wintobethin

Dear Thinkingslim, Thank you for your info. It seems like everyones surgery goes about the same. Mine is scheduled for Jan. 16th what a great way to start off the New Year! The surgeons nurse called me today to make sure I had my pre-op appt. 5 days before the surgery.....Jan

Dear Lvndreamz, Thank you for your reply. This info helps me to understand a lot more about what happens. My son is affraid for me and my husband supports me 100%. The surgeon did a lymph node surgery on my husband a few months ago and wanted him to get banded but he won't do it. I think he is waiting to see how I do. A military base is doing mine, Tricare finally approved the surgery for military people, about time! My house is also 45 minutes from the base so my husband is my driver, not sure if my son will be there. Thanks again....Jan

My surgery date is January 16th! I too am a little scared but looking forward to the help with the band. Did they keep you over night. My surgeon says he prefers his patients staying over night, but I requested to go HOME! He didn't have a problem with that. Did you have to drink and barium drink to make sure your band was working? Did you have to have a folley catheter in? I told mine I did not want one as I ALWAYS get a UTI from them. Did he put any fill in your band during surgery? Mine will not do it for 6 weeks. Thanks in advance for any answers......Jan:thumbup:

Hi All, My date is January 16th:thumbup:! I have been waiting since Sept. That was the first time I talked with the surgeon about Lap Band. I have done all the required testing and I now have a date. My surgeon told me that MOST of the patients he does stay overnight. I requested to go HOME:thumbup:! I have been in hospitals over night and they are NOT the Hilton by any means:thumbdown:. The noise, hate the beds and BP checks at 2:00AM is not for me. My DH will be my nurse:thumbup:! I am having my surgery at Wright Patterson AFB so I had no dealings with insurance, thank goodness! I think the name of January Hotties is great! Good luck to all of you!!!!!!!!!! Jan

Hi January Bandsters, I have my appt. with the surgeon this coming Thursday to set a date in January. I am getting so excited but nervous too! Do any of you use a CPAP machine? I saw on another post that her doctor told her NOT to use the machine as it puts gas into the stomach! I have obstructive sleep apnea and NEED the machine for now, until I get some weight off first! My husband is happy for me and my son (34) is scared for me, afraid something is going to happen, YES IT WILL, MY WEIGHT IS COMING OFF! Good Luck to all of you. I have already had Phys. eval, nutrition, support group meetings, lab work, which was low on Vit D, taking pills for that. Can't wait...........Jan

Congrats on your 50lb loss!!!! I need to loose about 100lbs and I already have a stomach apron from my son who just turned 34! So I have had this issue for some time but never complained. I know in the summer I get a mild rash and sweat really bad in that area, so I have to be really careful and keep things dry. That would be so awesome if the base would do it, but I am not going to count on it. My husband is very understanding and said we would take a loan to have it done if that is what I want. I have heard you should wait a year after your weight loss before having the Tummy Tuck. The boob job I had was medical reasons, my back and my shoulders were curving. They took off 6lbs. I love them now!!!!!!!! Thanks for answering.....Jan

Kristin, I had a breast reduction done by the military 20 years ago. We were stationed in AZ and they air evaced me out to Texas to have it done. The only thing it cost me was my food, everything else was covered. I am having my banding done in Jan 09, and they have already told us that they don't do Tummy Tucks. But we could use the base and pay a fee and they will do it, cheaper than going down town. I am being banded on base, we have a Bariatric Surgeon on board.

Hi All! I have been through the hoops (dietition, Phsyc, support group meetings) and am now ready to make the appt. with the surgeon to set the surgery date. I am having my band done at a military base:drool:. We are short of doctors so the surgery date will more than likely be in January 09. The surgeon we do have is a Bariactric Surgeon so that is a plus for me. Just getting a little nervous but that is to be expected. My DH is thinking about getting this done too as he is a diabetic:thumbup:. Just wanted to pop in and say hi...............

I have been approved by my surgery clinic. Have appt. with my nutritionist next week, have already attended support group meeting (required) now just waiting for my appt. with the psychologist, why do we see them. What kind of questions do they ask. Do they try and talk you out of the lap band???? The receptionist told me it was a 2 hour appt. For what?????

I have been approved by my surgeon several weeks ago. My BMI was 40.1 and I am 5'4". I would like to loose around 100lbs. My question is what is the Psych. evaluation all about? What do they ask you? My appt. is for 2 hours, FOR WHAT!!! I am doing this band for myself and my HEALTH, what more do they want??? After this appt. I am ready for my appt. with the surgeon to set the date. He told us that it would probably be after the first of the year before he can do it.

When I graduated high school back in 1970 I weighed a whooping 99lbs! OMG - what happened! My BMI is 40 and I have 100lbs to loose. I remember my mom taking me to the doctor because I was so thin. He said don't worry she will gradually put on some weight....HELLO!!!!! It's here and then some! My appt. with surgeon "Band Class" is next Wed. Oct 8th, having it done through the military base with Tricare Prime......

What do I do about all of my meds that I take. I haven't been banded yet but up for appt. with surgeon. I take 7 pills aday and some are huge! Some are tabs and some are time release type. What am I going to do??????????????

Hi Azdwing...I am new here too! My appt. with the surgeon is next Tuesday Oct. 8th. for my first consultation. We are retired military so we are Tricare Prime. My DH and I lived out in AZ for almost 8 years. He was stationed at Williams AFB, in Chandler, AZ but went to ASU for his degree. We are retired here in Ohio. My BMI is 40.1 plus I have other health issues that I hope clear up. Just went on the CPAP machine in May and my PCM told me that I could probably get off of it when some of my weight is gone. I had my gallbladder out in May also, so don't have to contend with that issue. Just worried about the scar tissue that my surgeon said I had so much of from the GB being so diseased for so long. Just wanted to say hi...........Jan

My mistake, I just looked up my BMI from another appt. with weight loss clinic (through the military) and they had my BMI at 40, so I guess that one is right? My husband and I have had other MAJOR surgeries through the military (one was a breast reduction for me) and have had NO PROBLEMS with anything, wonderful doctors. I worked at WPAFB hospital years ago and when the new doc's come in they are screaned CLEAN! No crap here!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone! I am just getting into this "BandLand". I have been approved by my PCM and they are going to do my banding at Wright Pat Air Force Base. So I guess no out of pocket expense on my end? Has anyone had this done on a military base? My first appt. is with the surgeon on Oct 8th. How long after the first appt. is the surgery scheduled? I have heard that you have to have at least 3 pro-morb reasons to have this banding. Mine are Obstructive Sleep Apnea (CPAP), high blood pressure, high cholesteral, arthritis in knees. Need to loose 100 pounds, BMI is 39, so says my Cardio doctor, I guess this make me a candidate! My husband is retired after 25 years in the AF, been out in the civilian world for over 12 years.:smile:

I do have multiple Co-morb. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (CPAP machine), high blood pressure, which keeps going up, high cholesterol. My Cardio doctor said my BMI was 39.1 . I am having the surgery done on the military base, so I don't think Tricare has any say in this??? I do need to loose 100 pounds at least.

My husband is retired AF and we are living in the area of WPAFB, OH. I am having the band done on base. My PCM approved the request and my first appt. is Oct 8th with the surgeon.:smile:

How many days do you have to stay in the hospital after lap band? First appt. with surgeon is Oct. 8, 2008, been approved by PCP.

Hi Everyone, Retired AF wife. Husband was in for 25 years and has been retired for over 10 now. I am having my banding done at Wright Patterson AFB. Just got approved through my PCP and have appt. on Oct 8th with my surgeon. I do have one question; do you have to stay over night after the banding? Thanks for the info..........Jan

Thanks for the info. I just posted a reply to your other note.

Hi Radar, Just saw you are an Air Force wife. My husband is retired out of WPAFB and the base is doing the surgery. Tricare is wonderful "Thank You Very Much"! My first appt. with the surgeon is Oct. 8th. Just wish I would have done this sooner! Jan

Hi everyone! I just joined today and I am looking forward to some support from this site. I am scheduled for my first appt. with the surgeon on Oct. 8th. My Primary Care doctor has approved this procedure for me and is thrilled I have decided to do this. I have 100 pounds to loose, to get back to my "fighting weight" (the weight I was when I got married). My husband is so supportive of this as our primary care doctor wanted him to go through this too, but my husband wants to wait and see how I do. He has about 50 pounds to loose also. My son who is 34 is not real happy about it, afraid for his MOM (he is trim and fit)! My husband and I have just joined the YMCA so that will help with the weight loss I am sure. My number one question is this; I am hoping to have all of my weight off by next Dec. 09 as I am taking a trip to New York with some girlfriends, will the weight be off by then????? Thanks! Jan