cathychatts

Here is my question. :confused2: I read a lot about the post-op diet and not eating to allow the stomach to heal. If the band is around the stomach and there is no restriction and they do not cut the stomach or intestines what is there in the stomach to heal. I understand that there are incisions and the band is inserted and tissue is moved aside, but why do people keep saying the stomach has to heal? :cool2: I will be banded on June 6 and I can't wait. I intend to do exactly as the doctors order, but I just don't get this part. Help?:tongue:

Here is a new one

Here is the update

Corrected for Jules! Good luck to you all!

Bonnie: I am in Kingsport, TN -Tri-Cities area. My surgeon is Dr. Kramer, I saw Dr Kappa first. They are with Wellmont Comprehensive Weight Loss Center in Kingsport. Dr. Ponce is going to proctor Dr. Kramer on my surgery. I think this is the first one using the new Realize Band, they have been using something else. Anyway, I am so excited! People have told me that I am really lucky, that Dr. Ponce is like a pioneer in lap band technology. My date is June 6! I am so happy, :biggrin2:even though my first date was to be May 14, but the new band is worth the wait! Janet: Thank you, I will certainly pay it forward! I can't wait to be where you are! I tore a hole in my one pair of jean that fit today and I thought "Pretty soon I won't need these anyway!":tt2: I have closets full of clothes, everything from 10 to 18 (current)! I am only 5'1" so weight on this little frame really makes it tough! I can't wait to bend over and touch my toes and not feel like my stomach is going to come out my mouth! I want to be able to bend my knees and cross my legs! OMG!:smash: I am getting so excited! I look at everyone's tickers and see how much weight they have lost and get so encouraged! I know June 6 will be here before I know it! :biggrin:

Here is the line up so far! Please add to and correct! :biggrin: 2 Debi 5 JoannaG, Irish Ladybug :smash: 6 Kristybandy, cathychatts 10 Jules, :thumbup: 12 cris3 :thumbup: 13 batassbandita :thumbup: 17 Tex diva, :thumbup: 24 Snuffy65 :thumbup: 25 Tennessee Mom

Thanks for the information Green! You are correct, it is Dr. Jamie Ponce, you must be in either GA or TN. I understand he is quite the expert in bands so it is worth waitng for. I was scheduled for May 17 and then they changed it to June 6 so Dr. Ponce could be there. I feel honored that he will be at my surgery. Lucky ME!

Janet, Thanks for the support, you truly are a pillar of strength :welldone:for this thread. I appreaciate all your helpful encouragement for myself and others. I learn so much from you post to everyone! Lynn, I am so sorry you had to decide in pre-op. :eek: I hope that doesn't happen to me, I know if that Dr. Ponce doesn't show up, my doc will not be able to use the new band, since I will be the first he does with this new band. I understand the new band has a low provile port and is wider and the fill goes around the entire band, the others have a fill that goes 3/4 around. The new ones is to addres problems with the port as well as less chance of slippage and erosion. :eek: All good, I think if I were in your place Lynn, I will make the same choice. The old one has worked fine for most of those before us. :huh2: I intend to begin a diet monday, I figure every pound I loose now, is one less for surgery. :w00t: I need to get my head in the right place and now is the best time to begin. :tongue:

I found out I am getting a new Realize Band, a Dr Ponce is flying into my city to "Proctor" my surgeon. After the first one the surgeon will be using the new band on his own. Boy, am I glad to get the "expert" in my operating room! Two for the price of one. They actually pushed the date of my surgery from May 14 to June 6 so this guy can be there. I won't complain though! Just so happy to be in line for surgery and approved by the insurance!

I found out Thursday that my surgery date had been changed:angry_smile: from May 14 to June 5:whatchutalkingabout. At first I was bummed, but then I figured it was what was best. They are going to be using the newest Realize Band and they are having the “expert” at my surgery for the final training on this band. I don’t know much about the band or how new it is, but the doctors all have to have one of these “proctors” there at the first surgery they use this new band. I was told I will be getting “2 surgeons” for the price of one:mellow:. The special doctor’s name is Dr. Ponce, he works for Realize. So I will be a June, as little more wait, but for good reason! :smile2: I will be reading and learning until then :biggrin: and will be a bandster soon! Thanks!

My Band date is June 6:party:, I was originally scheduled for:cry_smile: May 14, but the date was moved so a “Proctor” surgeon :confused2:can be at my surgery. They are going to be using the newest Realize Band and they are having the “expert” at my surgery for the final training on this band. I don’t know much about the band or how new it is, but the doctors all have to have one of these “proctors” there at the first surgery they use this new band. I was told I will be getting “2 surgeons” :confused2:for the price:Banane14: of one. The special doctor’s name is Dr. Ponce, he works for Realize. Anyway, now my date is June 6. I am looking so forward to this!:biggrin: I am so happy to be a Jazzy June! I:thumbup: LOOK forward to meeting you all!:smile2:

:rolleyes2::confused_smile:I found out today that my surgery date has been moved to early June. :confused: I was kinda bummed until they told me why. I am going to get a new Realize band and they are flying :plane:in a teaching special surgeon to work with mine to put the band in. They say it is a new and improved version. So I will be satisified to be a June Bug! Goodbye and Best of luck to you All!:cry_smile:

Hello all you Mayflowers! Remember the Mayflower is the ship that brought the pilgrims to a new land! :thumbup: As you can see my avatar is a woman, old and haggard or young and beautiful, it depends on how you look at her! We all have that beautiful woman inside… now let’s show her to the world! I live in Kingsport, Tennessee. I have been single again for 18 years:mellow:; I was married for 20 years:rolleyes2:. I have two grown children (a boy and a girl), two grandchildren (boy and girl) and one on the way (another little girl.) I am a Senior Instructor at a Technology College, I teach Business. In a nutshell, I train Medical and Legal secretaries. I have been here for 9 years in August. Before that I owned a custom picture frame shop. I have had weight issues my entire life, beginning as a toddler. I was lactose intolerant as a baby and that has followed me through life. Now, I am intolerant to eggs, milk, oats, peanuts, onions, lettuce, strawberries and cantaloupe! That leaves very little to work with, but I will succeed! I am positive and proactive a:thumbup::thumbup:nd a motivator. This is a journey I am looking so forward to and will support each of you, as I look forward to your support. :tt2:

Carrie, What type of plan do you have. I have a POS through the state of Tennessee. I teach for a college here. I am so glad :biggrin2: I chose the Cigna plan, because if I had chosen Blue Cross/Blue Shield I would have had to pay 20%.:tt2: Since my Doc and Hospital are "in network" I only have a CO-Pay. I wish you luck! Keep me informed!:thumbup:

:thumbup: MAY 14 IS MY DAY TO BE SET FREE!

I am from Kingsport, Tennessee. That is in north east Tennessee, part of the Tri-cities.

I got my insurance approval April 21 and my surgery date is May 14! I am so very, very Happy!:thumbup:

:thumbup:OMG! :thumbup: Thanks so much for the cheers!:wub: I am so very happy and you are right :tt2: I want to shout it from the roof-top! And jump for joy! I thought I was going to have to do another 6 months of diet . I would have been ok with that, but this is so much better! I think this group is great and I have learned so much already!:ear: I am sure I will have many more questions from you all and hope to get to know you all a lot better. You have already made me feel less scared! Thanks again! I will proudly be a May Flower! :clap:

Congratulations Carrie, looks like we won't be far apart. I am so excited. You mentioned co-insurance. I think I only have to pay $100 to the hospital and then a co-pay to the Dr of $25. :thumbup:I will begin a Low carb diet on the 1st of May and then liquids for 2 days before surgery! I am so happy!

I just got approval from Cigna and I have been approved! :biggrin2: I have a surgery date of May 14! :thumbup:I am so happy, soon I will see my little ticker go down! :scared2::tongue2: I am sure I will be back here a lot for advice and encouragement. Thanks!:rolleyes2:

yea! :scared2: I am approved! I got the authorization number and all.:thumbup: Earlier today they said I had to do the 6 month diet program over.... The insurance clerk sent more information and BAM... the overturned the denial!:tongue::tongue2::thumbup:. I have a date! May 14! Good luck to all of you and don't give up!:rolleyes2:

I got a denial letter for lack of 6 month diet and then I called to see exactly what I needed for the documentation. I was ready to begin the process all over again. When they got to my authorizations, low and behold, I had an authorization number. It had been over-ruled by a letter and 6 more pages of documentation the surgeon's office had sent! :scared2::lol:I am so excited. I can't wait to get a surgery date! It will be sometime very soon! :tongue2::rolleyes2:

I am having problems getting approved. I was denied on April 16 because they needed a letter of medical necessity. A rep from Cigna indicated that was all they needed. I pray that I can get an appeal going quickly. I hate this waiting game!

I don't think my Doctor is going to use the "no-port-band" I suppose it is the new APS band. I sounds like it has been out about a year now, and the clerk at the office said this would not be available until May. Is their a new version of the band just becoming available?

My doc's office said, as of the 1st of May they will be using a new type of band that is new and improved. I found something about one of them going all the way around and one that was wider and had less chance of slippage. I am getting impatient and the office assistant said it was good that I had to wait because of this improved band. I suppose it is right, there is good in everything... even waiting!