rharriet62

Hi, I was also rather worried about "waking up" or being in pain because I had never had surgery before. I just opened my eyes and was in the recovery room and the nurse brought me a wonderful, warm cloth to wipe my mouth with...there was gel on it from the tubes. I was in NO pain...the hospital I went to in Greeley, CO, was excellent at monitoring that. I just closed my eyes and rested more...and then was being taken my room. By the time I got set up in my room, I asked if I could walk and stretch my legs as I had been in that bed all day! They made me wait about another 45 mins and then let me get up. I was FINE. I could feel the tape and it felt a little "jiggly" in my guts...sort of loose in the stomach, but I wasn't afraid to walk or anything. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, swished my mouth with Water, and walked up and down the hall. I did that every few hours all the rest of the day. You will do fine!!! You will be on an IV drip so you can get the pain meds you need...and use them! It won't be as bad as your mind is making it...that is what I learned! You'll do great!!! Good luck! Rose

Kari, My insurance changed with my job in July of this year. I had been on Blue Cross of WY and when I called to ask them if they covered it, they said they did cover the bypass, but to submit reasons why I wanted a lapband thru my doc. That claim was denied, but by then, I had new insurance with Beech Street. I called Beech Street several months before I was even a member and asked if they covered weight loss and they said YES. I asked if they had ever covered any lapbands, and they said they had covered several in the last few years. I got approved with MINIMAL hassle! They were awesome. Then, my employer sent out our coverage booklets, and weight loss was listed as "excluded" except with medical necessity to be proven. I had to show a medical history, a medical supervised diet (I had done phenphen about 10 years ago), and had to get a psych eval. That was it. Honestly, that exclusion paragraph would have discouraged me had I not been approved! SO, all this means, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!!! Go for it. I even had a friend who paid big bucks to BC/BS for 6 months on high risk insurance so she could get a bypass...and they paid if for her after 6 months! SO, there are ways around it, too, without being stuck with the whole cost. I would just call and ask about a coverage claim and see what happens. All information is good information!!! As for your other questions, I had surgery on Tues in CO and I am tired today, but no pain meds needed...just sleeping and taking it easy! It was honestly much easier than I had prepared for. Good luck! Rose

Hi Everyone! I'm so glad I found this site. I have done all the necessary tests, paperwork, etc., and am now waiting for insurance to make the final approval for my surgery!!! I'm trying hard to be patient! HAHA. I had to lose 23 lbs. before surgery...did anyone else have to lose weight first? I've got that off and am still going while I wait for everything to come through! I look forward to getting all these great ideas and support from this site! Rose

Hi! Thanks for the warm welcome! From other people, I have found that the pre-surgery weight loss is like a little test to see if you are motivated to live a different lifestyle. I am hearing of more and more people having to do it. I don't where my doc came up with the number, but it does lower my BMI by like 2 pts...so maybe that was it. Anyway, I've been doing low carb and trying to keep that on the lower fat side...so lots of salad with grilled lean meat. Also, I've been working out like a dog...30-60 mins of cardio per day at the Y, along with a tough weight lifting program and a one-mile dog walk at night with the family. It's been tough, but I lost about 23 lbs in about 7 weeks. BUT...gotta get the surgery! I've been here before..down 100 and can't maintain it!!! I'm ready for the knife! HAHAHA. Have a great day, everyone! Rose