*slim*

I am so happy for both of you. I hope you both have a quick recovery.

It seems to differ with every doctor. My doctor doesn't like caffiene but allows one cup of coffee or tea per day. He said that it is also a stomach irritant (who knew?). I was also told no soda but only for 1 year.

My session was basically the social worker asking about my mental history. He was looking for anything like bulimia, anorexia (yeah right), and addictions. He was also making sure that I had a realistic view of what this surgery means as far as the work you have to put in and not thinking that just having this surgery is going to make you skinny like a magic pill or something. It was painless.

I have had more than one and never had to undress at all. They just went under my shirt and under my pants leg. It was nothing like I was expecting at all. Very painless procedure. :thumbdown:

Way to go! You are now an official member of Bandland! You go girl! I hope you bounce back quickly. Don't forget to walk off that gas.

My surgeon's office requires payment 7 days prior to surgery, although I was so excited that I paid the day I got insurance approval. My hospital charges are covered 100% since I have met my deductible this year. Of course, each place is going to be different, but it seems to be sort of a common practice for them to want payment up front.

My doctor requires the Glucerna Diabetic shakes. I have to drink 6 a day for two weeks. They taste ok, but after 2 weeks, i will probably hate them.

hi all october bannders my date is for Oct. 1st,,,,not yet gotten approval but my coordinator at the surgeon's office is pretty sure.......anyone else starting next month?

let me know

thanks

linda

I am October 2nd. I start my pre-op liquid diet next week. Yuck!

Are they paying for your lapband surgery?? If they pay for the surgery they should pay for fills. Of course there are no guarantees from a company that can call a sleep study cosmetic!!!!!

They are paying for the surgery. I got concerned when I asked about fills, they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I know that I need good restriction for this to help and don't want to get into one of those situations where they say just having the surgery is enough. When I worded it as adjustments to the band, the response was the letter of necessity before it could be done. I know this company is weird about things, but that just sounded completely off the wall.

Has anyone had fills covered through BCBSIL? If you did, how were they handled? I tried to ask them about it, but I am not sure the person I talked to understood what I was asking.:redface: They said something about another letter of medical necessity.:frown: That just didn't sound right. Any responses will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

well the problem for me getting financed is that my husband and i both dont have any credit and the credit that we do have is just not the best.....soooooo i was hoping that cigna would cover the procedure once the new hire 90 day probation is over.

Have you tried CareCredit? I don't have the best credit, but they approved me. I just went to their website (carecrdit.com) and filled out the application. They also give a list of doctors that take it. Another thing you might look into is some of the lap band companies offer their own financing. I wish you the best of luck either way!

Actually, if you eat something you shouldn't have with ALLI you really should be afraid to pass gas.:redface: I know for a fact that the fat that is not absorbed will come out with gas just as it will with a bowel movement. Not trying to be gross but you should always carry extra clothing (underwear and pants) for such occassions. To me, if you can get the Portion Control and eat healthy enough to not have the oily stool problem, then you should be able to do the eating without spending the money on Alli IMHO.

With everyone talking about PCOS I am wondering if I have it. I also have pain in my lower sides and I am losing very slow, a lot slower than others who had the surgery the same day as me. I also have a lot of mood swings. How do you know if you have it? Do they do an ultrasound?

I had an ultrasound and had my hormone levels checked. Some other symptoms include extra facial hair, pain during sex, either extra heavy periods or sometimes complete stopping of periods. I could go on, but those are the main ones that I have heard about. I hope this helps.

It is very possible Carley! I was never on BCP for PCOS; my endocrinologist treats PCOS with Glucophage. But I stopped taking the Glucophage during my liqid pre-op because I was not eating enough to take it. After surgery I couldn't swallow the pills, they were extended release so I couldn't break them up, so I decided to wait a few weeks for my already scheduled 6-month visit with my endo to see what else I could take. My cycle started about a week and a half post-op even after not taking my medication for a month and so far I am having 28-day cycles w/o meds. I go back to the Endo in November for bloodwork just to make sure but he thinks that my PCOS is already in remission!

That is so awesome! I really hope that happens to me! There is no telling how long I have actually had it. My PCP was treating the insulin resistance, but she doesn't do any of my GYN work so she was trying to figure out why I was having insulin issues. I haven't told her about the PCOS yet.

I am trying to drink a lot of Water and keep up with the shakes but I'm finding it to be really difficult. I'm not a big fan of sweets so drinking sweet stuff all day every day just grosses me out. I have re-committed myself though so I'm not going to allow myself to cheat anymore.

You really want to stick to your diet. As RestlessMonkey can tell you, you don't want to get into surgery only to find out that you have a fatty liver and they close you without banding you. That was the main thing my surgeon said. If I come in there weighing more than I did on my last visit, they will reschedule my surgery. You have come too far to mess up now. Jump back into your diet with a vengence.

Hang in there, I cheated too. I just picked up where I left off and drove on. Its tough and very challenging. I found that drinking Water and staying full on the shakes helps. I band on Monday Sep 8th and I am really having difficulty with the diet. But I think everyone suffers on it> Good Luck:)

Happy surgery day!

When I had my sleep study, the doctor came in that morning and looked at my results before I left. I was scheduled to come back the following week for the 2nd sleep study with the CPAP. My doctor allowed me to bring my own sleeping pills and anything else that I normally had to have to sleep.:thumbup: I was also allowed to fall asleep with the TV on. I told them that is how I sleep.:blushing: I have to admit that crud that they put in your hair is awful!:biggrin: I had to get the Water hotter than I EVER use to shower along with about half of the bottle of Shampoo to get that stuff out. I wasn't warned about that stuff on the first sleep study and had to go to work the next day. Thankfully they woke me up and 5:30a.m., and I was able to go home and wash and wash and wash....:cry_smile:

The dr. puts in your weight to the insurance now for approval, do they have to report it again? That is what Im worried about. I am about 37 BMI and my insurance says I have to be above 35 with medical conditions. I have been worried if I lose some during the pre op diet that they will then decline me.

According to my surgeon's office, the weight that they submit to insurance is the weight that they use for consideration. After that, any weight loss is just gravy.

As the previous poster stated, cancer, other GI problems, and polyps--some kinds of polyps can precede cancer, a colonoscopy can find those and be a part of getting polyps removed before they become cancerous.

As the previous poster said, the worst part of the procedure, and it really isn't that bad compared to colon cancer, is the preparation, the gallon or so of TriLyte.

The other thing to know about colonoscopies is that they're often done using Versed or other drugs that induce "conscious sedation". These drugs leave many (most?) patients having amnesia about the procedure itself, and this gives some patients concern. It doesn't concern me, but it does concern me if people aren't notified that this is a likely side-effect of the anesthesia they're given.

Three of my four grandparents ended up having colon cancer at one point or another, compared to that, any procedure would be easy. (And this one really isn't bad.)

Best of luck! :thumbup:

--j

I was lucky when I had my procedure. I didn't have to drink the gallon of icky stuff. Instead, I had a total of 28 laxative pills that I took over the course of 2 days with a clear liquid diet. The pills didn't irritate my stomach or anything. I think if you ask for the pill prep instead, they will give you that option.

I know you are stressed - but remember this is just the beginning of something great! Kind of like brides before they get married! LOL!

I know that you can do this. I was like the way you are feeling now about two weeks ago. Just think four weeks from now and it will all be over. The anticipation, the nerves, the jitters. You CAN do this! Just think about how great your life will be after the band. You are the only one that can make this work and we all have faith in each other. When you are down let us know so we can kick you ack into shape!

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

Thanks I needed a kick in the pants.:thumbup:

OMG! I am so glad that you are ok. That had to be awful. I know it is very funny now, but I also know you had to be scared during. I hope everything works out ok for you.

I told my mama that I was having surgery!

After I left my pre-op 2 days ago I called my mom and told her.

My soul just wasn't comfortable with the idea that I would be having surgery in a couple of days and not tell her.

How did she respond?

Like it was XMAS!

I will do my first week of recovery at her house. She has spent the whole weekend getting things prepared for me so that I will be comfortable.

After I talked some more about the procedure she even said that it sound likes something that my overweight teenage niece could benefit from.

Moral of the story? Never underestimate your ride or die chic!

Holla!

My mom is that way. She spoils me rotten:blush:, BUT she is not with me on this surgery. Since I told her about it, she has been in full sabatoge(sp?) mode. She has cooked everyday. She has been baking (she hates cakes and pies) and then sending it all to my house. I told her to stop. What did she do, she cooked a full Thanksgiving day meal on Thursday.:confused: I told her that I didn't want it. She showed up on my door step with the food and a full freaking peach cobbler!:thumbup: She just keeps telling me that she doesn't think I should have this surgery. I have tried to explain that this is not like bypass surgery. I have also tried to tell her about all of my health issues (the same ones she has) but to no avail. She is willing to take me to the hospital if my DH can't get off work, but she does not want me to do this. I had to finally tell her that I am ready for this change and though I love her, I can't NOT do this just because of her. I have to the adult that she taught me to be.

good luck on your approvals. I started calling everyday from the time that my paperwork was sent off. I mean everyday sometimes twice a day ! It took 2.5 weeks for approval. It would have been less but they lost some of my info. It will happen for you!

That's what I did! I called the afternoon the insurance person at my surgeon's office said she faxed it. I called and emailed every day. It took 6 days! I am now just waiting for surgery to come. Good luck on your approvals! Aprilapple, good luck on your surgery Tuesday!:thumbup:

You have a great rate. I see your surgery date is coming up Tuesday. Good luck to you!

He's called several times since he left town but I've not taken the calls. He basically says "he'd never do anything like that" on the message machine, why would he go to counseling, etc.. But the more I think about it, it makes me think this is the reason he hasn't wanted sex. I am crushed, really crushed because I don't know how I can go back to where I was before I found the pills in his suitcase.

You will never be able to go back. You will only be able to move forward. Whether that is with him or without him, only you will be able to decide. I say take this time that he is gone to re-evaluate your relationship with him. That will give you some idea about whether or not you are willing to stay and work on this, or let it go.

I wish you the best. I pray for your strength to do whatever will make YOU happy.