Froggie D

Wow, that is too cool! :sad: Better to get it done than have to wait and wait. Good luck! Froggie D

Tory09 - I finally got word from the surgeon today that they sent my stuff in on Friday.:hurray: Now I just have to wait for my insurance to decide. Have you heard anything more? Froggie D

Hey Parshuter, Good for you! You will get through it; it just takes time. I am with you! Froggie D

I hope to hear this week. Getting pretty down about it. Been waiting for 31 days now. Froggie D

Tory09 I am sooo sorry you have not heard either. I am getting sort of depressed and down about it. You have a better attitude about it than I do right now. I have been eating good and have lost some weight, but each day it gets harder to maintain my attitude and I am getting hungrier (head hunger, I am sure). How do you keep your attitude in check? Oh, well, tomorrow is another day! Froggie D

Hey, Tory09, have you heard anything yet? I hope you have had better luck than I have had. It has now been 31 days since I was ready to submit. They told me it would take about a week. I tried to get the insurance to talk to me this week (actually called and left a message once and talked to a "bariatric team member" the scond time who promised she would have my nurse call me) but no one called me back. The surgeon's office has never called me back either. It is like beating my head against the wall. :sad: I just do not understand. I feel like I am paying for these services and they should be a bit more respectful and call me back. Have you heard anything yet? Froggie D

I had terrible headaches when I stopped caffeine a while back (it lasted about a week). It was hell and 800 mg of Ibuprophen did not touch it. :wink: Then 5 weeks ago I started the two Protein powder drinks (Breakfast and lunch) and a sensible meal with low carbs and fats for dinner to start getting ready for the lap band surgery I hope I will be having. I again had horrible headaches from carb withdrawal. It lasted about 5-6 days. I have been on this for 5 weeks and have lost 15 pounds. Now I have no headaches, feel sharper, have little hunger, and am just waiting, and waiting and waiting for my surgeon to send in my paperwork for approval. :smile2: I would bet you are having a double whammy of caffeine and carb withdrawal. Hang in there, once you are past it is better than before you started. Just don't go backward and have to do it all over again! :eek: Hang in there and god luck!:biggrin:

Battlekat, I am soooooo happy for you! :biggrin: Do you have a surgery date yet? What are your emotions since you found out? Are you excited or scared or worried or what? What are you doing differently now? What kind of pre-op diet do you have to do? Everyday I keep thinking "This will be my day." It has to happen eventually. Trying not to watch the clock as each minute goes by! Froggie D

I started drinking Tab when I was about 13 years old. That was 44 years ago. I switched to Diet Coke when it came out. I have been addicted for a Looooong Time. A couple of years ago I switched to caffeine free and it was hell - headaches and I thought I might murder someone, I was so grumpy. A month ago, I decided to stop Diet Coke in preparation for my surgery (still waiting) to see if I could. I thought it would be hard, but it was a breeze. I started drinking Water and Crystal Light. What amazed me what how thirsty I was and how much water I am drinking now - usually over 100 ounces per day. I never drank that much Diet Coke. And I feel soooo much better. I also associate certain foods with Diet Coke - pizza, Mexican, burgers, and popcorn. I have been able to eat all of these without Diet Coke just fine. In fact I am eating without drinking at all. My biggest piece of advice is: do not try to go off Diet Coke and caffeine at the same time. Either get another source of caffeine or switch to caffeine free diet coke and stop it altogether later. You can do it. If I could, anybody can!!!!!!!

Battlekat, we are in the same boat. :wub: I started my process in October. Went to a seminar to find out my insurance would not cover until 2009. :sad: In January I went to see a surgeon who said he took BC/BS. After waiting two weeks, found out that he did not practice at the right hospital, but his partner did. Set an appt with him and then was called and told that he was dropping his privileges at that hospital. :bored: Mean time I saw the psych doc three times and got my testing done. :tongue: Called another surgeon who said I had to start over with another seminar. :mad2: Went to the seminar and started to process only to find out I had to do an 8 week over the phone consultation with a dietician (required by BC/BS). I also had to do two support groups and a face to face nutrition consult (required by the surgeon). :mad: I finished all this in early June and called to see the surgeon for the first time. Thought I was well on my way at this point. The earliest appointment was not until July 16. :frown: The surgeon told me that day (July 16) that they would submit for approval within a week. It is now 24 days later and they still have not submitted. I called BC/BS and they contacted the surgeon to find out what the holdup was. They said they were just busy. So here I sit. I have tried to get ready, however. I have been doing two Protein powder drinks and one lean meat and vegs meal each day. I have lost 15 pounds. I have gotten all my meds in line as liquids or crushables. I have stopped drinking pop and am drinking at least 64 ounces of Water or Crystal Light per day (most days over 100 ounces), I am not drinking with meals and I am eating more slowly. I want this so bad. Just doesn't seem fair. :cool: Let me know as soon as you hear about your surgery date. I hope it is soon. I am with you. :drool: Froggie D

I have BC/BS insurance. I started my process in January and the end of May I was through with all the requirements. I called for an appt with the surgeon and could not be seen until July 16. That day the surgeon told me they would send in the report within a week. Today is 24 days later and they still have not sent in the paperwork. I have talked to BC/BS and they called the surgeon and were told it will take another week! :cool: I do not understand the delay. It is really frustrating. Trying to be patient.:tongue:

My surgeon said he has had people who seemed to have no trouble with taking pills and later was able to see the pills just laying in the pouch when they did testing. He advocates liquid, chewable or crushing everything. :scared2:

That is terrible! I feel awful for you. Hang in there, it will happen eventually!!!!!

That is absolutely wonderful! I am so glad for you.:ohmy:

I have always been a pretty focused person, but I am waiting for the word from my surgeon about a date, and I am having a really hard time accomplishing anything at work. I can't seem to remember things, I forget what I am doing, and I keep looking at my cell phone waiting for the call. I think it is just excitement. Sort of feels like it did the week before Christmas vacation started when I was a kid.

I sure hope you hear soon. I am in the same boat. I saw my surgeon on July 16 and was told it would be submitted within a week. Today, Aug 3, I called the insurance and they have received nothing from my surgeon's office. I called the surgeon's office and did not get a call back. Don't they have any idea what they are doing to us? I am sooooo frustrated and angry!:smile2:

Congrats to you!

My nutritionist spent the time talking about what Vitamins I would need to take, where to buy them, about Protein drinks, the importance of lots of Water, and what the stages of diet were following the surgery. Since I had read a lot, reasearched the internet and been reading this website for a while, I was knowledgeable and we had a great conversation. The psych eval was an interview about my weight history and attempts to lose, I took two hours of computerized tests and them went back to talk about the results. He focused on things like who my support system is, what I was expecting out to the surgery, if I am really ready for a major lifestyle change, etc. One issue that seemed to come up was whether or not I believed I had the power to make changes in my life or if I thought the lap band was a magic answer. It was relatively non-threatening. Don't be intimidated. It is not scary.:smile2: Froggie D

I am so bummed out. I saw my surgeon on July 16 and he said everything looked in order and they would submit to my insurance within a week (July 23). I called my insurance today and they said nothing had been submitted yet. I called my surgeon and left a message, but no call back. It is so frustrating. I am so ready. I do not have to do pre-op except for two days of liquid, but I started two protein drinks and one meal on July 17. I am losing weight and doing well with it. I have stopped drinking with meals, stopped drinking Diet Coke, and gotten all my meds changed to liquids. I have my vitamins as chewables and liquids. I am ready to move forward!:smile2: Needing some support! Froggie D

Am I the only one getting banded in Aug 09? WOW. Deb:tongue2:

GOOD LUCK! You will be fine. I am so happy everytime I see someone posting they are ready to start their jouney. Post after your surgery and tell us how it all went!!!!

I have not had my band yet, but my surgwon talked about this at a support group. He siad most people who have the lap band have reflux and it is not a factor that prevents the surgery. He fixes hiatal hernia while he is in there if you have that. After the surgery there is no more reflux because the pouch part of the stomach has little bile to come back up and the main part cannot get the bile back up through the opening the band creates. Tha sounds wonderful to me.

I never even considered the bypass as the idea of permanently changing my body, facing malnutrition and losing my hair just did not appeal to me. I have not been banded yet, but for me it is the only option.

Finally getting your band is wonderful. I am glad it has been easy for you so far. I am anxiously awaiting my approval. Nice to see some one get there! This is the first day of the best of your life, I figure!

Be aware if there are artificial sweeteners in your protein powder. The Alcohol Sugars (sorbitol, manitol and some others) can cause diarhea in sensitive people. I am one of those and get a pretty violent reaction if I use too much. Splenda (sucralose) and Equal (aspertame) usually do not. Most sugar free candy, jello, popsicles, etc have sugar alcohols in them.