mimi368

All my info was submitted to my insurance yesterday! They said it usually takes my insurance 2-3 weeks. So, now I am playing the waiting game. My pre-op diet is 4 weeks, so they told me to start it now. I hoping for an early April surgery date if all goes well!

I started my pre-op today. I have a protein shake for breakfast and lunch, and meat and 2 veggies or meat and 1 veggie and 1 fruit for dinner. Only water to drink and no potatoes, pasta, bread, rice or snacks. This is for 4 weeks.

I have just been reading through this long thread and have noticed that the majority of us overweight people were addicted to "diet" drinks. Go figure!

I'm hoping for an April date as well! My last appointment is March 12th and then everything is submitted to the insurance company.

My surgeon also performed my EGD about a month ago and found a hiatal hernia. He is going to repair it at the same time he does my lap-band.

Thanks for the replies, Guys. It helps to hear that others have experienced the same feelings. I am actually looking forward to getting the call saying "Start your pre-op diet" and not be in this limbo anymore!

Won't it be great when we don't have to worry about things like this anymore??!!

I just finished up my 6 months weight loss program and the only appointment I have left is the cardiologist on March 12th. Then everything will be submitted to the insurance for approval so I am hoping for an April surgery date. The problem is all of a sudden I want to eat everything in sight!!! I don't know if it is nerves or what but I feel like I cannot get satisfied and afterwards I feel terrible!

Hey HappyTrucker280, I went to a seminar on 12/14/09 so it really hasn't been very long. It just seems like it has!

I am hoping for an April surgery date! I have a stress test and echocardiogram on 3/12/10 which is my last thing to do before submitting to insurance. I have to do a 4 week pre-op diet too.

As far as symptoms go, I have heartburn a good bit but I didn't know that I had the hernia until I had the EGD.

Hi Meg, My surgeon also does the EGD so my hiatal hernia was found at that time. He is going to repair mine at the time he does my lap-band surgery.

I'm afraid that I am going to be pushed to April as well. The first date that I could get for my stress test is 3/12/10. I will be finished after that too!

Good luck!!!!!!

I had my psych appointment today! I had to do paperwork first, just general information and then was given a little hand held computer that had questions on it. After that I saw the Dr. for about 10 minutes. He said I was cleared for surgery as far as he was concerned. The only thing that bothered me was that he would never let me finish my answers when he asked me questions. He would but in and start the next question. I am sure they are not all like this though. Anyway, another consult marked off the list!

That makes me feel better knowing that some of you had such positive experiences. Hopefully mine will be too!

I saw the nutrionist last week and all she really did was go over copies of the diet that my surgeon wants me to follow pre-op, post-op and the rest of my life. I felt like the surgeon's office really could have done that. It was $78 and not covered by the insurance, but I'll do whatever it takes!

HappyHomeCC, Thanks for your very encouraging post! I have started drinking the protein shakes for breakast instead of having my usual sweet tea and cinnamon melt from McDonalds!!! My next goal is to drop sodas and caffiene. Like you said I think it will make it easier for me when I start my pre-op diet. My psych consult is tomorrow and I have to attend one more support group meeting next Monday night. I am WAITING to hear from the cardiologist as to when my stress test and echocardiogram is being scheduled and after that everything should be ready to submit to the insurance.

Congratulations! I can't wait to post the same thing!

Hi Ruthie! My psych consult is tomorrow and I have been nervous about it. I just don't know what to expect from it.

I feel your pain. This waiting game is killing me too! I had so hoped to have my surgery in February but will probably be March or April now!

My insurance requires that the 6 month weight loss program be with a doctor not associated with the surgeon. I am using my GYN for this. They are all different!

Thanks for the encouragement Betsy! I guess I am just afraid that something will come up and they will say that I can't have the surgery! In reality I know it's a lot better off to be safe than sorry.

I had my cardiac consult today and they told me that I also need a stress test and an echocardiogram. Did anyone else have to do these too? He said that my EKG was pretty good except for a small abnormality which he said was normal for someone who had had hypertension for a long time.

I know how you feel. When I went for my EKG last week the tech asked me why I was having weight loss surgery and that I didn't need to have it. She said that I was not that big and that I just needed to get motivated and exercise more like on The Biggest Loser! I wanted to tell her to mind her own business but I just said that my weight and BMI say that I do qualify for the surgery! I wish they would just do their job!