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SkinnyMiniMe

LAP-BAND Patients
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Posts posted by SkinnyMiniMe

  2. Posted

    I have had other surgeries and I am not too concerned. With all the pre-op appointments I am pretty sure that my surgeon knows if I am healthy enough to have this 45 minute procedure or not. They have checked all my abdominal organs, blood work, lungs, stomach and even checked for blood clots. That is more testing than the other two surgeries that I have had in the past.

  3. Posted

    Well Thanks for the advice. Since I started the process already in October my deductible will be already covered if I have the surgery in December. Its too late to turn back now. I guess you are right I will probably meet that deductible anyway in 2012 again with all the fills. I have a feeling I am going to see alot more out network doctors from now on. At least take advantage. Thanks for the advice about getting it in writing. I have a friend that was sued 5 years after by a lawyer and the doctor was no longer in business so she could not verify with the office manager. She ended up being served to go to court and settled out of court. Don't want that to happen. I think I am more annoyed that I called my insurance last month and they told me it was $200 deductible per individual and now come to find out its $300 and since its for my husband and I it will be $600 but that will cover it for the rest of the familly.

    Here's the thing, between Doctor appointments, fills, blood work and any other regular doctor appointments I always make my $500 deductible, a lot of Surgeons advertise that they take insurance but they actually only take out of network benefits which means they can charge you anything they want and balance bill you what insurance doesn't pay, with that being said the fact the office is saying that they will take the insurance payment and your deductible as payment is great but get that in writing. Also if the doctor writes off the balance the insurance will see it as if you paid it so if you have to pay a percentage after your deductible is met the cost will most likely eat up all your maximum out of pocket expenses for the year. I would highly recommend having the surgery after the new year.I had mine in February and basically all of my doctors appointments/adjustments have been paid in full for the rest of the year because i hit my max out of pocket for the year.

    This is the benefit of being married to an insurance specialist LOL

    Good Luck!

  4. Posted

    The thing is I am only responsible for my deductible which is $300 per person a year. Since we already went to the consult I am already responsible for and it will cover the surgeries if they happen as planned in December. My husband and I already discussed it...and we think we will continue with him. Then in 2012 we will continue too because we figure we will go plenty of appointments that it will make sense. After we are done losing the weight and maintaining we will consider switching so it won't be so expensive. I guess being skinny is worth it.

    The first doc (the one referred by my PCP) was not on my insurance. :( He and his staff were fabulous, I was sorry to leave them. The second doc, who was on my insuraces website, turned out to not be on my inurance either. The third doc I went to I made sure he was on my insurance ... got all my tests done and had a surgery date. about 3 days before surgery I received a call telling me that my surgery was cancelled because the surgery center that my doc uses would not accept my insurance. I was mortified! Soooo upset. I called the surgery center, which was on my insurance website, and they told me that "yes" they had a contract with BCBS of CA, but that my insurance did not pay them enough so they would not allow me to have the surgery there. I called the benefits dept at my firm and they went ballistic ... it got a little ugly because the woman at the surgery center devulged info to me that she was not supposed to, but that's another story.

    Knowing that my tests would not be valid for much longer I went on a Quest to find a doc. My insurance gave me a list of doctors and facilities. I found one, the doc understood about my insurance and the problem with facilities so he found a hospital for me and voila! instead of having my surgery on June 1, 2009, I had it on June 15, 2009.

    It was a little stressful, but it turned out ok. With 2 kids in college at the time I couldn't afford to go with a surgeon that was not on my insurance.

    Good luck to you! I know it will all work out.

    ~Fran

  6. Posted

    Long story short. I had my consult almost finish with all my pre-op appointments. Come to find out my surgeon (who I love) does not take my insurance but will take their payment as payment. I will be responsible for my deductible. I called my insurance GHI last month and was told its $200, well the bill came in and now they are telling me its $300! My husband and I are both doing it so grand total will be $600.00. Then in January it will start all over again since its a new year! We are tentatively scheduled for surgery in December. I am thinking long term, $600 every year (until they raise the deductible again cause it never goes down) is a bit much when I can go to a surgeon that just takes GHI and all I have to pay is $20 per visit.

    So my question is has anyone changed doctor's before being approved? Was it a messy situation? Or should I just fork it over to be less difficult? First year or two I will probably easily exceed that deductible but I am looking far ahead in a few years we will have to see him less. So $20 maybe once or twice a year is better than $300.00. I was told first year we have to go in once a month. Is that true? What about in 2 or 3 years? HELP!

  8. Posted

    Just a suggestion...compare your clothes and you will definitely see the difference. I know our minds take more time to adjust to our new bodies. It happened to me last year after losing weight and now that I regained it back and some extra I finally realize how much skinnier I was. Now I am on my lapband journey. Hoping to be as successful as you and inspiring to someone else as you are to me. THANKS!!! You look great!!!!!

  9. Posted

    I was cure from the "Last Supper Syndrome" tonight. My family and I went out to what was suppose to be our last buffet. After eating the food which did not seem that great as it was in the past, we get the bill and I felt violated! $107 for Chinese food!!! I was upset mainly because I felt I overpaid. Then on my way home I realized I was "cured"!!!! I will no longer have the desire to spend so much money on quantity of food as opposed to quality. Had it been delicious and affordable I would have been thinking about it for years to come. I felt like it was a nice clean break from my relationships with buffets lol

    As for chocolate, I still like her lol but in moderation I should be fine lol.

    I know exactly how you feel!! I am afraid I am suffering from last supper syndrome! I am scheduled for banding 11/18/11...and feel like I have to get that last meal in!

  10. Posted

    I am a newbie too...initially I was nervous and scared but I can not let fear run my already fat miserable life. I believe I am a food addict. I have been in a bad relationship from food for 1/2 my life. I done, I over it and I am taking my life back. As I am going through all these pre-op appointments and tests, I am realizing that is not that big of a deal. As far as the hassles from the band, I feel it will be hard at times BUT the end result will be well worth the hassles. Remember fear is created in our minds its not tangible. Create your new healthy life happily. Look around and read, good and bad and remember lap-band is completely reversible. As for me...next year I want to say to myself this is the best thing I ever did. Good Luck on your journey! :)

  12. Posted

    I am not banded yet, hopefully in December. But when I diet and exercise without the band I could lose 2-3 lbs a week on my own. Of course that's 1 hr- 1 1/2 hrs at 5 days a week, without the band. Dieting is the hardest part of it for me. I am hoping with the band and with the same workout effort I could lose 3-4lbs a week. Is that possible?

    Getting started is the hardest part. You will have to make yourself go at first. But before you know it, you will be hating to miss a day. Just push yourself a little more each day. Set goals that are agressive but achievable. Dont think that you will be running 2 miles in a week, but certainly set some kind of goal for yourself to keep you going. When I get on the ellyptical for example I always set a time and a level when I start instead of just hitting the Quick Start button. That makes me stay on it instead of just getting off when I start to get a little bored. Also mix it up! Try some different machines- treadmill, ellyptical, aerobics class, or even bike riding outside, whatever you enjoy doing. Mixing it up giving you a little variety will keep you interested in exercize as well as keep your metabolism rolling. Mixing it up keeps your metabolism on a high! I dont know about the rest of you, but my weight loss sure does go a lot faster with the exercize combined with the healthy eating, not to mention how awesome it feels when I have finished a good workout.

    Good luck. Stick with it!!

  14. Posted

    I always figure (for me) just making it to the gym is a miracle but if I make inside the gym I am working out. So I judge by how I feel. Usually 20-30 minutes to start 2-3 days a week. As you start going more often you will see that you will be able to do more and will want to do more. Once you find things you like you will form your type of schedule. For example Eliptical on Mondays, Tuesday Spin Class and weights etc., By the 2-3 month I was going 5 days a week ad working out for about 1 1/2 each day. I have to get back into the gym. Last year lost 40 lbs and now I am up 50 lbs...so I am embarassed to go back BUT I plan on it!!! Now when I get the Lapband I am hoping that I will maintain all that hard work. :)

    GOOD LUCK!!!

  16. Posted

    LOL I have a widget app on my phone with the countdown to the surgery. Although its a tentative date right now...48 days and counting. I am drinking my chocolate MyoFusion Protein shake right now out of my blender ball cup (30g Protein & all from GNC) Please share the information on your designer whey stuff...where did you get it and the name? I want to try some. Since I quit soda I have been drinking lols of Mio (target lol) Sweat Tea flavor but there is nothing in it. I found a great Water bottle that I love Thermos Intak Hydration water bottle BPA free at target ($10) no spilling and you can keep track of how many times you refilled the bottle so you know how much you drink. I do like ice though in my drinks so I am looking for a solution to have icy drinks at work. Forward any ideas please :-)

    As far as your sister, that is the beauty of having this tool! See now she can restart all over again. 40lbs should be easy to lose for her especially with you on board YEAH! FYI I willtake 90lbs weightloss happily :D

    @skinnyminnnime YAY!! We will have the same birthday!! I'm sooooo excited! Just 49 days away. My sister did great! She lost 90 lbs but went through a divorce and had all taken out of her band and gained back 40 of it. She knows what she did wrong and is going to begin again when I do. She is doing the liquid diet with me and everything. I am so excited we get to do this together. All three of us! ;) I keep going to GNC and Vitamin Shop and buying stuff. Today I found Designerwhey protein Water additive. It's got 10g or protein and you just add it to your water. Also I bought another shaker cup. This one has a cool stick that goes in it so it will keep your drink cool without ice. I am so ready to do this. I am starting tomorrow 11/1/11 on my own program just because I am so ready! 2012 LOOK OUT!!! I'm doing this for ME!!

  18. Posted

    How much Protein in your shake? Mine has 30grams. You may need to add 2 small Snacks in between and then a small low fat dinner. So a cheese stick (low fat) or hard boil egg just some ideas for snacks and make sure you drinks lots of Water or light drinks in between. I did it last week and I was able to do for 2 days before caving with all this Halloween party madness...tomorrow I am back on the Protein Shakes. I would like to lose 19 lbs before my surgery so it would leave me with exactly 100lbs to lose to my goal with my band. BTW I got the MyoFusion Protein Powder at GNC I like the chocolate. They told me to add a tsp of Peanut Butter (no sugar added) to the shake, to add flavor and if I am working out to add a scoop of raw oatmeal to add complex carbs. I will let you know how it goes. Of course tomorrow I have to go to Dunkin Donuts to buy donuts for my daughter's class. Like a ex-crack head having to get something from the crack house (SIGH)dry.gif

  20. Posted

    I understand because part of the reason why I decided to get the Lapband this year was because I wanted to job search and with no confidence level and my weight I realized its not the time to get a new job. Especially because the job market is bad to begin with. I spoke to a couple of friends of mine that work in Human Resources and they both admitted that over weight people rarely get the job. One even went so far to say "you have to look do-able to get the job" (ahhh men).

    Side note about you being gay-- Because I love my gay friends. One of my male gay friends is the best girlfriend I have. I say that cause I love him so much and BTW he loves it when I call him that too. Anyways back to the side note. Gay men have no problem getting dates! You will see when you are confident enough to go to gay bars or events. As my gay male friend said to me "our relationships are the same as heterosexual relationships, the only difference is we cut to the chase if we are sexually attracted to one another its established in the first 5 minutes." This makes total sense. Women love being courted etc., but when you have two men its a little easier. No more 5 dates just to know if she likes you kinda thing. Long story short...lose weight...build confidence...you will have the time of your life meeting new people and dating. You will probably make up for all this lost time and have a blast!!!! Just think how in a couple of years you will be saying to yourself that this was the best thing you ever did!:D

    some irony in you statements Mini :)

    1) My condo overlooks the gym (I can literally see it from my window but have yet to use it) it is not used much

    2) one reason I know I am single is 99% of folks assume I am straight...I read 'straight' to other gay men...lol. I am just ME. pure and simple. I finally got one of the dogs a rainbow dog collar (its the 'gayest' thing I own)

    however, I do see other men and know I think 'I can't get....him' so I knock msyelf out of the running before I even say hello.....online I do the same thing... online if someone tries to chat I wonder 'why are they talking to me, whats their reasoning' so yeah-

    I wonder if I will fall into the 'you ignored when I was fat but now?' (naw, I am not that much of a jerk)

    as to the job you are spot on- I have thought about job hunting but worry that I will be seen as the 'heart attack waiting to happen' and no matter HOW good I interview (heck, will I even be able to get in and out of the chair? or sweat walking in?) goes I will be shot down due to my weight (and do I even have any interview clothes that fit?? etc.... what if I smell? etc. but with 100 lbs less I KNOW I will have that much more confidence....I won't be able to hide the good in me.

    again, thanks ALL of you for the comments- I know I over think things, but wrapping my brain around this is interesting...

  21. Posted

    OMGsh... When you start to lose weight you will find yourself doing things you never thought you ever would. Maybe people going to the gym...hmmmmm....ding...ding...ding....workout buddies can turn to aquatainces. Your confidence level will go up, so you may decide to get another job wow...now you get a fresh new beginning. Maybe in this new job you will get new friends to go share a drink with. Try to think of the GREAT possibilites that will come your way.

  24. Posted

    I was thinking the same thing. My surgeon told me he would like us to have 90g of Protein a day. 5 spoons of yogurt, broth and 4 spoons of pudding wouldn't even come close to that.

    Having watched the clips, I noticed the woman who was banded 6 years said the one who was banded six months had food that was for right after surgery. I was glad she said that, but don't know if it was caught by many. It bothered me just a bit that the food they showed could not possibly have the Proteins necessary for health. I think it is another of those "extreme just for the tv" type shows at this point.

  25. Posted

    The message I got from watching this....they both said that they would 100% have the Lapband surgery again. Thanks for sharing...another reason why I am making the right decision!

    Here are the links...

    http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/life-after-lap-band-surgery-pt-1

    http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/life-after-lap-band-surgery-pt-2

    I also found "are you are a candidate for lapband"

    http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/are-you-candidate-weight-loss-surgery-pt-1

    http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/are-you-candidate-weight-loss-surgery-pt-2

    http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/are-you-candidate-weight-loss-surgery-pt-3

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