Papillon Princess

Hi Suez, Not sure if you're welcoming to someone from another insurance provider (BCBS of MN) but they were very strict and had to jump through MANY hoops as well. I was on a 6 month diet, required a psych clearance, pulmonary clearance and cardiac clearance. I had nutrition classes (the surgeons office provided these) and the exercise is NOT required to be in a gym. They didn't request proof of my workouts, they're really looking for that in your weight loss and mentality. The exercise therapist may be something their office has available like at mine (the nutrition counseling). Not only is insurance different but the offices are different. The office I'm going through has more involvement than others I looked into but I felt they're really looking out for my well being and success with the band. I just recently got approval (last week) so if you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. I kind of wish someone would've been there a little more for me when I had all these questions...but instead I was calling the office A LOT and having them answer them. So now I'll share

I was just in the pre op class yesterday and some of this sounds familiar! They said you would probably experience fatigue the next few weeks just because your body is adapting to the lack of calories and your body is healing. Also, the pain in your back may be from the gas that they use to fill your abdomen during surgery - they said you can't completely alleviate this, it just needs to work it's way out. They recommended more walking for this. If you're feeling extremely uncomfortable or concerned, don't be afraid to contact your dr.

Check with your surgeon on if it's allowed. My surgeon doesn't allow any form of stimulants (energy drinks, caffeine, "natural" remedies, etc) as they said these can also "stimulate" the appetite. So you may want to consider working through it if possible. I see you recently had your surgery so your body may very well still be adapting and you could experience some fatigue. Make sure you're taking your vitamins

I'm not sure about Aetna - I have BCBS, BUT I have it through Minnesota (instead of Illinois, where I live) and MN required a 6 month diet, but Illinois BCBS only required 3. So it is true that they may require 3 months, but it depends on the individual policy. This can vary by state, region, and possibly employer programs. I was wanting the 3 month only as well...but can honestly say the 6 month gave me a great time to start adapting and changing my lifestyle before the band. Good luck!

Hey, the shoulder should feel better in a day or 2, that's actually from the gas that they use to "inflate" your stomache cavity to allow more space. They had to do that with one of my surgeries and it is painful but it does usually go away pretty soon. Congrats and good luck!

Haha, I kind of look at it the same...I don't want ppl to think I'm a junkie but the feeling is kind of fun! (after as many surgeries as I've had, you have to find a bright side to it....) so I always try to fight going to sleep and it makes me giggly. Also for nausea they have a great shot for that they can put in the IV that works wonders! So if you're nauseous, ask for something for it. I've still never gotten physically sick from surgeries, whenever I got nauseous they'd give me a shot and it would go away.

I'm in a similar situation, just turned 23, been overweight forever...blah blah blah...but I'm the same way with dreams! If something is on my mind, I'm constantly dreaming about it. Sometimes it's not so fun and I recently had one where I woke up and had to make myself realize it wasn't true. So when you are anxious/excited/nervous etc about something it is very common to have those dreams. I hope that you don't continue being scared about it. I've had so many surgeries in my 23 years of life (20-25 surgeries to narrow it down!) and they really aren't terrible. I used to dread them but then I realized if you just don't think about it, you'll get through it just fine. I now look forward to my talks with my mom as we wait for me to go back into the O.R. Take someone that is calm with you that you can laugh and have a good time with before surgery and you'll go in there just fine. If you have questions, ask them! The nurses are usually amazing people that will help you get through the day.

Hi Miss Sammy, I'm also getting banded this month (the 24th!) I've been put under between 20-25 times, and remember approximately 15-20 times. I also have asthma (not sure if it's similar with smokers, but I'm guessing maybe?) Anyways...just be completely honest about your smoking so they can be prepared for it! Basically this allows them to guess what MAY happen so they can prevent it from becoming serious. For me they will have a nebulizer and oxygen ready for me and have to coach my breathing when I wake up sometimes. They will keep a pulse ox on you to measure your oxygen levels and will not allow it to go below a certain amount (if it does, they will give oxygen!). I've never woke up and remembered any form of dreaming. A lot of them will talk to you while they're putting you under and you'll stop midsentence when it really kicks in. It's actually a relaxing feeling and not painful at all. I've had 17 surgeries between 2007 and december 2010 so YES I do understand and I do have breathing issues that have to be addressed. It's not the same for everyone, but my mom has had several surgeries as well and we've both had the same experiences. Don't be afraid to tell them that you are in a lot of pain as they will give you more pain medicine. Be completely honest about your history, smoking and the amount of pain you have so they can help you. I hope you're able to quit smoking soon! Good luck

Yay! I just got my surgery date for May 24th also Keep in touch! Maybe we can help eachother in those few days after since we'll really be in it together. I have a 2 week clear liquid diet, no veggies or lean meat before so hoping I can get through that without too much trouble!

A few chicken ideas (it's the only meat I like/eat so I try lots of fun stuff with it!) - try cooking it in - Cook chicken in fat free italian dressing (I think I use the kraft brand) it's really good and it's juicy! - Crush fat free croutons & garlic powder, Put chicken in egg beaters (or eggs if you want the extra cholesterol) - roll in this mix and bake with a little olive oil - Dip chicken in A-1 (I don't eat steak...but A-1 is so good with chicken!) Also, if you love chicken like I do and want to easily be able to make it...try the Tyson Grilled & Ready chicken in the frozen section. I get a bag of it at Wal-Mart and each piece has 110 calories with 10 calories from fat and it's actually very good! It says you can microwave it, but I usually boil it on the stove for about 5 minutes to keep it juicy. It is pre cooked so it's really quick and it's actually quite yummy!

You may want to reconsider the self pay - many of the surgeons may still require you go through a certain amount of dieting and several clearances. I thought the 6 months would be horrible but I've really changed a lot during these 6 months and have used it as time to educate myself better on what to expect. My PCP did not agree with my decision but I walked into his office one day with my mind made up and told him I was going to do it whether he agreed or not! He actually referred me that day (then found out I didn't even need a referral, I could've just gone straight to the surgeon!) Oh well... Another Dr. you can consider for a referral is your gynocologist! The surgeon mentioned that to me because that is the only dr I see regularly and he needed to obtain a weight history from them. So if you trust your gyno, consider discussing with them. Instead of letting them think you want their opinion, go in there and explain to them what you HAVE tried, this is how I got my PCP to jump on board. I had printed off numerous papers with my exercises, dates & times documented. Also different diets I tried and this seemed to be very convincing. I don't think you're being sneaky! If you don't feel comfortable talking to her about it again, then don't! It's not her choice and dr's don't always know best (Not their fault, many of them are overworked and have way too many patients to remember EVERYONE's issues and history).

I know what you mean! I had a VERY unflexible job and just finished college last year. My surgeon is almost 2 hours away so I totally understand! They have been WONDERFUL working with my schedule. When I had the clearances to complete, I scheduled at least 2 appointments for the day I'd be up there and got them over with pretty quickly. Also check on options in your hometown, I was able to complete the EKG & stress test here at my local facility. They faxed the info to the cardiologist...only thing to make sure of...the clearances NEED to be done by a physician that specializes or understands what insurance is looking for with bariatric surgery clearance. I ask my nurse lots of questions (I'm sure she just loves it too...) but she said that if you just choose to go to a local dr that doesn't write up the clearance correctly, you may have to go to another dr to have the testing done. So just double check with the surgeon's office about your options. Try to make several appts in a day if possible too! I've also found that if you mention the distance you're traveling for your appointments, they may be willing to work with you on appointment times and dates!

You're welcome Glad Shirley didn't take it as me being argumentative like some people on here might. You need to fight for what you believe, especially when you know people are on here looking for accurate information!

No problem - it's Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein powder - They have chocolate, chocolate Peanut Butter, vanilla, strawberry & Cookies & cream. My favorite (and I'm a chocolate lover) is the vanilla! It's awesome! It's also very inexpensive ($13-15 for a 2 lb canister) and free shipping to home from Walmart's website. I didn't mean to be rude at all, I just want to make sure people do obtain accurate information on here since we're all in this together and here to help eachother with what's good and bad.

Thank you for responding again, it was the MUSCLE MILK (NOT light) that had all the bad reviews and stated it was NOT for weight loss purposes (once again regular Muscle Milk). I apologize for the misunderstanding, that was my fault. Thank you for posting that information, I looked up with light added and found very different reviews than on the Muscle Milk. There was also other controversy over muscle milk that the company has taken care of as well. Thank you for the friendly lesson Shirley It is still higher calorie than what I was discussing, but that's another issue I won't even debate on as it's not as big of a diff as I initially stated.

That's almost 200 calories for 25g of Protein?? I get 26g protein with 130 calories. So once again, consuming extra calories. I saw nothing on their website that states they put their patients on muscle milk. The nutritionists, surgeons & nurses have all had their fair share of negative things to say about muscle milk. You may want to consider a different protein supplement and read about whey protein vs. other types of protein. You may be taking in protein but doesn't mean it's high quality. Just a question...you said you've been drinking it for 5 years, how much weight have you lost during that time? Have you ever questioned whether it may be what you're using? And btw, I have seen and am going to one of the top rated bariatric surgeons in the US...so I trust them and I trust the other sources I've found. Also now comparing Body Fortress & Muscle Milk reinforced my thoughts against it. Once again...you don't have to listen to me, do your own research and you'll find the same FACTS! It's not always quantity, but quality! ALSO - Muscle Milk is in addition to meals and does not instruct people to use as a meal alternative.

I'd like to respectfully disagree with muscle milk again...this is not very high in Protein - to back myself up I looked at the nutrtiion information. There is only 12g per 1 scoop, it is made up of a milk protein and for weight loss, it is recommended to use whey protein (something about the way it breaks down, etc). To compare to what I was discussing earlier (Body Fortress Whey Protein) - it has 26g protein per scoop. It's a much higher quality of protein. The dumping syndrome has nothing to do with other Protein shake vs. muscle milk. That pertains more so to the amount of liquid people drink with milks, lactose, sugars, acidic foods, etc. So again, do not recommend muscle milk (light or otherwise) - read more about this if you don't believe me.

I agree with the above...Body Fortress from WalMart is cheap but great quality! It's very comparable to others and I think it tastes great! I drink it mixed with Water, soymilk (I don't drink regular milk), and frozen fruit mixed in a blender. They have free shipping to home too on the website AND have some great deals if you buy the "bundle" of 3 for $35. I have seen a lot of ppl mentioning muscle milk, carnation and boost....all of these were highly recommended AGAINST because they are full of sugar and are not really as high in the necessary Proteins and nutrients. Look for something that isn't full of sugars. I've also read the unjury shakes are a great brand but it was a little more pricy so I didn't even try it.

I don't think everyone needs to know...I think you should tell people you trust and that the people who live with you should definately be told. They are going to see the changes and they are going to be more helpful if they understand what is going on. It was hard to tell my dad about it and I thought for sure he'd be totally against it but he ended up going to the seminar with me and is very supportive now. He just wants me to be healthy and do this the right way. My mom on the other hand has been supportive since I first mentioned it and trusts that I'm making the right decisions. I haven't told ALL of my closest friends, but have told a few that I'm sure will be here to support me and help me do well. You will need support throughout this. I'm in my 6th month of the pre-op diet/lifestyle change and couldn't imagine not having the support of those who I live with. IMO - you should truly consider telling those that you live with, or like some other people mentioned you may need counseling because something doesn't seem right if you're uncomfortable talking with them about it. (I don't mean that in a harsh or rude way, sorry if it comes off like that...) I'm also a very private AND extremely independant person so I understand you there as well

Does that one work well for you?? I could never get it to full mix the fruit! I had HUGE chunks of fruit that I couldn't fit through a straw. It didn't matter how much I put in there. I had to return it.

http://www.walmart.c...r-1-ct/11994734 It says they're out of stock now...but keep trying, I bought 5 of these! They even wash up in the dishwasher. The tops feel a little flimsy but they are still holding up quite well. I keep one at work too! It's the body fortress mix shaker 25oz - I can't find the path to it, just search body fortress and you'll come up with lots. I buy their Protein Shakes (They are VERY similar in nutrients to the ones my surgeon offers) and it's only $13 for about 30 servings. I buy the 3 pack for $35 and it's free shipping to home! If you prefer not to store them, you can buy one of them and it still ships free! I LOVE the walmart website. The vanilla has an AMAZING, strong, sweet flavor I can't even describe. It's super good with frozen fruit.

I'm on my 2nd magic bullet since they came out! I LOVE these! I tried a cheaper one and absolutely hated it. You can get them at Bed Bath & Beyond for about $50. Sign up for their coupons and you may get a 20% off coupon or $5-10 off. The magic bullet is AWESOME! If you're just looking to mix protein shakes, walmart has some great protein shaker/mixer things for around $2...ship to home for another 97 cents (they didn't care them in store around here). The bullet is great if you want to mix in fruits though or add ice to make it a little thicker.

I have had several surgeries and have my tongue, nose & ears pierced. I have never been allowed to keep any of them in during surgery or even a plastic retainer. This is for safety reasons. I had surgery just 3 months after getting my tongue pierced and had it out for almost 10 hours and was able to get it back in. I've found it goes better from the bottom of the tongue to the top after it's been out for a while. If you feel some resistance just let your tongue relax in your mouth with it partially in and it'll work through. The nose & ears will last a little longer than the tongue (The tongue is a muscle so it will start to "heal" closed quicker). My suggestion is to keep them in right up until you are about to go into surgery, remove them and then put them back in later that day after you wake up. Within 12 hours you shouldn't have any issues, within 24 hours you may start to close up a little depending on how long you've had them done. They made me take out the plastic retainers too, so I wouldn't waste your time on those either.

Please try not to be scared. If you have done your homework and looked into your doctor and trust him/her, it'll be fine. I've had many surgeries and they get less scary each time. The number of people who have complications are VERY low and they typically have an underlying condition. This is why doctors and insurance require so many pre op appointments to evaluate your physical and mental health to get through this. There are many people here to support you and you can do this!