HNNYPOT

Unfortunately this is something we all have to go through to get the surgery covered by insurance - think about it, it could be worse and not covered! I forked out about $1500 total for tests, psych evals and the nutritionist so bear with it, there is light at the end of the perverbial tunnel!

Look into Aetna - everyone I know with Aetna has managed to get bypass or lap band including myself. I still haven't had a bill for the surgery!!

I am a January bandster - Jan 7 to be exact. My starting weight was 307 and I am now at 248. I am having some issues since this last fill though- chest and shoulder pain again like right after the surgery - does this mean I am too tight? I think it might as I am having a really hard time keeping food down right now - I have a follow up visit on 9/9 so I will talk to my surgeon. The trial and error of the fills is frustrating but hopefully soon I will find my "sweet spot" and not have to go every month - am I the only one still going each month 8 months in? Glad to see that everyone is doing so well though! I started at a size 28 and just fit into an 18 today! WOOHOO! Huge step but still a very long way to go! Keep up the great work January 2010 Bandsters! :cursing:

It took me 6 months of nutrition classes too and I could only do one class every month as insurance wouldn't pay for it. I also had to do my psych evaluation on my own dime or they woudln't pay for it. Just buckle down and it will happen sonner than you think - I was banded January 7, 2010 and am down 62 lbs. Look to the future! Good luck!

I went through SouthWest Bariatric and my surgeon was Dr. Stephen Clark and he was wonderful. It doesn't even look like I will have much scarring either. Who is your surgeon?

Yesterday was my 5th day post op and I was in SO much pain I thought I was having a heart attack including shoulder pain and left arm tingles - turns out it is gas! Strangest place ever to get gas if you ask me! Anyway - it appears we are in bandster hell and now that the body is starting to settle we are going through these things. If you want a buddy who is at the same stage feel free to hit me up! I feel your pain! Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

Thanks ash23! I hope everything goes well for you and that the date is set in stone for you real soon! I haven't been in ATX too long - just a couple of years. I came from Vegas so it is different! Hopefully I will be able to get out more real soon and enjoy what it has to offer! Feel free to ask any questions you may have - I may be new here but I am not far from having been banded so may have answers you may need! Good luck!

Hi! My name is Brigid and I am 34 years old. I was just banded on January 7th after a very long 5 month pre op surgical process! I am happy to finally have it done and look forward to re-gaining my life back! Hope to get to know y'all!

schedule your post op visit! My doctor wouldn't do a post op less than a week after the surgery so I am off longer than I wanted to be (glad I am though since it knocked me for a loop!) so make sure you can be releasedas my job won't take me back to work without it! Good luck!

My post op does not keep me to purely liquids for 2 weeks - just a week with apple sauce cream soups etc after that first week. I have heard a couple of different versions of post op diets including my niece who was tld 3 weeks for liquids only. Is there a 'right' way?

OMG I am so glad I found this thread! I am in SO much pain right now and feel like I am having a heart attack! The pain is in my upper left shoulder into my neck and I feel tingling all the way down my arm! I haven't had anything since 12:30 and am now taking in some Ensure at 7:18 so hopefully this is a hunger thing! I have my first post op on Monday so we will see! I was banded 5 days ago. It would have been nice to know this was a normal thing from my surgeon so I wasn't freaking out! Any advice...? :thumbup: