Nikki Riviotta

Thank you for the feed back! My biggest worry is my youngest son. He will turn 3 the day before I have surgery and he is 100% a mamas boy. I worry that he may have some major issues if Mommy cant get up and play like normal. So maybe recovery wont be as intense as I imagine. I have a few other questions if you dont mind me asking. My surgery got approved out of the blue this week after 4 denials so the only person that I have spoken to about anything is the girl that schedules stuff and handles insurance. I didnt schedule and appointment to see my surgeon pre op as she has a very long waiting list to get in. But all I really have questions about are litttle things. I have heard that I will not be able to lay down flat and will have to sleep in a recliner for the first week or so. Is this true. Also I know I will have to wear a mesh thing on my abdomen, but is there a certain type of underwear I should get to wear too? Are you able to work out yet? I love to exercise so I think not being able to will be hard for me. I'm already trying to plan short walks I can do after surgery so I feel like I am doing something. Did you gain any weight, I told my lb surgeon when I saw him this week that I was having this done. He didnt tell me to come for an unfill before or anything. Which I dont have much in my band to begin with because I cant tolerate a lot in there. So maybe that alone didnt give him reason for concern. How did your surgeon deal with your port while doing the surgery? I think that concerns me since Im sure it will have to be moved when she goes in to work on my abs. Sorry I know its a lot of questions. I just want to have all my ducks in a row because this is coming up quick

I go in on the 5th for mine. Seeing this makes me even more excited for it. Congrats to you! You look AMAZING!

UPDATE: My first appeal was denied. The letter said I didnt have enough documentation . I also called and spoke with a woman at my insurance company that said they want wls patients to be at least 18 months post surgery. So That put me out until September. From April to September I went to the doctor for every rash. In August I began to develope severe back pain much like what I had before i had a breast reduction. So the doctor put me in physical therapy. Even my physical therapist agreed I would greatly benefit from having the surgery done. In October I obtained all of my medical records and by end of november it was submitted. They denied it in less than 24 hours. My surgeons office looked into it and said that for some reason only 15 out of 50+ pages that were subitted were received. I appealed stating this in my letter. It took them less than one week to deny that appeal too stating that they reviewed EVERYTHING and that is just wasnt enough to make them cover it. I at that point decided to pay out of pocket. My husband and I were gearing up do what was necessary. Then this past tuesday the surgeons offfice called and said she got and approval over the phone. I received the new approval letter yesterday and it stated that the remaining 33 pages they didnt get were due too FED EX never delivering them. The new notes were then faxed and an approval was given stating I met all criteria. So I am scheduled for Feb 5. I am beyond excited. But nervous too, as I always am when I am going to have a big surgery. SO Thank you for all the support and prayers. God has taken care of me. Please pray that I have a successful surgery with no complications and an easy relatively quick recovery because I have a 3 year old that is not going be happy if Mommy cant play for very long LOL

ok. Thank you.

Cant figure out how to delete this post

I have it too. They have to keep redoing my dosage as I lose weight because I keep going hyperthyroid....My endocrinologist says that the dosage is weight dependant, As I lose the dose goes down...I started at .200 and am now at .137...So far I have lost 75...I have hit a couple of plateaus but I eventually start to lose again, so yes it can be done

Wow. Thanks for the post. I last had a fill in April and since went on a cruise. I noticed on the cruise I got stuck ALOT, I didnt feel like it was motion sickness but stuck...As soon as we were on land I was fine, didnt get stuck at all. When I told my surgeon about it he really just thought that it was sea sickness since it stopped once I was off the boat. Here in the last week I have gotten stuck ALOT again...and since end of May I have only lost 3 pounds...now that I have read this I am thinking that maybe I am too tight as well.

I am starting week 3 of Insanity tomorrow. I have weighed a couple of times in the last couple of weeks and have lost nothing despite staying in my calorie range and working my butt off during the exercises. Has anyone else experienced this?

LOL okay. I am actually going in to see my plastic surgeon again about my tummy tuck, she says I have at least 10 pounds of skin she needs to remove from my abdomen....I did the breast reduction before I had my band placed. I may have to up the protein. My calories are right at 1200 a day and my dietician doesnt want me to go below that...man this can be so stressful at times

What did you do to end the Plateau? I have about 25lbs to my target and I am getting so frustrated lol

I am doing great. I have really started using My Fitness Pal to log all calories and exercise. I have it on my phone and my laptop so I can log where ever I am. I am down 6 pounds since I joined this challenge. Not gonna hit my 20 lb goal by June 7th but I am losing again and that is what is most important to me! Hope everyone else is doing well!

Sounds to me like you are approved. Congrats!

Thank you! That helps a bunch!

I am running a 5k tomorrow. Should I be carb loading today? AND if so How many grams of carbs should I eat today?

I may be relocating to my hometown of Columbia, Missouri in the next year or so. I have been researching Surgeons in the area and have found Dr. Richardson that accepts my insurance and will accept me as a patient even though I had the surgery in another state. Is there anyone out there that he performed the band surgery on? If so could you tell me a little bit about him and what your experience has been with him? Thanks in advance.