MelissaE1979

Hi, I have my first consult with Dr. Katkhouda tomorrow at USC, anyone heard of him? I know all the USC faculty is top knotch, but what should I expect at the appointment? Anyone else had any dealings with USC network insurance? Thanks, Melissa

I have fun playing softball and tennis as long as I'm with a group of like minded people playing "just for fun" and will give me a "good try" when I get tagged out. I prefer learning choreography, because I'm a liitle shy on the dance floor when left to my own mean. I get nervous and ALWAYS resort to my disco fingers!

Well, my surgery date of Jan 5th is no more. University of So Cal required patients covered under their BC Administered ins to complete a "Lifestyle Redesign" program before surgery. I completed the 4 month program when I was interested in GB in 2003. Because it's been longer than 12 months, I have to recomplete the classes to be eligble for coverage. The classes are pretty much like Weight Watchers except they follow a plan called "The 5 Day Miracle Diet" (as if). Basically it's high protien low carb. Last time I lost 25 lbs and kept it off, so I know it won't HURT, it's just a bummer. I have a lot going on right now anyway, I'm building a home to be completed in mid-late December, so I'll have my hands full of life changing events for a couple of months. I'm not going to let the hold up bring me down too much, I know my coverage shines compared to other plans. And I was already working on losing weight before surgery, so I'm going to stay on that path as well, and give their "miracle" another go.....after pizza tonight! Thanks for listening....this place really provides a great sense of support and commeraderie. I'm lucky to have found it!

A New Orleans durge with legendary musicians in the parade... All the usuable parts can go to someone who needs them (hopefully by then I'll have lived healthy long enough for them to actually be desired!) I'd like to be cremated and then have my ashes played out of my trombone. - Actually I don't think that would work in reality...it may end up with someone getting a mouthful of me! A cool thing I found when my dad passed away a few month ago...it's blown glass with the ashes sprinkled on top then dipped again in the molten glass. Check out www.memoryglass.com . I'd like to imagine the general mood would be lighthearted with lots of stories being shared.

Good question! I think I heard in my info seminar that the band will outlast the patient. But I think it's silicone...isn't that the same stuff that implants are made of? I've hard implants have to be replace every 12 years or so.

Thank you all for your support and ideas. Well...no more excuses, becuase now I have a date!!! January 5th!! I'm excited to get my butt in gear. It will be quite the month of January, as my husband and I are building a house that's scheduled to close on Jan. 17th. Hope I'm feeling up to it. Surgery day is a Thursday...is it unrealistic to plan to come back to work on Monday? Thanks again...I love this place!

I'm in a bit of a funk... I had my consult a couple of weeks ago, and was instructed by the surgeon to lose 20-25 lbs before surgery. Since then, I've come up with every excuse under the sun not to go the gym. Maybe it will change when I actually have a surgery date.... How have you all been successful at losing weight pre-op Thanks, Melissa

I had my gallbladder out at 16, and for months afterward I was convinced they accidently left it in. I compared it to the "phantom" pains I've heard about when someone loses a limb, and it still itches, hurts, etc. Hope you feel better soon.

I was told by the insurance coordinator at my dr office that Blue Cross has started approving lap band as of May 25, 2005 when billed under CPT code# 43843. According to her, this is a new code.

Thanks for the info. My husband works at USC so I'm pretty familiar with the folks there. Did you know Dr. Crookes? He's a hoot! How cool that you got to sit in some operations! I don't mind being observed, it won't be the first time. I had my gallbladder out at 16 and at the time I was the youngest documented case of gall bladder stones in Illinois, so they asked permission to video the surgery and use me as a textbook case study! I was sick so long before anyone even thought to check my gall bladder. Anyway, the consultation went well, and now I guess I just wait. The coordinator said I would hear from the nurse with a surgery date within a couple of weeks, and then it would be submitted to ins. USC is self insured and they just started paying for the band at the beginning of June, so I hope it's smooth sailing. Thanks again for the info! Have a good day.

Poodles, I posted a question a couple of days ago about the nuclear stress test. It has me a little freaked out...what's it like? I'd prefer my stress to be induced via treadmill than chemical, but I guess I don't have a choice. If I gather correctly, it's some sort of adrenaline injected. I'm worried of feeling a little panicky. With the other test, my drs office says the psych exam is good for a year, but the others are 6 months, and some of the blood test and ekg has to be within 2 weeks.

I'll chime in with Kerry Wood (baseball player) and Liv Tyler.

Tracey, I'm having my surgery through University of Souther California. There's 3 docs in Bariatrics, Dr. Crookes, Dr. Katkhouda, and Dr. Kauffman. Let me know if you want their number. I'm not sure about if they take new patients for fills or not, but I could ask if you want. Good Luck!

Thanks Lynn, I'm going to try to do some research on that test. I should be as prepared as possible, and know what to expect...that should at least keep some of the anxiety at bay. Take care, Melissa

Had consult today...all went well, but have a couple of questions... 1. Dr. K says he usually uses a larger band. Not the Vanguard, but the bigger of the two smaller sized, I think he said 9.75. If a bigger band is used will the stoma also be larger? 2. The stress EKG....it's in the non-invasive cardiology dept, and instead of causing stress via treadmill, they inject a sort of adrenaline or something and then take nuclear images. This kind of gives me the willies. Has anyone experienced this? So I guess the next step is to wait for ins. approval. I'll be waiting with my fingers crossed.

Anyone in California have their surgery at USC? I go for my consult today. I'm living in Burbank now, but moving near Victorville in January. Thanks, Melissa

Some of the things I'm looking forward to being able to do as I lose wieght.... 1. Horseback riding (usually a 180 weight limit) 2. Taking a helicoptor ride to Catalina, Grand Canyon, etc. 3. Being able to jump in my husbands arms. 4. Clothes shopping in a "Regular" store. 5. Skydiving What are some of the things you've been able to do that you never could do pre-band? -Melissa

I manage the accounting office of a beverage distributor in Los Angeles...Gives you WWINGS!!!

I've found this site just a couple of days ago, and think I've perused just about every single post...archives included! What a lot of great info. I've just started down this lap road, I'm attending a seminar tomorrow, and have my consult next week. A couple of years ago I was approved for RNY, after completing a 7 month Lifestyle Redesign Program, but chickened out a few weeks prior to surgery. Innards aren't furniture...not to be rearranged on a whim! About that same time, I was diagnosed with type2 diabetes, and hypertension. At first it was a hard hit...no longer a chubby, jolly kid, but a morbidly obese adult with life threatening illnesses. For the last year or so I've been really guilty of gross patient non-complience, I saw a shrink and that helped me realize a lot of my self-sabotaging behaviors. But now I'm ready to face the music.... My dad died about 4 months ago, from throat cancer....3 weeks before his 54th birthday! My mom, who is 46, has heart disease, severe kidney problems, glucoma, and it isn't an exaggeration to say she'll be lucky to make it to a very "ripe" age herself. I recognize and now fully appreciate what it means to me to have a parent die that young. My brother, who has 2 young children, still smokes! On my last visit to my dad's house, my dad was telling me that he didn't want to die for NOTHING...he said he'd lay down his life to prevent his son from going through his ordeal, and sparing his grandkids of what his own children (me and my bro) were being faced with. Well I confronted my brother right then and there on the front lawn having a smoke...my dad said he me from inside! (Much less drama then I make it sound, we're a pretty open bunch) I explained to my brother that forcing my dad to look in crystal ball only 20 years down the road and see his own son suffering....his own grandchildren saying goodbye to their dad...it was a slap in the face. My brother promised to quit...he still hasn't. I was pretty peeved until...I realized....am I any different? If I choose not to make the changes that will undoubtedly save my life...what does that say about me? I'm 26. I want to have a baby. I want to see my unborn children grow up. I want to survive a midlife crisis. I want to grow old with my husband. I want to live.... I want an adjustible gastric lap band. Thanks for listening...it's been quite cathartic. -Melissa