery done soon! Christine

Hi, Your text is very difficult to read, but as far as UHC only paying 70%, you may be able to get your other insurence to cover the rest. A definate benefit to having two medical plans. I wish you the best of luck. Christine

Hi miss Vicki, I have to have the letter of physician support for my insurance company as well as the surgeon. I also have to have 6 months documentation of physician supervised weight loss. I have that. I am hoping that by bringing my history with me to a new bariatric surgery friendly doctor I will be able to get the letter pretty quick. I pray that it works out. Thank you for your support. Chrisitine

Thank you all for your encouragement. I have called the surgeons office and they gave me the number of a group of doctors who refer to them. I will be calling them on Monday. It was such a disappointment when my Doc said he would not write the letter, but you are right, everything happens for a reason and maybe it was simply time for a switch. Thank you! Christine

Yesterday I went to see my GP to finally finish all my paper work required by my ins. company and the surgeon's office. My GP refuses to write a letter of support for my candidacy for Lap-Band surgery. He just does not believe in bariatric surgery. I feel like this is such a huge road block. If I had known this 6 months ago, I would have switched doctors back then. I even wrote a letter for him to sign...in case writing the letter himself would be too time consuming. I can't get over the fact that he just won't do this. He says he will provide any info I need and not stop me from doing the surgery, but he cannot put his name on something he does not believe in. So, there we have it, back to step one. Christine

I am also going to NYU. I am still in the paperwork part of the process. I am just about done. I have done the psych oart with Dr. Huberman and have an appt for 1/30 with the NYU nutritionist. I am hoping to be banded by March. Christine

I stayed on the antidepressants...it's OK to be on them. I had to see the psyche twice. The first time around he was concerned that I may have binge eating issues and maybe the band would not be right for me. I was asked to do more research, read the book Overcoming Binge Eating and attend a post surgical group. I did all, started a food journal and just got my approval on Tues evening. Good luck with your appt. Christine

Good luck with the surgery. Keep us posted on your progress! Christine