savannahsmommie

Sadly enough I was 9 pounds underweight limit. I stuffed BB's in my bra, which helped me gain 4 hours. Then I did the two three pound fishing weights in each pocket. Wore a baggy shirt and I qualified. Thank goodness! You can do, just be creative. I also drank half a gallon of water while I was in the waiting room and then pee-d like a race horse after weigh in!

Nexium is a really good medication for acid reflux, but most insurances don't cover it. You can try getting Prilosec OTC, Aciphex, or Zantac. Acid reflux is really common. and if you cut out spicey foods, alcohol, chocolate it will minimize it! Good luck!

I am currently working with Weight Loss Centers. I had my seminar last Tuesday and my consult. I have my EGD scheduled for 5/10. I contacted them on 4/5/09 and things were rough at first, just getting to the seminar, but I stuck to it. Once I went to the seminar I saw why. There were over 40 people there. Then they do the one and one with the doctor. They also addressed other issues with me like possibilty for cosmetic surgery because I want a tummy tuck. They have already submitted to my insurance and it's only been two days. Good luck!

Good luck!

Congrats on the quiting smoking! I know how hard it is. I quit on 12/3/08 and still struggle. It's totally worth it! Good luck!

Hello, I am Tricare Prime. I saw my doctor on 4/7/09. Got consult apprv w/ surgeon on 4/13/09. I opted to use an out of network provider and had my seminar and consult on 4/14/09. I did lab work on 4/15/09 and my EGD is on 5/10/09. Haven't had the actual surgery apprv yet, but crossing my fingers!- ASH

It went great yesterday! I meet the requirements after stuffing a few things in my bra. I have EGD scheduled 5/10 and did all my lab work this morning! 9 tubes at the lab! Felt like I was a pin cushion!

I am meeting with the WLS today at 6pm. I am really nervous. I was already told by my PCM that they didn't think I weighed enough. But I do have HTN, so that will play in my favor. Wish me luck!

I have followed his exact guidelines on dieting and lost four pounds in three months. He was shocked I didn't have a better outcome. I spend ten to twelve hours a day with him, so he knows what I eat. I am on my feet all day long, literally, and walk on the weekends. I can't lose anything. What I eat is healthy, I just know it takes a lot to make me fill hungry. I know that sounds pathetic, but it does. If I eat a normal size meal for a person who is not obese I am hungry an hour later. I barely meet the guidelines of being a hundred pounds over weight depending on what I'm wearing. :cool2: He does the gastric bypass and sleeve but is not a fan of the lap band. His opinion is that it is very risky with infection and slippage and side effects. He is an amazing surgeon. I have worked for him for 5 years, he's never lost a patient, has only had 1 patient w/ complications and is very upfront with all of his patients. He just pushes diet and exercise very sternly. I have been looking into a TT and breast aug for about 2 years and he is completly againist that. He's very religious and says that I am the way God made me to be. He performs these surgeries to help people feel healthier and happier in there own skin, is the way he puts it. He does it to allow a person to see their children get married and play with there great grandchildren. But he is againist the lap band. I;m afraid if he knows I'm getting it done he'll look at me differently. I'm also afraid if he doesn't know I'm getting it he'll then I resorted to medication or drugs for weightloss. EH!

I have already gone into a consult for a tummy tuck and breast aug because that was orginally what I was going for. I've had children and they destroyed my body. My surgeon said that he would do it if I was still planning on having more children but it was not something he reccomened. Most women that get pregnant after having a tummy tuck are in a great deal of discomfort because their abdominal wall doesn't have a lot of room to stretch when the uterus increases. Not to mention the risk of opening the scar in the incision sight. I would say that it's not something you should do before having children. I have heard that most surgeons will not do it if you are actually planning on having more kids. Good luck!

I work for a WLS, but he does not do the lap band nor think very highly of it. He is more about diet and exercise and raising your metabolic rate and eating healthy. Which I understand, and I've attempted with him and it just doesn't work for me. I am not going to tell him I am getting the Lap band done, more out of fear of his judgement. Nor am I telling anyone I work with. I just don't know how to address the loss of weight with them. They have seen me diet faithfully for months with no results. My husband said I should tell them because he doesn't want them to automatically think drugs or anything like that. Any ideas?

So I have my psych eval covered and I'm curious as to what it will contain. For those of you who had the psych eval what kind of things did they ask? What kind of things were they looking for? I guess I'm just curious as to why psych eval's are required.....

Ok, so I've spent all day on the phone with my PCP, WLS, and Tricare and I am getting everything moving on my own. I have my psych scheduled, lab work ordered, and consult scheduled. My referral has been submitted and I'm awaiting approval. I work in a doctors office handling a lot of referrals and I know the process so I think that helped me quite a bit!

Hello, I am meeting with Dr. Jackson from 1800GetSLim on the 14th and I am trying to do some research on him. Let me know if you find anything out about the office. I'm alittle reluctant. My experience wasn't so great at first with the office staff, but they have made up for it.

I'm right there with ya! I'm 5'10 and 221. I barely qualify, and still waiting for my insurance to pick it up! Good luck!

Congrats on the fast approval!! I saw my PCM today and their waiting on notes from the WLS and surgeon before they even submit for mine!

I researched as much as I could find in my area. The nearest surgeon from here after I dump this one is like an hour and a half away. Which isn't much, but when you consider having to take an entire day off of work to go see them puts my job at risk. I work in a doctors office and our hours are exactly those with all the surgeons. It's so frustrating that I've been crying all day. I just want to get the process started. I've done everything so far myself. Psych, blood, referral. EH! Any one from Southern Cali, Temecula San Diego area that know of any good surgeons?

So, this is my first post ever and I will start off by saying Hi. I have been researching Lap band for awhile now. I was scheduled to meet with a surgeon today. Unfortunately, their office are complete morons and they scheduled me in the wrong office on the wrong day and now their next available appt is like four months away. I know that doesn't seem like a major set back in plans to most people, but for me it does. That is four more months on waiting to see if I even get approved or not. I have Tricare and I meet their guidelines. I have my psych eval next week. I've already had my PCP order all my bloodwork, they just wont submit for Lap band without the notes from the surgeon because they don't know much about it. I'm so freaking stressed. Just needed to vent...