Bandme08

Connie- Not yet banded, maybe in May. I have found that the hardest part of the preop road is waiting. You have 4 weeks between each of your 3 nutritionist appts, so there in itself is a 12 week wait.. they do fit in the Psyc eval in there, and you are required to attend 3 support groups held by the center, so there are things to do for filler time... I highly reccomend the support groups- they are very informal, but very informational too! You get the real life experiences from people who are in the same place you are, and there are people who are months and years out from surgery- a really good mix for question asking! I have discovered you need an extreem amount of patience here. Hurry up and wait is my motto. But, none of us put on this extra weight overnight, so we can't expect it to come off overnight- it's a process, just like anything else life changing! Take care, and good luck! ~Sarah

Kerri- So glad to hear the plateau broke! You'll be well into onederland before you know it! I know how you feel about the scale- scale THE SCALE!!! Hey, why not? Women burned their bras in protest, why don't we burn our scales (or fat clothes; we won't need them anymore!). Sorry to get off topic there... Yes, my last nutritionist appt went well, once I got there... It takes 45 minutes, door to door for me, usually. So, when I got delayed at work, and didn't leave work until 3:35, I Knew I'd really have to push it, so I called and told them I'd be 10 min late- that was fine as I was Jackie's last appt for the day- anyway, in Wiscasett, there was a car accident, blocking the road! 10 more minutes waiting (Wiscasett is 35 minutes from Augusta)! So, here I am, 3:45, leaving Wiscasett, for a 4:00 appt, and I'm at least 35 minutes away!! Guess what, I walked in the door at 4:08. Holy &hit! Wisc. to Augusta in 18 minutes! We arent even allowed to do that driving the ambulance!! Oh well, I got there... I asked Jackie when she thought my date might be around, and her reply was that she had to submit her report, then it had to go to team, then insurance, which apparently they only do once a week, or so. Then she told me that hopefully they could get me in before SUMMER when the Dr's go on Vacation- what a frign letdown! So, that put me in a really bad mood... When I checked out, Jackie asked the receptionist if that was accurate, and she said, Well she's already gone to team, even with only 2 nutritionist reports, phyc is in, and she had actually submitted to insurance while I was in my appt! They said my ins co. usually takes a couple of days, and they would call me with a date- prob. 3 weeks out from now- plus meet w/ trainer, and preop testing, which I might get by not doing because I have had labs, ekg and chest x ray, full body cat scan, and halter/event monitor for 24 hrs- more than they even need! ( Thank god it is all normal!) No pre op diet is required, (i'm on my own, anyway). Sorry to go on about nothing- it's been a whyle since I've written- Yes, we should get together over some Isopure and chicken broth! Talk later- email me if you want- bunit78@yahoo.com. ~Sarah SO, still hurry up and wait..

Hey Kerri- Happy Bday to your mom! Sorry about the plateau. It'll get better- Rome wasnt' built in a day! Yep- the time passes, and I still dont' have a surg date! this has been the longest waiting stretch, and it's only for a nutrish appt!!! man oh man, I've lost another 8 lbs on my own, but, man, this process is so slow! So, you must be on regular food, almost! Maybe you could have a tounge taste of your moms meal! - I was going to go to this past Mondays meeting, but I got tied up transporting a couch...bummer- We'll have to make a point to get together before a meeting sometime for coffee or Soup or something- misery loves company! Take care, Sarah

:confused2: Is there anyone out there??? Kerri, Where are you? Hope everything is going well! Sarah:blink:

Welcome, Connie! My name is Sarah, and I live on the coast, in Damariscotta with my 2 sons, dog and 2 cats. I haven't been banded yet:mad:- hopfully in May! I hope you get as much out of this forum as we all do! There is a great bunch of guys and gals from all over the world to support eachother. Again, welcome, and good luck on your journey! Sarah

I would talk to your Dr! Sometimes they can "fast track" you so you can have the surgery before 5/1! Just explain the situation, and see if you are far enough along in the preop requirments to be able to do that! Call today!!

Kerri- I just read back to the timeline you provided- I think I've answered my own question... hurry up and wait- Sarah

Kerri! Wow- what a difference! You really are on your way! Look at the collar bones, and the side view shows a difference too! Keep up the good work! Thanx for posting pics- inspiring to see- I really am getting impatient now- I think I might just start myself on a 2 week liquid diet on my own, just to get the momentum going... still no surg date. Still have to meet with Nate, do preop, last nutrish appt, insurance approval- it seems like it's never going to be here! I just want a date! At what stage did you get your date? Last nutrish appt? after ins approval? i'm getting bummed- talk later- keep up the great work! Sarah

I would just call mainecare- ask them what they cover, and what you need to qualify- I have heard that they will only do Bypass if your BMI is >50. I don't know what your's is, but just a heads up! I'll still look- Sarah

I'm from Maine too! Hello fellow Maniac. I believe mmc in Bangor accepts Mainecare. I know of some people that had tried to go to Augusta (Where i'm going), and they dont' accept it. Try the bariatric ctr in Bangor- I'll look online to find out what I can for you- Where in Me are you from? The potholes and frostheaves this year are big enough to swallow a car! Take care, and welcome! We also have a Maine Thread going here- go to thread search and find local threads/usa, go to maine- good group there! Sarah

Lmao!!!!!!!!!

I think I came in late on this thread. this is only a response to the initial poster, and her first opening post. I am not offending anyone if the tone has changed since then- I just read the first post, and felt obligated to reply. ok, FIRST of all, I thought this was a SUPPORT fourm, not a bashing one. You should be ashamed of yourself- no wonder your account has been suspended! SECOND- You are complaining that everyone is just having a bit@h session here- what do you think your entire entry is???? I think you should take your own advice. GO back to first grade, and learn; if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all.

Kerri- Sorry the aftertaste bugs you! If you take them back to GNC, they will refund your $- even open containers of powder protien mixes, etc... They have a 100% satisfaction garantee! Sorry to hear your recovery time was "eventful"- anything I need to try to avoid? Feel free to PM or email me whenever- sometimes I forget I'm typing for the world to see on this thread! I am still in the hurry up and wait mode- I really hope things speed up from now on...this month at a time waiting is really getting to me, and I have alot going on in May, so I really want my date, at least, so I can schedule my month! Oh well, I guess I'm just complaining to complain! Later, Sarah

Kerri- Glad to hear everything is going so well! Why can't you drink the Isopure? Is it the taste? Yes, I have tried the premixed special K drink-= the fruit punch one.. To tell you the truth, I liked the alpine punch Isopure better! More protein for your buck. The special K has 5 or 10 I think- If you can't stand the Isopure, then it might work for you! Thanks for the update on the new type of band! Do you know if you also got a low or high profile port? Not too much of a difference, but the low profile port shows less on a thin abdominal area, which we are all aiming for! Thanks for the updates, and have a great time adjusting to real food! Sarah

Kerri- thanx for the timeline! It is very encouraging! I hope the real food is going well! Yeh, I know I still have a long ways to go, but I'll get there! Sorry it's so short tonight- going to bed- Sarah

Kerri- yeh, I'm here, just alot goin on! So glad to hear you are able to eat your protien now! Doesnt' the surgery seem like eons ago?! Look at how far you've come! Good luck at the post op appt- I have searched the bcbs thread, but nobody seems to have my exact health plan! I have Anthem bcbs- Health partners. I just want things to go quickly! I hope it isn't too long after my last nutri. appt to when I can schedule my date! I've heard anything from 2 hrs to 30 days on the ins approval- let's hope for the 2 hrs!! Behealthy- welcome! You are getting into a fabulous program with Dr Trieu and McKee! The office staff is so nice, and they dont seem to mind being bugged with "stupid"questions or requests! Good luck with your nutritionist appt! Well, I'm off to bed, so I can wake up to another $ucky Monday!! See everyone later! Sarah

Hey Kerri- My last nutritional appt is 4/15. I still have to meet with the trainer, do pre op stuff, insurance approval, final consult, oh man, it's so far away!! I'm thinking that the last leg of waiting should be faster, as I don;'t need to wait another 4 weeks between nutritional appts, etc. I'm hoping I can do my pre op at the hospital I work at, and just fax the results... that would save alot of time, because I wouldnt need to really schedule stuff- if they have an opening or cancellation where I work, as a co-worker, they will grab you out of work last minute to get stuff done- the insurance waiting game scares me a bit- I did come up with 1 more comorbidity, ( kind of) though! When I was in the hospital w/ the flu 2 weeks ago, I noticed one of my glucose readings was fasting, at 125!! That wasn't ususally an issue for me, but when your body is all meesed up with a virus, like the flu, it can reak havoc on your blood sugar! The nutritionist told me to fax that baby in!:scared2::w00t: I can use all the comorbidities I can get, as I only have a qualifiying bmi, asthma,joint pain, and mild hypertention- not all real die hard qualifiers! But, that 125 sugar sure is!! Glad you're doing well- talk later Sarah

Just checking in with everyone! Kerri, how's the mushies?? Have you returned to work yet? Hi to everyone else, too! Shrinking v, basketgirl, alexsmom34, Galina, I hope I havent' left anyone out! I'm watching all of your progress from afar, and can't wait to be banded...still waiting for that final nutritional appt and submit to ins...long wait. take care, talk to you all later! Sarah

Where else in the world can you honestly say "Congratulations on your loss... Isn't it usually " Sorry for your loss"?? LOL!! Just my $0.02!! Sarah- yep, i'm boored!

Kerri- I'm so glad you are doing so well post op! Sip the isopure- make sure it's cold, or even put it on crushed Ice- never hurts to get more fluids! Regarding the Ham and taters- done!! Sorry- Don't worry, I'll be on the bandwagon with you soon! Gotta go- talk 2 u l8r! Sarah

Before my first app w/ surgeon, I had been on the phone every 4 hrs for 3 days with Pat at the surgucial center, asking if my pcp referral had been faxed to them yet. Then my PCP had faxed it to the wrong office!! So, as much of a pain in the a$$ I was sure I was, I made sure to apologize to Pat at my first meeting. Her response to my apology for being such a pain, was:" You dont need to apologize. When we see someone so persistant, we look at that as a good indicator that they are going to do well with the process.". So, one piece of advice I may lend- don't be afraid to be persistant! Kerri- I'm sorry you are having trouble with the liquids! Is it that you arent' hungry, or is the naseau getting in the way? If the naseau gets too bad, I would ask if an anti-naseau med like Zophran would help you. It's by prescription, but it's a tablet that dissolves in your mouth- nothing to swallow. I'm not sure if that would help you at all, because the naseau could be phisiological ( caused physically by the band, not systemic naseau like you get with the flu). At any rate, it would help you keep those precious liquids down! Good luck, and I hope you are feeling much better really soon!! Sarah

Hey Kerri- How are you feeling today? I hope you are feeling better every day! Hey- just noticed your new avitar! What a cute couple! Are you newlyweds??? Sallie- I don't mean to intrude on your question to Kerri, but I can tell you that I had my pcp fax the referral to the Surgical center. It took about a week for that to happen, with me bugging them all the time!:shades_smile: Once they had the referral in hand, my first consult w/ Dr. was 5 days from that. Dr McKee had just begun to see pt's for referrals on Fridays that week, so it may have just been a coincidence...One thing you can do, if it works for you and you are available timewize to do so, is to get on every cancellation list you can! For the consult, nutritionist, psyc eval, all take so much waiting time! Get on that list, and some things can go quicker than normal. You will have to wait 4 weeks between nutritionist appts, becuase that's the time they want to have between appt to see how you are doing.. Hope that helps! Talk to you guys later!! Sarah

Kerri- I'm so glad you are feeling well!! I think the scariest part for everyone is the days post op- you are making it seem so easy!! I hope the gas pain on the incisions goes away soon! You would think that the gas could seep out around those darn stitches, or something! lol. I'm really glad you are doing so well. Thanks for the time info- that helps me alot! I'm just being impatient...I know this is a process for a reason- to make us all go mad!!! I hope your post op liquid stage is working well. Don't let DH eat your favorites in front of you :embaressed_smile: There is a quote from someone on this site, and I can't remember who, but it's " Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". I'll never forget that one!! Going to bed now- been on the phone for 4 hrs with DBF- tired! Have a great day tomorrow- chat later! Congrats, again! ~Sarah

Yeh Kerri!! I'm so happy for you! Is 2-3 days post op as bad as you thought?? Ooh, man, just hearing about your banding has made reality really set in for me!! A little nervous. Not about the surgery as much as the changes! I had lap surgery 4 years ago for my gall bladder, and had alot of complications, and an oupatient surgery landed me in the hospital for over a week! I think that is the only reason I'm really nervous- No date yet, Psyc eval should be in their hands in a week or so... Question for you- after psyc eval, and 3rd nutrition appt, how long between sessions with Nick and ins approval did you really have to wait? I've heard BCBS has 30 days to reply, but I have heard from a ton of people that they were approved in 2 days! Sorry to go on- I'm so happy you finally got banded! So, relax, drink that Isopure, and have a great quick healing!! Talk to ya later!! ~Sarah

Kerri, Ok!! I'll be at work by the time you need to be at the hospital, but I will still be thinking of ya! Tomorrows the day! (Don't forget to change your ticker- It had me confused earlier!! ) Have a great day tomorrow! Just think, you'll be home by 12:00 noon!! Talk to you later! Sarah