CSinTX

Warning !!!!! Watching top chief on an all liquid day makes one hungry.

danide -- "QUESTION- Do you really see yourself as fat as you are?" I still picture myself and feel the same as I did in college (23 yrs ago). So no I absolutey don't see myself as FAT until I see the pictures then I'm OMG. I was looking into this last night thinking the same thing and trying to figure out how to add pictures. The only thing that I came up with is to do a group email. I'm game. I'd rather give my clothes to my family here and the local goodwill. david314 -- We look forward to hearing your adventures (up and down) through this process as well. Welcome and glad to have you.

BandedNellie -- How exciting just a few more days. This will probably show my age but what is Zumba? playermimi -- I was not looking forward to the pre-op diet either but it was not all that bad. I did 2-3 protein shakes and one regular meal. I have not felt hungry at all and I'm usually the one that is thinking food all the time when I am on a diet but not this time. Plus I have managed to loss 9lbs so that definately kept me going on the positive note. Hang in there, it's not that bad. Lanah -- Hello and welcome. When I started the pre-op I was like you, just another shake diet and I'll be hungry again in no time at all. But it was not like that. I was told the higher the protein the more full you will feel longer and I have found it's true. I am using the Isopure and love it plus it taste great. Run Girl Run -- I can't recall ever being so energized about losing weight as now. This will be the first time in my life that I can eat a small portion and feel full. In the past I would get very discouraged because I was always hungry, and bitchy. Those days are in the past

sunny day -- I felt the same way yesterday. I had my pre-op class last night which is held every 2 weeks for those expecting to have surgery in the next 14 days. It mainly covered what to expect right before surgery, during recovery and my hospital stay. But I was hoping for more literature and some freebies, like a water bottle, samples of protein drinks, etc. nothing but 3 pieces of paper. I guess that is what we are all here for. To reach out to others to help fill the gaps that the doctors create. Cathy

Thanks for the info. What flavors are your favorites? Cathy

Ouch. I feel for you and hope you are doing better now. Tomorrow is my last full day of work and I can't wait.

Hello Butterfly2010- Last night I ordered for the first time from Bodybuilding.com. They had a great selection of Isopure powders (even Mint Chocolate Chip) for $38.99 for a 3lb tub. Cheaper than the local GNC on sale. I was able to google coupons for them which worked great and covered the shipping. Plus I got to select a free item and I picked the Tornado Mixer/shaker. Looks like a battery powered mixed on the mini scale but it's free. I received confirmation today that my order was shipped via FedEx and should be here in 2-3 days. So far it's been a great experience. Cathy

NYsLegend78 -- With your PX90 you'll be Army material again soon. mom05 -- The breathing apparatus that NYsLegand78 is talking about is an Incentive Spirometer. I hated that plastic thing. The doctor will mark a line on the tube as your goal to hit. You will suck in the tube which will make a ball go up. The idea is to make the ball hit the line and hold it.

spitfireleo -- So exciting. Just a week from tomorrow and your done. CalaCake --Congratulations and let us know how your blood work comes out. playermimi -- Hello. Congratulations. I have only told 2 co-works, my husband and daughter. No one else. Who have you told? sourmissg -- CLOTHING EXCHANGE as we lose weight! - Band2gether.net LAP-BAND®®® Support Forums That is really a neat idea and especially in today's economy. I wonder if the support group at the hospital has something like that. I hope so. If not, I'll be offering them here. Mostly XL 16/18 lillyegg -- How did things go today? aliciaj - Congratulations on your Sept 9 surgery date. Look forward to your posts. Cathy

Hi Cicigirl - sorry no one was able to get to you any faster. I'm sure others have several different ways to get to this thread but I go to google, search Lap Band Talk and under the link that google brings up has a hyperlink to Pre-Operation Lap-Band®®®® Surgery. I click on the Pre-op link which brings up that page and then I just search for the "Looking for September 2010 Bandsters" which is usually on the first page. There are 2 different threads for September 2010 going but this one is the larger of the 2. There is another way that I have gone to older post and I use the Quick Links tab across the top and under that tab is a button for Subscribed Threads. Hope this helps.

Hi Angelpix - Glad to have you in our group. Several of us have already started our pre-op diet of drinking protein shakes which actually do fill you up and we are losing weight. Look for the highest protein and little to no carb and you will lose that half of pound before Sept 1 just drinking 2-3 shakes a day and eating a regular lean meal in the evenings. Cathy

I think I found the link to UHC bariatric policy. Hope it works. Doing a brief overview. I don't see a 5 year weight history requirement. https://www.unitedhealthcareonline.com/ccmcontent/ProviderII/UHC/en-US/Assets/ProviderStaticFiles/ProviderStaticFilesPdf/Tools%20and%20Resources/Policies%20and%20Protocols/Medical%20Policies/Medical%20Policies/Bariatric_Surgery.pdf

I am so sorry but we will get you though this. Have you tried calling UHC and getting someone other than your insurance coordinator? If you get the same answer as before, that your not required to get a 5 year history, then ask them if they will sent that to you via email. Also have you tried looking up your policy online. I would go in person to your OBGYN office and ask to speak to the manager. Tell them your story and the urgency and I bet you have a copy of your records within days. Also have your surgeons office request them. Did you do weight watchers or join a gym, have any other doctors visits (shots) emergency rooms visits, ENT, etc? Do you have any pictures of yourself taken over the last 5 years. It's a long shot but if they can't get the weight in writing, maybe they will accept pictures showing yourself over a 5 year history. Do you have a regular doctor and would they be willing to write a letter for you? With all these thinking caps on this thread, we'll figure something out. Dont' give up. Cathy

OMG. I am so excited to see so many new bandies coming on board. LadyT39, cece1967, cicigirl, Angel82 & ebeeze824-- Congratulations and glad to have you guys a part of our family. LisaA -- Hi Lisa, I don't blame you one bit for deciding not to go with your original doctor. They work for us, we are paying them. If they don't want our money, their loss. About the only thing that will go wrong with the kids is that they will eat a lot of junk food or out every evening and stay up past bedtime. The normal things that go one when dads watch kids. I was too dreading the pre-op diet like so many but it's not bad at all. For years I did the slimfast shakes and this is no different, except I get to drink 3 instead of 2 a day. I have found the Dutch chocolate Isopure from GNC is very tasty. Comes in a huge 3lb tub. The higher the Protein, the more you feel full longer and the Isopure has 50gms per cup. Happy shopping. BandedNellie -- I do think the pre-op diet keeps us going on the positive with the weight loss. I don't feel hungry one bit and too have lost 7 lbs. Keep up the great work. leeblewb -- I bet you have an answer before the end of the week. Good luck and let us know when you find out. I'll be praying for a quick and positive response. stateofzen -- Awesome weight loss. You should be feeling proud as well as good. Keep it up. sourmissg -- Hi Gale, I will see my surgeon for the second time this Thursday. They called it my pre-op surgery appointment where as today was my pre-op blood work. Do you know which day they plan on submitting your paperwork? "I need to start drinking my Protein drinks 2 wks before surgery so I need to start looking into buying". I spent the weekend checking out protein drinks. There is a website I think it is called Mybariatricpantry.com that offers sample packs of Syntec nectar which I hear are great. I'm a little leery of fruity tasting flavors. I guess I am a chocolate, vanilla, strawberry type person but I am serious thinking of ordering a couple of sample boxes just to mix things up. My staple Protein Drink will be Natures Best Isopure - love their dutch chocolate. Let me tell you about my heart attack this morning. I get a call from the Hospital at 8:10 (the one that I am suppose to be registering with in a few hours) that they are not "in my network" and that I would owe them $1200 today and then 10% of the total cost. So of course I called Cigna to see which hospitals are covered as "in network" then called the doctors office. Now I am trying to do this at work, its 8:30am and my damn phones would not stop ringing. Imagine that - clients wanting to talk with their brokers - Anyway I finally got a chance to call the doctors office and drop the bomb on them. Of course I get the, "gee I hope we can keep your surgery date" Thinking ya me too. Got a call from the doctors office about 20 minutes later (seemed like an eternity) that all is settled. My surgery date is the same and the new hospital will now be covered 100%. What a relief, so I head to San Antonio at 11 to do pre-registration, blood work, ekg and chest x-rays. Get to the registration office - they have no clue who I am - get that settled. Go to the lab - they have no orders from the doctor (probably sitting at the other hospital), ekg went fine then go down the hall for chest x-rays - they don't use Cigna. So I have 2 hours before my class to find an imaging place that took Cigna. In the end, everything worked out just fine - just a lot of running around town and a little frustration but I am still a go for this Friday. Cathy

So fellow September Bandsters, what do you have going on this week? Here is my schedule: Monday - blood work and hospital registration at 1 and class at 4 Thursday - pre-op meeting with the surgeon at 3 Friday -surgery at 8am (5 am check in and I have an 80 mile drive). My husband laughed and said while leaving at 3, we'll bet the rush hour traffic in San Antonio. I have no clue if I will come home Friday or Saturday. Do any of you know if you'll stay a night or come home the same day? Cathy

My question is about Isopure. I am really looking at purchasing a couple of tubs from GNC because they are almost half off right now. I am drinking the Isopure Low Carb Dutch chocolate (2 scoops mixed with water) and I really do enjoy it. Are you using the powder form or pre-mixed bottles? Are you doing the low carb or zero carb. What is your favorite flavor? Were you instruction to use or not too use a certain one during post-op or pre-op? Thanks for your input. Cathy

Yes. I was approved on August 2 and was told that day that I should be called with a surgery date by the end of the week. That week came and went with no call. The Tuesday of the following week I called. Got the same story, someone should be calling by the end of the week. That week came and went with no call. The Monday starting my third week, the doctors office called asking for a copy of my Barium Swallow. I had given them a copy of my Barium Swallow report, the doc had even signed off on it (and she said she saw that in my file) but somewhere in the last 5 months it was lost. Said they would look for it and get back with me. Around 4pm on that Monday I called left a message on everyone's recorder that I could get. I had it. I got my first call to schedule my appointment at shortly after 5pm which was set for 9/10/10 then a little later I got a call from a different person saying that she thought she might have an earlier appointment available and would confirm in the morning. Sure enough I got the call shortly after 8am that an appointment was available for 8/27/10 asking if I wanted it. Yep sure do. So all in all. The first week I did not call or email them but starting the second week, I emailed everyday and called on some days. So keep in contact with them. Most of the time the Squeaky wheel will get the grease. Good luck. Cathy

PitPa -- Congratulations on your approval and hope you hear about a surgery date soon. That was the worse part of me. stateofzen -- I am not familiar with a clothes exchange. Is that something local or online? Cathy

ready4change10 -- Congratulations on your surgery date. We look forward to hearing from you and your daily thoughts. We'll give you all the support you want and then probably more. We are all going through this together. Glad to have you. Cathy BeachBabev-- Wow - surgery 2 days ago. How are you feeling?

I would love to be able to wear my clothes that are in my dresser. My daughter is extremely excited about going shopping for "me" when I get to my goal weight. That should be an interesting trip. She is a design major, weights about 120lbs, 5'6" and I am a blue jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. It's amazing how I can have only 1 child and she be so different than me. She's the type that wears high heels with her jeans, I wear tennis shoes. I love outdoors, she does not. I have a degree in biology, she hates bugs and the list goes on and on. swissnis -- Congratulations on getting your surgery date. Happy planning purplevic -- Congratulations on your approval and your surgery date. So much to look forward too now. kosy2 -- I have never heard of Hot Pots but what a way to celebrate. A new beginning with new serving ware. I wish we had a place like that around San Antonio. Well I just back from the grocery store looking for soup, juice, jello and popsicle. My sheet says cream soup and I bought just about everything that says "Low Fat Cream of" on it. Some actually look and sound good but maybe it's because I am hungry. Got go drink my lunch. Cathy

That sounds great. That is what we are all here for. Cathy

Congratulations!!!! What a way to start the weekend.

onceuponaband --- Hi Paige. Welcome and congratulations on your surgery date. We look forward to hearing about your journey through this. I have opted to tell only 2 co-workers, my husband and daughter. At first my excuse was not to say a word until I know for sure that I was approved. Now that I have been approved I still don't want people to know. I don't want people to think, "Is that on your diet" or "Should you really be eating that". I would rather right now just let them think that this is just another "normal" diet and be quite. I'm sure one day when they finally get enough nerve to ask what my secret is I'll let it out but not till then. sunny day -- I am in the same boat as you. I met my surgeon on Feb 3 at the seminar and have not seen him since. I will see him for the second time this coming Thursday for a pre-op meeting and then I have surgery 15 hours later. I got my pre-op diet info from the dietitian. It certainly would not hurt to call and ask when your pre-op appointment will be. That way you are not slipping through the cracks and have to reschedule because of someone else's mistake. I have always been proactive instead of reactive though when I can because I don't like surprises. They never seem to be good. Anyway, give them a call for peace of mind.:biggrin: Cathy

NYsLegend78 -- WOW - the P90X. You must let us know how you progress. Don't forget to post pictures of your new ripped body. Cathy

wanna.b.healthy -- Stick around, air out your feels because they will change daily. Feel free to ask ANY questions and we are your family through this. Welcome aboard. mom05 -- If I only have the band for 10 years, I'll take it. That will hopefully give me enough time to learn new habits. My other thought is that even though the band has only been around for 10 years or so - fake boobs have been around for decades and they are still standing strong. I have enjoyed having several weeks to prepare for this. I spent the first several weeks after approval reading everything again. I read it through the first time but did not get too serious about it until I was approved. I hate being disappointed so I waited until after approval before doing much. After reading I started figuring out what I needed to purchase for the pre-op diet and then after I got the surgery date, I started looking into what to purchase for the 4 weeks post-op diet. I have literally spent every day this week, reading labels at the local grocery stores, wal-mart and GNC on my lunch hour. I have had plenty of time to prepare and not feeling rushed at all.