wintobethin

Hi January Bandits! I am getting banded on the 16th (Friday) any other people out there getting banded on a Friday. I am NOT staying at the hospital over night, HATE:mad2: the place and beds, would rather be HOME!

Can anyone tell me if they woke up after surgery with an elastic band around their mid section. I had one on after my gall bladder surgery this past summer. I am getting banded January 16th, getting very nervous. The elastic band helped a great deal with pain etc. I may bring my old band to wear home which might help with the bumpy roads..........Jan

My husband is retired military and we have Tricare Prime also. I am having my banding done on base but went downtown to the Psyc visit and Tricare picked up 100%! DO NOT pay that bill yet. Call Tricare again and talk to a manager. We just got a bill from a local hospital for my DH, who was admitted with chest pain, the bill was $52,000, we owed $1500, went to Tricare and they said we owed $25.00! You need to get someone who is incharge. Who submitted your paper for your band???

You go Maranda and GOD BLESS YOU! I too am in the same situation, but a different story. I have told my DH family about me having surgery Jan.16th. On Christmas no one said GOOD LUCK or NOTHING! 99.9% of them are over weight and need to lose a good 50lbs (there's 53 in the family). So I know it will be the same for me. BUT, I am not doing it for them (piss on them) I am doing it for ME!!!!!!!! I put most of my weight on by sitting for 8 years taking care of my mother (in my house)who lay in a hosptial bed unable to speak or eat (feeding tube), she had strokes. She died 6 years ago, and I know she is watching over me and wanting me to get this weight off. Don't do it for them, do it for yourself and most of all do it for US who love to hear the good stories of weight loss, I am proud of you even thou I don't know you!! I also have a brother and sister whom I haven't talked to in over 6 years. My sister didn't even attend our mother's funeral!!!! My whole family is gone, so I am doing this for myself, DH and DS, they are soooo proud of me..........Jan

Hi Beachwalker, I lived in Westford, MA about 16 years ago. My husband was stationed there. We now live in the Dayton area and I am having my band put on by a military doctor on base. I have been to several of their support groups and you hear both sides of the stories. The surgeon sits there and listons to us then talks the last hour. I start my pre-op diet a week before surgery, which consists of 2 Slim Fast drinks and a Healthy Choice meal for dinner, that is it, NO SNACKS! I am getting very anxious about this just hope I can do it......:Yawn:

Dear Anabeni, Thank you for your post. My surgery date is Jan 16th. The closer it gets the more nervous I get. I have had several surgeries before so am not new to the OR. I had my gall bladder out this past summer so my surgeon is using the same port holes. Thanks again............:Yawn:

Thank you all for your anwers to the CPAP. I will put this question on my list when I see the surgeon one more time on the 12th before my Jan. 16th surgery date. Yes, I am so excited and anxious too! My family (SIL's, BIL's & MIL) doesn't talk to me at all about it. Most of them are over weight, so not sure if they want to have this done but can't afford it or they are jealous of me doing this. They treated me kind of cool at Christmas so not sure what to think??? I DON'T CARE, THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY PLEASE! Goooooo 2009!!!:laugh:

January 16, 2009 Bandster here. Just wondering about CPAP Machine. I read on a post where here doctor told her NOT to use her machine? I have obstructive sleep apena and can't sleep without my machine. Has anybody else been told not to use their machine? Also did you have to bring it with you to the hospital during recovery? My surgeon would prefer his patients spend the night, me, I am going HOME!:wink2:

My surgery date is January 16th, will start my pre-op diet of 2 slim fast and 1 Healthy Choice Meal a day. This will be for a week, then 2 weeks of liquids. My surgeon does not put a fill in during surgery as he said this is what causes bands to slip! I am having my surgery done in Dayton, OH:thumbup:

I am also Tricare Prime East (OHIO) and it took forever for me too. I am using the base as they have a surgeon who is a Bariatric Surgeon, as a matter of fact they have two now. I had the referral from my PCM, then I had to attend a Lap Band class, then on to nutrition, psyc appt which took a couple of weeks to get in, then appt with surgeon to talk over my questions and see which surgery I wanted, gastric or band. I have another appt on Jan 12 for pre-admission, labs, nutrition class, and surgeon again to make sure nothing has changed with me. My surgery is scheduled from Jan. 16 and I will be on a pre surgery diet of 1 week of liquids plus a frozen diet meal for dinner, then post op is one week of liquids, 2 weeks of mushy foods, then soft foods. He does not do a fill during surgery as he said that is what causes band slippage. CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jan

Hello to all the New Year Hotties! I also have my date for surgery which is January 16th. I started this jorney back in August and have finally completed jumping through the hoops for everyone. I am having mine done on a military base. I have attended some of the support groups and they are very informative here. One girl had a band and she was not happy so she is on the list for Gastric Bypass, no way, that is not for me. I have severe diverticulosis so I don't want anybody messing around with my colon. I also have a C-Pap machine which I dearly love, I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea and had one heck of a time sleeping at night. Would go to bed around 11:00pm and wake up at 3:00, felt like someone was choking me, couldn't get my breath! I would get up at 3:00am and do laundry/watch TV/play on the computer/ what ever!!! But, with my machine I don't get up until 7:00am or so, it is GREAT! My doctor told me that his patients usually stay over night after lap surgery, but I told him that I would prefer to go home and he said that was fine as long as everything is going okay for me. I hate hospitals, they are too NOISY at night!!!! And the beds SUCK! I will be on a one week diet of 2 proteins shakes and one frozen Healthy Choice Meal aday. Then after surgery one week of liquids only and the next 2 weeks of mushy foods, then onto soft foods. He does not do fills during surgery, he said that is what causes the most slips of the band. He said it is best to let your self heal first. Well that is about all. Looking for a slimmer me in 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy New Year Everyone! Jan

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.

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?????

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......

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: