lilith

LOL - no, I don't really expect any better of them, but I do feel like I should be able to call and say hope you had a good Easter without the conversation turning into what it did. I don't really have much interaction with any of my family, both of my parents died when I was young and I don't have any sibling, yet I feel guilty if I don't at least call on holidays - believe me, if I could figure out a way to get them all to forget I exist it would be just fine with me. One of my most vivid memories of him was one Thanksgiving when I was little, first he told my mother how fat she and I were getting (which I would love to be the size my mother was at the time, she was probably a size 12) then when she didn't finish her dinner he told her people in China were starving and she better clean her plate, she stood up, grabbed her purse, took out a book of stamps and threw them at him stating, "So mail it to them!" then she grabbed me by the wrist and we left... just a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't. I don't expect much of anyone... but it is nice to have a place like this to vent where people understand what you're talking about.

My doctor said he doesn't insist that women do the liquid diet (he does for men because of the difference in liver size or placement or something..) he did say he could not operate on one woman because her liver was too large - so he said it was up to me, he thought it was a good idea but wouldn't force me. So I'm doing Atkins Advantage for Breakfast and lunch, and a green salad for dinner with skinless chicken breast - a total of 502 calories, lol. I had 540 the first day but switched to a lighter dressing, 2 tbsp of light ranch. You can't believe how happy I am to see that salad at night!!! I started the diet three days ago, 8 days to go! But the bottom line here was I've gone through too much to have a fatty liver stand in my way! :wub:

Glad you are doing well, keep updating us!

My surgery was just scheduled for the 23rd, I'm currently doing two Protein shakes during the day and salad at night, so I'm hungry and tired but hanging in... I called my Grandfather and his wife today to see how their Easter was, they started off by telling me about everything they ate, so I mentioned the liquid diet and to please stop talking to me about food, at which she giggled and started telling me all about the pies and brownies they had... I was gritting my teeth together. Then she puts me on the phone with my Grandfather who says, "I wish you wouldn't have that damn surgery, just get off your ass and spend some more time cleaning your house and less time shoving our face". I gave up on the conversation and said well it can't be in the top five of the things you wish I never did, love you, bye! I'm so aggravated....... I'm doing this for my health and my children, why do people have to act like I'm doing something wrong! You would think after a six month supervised diet and every specialist there is saying I need to have this surgery that would be enough! Somebody talk me down, lol.

I've never heard any insurance stipulations like that... but I've heard some crazy things lately so who knows! lol I had a friend put quarters in her pockets... an ankle weight probably would have made more sense. :-)

Ouch, hope you feel better soon! My surgery isn't until next weekend so I can't offer any advise... does your doctor want you to come back and have it checked after so many days?

Okay, I FINALLY found out the amount due - it's approx. $1255 - which is great! But it's due by Friday, and that sucks, lol. We're going to make it work though... so I guess surgery here I come!

I'm starting my liquid diet tomorrow... I keep telling myself the mush will taste so much better after having nothing but liquids for so long!!!

Thanks for the info! At this point I don't think I care what I have to pay AFTER, lol - I just wish they would tell me what I have to pay before...... the 23rd is too close to stock pile money, I guess I should have been saving for it but I don't think I actually realized I had to payout upfront. :cool2:

Did you ever get any answers?

Any updates on this? I'm wondering the same thing right now, my insurance is a PPO and says 80/20 with $300 co-pay for hospital - but it also says it's supposed to be "repriced" because it's an in network hospital... I wish they would just give you all the numbers before you get approved...

Thanks so much, I'm so glad to hear you were able to work something out, keep your fingers crossed for me!

Grrrrrrrrr! I still have no clue, I saw the surgeon today and played phone tag with the hospital and they still don't know what my out of pocket is going to be - they are going to drive me nuts!

Mine never even discussed food with me, I think she was intrigued by my crazy family... lol - seriously, we talked for an hour and food never came up!!!

LOL - good point! And if you sold your kidney you'd already be down at least a pound, lol. I was so upset when I had my hysterectomy and gained weight - I thought for sure my uterus should have been 1lb!!!

Thanks so much for replying!!! OMG - if they tell me I have to come up with $4000 I'll die! I don't want to tell anyone I've been approved because if I can't afford the co-pay I'll be too embarrassed to tell them I had to cancel it! Let me know what happens with you! I'll be sending good thoughts... that and $4000 would get you a lot, lol.

They called me today and told me I am approved! But they said I have to call the hospital and see what my out of pocket cost is and that it has to be paid before my surgery... my insurance is One Net PPO. Does anyone have any idea of the cost? I called and left a message at the number they gave me but I'm a nervous wreck that it's going to be more than I can come up with before my date - which is the 23rd of this month - I'm between YEA! and OH NO! lol :sad:

Are you feeling better?

Hi! Welcome to the boards! I haven't been banded yet, been working on it since October... my paperwork was submitted two days ago so hopefully we'll have more in common soon, lol. Glad you are doing well! What area are you in?

Thanks so much, Mimi!

My doc said the same thing, that it's very common! The test was a piece of cake, I had myself scared silly over it, and it really wasn't bad at all. You can feel pressure on your leg when they put the cath in but that's it, you get a little bit of warmth in your groin/belly area from the dye but never felt anything in my chest at all. You will need someone else to drive you and you can't lift anything over 10 lbs for a couple days. They put a seal in my leg when they were done and it dissolves within 60 to 90 days. It was sore for two days, like a sore wrist after typing for too long, that's all! Please let me know how you do!

All done! Everything ended up being fine, it was a shadow from breast tissue or something... so that was my final test, hopefully I've been submitted for approval - this has been a long six months!!! (seven months...lol)

Hi Susan, I actually went for a second opinion this past Friday, this doctor says that their is something on the stress test, could be nothing, could be something but the best way to tell is to go in and look. I like this doctor a LOT better so I'm having the procedure done tomorrow through his group. Thanks for your reply!

Thanks - I think it just totally took me off guard, it never even occured to me that something would be wrong... and seven - ouch! I hope you are doing well!

Okay, so I finished my 6 month diet, and ALL my tests and the last thing I needed was clearance from the cardiologist - well he calls me today and tells me he thinks I have a defect in my heart and I have to have an angioplasty done - I'm 33!!! I am totally freaking out............ I'm trying to not act freaked out because I don't want my kids to worry. Has anyone else had to do this? :sneaky: