queenofall

Hey Jeanette, Did you survive the wedding??? And the return road trip from Jersey? I did one phone consult and one phone coaching session so far, and the nurse I am working with said we will do one more coaching this Friday and she will turn in the paperwork for final approval on my surgery. So Wed. the 20th is a go! I have started telling people in my life now that I know for sure. I have received an overwhelmingly positive response to my big news. I have been doing real well averaging my 10,000 steps per day, and I just got a Tai Chi video from the library to try. I am trying to figure out how to work on changing my body composition and increase muscle mass as the weight comes off, to help minimize loose skin. If anyone has some successful suggestions, please pass them on! Hope you all have a great week, and try to stay cool! Lisa

Hi JoannMarie, Welcome to the group! I'll look forward to meeting you at the Aug. support group. Excellent advice you gave Jeanette, you sound like a wise woman... Take care, Lisa

Keep close in your mind and heart your own October wedding, and how beautiful you want to be in your wedding dress that fits perfectly, and how you want to look at you wedding photos for many years to come and smile because you looked and felt the very best you ever had, with no regrets from choices made in New Jersey......... Stay strong girl, I know you can do it! "Don't exchange what we want the MOST, for what we want in the MOMENT"

Help! I know I saw somewhere a list compiled of tips for "pouch care and maintenance" after surgery...I have searched and searched this site and other internet sites, and I am going nuts trying to locate it. I remember it was a really helpful bit of information, and I am kicking myself for not printing it out when I stumbled across it months ago. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks, Lisa

New Orleans was so much fun! And the conference was good too. We went to Emeril's restaurant, plus several local non-touristy restaurants. We did a carriage tour through the French Quarter. We went to the Mardi Gras museum. Walked all over town...ahhh, good times!

Erika, The meeting was about exercise, and the program was presented by three people who are post surgery. They shared what has worked for them to incorporate exercise into their lifestyle, and how they stay motivated. They also brought resources and equipment that they use on a regular basis and did some demonstrations. They allowed group members to try out the items they bought. The most interesting thing for me was a thing called a tryke. It was a cross between cross country skiing and roller blading. I tried it in the parking lot, and it seems like a real fun and different way to get in a great workout. They also gave us an exercise band and a catalogue for ordering some of the equipment they brought, like the exercise ball and exercise tubes. We were done by 6:45 PM and most people were gone by shortly after 7 PM. If I missed anything, others who attended feel free to add to my description!

August 20th, woop-dee-do-and-wow-wee! I have to jump through an additional hoop because my insurance is through JC Penney. I have to do some phone coaching pre and post surgery. My 1st phone session is next Tues., so I'll know more then how big this new hoop is. Erika, we'll miss you tomorrow...I'll take some notes and give you an update.

:thumbup: I heard from Cigna today, and they gave me medical approval for my surgery! YIPPEE! I will find out Monday when my date will be. See you next week for the support group.

Jeanette, Thanks for the recap on last month's meeting. I wish I had been there, but will be there for sure this month. I just RSVP'd to the Oct. Wedding! Sounds like much fun, and it is the day before my own 2 year anniversary. I think I have my hubby convinced to attend with me. Update on my surgery progress: after several mishaps, my request for approval is finally in the hands of the right department at Cigna, and is currently being reviewed! I am just waiting on the decision letter to arrive in the mail.:embaressed_smile:

Anyone have any info to share from last week's support group? I was out of town, and would love to hear about what the topic was...thanks! Lisa

OK, We are staying at the Sheraton, it is the conference hotel. What should we be sure not to miss during the down time? Restaurant, nightlife, local flair off the beaten path....

Yes, I would love some tips from someone who lived there...all the good stuff that tourists don't know about! Thanks for offering.

I will be out of town all next week for a conference in New Orleans...so I have to miss the group. Please make a post to fill me in on what I miss! lisa

Hi all, Just an update on my progress...I met with Dr. H. He said I am a great candidate, yea! I also got the blue card from his office indicating they finally received a copy of my medical records. So now they can put together the request packet of info to send to the insurance company. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Woo-Hoo! Could be sometime this summer, got my fingers crossed....

Hi and Happy Friday! Just a quick update...I had my last of the six month doctor supervised visits yesterday. My doc gave me the six sheets she filled out and I hand delivered them to D. Hohen's office. In speaking with the assistant, I found out that Copies FYI (my PCP outsources copying) sent them a copy of a medical record but it was for a different person! Almost same name, except her last mane did not end in an "s", and the date of birth was completely different!!!! Needless to say, we were on the phone for about 20 minutes trying to straighten it all out, ending with me convincing the PCP's office to fax the record yesterday. I was most frustrated because here we are, getting ready to compile the packet and send it in, and to come up against such an obstacle after doing my six months, and knowing that the original request was 2-1-08....feel my pain! But Nola arrived and we chatted, and she got me scheduled for Dr. H's next appointment, and reassured me that this will not slow down the process in any way---WHEW. There are a few more details, but I need to rush off to work now. On a more exciting note, I am anxiously counting the hours until tonight when I get to see Sex and the City, The Movie, woo-hoo!!!!:thumbup:

Hi all you post op folks. Question: if you used insurance, how much did you need to pay up front, and would they allow the balance to be paid on a monthly payment plan? I have Cigna, 80/20 split, with a 2K deductible. Just trying to plan my budget, as I may end up owing about 6K when the dust settles. PS: Feeling VERY fat today...:frown:

:thumbs_up:Good morning! I was so happy to be able to have some real people to connect with this listserv after attending the support group last night. Do they ever have the group where there is no real topic and we can just sit around and talk? Or can we suggest that 20-30 minutes each month be set aside for that purpose? I think I benefited more last night from just chatting with others who are on this journey than from the "ice breaker"... Would anyone be interested in meeting 30 minutes prior to the support meeting to walk together? The weather is getting so nice, it is a good excuse to be outside, get some much needed exercise, and have deeper "intimacy" of conversation that sometimes is not possible with such a large group.

Thanks for filling me in, thin2bme. I am indeed planning to go Thursday night, it is in pen in my calendar! I hope to meet you, and any other posters or lurkers from this site. I have my second psych appt that day too, woo-hoo!

:frown:I completely forgot about the support group tonight! How was it, and what was the topic? I can't believe I missed it, that's what happens when I don't write it down....

I had my nutritionist meeting today as well as my first psych appt. Both went well, and the nutritionist said she saw no reason not to move forward, and the doc told me he was recommending me for surgery. Yippee! I do have to go back to the psych for a couple more pre-surgery visits to discuss progress with overall preparedness, and one post-op visit to check in. Have others had to do extra sessions? The nutritionist really put my mind at ease over the pre and post op diets. It is not even close to the nightmares that some others have had to go through, thank goodness.:sad_smile:

Thanks for sharing about your experience. Does it hurt inside where Dr. H. cut out the pad? Glad to hear you are finally on the mend!

Hey there evelas5000, hope all went fine today for you:thumbup: Looking forward to hearing from you this week as you feel better!

Best thoughts to you on your big day, Thin2bme! Looking forward to hearing about it in the next few days:thumbup: Glad to hear the two liquid days were not too hard on you.

Thank you so much!

Would someone please post information on the local lap band support groups, dates, times, locations, and if they are open groups that welcome people who are pre-band and significant others...I am starting my third month of doctor supervised weight loss and preparing to schedule my other pre-surgery appointments. I am eager to get involved in a network of support. I like in downtown Kansas City, MO, and will be working with SMMC and Dr. Hohen (pending insurance approval!)