marywalker20

Yes it's great to have my neice as a role model. I also have a close friend that got her lap band in August and is doing great. She has lost 30 pounds already (12 pre-op). The thing that amazes me is that she swears she is never hungry and has had an easy time so far. I think the best advice came from my friend. She told me to start now and reduce the size of your bites and chew chew chew. She came over to see me the other day and presented me with a baby spoon and a seafood fork. It really works because you can't get but a little tiny bit on the fork and the spoon doesn't hold much either. I used the spoon to eat a small bowl of Soup and it took forever. We can do this!! Just think by Christmas we can all be fitting into much smaller size clothing!!! Mary

Hi Everyone! My surgery is scheduled for Sept 27th and I am so pumped!! My neice got her lap band over a year ago and looks slim and fabulous, like a new happier person! It was just the kick she needed to lose her weight. God Bless Mary

Got my letter today. My surgery date is Sept 27th. And I go in on the 12th for testing and preop!!! I am so excited that I actually have a real date! Take care, Mary

I am to be banded sometime in October. Mary

Wow Schemgie!!!! You are doing awesome. I bet you feel 100% better, not to mention how much better you look! I love to hear this kind of stuff, thanks for being an inspiration!! Mary

Hey thinner1 (Mary too ) Hang in there. I can only imagine how frustrating it is to have to travel, eat out and maintain the lapband diet...especially if your co workers like the good (bad) places. Concentrate on making the next 5 weeks count, and you will be successful. I am still waiting for Dr Brengman's care coordinator to contact me. I tried to call her on Thursday, but she is out this week at a conference. I was sent the Emmi link from Dr. Brengman's office so they must know I am out here waiting. That was encouraging. Still not solid date yet. The last person I talked to said sometime in October. Good Luck to everyone and stay cool. This wet heat is unbelievable. I found a mushroom in my front yard this morning that must have been a foot high. :cry Mary

Each time I visit my PCP they register my height and weight. When the insurance needed this from them, they just used those records and the insurance accepted them. And it only took my PCP a moment to write the letter and I got a copy to take home with me. Good Luck!!

I did Curves last year and loved it. I signed the year contract which i regret because after a few months I had to stop. I would have stuck with it longer if I didn't have these bumm knees. I have had 6 surgeries on both knees including partial and total knee replacements. And everytime i worked out i had to spend the next day on pain killers so after a while I talked to my Othopedic Surgeon and he told me to stop. I do have to say that I really liked the Curves atmosphere. Mostly girls in their 30, 40, 50, and 60's so there was lots of friendly chatter instead of the meat market feel I got at the last gym I belonged to. Our center had "oldies days" when all the music was from the 50's 60's and 70's we all had a great time twising and exercising. Loads of fun!!

Originally Posted by Margi MY GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!!!! Hey Margi and Phyllser!! He IS an AWESOME GOD!! {{{high five}}} Also one of my favorite songs. As i go forward on the lap band journey HE is my strength.

You are an inspiration to all of us just starting our journey. Congratulations, we know you will hit your goal.

CONGRATS~~~~ Chica30! You are on your way!!

Thanks for the welcome. I hope to get my actual date this week along with my preop instructions. Finished my testing, insurance is approved, just waiting for the care coordinator to cement down a date for me. All she will commit to right now is the month. But what can you do? Went out this weekend and bought one of those Magic Bullets so I could experiment with pulsing food and drinks. It works great for the instant Breakfast drinks, especially if you add a little ice. Actually tastes like a chocolate milk shake. The recipe link in this forum has some great ideas about gearing up for the liquid and mushy stage. Probably the best idea I found so far is to freeze up a bunch of canned and homemade Soups and freeze them in ice cube trays. Once they are frozen through you pop them out and put them in a zip lock bag. From what everyone says you will only need one or two ice cubes per meal. It cuts down on the waste since one can of Soup is about 4 or 5 meals and it allows for more variety. It amazes me that everyone actually gets full on so little food. I am really looking forward to this. WE CAN DO THIS! Mary

Hello All! I just found out that my surgery is scheduled for October. Was hoping for August...September, but my nurse confirmed October. Anywhooo I am so happy to have found an October group and I am looking forward to sharing this journey with y'all. I have to share my friends story. A little over a year ago she weighed around 290 and got the lap band. A year and several months later she is at 130 and looks fabulous...can't believe it's the same girl. She was never one to do anything athletic, preferring to always take the role of a spectator. The change in her was awesome. She plays co-ed softball, runs the track 3 times a week, and coaches her daughter's soccer team. When we talk it is so inspirational. She gets chocked up when she talks about how despirate she was before the surgery. She exsisted in a no energy world where food was her only alliance. She had the love of her husband and children, but she didn't love herself. She still has a lot of loose skin but not enough to warrant surgery. In fact since she went on a maintenance program, she is working hard on firming up her stomach legs and arms and seems to be winning that battle. Mary

Hi Bigez1 Not sure who you directed your question to, but here is my 2 cents worth. The first time the doctor submitted my claim it was denied because my BMI was under 40. Our insurance company does cover Lap Band surgery if you meet their criteria. However because I have multiple co-morbidities (sleep apnea, partial and then total knee replacements, high cholesterol, and a history of heart disease. We appealed and sent along recommendations from my doctors and I was approved right away. What UHC explained to me was that each employer has the option of whether or not they want to cover the WLS for their employees and families. Guess it's all cost driven. Luckily my husbands job covers this. Best thing would be to call UHC and ask if you insurance policy has this rider and if it does what percentage do they pay. Our policy covers 80%. Good luck and i hope this helps. And hope I didn't but in where I wasn't supposed to. Mary

Congrats ready4it!! Glad to hear that you had good luck with UHC!! And even though I am one of the ones that had problems with UHC, it's nice to hear about some good experiences also. Too often we complain about our problems but fail to report the good things about insurance companies. Good Luck!! Mary

Dear Thinner1, thanks so much for sharing your experience about Richmond Surgical. It's good to know that things do run smoothly, and that i am probably just an exception. These things happen and the more I think about it, the more I think I just over reacted. Since I have to wait until October for my surgery, I have decided to be proactive and start on the slim fast/instant Breakfast diet right away. Losing a few pounds will definately boost my spirits and do that liver shinking thing too. And having the diet as a distraction will make the time go by a little more quickly. Thanks so much to everyone for their support. Mary

Hi y'all. I am approved and just waiting for my date now. I talked to the care coordinator and she said sometime in October but no firm date yet. I love that this forum has a thread for those of us in our Nifty Fifties! I am so excited about getting this band!! Anyway, good luck to everyone And Schemgie....OMG...60 pounds is outstanding!!!! Pat yourself on the back. I bet you feel like a whole new person now. God Bless Mary

I have been thinking about this, and trying to be objective. I just need to give her a break. She is probably going through a really busy time in their office (everyone wanting to get it done while school is out), so she is probably just overwhelmed. I am sure I will stick with Richmond Surgical. Sometimes I think it just takes me venting a little to feel better about it. Thanks for listening to me, and for all your thoughtful insights. P.S. Commonwealth sounds like a well run office!!

Joyce is the one I spoke with on the phone today. Seemed really busy and unsure when she would get to me. But you are right. Patience is the key. Guess my other doctors have spoiled me. Even in the medical field we should still expect some good customer service. Look at how much they are getting paid! But even with this, I know my lap band will be well worth the agravation. Have a great and cool weekend

Ok, I am trying to be patient, and I know it's going to be months before I actually get banded and that is fine. But I am starting to feel like maybe I need to find another surgical group. I have called and left various messages for my nurse and have not gotten a call back. I called today and pressed the appointment option and the nurse that I have been trying to get a hold of answered. She had no idea whether she had my stuff from the insurance company or not. I told her that I got the approval letter and faxed her a copy almost 2 weeks ago. She told me that she was really busy and hadn't gotten to it and will try to do it next week. Should I continue to be patient or maybe look for another surgeon? I say all this because this isn't the first time i have felt alone in my lap band endevour. When they first submitted my paperwork the insurance company denied me because my BMI was under 40. I have 4 comorbidities and lots of recommendations from my doctors. When i called the office the same gal told me that there was nothing they could do and said "sorry". On my own, I appealed their decision and was approved. Since then I have had to fax the info to their offices, call about my classes, tests and everything else. I am getting the feeling that she is really overwhelmed in her job, or for some reason doesn't like me. Really, I am a very likable person and have never gotten upset with her. What would y'all do? Thanks so much for your help.

Wow, you are ahead of me. :tea: I got the approval, had the psych eval, went to the classes. I called and left a message for Joyce asking what I need to do next, and i am still waiting for her to return my call. Judging by your schedule, it looks like I will have my surgery in Oct or Novemeber. If I am lucky I can schedule it while my kiddo's are home from college for Thanksgiving! Ahh the waiting game....

Thanks thenewme and ja9va! Yeah I need to be patient. :confused: The doctor I am seeing is Dr Brengman. Anyone else use him? Stay cool! Mary

I have a question for those of you that use Richmond Surgical. How long after they got the approval from the insurance company did the nurses call you to schedule your two week pre-op visit and surgery? I have been waiting a week and still no one has called. I called the office and the receptionist told me that I need to be patient and wait for the nurse to call me. I know it's petty but I am so anxious to have this done. Also, we own a small horse farm and would love to get this done before the kiddo's go back to school and college. Anyone that has ever had to care of horses will understand why Anyway best of luck to all Virginians either waiting for the surgery, or those lucky ones that already have the lap band. We can do this!! God Bless Mary

I was in there for 30 minutes. He kept wanting to delve into my past and see if had any emotional hang ups from then. And since i knew I wasn't holding any grudges or anger I just told him that everything was rosy!. Someone told me that if you give the psychologist the slightest hint that there is ANYTHING in your past that might be the reason you are overweight, it might lead to a series of appointments until he releases you. Not saying this is right for everyone, because i am sure there is a reason for why we have to go to them. Good luck!

I hope my misfortune with UHC doesn't put a damper on your enthusiasm. We have had UHC for years and really this is the first time I have had a problem with them, so hopefully this is just a fluke. Good luck and I am sure you will be approved!!