:pHey fellow Kentuckians, Who is your doctor and what insurance do you have etc.?

I have been to a seminar at St Mary's with Doctor Schuster. He seemed real nice. The nurses where very nice too. I have already sent in my paper work as well as all my medical records. What do I expect next? When will I be able to have a doctor appointment?

I have Humana Preferred and am unsure of how easy it is for them to approve.

I hope someone else om here has that insurance.

:confused:

Raymer, good luck on Wed., I will be there with you Thurs. Did the pre-op test today but they did not do a barrium test. I met with the resp. ther. to learn how to breath after surgery, had blood test (9 vials :thumbup:) and a chest x-ray. Then they sent me home telling me to return Thurs. morning @ 6:00.

Hello Kentuckians, I am home, tired and a little sore. I got home about 2:00 p.m. and have drank a 20 oz bottle of water and about 8 oz of protein chicken broth since then. Since they gave me 2 bags of IV solution this morning I am not worried alot about my water intake today but tomorrow will be a different thing. The nutritionist came to my room and gave a few suggestions for protein intake. She said to purchase the unflavored protein powder and mix it in fruit flavored yogart, bullion, and anything that does not have much protein already in it. Will try that tomorrow. Going to try to go to bed and see how that works.:cheers2:

Hey Busywoman--

Glad to hear that you are doing well!! The soreness will get better after a few days. Keep us posted on how you are feeling!! The protein is very important. I never actually purchased any of the protein powder--but I've heard that some of it is not bad at all. I think if you get the unflavored kind that you can mix it with pretty much anything. Once you get on solid food though, I don't think it's that hard to get the protein in. I haven't had much trouble with that. Good luck!! :cheers2:

Thanks bandchick, not really as sore today but I do have a slight headach (need protein?) and my sides hurt. Trying to walk on the tredmill for about 10 minutes a couple times per day. Still planning on returning to work on Wed. How long b4 my stomach stops rumbling and the gas (having to pass it) stops. Don't want to pass gas at work!!!!

Hi Busywoman--

I'm glad you're doing better!! I think I remember having a headache about 2 days later also. I'm not quite sure why--but everyone I talk to seems to say the same thing--that 2 days after the surgery is the day they felt the worst. After that things seem to improve day by day. I would say that you will be fine to return to work on Wednesday based on what you are telling me. My surgery was on Tuesday and I went back to work the following Monday and started working out at the gym the same day. (Just finished my hour on the treadmill a few minutes ago--I pretty much try to do an hour every day--and it makes all the difference in the world with the weight loss!!) As far as the gas, I think everyone is different. Personally I really didn't have much of a problem with gas at all, but I know some people say that it lasts for a couple of weeks. I think I took the chewable gas-x tablets for 2 or 3 days and that was about it. It's mostly from the air they pump into you during the surgery. Hopefully it will subside within a few days. I think walking helps with the gas also so if you're up to walking on the treadmill for a few minutes at a time as you've been doing that should help a lot. Be sure to drink lots of water and get plenty of rest--you'll feel better in no time!! Keep us posted on your progess!! :thumbdown:

Hey there everyone! Sorry I haven't been on since the surgery. Had surgery on Wed 3/19. Surgery went fine, but recovery was rough :thumbup: Dr. O said that my abdomenal wall was thicker than most so I experienced a lot of pain afterwards. They ended up admitting me overnight because I needed to be put on more morphin. Sorry to say I was the first person they have had to admit in a long time. Anyways, came home on Thursday and slept most of the day. Friday was a little better. My husband got me up and out to walk around Walmart for a while. Today (Easter Sunday) I have very little soreness and I am getting around fine. My incisions are starting to itch a lot though! I guess that means they are healing. I have my first appt with the exercise physiologist at the hospital tomorrow morning! :wub: I will be glad when all the swelling goes down so I can see what I weigh. As of yesterday I was still 3 lbs heavier than the day I went in for surgery. I was down 11.4 lbs the morning of surgery...WOO HOO :crying: I hope everyone else is still doing well. Happy Easter

Hello to all. I have been reading on this site for months and finally decided to join. I have completed 5 of my 6 month appointments. I go Friday for my long psych evaluation. After that and my PCP visit in April I will have completed all my requirements and will just be waiting for my official approval. I have Humana PPO. Does anyone have idea how long they might take to approve? I am going through Deaconness Weight Loss Solutions in Evansville, Ind. even though I live in KY. Evansville is only about 45 mins. away.

I really enjoy reading all your journeys. :crying:

twinmommie, after you get your ducks where they should be, Humana should give you no problems, assuming your insurance covers the surgery, as they are becoming more acceptable of the surgery. If they turn you down, appeal quickly. I am assuming you live in the Henderson area of KY, across the KY-Ind. state line. Good luck!

PA

Busy,

I am actually in Owensboro. My insurance does cover it, I do know that much. Deaconess checked on that when I first began this journey. Thanks for the encouraging words!

Raymer and Busy--

How are you guys feeling?? Just wanted to check in and see how everyone is progressing. Let us know!!

I have been reading the progress of so many of you, and replied to a couple. I am so glad everyone is doing so well. I am nearing the stages of finding out if I will be approved or not. I sure hope so, dont' feel like a battle with the insurance, but I will if I have to. I have researched and thought about this for about 2 years. Now that I have made up my mind I am so ready to know if it will be a go ahead or not. I went to see Dr Schuster in Louisville, he said they would write their letter to the insurance company, I had to go to the heart specialist and get an okay from them, they gave me the okay on Friday. Said they would send their letter to Dr Schuster. So he said I would continue with all on my end and they would deal with the insurance end of it. I don't know what I am supposed to be doing other than finishing my dr's appt and getting my sleep apnea device fitted. I think that is what he meant. If there is anything else that needs to be done then I don't know what it is. I am getting excited though, I know so many that has had this done and are doing fantastic with their weight loss and didn't do so well without the help of the band. So keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for me. Thanks for the support. Cindy

Cbraessler-- You are in such good hands with that group of doctors. I see Dr. Lusco, but I know several people who are with Schuster. I can't say enough positive things about my experience with them all the way from the beginning until now. And that includes the girls in the bariatric office at the hospital who handle all of your scheduling, insurance, etc. as well as Kirk Evans and Lin Gant in the exercise program. I refer to Kirk as the Exercise Nazi but personally I needed that kick in the pants myself--and continue to allow him to torture me 3 times a week. It has helped so much and I feel unbelievably better about myself just these few short months later. Just remember that the band is only a tool and you still have to work really hard to see the pounds come off but it is so worth it. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. Good luck with your journey and keep us all posted on your progress.

Twinmommie, I live in Owensboro also. I am in the 5th month of Humana. Hoping for a end of June surgery date. It will be summer break Kathy

I am so ready for this. I hope they get it approved quickly. I understand that is is only a tool, I believe so many people go in thinking that it is magic and the pounds are going to drop off easily. I think knowing the people that I do I understand how this works. I sure hope I do anyway. I have fought this battle so long though that I wonder sometimes if it is possible to get it off and keep it off. I think with the help of the lapband that that is finally a reality. I look at your meter and I want to say congratulations to you. Maybe I will meet you thru the excericise nazi and I too need a good swift kick of encouragement to excercise. I know I need to I just don't find the time. I know (I hope I know) that I will make the needed time after the lapband. I always enjoyed the excercise and how I felt afterwards before I got so overweight that it is not even possible to do so. Just keep enocuraging us newbies, we need the encouragement fromt he ones that have finally got approved and had the surgery. Thanks to all of you on here. It has made the decision to go forward so much easier for me.:regular_smile:

Hello all, I have not been on the boards for a couple of weeks, trying to catch up on work. Things are going well, I have moved to mushies and find they are hard to find. I found myself sitting in Taco Bell with my DH eating pinto beans for dinner tonight. I thought, I'd rather be home drinking a yogart and bananna shake!! I have lost around 18 lbs but I am scared I will start gaining since I am on mushies. If I do I will make some adjustments. Incisions are almost healed except where I developed a reaction to the band-aids they put on my stomach. That hurt worse that the surgery incisions!! I am walking 1 to 1 1/2 miles per day and have lost in my thighs, butt and boobs, waist is giving me some issues!! I have read it so many times on the boards of how happy people are that they have had surgery, I join the ranks, I am tickled!! Got into a size 16/18 w tonight, that deserves a manicure tomorrow!!!!