kaparamo

Well you have the right attitude...just take it one day at a time....that is the best you can do. You will feel much better by the end of the weekend...just relax and don't expect too much of yourself. Good luck..and like someone said above...if you need support...come back here.

I was banded less than three weeks ago and I slept great the 1st night. Take the pain meds and know that you will pretty much be sleeping in one position...which will be your back. If the discomfort you are feeling is gas just be sure to walk a lot. I was very fortunate that I did not have any pain and slight gas discomfort but I walked all through my house for hours and it went away before bedtime. I did not have to take any pain meds after I got home from the surgery. Everyone's bodies are different...just follow your discharge orders and call your surgeon with any concerns. Try propping yourself up on the couch or bed with lots of pillows so that you are almost in a sitting position...medicate yourself...and relax. You did not make the wrong choice.....trust me...I have already lost 21 pounds and in a few weeks you will look back and think that it wasn't so bad. Good luck to you.

I was banded on the 8th of May. I was really lucky to not have experienced any of the shoulder pain. I read plenty about it and my boss told me she had it really bad so I was prepared. Also, my gas pains went away by bedtime the 1st night. I just walked it seems like miles through my house. I am actually surprised at the quick recovery. I do have some discomfort at the port site but other than that I feel good as far as pain goes. I do feel a little weak though. Today is my first day back at work. Yesterday I felt very hungry but I did good and stuck with it. Good luck to everyone.

Bethay thats awesome. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. I actually called Cigna yesterday to see if they had all my paperwork and they said yes. I told them that I had a May 1 surgery date so she noted something in my file about that so the approval would be done in a timely fashion. Its getting exciting knowing it is actually going to happen soon. It has been a long road to get here. Like I said before...we better be this persisant after we have the band. On that note....My boss went to her 10 day post-op appointment yesterday and had lost 13 pounds already (and that is from surgery day). That was some serious encouragement for me. I am excited as we all should be. I can not wait to see the "after" pictures of myself. OK gals....May 09 is the start of a new beginning for us....lets kick some butt!!! Good luck Amy and Bethany!!!!

Well first off..Happy Birthday Bethany...what a great gift to yourself. That is so darn awesome. Second of all....woo hoo!!! I hope you are banded in May...we'll have a May rally!! I am shocked that you had to gather your own paperwork though. My surgeons office did everything except the letter from my primary DR...and I just requested that. But none the less the paperwork is turned and awaiting an approval. Congrats. I hope Cigna moves their butts. Heres to weight loss and looking fabulous!!!:thumbup: Amy...I will definately be giving you guys some tips. My boss came back to work Tuesday after the Friday surgery and looks and is feeling great. I can't wait until she and I are in the same stage. I think it will be awesome support for the both of us. Good luck Gals....can not wait until we are among the banded!!!

I went to the consultation with the surgeon today and the made a May 1st surgery date....yeah I am so excited. I still of course have to get an insurance approval but they said they are certain they will get one promptly. So Bethany...its your turn Girl to get you May date. For sure we will have to keep each other going!!! i am looking forward the journey!!

If I were you Bethany...that is exactly what I would do...go straight to the office tomorrow morning. If you are there in person they are less likely to put you off. If you call and leave a message for her something else will come and she will not get to your request. I sure hope we are as eager to use this lap band once we have it as we are to have it placed in us.....LOL!! Never the less...I am so excited for the surgery (whenever it may be) and to work on getting this weight off me. I wonder how in the heck I let this happen to myself. But I think we all look at ourselves and ask that same question. Once we have the surgery we will have no more excuses. I'll be thinking about you and Amy both...hoping for May Banding!!

Bethany, I had mentioned to my DR that I wanted the LB and when I requested a letter he had no problem writing me a really great one reccommending the surgery. I am sure whatever letter you can get or even the mention of the LB in your charts will be fine like Amy said. I go to the surgeon consultation tomorrow and then my paperwork will submitted to the insurance for approval. I hope it does not take long. Wish me luck!!!

TXAmy, It is pretty awesome that my boss and I have each other to lean on. We are only an office of 3 now and we are all 3 really close. I may have mentioned that I started the LP journey before her but she got ahead of me because she did not need to complete the 6 month diet. I had a few road blocks due to some blood test be goofy with low sugars but it turned out to be fine. What you were saying about it just depends on who gets your file to review...that's it exactly. My coordinator said that as well. She said sometimes she needs extra things and sometimes not so she has just been including it all to not have any problems. I went to visit my boss yesterday and she is doing fabulous. She was not in any pain and had stopped taking the pain meds the day before. She did say her left shoulder hurt a lot...I guess that is where the gas (that they pump you up with) settles. I can't wait for my turn. Be sure to drop a line when you get approved. We may be May Bandsters together!!! Good luck!! Kristie

I have Cigna as well. I have the consultation with my surgeon on this Wednesday and then the coordinator will submit my paperwork for approval. My boss and I have been going through the process together and although I started before her she already had the 6 month diet previous to the lap band journey. Her paperwork was submitted and denied due to not having a letter from her primary care DR. She went right away to his office and got one and was approved within a few days. When I learned of this I requested the letter from my DR and he sent it within a day. The coordinator at the surgeons office had also said that sometimes Cigna was coming back and asking for a 2 year weight history so she called my DR and asked for that. It seems all my ducks are in a row now. By the way...my boss just had her surgery on Friday and with all the bumps in the road for the approval it still only took like 3 weeks for her to get approved. Good luck...I know how the waiting game is...NOT FUN!!

No I have not got to submit to the insurance yet. I guess I just assumed after the 6 month diet that I would submit to the insurance, get my approval and then get my surgery. All along they have told me I would have surgery at the end of March. I am just being inpatient. I know all the test are mandatory and for my own good. I am going to the DR today to I will let you know what he says. Thanks again for your support. My surgeons office said they have not actually had anyone with hypoglycemia...so I am their first....yeah for me....just kidding. :tt2:

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I am really beside myself about this. I have done the 6 month diet and now it seems all is falling apart. I know this is all for the best but I just want the surgery alredy....LOL!!! I actually was able to get an appt with the endo DR tomorrow. I going to relax and try and let this run its coarse. thanks again. :sneaky:

You have just given me hope.....I found out yesterday through all the testing that the surgeon has given me that I am hypoglycemic. I have been referred to a endochrinologist and had fears that I would not be able to get the surgery. I am so happy to hear that it actually helped you. I hope the endo DR allows me to have the surgery. This roller coaster ride I am on is no darn fun. :sneaky:

How exciting...you have only a few weeks to go before your surgery. I always wonder what that will feel like...are you nervous...excited...scared...I am sure a little of everything. Well I can't wait for those feelings. Good luck and let me know how you are doing after surgery.

I took the day off work yesterday and did the abdominal ultrasound and the 5 hour glucose tolerance test. I must say 5 hours in the blood lab were some of the most boring hours I have spent in my life. I feel much better that those additional tests are done now. I am a little worried about the results though.....I do not want to have any set backs. I am going to try not to think to much about it and just pray all is well.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I know all the tests are for a reason. I just feel like I have been in this process forever and I want it done already. Patience are not best quality.....LOL. Thanks again!!!

This is my 1st post. I have completed my 6 month diet required by my insurance company as well as the blood work and EKG. I was supposed to be having a consultation with my surgeon next but..... I got a call this morning saying my blood sugars were high and I needed to to another blood test. Actually it will be a like 3 tests within 5 hours I guess. Also, the Dr wants me to get an adominal ultra sound. I know I need to be patient but I just want this done already. I wonder how long this will set my surgery back.