piercedqt78

I did the shots in my knee and in my foot, and they hurt but not as bad as I expected. It didn't help in either place. I ended up having surgery on the bone spur in my left foot on 8-13-04 and went to Walt Disney World for 9 days in mid October and walked my butt off. I was in no pain at all. I just had to ice it at night to help with the little bit of swelling from the 90+ degree heat. In 8 weeks I was fully healed, I have the laproscopic surgery and it was like 3 hours total in a surgey center. It was a friday and I was back at work on wed, (I only work wed, thurs and sat). Either way I hope it all works out for you, I am glad I took care of my foot when I did as I am much more comfortable now~Mandy

Here is a post from another Dr. Pleatman patient... http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=104&highlight=Pleatman Maybe you can PM and ask questions..~Mandy

I am also in Chicago. Who is doing your surgery? What hospital are you going too? I am waiting on insurance to make their decision. I am using Dr. Horgen at UIC. Best of luck to you~Mandy

I went for my psych eval today and things went GREAT!!! They are going to give me the green light for surgery. It started with the actual doctor and a student in the room and the doctor got very ill and the student finished the evaluation. She said that they see no problems with me being banded, I gave LBT all the credit for that. I told her about all the wonderful support and information here, she wrote down the info and said she would reccomend it to people that they are going to approve. And the best news of all they are going to submit to my insurance and waive my 25% co-pay since it was a student. WooHoo!!! I am soooo glad that is over. Thanks for everyone for all the support and encouragment that you have all given over the last few months. My official request for pre-approval will be sent in next monday, everyone say a prayer for me~Mandy

I submitted several weeks ago to BCBS for preapproval. Last week I get a call saying that I HAVE to have the psych eval before they will even look at my request for preapproval. So I asked if the eval would be covered and they say we have a seperate mental health provider and give me an 800 number to call for more details. I call and speak to the (very nasty) lady at value options mental health providers and was told the following: 1) the psych eval would be covered at 75% for the doctor that my surgeon recomended, if the eval was deemed nessary by mental health standards (aka they don't give a **** if bcbs wants it done) if not nessary it would be paid at 38% (not sure why such an odd percent guessing half of 75%??) 2) there is no way to predetermine how much will be paid until the notes are looked at by the adjuster. Since I am not having panic attacks or any kind of chemical imbalance or drug problem it would most likely be at the 38%. The visit can be as much as $450 To me it seems unfair that BCBS can require something but not pay for it. I have an appt on the 2nd and I am taking my check book with me as I am going to have to pay something that day, at least 25% and they will bill me for the rest. Anyone else have this knid of glitch thrown in after you submitted your paperwork? I ask if BCBS would approve me pending psych eval and was told no way, that is just not done period... I think that sucks but that is life. Anyway, what should I expect in the eval? Are they going to make me look at ink blots?? Or just ask me a bunch of questions???? I get the feeling that they are mostly making sure that there are no eating disorders or problems adjusting to new situations. Any info would be great~Mandy

The insurance is requiring the eval, but the doc does too. I guess I am going to have to have it done either way. I am going on monday the 2nd of May. The doc's office will have the psych's letter on wed the 4th. From what I understand this is what most of her evals are for, WLS. I am sure I will be fine I have the guidelines for the visit and I am going to do fine. ~Mandy

I think my main reson for covering my tattoos is that I don't want to see "body mutilation" on the form. Also I don't want them to think that I am body dysphoric (sp?). I am really comfy in my body, it is like a pair of baggy sweats, big and comfy. It is my health that I am concerned about, that is my reasonm for surgery. I personally could be fat forever and would still love myself because that is just how I am. I say I am a medium person in an extra large body !! Maybe I will be a medium person in a medium body in a few years???? That would be much more comfy on my knee and back dont cha think? ~MAndy

Thanks TraumaNurse, DeLarla and NClonghorn it is nice to know that it is not a huge deal. I am covered with tattoos and I don't want to have to explain why I did that "to my body" I did pick out an outfit that conceals most of my artwork though. Strange I have never felt the need to hide them but I do now. Not that I am ashamed but I just dont want to have my love for body art go against me. I am as stable as the next I suppose. I dont drink or do any drugs and have no eatig disorders. I think I will be ok after all. Thanks again~Mandy

Also don't forget we are just a computer away!!! You ay have your band in Africa and a doctor in Paris or the States but you will have your band-family right by your side day or night~Mandy

Not sure how authentic it was (they claim it is true african cusine) but while at Disney World last fall we ate at a place called Boma it serves african food. Just about everything was well (slow) cooked and had a sauce of some kind, mostly curry or tomato and the meat just fell off the bone. So if the food at Boma was at all accurate then african food is definatly band friendly as far as I can tell. I am hoping to be banded this summer and 2 of my girlfriends were banded last year and they could have eaten there with no problem. ~Mandy

I learned in OA that if you do individual dishes and not put the remainder on the table that the whole family is less likely to overeat as they dont usuallly go for 2nds. I put the soup in a bowl sprinkle on some cheese and then add a spoonful of sour cream on top. I have a basket of tortillias on the table. I am not a big bread person so I don't have any but my 3 year old is a carb junkie so she eats my share. She also only eats the corn and tomatos from the soup, no green beans for her. (she will eat green beans with lemon juice on them if they are a stand alone side dish)

Not sure about lapband, but after GBP they say every 6 months for the first 2 years and then yearly thereafter. Hope this helps~Mandy

another easy one... shaved roast beef from the deli 1 -1 1/2 lbs with (with broth if available) 2 packets of brown gravy mix (calls for 1 cup water) mashed potatos Take the brown gravy mix and make it with 3 3 1/2 cups of liquid (combo of broth and water) Bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Add the shaved roast beef (I get the low fat kind) Serve with/over mashed potatos I usually have garlic bread with this, you can also have egg noodles in place of the potatos.

If your faimly likes taco seasoning try this: 1 -1 1/2 lbs cooked taco seasoned meat ground beef or turkey (you can also shred leftover chicken and season with taco seasoning) 1 can diced tomatos undrained 1 can or 1/2 bag frozen corn 1 can or 1/2 bag frozen green Beans 1 can chili or kidney beans 1 can beef broth (can use tomato juice too) Add all ingredients to a stock pot and simmer until all veggies are hot. Serve with cheese and low fat sour cream on top. I also make flour tortillas slightly crisp in the oven or on a medium flame on the stove top and have these on the table.

I just watched supersize me and there is a team of doctors that do lap RNY as a tandem (sp?) proceedure and it takes them less than 45 mins. Maybe on day lapband will be a 15 min thing too? As medicine progresses surgery time shortens, I guess. ~Mandy

When I got married my tummy was visable through my dress, so I went to a lingere store (a very expensive local place) and was fitted for a corset. The sales woman saw my expression when I saw the price tag and took me off to the side and suggested that I go to value city or burlington coat factory and get a "body shaper" it is a spandex "mini dress" that goes under your clothes and tucks everything in nicely.(they come with and without bra cups built in) It works like a girddle but breathes and moves more freely. It was about $30, jc penny has them for around $60. If you have a discount store around you that is the place to go, also with prom and wedding time approaching they should be easier to find. ~Mandy

I think that most people that have a local support group or are really perfectly happy with the results are just not on here as much. I know that when my almost 4 year old is being an angel I am not on the parents board as much, but when she is being a terror I am looking for other parents to support me. Maybe the same is true here? I have read some of the horrorible experiences and I am still going for it if my insurance will pay for it. ~Mandy

a thong and pasties. You could change your name to princess in the pasties . But maybe that is another thread all together???~Mandy

I have BC BS and it is a really good policy, it covers weightloss surgery with only a few requirements. 1) BMI of >40 or 35 with co-morbids 2) failed weightloss attempts (DUH!!) 3) psysc eval 4) supervised weightloss (6 months accumlative in last 2 years) My question is this, my pcp has very few records of my weightloss attempts. She has put me on several lowfat, low cal, low cholestrol, low everything diets. But there are only records of 2 such diets in my chart. There are several cholestrol checks in the last 18 months but nothing else, she has one visit listed as reccomend diet/exercise and nothing else charted at all. They just called me and said that they were going to list a "late chart entry" that says that they gave me a low fat low cholestrol diet in dec of 2003. Do you think I am going to be denied over this? I have every other requirement met, physc eval is set-up. I need to lose 95lbs and I have a BMI of 38.7 with several other weight related problems. Thanks for the info~Mandy

Dr. Horgan at MIBC in Chicago is doing the FDA testing for ages 14 to 18. It is not approved as of yet but they say it will be soon.~Mandy

Ok since I HAVE to spend the rest, I guess I could use a brand new 2005 Ford Mustang. I do love that car!!!~Mandy

My whole family loves anything Disney. I would get a Disney Vacation Club package for my family. And then I would put the rest of the money in savings and take from it as needed. I lived a very hard childhood and am really happy with the basics being met now. I love my husband and daughter with everything I have in me, it is really fulfilling to just be with my family. ~Mandy

I too am a huge Harry Potter fan. I talked my husband into reading them, but he checked out the book on tape set instead of the books, he commutes to work at odd hours everyday. I am rereading the 5th Harry Potter book right now while I wait for the 6th to be released. I learned to read at around 3 1/2 and just before my 4th birthday I had to have surgery and when do you think I took to the hospital with me? A stack of books. Now I read everything, cereal boxes, junk mail and most any book I can get my hands on. I work in a Tattoo shop and the winter is usually slower and I get a ton of reading time, but in the summer it is a bit busier, I may have to load some of those books on tape into my i-pod shuffle and listen while at work. Anyone interested in true crime, the Amber Frey (of the Scott Peterson case) book was a really interesting read and it only took me a few hours to read it. I am on the waiting list for his sisters book, book brother. We spend lots of time at the library.~Mandy

I just went for my seminar and they said I have to be on a liquid diet for 10 days prior to surgery. The insurnace lady said that if you have gained any weight they cancell the surgery on the spot. But she said that 90% of the patients lose 8-10 lbs on the liquid diet. Are you going to have to do the same? That would be a great way to lose the weight and shrink your liver at the same time, maybe call and ask the surgical nurse her thoughts on this. Best of luck to you and congrats on the approval.~Mandy

I am in the Chicagoland area and and starting to look for a weight loss practice. There are tons of advertisements for the WISH center. Anyone have any experience with them? I took the online seminar friday and they seem to have a good program going with lots of follow-up group meetings and they want everyone that is operated on to be totally educated about the process and the after surgery routine. They also seem to have good success with insurance companies. But I want to know about bedside manner and the competence of the doctors. They have stat for bariatric surgery but it says stats pending for lapband. Any info, or other surgeon suggestions would be great~Mandy