jtorie

Yeah my doctors have all known, I am in the process of being tested for PCOS or another hormone problem, so far all blood work looks good. They were more worried about me if I didn't have one on or before the 6th month. Sounds embarassing!!! I think I would die.... I won't reschedule, but for the sake of embarassment. Please please make it stop at least for the 3 hours during and after the surgery. thanks, glad to hear I am not the only one!!! Cheers!

I am sorry your insurance is not being very helpful! I've been told by many medical reps that my insurance is great! I think after hearing the stories on here I'd have to agree. My out of pocket expense is 10% up to a maximum of $1000. I have already met and surpased that, so other than the pre surgery testing. I will have minimal fees for the surgery. I was getting prescriptions at our local pharmacy and about 4 other people from my lap band info class were there, and had the same scripts. my co pay was the cheapest by far at $24.00. Everyone elses were about $60 - $200. Even the pharmacist said something. I don't take that for granted in the least, money is tight! I don't know much about insurance, but is there anyway to appeal that?

After two years of daily research, I chose Lap Band. My original intentions for contacting the Surgeon I did was because he had been doing Bariatric surgery for over 20 years. I called and asked about Gastric Bypass, the answer I got was quote: "Dr. Fox is not currently performing Gastric Bypass, because he has seen a greater success rate with Lap Band and has decided to focus his entire attention on Lap band patients." I was further offered a free educational seminar from the surgeon. I attended and I left a believer that was October of 2007. I took the next two full months extensively researching lapband and scheduled a consultation in January. Once I sat down with the surgeon one on one. I knew this was the right thing to do. With all of the testing, dealing with nurses, schedulars, appts., precious time off work and every other person giving me their two cents about how this surgery will not work for someone my size. I feel that this will create the best result. 1: No cutting of internal organs, completely done laporascopically. 2. much shorter recovery time, so I can get back to work. 3. and with the new Allergen AP band, the results have come back more successful than Gastric bypass. Please research research and know exactly what you are getting into. It has not been an easy journey, and it will not be easy... but no matter which one you choose YOU CAN DO IT! I have lost 14 lbs 6 days into the pre op diet. I can only imagine the results post surgery! Hiya! Julie:thumbup:

Thanks for the relief comedy! 1 margarita, 2 margarita... LIGHTS OUT!

my doc suggested I lose 30lbs. I gained since he said that (also had a lot of stress and dealing with family medical issues, and last supper syndrome) and since the liquid diet have lost down to where I originally weighed in at the consult 2 months ago. I have my pre op tomorrow and am nervous that he will be dissapointed. Hopefully he is not as strict as some Surgeons and will still do the surgery I am counting on it. Good Luck to ya!:drool:

Congrats and Good Luck!

I am taking two weeks off. I read on other threads that most people take 7 - 10 days off. some wish they had taken more and some went back to work within 2 or 3 days. It depends on you, what kind of job you have ie Labor or sit down and how many hours your there. I have a sit down job with long workdays 10 - 12 hours/daily, and prefer not to be miserable while there, I am on the phones most of the time dealing with customers.

I think I am going to hard boil some eggs and when I really need the solid food have just the egg white. great protein and fairly satisfying!

I did great all day long with the pre op diet, until I got off work at 10pm, and I was starving for solid food. ::cringes:: I ate a double quarter pounder with cheese - not something I normally do even prior to dieting. I just couldn't help myself and now I feel like shit. My friends and co workers are being great about helping me out and sticking to my liquid diet, but then on my way home is when I can't control it. I just don't know why I do it. Glad I found this site and I am not alone. I will do better tomorrow, I just have to...there is no other way around it.

I am taking two weeks off unpaid, I figure a week of healing/and or spending time with my mom who is having a major surgery also (different type - brain related) and 1 week to get used to the band. I have a sitting job, where I sit for 10 - 11 hours daily, I think that will be too much sitting. I hear most people just feel sore like they did a whole bunch of situps or crunches after the 2nd or 3rd day. I am not taking any chances. I will enjoy my vacation from work.

I have pretty much told everyone, all my co-workers, most of my family (the ones I talk to) and my friends. All my co-workers are wonderfully supportive and of great assistance. A few of my friends have made threats like "if you get smaller than me then we can't be friends" or "I can be friends with you because my boyfriend will be into you instead of me, you'll be all cute and blonde and his type" (do I get any say in that, argh I don't want your boyfriend -- I can get my own and I don't have to be skinny, thanks) Besides that you (meaning my friends) should all love me for my personality not my appearance. Now my family on the other hand especially my dads side who in general have all been overweight and ironically take any sort of herbs to lose the weight Ie Enrich(Powertrim), now its healthy chocolates. My grandfathers the worst, I was telling my grandparents about my choice in having the surgery (they) are rather healthy and in their 80s and he basically told me the only way I was going to be able to lose weight was to tell my self that I don't need food and to exercise. (Okay granpops, you starve yourself and tell me how it works out for you) Most of my family is supportive, some are concerned and many don't understand and never will. But I am not doing it for them, for attention, for a boyfriend, to lose friends or anything else along those lines. I am doing it for me, to be healthy and to someday have a healthy pregnancy or pregnancies. Also I want to be more involved in sports, my neices and nephews lives and be the outgoing person I used to be. Thats all I want.

EAS is a great brand, I just bought some shakes at Walmart, but the powder can be found at Costco or Target. Super High Protein, low carb. some of things I am drinking right now, are 100% natural juices ie: apple, grapefruit, cranberry, grape, orange. Diet Swiss Miss hot chocolate (with water), yogurt, apple sauce (I know its more of a puree but it helps with the hunger) Low Sodium Bouillion, minute made canned juice in light flavors (very nummy, no sugar) Breyers real fruit ice pops (my favorite is the lime). crystal light, no sugar Kool-aid, Sugar Free Jello, unsweetened tea (very small amount) Anything with high fructose corn syrup goes back on the store shelves. Good Luck on the Liquid diet, my first day was today and already cheated. Argh!

hamburger, pizza, french fries, diet coke. 1st day pre op liquid diet. Oh man. I feel the stress, and recently realized I am a stress eater. My mom is having brain surgery the day before my lap band. Very nervous about it all. This was not planned in anyway. Somehow it just happened. My mom is very supportive, and said we could have neighboring hospital beds to complain about our pains. Mine of course being minor in comparison.

I also am having that nagging feeling that just maybe if I try it one more time I can do it with diet and excersize. A friend of mine who has already had the surgery keeps telling me to not freak out and that I will be doing "it" the natural way but with some help. She has also told me even with the minor issues she has had with her surgery, she would do it over and over again. :takes deep breath: I will not chicken out... I agree that it will be nice to be able to talk with other people who are having the surgery on the same day, because we will be going through alot of the same things around the same times... LOL I am on the pre-op liquid diet right now, 1st day and I already cheated... I was doing fine until I got off work and had to run errands, I got so hungry liquid was not working, I thought I was going to pass out so I bought a burger with some protein. argh! I wish I would have been more prepared. I will do better tomorrow.

I was told the same thing will be banded March 18. Glad I waited two years to do this so I could take advantage of a more effective band. My surgeon also stated that this new band has shown better results than GB. We'll see.

I also have the surgery scheduled for March 18, 2008.

Was approved with UHC on 3/3 surgery date set for March 18, 2008. Honestly I had no problem with the approval, and I only had two weight marks for 2002 and then 2006. Its the surgeon requirements that were the probelem. While I have been severly overweight my entire life, the approval process took about 10 days which I was told takes 6 weeks. They also told me their requirements will be the same as my surgeons. Honestly I have been through Hell to get everything completed IE: testing, psych, dealing with Insur., trying to get time off from work, work cancelled insur., rush the surgery date. BUT IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT. By the way, I am 23.

I will be having my surgery with Dr. E. Fox on 3/18/08 in Tri-Cities area. So far everything has been amazing including his office staff!

This was an important issue for me also, I too have a very High BMI 59. I expressed my concern with my surgeon when I had my first visit. and he said basically that the information was true, that weightloss is slower and not recommended for Higher BMI's. However a new band was introduced in 2007 that has proven to have just as good of Weightloss result if not better than GB. My cousins best friend had a BMI of 62, had Lapband placed less than a year ago (with the old band) and now has a BMI in the normal range she now weighs 128lbs. She is healthy and looks great. My point is it can be done...and for me I will do it...

My surgeon said that it is extremely common for him to get a call within 6 - 8 months from women who've tried to conceive and fail prior to WLS, who learn they are pregnant. He also said that as long as the woman takes care of herself, it is safe after a minimum of 6 months. Different surgeons and Docs will obviously have a different opinion on that! Thats was one of my major reasons for having the surgery, and I also have PCOS. Good Luck!

I was approved on 3/3/08 and will be banded on 3/18/08.. So Congratulations to everyone else!