TQUAD64

Barring no complications from your test results, you will get a surgery date rather quickly. So hurry and get the tests done. You are so very close. I am doing well and have a fill this Wed with Dr. Kim. I am not sure about weight loss. I know I am losing my scale sucks! Dr. Kim's scale is really accurate. I lost three pant sizes and I am well onto losing another 1. Yahoo!!!

Keep in touch and let me know how everything goes with the tests.

Great picture Teal!

I am still sick. I am using my inhaler a lot. On the weekends I am in bed resting, because this cold just will not go away. :-(

Hello gottaloseit:

I met with the surgeon today at Alta Bates. We agreed that banding would be the best solution for me. I have must complete the Upper GI and the H-pylori test.

Once the two tests are completed, all documents are sent to the insurance company for approval. If all goes well with insurance approval, I could have surgery possibly in November or December.

Hello Laurie: All is well with me. I am drinking lots of protien and getting lots of rest. Keeping stress at bay and keeping busy at work. I recommend drinking the ISD New Whey protien bullets. They have various flavors, with 42 grams of protien in a 3.1 ounce serving. It goes down quick and it is very filling. I also like the Isopure drinks with 40 grams of protien.

I have lost 15 pounds thus far by drinking those products, but honestly I have slipped on the pre-op diet, but I am still losing weight. It is hard to believe that my surgery is next week. I have been so busy that I have not had time to think of the procedure. This is my 10th surgery, so I am not afraid of being in the operating room. This Friday I have the EKG and blood work done. I work on Monday and then Tuesday is the surgery. I will let you know how it goes when I get home from the hospital stay.

Where are you at with the process???

Hello LJB:

I saw the surgeon today at Alta Bates and we agreed that banding would be best for me. I need to complete the H-pylori test and Upper GI. I am doing the H-test this Friday and I am trying to schedule the Upper GI.

After those two tests are completed, the paper work is submitted to the insurance company for approval or not. I might have surgery the end of November or begining of December. It really is all up in the air, until the final steps are completed.

Hello Teresa:

Just a quick update. I completed the H-pylori test on last Friday and I completed the upper GI this morning. The upper GI was easy, but the liquids they have you drink are gross. The x-ray doctor stated he did not see any issues and would send my doctor a report. All reports are suppose to be sent to Dr. Kim by this Friday.

After Dr. Kim reviews the reports she will draft a report with recommendation for the insurance company to review. I am getting closer, but no surgery date yet. I am working on the pre-op early and have lost 10 pounds. I will keep in touch and let you know how it goes.

Hello Teresa:

My surgery went well with Dr. Kim and her crew. I decided to have the new generation Lap Band inserted. It is a 10CC band, which Dr. Kim pre-filled with 3 CC during surgery. I did not have any swelling and the swallow test went very well. I am on the phase I liquid diet. I ended staying at Alta Bates for two days, because I was having an issue with pain managment. I am allergic to several different pain meds and it was hard to get the pain under control without being nauseated.

Other than that, I am doing well. I am now at home. I feel more rested at home. I am making sure I get my fluids in and I am going on little walks in my apartment.

I have no issue with gas pains at home, but while at the hospital the gas pain hurt. The walking really helped with the gas pain. I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Kim the day before Thanksgiving. I am also glad I took two weeks vacation time off from work.

Hello Wayno38: My surgeon is Dr. Kim at Alta Bates hospital in Oakland, California. She is a fantastic surgeon. Very young and hip. She listens to my needs and accomodates my requests. The only down side is that she is located 85 miles from my home.

So do you live in L.I. NY or is that where you are having surgery? I thought it was cold here in Cali, but I can see I am better off here on the West Coast. :-)

Hi Emily: There has been a glitch again with my mom having the gastric bypass procedure at Valley Care. She had the colonoscopy and a endonscopy both of which show some issues that need to be delt with.

I have still not told her of my procedure as I just don't have the heart too, inlight of how many years she has been struggling to have the bypass. Not sure if she will ever have the bypass now.

Hi Jasmine: It is really hard to read the writing of the meds on the discharge paper work provided to me, but I believe it is Scopalamine Transdermal patch 1.5 mg.

I hope you get to feeling better.

Take care,

Terry

Hi Jean: BC/BS stated that I have free unlimted fills in the first 90-days, then I get two fills each calendar year. I have a co-pay of $15.00. It just seems odd that that there are only 2 fills per calendar year. I cannot wait to see what the insurance company mails me.

Your right, I know to stay healthy and stress free. I am trying very hard to get at least 8-hours sleep to help with that. I am going to GNC tomorrow to purchase protien bullets.

Hi Jean: Well on last Friday I did the H-pylori test and today I did the upper GI. The upper GI was easy to do, but the drinks they serve you to do the test is gross. I just went into my happy zone and tuned everything out.

Anyway, the upper GI results and the H-pylori results are suppose to be give to Dr. Kim by this Friday. After doctor Kim reviews the results she drafts a report with recommendation to the insurance company, so it is getting closer. :-)

Hi Jean:

Everything is happening rather quickly now. All my test results are back and Dr. Kim sent in a request to the inusrance company to approve the surgery. DeAngela from Alta Bates Bariatric states that it can take 24-48 hours before we hear anything. I will let you know what happens.

Hi Jean:

Man those protien shakes are killing my stomach and my BM system is being thrown for a loop. I need to find something I can tolerate. Right now, the surgeon asked me not to lose any more weight, because my BMI dropped to 40.1. They want to wait for insurance approval before I start the pre-op diet.

Hi Laurie: How did your appointment go with Dr. Kim? What tests do you have to do? It really won't be that much longer before you get a surgery date.

Once you complete your tests, barring no issues from the test, they will submit everything to the insurance company for approval. Once the insurance company approves the procedure you will get a surgery date within 24-hours of surgery approval, unless approval occurs on a Friday afternoon, then you would hear something on Monday.

Hi Laurie:

My surgery went well with Dr. Kim and her crew. I decided to have the new generation Lap Band inserted. It is a 10CC band, which Dr. Kim pre-filled with 3 CC during surgery. I did not have any swelling and the swallow test went very well. I am on the phase I liquid diet. I ended staying at Alta Bates for two days, because I was having an issue with pain managment. I am allergic to several different pain meds and it was hard to get the pain under control without being nauseated.

Other than that, I am doing well. I am now at home. I feel more rested at home. I am making sure I get my fluids in and I am going on little walks in my apartment.

I have no issue with gas pains at home, but while at the hospital the gas pain hurt. The walking really helped with the gas pain. I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Kim the day before Thanksgiving. I am also glad I took two weeks vacation time off from work.

Hi LJB: How exciting that we were both at the class. I believe I was wearing a green lime short sleeve shirt. Has Myra scheduled your nutrition class and when do you see the surgeon?

Sometimes when I read the posts on this board, I think maybe banding is the right procedure for me. I start thinking about gastric by-pass instead, then I go back to banding because it is less evasive. Confusion..

Hi LJB:

Did you go to your support group meeting on 9/23/08? I went to mine on the same date in Oakland and thought it would be too funny if we were both at the same meeting. :-)

Hi LJB:

I purchased at Walmart over the weekend Slim Fast low carb les than 10 grams and 20 grams protien. I bought the milk chocolate and I put it on ice. Not too bad.

March is disappointing to have to wait that long. I am going with the Realize band too. I like the low profile and the website that has several cool features to help me. I will let you know how it goes with the surgeon on Wed.

Take care,

Terry

Hi Susie. Good to hear from you. I find I have more control of food portions with the band. That is what I love about the band. You can only eat so much and if you try to eat beyond it, you can get sick.

When is your band date?

Hi Teal: Sorry I missed you this morning. Dr. Kim was really quick and I arrvied early. I left the office at 9:05 am and then headed off to work. I am doing really well. Pre op weight 251 weight this morning on the doctor's scale 228. BMI 37.9.

Dr. Kim said if I continue to do well, I will not need to see her on 12/10/08, but would see her the week of X-Mas for a fill if needed.

I hope all is well with you. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Hi Teal: The root-canal is still bothering me so I am going to call the dentist today. I still having swelling and throbbing pain.

The fill is working great and weight loss is down a couple more pounds.

Hi Teresa so sorry to hear about your sister passing on Christmas Day. It is hard to find a bright spot with our love ones gone during the holidays. But, in her name you are committed to giving yourself a healthy life. It is the most importnat committment to keep to yourself, so move forward.

Who is your doctor???

Hi Teresa: I am sorry you have to wait so long, but if you can get your BMI down quicker then you can have the surgery that much sooner. Try replacing one meal with a protein drink of some type.

I actually did this prior to even seeing the surgeon. I just wanted to see how I would do. Increase your walking by 5 minutes a week. So if you are at 20 minutes a day on week one, then week two up it to 25 minutes. You can do this. Don't overwhelm yourself by doing to much. Just little modifications slowly.

I hear that the gastric bypass can immediately help diminish diabetes issues. I think that is amazing. You need to pick the procedure that is best for your health. And if you doctor recommends the gastric than go for it.

Happy holidays!

Hi Teresa: I am trying to stay warm. I have a big pot of chicken/turkey chili simmering on the stove this cold Sunday morning.

I am doing well. I am feeling drained, but I think it has something to do with my increased workouts and the cold is around our office too.

I had my first fill last week, which went really well. No pain. I actually talked to Helen the whole time, while Dr. Kim placed the needles in my stomach. The first needle was a numbing agent and the second needle was the fill.

I lost .5cc from the surgery fill. At the time of surgery, Dr. Kim placed 3cc in, but last week should took the fill out to see what was left. And all that was left was 2.5cc. She put that back in and added 1.5cc. I now have 4cc and great restriction.

Let me know how your appointment goes with the doctor. It is very exciting!!! Good luck.