dianestutting

S. Elaine Wow you have done wonderful with your lap band!! 85 lbs! I'm doing a happy dance for you. Congratulations on the great weight loss! Diane

Hi Carol I'm having my surgery with Dr DeBarros at WLIAZ in Tempe Az tomorrow. Good luck with getting everything done and having the surgery soon. You need a lot of pre-op testing and then can take awhile. Diane

S. Elaine Thanks for thinking about me. I'm so excited to start this journey! I've lost 13 lbs on the pre op diet and this time they are gone for good. I'll keep you posted. Diane

I just got my approval for the lap band. I will be having surgery on Nov 2. I'm on the two week liquid diet before surgery. So far it is going well. I'm so focused! I'm from Iowa but having my surgery in Phoenix Az. My doctor here had the surgery in May and has already lost 70 lbs! I can't wait to start my journey! Diane

Shauna I'm having my surgery done at the Speciality hospital in Phoenix. Where was your surgery done? I was kind of hoping for St Lukes because it is closer for me. Diane

Shauna How is your lap band doing? Do you ever ever had problems with PBing or getting food stuck? How long after surgery were you laid up and on pain meds? Wow you lost 73 lbs! You did as well as Dr DeBarros! He has lost 70 lbs since May. Congratulations on the weight loss. I hope I do that well! I weighed 239 this morning. I weighed 244 on my first weigh in at the clinic. What do you eat now? Do you stick to the protein first then veggies? Diane

I was approved for surgery! The insurance co approved me in one day! I have surgery on Nov 2 with Dr DeBarros. I can't wait! I'm on day 3 of my pre-op diet. I decided to start it 4 days early. Going well. I think it is because I'm so focused right now. I lost 4 lbs since my first visit on Oct 3. Hopefully I lose a lot more before surgery. I weigh 240lbs. Diane

I'm going to be banded Nov 2 by Dr DeBarros. He is so nice and goes over everything with you. My first visit he spent at least an hour or more talking to me and today another hour! I'm on the 2 week liquid diet now. I'm so excited to get this done. My insurance approved me in one day! Diane

I'm seeing Dr DeBorris too. I go for my first visit on Oct 3rd. I hope it won't be long to get approved from my insurance. I'd like to be banded by the end of Oct. I have all my tests done. I should only need blood work done. Diane

Shauna You have done wonderful with your weight loss! How is it going with the lap band? Are you feeling full after just a little bit? I hope I do as well as you! Diane

I fly in on Oct 1st and have an appt with Dr DeBorris on Oct. 3rd. I have some copies of my tests and old doctor's records and my doctor is suppose to send everything to Dr DeBorris by Oct 1st. I will call them befor I leave and make sure that they did it. I thought I would start the low fat liquid diet when I get to Az to get a jump start on it. I'm so looking forward to starting this journey. I hope I get a speedy approval. Thanks for the info. Diane

Hi I'm going to see Dr DeBorris on Oct 1st. I have BCBS insurance and just finished my 6 month diet and exercise that they require. I only lost 2lbs. I have a clearance from my doctors to have lap band surgery. I have sleep apnea high blood pressure high chloesterol GERD and a hiatal hernia. Do you know if they fix the hiatal hernia at the time of surgery? I'm hoping to get approved fast so I can get the surgery ASAP. Anyone know what time frame I might have. I have already had a sleep study, EGD, Psych eval, colonoscopy and my yearly pap smear and mammogram. I'm hoping I will just need blood work to have all my testing done. I know I will have to meet with their nurtritionist too. What else would I have to do before having the precedure done? Thank you Diane

For anyone that lives around the quad city area you will be happy to know that Genesis will be doing lap bands this fall! Diane

Yes I also have had a mammogram and pap done too. So I sure hope I can get my insurance approval fast so I can have the surgery in Oct. Thanks for answering. I will try and make the meetings when I come out there. Would love to be other bandsters. Diane

What pretesting did you need to have done before the surgery with Dr Deborris and Dr Orris? I have been getting a lot of testing done here in Iowa so that I can get the surgery done when I move to Arizona in Oct. I have had a sleep study done, colonoscopy, EGD, and I'm doing a 6 month supervised diet with my doctor and a nutritionist so my insurance will cover the surgery. I have mixed sleep apnea, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and joint pain. I have a BMI of 40. I also went for a psych eval and got a clearance for surgery. My doctor also will refer me for the surgery as well as my pulmonary doctor. I'm on a cpap machine for the apnea. Do you think I will need anymore tests done before surgery. I know I will have to meet with their nutritionist too. I want to have this surgery in Oct or Nov. I'm so ready to start this journey to a healthier life style. Any info you can give me I would appreciate, Diane

Shauna Thanks for the info. Is the new band suppose to have less problems with slippage and more restriction right away? Do you not need as many fills with the new band? I would love to get together with you all when I move out there this Oct. Diane

I will be having lap band surgery in Oct or Nov with Dr Orris. Has anyone had him do their surgery? What is he like? I would like to attend the support group too. I will be living in Apache Junction Oct 1st through the winter months. Has anyone gotten the new lap band? I think I heard that maybe Dr Deborris had that one put in. Diane

Lori I'm from Camanche Iowa. I guess I will wait until I get to AZ for the blood work and if I need a EKG have it done there too. I'm sure I will have to see there nutritionist too. I can't wait to have the surgery and the time is just not going fast enough. Did you have to go on a 6 month supervised diet? If so did you lose weight? I know I can lose weight but then I just gain it back again. I don't know if the insurance would deny me if I lose weight on the supervised diet and then have to wait to gain it back before I can have surgery!

Hi Iowans! I'm working on my 6 month supervised diet too. I just had a psych eval and got a clearance for surgery from him. I'm seeing a nutritianist each month too. I've had a sleep study and found out I have sleep apnea and will go on a CPAP next week. The pulmonary doctor said that if I use it for two months he would give his ok on surgery and would personally write to the insurance co! I have had a colonoscopy and a echocardiogram (since I was on the fen fen diet too) I hope I'm getting everything done that I need too. I'm going to try and get a endoscopy next month and plan on going to Arizona and have my surgery in Oct or Nov. Hope I have all the pretesting done before I go. Do I need to do more? I want to make sure all my i's are dotted! I don't want any chance that I get denied! Diane

Hi I'm doing the 6 month diet now and hope to be banded in Nov. You want to make sure all the hoops your insurance co wants you to do before the approve you. I needed to see a nutritionist too during this 6 mo supervised diet. Also a psych eval. I have BCBS. Good louck with your journey! Diane

Congratulations Inge on the weight loss! I'm the same age and will have the surgery hopefully in Nov.

walk walk walk and use gas x strips I also heard that you need to get your protein in everyday and that helps you heal quicker I'm not banded yet but have been with a support group for the last year and have learned a lot about postop problems

You have to stay away from medication that is hard on the stomach so you don't cause an erosion. Tylenol is fine to take and you can get it in liquid form. Aleve motrin aspirin are hard on the stomach.

Hi I'm in my 3rd month of my 6 month supervised diet. I'm 58 and hoping to have surgery this Nov with Dr Orris. Who is doing your surgery? I'm living in Iowa but will be coming out to that area the first of Oct. I'm doing a lot of my preop testing here. I talked to Dr Orris's office and they said as long as the test were within a year they would use them. I live in Apache Junction during the winter.