NanaRenan

If you have ANY co-morbidities and see specialists for them, make sure that THEY have done every test or procedure and have cleared you for surgery. I was literally five minutes from being on the operating table when the anesthesiologist discovered there was no clearance document in my folder. His office was contacted and because he was out of town and my file there showed I'd never done a nuclear stress test that he mentioned once MONTHS ago....they couldn't authorize it. I was told to get dressed and go home. I was SO disappointed -- and I wouldn't want that to happen to ANYONE! So please make sure!

Despite my anxiety attacks yesterday, I was sleeping well when hubby's pager went off at 4 AM this morning. No biggie that I couldn't go back to sleep. And even better when I got the call to come immediately, surgeries scheduled ahead of me had been cancelled. Yippee! I get there, get gowned up, IV inserted, blood draw, X-rays done, etc., etc., etc. Literally about 5 minutes out of OR they find an important test was not performed months ago and the cardiologist is out of town until next week. So I'm told to get dressed and go home. I've cried myself dry of tears several time today. I know that "all things work together for good to them that love God", and I'm sure I'll look back and see things differently, but I'm just so sad right now. And its one of those things everyone around has no clue about. I think they feel like someone cancelled Christmas on a child. But its so much more than that. I feel like I was drowning in the middle of the ocean and for a week I had hold of a rope that was going to save me, but today that rope got snatched away and the boat sailed off and I don't know when it's coming back around again. The good news is, I didn't do what I WANTED to do with that sort of misery.... :hungry: Instead I drowned my sorrows in a vanilla Diet Coke and cried myself to sleep. **sigh** Anyone experience this happening?

btw--skyeblu79.... If you don't mind my asking, why five months before your first fill?

That's the only one I can drink AS IS. I have to add a little strawberry yogurt or something to the Atkins Advantage Vanilla. I'm not big on 'sweet' tastes -- I did not get to be 321 lbs eating Cookies, candy and ice cream, I promise! It was Pasta, rice and potatoes that did this to me! And I just can't bear the thought of drinking 'shakes' ALL day long. So I bought 100% Any Whey Protein at the Vitamin Shoppe -- its pretty much tasteless and I can add it to Soups, grits, etc. I've tried it several different ways already and its gonna be quite doable, I think.

Thanks, Schexy! You are right about everything! LOL Well, I'm blessed to be surrounded by Sonic Drive-Ins where I live. They're are the best, but their Vanilla Syrup isn't sugar free, so its my big indulgence. At home, and at night, I make my own with Diet Caffeine-Free Coke and Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup I get on the coffee aisle at the supermarket. I even buy bags of the crushed ice from Sonic and will recycle their big styrofoam cups for days!! Tho'd I'd had my last one -- possibly EVER -- yesterday! But it was the first thing I said to hubby when we schelpped to the car -- me in tears -- this morning! ""TAKE ME TO SONIC!""

I've had two panic attacks today. I'm NOT afraid of the surgery. What scares me is This is my last chance, what if I blow this somehow? Life as I know it will never be the same, how will I cope with an 'unknown normal'? I know these are largely hypothetical questions. I'm really just looking for someone to talk me down out of the tree tops! Pam<-----17 hours and counting til I leave for the hospital.

Why not!?! I got no where else to go! I did even suggest that hubby drop me off at a motel so I could just hibernate -- I really don't want to be around anybody and explain everything umpteen times. :ranger: You guys get to be the lucky ones.

I did nothing. :cry Got cancelled just as I was being wheeled from pre-op to OR. Cardiologist referred me for surgery, but never cleared me and he couldn't be reached -- out-of-town until next week. Color me 'bummed'. :help:

Thank you, you are so right. In fact, I think I will probably have something akin to "survivor's guilt" as I encounter people who need this as bad or worse than I do/did. I hope it will spur me on to be truly and permanently successful! P.S. I was actually able to go to sleep and was sound asleep when hubby's work phone went off at 4 AM!!!

Hi, Jo. I'm going in in a few hours to have my banding done. I've been real antsy about those first couple of days after. I hope everything improves greatly and quickly for you. Keep us posted.

Thanks! I have asked the Lord for help several times today. And I've had a great number of friends and family call or email to let me know they'll be praying for me tomorrow. I am blessed!!

Thanks for asking this question.....it is a concern of mine -- BIG concern...but I hadn't thought to ask here. I'm not worried about not drinking with meals -- I've been able to do that all my life, so that won't even be a problem -- unless I try to eat something heavily spiced. But I noticed the last few weeks, I've been trying to eat more fruit and vegetables. Cherry tomatoes, grapes, cherries, clementine sections -- when I get one that's more tart than sweet, I just crunch it once and swallow it hole. I guess I'll have to take a knife to those things to prevent that, huh?

I haven't even made it through the end of this thread....I'm crying too much to see right now!! I am SO happy to find it -- I am going to read it EVERY day that I find myself discouraged! Thank you ALL and God bless!

Thanks, both of you and WOW!! Like, I had completely forgotten it CAN be in my control. btw--your ticker alone is SO inspiring, Julie! Thanks again! And chimboree -- you made me LOL. I'm always the one telling people, "Breathe out, Breathe in, Oxygen is our friend!" There are quite a few who would momentarily relish getting to fling that advice back at me! Thanks!

Since I only got approved on Friday, I'm not gonna have 10 days to be on it....but after 4, I can tell you I'm already BORED with it! Not enough options that are savory rather than sweet. I'm using the Atkins Advantage in Creamy Vanilla and the Slim-Fast Low Carb Diet in Creamy chocolate. Both are reasonably palatable. But when I blend them with some crushed ice and put in about half a cup of low-fat vanilla or strawberry yogurt, they are much easier to tolerate. Alas, I won't be able to say I did it cheat free...I had a noodle of my husband's plate of fettucini on Saturday. On Sunday I thawed some gumbo I made last week and strained some of the broth to eat == I caved and ate a shrimp. <sigh> I will be looking for more and more choices for AFTER surgery! I had hernia surgery last summer and have been praying all year to not gain enough to ruin it -- which is always a possibility when you're obese!

Hi! I had to give 5 yrs. But all I did was contact the different doctors and get them to fax my surgeon's office with a date and a weight from my chart for the year they saw me. It shouldn't be hard if you visit a doctor once a year and they take you're weight while you're there. Any professional, in network or out, who will vouch should 'count'. I did my three months by seeing the nutritionist at my surgeon's office, then I could weigh once a month at my family doctor's office instead of driving across Houston to the surgeon's office. Fortunately, I also had them weigh me each time I went there for other things -- like a sinus infection! Because by the time Aetna came back and said they wanted SIX months instead of just THREE, I was already in the fifth month! I think what tipped the scales (pardon the pun:D) was that the last time they submitted it, they asked that it be reviewed by someone who specializes in bariatrics look it over. They came back with a Yes after only 7 days.

Lets just say I was thinking of making some little dolls and getting a big box of straight pins........... But right now, I can't stop grinning, :whoo:so its hard to 'hate' anybody or anything! With the possible exception of protein shakes -- I'm really starting to hate them and it's only been four days!:cry

Its 12:01 AM Sunday....I just found out Friday at 9 AM that I'm approved and am having surgery Thursday morning. Ever since I got done pinching myself to be sure I wasn't dreaming, I've had this ball of dread in the pit of my stomach. I'm not at all afraid of surgery or anesthesia and I finally figured out what it is. I'm somewhat terrified of taking this drastic "last-ditch-effort" and still failing. Thanks to all who posted. I KNOW I"m going to need to refer back to this thread many times, but right now, I feel like a load has been lifted and that knot in my gut is starting to unclench.

On our fourth and last appeal, my doctor's office specifically requested that my appeal be reviewed by someone with experience in bariatric surgery. After four "No."s we got approved. And with urgency, like -- get it done ASAP!

I haven't been banded yet, but I had hernia repair last summer with a mesh insert. Just when I tho't the pain should be easing up it seemed to get much, much worse! I went to the doctor and he said that was normal anytime the body was adjusting to a foreign object being left inside. My previous surgeries (hysterectomy and gall bladder) only REMOVED items, didn't leave anything behind.

I have to echo the wise ladies and say, wait. At your age there's plenty of time to get things fixed later. I nursed all four of my children and wouldn't take the whole world AND a perfect bod in trade for that experience. It's a precious thing that can't be done over later. There'll always be boob jobs, and the techniques will only improve while you're waiting.

Hi == bumping some old threads looking to see if anyone from the Pearland (Brazoria County) or Hobby area of Houston is interested in forming a support group with a couple of newbies.

Hi, Mert! Hope you're doing well. I'm about to join the world of the banded -- I got approval today and will get my band in less than a week!! I'm having it done in Pasadena at a place that specializes in bariatric surgery. They have twice-monthly support group meetings and they said the patients who attend faithfully do much better than patients who don't!! So I do plan to be making all of those. Maybe if we keep this thread bumped up, we might pick up a few more from our area and form an online support group. TTYL, Pam

Lots of luck!!! I'm happy for you to be taking care of this situation while you're still so young. You'll do great and won't waste years and years of your adult life battling food and the scales!:whoo:

Hey! I got approved today, TOO!!! Surgery is next Thursday!!! Great -- lots to keep me busy getting ready and less time to fret and dread!! I'm taking this sad, negative litany out of my signature and focusing on the positives now!!! Began process 10/22/05 Door slams in face 1/13/06 Restarting the process -- at cardiologist's insistance -- 1/25/07 Denied by Aetna 6/6/07 Denied again on 6/19/07 Denied again on 7/15/07 Approved on 7/24/07