porclndoll

welp back from dr kwons. met with the nurse..she was real nice. gotta date to meet with dr kwon finally! i get to meet the man behind the curtin! whoohoow! so i figure about four weeks away from surgery possibly????? i dunno. its gonna go quick! i got weighed on their fancy scale that measures everything except how much hair you have on your body....and was happy to see that i did infact loose the 10 pounds required....soooo i just have to maintain for the next four weeks approximately and we will see. I figure surgery the first week in may (by the grace of God)...which will be good. School is still in, my son will be in school I can use my days to rest...My mom is coming at night to help me with him....I have sick days I can take and will be very well recouped by summer....thats my plan and Im sticking to it. I just hope this is dr kwons plan as well all righty...talk to you all soon. support meeting on monday!

Roseann....Dont be discouraged. Thats the bodys natural responce to loosing weight...Ya loose water weight really quick and then the fat is a bit harder to get rid of. Especially when your not putting as many calories in. As I understand it, its the bodies defense mechanism to the possiblity of being "starved".....it doesn't know where the next calories are coming from so it tries to hold onto the fat to use to burn....once it gets started you will see the pounds drop quicker. I love Richard Simmons too, but once the nice weather gets here I will want to be outside walking or biking or something..... He will be a good back up for the winter. So I am off to Dr Kwons office today...dunno what for? Supose to be talking to the nurse. I really really really would like a surgery date...even if its just tentative. I will post later to letchas know what happened. Appointment isn't till 3pm......its 9am now....six hours to ponder.....geez! Talk to you soon!

Hey guys!! Thanks for the feed back on GHI. I am looking forward to a speedy responce from them. I know how insurance works, having worked in the field...and I know all the things that can go wrong and all the things that can be said to cover up the reality of papers just sitting somewhere.......But I am confident that this is going to go as smoothly as everything else. I went to the cardiologist today and I don't need a stress test! Ehhhaa....and my murmer is gone......Ehhhaaa.....and he is going to recommend me for the surgery...He will send a letter of medical clearence to Dr Kwons office! So as far as procedures there is only one left.....endoscopy....April 6th. I need to meet with the nurse at Dr Kwons office tomorrow. I dont know if this is when I will get my surgery date or not......I pray that I do!!! And I have to meet Dr Kwon himself....finally meet the man behind the curtin! This is all going really really fast. Thankfully cause then I wont chicken out...Teehee. Not for nothing!! I will not chicken out! I will not quit! This "fat" person is done for! There is a whole other person inside just waiting to come out, and is basically busting down the doors! She is excited to get out and introduce herself to the world! WATCH OUT WORLD....HERE COMES THE REAL ME....SOON ENOUGH.....Thanks again for all the info and support!!! The day is coming where I can say been there done that!!! Can't wait! Talk to you later!

Roseann...My insurance is GHI HMO...I have heard wonderful things about them when it comes to making a decision...so hopefully it will go right through. I use to work for BCBS years ago! I worked on so many diffrent accounts! AHP, Sears, and a few others...I sorta miss it every now and again...but am truely happy to be outta there. I worked in the Middletown office. We use to have to go to Dobbs Ferry for my sons ENT. He was an awesome doctor but when our insurance changed we weren't able to see him in his office...we had to go to west chester medical center and see him in the clinic. That is the worst place you could ever end up! I love the hospital part because they did so much for my son when he was born, but the clinic leaves a lot to be desired! I don't plan my meals either. I am gonna have to start though. I know how important it is just to get the water down....and keep it down. I am gonna try and make up a schedule before surgery that way its all done when I come home and get down to the nitty gritty. I work at a High School too.....sooo I am trying to get the surgery done while we are still in session. School ends in June. Then that way when I am off for the summer I can really concentrate on myself. My hope is that I can have surgery by the end of April, beginning of May.....I will be out of work a week...then come back and finish up the year with my student...I am a 1:1 paraprofessional to a student with a disablity. He and I have worked hard together over these last two years and I am really looking foward to seeing him graduate! My son will be going to a summer program too...MAYBE....my son has down syndrome and is supose to go to summer program at BOCES in Goshen...but I didnt really like the program last year. He may be home with me, recouping We are planning a trip to FL to see my father too....gonna be a busy summer.... I cant wait and it all starts with this surgery!!! Ahhh, I am sooo excited. I have to go to the cardiologist today at 3:00....I gotta drop my son off with my mom....and I am slowly getting ready. I am anxious to hear what he says. Okay...I babble alot. Thanks for listening! Take it easy !

Roseann No surgery date picked yet....It will come soon though. I wanna get one of those Bullet things. They are awesome. They sell them at the Newburgh Mall at the As Seen On TV store. I am making notes now on what the diet is to be like after surgery. I am trying real hard to make some changes now so they all wont come at once after surgery too...It is tough. I am having a hard time with not drinking when I eat. I have done that all my life!!! And eatting slowly...phew...thats a toughy!!! Gonna try that baby spoon idea. How do you only put something the size of a pencil eraser in your mouth? I dunno. I will get there. I contemplated using Dr Artuso, but he wasn't on my insurance. How was he? All righty gotta go...thank you for your support and info!

Roseann....Tuna and cottage cheese mixed together??? Forgive me, but that sounds like not such a good mixture.....what is the purpose of adding cottage cheese with tuna? Added protien or does it give a mayonaise effect??? Im not gonna eat that by the way.... I actually got food poisoning off of tuna in a cafeteria not so long ago and i am totally done with it. I can't bring myself to eat it ever again! eeeeewwwe!!! Just curious! I will keep in touch! I have a consult with a cardiologist tomorrow. I guess he will determine if I need a stress test or echocardiogram....I had a heart murmer a while ago and had an echo...showed nothing wrong, but I wouldn't be surprized if they want that repeated before the surgery. I will letcha know how it goes! Talk to you soon!

I am not Banded yet...but I am working on it....The only thing that stood out in my mind when reading your post is that you don't feel like they have your best interests in mind.. I certainly would not proceed with a doctor or clinic that I didn't feel comfortable with. Get the procedure that you want...even if it means starting over with someone else. Perhaps you wouldnt have to start all the way over...like with pre surgical requirements like the psych consult, Upper Gi...if you did all that all ready. The new clinic could obtain copies of prior tests with your permission. I know that this hasn't really given you much help, but maybe it has given you something to think about. Good luck to you!

PHEW! Been a long day and I ment to post earlier...but ITS DONE! The letter is at Dr Kwons office! I called my PCP like every ten minutes.....hey, pain in the butt, but it got done. They faxed it over. I called Dr Kwons office and confirmed that it was there. I asked if it was good enough to submit to the insurance co for approval, and the lady I spoke to, I believe her name was Pam, said she would give it to MaryAnn to review to make sure it was good enough...if not she would call me. As of right now, I haven't heard anything sooo I am gonna assume that its good. I have an appointment with the nurse at Dr Kwons on the 31st.....This is all getting to be very real! It really hit me as a reality today! The upper GI didn't do it....The liquid pop rocks that I had to drink before the liquid chalk didn't do it....But getting that letter into Dr Kwon solidified it for me for some reason.....oh my gosh am I excited.....Nervous.....ANXIOUS....All those other "ed" and "ous" words out there!! I feel like I am sooo close.....Thank you all so very much for your words of support and encouragment! I am so happy to have gotten that letter! Takes a load off my mind! Talk to you soon!

Hi there Panda6.....Thanks for the information, but I think (AND PRAY) that this may be done today! i have to get off this computer and call dr kwons office to make sure things happened. i called my pcp office first thing this morning and told them how pissed i am. suposidely the nurse got a high priority message...yadda yadda yadda...was supose to call me back in 15 minutes...i never got a call back....i gave them two hours...then called back......and was advised the letter of med nec was faxed to dr kwons office. i asked for a copy of the letter...told them i would be there this afternoon to pick it up and of course....well i gotta leave a message for the nurse.....she will call you back...blah blah blah!!! like i said, i will just call dr kwons office to see if they got anything, then hope it is good enough to submit to my insurance company......god this is fustrating.......this so far has been the hardest part of the whole process for me....but like i said...God willing this is it!!!! I will see you at support...You sound AWESOME WENDY! to think you were sooo scared. rightfully so! i have my fears........we would be questioned if we weren't. but you sound like you have bounced back really well! good for you!!!! talk to you soon!

Hey guys! Congratulations to the newest bandsters! I am glad to hear you are both doing so good! I am on my way (still)...I am having a VERY hard time with my PCP office...getting the letter of med nec. I have called and called...and at the last conversation Monday the 21st the "letter was in the mail"....Here it is the 27th and I haven't received it! I am so fustrated I am gonna go up there and stand on someones neck till its HANDED to me. I am going to call them Monday...first thing....and I am gonna request and office manager and I am gonna tell them make another copy cause Im comin up!!! NOT a good thing to piss me off. I have been a patient there LONGER than most doctors have been working there....Crystal Run Health Care in Middletown. I will get this letter before the end of this week. I have an appointment with the nurse at Dr Kwons office on the 31st and I was hoping to have all the necessary paperwork to submit to my insurance by then. My nerves are shot over this freekin letter! PHEW...thanks for letting me vent that. Any suggestions to get this done quick without having to stand on someones neck??? Talk to you all soon...HAPPY EASTER

basically that letter is sent because they did a predetermination on one procedure...if something happens along the way and they did a diffrent procedure than the one that was autherized, then the payment wouldn't be allowed. however, in the case of emergencies thats a diffrent story...........but if you had the lap band autherized and then desided on the morning of the surgery to do the gastric bypass, payment would be withheld. i hope this clears that up a little more for ya.....i worked at empire for a while and got this same call a hundred times......

Eileenja... GOOD LUCK TO YOU TOMORROW!!! I am soo freekin jealous of you right now! I will have my turn soon enough I supose! You are gonna do soo good! It sucks that you have to be there sooo late...but you waited a very long time for this..one more day isn't all that bad..right??? I can't wait to hear from you again, or better yet see you at the next support group meeting! Prayers are being sent your way, and I have faith that you will be fine! TAKE IT EASY AND A BIG CHEERS TO YOUR NEW LIFE!!!! Sincerely Porclndoll

First lemme say a big PHEW about the catheter! Thanks for easing my mind on that one. Its not that they are horriable...I didn't even know the one I had was there when I had my son...I just HATE the idea of being "tied down" ya know? With one of them ya can't walk ya cant do anything. When I talk to the office on Thursday I will ask them and tell them, lemme pee my pants before you hook me up with one of them Panda6....YIKES....I don't have any advise for you. You have like four days to loose ten pounds. Boxers do it, but they go very extream to do it! I will more than likely be at the support group meeting on Monday. See yas there!

OKAY for those who have been banded by Dr Kwon, I have a question. Im doing some more research on this surgery and reading other posts on other message boards and they are all talking about having a catheder after the surgery...WHAT? I don't want one of those? Did ya get a choice? Jasper and Pocomomma your surgery was all same day surgery correct? You didn't have an over night stay at the hospital did ya? Im concerned about this catheder thingy. I had one with my son and wanted it out STAT! I had my son in West Chester Medical Center....and I think they did it just for the practise (I swear they did) ... All righty, if you can offer any light on this subject, I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks for your time!

My ABSOLUTE favorite is dream angels heavenly by Victorias Secrete!! I use the bath wash, body spray and lotion! LOVE IT!

Vinesqueen, Thank you for sharing your experience. I have not yet received my band, but I am working on it VERY hard! I went for my first series of tests yesterday! YIPPEE... Your experience is showing me that the recovery wont be as bad as I thought....I know everyones experience is diffrent and everyone handles pain diffrently, but you sound like your in good shape!! Congrats on your band! I will be joining you all soon!!

I too am using Dr Kwons office. I go tomorrow for my FIRST series of tests required before the surgery...blood work, Upper GI and an appointment with the nutricianist! I am very excited and very very ANXIOUS. I just want to get this done!! I too had some reservations about the office with the rules and what not, but after thinking things over....maybe this is the guy I want to perform my surgery. If he is this "strict" before surgery he is going to be this "strict" DURING the surgery meaning less room for complications. There are these steps in place for a reason, to ENSURE our saftey.......what can be wrong with that??? I know its very hard to comply when all you want to do is be done with this life of ours, dealing with being morbidly obese. But I am willing to do what ever is necessary for me to get thru the ENTIRE process as quickly and as safely as possible.

Thanks all for the info. I do not have a surgery date YET but I am working VERY hard on getting it. With the grace of God, hopefully within a month or so. Am I anxious?? OH my gosh YESSSS! I can't barely stand it! I have done the psych eval, I am going on the 15th for blood work up, upper GI, and visit to the nutricianist... I have my Gastroent. visit scheduled for my endoscopy which is required prior to surgery and then I have to meet with the surgeon.... And of course get approval from my insurance company....Iey iey iey, when I say it like that, it seems there is a lot to do yet! YIKES I have desided to take out the navel ring anyway, because IF it gets infected, then I wont be able to have the surgery more than likely, untill the infection clears up....SOOOO I am not going to take any chances. I will take it out now, let it heal and then get a SEXY one when I loose my first 50 pounds! I hate like hell to take it out, but I don't want to risk NOT having the surgery........soooooo........I will be an adult FOR NOW......and take it out.....dammit! Thanks again! Talk to you soon!

SUPPORT GROUP MEETING...I should be there. Depends on if I have a sitter for the time I will be out. Anyone else planning on going?

I have a son with Down syndrome...He is seven now, and man, I am not kidding when I say he is THE ABSOLUTE BEST PERSON I HAVE IN MY LIFE. I wouldn't want him any other way. He has taught ME so many things its not funny! Anthony was in the NIC unit for two weeks before he came home and he had soo many problems eatting it wasn't funny! He had a hole in his heart.....but thank God, his closed without surgery. I have had more happiness with him in these seven years, than I have ever had in my whole 32 years olf life! He is sooo special and it goes way beyond just having special needs.........If you have any questions specific to Downs, or if your sister needs someone to chat with, feel free to contact me! You can email me through this site....Best of luck to you all, and I pray that Nolans surgery goes well!

Hey all! I have three tats...One on my arm, one on my chest and one on my leg.......Arm is a gothic fairy, one on chest is a dream catcher and the one on my leg is a phoenix with flame work around it. I have my nose pierced and I may end up with a new piercing this weekend! whoohooww! We will see.....But I just had to add my art work in this conversation....If I knew how to add pictures to this message, Id put them up! My tats didn't change as I lost/gained weight...I think it depends where on your body the art is too ...But I know it wont shrink...a five inch tat is a five inch tat, it just may warp a little (like Kellymoos said)

Hi Jasper! I was born in Warwick, St Anthony's Hospital and I grew up in Maybrook. I have moved a billion times since then, but now I am near the town of Wallkill.......I like the fact that he is strict because that is how he is going to run his OR too....and that leaves no room for errors! PHEW! I used Mauri Waldman....Shes really nice! Great to hear from you! Drop in anytime

Jasper,,, I live in Orange County NY...I have heard that Dr Kwon is really strict...Thats a good sign to me! I have not met him yet...I have met the staff there....I passed my psych eval, and will be going for blood work, upper gi and to see the nutricianist on the 15th of this month!

Jasper, I have not yet had surgery, but Im working on it! I am going to use Dr Kwon in Port Jervis NY...How upstate are you?

shamrock...you and i are pretty much in the same boat. i have seen my pcp...and i all ready did my psych eval. the doctor that i am using though here in ny really wants all the i's dotted and t's crossed before he does surgery. he is actually pretty strict. i have to loose 10 pounds prior to surgery too. i will have to have upper gi and endoscopy and a few other procedures prior to surgery....they really want to take every precaution out there known to man! i can't help but feel like i am sitting on my hands just waiting and waiting and waiting! my next appointment with the drs office is march 15th, and thats for blood work, upper gi and appointment with the nutricianist......GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR HUBBIE ON THIS ADVENTURE! I can't wait to start my new life!