Dave_NW

Well, heck. I have to officially withdraw from this thread. I found out today my surgeon has date conflicts, and had to postpone my surgery. I won't be getting my surgery in November after all. So now I'm off to find the December folks. Congrats, November People! Hope you have a safe and successful surgery! Dave

Anyone know the difference between a Bodybugg and the BodyMedia Fit? They're made by the same people, I think. costco.com has what appears to be a great deal on the Fit model: Costco - BodyMedia® FIT Lifestyle and Calorie Management System I'm interested in getting something like this, but want the most bang for the buck. What do you think? Dave

I'm trying to locate or start a support group in the Skagit County area. Does anyone know if there is such a thing? If not, is anyone interested in starting one? Let me know! Dave

I'm posting this in The Men's Room because I need a man's reply. Sorry, ladies, you're not included in this one. Obviously, we guys tend to be hairier than (most :thumbup:) women, so shaving before surgery is more of an issue. My question for those of you who have been there: How far up and down were you shaved for your surgery? Was it only in the stomach area where incisions were put, or did they shave it all? Did they shave your chest area too? And what about below your waistband? Did they shave anything down there? Did you shave yourself, or did you wait till the surgery people did it? I'm getting ready for surgery in a few weeks, and wondering what to expect. Thanks, Dave

Unfortunately, that conversation was held about two weeks ago. (And I called my insurance company again this past Friday to ask again.) I went for a consult specifically to get sleeved. During the marathon appointments that day (psych, physician, nutritionist, and surgeon back to back on the same day) I learned my insurance won't pay for sleeve unless it's performed at a military treatment facility. The closest one of those is several hours from my home, on the other side of several major cities (think: "lots of traffic.") This surgeon is about an hour away, so is much closer. The answer I haven't been able to get, either from the insurance coordinator or from Tricare directly, is why will they pay for it at a military treatment facility, but not at the Tricare-approved civilian surgery center TRICARE SENT ME TO BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSER TO MY HOME! They will pay for band or RNY bypass, and even stomach stapling, which my surgeon says nobody does anymore because it doesn't work. But not sleeve. Makes absolutely no sense to me. Dave

Thanks for posting. I learned a long time ago with them that things show up on the website long before a letter turns up in the mail. And receiving that letter is always hit or miss - sometimes they send it to my doctor, sometimes to me. For other things I've been printing the authorization letters directly from the website, and taking or faxing them to the doctor. Seems to work much faster. Keeping my fingers crossed for a quick approval! Dave

Thanks. (Dang it. Not the right one... ) Dave

Do you mind telling us who your insurance is? I'm this close to having surgery, and my insurance won't pay for the sleeve, but they will pay for the band. I'd prefer the sleeve, if insurance will pay for it. Dave

I bought a Magic Bullet at costco for less than $50 that has a bunch of extra things in the box. Still learning about it, but I'm impressed with what it does, and how easy it is to use. I expect it'll suit my needs just fine. Dave

Looking to start/attend a "live" support group. I live in Skagit County, and could attend meetings in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, or Snohomish counties. Anyone here know of an existing group, or interested in starting one? I'm being banded next month, and would welcome the chance to meet others going through the same thing. This website is great, but it might be easier to meet people in real life. Looking forward to meeting you! Dave

I posted this in reply to another thread, but though it should go here, too: I guess I should step up and ask to be in this group as well. As of yesterday, all prerequisites have been met, and my surgeon has gone for approval from my insurance. (Tricare Prime.) I'm told they're quick to approve, and they're trying to pencil in my surgery for early November. We'll see how it goes. Hard to think that after all this time, it's finally just a few weeks away... Dave

I guess I should step up and ask to be in this group as well. As of yesterday, all prerequisites have been met, and my surgeon has gone for approval from my insurance. (Tricare Prime.) I'm told they're quick to approve, and they're trying to pencil in my surgery for early November. We'll see how it goes. Hard to think that after all this time, it's finally just a few weeks away... Dave

Haz, now that I've been through it, I can say to just relax and don't worry about it. It's an easy thing to get through. I was nervous, too, but when it was done, I was like, "Ok, when do we start?" I literally knew nothing during the procedure. If they hadn't told me what they found, I wouldn't have known they'd even done anything. Good luck! Dave

Sorry to hear you've had such problems. That would drive me nuts trying to resolve. A few ideas: 1. My insurance (Tricare Prime) will only pay for a second surgery when it is medically necessary to correct problems caused by a previous surgery. Perhaps you can get recommended for a revision to the sleeve to correct the issues caused by the band. 2. The prices I see for band and sleeve self-pay surgery are coming down. If you check the ads on the edges of this forum, you'll see sleeve surgery is "only" $5200. The folks over at verticalsleevetalk.com absolutely RAVE about Dr. Aceves in Mexico. So maybe you can figure a way to self-pay and use him? Not too much money, and you may have some answers you can live with. 3. Post your question over at that same forum. verticalsleevetalk.com I spent a ton of time there before learning my insurance won't pay for the sleeve unless it's done at a military treatment facility. That's how I ended up here. There are a lot of revision people at verticalsleevetalk.com, many of whom are very resourceful about getting insurance companies to pay for things. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck! Dave

As others have said, losing the weight wasn't the problem. It was staying at a lower weight after the diet ended. I went on South Beach Diet several years ago and lost 30 pounds in sixty days. I was ecstatic. I was never hungry, and I actually got tired of all that chewing - it seemed I was eating ALL the time. But then I had dental surgery, and had to go off the diet. And guess what? In no time at all I gained back every pound, and thirty more on top of it. The next time I tried South Beach, I did the same things I had done before, but I didn't lose more than a few pounds. It was as if my body had caught onto the tricks I was pulling on it. The yo-yo games continued, until I finally stopped trying. I'm seeing the band as a method that requires me to be more focused on what I'm putting into my body. Volume, calories, frequency, and eating speed will all bring down my weight, just as a matter of balanced mathematics. I'm a computer tech by trade, and balanced mathematics is something I can live with. Good luck in your decision! Dave

Sometimes you need to tell them what you want, not ask them what they think. I've started using my doctor mainly as a referral service, rather than a medical consultant. After years of being halfway told to do this or that to lose weight, (a lot of which you folks have also been told by your own doctors), what I loved () was the smug jerk telling me to "Eat as I do. I only eat grapes and berries. And look at how much weight I've lost." The guy is half my age, and looks like hell. If eating grapes and berries made him look like that, I'd rather be fat. And he only lost about 20 pounds. I have a hundred more than that to lose. If I was only eating grapes and berries, I wonder if that would include the vines, thorns, and leaves, too? So when he transferred to a new clinic, and I had to select a new doctor, I chose one who respected me, who actually listened to my questions, and who said, "You know what you want and will do better than I do. What referrals do you need?" And he's been great. I made an appointment, went in, and said, "I'm looking into having weight loss surgery because dieting isn't working for me. My insurance is very specific on which clinics they'll approve to do surgery. Can you give me a referral to this particular clinic?" And they did. I had my consult appointment within a week or two. I'm finally down to the last few weeks before surgery, and I am MORE than ready to get it done. Good luck! Dave

Wonderng if anyone here has any success working out using a Wii. Do you have a favorite activity or game that gives you a good workout? Dave

Wow, Bob! I'm proud of you! After that kind of hassle in your life, that you'd have the courage to pull it together and get back on track? Awesome! I wish you nothing but total success. Keep us posted! And don't beat yourself up too much over the pitfalls of where you've been. It's a journey, remember? Somebody a lot smarter than me once said, "The sin is not in falling, the sin is in not getting up." Best, Dave

Well, that's over and done. And easy as pie. Practically a non-event. I arrived at the GI clinic at the hospital first thing this morning, signed some minor paperwork, and waited to be called for my time. Turns out I was first. After I switched my shirt for a loose gown and took off my shoes, the excellent nurse assisted me in getting settled onto a bed. She hooked me up to the various monitoring equipment, blood pressure cuff on my arm, and an IV port in the back of my hand. I relaxed about ten minutes, then the surgeon's assistant wheeled my bed and I into the exam room. More monitoring parts were attached to me, and the surgeon arrived. He's the same surgeon who is doing my lap band, so we knew each other. He said he likes doing his own endoscopies, so he knows first hand what to expect. I signed the consent form, anaesthetic was injected into the IV port, and I went out like a light. Next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. I didn't feel a thing, I'm not sore or bloated from the procedure, and everything went well. They determined I have a hiatal hernia that needs to be repaired (who knew?), but everything else was fine. The whole process from first check-in to climbing into my friend's care for the ride home was less than two hours. I hope my actual surgery goes this easily. Dave

Thanks! I hope it's as easy for me. We'll see tomorrow morning! Dave

Thanks, folks. Tomorrow's the day. I'm heading out soon to stay overnight at a hotel near the hospital so I can be there first thing in the morning. Better than getting up at four in the morning to drive all the way down there. :smile: I'll post here after it's done. Wish me luck! Dave

I'll be happy to do that. It can't be too terrible, or we'd have more folks talking about it. (Anyone know what it's all about?) The lab work they're going to do is extensive, but it's not a big deal. Well, not too big. In my case, they drew eleven tubes of blood. It seemed like a lot, until they called me back later to draw two more they'd overlooked. Jeez! They want every weird kind of test to make sure you're as healthy as possible for surgery. The lab manager at my clinic called some of the tests "esoteric." I took that to mean they were a bit unusual. Then, today, when I spoke to the surgeon's office about the endoscopy, the nurse said, "Oh yeah, we also need an arterial blood gas draw too." Huh? Wasn't thirteen tubes of blood enough? Apparently not, since this one has to be done by a Respiratory Therapist, not the lab at the clinic. Luckily, I work at a hospital. I was able to get the ABG test done this afternoon, and they've already faxed the results to the surgeon's office. One more box checked off. :tt2: Next stop, Endoscopy. After that they go for surgery approval, then a final meeting with the surgeon, then surgery. It could all be coming down within the next two weeks. This is finally starting to get real! :smile2: Dave

I'm ramping up for surgery, perhaps as early as the end of this month. (Yeah!!!) As part of that, the day after tomorrow my surgeon is doing an endoscopy on me. What is that for? I know it involves putting a camera down my gullet, but then what? Does it hurt? Will I ever sing opera again? (Just kidding - I couldn't carry a tune if I had a bucket... :smile2: ) Dave

Good Luck, Erick. You're already an inspiration! I should be only a month or so behind you. Dave

My surgeon says the biggest reason bands slip is because the surgeon who put it in didn't attach it in place with enough stitches. He says the documentation says to use just a few stitches, like two or three. He says he goes well above that, and uses as many as it takes to give it a solid placement, so it won't slip as long as the stitches hold. As in all things, YMMV. :puke: Dave