susi1662

Found out that because of an insurance issue, I can't get banded until after January 2011. Was really bumming for a few days, but am over it now, knowing that this just gives me 2 more months to learn how to bandster style, and to learn and meet more bandsters who can share their experiences with me!

Found out that because of an insurance issue, I can't get banded until after January 2011. Was really bumming for a few days, but am over it now, knowing that this just gives me 2 more months to learn how to bandster style, and to learn and meet more bandsters who can share their experiences with me!

AWESOME!!!

You know, everyone's dieticians are different! When I met with the surgeons dietician, he gave me my diet guidelines, and it confused me. There is no calorie limititations, nor portion sizes, it's basically a practice diet to get me used to eating like I will need to after I get banded! The dietician told me that their goal is not so much weight loss, if I lose weight that's great but it's not a requirement, as long as I don't gain 5 lbs or more. I am supposed to eat at least 4 times a day, high protein, low carbs....eat the protiens first, then fruits and veggies, try not to eat many carbs, especially white bread, pasta and rice, and not to drink with my meals. I also have to learn to eat slowly, take small bites, and to chew really well. I guess it's more of a behavior modification diet than anything else! I am assuming that I will lose some weight in 6 months time, since I am not eating so much as I would normally do. It's going to be interesting to see how this pans out!

I haven't been banded yet, and the positioning of the port worries me too a little too. I don't want it to ride right under my bra, it sounds like it would be uncomfortable. But as for showing, if it where my doc says he is going to put it, it'll be be under my left tata so it won't be seen. Besides, I am not one to be wearing tight clothes or a bare midriff anymore at my age either!

I had my 1st consult on Tues, and found out that I can't get my band until January or February of 2001 because of insurance reasons. We are starting the rest of the other stuff though that I need just so I'll have it done and ready to submit to the ins after Jan 1st. I don't know whether I should start my 6 month supervised diet now, or wait. If i start now it'll be over in september. I am afraid that I will sabotage myself after that.... I am going to get my psych eval done on the 20th, and the EGD done on the 3rd of may so those things will be done, but I've been told to hold off until later in the year to get the rest done. I feel like everything is all of a sudden stuck now. I don't know what to do, of how to feel. It's hard to feel excited anymore. Is there, or have there been anyone else who's had to go thru all this before getting banded? I need some encouragement here! Please.....:smile2:

I started my 6 month "diet" yesterday. I did see the surgeons dietician, but I can go with my PCP, so it will be much cheaper for me that way. Aince I have so long to wait (10 months), I'll just keep seeing my pcp for a weight check until December. We're all in this together, and I hope the time will fly by like everyone says.

Thanks for all your support ladies! I have calmed down now since that first day, so I am feeling much better about it. I am going to use this time to get ready, teach myself new eating habits, and learning to eat healthier. Also with the support here I know I'll make it! Thanks again!

I have to to do everything you have to, but I won't be able to get my band until Jan 2011. I have had my first consult with the surgeon and dietician on the 6th; on the 20th I see the psych; and on the 3rd of May I have my EGD done. I also started my 6 month "diet" yesterday. The rest of the stuff I can get done in the next several months at my leisure as long I have them all done by December. My paperwork will be submitted Jan 1 2011, then I just have to wait for approval!

I guess I was not very clear in my post, so I'll clarify. This was just my initial consult. We went over what the insurance would cover, and what would be out of pocket. The reason I have to wait an addition couple of months is because I have not been on the insurance at least two years. My paperwork will be submitted on January 2nd for approval. I have to have a 6 month supervised diet, and I found out that I can do that with my regular PCP, instead of the surgeons group. I'll just do it until December so that I keep on track. In the mean time, I have a checklist of things to complete before December, ie: blood work, etc. I don't have to rush to get them done, so I guess thats a good thing. I already have paid for my psych eval which is already scheduled;, and my insurance will pay for my EGD which is also scheduled. I was just a little down because I was thinking of having the surgery done this year, not 2011. Really it's not that much a wait from what I was originally expecting. Thanks for your two cents worth anyway... if things were different, I would certainly have taken your suggestions! susi

My 1st consult is tomorrow! It will be an interesting day, since I will be getting all of my insurance info, as well as getting my psych eval, and labs drawn and meeting the whole team at the clinic! I am stoked at finally getting started!

I also have bipolar disorder and ADHD. I take seven different medications (lamictal, adderall,klonopin, navane, cymbalta and trazadone), and according to my shrink they don't really cause weight gain or increase in appetite. This is the cocktail that I have been on pretty much the past 2 1/2 years and it's working for me. The only new things are the trazadone, because I was having trouble sleeping, and we switched from ritalin to adderall. I know I can't stop taking my meds because my former psych wanted to detox me and kept me only on lamictal and valium, and I became so depressed it was horrible! Anyway, these meds have kept me out of the hospital the past 2 years and I thank god for that. I am now wondering if the lapband will affect my mood at all, since I will be taking in much fewer calories? has anyone felt a difference in their mood since getting their band? I keep having night mares lately that I'm in the hospital right after getting banded. Maybe I am just worrying too much!

I too take cymbalta as one of my many meds too, (2 caps a day) and I have been wondering about taking them. Actually I've been worried about taking all of meds, and am wondering if other have problems or not. I am not getting my band for another 6 months but I want to be prapared when the time comes!

it's going to be really hard to get used to eating eraser sized bites, since I am a gulper, and chew chew chewing will be hard too, but I am ready for the challenge. I need to start practicing though!!!

i was going to post this same question, and I am glad I didn't! I will be starting my 6 month diet this week, and I want to start getting used to the protein shakes, so I am planning on using one as a meal substitute. I want to have a veriety when I have to go to all liquid preop, and post op as well. Keep the list growing so I know what I can start looking for! Also if there are any that you can get locally so I don't have to order online would be nice too! susi

It's amazing how everyone is different!! Some can take pilss fine, some can't! :smile2: When I went the the seminar last week, I asked and the surgeon said that if the pill can fit through the opening of a water bottle, i'd be ok. Then I hear that some people have to wait a few minutes between each pill....I take 7 in the morning, and 4 at bedtime....if I have to wait a few minutes between each pill, it will take me an hour! Oh well, I am still far from getting my surgery so I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!

Currently I am taking meds for all three. I have taken some meds that did cause a huge amount of weight gain, but I stopped them as soon as I realized that. So far, I have stayed at my weight for the past few months, if I have gained it's because of eating bad stuff. I don't want to stop taking any of my meds because I have been stable and out of the hospital for more than two years. I have had a few bouts with depression, mostly due to stress. My self esteem is shot because of my weight, I hardly leave the house because of it. But other wise I am ok. Thanks for responding. susi

I have my 1st consultation on Tuesday. I will be told then what my insurance will cover and what will be my out of pocket expenses. I was told that my insurance does require a 6 month medical supervised diet and exersize, so I am ready for that. I am anxious to get this going, but I look at this 6 month process is a time for me to really get used to dieting and being more active, and also give me more time to learn about the band. As Betsy said, I think we will be kept busy with all the other things we have to do, that the time should fly by. (I hope so!) Let's get thru this together! We can do it!

i was up late last night, and just happened to see the zumba infomercial. It looks like so much that I actually ordered the DVD set! It's supposed to arrive within 7 days. I am as uncoordinated as a bear, and can't dance worth 2 cents, that's why I won't take a class right now (also my stamina is zero, and I'll only be able to do it a few minutes at a time!). But who knows? Maybe someday I'll feel confident enough to start a classes once I get afew of the moves learned!:frown:

I am in the very beginning of the process like you are. I have always been told and was convinced that I am am undereater, and my weight is due to inactivity. But I now realize, that yes, being inactive is a big reason why I am overweight, but most importantly it's how I eat and what I eat is my problem. I usually go all day eating very little, but I get hungry in the evening. I eat dinner, and if it's something I like, I will have seconds or even thirds! Sometimes I eat during the day too, usually leftovers from the night before, or if I find something in the fridge that appeals to me. I guess I just have weird eating habits.

I am really horrible at keeping up a blog, but I am really going to try to with this one, because this is an important journey I am about to embark upon! So many things will start to happen once I really get started, and I want to keep record of it. I had heard about the LAP-BAND® when I saw the commercials on tv, but never really gave it much thought. I was once thinking about having a gastric bypass, but the idea scared me so much that I never pursued it. Last October 2009 I was at my Dr's office, and I saw that there was going to be a seminar about the LAP-BAND®, so I decided to go and see what it was all about. It was a really informative seminar, I got to see and hold a real LAP-BAND® in my hands, and I learned about the differences between gastric bypass and the LAP-BAND®. That really cemented the idea that a bypass wasn't for me! But.... when I found out about the cost of the durgery, ($16,000), I was thinking that there was absolutely NO WAY that I could pay that on my SSDI income. So I went home kind of dissapointed. I again put the idea at the back of my mind. In January, I found the folder that they had given me, and I started reading the information inside....my interested renewed once I saw that there was a way that I could pay by CareCredit. I talked to my SO about it, because he would have to be the one to sign up for the credit, but he was not at all receptive to the idea because of the cost of the surgery. I kept bringing it up, but to no avail, he wasn't going to listen! Then last week, he was reading our insurance benefits, and saw that surgery for morbidly obese people was covered (at least hospital costs) and the other diagnostic procedure would be covered like regular benefits. At that point, he has been supportive of my starting this process. I have even convinced him to go to another seminar with me on April 1st, so he can get the information on the LAP-BAND® himself! I have made an appointment with the WLIA already, for the 6th of April to go over with them exactly what the insurance will cover, and I imagine they will tell me what the precertifications are that I will need to complete. After I know all that, I am going to hit the ground running.!

Hi Holly! Great! I am sure that you are excited that it's getting so close to getting banded. It's nice to see someone local here! I live in Peoria, and am just starting with the lapband process. I have been to one seminar back in October, but am going to another on the 1st of April for a refresher. I have an appointment to go over my insurance etc on the 6th, then don't know what's going to happen next! susi

I am really horrible at keeping up a blog, but I am really going to try to with this one, because this is an important journey I am about to embark upon! So many things will start to happen once I really get started, and I want to keep record of it. I had heard about the LAP-BAND® when I saw the commercials on tv, but never really gave it much thought. I was once thinking about having a gastric bypass, but the idea scared me so much that I never pursued it. Last October 2009 I was at my Dr's office, and I saw that there was going to be a seminar about the LAP-BAND®, so I decided to go and see what it was all about. It was a really informative seminar, I got to see and hold a real LAP-BAND® in my hands, and I learned about the differences between gastric bypass and the LAP-BAND®. That really cemented the idea that a bypass wasn't for me! But.... when I found out about the cost of the durgery, ($16,000), I was thinking that there was absolutely NO WAY that I could pay that on my SSDI income. So I went home kind of dissapointed. I again put the idea at the back of my mind. In January, I found the folder that they had given me, and I started reading the information inside....my interested renewed once I saw that there was a way that I could pay by CareCredit. I talked to my SO about it, because he would have to be the one to sign up for the credit, but he was not at all receptive to the idea because of the cost of the surgery. I kept bringing it up, but to no avail, he wasn't going to listen! Then last week, he was reading our insurance benefits, and saw that surgery for morbidly obese people was covered (at least hospital costs) and the other diagnostic procedure would be covered like regular benefits. At that point, he has been supportive of my starting this process. I have even convinced him to go to another seminar with me on April 1st, so he can get the information on the LAP-BAND® himself! I have made an appointment with the WLIA already, for the 6th of April to go over with them exactly what the insurance will cover, and I imagine they will tell me what the precertifications are that I will need to complete. After I know all that, I am going to hit the ground running.!