cadydid

I hope all of us could look so wonderful at our 3 month bandaversary. Wow, it definitely shows and how wonderful it must feel for you to visibly see such a difference. I personally hope that I can post the same type of pics on my 3 months. People are already saying my face looks much thinner but I don't see it yet. And your sense of humor is wonderful. Keep up the great job you are doing. Carol

You and I both weigh the same currently but at 48 years old, I don't think I have the balance or would even be able to lift my legs that high. I'm so glad it worked for you though. Maybe after I've been exercising a while, I'll give it a try and let you know. Continue on taking out all those aggressions!! Carol

Now you are as old as my husband. Hope your birthday is filled with lots of positive energy and you have a great day. I will see you at the next support group. Just know that I will always be younger than you!

Enough partying, come back to the site and check in. We want to make sure you had a great day (cuz you are one he11 of a wonderful guy). Hope you are doing OK. Carol

You and I were banded on the same day. We will have to follow each others progress and see how we do. I started preop at 270 and am currently at 241 so I have no complaints at all. Learning to eat solid foods now and definitely losing more slowly. Have added exercise in this past week. I am very optimistic. I wish you the best on your lapband journey. I heard about this site from Vera and it has been a big help to be around people who understand what you are going through. So keep checking in and let the experts (not me because I'm still a newbie) lead you in the right direction. I know both of us made the right decision for our health. Carol

Wow, I'm one of those lucky people, my wait was only 3 weeks. My primary care MD was totally for it as she has seen me struggle with my weight for 20 years and several of her patients have had great success. She scheduled all the preop, and the surgeon set the date. (but my insurance covered everything but the surgery, they consider it investigational). So, I decided instead of a new car, a happier and healthier Carol was more important. It's been 4 weeks since the surgery, 30 pounds thinner, and feeling wonderful. I hope you continue to be excited and that everything goes very well for you. CONGRATS Carol

I'm also new to this forum and hope it becomes a little bit busier site. It is really helpful and everyone seems so nice. Keep checking in cuz you keep learning things that are so helpful. Nice to meet you. Carol

Hi, In California near San Francisco, I just paid over $20,000. Decided I had paid that much over the years to try to lose weight with every method known to man, so I sold some stock and did it. No regrets. I would think that it would be cheaper where you are. Also, if your primary care MD is supportive of this, all my preop testing was taken care of by insurance (pulmonary function test, echocardiogram, blood work galore, abdominal ultrasound, nutritional consultation, psych evaluation, EKG, etc.) Good luck, but what's a new car compared to a new body that feels wonderful. Mine was done 12/29/03 so it hasn't even been a month. Also, it was not just one payment. There was 4 altogether (anesthesia, hospital, doctor, assistant). I also was told you could work out a payment plan with the hospital. Let me know if you have questions. Carol

Wow, I know I didn't want to fight my insurance due to the same reason and just paid Dr. McKeen. But having worked in the medical profession, first I would call Chris is his office for her advice. Get a letter from Dr. McKeen, your cardiologist and your Primary Care MD. Send those with your own letter to Blue Cross. You could start by (excuse me) kissing ass. Call and be very polite, and act very innocent. Ask to talk to someone about the denial. Explain you had no idea that when this procedure was ordered by your MD that it was not covered and what do you need to do to get this approved. That how could you have been admitted and the surgery done without it being approved? Again, act innocent and dumbfounded. 99% of the time if you are just as sweet as sugar (which you are), don't get upset or bash them, you will get someone who will work with you the whole way through (be sure to throw on the thanks and I understand it is not YOUR fault). If it turns out that it does get approved make sure you get her supervisor's name and address and send a letter of appraisal, also I usually sent flowers to the person who really helped (even though I was the one in the doctor's office trying to get things covered). Blue Cross of CA actually has a good reputation of working with patients. Let me know if you have any other questions. Carol

Wow, To hear from both Grant and Vera again. Hope you all had a good weekend. Rusty and I actually took the Harleys out for about an hour yesterday. I'm still a little tired and don't want to overdo it. If it is nice this weekend we will head out to Monterey for the day. Vera, yes I did see Marti the nutritionist on Friday and was kind of disappointed. She kept talking about B-12 and I thought with the lapband I didn't have to worry about that. I think she is more used to RNY patients than lapband because as we talked about changing types of food, she kept bringing up the "dumping" issue. I will double check with Dr. Mc Keen today as I have an appointment this afternoon. Grant, this is really my first forum where I will try to be active also. I "Lurk (look but don't respond)" at the Low-Carb-Friends bulleting board which is more similar to this but very active. Actually, it was one of the members there that admitted she had the lapband done and we starting emailing each other. She has been such a support. I keep looking for her here, so I will email her and tell her to check this board out. To the rest of this board - my first impressions are wonderful, that you all are supportive and caring of each other. I look forward to knowing each of you better. Carol

It was great to meet both of you wonderful people at the support group and here about this forum. Looking forward to talking with both of you often to see how you are doing. Carol (Cadydid)