The Icy One

I am so sorry that you have had such a terrible and traumatic experience. As with any surgery, complications can happen, the odds vary by the individual. In your case, it sounds as if several things were going bad and reached critical mass all at once. Was your band responsible? I can't say. Was it your gallbladder? That surgery? A post op infection exacerbated by unknown problems that were brewing beforehand? Who can say. It is just awful. Thankfully, you survived and I hope that you are healthier and will have a long and healthy life ahead of you. I am aware that there are risks, some possibly serious to going forward with my Lap Band surgery. I have done my research, I have read much of the good and much, much of the bad. I have weighed them one against the other and for me, the possibility of staying this weight or getting even heavier (which is happening... *sigh*) is far more dangerous to me than many of the possible side effects or complications I can encounter going forward. Believe me, my eyes are wide open, I am making a fully informed decision.

I also have Aetna, and like Irishflower, I had to do the stupid four month, keep your weight around the same, within about... five-ish pounds, do a psych eval hoop jump fun house. Ten days before my last appointment in September, I was informed that Aetna had changed the rules and that we had to be at least one pound UNDER our starting weight. Gah! So, I dieted like a madwoman and just squeaked it out at that appointment. After that, I had a four to six week wait for approval. I just found out, this afternoon that I am approved and my surgery date is November 20th. I can start my pre-op diet in a few days and I can finally breathe! The point to all of this nattering is, all insurance companies are different, some make you go four months, some six, some a year... Some you start the process and your ass is in the OR in a few weeks! Just stay on top of it and go with the flow. From start to approval and getting my surgery date, it took from June 22nd to today. It felt like forever but now that I am through it, and looking back, it wasn't so bad, after all.

I also have Aetna, just heard from True Results, today and am approved and my surgery date is November 20th. I start my pre-op in a few days. Finally! We are on our way, girls.

Yay! This is going to be a wonderful thing for you. I'll keep good thoughts for you on your big day. I will be following you in the OR, my surgery is on the 20th. (I still can't believe it! I just found out, today!)

Hi Kelly, welcome! This is an exciting time. You're taking some solid steps towards a healthier future for yourself and hopefully, your future children. I'll be right behind you in the OR, my surgery date is the 20th, just found out, today. I am to start my pre-op diet later this week. You should do yours according to your doctor's instructions. Sooner can't hurt, as long as you do it at least as long as instructed.

Okay, I don't know what I just did, there. I tried to edit to fix a typo and quoted my post, instead. Brains, I ain't got none.

Are you having broth/stock or bullion? I ask because bullion is extremely high is sodium. Seriously, that stuff is like a tiny, meaty salt lick of goodness in your bowl. And if you are using more than one cube/spoonful, well, you are seriously sodium loading. Try switching to low sodium broth/stock instead and flush with lots of water and see if that helps.

I just heard from True Results and... I'm Approved!!!! Woo hoo! I meet with my surgeon on November 19th and my surgery is early morning on the 20th. Yessssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I had my final hoop jump, kiss-my-insurance-company's-ass-visit and I met all of their nit-picky qualifications. I have been told that I will be hearing from my insurance company in four to six weeks. Four. to. Six. Weeks. Bleargh! I'm hoping it won't take that long. This is only my second waiting day and I am already going a little crazy. I'm afraid that at the end of six weeks, I'll be sitting in a corner, rocking, babbling incoherently to myself and eating my hair. LOL So close to the end of this process yet so far away. I am just ready to get it done. I am researched, my decision is made and I feel good about it. I don't like delays when I decide to move forward on something. Time for my insurance company to get off the stick, approve me, fast and let's rock and roll. Anyone else in the waiting-for-approval-wasteland? Let's have a drink and commiserate.

I feel you. Hang in there. We can do this! A waiting buddy! I hope that you hear good news, soon. I am so glad for you that you have concrete dates. I don't have surgery date or a date to start my pre op diet yet. It'll be nice to have dates to mark off my calendar, You're going to do so great. I am sooooo green-eyed monster-y right now! LOL But I am also so happy for you that you have your date. You are so close and soon you will be on your way. ! Yay! I am also teaching myself to "eat like a bandster." It's not easy. LOL I need a lot of practice. I hope so. This waiting, now that I got through the four month nonsense is the hardest part. If I were a nail biter, I wouldn't have any fingers left! LOL Wouldn't it be funny if we go on the same day? I hope that you hear soon and have a surgery date soon and all goes swimmingly. So am I. I am hoping for good news. And good news sooner than later. This waiting is enough to make a person loony in the head. Maybe they think if they make me wait I'll get cold feet and back out. Ha! They don't know me. I am excited for all of us. By the first of the year, we should all be the bandsters, giving advice to the nervous newbies. Thanks everyone for helping to make this interminable waiting a little more bearable. You all rock.

You'll do great. I know that looking the Holidays in the eyes and band surgery is daunting, that is probably what I'll be doing, too but I look at it this way, so I have to go through the holidays, T-day included without doing the usual. The usual is what got me here. I can do this and you can too.

I'm hoping. Still waiting. It is now October First. *sigh* I think they're testing my sanity. LOL

Yay you! I hope that you get your approval, this time.

Nowadays, gallbladder removal is done laparoscopic, in in the morning and out by lunch time. Just a few tiny incisions and just a little discomfort. I had a lap chole in March (I still have my frakking gallbladder, long story, won't bore you) and the recovery was a piece of cake. I was up, walking around, moving laundry from my washer to my dryer, emptying my dishwasher, making my own soup for dinner that day. I didn't even need pain meds. I just took one the first couple of nights to help me sleep because I felt restless and edgy. The worst part of it was the gas pains. I had some lodge in under my rib cage on the right side and refuse to move out and it made deep breaths, coughing and sneezing uncomfortable for a bit. Other than that... Yeah, A gallbladder removal is no biggie.

Congrats! I hope that you have a swift, smooth recovery.

Posts that relate difficulties and complications are educational and helpful, especially to those of us in the pre band stage. We need all of the facts, all of the information so that we can make fully informed decisions. However, posts that make blanket statements like, the Lap Band sucked for me, so it will suck for everyone! are counterproductive. Posts like that are fear mongering and to me, they feel a bit like a massive case of sour grapes. As if those who have not been successful, for whatever reason with a band don't want others to be successful with a band. It's like anything else, YMMV.

This thread makes me so happy. I love, love, love cheese and was afraid that it would be a food I wouldn't be able to enjoy so much after I get banded. To read that it works so well with a band is yay!

I know that you are all right... I am just ready to get this party started. I am normally a very patient person, but this is something I am not happy about having to wait for. LOL The time will pass... I need to make it constructive. I think Ill see what I can do about losing a few pounds, getting back into walking and feeling good, going in to surgery, when I get the call.

I have been searching Amazon for Bento boxes. I have some adorable little ones on my wish list. As soon as I get the final approval from my insurance, I am going to get a couple, some beautiful small dishes and delicate flatware perfect for eating delicate portions. I know that I can't go through my whole life eating off of my own, customized dishes and flatware but I figure that doing so for a while will train my eye and get me in the right habits so that when I am using regular dishes and flatware, I can do so successfully. Plus, I just like the idea of having lovely things that are just for me to enjoy my food from.

Bwahahaha!

Congratulations! Insurance companies probably do that hoping that one spouse will see what the other goes through and will decide to back out and save the company some money. Sneaky buggers. Anything to save a buck, you know. But even if your wife has to go the full six, she should still get her approval, too and you can be bandsters, together.

Well, today was my final four visit check in. After my insurance company threw me a curve ball and changed up the rules on me, I dieted like a madwoman, hoping I could get to the weight I needed to to qualify. Heading down to the Valley, today I was sweating bullets. When I got to True Results, I got on the scale and... I just eked it out. Whew! I am so relieved. Now, I have to wait for the submission and approval process. They told me it could take four to six weeks. *cue up Final Jeopardy music*

It's different with different insurance companies and programs. My insurance company wanted me to stay the same or I could gain a little (which I did ) over the four month hoop jump process. Then, less than two weeks ago I received a phone call from True Results telling me that my insurance company had thrown a curve ball and they now want me to be at least a pound less than my starting weight in order to be approved. Sneaky snakes. I'm dieting like a madwoman and I should be okay. *fingers crossed* I swear, if the pre band phase doesn't drive me into the funny farm, nothing will.

Congratulations!