And today, I'm a little bit closer:

I'm approved!

It was my second try, but it's done, I'm approved! I'm waiting for the surgeon's office to call and schedule me now.

Let me be the first to say.....

C

O

N

G

R

A

T

U

L

A

T

I

O

N

S!

Hopefully, you'll be a May bandster!! Wishing you a prompt surgery date.

Congratulations! :clap2:

What wonderful news! You've been waiting for awhile, it seems. And you've lost quite a bit on your own before the band. Seems like you've really set youself up for success. Yay!

Thank you both very much! I am trying very hard to adopt a bandster mentality now. I want this to go smoothly.

I hope I'll have a May date, it seems my surgeon's office is scheduling about two to three weeks out (or at least they were when I went for my consult back in March).

Congrats Faith!!! I am so happy for you Here's hoping for a quick surgery date and a smooth recovery!

Congrats Faith!!

That is really fantastic, Faith! Congrats to you!!!!

Damn girl, do you realize you have already lost over 10% of your total body weight and you aren't even banded yet??? That's great!

Faith...congrats! The day will be here before you know it...mine is Friday and I am looking forward to a new, brighter future.

Congrats on getting approved. I have enjoyed your post and can't wait for you to become a bandster.

Enjoy your journey!!!

Congrats Faith!!!!!!!

Congratulations....that Is So Good....i Know You Are So Happy...so You Will Be A Bandster....

Thanks everyone!!

Wow WasaBB, I didn't even realize that! If only I could keep this up, but I know it will only last so long. I need this tool to help me keep up the loss. I'm looking forward to working with it and making the most of it.

And today, I'm a little bit closer:

I'm approved!!!

It was my second try, but it's done, I'm approved! I'm waiting for the surgeon's office to call and schedule me now.

:clap2: :clap2: AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEW. Congratulations and pop a cork.

That feeling is amazing.

I have a date!!! May 31st at 10:30am! Woohoo!

I'm going for pre-admission testing the 9th and to my nutrition class the 10th, then I start my icky two week pre-op diet the 17th. Yeah!

The only thing is the scheduler told me my insurance said something about being concerned with mood swings, though I am approved. I am completely confused. I have never had any problems with mood, I've not been on any meds, I have never been in any counseling nor in any therapy, I have never mentioned depression or elation or had any issues at all. My psych eval was fine (I have a copy) and reccommended me for the procedure. So I called my ins co and spoke with my case manager who has been with me through all of this and she knows nothing about it. She said my approval letter is in the mail to me and it gives no indication about that. I'm really cornfuzzled. And I do not want it on my chart if it is there. Hmmmm....

Congratulations! I cried when I was approved! That is so awesome!

I had my pre-admission testing yesterday and was soooo fortunate I took my EKG's and my chest x-ray result (which though it was from August, they said ok) with me as I was able to avoid the EKG and another dose of radiation. I had about seven vials of blood drawn (they test for a ton at Hurley!) and waited a looooong time for the doctor. I was the last patient of the day at 2:30pm and I left there at 6:15pm. I slept on the exam table in a johnny (hospital gown) for about 40 minutes waiting, then I did some sudoku and watched the news...I hadn't been to sleep yet (I work nights) from the day before and as I was getting ready to peek out and ask them to hurry it up a bit, in came the Dr.

The internist they use for pre-admission testing is quite a dynamic man (Dr. Aram Minasian) I had looked up reviews of him and found they were mixed, some folks loved him, some thought he was too quick and abrupt and kind of mean to them. I found him to be VERY educated and very nice. I though he was thorough in his discussion with me about weight loss and his theories about it (pretty solid stuff, doesn't berate you for eating, says it's a natural thing to want to do and we can't shut it off so why try, just chose different things to put in your mouth). I was told I'd get a very thorough exam (the nurse told me to take off everything but my panties and put on the gown, that he checks under your breasts to see if you already have rashes in your skin folds, etc.) but he didn't. He did however find my mitral valve regurg IMMEDIATELY. He was using a REALLY nice amplified cardiac stethoscope and within a couple of seconds he asked me if I had ever been told I had regurg. And then he went on to tell me about some other things he was hearing. Pretty cool stuff.

Today I went back up to Flint for my nutrition class. Whew! I didn't learn anything new in the nursing class about what to expect (other than that I'll supposedly be getting heparin shots-no I won't), but the nutitionist was fantastic. Motivational and interesting and had some great ideas. She also knew the science behind what she was preaching to us and could explain it well. All in all a pretty good day.

And I got a free bag out of the deal.