KayleighsMommy

Me to!!!! GOOD LUCK julie

Tomorrow is my surgery. I am excited, but scared. My surgeon only requires a 3 day liquid diet pre-op. But I have to tell you... I am hungry. Even commercials on TV for things I don't like are starting to look appetizing to me. :tt1: I have been doing a lot of soul searching these last couple of days, and although I always knew I had a unhealthy relationship with food, I guess I never really realized to what extent. I LOVE food. I love to eat, hungry or not. I have always thought about food... a lot. If I am not eating, I am planning my next meal. Invitations to parties or trips out with my friends are all about the food. At night, before I went to bed, I would think about what/where I was going to eat lunch the next day!! I am very commited to getting this band, and making it work. I know this is the right thing to do for me. I just know it is going to be an uphill battle. I feel I will be fighting my own mind every day. Is this a "normal" way to feel the day before surgery?? Has anyone else felt this way???

I am doing my own injections, and I make sure not to rub it. I am going in Wed (the day before surgery) for a STAT PT/INR. It just seems weird to me since I never had this problem with pure heparin injections. Thanks, julie

To anyone who has had to take lovenox pre op, how much did you have to take?? I am at 150mg 2x/day. Looking online this is the largest dose they reccommend. also read that dose should be used for someone 150kg... which I am... I am about 340 pounds. My concern is that I am bleeding for hours after an injection (not pouring blood...just seeping) I was on heparin 16,000 units every 8 hours for 10 months and never bled like this. Any input would be appreciated.

James, I agree with you. I feel the 6 onth diet is ludicrous. My theory (shared by lots of others, believe me) is that if they throw up enough roadblocks you will just go away and pay for it yourself. I have BC/BS of IL, and they are HORRID!!!! I am actually doing self pay this week... though I am a in bit of a different situation. I need to have a hernia repaired (it can't wait 6 months) and I really don't want 2 surgeries.... especially since after I made the commitment to pay they said they wanted a 24 month diet. :tongue: It's not like I have a low BMI (I am 300+ pounds), and have quite a few comorbities. As for the BMI issue... my understanding (through my ins, at least) that the BMI used for approval purposes is the oone you have pre diet...so even if you drop down you're OK. Possible other companies do it differently. Best of luck to you.

Yeahhhhhh...lots!!!! :ohmy:

Yayyyyy.. good for you. julie

You're OK. I am scheduled for Thursday, also, and I don't even start my liquid diet til tomorrow!!! My surgeon told me there is no hard and fast reason for doing pre surgery diets...thats why there are so many people doing such different pre ops. He feels the pre diet: (1) gets you in the right mindset for post surgery diet (2) keeps you form having yor last "huge meal" the night before surgery and (3) shrinks your liver down so it is easier to work on you. So.... never fear...you will have your surgery :smile:))) :ohmy: julie

You are welcome :redface:

I found this website on another board: https://www.chikenutrition.com They have half portion samples they will send, but they are $6 or so for S&H. But...if you ask your doctor to call they will send them a LOT of free samples, no charge. I asked my surgeons office to order it for me, and they sent 100 packages of powder. It comes in 5 flavors... chocolate, vanilla, orange, banana, and strawberry. I have not tried it yet (I am waiting til post surgery) The surgeon said it does not have enough Protein to use as a "protein drink" but it will maks a great Meal Replacement post op. So... if you are looking for something...I woud recommend trying it :redface:

I just picked up my shots today :smile: I have to do 5 days pre and post op... so..... 20 injections cost $843 :redface: Thankfully I only had to pay $40 copay :smile: Have you had a blood clot before??? I had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung) 5 years ago when 8 wks pg with my daughter. If you have not had a clot, and don't have any sort of clotting problem, I don't see the need for them (keeping in mind, I am not a medical professional)

Wow.... I am sorry to hear about your experience. I am also having a lapband plus a hernia repair (hiatal if I have one...if not, I'll have a umbillical one repaired) The doctor DID tell me the hernia repair is much more painfull than the lapband (Oh yay :rolleyes2: julie

I am scheduled for my surgery in a week yayyyyy :success1: I am scheduled for a henia repair and lapband. I have a incarcerated umbillical hernia. I saw the surgeon yesterday for my pre-op, and he told me he wants me to have a upper GI before the surgery, in case I have a hiatal hernia. He said if I have one, he will fix it (evidently it must be fixed first, before the lap band) and do the lapband. He said he will save the other hernia for later. I am not all that thrilled with this, since the umbilical hernia is causing me pain. I really don't want to press the issue, though, since I am going self pay with the lapband. I am paying a bit less for it because of insurance paying for the hernia surgery. I tried to pin the doctor down to which surgery he will do first. I told him I really want the lap band to be done. He would not commit to which procedure he will do first I have had 2 previous hernia surgeries, and he pretty much told me he is expecting this to be a difficult procedure, due to scar tissue and implanted mesh. I am soooo worried I will wake up to find out the band was not placed :thumbup: This would be heartbreaking to me...especially since this whole hernia surgery thing started when I went in for a lapband consult <sigh> I go for my GI Monday morning....I guess I can just hope there is no hiatal hernia...this will (hopefully) make things somewhat easier. :biggrin:

NYNM, I hope you don't mind..I sent a friendship request to you. We are both the same age, and I would love to be support to you (and anyone else) julie

I'm sorta blocking it out...I have a lot of worries about the surgery..I am having a umbillical hernia repaired at the same time (assuming, that is, that I don't have a hiatal hernia... I am going Monday for a upper GI) I am so concerned he will get in there and gets so tied up fixing other things, he won't have time for the lapband. I only have to do a 3 day clear liquid diet (yayyyyyy) that will be hard enough... the doctor gave me an Rx for valium...he said it was for my dh while I am on liquid diet. julie

We can all use friends, right?? I promise to try to always be ther for you (hey...what more can ya ask for??) :biggrin: julie

I'm sorry you are going through "insurance Hell" been there, done that. My best advice would be to go see a surgeon (BC/BS should pay for that, at least :smile2: and let them send in the preauthorization request. I am glad BC/BS of IL is not the only insurance who hires reps who don't know their butts from a hole in the ground (just a little bit bitter here) It's crazy you can call 5 times in a row, and get 5 different interpratations of your policy. I actually am having a hernia repaired, the $5500 is my portion of the lapband I am going to have done at the same time. I guess I consider myself "fortunate" to have this hernia...otherwise the self pay would be 9K. There are a couple of surgeons here in CO who do it for that (mine being one of them) My dh would NEVER go for paying 9 grand, but understands I need surgery for the hernia anyway, and that I don't want to go through general anesthesia/multiple surgeries if I don't have to. Please keep me apprised of how things are going with you. julie

Well said Diz

Melissa, Thanks for starting this thread (and pointing me in the right direction towards it) it is just great. Can't wait to share my sucess story

Oh man, I am soooo sorry. That really sucks.

Amen To That.....

The insurance company... can ya believe it??? It went from "oh, yes, she is completely covered..no prerequisites or co pays" to... "we need 5 years medical documentation, as well as the sleep apnea study" (done), to " she needs 24 months documented diet" The insurance girl in the doctors office absolutley cannot believe this bull.

They already got my 5 years of medical records (I have been overweight for 40 of my 46 years) It has to be a documented diet...Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, whatever...but it has to be fully documented. I do not have this.

Just got a call from my surgeons office. I am still reeling from the shock!!! They want 24 months medically supervised diet WTH????? It's not like I need to lose 50 pounds. I am over 300 pounds, have high blood pressure, mild sleep apnea, diabetes, high colesterol, arthritis in my knees (almost crippling), chronic pain, a clotting problem and am on my third abdominal hernia. I still can not believe this. I expected a denial because of the 6 month diet thing.... but 24 months???? Are they freaking kidding me???? I am scheduled for surgery next Thursday... I am having my hernia repaired, we are going to self pay for the lapband ($5500.00). What the hell do I have insurance for anyway??????? Un-believe-able

The girl at my surgeons office told me she would put in my request for authorization on a Friday, and call them on Mon or Tuesday. I didn't want to bug her... so I waited a week and a half to call. She hadn't even sent my paperwork in yet!!! She told me she is so busy, she needs me to call constantly!!! Who knew?? So...now I am still waiting for an answer (and my surgery is in 9 days!!!!)