bobbiezhere

Hahaha..ive had the "last supper" feeling for a year now - in prep for this process! (big grin)....

the special K drinks have alot of sugar. My nutritionlist said for my protein shakes the sugar has to be less that 5 grams, and the fat less that 5 grams. The special K has like 32 or 35 grams of sugar

Add me to the list of nervous girls! Im scheduled for 7/7 and ive been waiting so long for this and im so excited but so nervous too. Im gonna be looking at all the suggestiions here for diet...foods....vitamins...protein drinks etc. I think thats making me most nervous..the "what do i eat/drink" part..even tho i have a list they gave me, lol. Having to "think" about it all is stressful! Good look to everyone here scheduled!!!!

So many approvals are awesome! I have a 7/7 surgery date and can hardly wait! I dont have any pre op work until 7/2 - so im guessing i dont have to do any special before hand diet???

That is awesome! I wasnt sure when your surgery was scheduled! Maybe we can keep in contact through the process and compare notes! There is a July Bandster group forming...so we're there!

Hi Angelina! Very cool that your considering that! The doctors are in Duarte...I'm truly very excited - thanks for your note! :biggrin:

Im now a july bandster too! Scheduled for 7/7! Hmm....let me think here.....

You know, its been over a year since i found this site and asked a couple of questions. I was so upset to find i had to do 6 months of nutrition classes after finally making up my mind that this was the thing for me....Ive dieted my entire life and to have to wait even longer was agonizing...but i approached this as i did the adoptions of my daughters..one item at a time..to completion and kept at it until it was done. Well, all my tests have been done, insurance approved and finally i got my call today that surgery is scheduled for 7/7. Omg i am soooo thrilled, excited, nervous, ready! I'm sure the month will fly, as I have several events ahead of me...and as excited as i am....i will admit to being nervous about handling the first 1-4 weeks of liquids...semi liquids..etc. I am in Los Angeles County and would love to find the support of those close by....my surgery will be at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Any one who might be having surgery at the same time - would love to support and get support through this together....of course having support of those that have already gone through this would be excellent and appreciated as well! This forum is so huge it can be overwhelming...but yet i know all the answers are here too. Please, any help or suggestion are very much welcome....through all my excitement i'm a little afraid too. So much of life is social...im desperate to lose weight..yet i food is pretty good too lol. Anyway...hoping to make new friends here. I can use all the help i can get! Speaking of that..how do i get the little ticker thing into my profile? lol. Thanks all! Bobbie

I am right there with you!!!! I found out today that my surgery is scheduled for 7/7! I've already done the chest xray, upper gi, etc. All i will need to do is pre-op stuff which is scheduled for 7/2. Not sure what that entails - but i am sooooo excited and ready for this next step!

Yes, it sounds like with your symptoms you should qualify! Mine denied me at first, but only because i had to go through other steps (nutrition classes ) FIRST....before they would approve the lapband...just cuz they say "no" - doesnt mean its over---ask questions, get your doctor involved too! Good luck!

Good luck!!!!!!

I joined about a year ago..not realizing how long this process would actually take - but i am FINALLY done with all those things I had to do!!!! I hope to be called tomorrow by the surgery coordinator --- I'm thinking i will be banded in June!!!! You have no idea how excited I am. I couldnt read posts before because i was so frustrated that this took so long! Ok...so I'm so very ready to be banded....I hope there are others that will be banded in June that i can start this journey with...this site has also changed alot in a year, I hope to be more versed in it. Is there others here going through Arcadia Methodist? I need to study what to have the first 1-4 weeks! This makes me nervous! Any encouragement, suggestions, help would be great. Others feedback would be immensly helpful i'm sure!

sorry--guess i should have posted this in the pre-op category

Question....if you have had to do a 6 month nutrition program....and have lost weight in that process....you THEN have pre-op parameters which may also require weight loss? This is confusing to me i guess. In my nutrition, i've slowly lost 11 lbs. It seems strange to me that the doctor would also mandate another "diet" to lose prior to surgery. I mean, really...if I could really lose weight - i'd have done it long before now! What i've lost so far, has been difficult to do.

Yeah, i started thinking about what they mentioned..after care, support group, newsletters, etc..and for a "lifetime"...so ultimately i guess it makes sense....i just hadnt had a clue about this fee...thank you for the response..

Hi Stephany... I'm far from Knoxville...but like you..i'm in waiting...i actually started the 6 month nutrition program in June and went to the symposium today. Still need the psych evaulation then the tests from the doctors...of course, i still need approval too - but i'm told this should NOT be an issue. We'll see. Isnt it hard to wait when you've finally made the decision you feel is right for you?

I will be 2009 too - and either Huntington or Arcadia methodist hospital...I'd like to speed this process, but its not easy to do!

Seems like forever since i posted here. I finally started nutrition classes in June..so i'm just about done - long 6 months. Dropped about 11 lbs. - more than i thought i would lol. Today i attended a symposium. My nutritionist said i have to conclude the full 6 month nutrition class prior to getting the psych evaulation - does that sound right? My nutritionist said that my insurance WILL cover this procedure...I hope so...i just hadnt expected the $1250 fee i had to pay for after care. So...as i get closer i'm more excited and i know this is what i need to do. I'm just nervous about what i'll actually be able to have to eat the first few weeks...I plan to scour this site a few weeks prior to the surgery to prepare. Silly question....but....average weight loss - in say the first month after banding....what have some of your results been?

Well, I went to a symposium today to find out about the lap band procedure (tho i really didnt learn anything new as i had investigated it already). What i WAS surprised by was the program fee they charged...apparently from reading some of the posts here, this is a normal process? This group charges $1250. To be honest, i was dismayed at this - im struggling financially as it is - to take on another bill is too much..yet...i want this procedure so much that somehow i do have to come up with the money. They did have Care credit brochures, so maybe thats an answer. So...am i to believe then - that this is pretty normal - this charge - for follow up care and such?

Ok..been waiting for approval after talking to my pcp right? I call and finally the woman says "you were approved! You will get a referral letter in the mail". I'm on cloud 9! I get the paper...uh...its not an approval for the lap band procedure..its for the nutrition program- it just says a session - weight management program. Hmm..doesnt sound like approval for procedure to me..buti figure..ok..maybe i'll get another letter. I call the dr. office - they tell me "oh...your procedure was denied". I was like "what? denied? are you kidding me?". Well, the other girl in the office told me that this is a journey..and that i do need to go to the nutrition doctor anyway - to do that step, then the nutritionalist will send a report and then they will resubmit for my procedure. Well, ok i can understand that...but...hearing "denied" made me very upset! Oh, and when i called insurance - THEY told me "your doctor submitted for Bariatrics surgery--gastric bypass. they need to resubmit for lapband". So..isnt bariatrics surgery EITHER OR? Meaning one of the two procedures? Sigh....so i went from extreme happiness and highs to upset and lows. But i made the nutrition appt...and after i will keep calling and askign them to resubmit. One more questions tho...i have high blood pressure and diabetes...so i'm a good cAndidate..but i also think i have sleep apnea. Should i mention this to my doctor - will having that diagnosed as well push me over the top into the approval field? Thanks all!

Oh Wow! Everyone has been talking about some mandatory 6 month diet - and i dont understand...i've dieted all my life...and t hey want 6 more months worth? My doctors office KNOWS i've tired for years to lose and have not been successful - I'm so hoping i get approved and they waive that. Good luck to you - i'm excited FOR you! I am so ready for this procedure...I hope it goes great for you! Take care...

Good luck to you! I am still waiting for approval, hope to hear this week! I cant believe they made you go all the way to Cedar Sinai...i am hoping for a local hospital with my approval! Did they make you do the 6-month diet??? Bobbie

I noticed your in gardena..nice to see another calif girl here! And you've done soooo well! I'm still waiting for approval....sigh....hopefully i'll hear soon.... Your right..I have always been pretty shy too..yet, writing/texting is def an option!

omg..i go hanging on a pole upside down and i'll hurt myself! hahahaha! and people might be wondering about that wad of dollar bills in my purse... lololol..:thumbup: Bobbie

these are great, i am chuckling as i read some of the comments......i know that weight can make you very self conscious and you hold back...and the right person brings that side of you out in spite of weight....i will say, i dont have my surgery scheduled yet, waiting to see if i get approval/insurance...but you can bet, when my weight starts going...that will definately release the inhibition and then watch out, lol. I do love sexy, risque lingerie..and definately "naughty" talk during the day via text messages gets them thinkin...start with that...it wont take long when they get home and they'll KNOW you're in the mood and ready for some fun!