tealeaves

:smile: Count me in!! :smile: Name*******Starting****Current******Goal******To Go Adjua.....................347...............337...........240......... ....97 Angie64.................270...............270.............210......... ....60 Astrasmom............254...............254...........170.............. 84 Babe......................265...............265...........199......... ....66 Band_Groupie........172.5.............163..........158-148........5-15 BetsyB..................226.6.............215.2.........109...... ......106.2 BobbieND..............224................218.0..........150..... .......68 Brigette.................198...............198............150.... ........48 Bristlecone............157...............157.............130....... .....27 crzytchr................217...............217..............180.... ... ...37 Dana36.................233...............229..............160...... .....69 daqui26.................274...............274..............200...... .....74 destined4thinness..215.5.............215.5..........150............65 5 Diamondgirl81........317...............317.............250............ 67 ericanda1973.........198.5............198.5...........130......... ..68.5 HummingBird.........204...............194..............150........ ...44 jenibeni.................224...............221.5............165....... .....57.5 Jennih...................232................232..............130.... .......102 KDEE....................240................240...............150...... ......90 Lady LAP...............217................217..............125...... .....95 Lisa65...................174.5............168...............145..... ......23 Liz........................193.4............193.4............155...... ......39.4 lotzasunshine.........247...............245...............175........ ...70 newdicarlo.............187...............177................135...... . ...42 Northernmist..........289...............265................175........ 90 ol55andahalf..........184...............184................144...... ......40 RandaPanda...........194...............183................150........ ....33 scoutmama............270...............270...............180........ ....90 skinny31................261...............258................185..... .......73 SNDYCNRD.............207...............202................150......... ...52 Tabithan...............244...............234................190....... ......44 TARASGIRL.............305...............298.5.............225....... .....73.5 tdtucker................256...............256................160...... . ......96 Tealeaves..............305...............289................150.........134 TeriLu....................215...............212................150.. .... ......62 TIGGER71G............224...............224................130....... ......94 unshackled............277...............277................180....... ......97 Valerie.................190................190..................150... . .......40 Teacher2010...........192...............183..................150...... ......33

Congratulations, tink0527!! First, I will say that everyone's experiences are different. I was actually just talking about this with mom this morning... she asked me how this compared to my c-section and I said, wow, no comparison at all... The band surgery recovery was so much easier in many ways than my c-section recovery. I will say a pray for you that you have a swift and easy recovery from your C-Section. God Bless and I wish the very best to you and your new bundle of joy!!

Hi fellow January Bandsters... I was wondering...Do we have a cool name for our January group? I haven't read all of the posts in this thread so I don't know if one has been selected yet. Have a Blessed Day!!

Hi there, so glad to be here!! Hope everyone is doing well. Below is my information. 1.What is your current and goal weight? 293 / 150 2.What is your surgery date? 1/21/10 3.What is your age? 42 4.Where do you live? Santa Clarita, CA 5.Where are you having surgery? Brand Surgical Center, Glendale, CA 6.Who is your Doctor?? Dr. Marc Paya 7.Insurance or self-pay? Aetna Ins. (Awesome insurance) 8.What was you "deciding factor" for having this surgery? A really good friend of mine spent two years losing 80 pounds. She was extremely dedicated to her diet and exercise routine and she looked amazing. She is extremely disciplined. Well, she kept if off for a year, then gained back all of it plus more during one summer. It was at the same time that Oprah was talking about how she had gained back some of her weight too. Heck, she has a private chef and a gym at home & work and still could not keep it off. I realized then that I could not do it alone.

Hi Mindi, Walking is the only thing that really helped/is helping me with that pain. How are you doing, overall?

I am recently banded so I am a newbie here, but what about prune juice? Has anyone tried it? I haven't needed to... yet, but my mother in law swears by it!!

Hi lamar44, I was banded the same day you were!! I am so sorry that you are not feeling too good. It will get better!! Walk as much as you can to help that trapped "air" gas. My pain was/is in my left shoulder too and in my chest. It's awful, however walking is the only thing that seemed to help me!! GasX did nothing to help it, so try to walk as much as possible. I think walking helps you recover much quicker. JMO, though, everyone is different. Be sure to drink/sip Water and stay hydrated. Very important. Rest as much as possible and listen to your body. I just went back to work today and I made it through, but I sure am tired. Hang in there!! Big Hugs to you!! God Bless!!

Hi Eileen, I think it's great that this thread exists... It's amazing to see how similar it is for everyone. Personally, the GasX did not do anything for me for the gas from the air that's trapped inside... Walking was the only thing to get rid of that "air" gas pain. I am doing pretty good so far...I have lost 12 pounds since my surgery date. Do you have a surgery date yet? :biggrin:Tealeaves:smile2:

I was banded on 1-21-10 by Dr. Mark Paya, Glendale, CA. I arrived at the surgical center @ 11:30am. I was taken in at 12:45pm (they were running behind schedule). I put on my lovely hospital gown and was taken to my bed where they took my vitals and inserted the IV. My surgery was supposed to be at 12:30 but I didn't get taken into the operating room until 2:30pm. During that time I spoke with the surgeon and the anesthesiologist to go over everything that would be happening during the surgery. At around 2:30pm I get taken to the surgery room and then get transferred to the other bed... the nurse wraps my legs in something and the anesthesiologist was talking to me and then the next thing I know is I am waking up in recovery. The first thing I feel is discomfort in my stomach and nausea!! The nurse is by my side telling me everything went great. The office manager and my nutritionist came by to say hello to me. I don't remember if Dr. Paya came by to see me because I was in and out, but I do vaguely remember him walking by and saying everything went great. I know that he had another surgery after me, so maybe that's where he was off to. The nurse and the staff were awesome!! I left at about 6:00pm for my drive home. The drive home was awful... it was raining and hailing!! I live about 30 miles away and I made my husband drive the streets all the way home instead of the freeway. I have no idea why but he said that's what I wanted. Get home about an hour later... walk into the house and immediately feel like I am going to throw up but my hubby comes running over to me with the anti-nausea medicine and puts it in my mouth and instantly the nausea goes away. I get on the recliner, take some pain medicine and out I go. I slept off and on throughout the night. The gas pain in my chest and shoulder area was worse than the discomfort in my stomach. The only way to get relief was to walk around. Overall, the pain was not as bad as I prepared for, more of a discomfort. The gas pain was bad but tolerable. Walking is what helps the gas pains. I wish everyone the best and look forward to my new life and getting to know all of you a little better!! Tealeaves

What a day I had yesterday... I did my pre-op stuff on Monday and got the "all clear". Got myself all psyched up for my banding which was going to be on Friday, Jan. 22nd, then I get a call yesterday from the surgeons office saying the doctor cannot do it on Friday and is moving it to Thursday, the day before. Well, the problem is that my hubby took Friday off of work, not Thursday. I have all of my arrangements made for my children too. If I don't do it on Thursday, then I have to wait two weeks for the next available date. I am so sad!!! My hubby tells me just to wait for the next available date because he is pretty sure he can't get the day off with that short of notice. I let the surgeons office know that I will take the Feb. 5th date. Well, guess what? My hubby must have heard in my voice, how sad I was and he called me back at work to tell me that I was having it done on Thursday!! My hubby called his boss, explained everything to him and they just switched out his days, so he off on Thursday. Then he took care of the arrangements with our children. He then called the surgeons office and made sure that the Thursday slot was still open and yes it was... so here I am!! I have the best husband in the world... he took care of everything and made it happen!! I am truly blessed!! Talk to you all later tonight... wish me luck!! Tealeaves

YMJACKSON1...Thank you so much. I really appreciate your kind words and well wishes!! God Bless You!! :biggrin:Tealeaves:biggrin:

Carmelita, I was going to ask the same question because I love sunflower seeds!!! Please let us know what your doctor says. Thanks, Tealeaves

So down and out... I was so happy when I got my approval, but for the past couple of days I have been a little down about it. I know that I need to do this because I have had no long lasting success on my own and it's just a matter of time before I have serious health issues because of my weight. I am grateful to have the most awesome support from my family and my dear best friend!! I am also grateful that I have medical insurance and that they are paying for this!! To sum it up...I feel like such a failure because I can't lose the weight without having surgery to help me. I just want to know if this is a normal feeling? :w00t: Have any of you felt this way? Thanks for letting me get this off my chest Tealeaves

TINAM & SERENITY55...Thank You for responding!! I so appreciate your kind and encouraging words!! Today, I spent all day at a family gathering and everyone was so supportive of my decision. I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel... From this point forward I am going to tweek my thoughts, suck it up and move forward with a positive attitude!! I am truly Blessed!! Hugs, Tealeaves p.s. Serenity55... My first apartment was in Van Nuys many, many years ago!!

I did have to "diet" for three months for the insurance company, but my friend, who was banded a year ago, with the same insurance as me, said to not lose too much weight or Aetna may not approve the surgery. I kept a food journal and I lost about 6 pounds from Sept. - November. I gave copies of the food journal to the nutritionist at each appointment too. The surgeons office was okay with the small amount of weight loss for those three months and I guess Aetna was too, because I got my approval last week. One week from today, I will be banded!! Yay!! I wish you all the best :w00t:

Btrieger....Thank you so much!! Best of luck to you :thumbup: Tealeaves :thumbup:

I just got my approval from Aetna!! :thumbup: My surgery is Jan. 22nd. Anyone else having their surgery on the same day? I am crying tears of joy!! All sorts of emotions going on but very happy!! I guess I better get one of those "ticker" thingamujigees for the bottom of my signature area.

"FAZ" & "MICHELLE", I just noticed that your surgeries are today (1.5.10)!! I am praying that everything went well and that you are both feeling okay. Good luck on your journey and please try to share your experience with us. Blessings, Tealeaves :thumbup:

Hi Mindi, I just got my approval today and my surgery date is the same as yours...Jan. 22!! My Pre-Op appt. is Jan. 13th. I feel very happy but at the same time I have a wide range of other emotions going on as well!! How are you feeling? Where are you having it done? I am having mine done in Glendale, CA by Dr. Paya. Blessings, Tealeaves :thumbup:

Hi Miss Milo, Congrats!! Where are you having it done at? My surgeon is Dr. Paya in Glendale, CA.

I wanted to let you know that Aetna just approved my surgery!! :thumbup: My surgery date is Jan. 22nd!! Pre-op appt. with Cardiologist and Nutritionist is Jan. 13th. WOO-HOO!! I am so excited!! I am crying tears of joy!! Have a Blessed Day... I know I am!!

I just found out that Aetna approved my surgery!! :smile2: My surgery date is Jan. 22nd!! Pre-op appt. with Cardiologist and Nutritionist is Jan. 13th. WOO-HOO!! I am so excited!! I am crying tears of joy!! Have a Blessed Day... I know I am!!

Happy New Year!! I love this forum!! Very nice people here and very informative. I am a newbie and would love to talk to others in Santa Clarita Valley... Acton, Canyon Country, Castaic, Newhall, Saugus, Stevenson Ranch, Valencia, etc... I have not been banded yet because I am still waiting for insurance approval. Hope to hear from you!! :biggrin:Tealeaves:biggrin:

Hi there CurvyCat, My surgeon told me that Aetna is a breeze to deal with, but never mentioned that they might want a two year weight history. Aetna approved me for the three month plan. When all was said and done, they did ask for the two year history showing my weight. Well, I called my doctor and he sent me 5 years worth of history (it took them a few days, but wow, they sent some really detailed information)!! I faxed it to my surgeon's office on Dec. 11th and here I am still waiting. I just wish I would have known this during the three month wait because I could have requested my weight history from my doctor so it could have been sent it in along with all of my other paperwork for surgery approval. I hope that the 5 year history will be good enough!! I will post as soon as I know anything!! Good Luck!!

Hi There and Happy New Year! This is my first time posting so I hope I do it right... I have Aetna PPO... They required 3 months of dieting, plus I did a psych evaluation, met with the nutrionist three times, had bloodwork done, ekg, echocardiogram and an endoscopy. My surgeon's office told me to follow everything to the "T" and try not to miss any appointments. I did everything correctly, did not miss any appointments and Aetna came back asking for a two year weight history. On Dec. 11th, I gave them 5 years worth!! Today is January 2nd and I still haven't heard back anything yet. I am bummed as I thought I was going to be banded in December. I have hope, though, that everything will work out. I love Aetna... I have never had any problems with them so I have a good feeling about it. I just wish I was banded already. Good Luck... I hope it all works out for you :smile2: