soulful Grandma

The pre-op diet is tough - 6 days in. But it's getting closer to Band-day so that is exciting.

Nimble, Thanks for the wonderful calendar! Best of luck to all of us May bandsters - I know we will be forever changed for the better. Bandmates: rubylyn, amandawv, Special K 77, melissa o, NurseLaureli. May 14th is a busy band-day! I'll carry all your names with me and pray for us all on our day. LS diet starts for me on Monday 4/30. 3 protein shakes per day, any kind as long as 15+ gr protein and SMALL meal once a day 3 oz meat/fish and 1 cup of non-starchy vegetables. Day before only the 3 protein drinks and clear liquids. I do have some shakes that are 160 calories (atkins, I'm used to them) but figure if I drink one with 140 or less and 1 with 160, it's a wash. I'm getting one of those soda-fountain style drink mixers (anyone else here old enough to remember soda fountains?) Must confess, I've been having some "last meals". You guys are all great, so much support. I've got lots of support here too, DH and friends, family.

I already knew I had sleep apnea, but my Pulm MD wanted another sleep study, found out it was getting worse and they increased the pressure from 12 to 14. I also found out from the endoscopy that I have Barrett's esophagus. I look at it as a blessing, we need to know these things to live and get healthy. If not for pre-op testing, I probably would never have gotten an endo as I had almost no acid reflux symptoms. Stick with the cpap, keep trying and after a while it will seem like a friend. They really do help if you use them. And, soon you won't need it !! I have my surgery 5/14, and have to bring my cpap along. Did your dr tell you to bring it with for your surgery? I also have to stay overnight because of the apnea.

Just found out on Thursday.... May 14.

1. Have more energy and flexibility when with my grandkids 2. Live longer (the co-morbidities pile up so fast after menopause!) 3. Less Pain - More energy 4. And yes - how can we not wish for it - Shopping in a "normal" store would be wonderful too.

Thanks, Flowergurl. Approval number - yes Fed BCBS did give them an approval code. I have Non-federal BC Healthmate secondary coverage, and they stated to my surgeons office that they would pick up any copays and uncovered items without an authorization, not required for secondary. Good Luck and Don't give up!!!! remember what dotofoz said.

Well, dotofoz was right. I have my approval, the surgeons office obtained it no problem. They also gave me my surgery date, May 14.

Hi May 07 Bandsters! I'm so pleased to join you here. Got my date yesterday - May 14th!!!! :whoo: I was real nervous yesterday but it went like clockwork and now I'm getting excited. Suddenly 5/14 seems so far away. Hope I can make all the lifestyle changes and maximize the tool. :decision: So glad we've got each other as well as all the thoughtful folks here that can offer encouragement and advice. Good luck, everyone!

Same here. I had lost 20 pounds but just came back from vacation, gained about 10 back, and can't seem to get back on track. Exercise too, is killing me. Even walking a short distance hurts. (Pre-op, get my date this week)

Thank you for the detailed account. Somehow it is very comforting. Best wishes, I know you will do well.

Best of luck, I know you will do just fine! I get my date on Thursday.....

great! Let us know how you make out.

Hi Jullee71! I'll get mine on April 12! who's your surgeon. Mine's Dr Pohl, Roger Williams hospital.

thanks for the info dotofoz! I'll not give up without a fight, and I intend to win. Flowergurl, I go back to the surgeon 4/12 and as soon as I know anything, I'll update here.

Mrs H, I will pray for you, absolutely . I can't reassure you too much, being pre-op and nervous myself, but I'll be with you in spirit all the way. This forum is a great place to be with all these great folks, and I just know that will help. I'm new-ish here myself, and already I'm blown away by the amount of support and information offered here. S. G'ma

My DH and I just had some very interesting conversations with Federal BCBS (Rhode Island). I am pre-op, will get my surgery date April 12. I've had all my pre-op testing, so far no problem with payment on those. I was concerned and wanted to talk to them myself prior to the surgeons office seeking approval. Boy, did I get a runaround! First rep I spoke to said I had to get a CPT code in order for any questions to be answered. That seemed odd, to ask the patient for the CPT code, so I called back and got another rep. She told me lap band is "experimental and not covered". I asked her what was experimental about a procedure being performed for 15 years and covered by many other insurance policies. Then she told me oh, then get a code! My husband called them and read them the riot act. They told him to call back with a code. (at least they are consistent) Then he called the surgeons office (they were amazed that anyone would ask the patient for a code, and they do the majority of the surgeries in this area, Preferred provider, and operates at a Center of Excellence!) He got a code, called and they denied it. Called back with 2 more codes, both are covered, but boy were they ever reluctant to admit it. the codes they say are covered: 43770 and 43843, in case that helps anyone. It's my understanding that 43770 is the standard CPT code for lap-band, but I'm not an expert by any means. So, I'll let my surgeon know, and I'm hopeful for the approval - but they'll find a way around it if they can. Sorry if I sound cynical, but I've had so many insurance experiences where they just try to get you to give up - if they make it hard you may give up and save them the $$. I'll come back on the thread if/when I get the approval....... I have co-morbidities and BMI of 47, so I believe I meet the quals!

Kim - thanks so much, I'll look up Gigi8. Bec - you'll do just fine, I know it. We're pulling for you! And so are your Psy testers - they want you to have your health and as much joy out of life as possible.

I've been in therapy for a long time. Just so happens that my therapist does the final clearance for all my surgeon's patients. He would not do mine as a matter of ethics and I agreed with that. I was evaluated by others in his practice with only minimal input from him. I do know that he regularly denies clearance to anyone who he feels is not equipped to handle the emotional eating factor, one of the reasons for the hours of testing, I guess. They will re-evaluate after 6 months if they turn someone down. The surgeon said I could just get a letter from the therapist, but therapist did not agree and insisted on the eval. I think in retrospect, that I'm glad they take it so seriously, because I don't want to make the wrong decision. Anyway, on to the endoscopy, had my updated sleep study last night. Then in April I should get my surgery date! I'm slowly getting more comfortable with this decision....

I just finished my psych testing today (passed, whew!) I had to take home many many questionnaires, then spend about 4 hours with a phd who dug around in every painful corner of my life, it seemed. They are doing research to develop questionnaires that can be done by the surgeons office, but they say that only added about an hour and a couple question sheets, everybody has to spend 2-3 hours. That was last week. Tonight I met with a psychiatrist who spent about 15 minutes with me, had already gone through my file, and cleared me. My friend is having gastric bypass soon and all she had to do was 1/2 hour with a social worker! Anyway, glad it is over....

Hi, I'm new and feeling lost, too. People here are so supportive! I've been to the seminar 2x, had most of my pre-op tests, and a consult but won't get my surgery date until April. My best friend gave me a book for my birthday that says that overeating, anorexia, and bulemia are all SINS, not medical conditions. (she later apologized, she didn't read it before she gave it to me). Seems like everyone has an opinion on what you should do instead of surgery. BMI is 47, sleep apnea, high BP and cholesterol and a congenital heart condition. hang in there, we'll get through this.

Hello, Sueol, Nice to find someone from our tiny state. I've lived here all my life.

:nervous Hi, I'm new here. Pre-op, anyone else from Rhode Island?

Hi I'm new here. I'll be getting my surgery date at my next Dr. visit, in about a month. Dr Pohl says the surgery will probably be a month after that, so around early May. I'm anxious and have mixed feelings about this surgery, but I so need to lose the weight.