diva1969

Hello ladies...I know its been a looooong time. It has been really busy! Works picking up and has home! Update: Since surgery 12/10 I've lost 26 pounds gained 2....I can't break past the number I'm sitting at. It's funny I seem to be losing weight in 5 pound increments! I'm sitting at 260. I was thinking of doing liquids for a week to kind of jump start things...but we'll see. I've picked up my exercising again. cardio and strength training. I'm just trying to get used to things. Eating a totally new way after 30+ yrs is not an overnight thing...but I'm getting there. So how is everyone? Mandy? Sonia? When is the next lunch....love to join you guys.... TTYL Zandra

Hi all...how is everyone. Oh ~Sonia - I'm happy for you. I've never met you in person...just through reading but I'm glad to know things are working the way you want them to. ~Mandy - Nice bike!!!! Merry Christmas girl! I'm doing good....little pain at the port but that's to be expected. I am noticing that I am extremely cold now. I've always been cold natured but I'm even colder the last few days!!! Sticking to the post-op diet pretty good. Today I did get the urge to nosh...I wanted a cheestik or something! I got some Water and got over it. I'm on the road to recovery just taking it one step at a time and deal with the kids at the same time! That in itself is a feat! TTYL Zandra

Thanks for the list Mandy. How was lunch yestarday...did you guys still go? I'm sorry....I wanted to come too. Talk to you later in the week...surgery is tomorrow at noon! Joining you guys in bandland in 24 hours!

Hey guys, I'm not going to make my MIL isnt back yet ...and there's no one else home to watch the kids....Maybe next month. I was looking forward to reconnecting to. Enjoy Mandy - so you think you can either forward the list that you have for going to the hospital to me and did you have one for post surgery foods too? Thanks Zandra

Are we stilling doing lunch??? I might be able to make it....what time?

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!! Hi Mandy, hi Sonia, hi everyone! I feel like I've been gone forever!!! A lot has happened since I last posted....I've gone thru the dr supv diet, insurance hoops, yada, yada, yada....and I have surgery on 12/10!!!! I would love to join you guys for lunch Saturday.....and you're moving it to right up the street from me! And the restaurant at the golf club is great! Glad to be back...you guys have been busy and I see the group has grown.

Ok, went to see the surgeon today, I'm down a whole pound since my weigh in on 4/20 at my pcp's office. But I have to get it in gear now and get ready to jump through the insurance hoops. For the next six months I need to maintain or lose, any gain and I can look forward to a denial letter! I met with the surgeon, seems nice, the dietician...I think I'm older than she is! And the nurse..she's very nice. So I have to continue to see my PCP for the next 5 months, have an H pylori (?) test done, upper GI, sleep study, exercise specialist, psych, and 2 support groups! It's a good thing I have 6 months so I can stretch all this stuff out!

Oh yeah 6/9 sounds good to me. I'll call the sitter tomorrow

No I still haven't called Aetna yet....I am sick today..my throat hurts, ear pain, headache, congestion....all over night. I was fine yesterday woke up Tuesday, wham...I'm not missing my appointment though! I'm calling before I leave for the dr's

Hello, hello, hello, I've been MIA again. Hard to get to the pc in the evenings, 3 boys.:omg: How is everyone? I see we have a few new people, not that I'm not still a newbie myself! Hello to all. Well how was the meeting 5/4? I'm shooting for the next one, going to get a sitter and hope I don't have a bgillion things going on that day! I go for my consultation on Wed. I can't wait! I am so worried about not gettig approved by BCBSIL, I'm looking into my 2ndary, Aetna. I have to call tomorrow to be sure but I went on their website and their policy only wants 3 months not 6 like BCBSIL!!!:biggrin1: Could this be true, can I have surgery 3 months earlier than I thought...I put the ???on the OH insurance board and the insrance guy said he's try Aetna...just maek sure I read both policies COMPLETELY. Let you guys know how things went on Wednesday night. Hey Mandy!

HI guys, I've been MIA for a bit...work is crazy, home is crazy. I won't be able to make it tomorrow...Have to help my oldest with a school project that he waited until the last minute to do...despite my pestering him all week! Have fun and I will try to make the next one. Sonia good luck tomorrow, hope the weather holds out. FYI: I have change surgeons again. I went to my PCP and she recommended another dr...he is actually affiliated with the 2 hospitals that I love in this area. I have a consultation on 5/16. The wait is killing me but I am just trying not to think about it too much. I'm just so ready to be banded. I'm pretty sure it won't be until the fall b/c I don;t have the six months documentation part. All in due time. TTFN

Poohlvr, I have not been banded yet...my 1st consultation is 5/16. I am praying and sstepping out on faith that I will not incur any problems w BCBSIL....i want this so bad!!!! I didn't know you could find the policy on line...I'll have to go poke around. I was going to request a copy directly from them. Have you heard anything yet? WHen did you submit everything???

I have BCBS of IL PPO and I was told a 6-month medically supervised diet

HI all, in the process of researching surgeons. I think I've settled on Day One Health. If you've used them, any advice? Also looking for feedback on other Dr's in IL Thanx

That is one of my issues as well, the location. What if I need a fill or have a problem I have to go all the way to 900 N or to UIC...I'm in the SW Suburbs! My other issue was who to pick???? I like the ofice and Gladys is an inpiration, she and Jodee! Dr. Galvani did the infosession I attended on Saturday so I have a consultation scheduled with him. Who was your surgeon?

I don't know who I want to go with. I like Day one, seems reputable, has been used alot, and I can find info on the surgeons. I found a center in Joliet, I've found some but not a whole lot of feedback on that center and the surgeons, just found out today that there is a center within Central Dupage Hospital. I think I've over researched! :help: I need to back up a bit!

Oh! Well I have my fingers crossed for you that it won' take long. Whaqat insurance do you have? Did you call them already? And what pre-tests did you have to do if you have done any yet? Since you are in Indiana, where will you go for fills or if you have problems?

Not sure if this was asked someplace else, I didn't see it, if so sorry. How long did it take from consultation to surgery? If you were not self pay and did not have to appeal, how long did it take to be banded after you saw your surgeon? Thanx in advance

Who's Yuko?

Thank you, I'm just to excited and anxious to have this done it's like a kid waiting to go on a trip, you know it's coming you just keep asking when, is it here yet!!!!!

Sounds like you did, from what I can tell you just need to take it one day and one step at a time. I was told to stay off the internet b/c what I read will scare me and maybe discourage me from having the procedure done. But I am an information junkee. I want to know the in's and out's of whatever I take on. I want to be informed to if soemthing does arise I can say oh, this is what they meant, now I need to do this. I also wanted to talk to people who've been through it, for questions, that the surgeons or office can't answer. I do however thnk I will be changing clinics. Dayone is far for me, 1.5 hours with no traffic and everytime I'd need to go in to the office I'd need to take 1/2 day at work. MY bioss would love that! NOT. So I'm going to another infosession on Wed at a closer clinic. Unless I have trouble with insurance I am fairly sure I'm going through with this. I wish I could do it tomorrow...if I was self pay I could probably do it in 2 weeks! But patience is a virtue and if this is meant to be it will happen in it's own time.

Wow I hate I missed that! Next month. OK, so I'm wavering now....the infosession was good. I was sold on Dr. Galvani and I realized that, 900 N. Michaigan is quite a hike, if I have to go in for anything I have to drive clear to the Loop 1 1/2 hours with no traffic, but if I consider The Midwest Ctr. out of Joliet I'm looking at 40 minutes from home and 30 minutes from work! And UIC is not a covered hospital with my insurance, but SIlver Cross is. I want EVERYTHING I can get to be in network...less out of pocket for me...Mandy, how much are the fills in Joliet???? Gonna give it to God!

HI, I went to an infosession this morning at Day ONe I met Dr. Galvani, and Gladys Nieves, she kind of like a D1H advocate. Very helpful. I think I'm going to go with Dr. Galvani for my surgery. Have you been to an infosession yet?

Hi, what happened I was at Panera...a little early but i was there until about 1:30 pm. I bugged another group of ladies that was together ~oops~ But Mandy, after going to your website, I think I passed you in the foyer on my way out, you were on the phone....were you wearing a greyish sweat jacket and have a short haircut? We'll have to shoot for next month. Ok, I went to the seminar this morning. Still on course, I have an apointment with my doctor on 4/20, I want to see if she docmented my weight loss efforts from 12/05 to 12/06. I got my fingerscrossed. Then I have an appoinment with the surgeon on 4/25. I'd like to have all my medical stuff in order by then....can you tell I wanna do this!!!! SO here I go...

Well I've made up my mind. I've told very few people and that's fine. I have T's support...anything to see me lose weight would make him happy and probably as long as he doesn't have to foot too much of the bill he's good! Anywho, my inofrmational seminar is tomorrow, I'm exicted. To think that I am beginning a journey to get to where I have wanted to be for so long. A place that for whatever reason always seems to elude me. I've called BCBSIL and it is a covered benefit, as long as I have documentation. It is said to be subject to approval. But as of yet I have no complaints for BCBS but we'll see.