Cookee81

I was banded on 1/11, and I only had the shoulder pain for about a week. I did take gas x chewables. I know they said it wouldn't help, but it made me feel better taking it just in case it would. Now I just get the weird hiccups/burps/pain when I'm done eating my protein shake. I can't wait until they go away.

I have Cinga too. I didn't see my doctor 6 times in 6 months either. I saw him 6 times in 8 months. It was still approved. Good Luck, and don't let it get you down. It will happen.

My doctor had me on a 3 Protein shake a day diet. It was horrible. I was hungry almost all the time. Not to mention the caffiene withdraws since I didn't drink coffee or soda since I started my liquids. I started it on 12/28 and had my surgery yesterday. I was only allowed to have sugar free popsicles, and broth. I did cheat. Five times. I had family over for New Years and we did go out to eat twice. My husband took me to a mexican food resturant down the street from our house 3 times and I had only Beans and cheese. I felt out of 42 meals, that wasn't too bad. I still lost 15lbs. I'm not saying it was the right thing to do, but it was what I did. Now post op, I will stay on my liquids since I don't want to displace the band while I heal. Right now I can only get about 1/4 cup of broth down until I feel very, very full. I'll be on liquids for another 2 weeks, before my doctor puts me on soft foods. He kinda skips the whole mushie stage, and keeps you on liquids longer.

I forgot to mention I also had to do a physc eval and see a dietitian as well.

I have Cigna HMO and had no trouble. I did a 6 month monitored weight loss with my doctor in 2009. He recived and referred me to my surgeron in 10/2009. I went to the seminar, saw my surgeron, and atteneded 2 pre op classes in November and was approved in December. I had my Lap Band yesterday :thumbup:) I also submitted to my insurance a letter from me on why I wanted to be banded, record from my doctor for my weight over the last 5 years. A list of diets I have tried in the past, and a calander with the exercises I did while on my 6 month diet. I was very lucky It was approved on the first try. My BMI is 42.5.

I did the pre-op diet for 6 months with my primary doctor before I went to the seminar. I went to the seminar in November '09 and my surgery date is on 1/11/10. My insurance approved it the first try. I would have had a sooner surgery date, but my insurance group faxed the paperwork to the wrong insurance company and it set me back 3 weeks.

I'm getting banded on January 11th. I started the pre-op diet on Monday. It has been really tough. I feel so hungary. My doctor has us drink 3 shakes from New Direction each day ( 200cal and 20 grams of protein in each one). We can only supplement with sugar free jello, and popsicles. But one good thing is I have lost 3lbs in 3 days. Only 11 more days.

I started my liquid diet today too. My doctor requires everyone to be on 3 8oz shakes a day for 2 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after. The only thing I can add is sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles and water, water and more water... After eating breakfast and lunch, I know this won't be an easy 4 weeks. But it is all worth it :thumbup:)