trina4ufl

Hi everyone. I'm pre-op, so no personal experience yet, but it was really funny because at my psychologist told me that after I lose weight, I might become promiscuous!:eek:

Thanks! Glad to meet other Floridians! I haven't actually gotten a surgery date yet, but the surgeon's office assured me it would be before the end of the year! I was hoping for November, but I just got approval on 11/5 and the scheduling person doesn't come back into the office until Monday. I know I'll need at least two weeks before surgery because they want a two week liver shrinking diet (like a slim fast diet, but with high protein, low sugar drinks instead of slimfast and a small dinner). I still have to do the pre-surgery orders including EKG and upper GI and then meet back with the surgeon to go over the results and any other pre-op for the hospital. Does anyone think I'm being too optimistic thinking I'll have a December date? I've been researching this and jumping through hoops for the insurance company for several months and I am so excited to get approval. I'm now going between nervousness and impatience. The only surgery I've had is to have my gallbladder out two years ago, and they said it would be easier than that. I think the thing that most scares me is that I'll do all this and either 1. Be miserable because I'm sick or can't eat at all or get a proper fill or 2. It won't work or it will work and then I'll gain it al back. I am optimistic though and I look forward to being part of this group!

Well, after much work, I finally got insurance approval!!! I'm waiting on a surgery date, but I'm hoping for early December. I've been researching this thing to death and feel ready--nervous/excited/but ready. Here we go!

Well, after much work, I finally got insurance approval!!! I'm waiting on a surgery date, but I'm hoping for early December. I've been researching this thing to death and feel ready--nervous/excited/but ready. Here we go!

Hi everyone! I just got approved by my insurance yesterday and am hoping for an early December surgery date. Is it too soon to post here? I'm a single pre-op bandster in Florida. Nice to meet everyone!

Hi, I"m 29, single, in Florida and just got approved for surgery. I'm waiting on a date, but hoping Nov or Dec. I am also looking forward to wearing cute clothes again!

That sounds great!

Hi, I'm pretty much at the same point you are. I just got my insurance approval today and am waiting on a surgery date. I'm hoping on having it before the end of the year. Good luck!

It sounds like you have a lot of life changing events going on. I am pre-band, but I know that it is impossible for me to lose weight when there is chaos going on. Sometimes you have to get through the bad times and then let things calm down and get back to working on your goals. I hope the best for you through these challenging times. In the meantime, don't heap any more blame on yourself. Try to do some nice things for yourself and remember that the number on the scale doesn't define your worth.

My PCP told me to quit and I wanted to anyways. I've been on Wellbutrin for a little over 2 weeks. My stop date was Monday, Sept. 15th. I have not had a cigarette for 5 days. I was smoking 1 to 1 1/2 packs per day before Monday. I have been pretty miserable. I chew gum, keep busy, and take Xanax when I get in a really awful mood. I also go to bed early and didn't do any trigger things the first few days (computer, friends that smoke, porch, etc). It's Friday night and I usually have a drink and smoke and now I really don't know what to do with myself. I also think, so what do the nonsmokers do with their time and their hands? I miss my buddy, but I also realize that he'll kill me if I let him... I'm trying to take it one day at a time. I have a goal right now of Tuesday, as that is when I see my PCP again and she said I have to quit or she won't approve me for surgery. Once I hit Tuesday, I'm hoping the cravings won't be as bad and then I'll stretch my goal out to when I meet with my surgeon, etc. and then I'm hoping after my surgery, I"ll have pretty much kicked the habit. But for now,...day 5 and counting...

How did it go? I am getting all the prerequisites done for my surgery now. I'm almost done with the psych, (takes 3 appts!), PCP-did one, one left, blood work done, doing chest x ray this week. I'll have the final meeting with the PCP on Sept. 23rd and then hopefully on to the surgeon and insurance approval. Not to sound stalkerish either, but I'm turning 30 this coming March, I'm also 5'10" and we wear about the same size (I wear a 20 or 22 in pants and 22/24 in shirts). I also feel like I've missed all the excitement of my 20s mainly because of my weight. I love to hear how it goes for you. I'm nervous!!!

Dr. Shulman-- I am planning on having the lap band surgery this year. I have extremely large breasts and always have--it runs in my genes. My insurance will cover breast reduction surgery, but only if I need a minimum amount taken out. I've read before that sometimes people should get breast reduction before they have finished losing the weight so that they will qualify for the insurance to pay for it. My breasts already sag now, so I'm sure when I lose the 100 pounds I plan to lose on the lap band, they will be to the floor! Any suggestions on how soon after the lap band or how far down in my weight loss to check on breast reduction surgery? I don't want to get it too early and then end up losing more breast weight and then being saggy even after PS, but I also don't want to miss the opportunity for my insurance to pay for it! Your help is appreciated! Thanks!

Hi, I'm a 29 year old single professional who is in the process of trying to get approval (insurance) for lap band surgery. Please feel free to check out my profile for more info. I look forward to posting and learning information and tips from everyone and sharing my own experience.

That's awesome!! Congratulations!

Hi, I'm a 29 year old single professional in Gainesville, FL. I am in the process of getting approved for lap band surgery. My primary care doctor has made all the referrals and I am waiting on my psych appointment and my surgery consult. I am fairly certain my insurance will be covering it. I have been overweight almost all of my life and currently weigh 305 pounds at 5'10". I think that 160-175 would be a reasonable goal. I am very excited about the surgery, but I could use a mentor to help. Also, I'd like to utilize all the things on this site, but I guess I need help with that as well. Thanks!!!

Thanks! How's it going so far?

How was the psych consult? How's everything going?

Good luck and let me know how it goes! Thanks for the support!

I have completed my visit with my PCP, who ordered thyroid/blood tests (done) and an chest x-ray. She referred me to a psychologist who called today and wanted me to come tomorrow as they had an opening, but I can't due to being out of town for work this week. I have not had a surgery consult though. I'm pretty sure I've already completed the diet requirement. It seems to be moving along pretty quickly since I went to my PCP. She is really knowledgeable about everything, and her office is right across the hall from the surgeon's office. I'm planning on using Dr. Brient at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville I've also been going back and forth about which procedure to use, but I feel that lap band is right for me. I just hope that it works. My PCP mentioned that she'd had two patients fail on it because they ate around the band. She has seen success as well though. I think the worst would be getting the surgery and not losing weight or getting it and gaining it all back. I've also heard that Dr. Jawad is one of the best surgeons around. It just works out better for me that Dr. Brient is in the town where I live. Congratulations and I hope your insurance approves quickly and everything goes well!!

I'm in Gainesville and in the process of getting it approved by my insurance. Did you find a surgeon that you like?

I went to a seminar of his and he was really pro RNY. I got the impression he didn't like Lap Band very much. I have since picked out a surgeon in Gainesville. He is listed on the lap band website as having done the most lap band surgies in the area though.

Okay, so I went to my primary care doctor today, with all my paperwork. I was nervous to ask her for the letter of medical necessity so I talked about my foot first. Apparently I have heel spurs and she suggested orthopedic shoes. Uggh! I think I"m going to try a heel pad. She mentioned that it can come from excess weight. I think she was just about to suggest some kind of new diet....ugh..That was the perfect opportunity to bring up the fact that I wanted lap band surgery. She looked king of confused, then looked through my chart. Well, you do qualify, she said..and then pondered it. She said, well, what about RNY instead? It has more proven results. She's big on proven research. I asked her for Seasonale birth control a year ago and she said no because there wasn't enough research on the long term results. I told her that I felt that Lap Band was better for me and cited the reasons. She said she' d had two patients that it had failed on. I asked her what she meant by failed (ie. did they die or what?) She said they ate around the band and gained the weight back and you had to be very committed if the band was going to work. I told her that's me exactly. Because I am very committed. I pointed out that I lost 77 pounds two years ago on weight watchers and the gym I go to told me I'd gone to the gym more days that year than any other member. Then she seemed to get excited about it because she started typing (my letter, maybe?) and started piling up my justifications for surgery or my insurance (heel spurs now...back pain, joint pain, she said my blood pressure was borderline, I told her that my back hurt and she said, "Excellent!" She measured my waist, ordered a chest xray, ordered the Thyroid test, a diabetes/insulin test (not sure why) and a bunch of other blood tests. She wanted a stress test, but later decided they'd deny it, because of my lack of symptoms. Then she told me she wouldn't approve it unless I quit smoking. I told her I wanted to do that anyway. She said I had to quit at least 2 weeks before surgery. She told me she'd see me again before surgery and I had to quit before she'd give me clearance and not to lie about it. I agreed not to lie. I have issues with lying to a doctor who's in charge of my health and safety. I don't think I'd ever lie to my doc, what's the point? Anyway, I told her I probably needed help quitting and she suggested Chiabix? However, my insurance doesn't cover smoking cessation (i know, crazy) and i heard it's expensive, so I suggested Wellbutrin, because that's also an antidepressant, so I think they'll cover it. She prescribed that and Xanax because she said I'll be bitchy. No argument there. She made an appointment in a month and I have to have quit smoking by then and she'll give me clearance for the surgery. She's an insurance guru so I'm actually starting to believe this will happen. She also sent over a referral for a surgery consult with my lap band surgeon. WHOOO HOOOO!

Okay, so I went to my primary care doctor today, with all my paperwork. I was nervous to ask her for the letter of medical necessity so I talked about my foot first. Apparently I have heel spurs and she suggested orthopedic shoes. Uggh! I think I"m going to try a heel pad. She mentioned that it can come from excess weight. I think she was just about to suggest some kind of new diet....ugh..That was the perfect opportunity to bring up the fact that I wanted lap band surgery. She looked king of confused, then looked through my chart. Well, you do qualify, she said..and then pondered it. She said, well, what about RNY instead? It has more proven results. She's big on proven research. I asked her for Seasonale birth control a year ago and she said no because there wasn't enough research on the long term results. I told her that I felt that Lap Band was better for me and cited the reasons. She said she' d had two patients that it had failed on. I asked her what she meant by failed (ie. did they die or what?) She said they ate around the band and gained the weight back and you had to be very committed if the band was going to work. I told her that's me exactly. Because I am very committed. I pointed out that I lost 77 pounds two years ago on weight watchers and the gym I go to told me I'd gone to the gym more days that year than any other member. Then she seemed to get excited about it because she started typing (my letter, maybe?) and started piling up my justifications for surgery or my insurance (heel spurs now...back pain, joint pain, she said my blood pressure was borderline, I told her that my back hurt and she said, "Excellent!" She measured my waist, ordered a chest xray, ordered the Thyroid test, a diabetes/insulin test (not sure why) and a bunch of other blood tests. She wanted a stress test, but later decided they'd deny it, because of my lack of symptoms. Then she told me she wouldn't approve it unless I quit smoking. I told her I wanted to do that anyway. She said I had to quit at least 2 weeks before surgery. She told me she'd see me again before surgery and I had to quit before she'd give me clearance and not to lie about it. I agreed not to lie. I have issues with lying to a doctor who's in charge of my health and safety. I don't think I'd ever lie to my doc, what's the point? Anyway, I told her I probably needed help quitting and she suggested Chiabix? However, my insurance doesn't cover smoking cessation (i know, crazy) and i heard it's expensive, so I suggested Wellbutrin, because that's also an antidepressant, so I think they'll cover it. She prescribed that and Xanax because she said I'll be bitchy. No argument there. She made an appointment in a month and I have to have quit smoking by then and she'll give me clearance for the surgery. She's an insurance guru so I'm actually starting to believe this will happen. She also sent over a referral for a surgery consult with my lap band surgeon. WHOOO HOOOO!