lucky2bLAURA
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Everything posted by lucky2bLAURA
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My doctor's office sent all my paperwork to the insurance company on April 25 and said it shoud take about 10 dyas to hear anything... So I *patiently* waited the 10 days, then called BCBS to find out what the status was on the authorization. The lady I talked to said that they hadn't received it until May 8th!! And it would be 7 to 10 days before I heard anything. So I'm a little bit frustrated.... But at least I know they are looking at it now.
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I called BCBS today to see about the pre-authorization for my lap-band and they said they had just received the forms on the 8th. So 10 more days of waiting.....
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My favorite lyrics from the new Matt (the lyrical genius) Skiba album from the song "Haven't You?" --There’s a stranger inside of me named angerHe worked for me but danger was your middle nameNow I’m able to waltz through violent daymares Of shattered glass and road flaresTo kiss you on the cheekI thought I lost it all the day that I lost youIt’s taken me until just now to find the truth.You’ve always been here haven't you?
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Bought a protein mix at Walmart the other day called Body Fortress... it's not too bad. I had a protein drink and a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast, and I feel really satisfied.
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there is a thread about chia seeds at http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/132041-chia-seeds/ Hope it helps... I want to try these someday!!
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Went back to the grocery store today.... Eating healthy is SO EXPENSIVE!! No wonder there are so many fat people when it's cheaper and easier to buy junk food. But I'm actually enjoying all the different kinds of recipes at EatingWell.com. Who knows I might come out of this being a "foodie"!!
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Has Last Weight Loss Visit And They Are Submitting To Insurance.
lucky2bLAURA replied to TexasSoccerMom's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm waiting too!! Good luck, I hope you get approved! I'm worried I won't.... but that's just the way I am. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and all that.... :-) -
Hypothyroidism & Lapband
lucky2bLAURA replied to Bel12's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have hypothyroidism and it is well under control now, so my endocronologist(sp?) said there would not be a problem with having a lap-band. He said that since my thyroid levels are normal now, I'm no different than a person without a thyroid problem in terms of weight loss. I'm waiting right now for the insurance to approve the surgery, so I've been trying to eat better and get ready for the way I'll need to eat after the surgery... I've actually lost almost 10 lbs, and losing that weight was much easier than it was when my thyroid levels were high. But your doctor should definitely get you on some thyroid meds (you'll be amazed how much better you'll feel), and then talk to your doctor about surgery again and see what he has to say when your levels are good. -
Low Vitamin D Levels?
lucky2bLAURA replied to colleenjoy's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I went to the doctor with irritability, fatigue, short-term memory loss, and slight confusion that had been going on for months. Plus major joint pain, but I have psoriatic arthritis so that's not unusual. My endocrinologist(sp?) tested my vitamin D and it was really low, and had been for quite some time. He put me on 50,000 IU once a week and it didn't improve so he upped it to 3X a week and I'm much better now. I'm back to my usual self and have more energy and the joint pain has lessened to the normal arthritis pain. I couldn't believe how much the vitamin D affected. I'm a totally changed person since my levels are back to normal. In fact I credit the increase with my decision to finally do something about this extra weight and get healthy again. Everything that's wrong with me is because of the extra weight I carry. Well except for the arthritis, but it's definitely not helped by it.... -
So Nervous!! Waiting To Hear About Approval...
lucky2bLAURA posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I just found out that all my paper work was submitted to BCBS today, I was told it will take from 10 days to a month to find out one way or the other.. Now I can't focus on work or anything.... I just have this feeling I'm going to be denied. I've been working at this for 10 months now what with the considering, the research, the deciding and the 6 month supervised diet, etc. I've put all my hopes into this little tool to finally be able to get to where I can look on the outside the way I feel about myself on the inside.... I'm worried about what will happen if I get denied.... will I just binge and get even fatter? -
Howdy ya'll!! I have to take 6 different prescription pills a day. These are not pills that I will ever be able to stop taking. Is it difficult to swallow medication with the band? None of my pills are huge. And I know of one that I can crush, but the others are extended release so I won't be able to crush them. Any advice welcome! Thanks, Laura
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For People Who Work Overnight. I Have Some Suggestions
lucky2bLAURA replied to Boniluuu's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Thanks for the advice... I work a 12 hour compressed shift, and had considered doing this very thing. But I guess I'll just take off the night before unless the surgery is scheduled on one of my off nights. :-) -
Thanks everyone.... I was just curious. The way I take pills is to take a small sip of water and throw the pill in and swallow, and I was wondering if anyone ever had them come back up. I mostly take my pills at night, but I can stagger them out over the day. I appreciate all the advice. :-)
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Just Finished Pre Op.. Surgery 19Th
lucky2bLAURA replied to tanilya hamm's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Please don't worry that you are in this all by yourself... you have this forum. I'm looking at getting banded in May or June depending on insurance and all that, and if it wasn't for all the helpful people on the forum I probably would have given up months ago. I'm scared too, but I'm confident my surgeon is experienced and won't screw me up... :-) Congrats on a surgery date and keep us updated with your progress!! -
Insurance Approval And 6 Month Supervised Diet
lucky2bLAURA posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I've been doing a 6 month supervised diet and I'm on month 5 but have not lost any appreciable amount of weight. Has anyone with a similar situation been approved for the surgery? My doctor says not to worry but I can't help but be concerned. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas PPO. Thanks for any help. -
I got a call today from the hospital that I have an appointment at the radiologist tomorrow at 7:45am. I'm assuming it's for the Upper GI but no one from the doctor's office called me to let me know anything. If I hadn't checked my voicemail I wouldn't have even known about it at all. I sleep during the day as I work at night, so by the time I got the message the doctor's office was closed. There is absolutely no communication between me and the office. I called and left a voicemail last week regarding the psych eval I had 2 weeks ago, and what they wanted me to do next and never received a call back. Or not until the hospital called anyway. I'm at a loss what to do about it. After all they are supposed to be the professionals, they have to tell me who to call and what to do. I'm not a mind reader. I'm supposed to do my final weigh-in tomorrow and I don't know if I should say anything about it. I cannot handle confrontation, I'm just not built that way.
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Endoscopy In The Morning
lucky2bLAURA replied to dhales's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have had 2 endoscopys (?). I tore the lining of my stomach up from abusing (not on purpose) Aleve, before I was diagnosed with Psoriatic arthritis. It was absolutely no big deal. I did wake up during the first one, but I didn't feel anything painful. It felt sort of like I had to burp, and I could feel something moving around in my throat. I remember opening my eyes and making eye contact with the doctor. He said "Oops... we need a little more demoral in her IV" After that I remember nothing... the second procedure they used something different and it was over before I knew it. -
I'm not afraid I won't wake up after the surgery. I'm afraid I'll wake up *during* the surgery, or that I'll have that "anathesia awareness" thing like in that movie Awake. I tried to watch a surgery on youtube but after seeing the surgeon stick those ports in the patient's belly like he was sticking a thermometer into a pork roast I had to turn it off. I know this will sound silly to a lot of people but I can't help it (I have a problem with paranoia and I take meds for it but it still surfaces from time to time), I'm worried the the surgery team will be talking about me and I won't be able to hear what they say. I have the same fear every time I've been sedated for various procedures. But I've never been completely knocked out or cut open before....
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I've tried not to really think very far ahead. I'm about 300 give or take right now (I won't weigh unless I'm forced to, I hate scales). I think my first goal would be just to lose about 50lbs. Then I'll set my next 50lb goal.... then the next 50 lb goal then I should be right within the healthy BMI range at about 150 lbs at 5'8" tall. I think since body types are so different that you should go by how you feel and how clothing fits rather than just the numbers on the scale.
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6 Month Required Physician Visits???
lucky2bLAURA replied to KathyLynn's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I had to do the 6 month supervised diet also... I'm halfway thru my 5th month, and I'm getting a little discouraged. Things aren't going the way I thought they would and I keep wondering if I'm even doing the right thing. At the seminar I was told that in the 5th month we would be getting all the other necessary requirements met so that it could be sent to the insurance company for approval right after the 6th weigh-in. I'm not really sure what's going on and what all I need to do and what appointments to make. It doesn't help anything that I work nights on a 12 hour compressed workshift. I know it will all work out in the end. I think I'm just getting scared because I've never had surgery, so I'm looking for things to go wrong. -
Insurance Approval And 6 Month Supervised Diet
lucky2bLAURA replied to lucky2bLAURA's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have noticed that it seems like just yesterday that I went for my first appointment with the surgeon. I remember thinking I'll never last until March, it will be too difficult and I'll just give up on the surgery. But I've stuck with it. I think about it constantly. And before I knew it, I was here at month 5. I still have to see the psychologist and the dietician, but I'm supposed to set all that up tomorrow when I go for my weigh-in. It will pass so quickly. Good luck!! -
oh wow!! This thread made me laugh. :-) My mother is a farting freak and she doesn't even have a band. I'm glad I read this though, I will stock up on Gas-X!! Thanks for the giggle! :-) hehehe
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Insurance Approval And 6 Month Supervised Diet
lucky2bLAURA replied to lucky2bLAURA's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Thanks for all the helpful information. When I went to the seminar the month before I actually decided to have the surgery, the doctor didn't say there was a set amount of weight to be lost. However I was reading in some of the threads here, that the insurance wants to see that you at least tried to lose weight. And I haven't exactly tried to lose, I've just tried not to gain. If diets had ever worked for me in the first place I wouldn't want to get the surgery. All I know is that going into my 5th month (weigh-in tomorrow), is that I'm really starting to get nervous. For one reason, I've never had an invasive surgery like this. I'm actually excited about changing everything about my life and how I relate to food. Thanks again for all your comments. You've set my mind more at ease. :-) -
All Scales Are Not Created Equal!
lucky2bLAURA replied to mrsmyers2010's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have a Healthometer scale. It seems to work fine, it's digital which I prefer. I've had it for 5 or 6 years, and only replaced the battery once. I think it was $20-25. I got it at Walmart. I noticed the other day that my doctor has the same exact scale. All my doctors now use a digital scale come to think of it.... I hate those that they have to move the bar across on... I carry my weight pretty well and they always start out at 200 and then say oops and move the thing to 250 and then move the little thing across the top. It makes me feel so ashamed. :-)
