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Got my PCP clearance yesterday. All tests were completed and insurance approval obtained so now just waiting on a date. I know that Banner Bariatrics had about 30 people ahead of me that they were scheduling for September so I may get pushed into October. They had told me they have a challenge in getting OR time for their surgery-ready cohort of patients.

Really ready to get to the pre-op diet!

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I too am waiting for my date from Banner Bariatrics. I wasn't informed of all the files waiting to be scheduled but I do know it took about a week for them to submit the file to insurance. I am so anxious I can't stand it!

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Last time I talked to Eileen, about two weeks ago, she said they were working on September surgery dates. I told her I could not get my PCP clearance until the 29th as he was out of town and asked if I could still make September. She said she could not guarantee that.

Do you come to the support group meetings? Would love to meet you!

Judy

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I just talked to Eilleen on Friday and she said they were scheduling for October now. I too was hoping to be a September sleever but that isn't going to happen. I went to one of the January info sessions and met with Dr. Schuster a couple weeks after. Seems like this is taking forever! I have been to one of the support meetings but plan on going to more.

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Ok, well surely I will be October also. I have been at it since my initial consultation the end of January. My insurance required a three month supervised program, then there was some delay in getting the insurance straight. I have Dr. Chen since Dr. Shuster won't take anyone 65 or over (I'm 66).

I couldn't go to the last support group given by the psychologist, but I usually make them all and find they are useful.

Let me know as soon as you hear something and I will do the same!

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I too have been at this since January. My insurance required 3 month medically supervised weight loss then in the middle of my 3rd month the policy changed to 6 months or I would be done :(

I plan on going to the group on the 21st (for stress I think). I met with Dr. Schuster but I would also use Dr. Chen if he could get me in early. I heard high recommendations for both surgeons. I just called the nurse line to find out if they received my lab results from Friday's draw. That was all I was waiting on. I think I should have had my date after my insurance approved! I will keep you updated. Thanks.

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Hey ladies, I'm another Banner patient. I also started in January, finished the three month diet in May, and was happily sleeved last week! It will happen, it might seem so far away, but it will happen. Go out and enjoy your yummy meals, because the liquid diet will SUCK!!

So, Eilieen is back, huh? Part of my delay was that she left and no one was there to submit, so mine got submitted over three weeks after I thought it was submitted. Then they kept not passing my file over to scheduling. But even with all that, I can gladly report that as of tomorrow, I will have been sleeved for one week! If you have any questions from the other side, feel free to ask. I have had very little pain (other than a beastly night 1) and have had no problem getting in my liquids.< /p>

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Hey Kami! Congratulations, you loser, you biggrin.gif Yes, Eileen is back and things seem to be moving, although, ironically, before she left she was insisting that I would not be approved for sleeve--long story, Medicare related. Another patient at a support group meeting told me that she had two heart attacks. Yikes

Was Shuster your doc? How was the hospital stay? Lotta gas? What Protein Powder do you like?

Hope to meet you one day. Have to see you before you lose all your weight so I will be able to notice the difference!

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Congratulations, Monica! I, on the other hand, just got hit by a mack truck. The cardiologist told me I flunked my stress test and have to have an angiogram. If it is not bad, they will put in a stent. If it is bad, I will have to have open heart surgery.

Sent Eileen an email. Just stunned....

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Congratulations, Monica! I, on the other hand, just got hit by a mack truck. The cardiologist told me I flunked my stress test and have to have an angiogram. If it is not bad, they will put in a stent. If it is bad, I will have to have open heart surgery.

Sent Eileen an email. Just stunned....

Oh no, I am sorry to hear that! I will pray for good things to happen. Keep me updated!

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Hey Kami! Congratulations, you loser, you biggrin.gif Yes, Eileen is back and things seem to be moving, although, ironically, before she left she was insisting that I would not be approved for sleeve--long story, Medicare related. Another patient at a support group meeting told me that she had two heart attacks. Yikes

Was Shuster your doc? How was the hospital stay? Lotta gas? What Protein powder do you like?

Hope to meet you one day. Have to see you before you lose all your weight so I will be able to notice the difference!

Yes, Schuster was my doctor. The hospital stay was fine - just one night for me. They were acting like it would be two, but then Schuster visited and I said I was hoping for just one, and he said that might be ok. then Donna and Janice visited and made it seem like there was no way they'd release me until the next day, then about half an hour later a nurse came and said Dr. Schuster signed the release papers and she was there to discharge me. Even though the hospital was nice, I was glad to get home. My machines (IV and the things they put on your legs to squeeze them to prevent clots) kept beeping over night.

I had a lot of gas pain the first night, but after I got home, it seemed to resolve itself and wasn't a problem. But from about midnight until 5 am, it was pretty unbearable. I just wanted to take a big pin and pop myself like a balloon!

I haven't found a wonderful Protein yet. I have a couple that don't make me gag, I"m fairly keen on the Isopures that come in the bottles pre=mixed. I also have nectar Carribbean Cooler, And a Mango flavored one that I got at my local franchise (not corporate owned) GNC. Still looking for a chocolate that tastes good. Now that I've gotten paid, I might pick up the Chike strawberry, because that was pretty decent.

I got that magical call today...I will be a September sleever after all. My date is September 28!

Congrats!! You will do awesome! If you have any questions, let me know.

Congratulations, Monica! I, on the other hand, just got hit by a mack truck. The cardiologist told me I flunked my stress test and have to have an angiogram. If it is not bad, they will put in a stent. If it is bad, I will have to have open heart surgery.

Sent Eileen an email. Just stunned....

Holy cow, that's crazy news. I"m so sorry. Please update us. When will your angiogram be? I really hope it is nothing serious. Just be very glad that they caught it early, and you'll have your sleeve to thank for that, even though the sleeve might be a bit delayed - you will still get it!! Hang in there and I'll be thinking good thoughts for you.

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I too have been at this since January. My insurance required 3 month medically supervised weight loss then in the middle of my 3rd month the policy changed to 6 months or I would be done :(

I plan on going to the group on the 21st (for stress I think). I met with Dr. Schuster but I would also use Dr. Chen if he could get me in early. I heard high recommendations for both surgeons. I just called the nurse line to find out if they received my lab results from Friday's draw. That was all I was waiting on. I think I should have had my date after my insurance approved! I will keep you updated. Thanks.

I was sleeved by Dr. Chen on Aug 6tth 2012! He is amazing! He has an awesome bedside manner and he answered every question I had. I had to do 6 mo swl with my pcp, which the kept messing up the records; so it was 7 mo. Cara worked really hard to get everything done and approved for me. From the time I got ins approval until surgery was 2.5 weeks.

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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