danide

I just got back from the Pre-Op Seminar! It was very informative and 2 1/2 hrs. AHHH I can't wait, Im so excited!

I gained 10 pounds as well. My surgeon doesn't require me to lose any weight but I wasn't trying to gain... There were a 3 rough months (of 6) with lots of parties and events... I am trying now to lose a few pounds though, even before my pre-op diet. My insurance is pending right now so I don't know if my gain will affect it. (I have a funny feeling that I won't be approved regardless). My surgery date is Sept. 7th. My primary doctor told me that the purpose of the 6 month supervised diet was really just a protocal, that the insurance company wants to see if you CAN lose weight on your own and how much on your own without a surgery. But who knows- all doctors probably say different things.

Thanks for all the input. You know, the funny thing is that I am more willing to tell strangers then family and friends. (many family members, especially my dads side, are pretty judgemental especially about weight so they can just kiss my SKINNY ass :thumbup: someday and friends... mmm well I only have 3 close friends and 1 is super skinny (almost anorexic) and the other is extremely over weight but a negative engery- the more someone is happy the more she tries to rain on them). Im thinking that after I lose at least a significant amount of weight I probably would tell more people (but maybe not- depends on who I it is maybe) but Im gonna stick to just the few people I already told. Those few people are my support so I am comfortable with them. THOUGH Ideally, I wouldn't have even told my boyfriend- avoided him for like 3 months lol- then just let him see me thinner. lol Buttttt Im obviously not doing that.

:rolleyes2:So the only people that know that I am going to get the lap-band is my parents, my sister (and brother in law) and my boyfriend. Not even my brother knows right now (im affraid that he will slip and tell other family members). I told 1 friend that I was considering it months ago, but she doesn't know that I went through the process and already have a surgery date. I may tell other people after I lose some weight but even then, I don't know if I want family and friends to know... So I was wondering if there were other people who are planning to keep it hush or is everyone telling everyone?

That question actually came up at one of the seminars I went to. The surgeon said that if you get a stomach virus and throw up a lot for a day or two will be fine.. no problems with that. Chronic vomitting (like buliemic type) can cause the band to shift. As far as your wanting to throw up, maybe its just your body adjusting to the changes and maybe a form of healing. I would think that if it happens a lot you should call your doctor just to be sure! I hear that if you drink or eat too much or too fast it can cause you to throw up, especially in the early stages. Of course if your food isn't chewed well enough it can cause you to throw up as well cause it cant move downward but in your case, you aren't eating food food yet, right. How are you feeling other then that?

If you do the Muscle Milk- use the Muscle Milk LIGHT! it has a few less calories and fat. my nutrionist said that was a good way to go too but i used to drink it and its got a horrible after taste. The powder form isn't as bad but still chemically tasting. Good luck! Watch the fat and calories the most (thats what I was told at least). Higher protien is very important but makes sure you don't really go over the recommended amount daily UNLESS you are exercising heavily daily (again, just something I was told about.) I suggest speaking to the nutrionist for her thoughts on it!

Happy Monday everyone! Freshstart- Sorry to hear that you were denied... :thumbup: Thats such a disappointment. But I am glad you have decided to invest in yourself! Theres no better way to use your savings then on yourself- saving your life, creating a happier and brighter future! My insurance is still pending and its really anxiety producing! I have a weird feeling that it will be denied but theres really no reason for it to be denied.. I guess I am always a downer about how things don't go my way. But like you, if I am denied, I will still get it by paying out of pocket, though i will borrow more then half of it from family. Nani- we are on the same day! Wooo hooo! LESS then 1 month now! Heather- Think about it as an excellent investment! No better way then to invest in your health, future and life! Okay everyone, question- what kind of protien are you going to be using? My boyfriend is very health aware and fit (fricken guy works out 2 hours per day even after working 10 hours physical labor- hes in construction/plumbing/restoration stuff- who does that geese..), and hes been recommeneding different things for me but we decided that all that stuff is actually too high in protien for me. I have tried other protien drinks at various times in my life and some are really gross. I think today I am going to try Gillian Michaels shake- in comparing the nutritional facts, she seems to have a good amount of protien, not time released (which is good for why I/we need it) and low calories, and not too expensive.. but there is only chocolate and vanilla.

CONGRATULATIONS! and that goes to all new banders! They sent you home that quickly? Were you expecting to stay overnight? My surgeon told me I will be staying 1 night to be monitored. Are you on pain medication right now? Are the incisions scary looking? (i don't care about having scars but I am afraid of taking care of incisions- yikes). Please let us know how its going!

Welcome Butterfly! Congrats on the surgery date! It seems so far, but we know how fast that will go! Woo hoo! Ebony- Im sure everything will be just fine! Hang in there! And congrats on your date too! Ladies, just think... in about 1 month, we will be on a new kind of high! food won't be out high anymore!

The 6 month supervised diet is really just protocal to see if you really CAN lose weight on your own without surgery (that what my primary doc and surgeon both told me but who knows). I did mine but oops, actually gained a few pounds (it was 2 months where there was lots of events and parties surrounded by food). Anyhoo. Now that I am just waiting for insurance approval- sure, now I start to lose those few extras. I have a screwed up mind though- the more I try to lose the more I gain... Oh and yeah I heard that some surgeons want you to lose weight first, before the surgery... (fortunately mine didn't).. Hellooooo If I can lose weight on my own without surgery and be successful, why the hell would I go through the trauma to get the surgery in the first place. I need the surgery because when I do lose weight, I gain it back in a blink of an eye. But, everyone is different! Good luck!

Congratulations on the insurance approval! Awayyyy you go! Woo hoo! Are you ready? My insurance is pending. uhhh yeah its very anxiety producing to wait for the approval/denial. Go to my profile, and I think under statistics you can find all posts I have done- you will find the September 2010 Bandsters forum!

Yeah I have no idea why exactly they do it that way but some how it comes down to- they need to schedule people asap because they are crazy busy. My surgeon is pretty popular it seems. Ive told 3 of my other doctors about him and they all seem to know about him and say they hear great things about him. So maybe its because of that. I did find out yester day that the paper work was submitted to Aetna and its still pending... Should I call and beg! haha. I think I will call early next week to follow up. I can't remember the exact about because I asked about 7 months ago, but I believe that I was told it would cost around $15,000 with everything. Its a whole lot of money but this is for my life, my future... Can I really put a limit on that? Ive probably spent more money in the past 13 years on diet products, diet programs, diet foods, diet pills, exercise videos, gym memberships, etc... haha Maxwell- I hope you get good news fast! Spoiltmom- Your surgery is tomorrow right? GOOD LUCK! YAY

Congratulations!

Hey September Blooms (idk- we need a team name lol).. Uhh September is so close yet so far away... I wish it was here already! So I called my surgeons office today and they confirmed that they submitted the paper work to Aetna but the approval is pending. OHhhhh the anxiety about this stupid insurance stuff. Uhhh. Id really have to hate to self pay but if I must... Ohhh pleasssseeee I need this. I guess I will call in a couple days to follow up. Should I call Aetna and beg them? hahaha Soooo, I am a little scared about this Pre-Surgery diet. Haha of all things... Can I do it? Can I stick to it? Its really strict ahhhh. Its supposed to be for one week but I am thinking that I want to start trying to do it now, with a little more flexibility. Then maybe I can jump ahead of my journey and lose a few pounds as well as get used to the process for the week before and couple weeks after. Okay so heres a question for us- What is your goal pounds to lose and What is your reason for weight lose? My goal- is 80 lbs. My reason- I want to look and feel as good as I once did. I want to feel comfortable in my own skin. I want to be confident within myself. I want to do activities I don't feel comfortable doing now.

:tt2:So is it odd that of all the things to be nervous about, insurance is my biggest concern? hahaha. I feel very aware and prepared for surgery and the lifestyle changes but concern about insurance approval/denial is making me anxious and I am losing sleep over it. I don't know if my surgeon submitted the request yet, I was told it would be done this week (i think thats what I was told- i should call and ask for verification) but I have a surgery date for September 7th. After all I put forth in this processes for 7 months now, I have decided that if I am not approved, I will pay out of pocket and have the surgery no matter what... I just really hope it doesn't come to that. I would borrow money from family and thats a lot of money to hold over my head. Uhhhh Please Please Please let insurance be approved! :blushing: Is anyone self paying? If so, about how much is it?

Hi there! I am a September girl! There is a forum already but I can't remember the name of it. I think its just September Bandsters. Anyhoo, Congratulation on your approval and surgery date! I am dated September 7th but not yet approved by insurance. I plan to do it even if not approved. I will borrow from my parents, sister and boyfriend to cover the costs if I need to but I pray very hard that its approved. Where are you getting the surgery?

CONGRATULATIONS on the insurance approval!!!! Thats awesome!

Thank you to both! :blushing: I am very excited. Its been a LONG process. Ive been to soo many doctors/specialists/testing/restesting for 7 months now. I just can't wait to get it done already. A couple more meetings to attend, 2 more pre-surgery testings and then... wooo it will be time! :cool2: Sarah- its long but its gotta be well worth it! Good Luck Morgan- thanks I have been reading and talking and listening and yeah, its soo helpful already.

Justrite- Im sorry you had such a bad experience with your surgeon and staff.. That sux. They should have given you so much more then they did. Im really glad to hear that you decided to go back to the outpatient center. I would suggest still (as i did in another forum) that you go to an individual therapist (a private therapist- individual), other then just the outpatient center. I have worked in both types of settings (outpatient was substance abuse and addition focused-not eating disorders) and the outpatient offered amazing things for the patients but they could not get what they could have from individual therapy. Look for a psychotherapist! The two treatments together should help you even better! Good Luck! Its wonderful that you are taking charge of your life! I didn't even get my surgery yet and the center is already involved. They offer so many groups- pre and post surgery supprort, exercise group, holistic therapies, psychologists, nutritionists. My surgeon himself spent 40 minutes with me just talking about my readiness, my personal feelings and realistic expectations. I am really fortunate I guess. All of the staff are super involved. I did go to my own therapist because I knew I had deeper issues then just the physical... Your story JustRite, makes me aware that I may have to return again later to get help with the new lifestyle and changes. And I think youre really going to get people to think about how they prepare for their journey!

Congratulations on your journey thus far. As far as the shoulder pain... I read in another forum about hiatal hernia repair, everyone was experiencing shoulder pain due to a nerve next to or within the diaphram. Most people said it lasts abour 6 weeks before it really goes away.

Thanks for the heads up about the shoulder pain! I also have a hiatal hernia, discovered about 1 year ago, and the surgical team staff told me that the doctor with stitch it up while hes in there. 2 for 1- good deal! :wub: Thats really interesting that it causes shoulder pain. Mind boggling actually. The body is a funny thing! At least I can better understand and prepare now! Geese, Im so glad I decided to join this site! (Surgery scheduled for September 7)

It sounds like you made a huge lifestyle and body change but your psychie couldn't keep up. It has to be difficult going from 0 to 100 in 15 seconds. Sounds like you are aware of whats going on with you which is a great start, now its learning how to manage all of that. Thank you for sharing your story. Its probably very real for many people here. I personally haven't started my journey yet but hearing peoples stories is going to help me mentally prepare, not only physically. I don't know if you go to therapy or support groups already but as a clinical social worker, I strongly recommend starting individual therapy/counseling. Counseling will help you gain a better perspective of your situation without judgement. You will receive guidence and tools to help for find your middle ground. You will have undivided attention from a person who will help you become a healthier you- mentally. The therapist wont care if youre skinny or fat, musular or flabby, popular or low key, pretty or ugly. They won't care who you dated or didn't, who gives you attention or doesn't... They are there for you how ever you want them to be.

For those who are scheduled, CONGRATS! For those who are not there yet, its a long process but hang in there. I have been going through this process for 7 months now and I finally have a surgery date, September 7th! :wub: My insurance has not been approved yet but hopefully there won't be any problems. I did my 6 months supervision, I did my weight loss history, went to all necessary other doctors for clearance... BUT if for some reason after all this, insurance is not approved, I have decided that I will do the surgery anyway and borrow the money from my parents. Of course I rather insurance just cover at least most of it but yeah, I gotta do it regardless! I am so excited, I can't wait! I can wait for surgery lol, but I can't wait to get results!

Hi everyone, Im Danielle! Im 30 years old and have a scheduled surgery for September 7! I am so excited to get on board and change my life for good this time. Im so done with the up and down thing and just want to live my life! Im hoping to get some support here as well as give support! :wub: