AngelaW

Mine came from wanting this surgery really bad!! ....I should have thought it through a little better...Now, Angie....where is that "sex thread" you were talking about?? LOL

Congratulations!! I remember feeling that "high" after finding out I was approved! Good luck with your surgery and weight loss. It's all uphill from here!!!

Good morning! Tracy- I was banded by Dr. Spiegel. I really like him! (his office staff is a bit of a different story...) Pam- You are in my thoughts. Hormones suck. I think after your surgery you will feel so much better. Haydee- another Houstonian!! Who was your doctor?

Checking in... My scale hasn't moved in over 2 weeks! I have my second fill on Monday so hopefully I will see some improvement. Good luck to all of you!

Hi guys! Sorry for the delayed response Tracy...I am from LaPorte, Texas. Congratulations Pam on your anniversary and Kat on your plastic surgery!!

Hi Pam...yes, my name is Angela...lol... The ablation was not that bad at all. It was done as an outpatient procedure at the Women's Hospital in Houston. I remember experiencing some mild cramping and spotting afterwards but nothing unbearable. It IS a little daunting to have a part of what makes you a "woman" burned but it was sooo worth it. I still experience a monthly flow but not even a third of what it was before, cramping is minimal and my iron level is finally acceptable without taking a bunch of prescriptions. My co-worker had it done as well (February 2007). She is 42 and has yet to have a period! I was told by my doctor that the closer you are to menopause, the better the odds are that you will stop your cycles completely. My biopsy was done during surgery so I was not awake to feel a thing... Not to be gross...but the picture I was shown afterwards? What was once pink is now white!!! (uterus...you guys! LOL)

Awww...thank you guys for the "welcome aboard" and the invite. Laura...WOW! You look amazing!! Forgive me...I am butting in here, but I saw that Pam (?) is having an E.A. (Nova Sure) soon. I had to have this procedure last year due to abnormal bleeding and severe anemia. I am very impressed with the results...it has made my life sooo much easier! Best wishes to you and may you have a speedy recovery.

I wanted to jump in here and introduce myself. I was banded February of this year and I have been more of a "reader" than a "poster" on this site. I want to reply to Kat's fears of people viewing her profile. I am guilty!! This is a wonderful site and I appreciate being able to log on and read other's experiences and follow other bandsters through their journey. There are several people on here that I find positive and motivating and I like to read their replies. Kat, you are one of them! I would bet I am not the only one who feels that way and maybe that explains all the "visits". I like to read this thread as well...you guys have a pretty amazing group here. I have laughed out loud many times reading what you ladies write. Good luck to you all on your weight loss journey! Angela

Me too!!! That "half a cup to a cup" of food per meal went straight out the window. I have been eating 2-3 cups of food and I enjoyed way too much Easter candy this weekend. I have no willpower right now. My doctor is on vacation, so I won't be getting another fill until the 8th of April. I am trying to regain some discipline. Hang in there you guys. This too shall pass.

Check this out! My DH and I both had this surgery (within the last month). I was required to stay overnight (with antibiotics in my IV) while he was allowed to go home the same day. Our bills, both over $42,000 were within $500.00 of each other. I find it hard to believe that our bills were so close when I was there almost a full day longer!!?? Also...ALWAYS negotiate medical bills (call the office manager). Just because they say you "owe" a certain amount doesn't mean you will have to pay that amount. We pay in cash as much as possible and have successfully negotiated many medical bills (not for this surgery...but just a head's up!). As stated in another post above...insurance companies only end up paying a portion of the bill...so can you!!(they negotiated our surgery prices to around $17,000 each).

Ok...I am probably going to come across here as very impatient...but I need to voice this. I was approved last Thursday (January 31st) and I haven't received the approval letter from the insurance yet. They claim it was mailed on Friday from Dallas, Tx. I live in Houston. The problem is that my surgery is scheduled for 2-13-08 (one week from today) and I have no idea about my pre-op requirements...clear-liquid diet, blood work, pre-registering with the hospital... The doctor's office is telling me that they cannot proceed without that letter in hand. They won't even talk to me about pre-op. They have already called the insurance company and confirmed that I was approved. Can anyone explain this? Why is this letter so important? I asked the care coordinator if they could fax the letter to me so I don't miss my surgery date. She told me they could not fax it, but that the doctor's office only needed to call and confirm that I was approved and they should be able to move ahead. EXACTLY! Why do they need a letter to back this up? GGRRRRRR!!

((message deleted)) I wrote this out of anger...which as we all know is not using good judgement. I am still frustrated, but I think I will take my issues up with his staff directly.

I was banded 2-13-08. I was advised to walk, walk, walk! I have been walking at least a mile a day and I feel quite a bit of relief from that. As I just stated in another post...the gas has been way more than I am use to...and when it happens....it is obnoxious!! :tt2:

Hi Everyone! I was banded on 2-13-08. I am 32 years old, married with one son and I live in Texas. (Wow...there are a bunch of us Texans!) I was really amazed at how easy this surgery was for me. I had about two days of discomfort and minor pain and I have been feeling really good since then. I have been walking at least a mile every day. I have to say however...this gas is something else!! I do fine throughout the day it just seems to hit me in the evenings (and at the most inappropriate times!). My husband is threatening to make me sleep outside!!!!! :tt2: It's embarassing, but I just seem to get on a roll and well...

Hi everyone. I have been lurking around on this website for a while but have never posted. I was too afraid to post before getting approved and jinx myself into being denyed. I spent a lot of time reading other people's insurance stories, looking to see where I might stand with mine. There are so many variations with each company as to what is required to get this surgery: Six-month supervised weight loss programs, psych evals, BMI over 40 and co-morbidies...I fully expected for my approval (or denial) to take a few months. All I can say now is "WOW!" I went to the seminar with the surgeon on January 24th and my paperwork was submitted to the insurance on January 28th. I took the advice of another "bandster" on this forum and called the care coordinator at UHC daily. I was approved on Thursday, January 31st! I didn't even get to turn in the letter that I had requested from my PCP stating why I should have this procedure. I do have a BMI over 40 and a couple of co-morbidies, but no clinicals were documented!! Just what I wrote on the paperwork at the surgeon's office. As strange as all of this was to me, I am grateful to be approved. It is insane to read about people on here with the same insurance who are jumping through hoops to get approved when there's those of us who get approved with very little effort. I know it boils down to what your company will agree to pay for (and with a weight loss surgery exclusion on the policy, it keeps the rates down...or so sayeth my human resource dept. ). I was glad my husband was offered UHC. We pay double what we were paying for Aetna and we have a $4000.00 out-of-pocket max for the family, but it still beats trying to pay cash for this surgery. Good luck to all of you out there "fighting the fight". I wish you the best and hope for your speedy approval.

Hi everyone, I was banded last Wednesday. I sipped clear broth for two days and then added Slim Fast on the third day. I am finding that I can drink a whole can of Slim Fast (11 oz) in around 20 minutes. I do this three times a day. I feel pretty good while I am drinking it but shortly after I am done, I experience a heavy feeling in my chest. It sounds obvious (I am drinking too much...) but I don't feel the pain until after I am done. Is this too much too fast? I DO put the can down in between sips and I try to take smaller sips (sometimes I slip up and take "normal" size swallows, but I try to keep half of it in my mouth for a bit to allow the other half time to get down). The horror in my mind is that maybe I am already stretching my pouch? But it is liquid, so it is pretty much going straight into the big pouch, right?

My doctor advised us that week one was clear broths and Protein shakes only (Atkins or Slim Fast). Stage two involves those same broths and shakes with the addition of creamy Soups and an occasional milk shake. I know I need to get in as much protein as possible so I tried this: I took a bowl of charro Beans from my local mexican food restaurant (husband isn't banded yet and just HAD to go there!) and stuck it in my bullet with lots of the bean broth and pureed it. I then added a teaspoon of salsa for a kick and blended again. The consistency is very much that of a creamier Soup. I am mildly concerned about the ingredience in the beans: pinto beans, onion, tomato, cilantro...But the beans are a good source of protien (as opposed to a cup of broccoli and cheese soup) and it did blend to a pretty fine liquid. The doctor's rule of thumb is that it must be able to be sipped through a staw (for the right consistency). What are your thoughts on this? Is it too much too soon? I am on day 8 of post-op.

Thank you Georgia girl. I am so greatful for this board and all of the bandsters that take the time to answer these questions for us "newbies". I know most of us aren't doctors, but it sure helps to hear from someone who may have experienced something simular or has a bit of advice to share. I don't want to be to quick to say, but I think this problem may have something to do with gas. I am grossing my husband out! (and that's no easy feat). I drank another Slim Fast this evening (slower) and still experienced the heavy chest feeling. However, once my body started "talking" I felt much better. LOL...he asked me tonight "What happened to the LADY I married?"

Wow! After all this "hurry up and wait" I finally have a date! I will be banded on Wednesday morning! Talk about quick. I am so excited! I will finally get to join you guys on the "other side".

Minpinmom! Sneaking on the phone?? LOL :regular_smile:. Way to take the bull by the horns! If the fax machine at the surgeons office in Houston is eating paperwork....oh crap! I've got to give them a call. I just faxed over my "hard copy". They may not have gotten it!!! Congrats on your news too!

Woo-Hoo!! I got my letter today. I am so excited!! Just so you know, this is how the letter looked: Dear blah blah: We have completed your review..........yada, yada...you are covered....yada, yada.....please feel free to call if you have questions or concerns.... Sincerely, blah blah All of the hoopla for this????????? LOL Good luck to you guys still waiting...I will be watching for your reply!

Oh, you guys...this really does suck!!!!!!! I AM aggrivated. But...looking at the big picture, we are the lucky ones. We have actually been approved already. I am vowing to be a little more patient. (Ummm....yeah...)

Hi minpinmom- Wow....we are dealing with the same doctor's office!! I am: -Racing home to check the mail DAILY at lunchtime. -Calling the office just to see if by chance they received the letter before me? :eek:. (ok...only once so far) -Driving husband (who is having this surgery too) crazy because I won't shut up about it...lol. If they can go online and see that it is approved...then print the darn thing and lets get moving!!

Hi Jacks9036- So very true!! We went into this process knowing that it was a possibility that we may not be offered UHC next year. I forgot to mention above that my husband is also getting this surgery (approved on the same day!). For us to only have to pay $4000.00 (maximum out of pocket for the family) is a blessing. Going to Mexico, which was our next option, would have been closer to $15,000 (if not more) not to mention possibly driving back and forth for fills (I have heard that many doctors here will not treat you if you were banded in Mexico...?). I hate the idea that we may not have this same coverage next year, but even if we have to pay cash for fills...I still believe we will have saved alot of money. ...That said, I am praying we have no complications!

Nygmen- Congrats to you as well! I felt the same about UHC...never had a problem talking to anyone and they were all very helpful. I actually had to hang up and call right back because I just didn't believe that it had happened so quickly!