sara31

I asked my doctor the same thing because I have gall bladder attacks every now and then. He said its because removing the gall bladder would contaminate the other surgery because of the stuff in the gall bladder. He said it better than that of course, but that's what I got out of it.

Good luck tomorrow!!!

Thank you so much for this entry!! I have been the same - heavy since I was young, so as my boot camp instructor put it...This is a whole new journey for you - you don't even know how good you can feel! I can't wait!! I had my last dr appt today before surgery next Wednesday. I got the basics - two protein shakes a day plus a healthy choice dinner, then clear liquids the day before and nothing day of. The day of surgery they have me drinking 2 oz of protein shake every hour plus 1 oz water or crystal light every 15 minutes in between. Then for the next two weeks, nothing but protein shakes! There is SO much to remember. Good thing I have these lists and lists of rules :thumbup:

Hello all! My name is Sara and my surgery date is 9/15 :smile2: I am in Northwest Arkansas. I have been trying to really shape up as much as I can before surgery so that maybe recovery will be a little better...but it's going so well my brain is trying to fool me into thinking well, maybe I don't need the surgery after all. I am doing a 4 week boot camp program at my gym and it has been 90 minutes of hell three days a week, bruises and all...but then I squash the worry about having surgery because I know I need to KEEP it off, that is my problem!

Yay!! I am glad there are more of us How are you feeling so far? Are you getting nervous?

I am getting banded 9/15/10 - I haven't seen a thread started to gather us September '10 bandsters together - check in, let's talk!

Is that really all?? Was a lot deducted because of "allowable amounts"? I was trying to estimate 25% of 20 grand and was pushing to try to save up that much....but was really curious what other people ended up paying. Thank you SO MUCH for answering.

My paperwork was submitted yesterday to Tricare. I am having a problem though - I registered online yesterday to watch the claim status and they have to MAIL you a code to check on it. The phone system shows nothing and the lady on the other end of the line said that they needed a date of service (I told her the drs office submitted it yesterday?) but other than that she cant give me any information. The crazy part is that my Doctors office said that I would find out online before they would, but how can I if I can't get access? Argh! Any of you have this problem and if so, how did you get around it?

Bueller? Bueller?

Oh I like that, minor surgical procedure. I think I will use that!!

How much did your surgery cost out of pocket using Tricare STANDARD (not prime)? Just trying to get a handle on budgeting. Thanks!

Did you start trying out the new diet - protien shakes, broth, water or did you find yourself splurging...thinking that "well this is the last time I will be able to eat this or that.."? I am in the last stages before everything is sent off to insurance and I started trying to eat like I will be, protein shake for breakfast, broth for snacks, protein shake for lunch and then a good dinner...however yesterday and today I went for sushi...Zaxbys salad...the worst thing of all, a birthday cake milkshake from Zaxbys! I am so full I cant hardly think. I started eating the junk food again after having the barium swallow yesterday - it hurt my stomach so bad all I could think about was getting real food in me so that I could get that barium OUT! I just am wondering how everybody else did before their surgery...

When were you banded? How have you explained your weight loss? Thx for responding :grouphug:

I am in the final stages of getting approved and I was curious how much you shared with your employer / co-workers? I really don't feel like sharing with the world that I am undergoing an optional surgery - but then again I don't want to end up like Star Jones. I don't have a problem telling my friends and family...but I am such an open person that I will feel like I am lying. What did you do and how was it taken?

Great advice everyone. Thank you so much!

That's the fun part, he's the only one that is close to my home. The next closest one is an hour and a half away...

I had my first consult today, where I met with the Dr. and the dietitian. Everything was going great until we got to the part where we discussed what type of surgery was best for me. They both recommended the gastric bypass because they felt that I have a lot of weight to lose and that would be the best fit. I'm 278 - they recommend a 104 lb weight loss. Here's the thing. I am dead set against gastric bypass, I want the lap band. I cannot wrap my brain around that my organs would be cut apart and after witnessing my aunt, my best friend and a client go through horrible complications with GB, I simply cannot do it. They were such a hard sell though, at one point I was just about to give up on doing any surgery at all. They were saying things like "you'll only be able to lose like 40-50 lbs and you're comfortable with that??" I was asked that more than once. My long term goal is to get pregnant, so they even started talking that up saying, do it for you future baby,etc. They were saying that other drs have had patients with complications but THIS dr. did not have many cases with those problems. I honestly felt like I was at a car dealership. I was at a point I was almost in tears because I simply DO NOT want to cut my internal organs but they were making such a strong case against lap band. It ended up where they gave in and said they would support whatever decision I make. I went on to have other tests done after that (chest xray - bloodwork - ekg and also have the barium swallow test Monday), and I am going to do this, but has anyone else had an experience like this? I could have taken two paths, either don't do either surgery or get the lap band and prove them wrong. I came to the conclusion that maybe they get paid more to do gastric vs. lap band? Thoughts?