piercedqt78

I start my liquid diet on the 18th and I have soooooo much to do between now and my surgery date it isn't even funny. What I need is a list of things that I will need post-op. I know plenty of liquid stuff, I bought 3 cases of Propel at the store today, it was on sale with no limit, woohoo! I also have a really good heating pad. What else will I need? What gas relief product do you all suggest? Is a squishy pillow needed for abdominal pain? I have a recliner and I plan to sleep there for the first few nights. Anything else I am going to need? ~Mandy

I have a list of things that I can and cannot have prebanding. I wonder if it will be the same post banding. For my 10 day preband diet I am allowed unlimited sugar-free drinks (hence the propel), low sodium broth and sugar-free popsicles and jello, and 2-3 serving daily of low-fat low cal yogurt, 1-2 a day of Atkins shakes, Carb Countdown or Carb Solution products.( are the carb products powdered?). I cannot have slim fast shakes, ensure, boost, as they are on the NONO list. I am going to sam's club for the protein shakes next week, is that the cheapest place to get them? Also which are better, atkins, carb solutions or carb countdown? Thanks for all the info~Mandy

I have once again been...denied. The original submission was denied then, the peer to peer was denied, and now the "fair expidited review" was denied. I was told today that a company called MCMC of Boston would be doing an indepentant review. Anyone ever heard of them? From what I understand this is what they use instead of an independant evaluation. My husbands company pays them to review such cases. ~Mandy

Highmark BCBS just called and I have been approved!!!!!:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana I called the doc's office and my date is July 28th!!!! I am so glad that I didn't give up and just pay, it is going to be covered 100%. ~Mandy

I live in Illinois, but don't have BCBS of Illinois. They do cover it though, I am told that they are pretty good about covering weight loss surgery overall, including the band. That is what Inamed told me. I have Highmark of PA and they are real stinkers about the band, it took 3 months to get it covered, and that was calling everyday and getting my husbands union involved. ~Mandy

I have Highmark BCBS PPO I am in Illinois, but they are PA. My husband works for the railroad and our insurance is through the Union. Until now it was not covered, I am the very first person to be covered by Highmark, at least that is what they told me today. They are rewriting the company policy in the next 2 weeks to at least review the band proceedure as opposed to just listing it as experimental. I really had to fight to get this covered, I was denied 3 times and we were preparing for an independant review when they called to say I had been approved. I hope that this makes it easier for the next person. ~Mandy

My insurance also paid for my visit, we have a seperate plan for mental health services (value options). I had to have the evaluation even if my insurance did not require it, my surgeon does. They did ask me how I felt about my family, including my mother. I had to fill out a 42 page long packet prior to the evaluation and then they asked me a list of questions. I had to explain the band and how it worked, what it did and how my life (ie food) would change after banding. It was pretty painless even with a student in the room. My major stress was my daughter, she is 4 and currently driving me a bit crazy. How many more days until school starts? I passed with flying colors, they actually said I was very well prepared for after banding life, thanks to all the wonderful LBTer's. ~Mandy

I am being banded on the 28th of July, I will pray for us both to have fast, uneventful recovery time~Mandy

I wil make a list: 1. Adkins 2. South Beach 3. cabbage diet 4. duke university rice diet 5. grapefruit diet And today I went to the Vitamin shoppe and they had,I kid you not, The Makers Diet, it is based on what they ate in the bible. Here is a link to it: http://vitaminshoppe.com/browse/sku_detail.jhtml;$sessionid$H4LH41YJIQL4ICQUAOWSM4QKCQB1AGXK?SkuID=236362&BreadCrumbType=SearchResult I guess people will always struggle with their weight and others will always make money off of it. ~Mandy

Are you taking orders for that stamp? If so I want one ! ~Mandy

For everyone that is following my progress I just wanted to let you know that I have been approved!!! My date is July 28th. Thanks for helping me through all of the denials now at the end of the road I get approved, fighting really did pay off. ~Mandy

Here is a picture of my now 4 year old at the Magic Kingdom in April 2004 it was only about 10:30 in the morning and she was already tired. Notice the sparkly stuff in her hair? She got her hair cut in the "harmony barber shop" in Disney and then the Dapper Dans (pictured with her) sang "Good Night Sweet Heart" to her on Main Street.

The same return policy applies at Trader Joe's, if you don't like it they take it back. My daughter is milk/lactose intolerent and they have let me return soy ice cream bars and a soy candy that she did not like, no questions ask. My family gets tons of stuff from there as they have great frozen fruit and my favorite protein powder, i mix it with juice and have it for/with breakfast. ~Mandy

It is always nice to see a real human side to our doctors. Take my PCP for example I saw her at the local mall last week and she asked me how my family was, including my daughter by name. (not her patient) My PCP is overweight and she had a bottle of water and pedometer (sp?) on, she was power walking. Nice to see that doctors have to face the same callenges that we do. ~Mandy

I watch spongebob squarepants, even when my daughter isn't home or awake. I love Patrick, he is sooo funny. I am not sure why I love it so much but my favorite is band geeks and the hash slinging slasher episodes. ~Mandy

Wishin, I am not banded but from what I understand as long as it is smaller than a pencil eraser you can still take it. (except for NSAIDS) If it is larger than an eraser you should break it in half, after checking with the doctor or pharmisist to be sure it is safe to do. Liquid forms of medications seem easier and safer when they are possible, that would be a better choice. (most meds are available in liquid)~Mandy P.S. welcome to LapBandTalk

Don't get me wrong I am all about taking something for pain when I need it. But, if I can skip a period I am all about that too. I have a wonderful doctor that will give me pain meds if I need them, a simple phone call and she calls them in. She has already given me a list of band friendly pain meds and told me to read the risk/side effects so I will know what I want when I need them again after banding. ~Mandy

This won't help with the cramps but have you considered Depo Provera? It is an injection that you take every 12 weeks and most women stop having a cycle all toghther by the time the 2nd dose is given. I have been on it since right after my daughter was born and LOVE it. I have not had my "aunt flo"visit in like 4 years. Some women do spot on and off for the first 12 weeks but that is not common and it is cheaper than the pill too.~Mandy

As I see it the risk from the banding itself is minimal. However, because we are MO we are at greater risk from ANY kind of surgery. Our hearts have to work harder as do our lungs in everyday life and being put under is a strain on even the healthiest of bodies. I am not saying that it is a huge risk, but there is an added factor to our mortality rate. Also most of the MO people have high blood pressure or sleep apnea or other co-morbidies and that puts us at greater risk also. I have had 2 foot surgeries in the last year and both times I was informed of my greater risk due to my weight. Again I think the risk is worth the potiential outcome, that is why I am fighting so hard to get this paid for by my insurance. I think that the minimal risk of surgery is much better than the long term risk of being MO. ~Mandy

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him". A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl: replied, "They will in a minute." A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill." One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked! d, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white." The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma'shairs are white?" The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say,'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.' A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead." A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face." "Yes," the class said. "Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?" A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty." The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching." Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples.

Happy Birthday!!! You share your special day with a very very special little girl, my Abigale she is 4 today.~Mandy

I have a question and a suggestion.... First I am not banded so my question is, Would just the toppings be ok to eat? We have a place called Papa Murphys, they make the pizza and you take it home and bake it, I LOVE their mexican pizza and the garlic chicken pizza, but am not nuts over bread to begin with. I can take the crust or leave it. Second my suggestion, I have read that many can have biscuits with no problem. There is a great pampered (sp) recipe that is easy and yummy: Biscuit Pizza 1 can biscuits (not butter flavored) 1 small jar of pizza sauce (trader joes is best) 1 bag shredded mozz cheese any meat/veggie toppings you may like Cut the biscuits in quarters and arrange in a pan to covering the bottom. Drizzle over sauce, add cheese and toppings. The sauce and cheese will fall between the biscuit pieces, this is ok. Bake according the biscuit directions, adding about 3-5 mins. Check for cheese to be melted and biscuits to be "fluffy" This is very good and easy to make, and have biscuits instead of true bread, it is kind of like a pull apart pizza and my family loves it. Just thought it might be a bit more band friendly.~Mandy

Alexandra, You have always had a positive note of encouragement for me and I thank you for that. You are so sweet and kind with your words and suport. If they will not approve me I am not sure what I am going to do. Selfpay is going to be difficult, we are a single income family and my husband has changed jobs in the last 8 months so getting a loan will be hard. I am sure that this will work itself out as things in life seem to do. My husband and I have never had anything handed to us and we didn't expect this to be any different. I am keeping my head up and staying on my new lifestyle diet (no pop, small bites and eating slower) that way even if I have to wait a while for the band I am still getting healthy. ~Mandy

As you may or may not remember I was denied with Highmark BCBS saying it was experimental. My wonderful (hopefully surgeon to be) did a peer to peer evaluation and it was again denied. The insurance company gave some out of date and totally bogus stats as to why it was not covered. My doctor gave accurate FDA stats and they refused to listen. (he was one of the FDA test doctors) He asked for an outside review and was told they would get back to him. I in the mean time called my husbands employer and Union and got them involved. That brings me to this morning, I get a call asking my why I got the union involved. It was Highmark BCBS, I gave them my entire story and she said she would arrange for an express appeal with a different review team. I gladly jumped on that. She faxed a letter to the surgeons office stating what she would need to get the appeal going and it was already faxed back to her this afternoon, got to love a surgical co-ordinator that is on the ball. So I need a quick prayer from everyone that is willing to send one that this time I might actually get approved. I will not be able to do financing as I had to give up my job this week so this may be my last hope to get this done. Thanks for listening~Mandy

I am not using MBIC but I am using Dr. Horgan. I see him at the UIC office and the surgical coordinator there is really good too. I am appealing now and they are really going the extra mile to help me. I know that is how they make their money, but they called to make sure I was ok when my coverage was being declined. Maryann is the best. Good luck with your surgery date~Mandy