stargate713

Ditto! I was in my bariatric nurse's office 3 weeks ago crying my eyes out "why should I think this time will be different?" First she reminded me that only 5% of the people who lose it on their own keep it off, and secondly she told me if I weren't having these feelings she'd be worried about me, that I wasn't being realistic about the process. I felt much better...especially knowing that she believed in me...even if my own resolve was wavering. My surgery is Wed.....and at this point I'm feeling a sort of "calm resolve"......that I'm about to begin the rest of my life.

Hi Eric! Welcome to the fold...lol. Your BMI for insurance purposes is what you start at, so if you lose weight it will not effect your approval, but some docs do require you to lose weight prior to surgery, and they definately don't want you to GAIN. Any weight loss prior will only make the surgery go easier. Your doc will give you guidlines to follow. As for the approval letter, it probably varies from insurance to insurance, but mine did send me a letter, although that wasn't until after I submitted all my documentation, and completed my 3 month supervised diet period. You can always call your insurance to be sure....one piece of advice...don't assume anything! Always check to comfirm things have been done or submitted as needed every step of the way. Will save you a lot of greif in the end. Good luck!

Don't forget it takes your body 6-8 weeks to heal from surgery (any surgery). Definately follow your surgeon's giudlines. Some complications of exercising or even lifting heavy objects too soon is hernia at the incision sites or issues with the port if not completely healed into place.

Like everyone else said....use the time to prepare yourself mentally and physically for this journey....because it truely what it is....a journey....just like life.

You need a prescription from the doc for the UGI, then you call your out patient radiology center or hospital and schedule the proceedure

Hi! well...you have a lot if medical issues going on, and as you already realize a very high BMI. Your first step when you get your insurance coverage is to call them and make sure there is no "exclusion" for weight loss surgery in your particular plan. The next step should be to go to an informational seminar for a surgeon in your area who accepts you insurance. There you will learn a good deal of information to help make your decision. Then you will need to have the eval with the surgeon to see if #1 you are a candidate for the surgery, and #2 if this is the best choice for you (ie band vs gastric bypass). In the mean time, continue to read these message boards...you will get a wealth of information from people who have had the proceedure and what their sucesses and challanges have been. Good luck in your journey.

OMG! and I just looked at your pics on your profile.....you look fantastic! And so much more happy than in your before pic....no matter what the scale says you look like you lost more. (tell the surgeon to.....well you know...lol)

maybe business is slow for him and he's fishing to convert you to a bypass. I thought long and hard over this decision, and if it were not for the fact that the band is reversable in the event of a serious complication I would not be having surgery at all. Loosing 52 lbs is no small feat and you should be proud of yourself, and as you said you may have in all reality GAINED over past year without the band. I think the suggestion above to see the nutritionist is sound, just to see if you can improve in any areas, and the other thing would be that you didn't mention exercise. If you are not exercising you are missing a big part of the puzzle. Best of luck .....and keep up the good work!

Your doctor should be able to modify the diet for you, and or make changes in your meds as needed, you need to discuss it with your doctor. Best of luck!

Yes am a big fan of her books as well.....it's called the "Outlander" series here in the US. I have been in love with Jamie and Claire for years! It's a guilty pleasure...boarder-lining on "cultish" I'm afraid....

You GO Scotty!!!!! Wow, that was a great piece, you did a nice job!

Hi Jen! I'm in Burlington County...My surgery date is March 31. Feel free to add me as a friend (i need friends....lol)

The stress test is the next step for your cardiac clearance for the surgery. It's to make sure that you don't have any blockages or undiagnosed heart condition that would make the surgery too risky for you. My cardiologist did EKG, stress test, and Echocariogram before giving me clearance because I had boarder-line high blood pressure and a heart murmur. Try not to worry, it's all part of the process and for your own safety. As far as the test "going well" make sure you follow any prep instructions your doctor gave you

Yes...Betsy hit the nail on the head...you must read your own insurance contract and fulfill their requirements. Even the same insurance company's policy can vary from employer to employer. I was able to find all the details on my insurance company's web site, but it took some time and digging. Then I printed it out and kept it with my "lap-band file" that i took to all my meetings and appointments. I know it sounds like a lot of work...and it is! But the bottom line is that if you don't get the ok from the insurance you don't get the band unless you can self-pay. Good luck.....and stay the course!!!

Hi! I'm in South jersey too...my date is March 31. Please feel free to contact me any time! Best of luck with your journey :biggrin:

I like the GNC 100% Whey protein...they have 21G protein/ 120 calories.

Because of issues with doctors and info being submitted to insurance i thought i was going to be pushed to April......but I just got in under the wire...My date is March 31!!!!

Yes, a fistula is a "hole" or "opening" or "communication" between to areas. So a gastric fistula is unfortunately a hole in your stomach. That is why the band has to come out, to allow the area to heal, and the hole to close up.

If it does not get better let your doc know.....don't ignore it......could be something like an abscess that is totally unrelated to surgery.

losing weight decreases the fat around organs.

The pre-op program I am in recommends a small protein-based snack in between meals if you are hungry untill you have adequate restriction.....I won't be banded until 3/31 so i don't know if this works....but I guess I'll be finding out! But I agree with the last post, if it weren't for these message boards and the blogs I follow I wouldn't have known to anticipate the "banster-hell" phase. Knowing to expect it has helped me prepare for it mentaly.

Change your screen name to "winnerbob"! We are all pulling for you buddy......Good Luck!

looks like I'll be joining you all in April as well. "what a long ...strange trip it's been" and it's only just begun!

Yep.....I was just in my Bariatric Nurses's office this week crying my eyes out. But she told me if I wasn't sitting there crying and asking myself the hard questions then she'd be worried about me. Two days later I got my insurance approval! I think it's all part of the process.

Any one can vomit and aspirate and die....even without ever having any surgery.