ardelia

You can get free samples from Protein Freeze.com also. unjury will send you a sample pack with two of each flavor, a thermometer, and a little plastic bottle for around $23.

To the OP: At least you can have veggies!! There is no need for me to chew any of the things on my pre-op plan. I'd like to chew something, but I will survive without it. I also have two samples of the unjury chicken and unflavored Protein packs. I plan to space them out a little to try to avoid getting completely burned out on the sweet things. I will put the unflavored powder into some NSA chicken broth with a LOT of cayenne pepper.

My date is the 10th and I started my pre-op diet today. :thumbup: So far, so good. We're on our way!!

I have neither seen nor needed a therapist. I had the required pre-op visit to see a psych, but that is all. She does not seem like a nut to you. Are you a therapist? Do you know anything about this person other than what she chooses to let you know about her through her posts? People can be anything they want to be online. For the record, my comment was not a slam on any one person. Listen, there are a lot of people who get this surgery that really should never have been considered for one reason or another (hiding an eating disorder or lying about being an alcoholic, for example). (I personally know of two people like this.) In fact, there are posts on this very board by people where it is screamingly obvious that they should not get this surgery - at least not till mental things are sorted out. My friend (who IS a licensed psychologist, BTW) has been lurking on this site to see what I have been reading because she is concerned about me getting this surgery. She flat-out told me that she worries that many people seem to be getting this surgery and that they really need psychiatric help instead. Thinking that a Lap-Band is a panacea will lead only to disappointment and - most likely - weight gain.

I think that the advice to get a new therapist just because you don't hear what you WANT to is odd. The therapist looks at you in a way that you cannot - from the outside. Were I in your shoes, I would ASK for the reasons(s) that I was thought not to be a good candidate. Maybe there has been a misunderstanding or some kind of confusion?? Hopping around from one therapist (or doctor/surgeon) to another just to find one who tells you what you want to hear is strange and reeks of desperation and a possibly unwell mental state.

See, the thing is....THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT I AM PREGNANT. People do not reproduce via parthenogenesis (we aren't sea urchins, you see), so there is no way. AND: I am effing celibate since 2008! I seems like a waste since I'll guess that they will charge the insurance a hundred dollars for it. I'll say it again: It is stupid to make all females take a pregnancy test. :huh2:

Today was my pre-op visit (!!) and I met with the anesthesia nurse. She asked history questions and what medicines and supplements I am taking. She did not say that I should stop taking the pill. She said that I should be sure to take some of the other meds that morning before surgery, but NOTHING was mentioned about stopping my beloved pills. Thank goodness. Oh, and on a side note, WTF is the deal with a pregnancy test?!? I am on the pill and I have not had sex in - um - years. :huh2: That is just stupid.

I am shocked to say that my approval came in less than 24 hours! I had one final thing to do (get PCP letter to surgeon) and then - BAM! - approval! :huh2: :huh2: (ETA: The insurance woman from the hospital said that she has never seen an approval come through so quickly.) This seems like it went a little too easily, but I know how lucky I am that I am able to get this surgery covered by insurance. As of January 1st, my insurance is changing and, though surgery is covered, MY surgeon is not in their network. There is no way I want to start all over again, so I am glad to be having the surgery on 10-Nov-10!! Oh, I live in PA and my BMI was exactly 40 (no co-morbid conditions) at the first doctor visit of my journey. I have since lost 17 pounds by dramatically reducing the amount of carbs I eat. I wish everyone all the best in their journeys!!

Bandwagon indeed. :huh2:

Wow. Since all Muslims are evil, they should not be allowed to build their mosque blocks away from GZ?!?! Do y'all hear yourselves?! Oy. Wasn't the US built on religious freedom? I am an atheist and I couldn't give a crap less about this. If they have the money and are within all the laws/building codes/etc., let them build. People get SO offended by Muslims (because they are all terrorists). :blushing: Um...how many people have died in the name of Christianity, and yet there are churches every damn place I look... What a bunch of hypocrites. Your religion is not better than my religion. Get a clue already and stop being so scared of everyone who thinks differently than you do.

I don't even want ONE husband. What possible reason would I have to want more than one?!? :blushing: Personally, however, I don't care who marries. If you want to have 100 wives, have at it. It is not my life to live.

I am in favor of sterilization for all. The world is too crowded as it is. It is true that anyone can reproduce, but just because you can does not mean you should.

Really? Tell a moderator? :blushing: I was an admin on an online forum and you would not believe the stupid shit I had e-mailed to me. I didn't even respond to them because it was just beyond lame. Why not just be an adult and stop being so damned offended by every little thing. Why the hell is everyone so sensitive?!?!? If you (a generic "you" - not anyone specific) are easily offended, it is your problem, not mine.

Yes, yes, yes! That is exactly the point. Study volunteers = advances in science and medicine :blushing::thumbup::smile2:

I ALWAYS read everything that I am given. It is wise not to rush me because I will not speed things up just so that someone can meet a timeline. It is ME on the table and I will not compromise myself by not reading everything on every page. Nope. That said, I would be very willing to participate in a study anonymously. How do you think doctors learn and science advances? Were it not for study volunteers, none of us would be in this forum right now talking about being banded. I think of scientific studies as my opportunity to pay it forward for humanity. (not a pompous thing, just really what it is) Besides, there are many times that you will get PAID to be a study participant. I used to do that A LOT when I worked at a medical school. There were always opportunities to participate in paid studies and several investigators called me back for additional - paid - studies.

I am also a 10-Nov-10 bandster. I found out yesterday (less than 24 hours after surgeon submitted to insurance) that I was approved. The woman who called to tell me said that she has never seen an approval come through so quickly. My pre-op diet starts a week in advance of the surgery and consists of sugar-free liquids and things like SF pudding and low- or no-fat yogurt. I am still a little in shock, frankly, but I am also quite excited to start moving forward after what seems like a long time! :thumbup: My first step was the seminar in April and my approval came yesterday, so it was about 6 months from beginning to end. I did not see the surgeon, though, until mid-July, so if you use that date, it has really been only three months. I just cross my fingers that this really happens...it just seemed a little too easy.

I'd be thanking your surgeon and anesthesiologist if I were you.

I went to see the nutritionist today and I mentioned one of my meds. She said that after I have been banded I can NEVER take any kind of medication that is extended or sustained release. Not that I have read every single thread here, but this was news to me. Has anyone here heard that as well??

Holy crap. I am right there with you, sister! No way, no how. Me being on BC = NO PERIODS. I am NOT going to jack that up. :wink2:

Maybe I missed something, but why not get your hair done before surgery? I have a hair appointment on November 6th and a potential surgery date of November 10th. Now for insurance approval...

Autoimmune disorders are a contraindication for the surgery. Trust me, you do NOT want something foreign inside your body if your immune system is not at 100%. You may need to find another option...RNY? Sleeve?

Trust me, with a company as large as the one I work for, there is no way to actually speak to someone from HR. There is a generic "help" line that covers everything from computer issues to HR to retirement. Oh, if you call during certain hours, forget it. Just hang up. Actually, in my experience, I only get actual HELP approximately 10-15% of the time. NO, this is not an exaggeration. It surely would be nice if the company would honor anything already started toward a specific procedure (such as bariatric surgery or - really - anything else. Of course, that would be a total nightmare for the company, but it would surely help out the employees. Oh yeah, THAT is why they wouldn't do it. God forbid that the employees get help. The name "human resources" (at least where I work) is quite inaccurate. It should be called COMPANY RESOURCES because it is difficult to get any help from our HR department. :thumbup::smile2::wink2:

Nothing good comes easy, right? Okay, not necessarily, but I keep telling myself that to make me feel better. :smile2: I'll cross my fingers that you, too, are able to get your surgery!!!

I know I already replied, but I just wanted to address one more thing. You have to wait longer than I do to ask questions. I "only" have to wait till the 22nd of October and then I can ask questions. :smile2:

Same thing here... I just found out on Friday that the HMO I have had for years will no longer be an option. The PPO that will be an option will NOT cover surgery with the surgeon I have been seeing. They only use Centers of Excellence. If I don't get surgery before the end of this year, I'll have to start over again. Of course, I don't even know if my employer's specific plan with the new PPO will even cover bariatric surgery. Ugh. :smile2: