Wisteria75

I somehow got lost in the shuffle... Happyloser 10/1 bethany329 10/1 Timmers 10/1 Lindac80 10/1 Marfar7 10/1 Ca7696 10/2 Opus03 10/2 RedboneLA 10/3 ihavehope3 10/3 Viking_girl 10/5 leetie 10/7 o-2BTHIN 1O-7-2009 Jtreece 10/8 MommyOf1 10/8 Suz-Q 10/9 Noodles 10/9 SharPei 10/13 Guy 10/13 Cshytle 10/13 MoniqueD 10/14 Jenfromtheburg 10/14 ncarreras 10/14 angela677 10/15 Kme 10/15 Nooshie 10/15 munkee'smommy 10/15 Oliverdog 10/16 danyett 10/16 Wisteria75 10/16 We3601 10/19 Onikenbai 10/19 hope2bthinr 10/19 Mzcancer 10/20 Soexcited 10/21 erenstar983 10/21 pina3940 10/21 jenrobbar951 TBA HDmama 10/22 Crazychica133 10/26 NJLIZ 10-26 Idahlem72 10/27 Daria77 10/27 Barley 10/28 4girlfamily 10/29 Tina 10/29" marybeth 10/21/09 Good luck October Bandits!!! :cursing:

Thanks everyone. Oh yes... for some reason I never thought about taking measurements and stuff. I do have a before pic though. Thanks for bringing that up; I will definitely have hubby do it tonight. :cursing:

Congrats to you! :thumbup: Yes, like it was my choice and I'm in this pain because of me... etc. Good to be able to relate to someone! I really hope this feeling is temporary, it's not just that, I am feeling emotionally, mentally, like what did I do? What was I thinking? I think it is probably normal to think that way but being in so much pain and being stuck in the house is just plain depressing. Nevermind going back to work and all the stuff I'll have to take with me... argh. That's my rant for the day.

Thank you. I'm sort of doing that now... using my arm to get up rather than my body, but still it's hard. I am an administrator so I sit at a desk all day; not too demanding. Although I do have to travel 2 hours on 10/28. I hope that won't be a problem because I have to do it. Anyone else feel a bit depressed? I'm just thinking to myself, "what did I do?"

Hello, I had my surgery Friday morning and I'm still very sore. The pain meds seem to be the only thing that helps the incision sites aside from holding a very soft folded up blanket and an ice pack. The gas is bad too, but finally happily passing it! LOL I've been hungry too... just started my protein shakes yesterday and I'm still so hungry. I don't remember reading anything or being notified about being hungry! Also, my throat is still very sore (from the tube?) and I'm hoping that goes away soon. I'm worried that now I have strep. I am supposed to be back to work on Wednesday and I hope I can do it. Let's just see. Oh yes, anyone have any tips on getting out of bed? That is the worst part... getting in and out of bed because it really stretches the surgery site. Thanks to everyone... Best of wishes and good luck on your journeys! ~Renee

Hey everyone, I was lucky and did not have to have a pre-op diet. :thumbup: My surgery is Oct. 16!!! :tt2: Good luck everyone! :tt1: ~Renee

Congratulations everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are October Bandsters! Woo hoo!!! :thumbup::sad::thumbup::w00t:

Hello Everyone...if your name is not here why dont you copy and paste then add your name and date! Happyloser 10/1 bethany329 10/1 Timmers 10/1 Lindac80 10/1 Marfar7 10/1 Ca7696 10/2 Opus03 10/2 RedboneLA 10/3 ihavehope3 10/3 Viking_girl 10/5 leetie 10/7 Jtreece 10/8 MommyOf1 10/8 Suz-Q 10/9 Noodles 10/9 SharPei 10/13 Guy 10/13 Cshytle 10/13 MoniqueD 10/14 Jenfromtheburg 10/14 ncarreras 10/14 Kme 10/15 Nooshie 10/15 Oliverdog 10/16 danyett 10/16 Wisteria75 10/16 We3601 10/19 Onikenbai 10/19 Mzcancer 10/20 Soexcited 10/21 erenstar983 10/21 pina3940 10/21 jenrobbar951 TBA HDmama 10/22 Crazychica133 10/26 Idahlem72 10/27 Daria77 10/27 Barley 10/28 4girlfamily 10/29 :thumbup:

Thank you soooo much Jenny! I am so scared! Truth is... I just had a bad cold last week and I'm still sniffling and coughing but VERY little. I informed them the pre-op evaluator of this and she asked me if it was resolved. I said "yes". Should I have said "no"? I am no longer "sick", just coughing a little in the AM and PM because I still have a little bit of phlegm left and my nose is stuffy but only in the AM and PM and not much comes out of it. I'm wondering... should I let them know? I'm afraid they'll tell me I can't have the surgery! But then again, am I in danger? I thought I would wait at least until next Tuesday to see where I'm at then. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance! Renee

Hey Kris! So sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. It has been so crazy here at my job; so much work to do! My surgery date is 10/16/09!!! I'm excited and scared. I know I am doing the right thing though. I would love to get together at some point. Possibly a week or two after surgery or we could carpool to the next support meeting? Thanks for replying. I wish you the best of luck also. Maybe we all can add each other as "friends" here so we can keep in touch? :thumbup: Renee

Thanks again Lisa for the congrats! :w00t: I know the time will go by fast. I am soooo nervous though. Is there anything you did before surgery as a diet... like did you do the chewing slowly thing (which I think is soooo hard) and the protein shakes? If so, what else did you do? I live in the Mt. Tom Ave area. I could use a friend going through this journey. So thanks... I would love to meet also. I know where Plain Street is... near Strong Ave. Very cool. Congratulations being down 75 lbs. That is a HUGE success! :smile: I like how you call the band a 2 year old... LOL you never know when it will act up. That's a positive way to look at it.

Hi Everyone! I just got approved and my surgery date is October 16th! I am so nervous, excited and scared! I am having doubts because something foreign is going into my body to aid in losing weight, however, I know that this is the best thing I can do for myself. I have such mixed feelings. Anyway, congrats to everyone on their journeys! ~Renee

Hi Jenny! Hi Lisa! Thank you for the congrats!!! I am with Dr. Fiallo. Just got the call yesterday that my surgery is 10/16!!! Oh My God. I am freaking out! Good and bad. I'm so nervous and scared that something foreign is going inside my body. This is the only way I believe that I can lose weight before it's too late. :smile::w00t: Total mixed feelings. I have researched the band and know a few people who have it who never regretted getting it. They are healthy now too. I just hear so much about sliming and vomiting and not losing the weight and all that yucky stuff. Anyway, I have to focus on my eating from now on in... very strictly so that I'll be more than prepared. Is there anything that you guys did that could help me? Any tips? Thank you! And Good luck in your journeys! Lisa, you said you live in Easthampton? How cool! Maybe we can meet someday! I definitely will be going to the support groups at the Clarion as soon as I am banded. I thought they were great when I went "pre-op". ~ Renee

Hello! Sorry it has taken a while to get back you. My BMI is 41.5% and I have prediabetes which I take medication for, asthma which I use an inhaler, acid reflux, which I take medication for, and sleep apnea where I use a CPAP machine, so yeah, I was well qualified. With my plan, I had to have a 35% BMI with two comorbities OR a 40% BMI or over. That's it. They didn't need me to a 6 month weight loss plan at all like some of the people on here. It's quite simple actually. So basically, BCBS didn't need anything from me... it's PVSA that needed me to have the appointments and stuff to be qualified then when that was finished they sent in the pre-auth form. Yes, BCBS is pretty good with approvals. Dr. Fiallo said so himself as well. Best of luck to everyone!

To answer my own question, for those people waiting for BCBS, it took about three weeks to a month to get approval! :thumbdown:

Hi all, My name is Renee and I have gone through the necessary steps and have been approved by insurance. I am just waiting for PVSA to call me back with a surgery date. This is frightening and exciting at the same time! I called and spoke with Missy on Monday and asked her when to expect surgery. She told me that BCBS hadn't given me the approval yet, however, I told her that I received a letter from BCBS dated 8/28/09 that I was approved! So Missy was really nice and had me fax the letter to her. She said once it is reviewed, someone will call me back with a date. I hope it is soon. I look forward to meeting some of you at the support groups. I have found them very helpful so far (preop). Renee

Hi All, I had my first consult with Dr. Fiallo at PVSA in May. I've done all their guidelines and they put the pre-approval forms through my insurance on 8/28/09. Does anyone have BCBS HMO Blue? If so, how long did they take to approve you? Thanks, Wisteria

I haven't been banded YET; provided my insurance approves me. Anyway, I plan to keep it a secret. The only people who know I may have it done are my husband, my sister, my cousin (who's had the band), a friend (who's had the band), and everyone at work (6 people). That's it. I feel most people are way too judgemental (that I know). If I told my mother, she would think it is cheating as well. People don't know enough about the band to realize that WE are working, not just the band. The band is a tool! It makes me crazy knowing people with this mentality. THAT is why I made my choice. It is my choice and not theirs. :mad: Can anyone help and tell me what they have told people? For instance, if I am approved and banded end of October or early November, we all know Turkey day is coming up. I am known to eat lots of sweets. If my family sees me not eating so much they will wonder. :sad: And I just refuse to tell them the truth. It's my truth not theirs.

Hi Lana, Thank you for the warm welcome. :sad: I will continue checking out all of the resources available to me. Best wishes to you as well! :sneaky:

Hi Betty Kay, Thanks for replying... and I wish all the best for you on your journey. To good health! :sneaky: Wisteria

Hi G'ma and thanks for replying! WOW 9 weeks and you can breathe better? OMG! Very good for you... congratulations! :sneaky: Was it difficult with the change in diet and having to exercise more, or does it just plain feel great?

WOW your asthma is gone? That is great! Congratulations!!! Thanks for the well wishes! Good luck also. :blushing:

I am from Massachusetts (western part of the state) and I have not been banded yet. Hoping insurance will be preapproved! Hello to all and good luck on your journeys!

Bonjour ! Je suis nouvel aussi. Avez-vous eu la chirurgie pourtant ? Mon français n'est pas si bon.

Hello, I am pre- not post- but I wanted to ask those of you who have already had the surgery. What do you do for exercise? After losing some weight (and after healing) is exercising easier for you? Thanks in advance, Wisteria