TQUAD64

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. :-(

I just had to stop by and so you look amazing. Not that you did not look amazing before, but you can really see a difference in your pictures with your weight loss. Keep up the great work!

Good luck!

Hi Teresa:

How exciting that you are getting closer and closer to your surgery. Before you know it you will be in post-op. I really considered both surgeries and believe both will get the job done in helping people lose weight.

What tests do you need to complete this week?

Oh Teresa, you are so very close. If I recall, I completed my last test on October 13 at Manteca Hospital. It was the Upper GI. The doctor was very quick and had the results to Dr. Kim on October 14. Dr. Kim submited the paper work and her report to the insurance company on October 15 and I was approved by the insurance on October 16. It won't be much longer for you.

The fills are easy to get, no pain and they provide the striction I need. Right now I am recovering from a root-canal, which really really hurts. But other than that, I am doing great!

I bet you hear something by early next week.

Your welcome. Best of luck to you!

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 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.

Hi Teresa:

It's hard to believe that in six days I will have my surgery. I really have not had time to think about the actual procedure. I am busy at work and trying to complete my thesis for the masters program I am at.

I do my pre-surgery testing...blood, urine and EKG lab work this Friday morning. I have lost 15 pounds on the pre op diet. But honestly, I have slipped up on this diet, but still have lost weight. I highly recommend the ISD New Whey protien bullets in any flavor. I like them a lot, but I know some people think they are gross. They have 3.1 ounces of 42 grams of protien. High protien fills me up.

I also like the Isopure drinks with 40 grams of protien... I like all the flavors, chilled on ice. I do eat an evening meal of meats and veggies.

I am keeping my stress level down and getting lots of rest so that I don't get sick. I had the flu shot last week as well, just to be on the safe side.

How is the process going for you???

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 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.

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 Teresa:

Today was my first big day out. Lot's of driving around and shopping. I did really well. Felt great! When I got home I took a dose of liquid Tylenol and rested.

Tomorrow I am out getting my hair cut and colored.

I live in Stockton, but my primary care doctor is in Manteca, so since I am very familiar with Quest in Manteca, I did my H-pylori test in Manteca.

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

I love your new aviator!!!!!

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.

Thanks Jean. I am not nervous right now, but will probably be crawling out of my skin in November. Right now, I am just trying to keep healthy. We are going into cold and flu season and I get sick real easily. I continue to take my vitamins and I am getting plenty of rest. Trying to keep my stress level low. :-)

Anyway, I have Hills Physicians BC/BS and I have been trying to have them senf me their WLS policy to me. I want it in writing, so I can know how many fills they cover, what the fees are, and what recourse I have if there are issues with the band. I have requested this information three times and yesterday they stated they would send it to me. Same old story....I will keep trying to get it. Basically, it is an internal document for BC/BS and is not in my companies insurance policy. That just sounds crazy to me.

Anyway, keep in touch.

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. :-)

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.

Laurie, good luck to you with your surgery on March 23. :-)

Emily good luck to you! It will not be that much longer for you. You are so close to completing the process. :-)

Emily good luck to you! It will not be that much longer for you. You are so close to completing the process. :-)

I was at Wal-Mart yesterday morning too. OMG! Too funny. You should have said hello. Yep that was my first big day out. I was wearing black crop pants, sandles, black and white shirt and a grey sweat jacket.

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.

Hi Teresa:

Regarding the lab slip, you can take the lab slip to any lab which your health insurance covers services. My health insurance is Blue Shield with Calpers, which is administered by Hills Physicians. So I took the lab slip to Quest Labs, which provides covered services for my health care plan.

P.S. I dye my own hair too, which I did today. I got my hair cut today too. I go back to work Monday, so I wanted to get the color and cut done.