kdlee

I almost didn't make it into June, but I'm here!!! Anyone else being banded June 30th?

Did any of you give your own blood before surgery in case it was needed for transfusion for any post-op complications? Also, did any of you have to get blood transfused after surgery? Just wondering....

Wow, lots of nurses here! I don't know how I missed this thread. I'm an RN, also. I graduated from The University of Akron in 1998. Let's see, I started out in L&D, nursery, post-partum. Did that a couple years. I then went to Psych/Geri-Psych. Did that for 4 years. Loved that but the unit I worked on closed down. I went to Med-Surg after that for 2 years until I found my current job. I work now as the Director of Nursing for a student health clinic at a university. I've been here almost 3 years. I really like my new job, but took the opportunity of working at a large university to go back to school while working full time (I know, I'm crazy). I'm currently working on a Master's in Public Administration and will graduate this fall. I'm excited to see what will open up after that. It's great to see so many nurses who are getting or have the band!

ME ME ME!!! I just got my date today, June 30th. I barely slid into June by the seat of my pants!

My surgeon requires you to stop drinking all caffeine prior to surgery, and none after surgery for several weeks. Giving up caffeine was one of the hardest things I've done! I used to drink a 20oz black coffee in am and 40-60oz of Diet Coke a day! I took one week to reduce that and then stopped completely. The headaches were horrible! I was moody and sleepy all the time. I was in bed everynight for that first week by 8pm. It was terrible! But...let me tell you how much better I feel now! I used to blame not sleeping well at night on being a Mom and listening for my kids during the night. I now know that it was the caffeine. I used to wake up 4-5 times a night when drinking caffeine. I never had problems falling asleep, just staying asleep. Not anymore though, I now sleep through the night. Also, if I didn't have caffeine in by 10am at the latest, I would get a really bad headache. Not anymore! Even after surgery I will never go back to drinking caffeine. It's just too addictive for me. Trust me, if I can stop drinking it, so can you. It's one of the hardest things I've done, but just set your mind to it and do it!:thumbup:

I know just how you feel! I have lost about 20 lbs on my pre-op diet and this nasty nurse that I work with dared to say to me, "Well, if you can lose 20 pounds on your own, why can't you just do the rest yourself?" She was so snotty about it (but then again, she's snotty about everything and no one really likes her attitude). I tried to explain to her that it was a maintanence issue, but then she rudely said "well, I just don't agree with it." Bottom line, I didn't ask her opinion, so why did she think she should offer? Don't let that nasty woman get you down. Someone who is that nasty at their job must have a nasty home life as well and the only way they make themselves feel better is to make other people miserable!

If you want insurance to pay, it sound like the only plan. It really is just all about jumping through the hoops. Good luck to you and I hope it works out well.

My doc uses this same diet, with Water added in. coffee and caffeine is a big NO with my doctor.

Caffeine is a gastric irritant. While you are healing, you don't want anything irritating your GI system. Also part of the same reason I was told no soda or carbonated beverages for several weeks after surgery.

Maybe it is just a sore throat? Your symptoms sound like that could be it, especially with it hurting more in the am after sleep. Do you have your tonsils? Is your throat red? Running a fever at all? Any white patches in the back of your throat? Maybe your should go to your regular doc to be checked for strep.

Most insurance companies look at the BMI before the diet, or so my physician's office told me. My insurance does not require the 6 month diet though. My question is, do you have any co-morbidities to go along with your BMI? Most insurance companies require you to have co-morbidities (like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc) to go along with a BMI between 35-40 before they will cover the surgery. The best thing to do is to call Aetna or get on their website and look for the specific policy. I have Anthem BC/BS and found the policy on their website.

Thanks for the replies! I got a call yesterday for the physician's office. My surgery's going to be a little later than I had hoped for. My meeting with the surgeon is on June 10th. I'll start my liquid diet that day and I believe my surgery will be on June 23rd! I can't believe it's almost here! =) Lady Zique-I am nervous, too! I worry about something happening and leaving my son behind, as well. I know that I have to do this, though, to be healthy down the road for him. Band buddies would be great! How much weight loss do you hope for?

Hi, Tara. What is your BMI? Most insurance companies cover you without a co-morbidity if your BMI is over 40. Mine was just over 40 with no real co-morbidities and is being covered. When I started the program, my BMI was over 40 and is now under 40 with insurance still covering. At least with my insurance company, they go off your initial weight.

Thanks! I am in SouthEast Ohio and will be having surgery done in Parkersburg, WV. I considered OSU, but decided on something close to home because of all the pre-op things we've had to do. I hope eveything goes as well for me, too!

Hi everyone. I haven't actually done a formal introduction here, so I guess now would be a good time! I'm 32 and mom to a 7 year old son, 13 year old step-daughter, and 16 year old step-son. I am an RN, work full time at a University, and am also a full time graduate student. I am so excited to say that I found out yesterday that my insurance approved me for the band!!! :confused_smile: I am waiting on a call from the scheduler, but believe my surgery will be in the next 2-3 weeks. I have been waiting for this and now that it's here, I am so nervous. My husband is also having the band done and is about a month behind me in the process. It helps so much to have him as a support person, going through the same things as me. I have read alot on this board and learned so much from everyone's posts. Thanks to everyone and I hope I can contribute some post-op advice soon!

I am about 100 lbs overweight and will be starting my liquid pre-op diet soon. My understanding of the preop diet is that it is not about losing weight so much, as it is about shrinking your liver. Part of the liver lays over the stomach and must be lifted out of the way during surgery. The surgeon wants you on the liquid diet which is high in protein to shrink that liver, making surgery easier. Check with your doctor about it. I was told to drink low-carb slimfast or Atkins shakes which can both be bought at your grocery store. I was also given the option of drinking Optifast, but you must order it online. I am to drink a shake a breakfast and lunch, taking 1 hour to drink each one to help with feeling full and decrease hunger. I am allowed 1 lean protein at dinner (like baked chicken) and steamed veggies. Other than that, that's it!

Did you find the Dr of your own, or did Jeannie send you there? Mine was with Dr. Dunn. I didn't realize they were using more than one. Be glad you didn't have mine! It was 4 hours on the dot.

I think the insurance company goes off your weight from the start of the diet. The 6 month diet is to show that you can commit to a weight loss program, so weight loss is a good thing.

I'm having the same problem! Everything was submitted on 5/5 and is still pending in Nurse Review. I was told by the insurance company that it takes 15 business days!!!! I have Anthem BC/BS PPO.

I can tell you exactly what to expect, because I figure you're going to the same psychologist I did. =) First, he makes you answer roughly 400 questions. They are all about the same 5-10 questions asked 50 different ways. Then he talks with you about your past, what led you down this path, and what your goals are. My appointment was 4 hours on the dot. Check on your appointment time, though. My husband was told 9:30 by the office and when he got there it was actually for 8:30. The psychologist gave him a hard time and wasn't going to do the testing. Just make sure it really is 9:30 to save yourself that trouble. Good luck! It really isn't all that bad.

Your 6 months will go so quickly. I started this whole process at the beginning of the year and by the time I'm banded it will be almost 6 months. It just seems like yesterday that I started. Plus, it will give our surgeon time to get more experience. That's the one thing that worries me the most sometimes. With you following the diet that we're doing, your body will get healthier and be ready for surgery. I know that it really stinks right now thinking you have to wait, but you'll get there sooner than you think.

My appointment was 4 hrs and not one minute less! I had to answer something like 400 questions and then the psychologist sat back in his recliner and talked to me, wanting to know all about my history. When all was said and done, he didn't tell me anything I hadn't already self diagnosed. It was a very expensive morning ($750) to learn I'm borderline OCD -- aren't we all? At least my insurance covered most of it. If you were told 3 hours, it'll be 3 hours. Just look at it as another hoop to jump through and you'll be done before you know it.

I am sorry this happened to you and can only imagine your disappointment. On the bright side, your body will be ready for the surgery when you go back in 6 weeks and it will be much safer for you. I am not sure how often this happens. My physician puts his patients on a mostly liquid diet for 2 full weeks prior to surgery to shrink the liver. You get a Protein shake for Breakfast and lunch. Then you can have a small lean protien for dinner like a chicken breast and a small salad.

I'm not banded yet, but the nutritionist I'm working with in the banding program has me taking in 60g of Protein a day. This will be the same post-band, as well.

Good luck!!! I had my seminar on 3/15 with Dr. Kaplan in Parkersburg. Where are you having your surgery?