*slim*

It is definitely a personal choice to tell or not. I told my boss (who is very supportive) and one good friend. They have been very supportive of my decision and asking good questions. My husband on the other hand, has not been the best about this. We were separated when I finally decided to do this for me:tongue2:. Now that he is trying to be back in my life, I explained about it. His concern seems to only be excess skin. I told him that I am doing this for my health (being smaller is just a bonus:wink_smile:). I also told him to roll with me or move out of the way.:thumbup: It is no one else's business. I have some people at work that live to spread gossip so THEY shall not be on my list of people to tell, that is for sure.

Ok, I am on pins and needles. My insurance coordinator called and said that she has faxed everything to BCBSIL. I can crossing my fingers, toes, eyes...everything. I am praying for an approval. :thumbup:

Thanks so much for the reply. I was looking over my coverage and if I do stay overnight, it is covered 100%, so it might actually be worth it to get some rest that first night. Who knows. Anyway, thanks again for the answer.

Congrats on your surgery, too. Thanks for the answer about this. I was hoping I could still be outpatient. The thought of spending the night in the hospital did not appeal to me at all.

Thanks for the ideas. I have to admit that pizza and cheeseburgers sound a little gross.:biggrin: Ok, a LOT gross. :thumbup:

I was reading on another forum that if you are going to eat grits, they have to be runny. They also said something about even putting them in the blender before eating. Hope that helps.

Hello Ladies... My name is Val I was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN (on the TN/GA border) I've been married 7 years (not all happy):thumbup: I have an 11 year old son:thumbup: I have been struggling with my weight since I added the freshman 15 in college:cursing: I am so happy that I found this forum. I didn't realize that there was so much support out there at all, much less anything with sistas. I have only told my husband and son about the surgery. I am just waiting on insurance.:wink2: Congrats to all of you for deciding to take care of you!:thumbup:

What's up! I am in Chattanooga TN. cheese grits with bacon are off the chain, and sorry but chitterlings with some candied yams and hot sauce has got it going on too!:thumbup: I am not banded yet. Hopefully my paperwork was sent in today. Good luck to us all!:wink2:

Congrats on your approval. :thumbup: Just in case I have to handle my own appeal if I am denied, what exactly did you send to the insurance company? Also, are you required to use the same surgeon that you started with if you send in your own paperwork?:wink2: Thanks for any info that you can share.

First off, congrats on your surgery.:wink2: I have BCBSIL and was wondering, did they make you stay overnight? My paperwork is supposedly being sent in today, but the information that BCBSIL sent to me said something about the surgery taking place in an inpatient setting. When I asked if that meant overnight, they just said again inpatient setting.

I have a family friend that had gastric bypass a couple of years ago. She has basically stretched her smaller stomach to such proportions that she is now considering having the gastric band added. I say go with the band first. It can be adjusted and you won't have to deal with the malnurishment that comes with gastric bypass IMO.

I am not banded yet, but I was wondering.... Can you puree just about anything for mushies? Is there anything that you tried to puree that was just awful? I would love to know some of your experiences. Thanks.:thumbup:

I depends on who you ask. My surgeon said no caffeine(sp?) after surgery, but my nutritionist said it was ok to have 1 cup of tea or coffee a day. My understanding is that caffeine is a stimulant and can make you hungry. Also, caffeine can irritate your stomach which is not good for you. Try decaf, you may like it, and it won't have any adverse affects.

Exactly how much protein are we supposed to get? I have heard 40g then somewhere else I saw 70g per day? Which is it? I don't want to start losing my hair or something like that because I don't get enough.

Thanks so much for the welcome. I have been lurking around a couple of forums for about a month now. I didn't realize that there was so much support available on the internet for this. Had I known, I would have started this a long time ago.

I am so glad that you asked this question. I was just diagnosed with PCOS and that was one of the reasons I decided to go ahead with the band. I am still waiting for insurance approval, but I hope to have some relief from my symptoms. The thought of taking BC pills forever after having a tubal is driving me nuts!

It makes me feel so much better to know that I am not the only one going through this. I have been just eating everything that I can think of that I might not be able to eat later. Thankfully, I haven't gained any weight but I also haven't lost any either. It was like my stomach (my brain really) went into over drive when I saw that liquid diet that they want me to follow for two weeks before my surgery. Since I don't know when that is going to be, I have been eating anything that is not glued or nailed down. I feel so pathetic afterwards because I know that I was not hungry enough to have eaten whatever it was. All of this to say, I feel your pain.

I'm not banded yet, but when I had gallbladder surgery, my mom came over. My DH was useless, so mom came over every day to handle my very active son. I say have the best of both worlds. Let your mom come to help and then you have time with her along with her help.

Thank you so much for responding. I have been concerned. I really want this to happen and soon.

Any thoughts on Dr. Ponce in Chattanooga? Please tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thanks for any replies!

Regang30, what are the steps to that dance you did? I really could use a little help here. My paperwork should have been submitted Tuesday afternoon, but when I called Thursday the insrance person said that she hadn't received the notes from my psychiatric evaluation. I called the social worker and he said that he sent everything Tuesday morning. I guess I am just waiting until Monday to call, AGAIN!

Oh well, there went my chances!

Thank you Maranda for asking this question. It seems every time I think I have a good handle on what is to come, someone asks a very important question like this. Also, thank all of you who have been there for taking the time to answer these questions.

Ok. I know this thread is old, but I have to add my won't misses. I am sure that they are the same as everyone elses, but I feel the need to say them anyway. Here goes... ruining every pair of pants at the thighs. only shopping online so no one knows my size. being so embarrassed (sp) when my dh wants me to wear some trashy, sexy outfit at home (I cried even though he loved the outfit) uncomfortable sex life. not wanting a sex life! always being hungry weighing more than my dh! making excuses not to leave the house not having any clothes that fit nicely being the fat friend being ignored in stores not being able to wear cute high heel shoes (they can't hold me up) sitting on the sidelines of life not being able to do things with my 11 year old son not cleaning my house the way should because i am too tired. being scared that I am having a heart attack with every pain in my chest. snoring so loud my son hears it in his bed room being offered everyone's food (I am not a garbage disposal!) having people look at me funny when I buy groceries (it's not all for me!) all 9 of my medicines (all weight related illnesses) My CPAP machine! wow, i could go on forever.

HI. My understanding is the WLS exclusion is usually based on your employer. My former employer excluded it but when they were bought out by someone else, it was included. Go figure. Good luck.