yellowroseaz

The boards is a great place to learn a lot and make some friends. Many people of all ages here. I go to see my PCP for a referral to a surgeon I hope next week. I hope he doesn't make me jump through too many hoops. I want the band and I want it now. Know what I mean! But for insurance to pay I have to play the game. Good luck to you and enjoy the boards.

Well, I went to the seminar. It was put on by their patient advocate who is a lady who has a band and has lost over a hundred pounds in just over a year. Very interesting. She showed us the band and port itself wrapped of course around a fake stomach. I am glad that I went but I found that I knew most of what she said from researching on the net. I hope both of you geta lot out of your seminar. Then I guess it's on the the Docs and we'll all see what they say. Keep us posted.

Tonight is my seminar night! I am sooo excited! Wish me luck! Does anyone know the the approximate time from seminar to surgery if there are no insurance issues??:wink2:

Hi Tracyde! This is Becky in Arizona. I'm going to a seminar this morning. I hope we both learn a lot. I'm looking forward to asking questions. This is probably not the Doc I will use because he isn't on my insurance but I figured I'd go to the seminar anyway. Is your seminar by the Doc you will be using? I have an appt with my PCP next Wed. That is making me nervous. I hope he refers me to a surgeon quickly. Enjoy your seminar. Will probably see you here later today or tomorrow.:biggrin:

Thank to all of you. I can probably handle 1% milk. I am glad to hear seeds are ok and also nuts. I've heard several people say you have to skin tomatoes. But I love tomatoes so I will be peeking them. Drinking a half hour before and 45 minutes after meals doesn't sound too hard. I heard you have to drink at least 64 oz. per day. Is that true? The worst for me will be giving up my diet pepsi but I will do it.:biggrin:

47 lbs. Terriffic!! You go! I have read many helpful posts here and I am convinced that it will be diet tea and Water and crystal light for me. Keep us posted on your progress

I am going to a seminar tomorrow. I have an appt. with my PCP next week and I have been doing a lot of research on the net and on LBT. I wish I had already had the band put in and I was on my way to a better me.....but here I am at the beginning. I guess you have to start somewhere. Now to convince my PCP to write a "medically necessary" letter to my insurance so it will be covered. Wish me luck. Good luck in your journey as well.

From what I have heard it is NO carbonation pop or beer or seltzer Water. I have had several surgeries in my life , a couple done with a laproscope like lap band is done and I have had a c section. It is scarey going under each time for me but it all happens so fast and then there you are in recovery. Amazing. I will pray for you. Keep us posted.

I don't have any suggestions for you as I haven't been banded yet, but I did want to say congrats on your big loss.31 pounds! That's great! This forum is such a big help. My only problem is I'm getting addicted to it :mad:

I'm in the research stage of the lap band process. I'm attending a seminar this week and then making that first appt. with my PCP. I've heard you can't eat anything with seeds or skins and only skim milk. I've heard too many things that you can't have to list here. So tell me if any of this is true. No grapefruits or oranges no capsules no nuts. I can handle most of it but I would miss my 2% milk. I don't drink that much milk anyway. I'm looking for any and all your suggestions. Can you eat Beans? They have skins. Oh about drinking, how long before and after a meal can you drink all of the Water or whatever it is that you can drink? I really need to hear some positive stuff. Who can help me?:smile2:

I'm really nervous about going to see my PCP. He believes that you should only eat when you are truly hungry. That isn't working. I have to get him to show medical proof that I need a lap band in order for my ins. to cover it. I feel like you. I don't want to wait several more months. I have pretty much made up my mind to do it. And I want it now too. Do you have any suggestions for what to say to my PCP to convince him that I really need the lap band?

Hi! I'm in Arizona and I'm just starting out too. My ins. says they will cover it with proof I need it from my PCP. I'm attending a seminar on Wednesday. And then I will be making an appt. with my PCP. I'm hoping to have lunch with a few other lap bandsters that live near where I do on Friday. I'm glad someone ( and there are many of you here) so young is getting control of their weight. I am 51 and I weigh about 221 with a bmi of 39. something. I only wish I had gotten control of myself while in my 20s. This forum is a great place to meet others and to get all your questions answered. Well most of them. I am scared and excited and apprehensive and happy to have pretty much made up my mind to do the lap band thing. Have you done much research? Do you have some support? My best support is my husband. Good luck to you. Becky

I agree. Call the Doctor right now this minute.!!

26 pages! What is that about? Are you attending a certain surgeons seminar and did the surgeon send you these pages to bring? I am attending a seminar in Phoenix on Wednesday but I have nothing to take but questions I got off of the net. I haven't talked to any surgeon yet. Should I do that first?

I'd like to know the answer to that too. I think I'll just call my insurance and ask them. I am attending a seminar on Wednesay in Phoenix. Then an appt with my PCP for a referral. I don't know if I have to wait 6 months or not. My insurance says PCP just has to prove medically necessary but I don't know yet how he will do that. Have to wait and see. I hope lots of peeps answer your question. Good luck in your journey.

Ok, I believe that the best thing to do is give up both caffeine and carbonation. All of you have convinced me of it. I think I'll try to do Decaf first 1/4 then 1/2 then 3/4 then all decaf. Then switch to decaf tea( my husband already drinks that) and crystal light and of course Water. Ice water is good to drink here in Arizona anyway. Shoot, it's february and supposed to be near 80 in the next few days. All of you here on this forum are so wonderful. I wish for each one of a long happy healthy life. God Bless you all.:cursing:

I have just a hundred pounds to lose but I can't seem to do it any other way. I am still in the research process. Attending a seminar this week and then making an appt. with my PCP. He doesn't believe in diets I know. He thinks that I should just not eat unless I am truly hungry. That's not working. So I have been reading a lot about lap band and this forum is great. I have my husband who is very supportive of my decision. I haven't told any one else other than my 2 brothers. One is supportive and one is not. Any advice at all to get me through this whole process would be appreciated. What was hardest for you to give up? And how much did you lose from surgery to regular food? I mean through the liquid and puree or soft foods and all that. Congrats on all the weight you have lost!:thumbup:

I guess I will be giving up diet pepsi for good. Maybe green tea is the thing to drink or crystal light . Guess I better start practicing getting off the pepsi starting now. Thanks for all your input wonderful peeps!

Good Luck with your journey. I am just starting mine. Seminar this week and then an appt. with my PCP. I wish I had an upcomming surgery date. I am nervous and excited to get to the surgery part. Then I know my life will be hard for a while what with the liquid diet and all but I am convinced from all the reading that I have done that it will be worth it.

SueAZ, Are you in Arizona? I am. I am 51 today and I am in the research stages. I am going to a seminar this week and then making an appt with my PCP who doesn't believe in diets. But I will bug him a lot if I have to to get that referral. I live near Casa Grande. Where are you?

What is the difference between a realize band and other bands. I'm still in the research phase. I'm going to a seminar on tuesday in Phoenix. I live in AZ. Are they available here? The realize band that is?

Gastric Motility? What does that mean? I'm still looking for why no caffeine. I am going to attend a seminar on Tuesday up in Phoenix so I am going to ask then I will post the answer here.

Yes do let me know about the book and if you know where I can get one......... I'll check Amazon in the meantime.

Can I drink flat caffeine free diet pepsi after surgery? And how does a diet pepsi addict give up caffeine without the major headaches? Help!

Ok... did anyone else struggle with the heparin injections (mandatory blood thinner post-op) I am needle-phobic and seriously terrified to inject myself 3 times a day for 14 days... any trick/tips?? When I was in for my pre-op appointment the nurse tried getting me to inject myself (to practice) I went pale and got teary eyed and COULD NOT do it... I know I sound like a total wimp (especially to any diabetics out there) but I just am scared! Surgery is tomorrow...

Hi Seattle Girl! I am diabetic and have had to learn to give myself injections. I remember crying when the doc told me I had to do it. Maybe the hardest thing I had to learn to do. It has been almost 2 years now and I still hate it and sometimes it still hurts. I am sorry you have to do it but if your doc says you do then please try to learn to do it. And now I am considering lap band. I am in the research stage and am planning on attending some seminars and making an appt. with my PCP by the first of the month. One of my biggest reasons is because I would like to get off insulin and quit giving myself shots every frickin day. It sucks. You've made it this far. Keep on truckin!

Restraint! That's what I must do now. Don't want to gain any more weight. I am just to the point of attending seminars and talking with the many great people here. I haven't got an appt with my PCP yet. But as soon as I attend a couple of seminars I will be making that appt for a referral. My insurance says they will cover it as long as my PCP proves it medically necessary. Can't wait to see what my PCP requires to "prove" I need it. Thanks for the encouragement from all of you. Becky