RAYSBABE

okay, so I'm so upset right now that I'm crying....I was told that $16,691 on the day of surgery covered EVERYTHING, including a night in the hospital (which I did not use) and 6 fills. My surgeon told me that I would get money back if I didn't stay overnight, and I felt good enough to go home. I have $4,900 in medical bills sitting on my table right now. They either majorly lied to me, or they have the books screwed up. I don't have money just sitting around, so you understand why I am so upset. It really isn't fair that they expect me to pay before I even have the surgery, but when they owe me money, I can't even get them to really discuss it. Maybe I'll get some good news Monday. Just needed to vent...I feel better now.

Just checking in everyone....hope you all are doing great! I'm slowly but surely getting back to my old self (well, my new, old self!) My port incision is still really the only one that bothers me. I'm back to picking up my kids and they are very happy about that:) It was pretty rough not being able to pick them up for a week. I am already so happy with what my band does for me. I love not being hungry!!!!!!! Good luck to everyone who has surgery coming up this week!

Hey, how is everyone? I'm still doing well. I can finally lay on my side again....i'm really happy about that one:) My incisions are healing well and they only hurt when I cough, sneeze, bend over, etc. It's really not bad at all. I messed up so bad yesterday when I ate 4 bites of scrambled eggs way too fast. I got sooooooo sick. Anyway, I learned my lesson....we HAVE TO eat slowly! I love losing weight. Good luck to all you fellow May bandsters and hang in there!!

Okay, so here's the low-down:) I got to the hospital at 9am yesterday, paid them $16,691, and put on my pretty hospital gown. A nurse weighed me and then proceeded to TRY to give me an iv. Since I could have no food or water, I was dehydrated and they had to stick me 3 times...OUCH!!! Anyway, I waited forever and then they finally came and got me for surgery. I was asleep and 20 minutes later, they were done. It took me about 2 hours to wake up, and I was in some pain...she gave me 3 small doses of some really good stuff, and the pain was pretty much gone. I went back to my room and slept on and off for a few hours. It was really hard to sit up that first time to go to the bathroom...I don't think my nurse really knew what she was doing. My mom helped me sit up the next time and it wasn't nearly as bad....she had me roll onto my side, swing my legs off the bed, and from there she helped me sit up. It was MUCH better than just sitting up straight from lying down. Anyway, I was a little dizzy from the anestetics (sp?) but I did fine that first time I stood up. I lay there a little longer, and they came to tell me that I could go home...I was nauseated when they sat me up, but after a small dose of phenegren, I was good to go. I slept okay last night...I woke up about 5 times, but was able to quickly fall back asleep. The soreness is getting better and better every hour. It hasn't been as bad as I expected. I'm walking around all the time, hoping that I heal even quicker. well, that's the story so far....talk to y'all soon. Courtney- ps I've had protein shakes and tomato soup so far today...not too bad!

Well, the surgery is over and I am at home....my mom and husband are taking great care of me. Other than some real pain sitting up, the soreness is controllable with this wonderful liquid lortab. I am super sleepy so I am going to call it a night...I'll try to give you some details tomorrow. thanks for all the prayers and support, and good luck to the may 4 bandsters!!! talk to ya soon, Courtney

Thanks for all the good luck wishes!!! Tomorrow is the big day....I'm such a tight wad that all I can think of is how much money I'm spending.....EEEEEHHHHHHH, I'm going crazy! Can't wait for this to be over. I am so excited that this day is finally here....good luck all, and I'll let you know how it goes as soon as I can get back on here.

I'm wondering the same thing....someone who knows, please enlighten us!!:target:

My surgery is tomorrow and it seems that my "secret" has gotten blabbed to more and more people....my bf's mother begged me yesterday not to do it....that was a bit annoying. I hate the fact that people look down on me for this, but I just need to get over it. No one in life is going to agree with everything that you do anyway! At a little get together last Sunday night, another one of my friend's moms made this comment to "everyone" in the room....."I hate how Hollywood makes all the young girls feel like they have to be skinny, it's just sad!" I knew she was talking to me....she is terrified that her overweight daughter is going to want to do the band also. She has worked to gain weight all her life and she has no idea what this (obesity) is like. I have been warned not to tell her husband because she thinks he will recommend it for their daughter...sad, huh? My husband is one of those who could care less what anyone thinks or says, and he feels like I should just tell everyone...I just can't seem to do that though...not ready yet.

Thanks for the encouragement! I really do feel better:nervous

Okay, so Thurs. is it and I'm so scared that I'm going to screw this up!!! I'm not worried about the surgery (not really), I'm just worried that I will not succeed with this like I haven't succeeded in the past sooooo many times. I have to be honest....I did not make it the whole 8 days on the liquid diet...I had some food yesterday and today....I was soooooooo sick and crabby and just a crying mess. I did not realize what kind of hold food has on me....I've already lost 7 or 8 pounds, and that really does feel great. I just needed to tell you all about it and now I feel better....I will start fresh tomorrow. My surgeon said that my liver is already in great shape, but I'm still really disappointed in myself that I messed up. That's what makes me worry about after the band....I HAVE TO DO THIS AND SUCCEED!!!! It's good to know that I have so many people who are pulling for me!!! Good luck everyone! BTW, my grandfather is doing okay...he is still in the hospital, but hopefully he'll get to come home next monday or tuesday.

I"m on the liquid right now and last night I just told a group who asked me why I wasn't eating that I had been seeing a dietician (true) and that she had me on a liquid phase right now (also true).....worked great, no one asked anymore ?????'s:)

Okay, so my surgery is in four days and lo-and-behold, my best friend had to have an abrupt c-section (baby and mom are okay), and I just found out my Grandfather has colon cancer...he had to have emergency surgery last Thursday. My liquid protein diet was supposed to start on last Wednesday, but I didn't get to start until Friday because of all the hospital stuff. My surgeon was okay with that, but I was a little disappointed because I wanted to do everything JUST right. I actually haven't been nearly as sick as I thought I would be and I never thought chicken broth could taste sooooo good:) I needed to check in with everyone because life has been crazy and I haven't been on here lately. I love the calendar.....everyone is sooo close! Good luck everyone. Courtney

Is anyone else telling yourself....."I will never get to eat/drink this again, so I'd better do it now!" before your surgery? I only have 19 days to go and I'm really doing bad with the chocolate, etc. :hungry: I do have to do an 8 day protein shake only diet before surgery....is that going to be enough to keep me on the right track after surgery??? Am I totally screwing up, or is this normal? thanks everyone!:help:

If you are self pay, does the surgeon give any guarantee that they will fix the band if there is a slip? Is that a stupid question:confused: If I have any complications that the doc won't fix for me, I'm in a heap of trouble...we have saved like crazy to have this done and this is it. I really hope I don't have any trouble because I may not have the money to fix a major problem if there is one....man, there is so much to worry about!!!:faint:

GREAT question...so glad to hear the answers!

I have a friend who is nine months pregnant and she tapes her bellybutton down because she hates how it pokes out under her shirt. Is it possible to tape your port site down if it starts poking through your shirt? I hear that when you lose ALOT, it start to protrude....just a crazy thought!

I'm 25 and I only have 17 days until I join the bandwagon! SOOOOO excited!!! BTW, KLM3hrt, you look great! WOOHOO!!!

How many of you went home the same day of surgery and how many had to stay overnight or longer?

Doddie Thanks for the encouragement.....I'm really sorry to hear about your sis. That must be really tough! Hang in there, surely she will come around. .....Courtney

I actually have terrible gallbladder attacks...I should ask the surgeon how much extra it would cost to get it removed anyway.....that would be a perfect story if I could pull it off. If I use that and don't really get the gallbladder removed, I would just have to be really careful not to tell anyone that I was having a gallbladder attack:p Thanks for the advice, everyone....I love hearing all the different things that you have to say!

Thanks Doddie, As you can see I posted at 3:47 this morning. I can't even sleep well with all of this on my mind. I'm so excited, worried, anxious, tired and just about anything else you can think of. I'm so glad I found this forum!!!

thanks so much for the encouragement...I need all I can get!!!!

WOW...I am struggling really badly with this right now...I have told 4 close friends (three of them passed it on to their husbands even though I didn't want them to....I feel like it is my secret to tell), my sister, my biological mother, my 2nd stepmom, and my sister in law. One friend (also very overweight) thinks I'm crazy for "giving up food", and my sister in law (105 lbs. and always struggles to gain weight) says that I just don't need it because there is absolutely nothing wrong with me the way I am, but everyone else so far is VERY supportive. I haven't told my father, 1st stepmom (one who raised me from age 3-19), brother, inlaws, or anyone else. I'm am scared to tell my father because I am afraid he is going to freak about the money we are spending on something "I should be able to do on my own". He is my next door neighbor and very much a part of our lives, so I assume he will eventually find out...not looking forward to that day. We never disagree on anything except MONEY, so you see why this is a problem for me. I haven't told my first stepmom because when I mentioned it to her 2 years ago, she BEGGED me not to do it. She is only concerned for my health...she thinks a foreign band in my body absolutely cannot be healthy for me. We are very close, but she lives 500 miles away from me. I thought it would be easy to keep from her for awhile until she called and said she is coming to see me on the 23rd. I meet my surgeon (in a different city) on the 24th and my liquid diet starts the 25th. There is no way now that I can keep it from her and I won't even consider changing my surgery date (took waaaay to long to get it in the first place!) At my phsyc eval, the doc told me that I need to tell her anyway, so I just have to in the next few days....not looking forward to that either. As far as everyone else, they will probably know eventually, but I feel no need to rush. I'm sorry this is so long. I feel better just telling someone about it. thanks, Courtney

I have one night included in my self pay too, but I'm wondering how to keep this from my dad (my next door neighbor:) if I stay overnight. It's going to be hard enough to keep it a secret if I get home the same day. He keeps close tabs on us, which usually isn't a problem unless I'm trying to hide something. My kids have him wrapped around their little finger and he's over all the time to hang out with them (and me:). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE having him around. The only reason I'm not telling him is because of how much this is costing us. The only area we ever disagree in is MONEY....and he will croak if he finds out how much we are spending. The more I look at it, the more I wonder if it is even possible to keep it from him. I just don't want to deal with the issue, but maybe I'm just running from the problem. Feel free to give me advice:)

Did you get any money back???