Sluggo

Hello Terri, We are on similar paths. As a self pay patient things did move very quickly. I am on day 8 of the pre-op liquids and slowly going insane. My warped sense of humor keeps me going though. I have a Dec. 15 date in Nashville and looking forward to even drinking broth. As for Christmas events, I have normally just opted not to go. Okay, most of them I wouldn't want to go to normally so this is working out ha ha. I have chosen not to share this surgery with anyone so I sure don't care for the questions on why I am not chowing down and throwing back drinks. Good luck. Me, I am a big chicken but I am going forward with it just the same.

I agree with a previous posting. One battle at a time. Lose the weight and get healthy. Give it time then see what happens. With creative attire you will look simply marvelous. It's better than the alternative like looking good for your own funeral. Good luck and blessings.

With my December 15 surgery date just days off I begin to conjure up questions that maybe experienced bandsters can answer. I am going to be doing some foreign travel in the middle of next year to places in Latin America. I know I am in control of the diet regimen here. However, what things or hints to I need to think about when travelling in other countries? Bottled water is a given as well as recognizing protein foods such as fish and chicken. What other challenges will I face? A concern is that rice is a staple in many Latin American countries and I am told this is a no-no. Also what advice can any experienced bandster travelers provide about follow up care should I need it in another country? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

klutzyazhel: You said in your post you had a rough year. Was it related to getting the band? Can you share? It sounds like you have achieved a huge success.

I read on here about folks getting excited about a surgery date. My date is 12/15 too but I am excited only in the sense that I am terrified. I don't care for doctors, hospitals, and surgery. I don't guess anyone does but I am a big chicken worse than most.

Hello all. Regarding the bad tasting protein drinks and supplements for the pre op and some post op diets; I experienced that when I bought into Medfast. Wow, that stuff makes you want to gag. I read on this forum about other examples of similar products that are just horrible to take. I remember way back when how good Optifast tasted. If you are not familiar with this it is premised on the high protein, low cal, low carb principle. Of course obviously I didn’t sustain the weight loss or else why this ha ha? Well Optifast is hard to get without entering an expensive Dr. supervised program. There are, however, online alternatives. It and other similar products can be bought with permission from your doctor. I chose one called Nutrimed that gives me 75gm of protein/day. It tastes okay and is an Optifast clone for less money. I get it from North Star Weigh loss.com. They are wonderful to work with and have other bariatric products. I am on day 3 of the pre-op diet and at least now I am eager for the next drink instead of dreading it. So you folks who were scheduled for surgery on Dec. 2 and 3, how ya doin’??

As I write this I know that one of you is recovering right now and another will be in surgery tomorrow. I wish you and everyone else in this exclusive club of ours the very best. Count me in for the December group. December 15 is the date for me. I'm on day 2 of pre-op liquid diet. I am doing something that is just like Optifast and is a high protein drink X 5 per day. It's not fun but not impossible either. It's only another step in the journey. My wife said I was irritable last night so I blamed the diet. I wonder how long I can play that card?

Yes, I have experienced this. I lose weight very quickly when I "diet." Sustaining it is another issue. Isn't that what WLS is all about? A tool to help keep it off. That's the problem, I want to eat healthy not DIET. I am now slightly below my qualifying BMI but I know my history and chances of keeping the weight off are not good. So I am going the self pay route. My advice to you is find another doctor.

I have a surgery date on 18 December. Well isn't that going to be a fun Christmas. One I won't forget. Hopefully I will celebrate each Christmas with the thought of this is when I took the first step to better health and quality of life. Good luck with yours.

Does anyone know of a Dr. near Montgomery who will do fills and aftercare for LapBand? Went out of state but not out of country.

I learned that the surgeon for my upcoming WLS does not routinely use the new Allergan AP Lap Band system. He will order it if the patient insists but it costs more. Is that a big deal and is it worth the extra cost? Does anyone have any information on the Allergan AP Lap Band vs other models? I called the Allergan information number but got no information specific to this question. Thanks for your advice.

That is helpful information because I will be travelling from out of state to the surgeon, I was going to make it a bit of a medical vacation. I planned on at least going out to dinner and sampling local cuisine maybe a day or two before surgery. Now that is obviously not a good idea. That's okay though because I am still moving forward with this.

Can anyone give me the details on the pre-op diet that is to shrink the liver? I understand its purpose but I am curious as to what it involves and its duration.

Wow I don't feel so weird now. I haven't told my wife yet either. I can't explain it but I am in the preparation phases now. When I get a date, I will explain it to her. I have to tell her so she can take the time off to travel the 16 hours to Texas then drive me from the hospital. I really love this woman but she is a big blabber mouth. Telling her something is like a Super Bowl commercial. She means no harm but I have learned she can't help herself. Her network of secret divulging messengers are the same way. The whole state would know. Strangers would approach me in the street “Say, your THAT guy who…” In balance I have not told anyone else outside of the doc's office. I don't plan to. It is personal with me. I don't need opinions or advice from others. What I need is that support you get from those who have walked in the same shoes.

Wow that is some great information that is new to me - thank you. I am glad you told me to tour before the surgery because I won't want to go afterwards. That changes my travel plans some and is something I had not given much thought to. Again - thanks. I've heard of the liver shrinking thing. Can you tell me what that involves? I would love some great comida mexicana before the procedure. I was thinking of staying at the Valencia or another fancy one downtown to live it up while there but now I guess I need to think about how I will feel after for a few days. I probably won't be looking forward to that 15 hour drive going back home either. Maybe I should break it up into a 2 day drive back. I have not met Dr. Rincon yet so this is all new. In fact, I haven't met my new family doc until 10/13. Dr. Rincon is one of 3 San Antonio WLS docs I am considering but at least one is about to be off the list because it sounds too much like an assembly line operation. If I want to be treated like I'm stupid and an impersonal statistic I will go back to dealing with Blue Cross. I am happy for you and your success. This whole process takes a lot of courage and good folks like you who have cut the trail before are a source of strength for the rest of us.

zunirmh: Thanks for the information. I feel better getting input from actual patients of Dr. Rincon. Today I e-mailed Lucy in his office again with a few more questions. I will be self-pay and traveling from Alabama so I had a few particular issues unique to my situation. I plan on taking in some of the sights in San Antonio. It's been about 9 years since I was there last. Any recommendations on a very nice hotel that will be convenient to both the hospital, Dr's office, and attractions? I don't mind going all out. I want to have a comfortable and fun stay since I won't be able to shovel in the great Tex-Mex cuisine. Those days are gone and I don’t want to revisit them ever again. I hear that before surgery, some people go out in a blaze of glory and do one last feast to make a king envious. I don’t want to do that. Food isn’t fun anymore to me.

Thank you this is reassuring information. I plan to use Dr. Rincon but have little to go on other than an attractive special offer because I am self-pay and his vitae. Although he ranks up there with the other good ones on Allergan. Going over the border is not an option because my local surgeon will not do aftercare unless the surgery was from a U.S. physician. Not many other options there either unless I drive 100 to 200 miles and pay 2 to 4 times more for fills. For the surgery I will be traveling from 3 states over so I am a little nervous about the unknown. I have been to San Antonio a long time ago and I am looking foward to a pleasure visit post op. I want to check into a very nice hotel and use the time to relax and do some touring.

thebandedgirl: Good way to think. I am very pleased with my decision to self-pay. That says a lot because I am a cheapskate. For my own reasons and circumstances, I feel like I don't really have a choice - well maybe I do but doing the dance with BCBS and probably still getting denied 8 or 9 months from now will make me crazier. If I was 10 years younger maybe I'd wait it out with the BCBS vultures but my clock is ticking down these days. I am looking to get banded in San Antonio and make a little vacation of it. The only reason I don't do the across the border thing is the AH docs here in my area won't take me for aftercare but will with a US doc. Ironinc since this MD is a "ferner" (that is "foreigner" in Alabama speak). Congrats on your progress and strength.

You are correct LarraineM. Negotiating new terms through my employer with BCBS in AL is not an option. Therefore, I will self-pay and try to make a vacation of it. Expensive darn vacation but hopefully instead of a t-shirt and bad home movies, a souvenir for life.

To untfluter: Good for you for your response to that guy! I like that. I still prefer to keep things quiet. What will I say when asked? Well in my case I am known to be pretty sarcastic and it is a benifit of being old and crabby. I'll dust off the same smart ass responses I used to such as "I just found that smoking crack helps me keep the weight off" off "You know I can't explain it but ever since I was with that hooker several months ago, the weight just falls off." I have several more and they understand the real answer is NONE YA! I don't consider saying you are on a diet after banding a lie either because you will be watching what you consume.

Well I am beginning the process of self-pay and I think I am doing an extraordinary amount of preparation and research because it is big $$ out of my pocket. I think that it is fair to say, though, that I would do the same if the leeches at my BCBS were paying for it. I will do much of the same clearance procedures but just not at their schedule and arbitrary requirements in their obvious efforts to pay for nada. I will just do it with respect to my own dignity and quest for quality care. I think in this country we have come to believe, and expect, that if we want quality, we have to pay a great deal more for it. I suppose that is true in my case but it is proof why many foreign car manufacturers are whipping our domestic automakers.

BCBS of AL will also pay but with the hassles and everything, running around for this eval, psych, etc. it's not worth it to me. Just a matter of personal choice on my end and refusing to be treated like I'm stupid. My new doc knows what to do and can make absolutely certain I am medically cleared for this surgery. I have a medical history of years of obesity but have not seen a doctor in 5 years (okay maybe I am stupid on that part or just plain lucky). I have no 3 year history of documented obesity. I've been on strict diet & exercise for 4 months but get no credit. I have to jump through hoops like a trained circus dog for 6 months then if I fall below qualifying BMI - I don't qualify. I am old and crabby and will just pay for it myself instead of putting up with their attempts to take away my last shred of dignity that remains.

Who does it for $11,400? I am going to pay on my own. BCBS doesn't hesitate to take my money out of my pay every month for 30 years. I've had very few claims. Now I need help to get healthy and you know the rest of the story. I'll pay on my own but going over the border is not an option. Too many problems finding after care in my area with that but they will see you if you had a U.S. surgeon. I know...more BS. Talk about a minority group of second class citizens getting everything but respect and decent treatment.

Yes I am keeping it a secret. I'm not telling co-workers, friends, family, and will wait until the last minute to tell my wife. Several years ago I lost a lot of weight - only to gain it back. Everyone asked - did you get "the surgery"? Like my effort didn't count as though I cheated because I got "the surgery." Well I didn't but I am now once I get past the demons at AL BCBS. I don't want anyone's unsolicited opinion, approval, or condemnation because I got "the surgery." This is for me and it takes just as much, if not more, courage, determination, and effort that only others in the same situation would understand.

Thanks to all of you for your words of advice and encouragement. Yes you do understand and that is a comfort to me. Being like this is an emotional slice of hell anyway and I think I will reach out to anyone who throws a lifeline to get through it. Again – thank you. Does anyone have any information on affordable (self-pay) lap band surgeons in the U.S.? There is a reputable one in San Antonio, Texas who quotes about $12k. It is so frustrating dealing with BCBS. Mainly the hoops and that 6-month diet thing. They treat you like you are less than human and stupid. My frustration is that I have been dieting and exercising for 4 months waiting to visit a new doctor. Yes it takes that long if you are a new patient here and want a good doctor. I wanted to make myself healthy enough to get the band and mitigate other health issues. It is working but I know I will not sustain it over time. Now I find that I don’t get any credit for that. I fear that if I fall below the qualifying BMI, I will be disapproved as BCBS states on their website. So my option now, and I am seriously considering this is to self-pay just to spare myself the BCBS BS. Aftercare is a concern because even though the medical tourism options are affordable, the doctors around here do not want to fool with you. I would be forced to drive long distances and pay large amounts for one who will. I had decided on Panama or Costa Rica, because I always wanted to visit there but…factoring in air fare for 2, hotel stay, it puts me right at or even above a cash pay here in the U.S. I did find a local surgeon who will do the aftercare if I get the procedure from a U.S. doctor (ironic because the doctor is a foreign national).