tamarlarae

Ashlee king, I only have a BMI of 44 and no other comorbidies so I am hoping I am approved as well.... Fingers crossed!!

Two weeks?? That seems really long!

Thanks all!! This makes me feel good!! Crossing fingers I get approved!!

I have been submitted!!! Here's to hoping I'm approved!!!

I was just wondering how you did in school? Luckily, I take online classes so I'm not physically going anywhere, but were you able to still keep up? I am going to post this in the "teens" section too just in case.

Hi everyone, My husband and I are preparing for my liquid diet pre and post op and he wants to put an order into allstarhealth because he likes to get his casein and Protein powder from there. Has anyone ordered from there before? What flavors did you use/like? I don't want to get more than a 2lb one in case I really don't like it, but I think I'll need variety so I don't want to kill anyone haha. Any advice?

I realize this is a lap Band forum, but I was curious as to how you were able to make your decision to have the lap band done and not the vertical sleeve. I have been researching things for a year and I still can't decide. I am young (24) and would still like to have kids, but I can not see any more pros or cons for either. I would LOVE your advice/opinions. I chickened out and got cold feet last April because I couldn't decide and now I have an appointment on the 29th and I find myself in the same situation. Please help!!

Has anyone had to pay more after their insurance's percentage? For example, my insurance will cover 80% so I will have to pay 20%. So I know how much that will be, but what about the anesthesiologist, hospital room, etc.? I know everyone's insurance is different, I'm just trying to get a feel.

I was just wondering how you did in school? Luckily, I take online classes so I'm not physically going anywhere, but were you able to still keep up? I am going to post this in the "teens" section too just in case.

Thanks for everyone's responses! I'm not looking forward to that part of surgery! I hope I'll be able to manage!!

Hi all! My insurance only required me to get a letter from my PCP and a psych eval to do surgery. Got the psych eval done yesterday and my letter from my PCP a few weeks ago. I called this morning to find out if they have received everything to submit to insurance. I didn't hear anything today. Do you think I should be "that person" and call again tomorrow? I really need to have this surgery this summer otherwise I'll have to wait till NEXT summer... I live in AZ and am being sleeved at BGMC if any if you are familiar with it. Any advice??

Thanks ladies. I am worried because it sounds like there are quite a few processing problems with the CCs there :-( Laura- I went to the same location I'm having my surgery (BGMC) so it would be processed that day. I had to wait a month for the appointment, but I figured it'd be worth it so I could get everything done more quickly and then things couldn't be "lost" when faxing things.

Awesome thanks ladies!!

I'm in grad school right now so I am nervous about the time I'll be down. Since I have online classes I can do a lot more on my couch/bed but I'm afraid of being too tired.

I've been reading A LOT of people's posts and would like to know the experience of those of you whom have already been sleeved. I know it varies from person to person and definitely depends on pain tolerance but I want to know how bad recovery really is. Not sugar coded, not watered down, and not unrealistic. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself so I really would love the honest experience you've had. I apologize in advance if this gives anyone some sort of PTSD btw.

Awesome thank you everyone!! Such a whirlwind let me tell you. I'm such a planner and type A personality lol so I am trying to mentally prepare myself as much as possible.

I had to wait 4 weeks to get my psych eval but my my BMI is 44.2 so, hoping I'll be approved!

I don't have a surgery scheduled yet, but I am hoping for the end of May!! I live in the Mesa/ Gilbert area off Greenfield and the US60 so super close to BGMC :-D are you guys on FB? Would you like to be friends??

Blueyesaz- what part of PHX?? I'm in Mesa and grating sleeved at BGMC, how about you? I'd love some support/friends! The more the merrier :-)

I took biotin to help me before I got married because there was a specific hair style I wanted and it took me a year and a half to grow it out :-( I have thyroid issues so I have endocrin things working against me which is why I think it took forever. What brand of biotin did you take? I'm not opposed to it again, I just will need to start now if I have to take then again to notice or see a difference. I'm hoping for a summer surgery. Did you have to crush or cut them after surgery?

Hello everyone! I had my initial consult with the doc so now trying to get through all the pre-approval stuff I durance requires (I only need medical history from the last year and a psych eval) it took me 3 weeks to see a therapist *rolls eyes*. Anyway, with any major surgery I know you lose hair, but I was wondering if anyone our age experienced this? I have talked to my hair dresser and she suggested prenatals to start NOW as well as through the surgery. Anyone know if this is ok? I know you're restricted as far as stuff that goes down after surgery but I found gummy prenatals lol so I assumed this would work?

Awesome thank you! Yes! I love the nutritionist she's so funny and knowledgable! Did it also take you 3 weeks to get a psych eval? I'm using one of their recommended ones that works downstairs since its so close and convenient for me. I was jw if that was a normal wait time?

I haven't been sleeved yet, but I had my first consultation with the surgeon (Rob Schuster) so I am trying to get through all the psych eval and initial testing and stuff. Anyone go to banner gateway off Higley and the US60 and have him as a surgeon? Or can anyone tell me about their experience at that hospital?? I'm just super nervous!

Hi all! I am a teacher and unfortunately got SUPER sick this year between strep and the flu. I am now out of PTO, vacation, and sick time and I've got my psych eval that I HAVE to do for surgery approval as well as this training seminar the doc requires. Everything else I am pretty sure I can schedule when I am off work (blood tests, other tests, etc.), but I am also in school and have had to take 2 days off as unpaid so I am on THIN ice with my boss... I have a meeting with HR tomorrow and told her I am having surgery and she has reassured me that I do not need to elaborate or explain what the surgery is for because of confidentiality reasons, since I will have to miss at least part of the day any advice?? I'm so nervous I am going to lose my job (which I need for surgery), but these things I absolutely have to do in order to be approved are only available in the mornings. Anyone else run out of time or could offer me advice?

I know it would be intermittent, and she said I would probably qualify for that but in order to even get this process started (i.e. going to the psych eval, getting blood work done, getting the initial tests like the gi thing done) I can not do unless I have a note from my doc saying it is medically necessary for me to miss work. Otherwise, I can not miss anymore days since I am all out of PTO, vaca, sick, etc. So that was why I was asking if anyone got a letter from their doc BEFORE they were even approved for surgery. I called my doc on Monday and left and message and still haven't heard back. I am going to call back today if I don't hear anything by this afternoon.