Bandme08

Kerri, I managed to get off work tomorrow at 4:15, so I will be making the meeting by the skin of my teeth! I hope the weather holds off as well! I would hate to get there to find out it's cancelled! The forecast states the weather will begin in the evening.- My problem, and you may have this too, is it can be sunny in Augusta, and It could be snow'in a bloody foot at home!! I'm just going to call the center before I leave. anyway, I hope to see you there! Sarah

Hi Kerri, I'm trying to get off work early so I can be there... I really want to go, but I stupidly said I could work until 5:30 that day, and I'm 45 min away! I'm going to see If I can get off at 4:00. I still have to wait until march for my psyc eval, so I am in hurry up and wait mode... Take care, maybe see you tuesday!

Beena, ok, take a deep breath, and relax. I know that this tops the list on major things in life to do. It is normal to be hesitant! Just take it one day at a time. My dr requires his patients to attend a informational seminar before they will even take a referral from my primary care Dr. You should see if your dr has a seminar you can attend. These are very informative, and you can ask alot of questions too! They go over the entire proceedure, and ususally have a couple of patients who have had it done there to speak as well. You will then go for your initial consult. Make a list of your questions. You should ask what is involved in the pre-op diet, and what tests you will need to have done, as well as the post op diet. These can be the most challenging part of the whole thing! Remember. This is a tool they are giving you. If you don't make a culinary lifestyle change, you might not be as sucessfull as you want to be. A very important aspect of this is support! It's important to have a good support system in place at home, and at work, if you plan on sharing your journey with them too! You have also come to the right place, here! There is an abundance of information from real-life banders! What better advice to get then from people that have been through it! Browse through this site, and read some posts. I think you will feel better just knowing that you are not alone! The best of luck to you and your journey! You are among friends here!

Kerri! YEH!! I am so happy for you! It's been such a long wait for you, since July, right? You will have to let us know when your date is so we can cheer you on! Isn't it funny how it can take forever, just to get to the beginning???

Does anyone know where online or in a store where I can get free/ low cost samples of the different protien supps? I don't want to commit to a $20 container without trying first if possible! Also, what are your favorites?

Thanks- I just ordered 2 samples of each of the kinds from the Unjury website. We'll have to see!! thanks for all the help!

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Do they make any protien whey powders that dissolve into any liquid and are clear and tasteless? I'm looking for something to add to anything, and, basically, not be able to know it's there-

Lizrbit, Welcome from 3,000miles away! I'll throw you a cyber snowball to make you feel right at home! o 0 O!! Here's a snowman too! 8. Sorrry to hear about the leak, but I'm glad you didn't give up! I hope your "losing streak" continues!! Sarah

Kerri, looks like you solved the ticker problem! Congrats on returning to school! That too, is a huge step and commitment. Good for you! Isn't it funny how when you get your mind set on committing to the surgery, you also begin to reflect on your life, and do all sorts of things you may have never done. What are you going to school for? I won't be able to make the Waterville group, but the next Augusta one i'll be at. Take care, and congrats!! Talk to you later- Sarah

Kerri, You were right. The nutrition appointment was actually kind of fun, and informative! I met with Jackie. The support group was the most comfortable I have ever felt in a group setting. Knowing that I can walk into the room, and know that nobody was going to judge me because of my weight, because we are all in the same boat! I have my next appt w/ Jackie in 4 weeks. Started my dietary log this week.. So, how are things with you? I hope to be able to get to the next group meeting in Feb. Talk to you later, Sarah

Kerri, I will have to try the cancellation list! My only problem is I am 45 minutes from Augusta, so any appt I need to schedule on my day off, when I get one! I 'll give it a try, though! Thanks for the suggeston. Did you get to the support group tonight? It was about support, family, work, etc.. It was a very crowded room! I meet with the dietician tomorrow, so we will see how that goes! Good luck, talk later- Sarah

Welcome, Kelly! Maybe we can liven up this Maine thread, afterall! Where are you from? Where in the process are you? We may be in the same boat as far as time goes. CMMC has different guidelines then Me General, I believe. What has your experience been like so far? Welcome, can't wait to hear more! Sarah

:ohmy:Ok, Today I had my first consult w/ surgeon. He said I need to go through a psyc eval, meet w/ diatician 2x, meet with trainer 2x, and wait for ins to approve. NO labs, no ultrasound, no preop livershrinking diet, no required wt loss b4 surgery... I'm not complaining at all, but I just don't want any surpizes at the last minute. He even let me pick my port site, and told me I could eat whatever I wanted up until 8pm the night b4 surgery. I will get my date when the reports from psyc and dietary are in. This Tuesday I go for dietary consult, but I can't get into psyc unti 3/14/08.:rolleyes2:. They told me first and foremost to expect 4-6 months before banding, and I can be patient... NO I cant! I just can't wait for this to all be over with and start at the same time!!

Hi Kerri! I went to my informational seminar at The Senator on 1/10/08. My first consult with Dr McKee was this past Friday, 1/25/08. They set up my first nutrition appointment for this coming Tuesday 1/29/08 (they had just had a cancellation call when I was in the exam room with Dr.). I am going to go to the support goup meeting (the first one to count towards the 3 I need to attend) tomorrow, Monday 1/28/08. My psyc eval is 3/14. It seems like a long time away, but when I see youve been at this since 7/2007, It makes me feel like I'm speeding along! I need 1or 2 more nutrition appts, 2 more seminars, psyc eval, and insurance approval, then Team approvall, pre op and banding... I, too am thrilled that someone else is going through Me General! Everyone on this site seems to be from Texas or Wyoming, for some reason! Finally a local to chat with! take care, talk to you later! Sarah

Hello everyone! I want to thank everyone for their replies. I may not have been very clear in my 2nd post to this thread. I have had a chest xray, lipid profile, glucose, metabolic workup, renal and hepatic profile for labs, as well as a complex respiratory assesment because of my asthma. I had these done as a result of a hospitalization for asthma about 6 months ago. My PCP had included all of these reports in my referral to my surgeon. I'm sure I will endure many more with pre op as many of you have said previously. I was just surpized he didn't require an upper GI series, or more complex tests that I have heard of here. Background for those who inquired: 5'2" 250 lbs. BMI 47.5. Reasoable goal is 150, ultimate goal 135. My Dr gave me a sny remark about a year ago when I first approached him- he said "Well, you know you are never going to be supermodel thin, you just don't have it in you!" I never said I expected supermodel thin. Just a healthy weight- that was enough to discourage me for a year, and finally see another Dr in his group who couldn't be happier for me. My support is my family. I won't tell any coworkers, as I work in a hospital, and I have seen what they say about people who turn to surgery for wt loss. I WILL PROVE THEM WRONG!!! Iv'e tried everything else- this is my last resort!!! Thank you,everyone for your imput!

Kerri, Glad to see all of your "ducks are in line"! When did you begin all of your appts? The other post, it sounded like you had just attended the seminar not too long ago! I have my nutritionist appt this Tuesday, but I couldn't get into psyc until 3/14. Did you find this timespan true for you? Dr Trieu was at the seminar I attended, and it seems like he is a very nice Dr. I have Dr McKee. He just began seeing pt's on Fridays. I called on Wednesday, and they gave me a Friday appt!! The office staff is very nice, and it seems like it's a well oiled machine. Best of luck to you, and I hope to hear about your experinces as they happen!! Sarah

Hi Kerri, I'm glad I'm not the sole Mainiac here! I have Dr McKee. I wasn't at the group this past Thursday, but I went on 1/10/08 - Thursday. How is the scheduling for you going? It seems like such a long wait between psyc eval and dietician appts! Have you been able to make these appts yet? Maybe we'll run into eachother in the waiting room. Good luck with your adventure! We'll have to keep in contact, as it seems we are the only ones from "up North" around! Maybe the mention of this site at your meeting will spark some interest with fellow Mainers! Later- Sarah

Patti, go to this link. It states that medicare will accept lap band! http://www.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdecisionmcmd.asp?id:160, if this wont work, just google or Yahoo search "medicare lap band" that's how I found it! Hope this helps!

Patti, I, too have severe asthma which lands me in the hospital for about a week 3-4 times a year. I have a nebulizer at home which I use daily, as well as a travel nebulizer to take to work. My main issue is bronchiospasm. Once I start coughing, everything inflames and my respiratory system shuts down. I have been told by my Dr to loose weight, and have lost a total of 150 lbs, not all at once, but gained a total of 160 back!! I hate Prednisone. My dr puts me on a 100mg taper for 2 weeks everytime! I am in the process of getting the band. From what I hear, Medicare won't pay at the center I go to, but with some research, they said there are centers that take Medicare, or payment plans with reasonable payments. I look at it this way, How much do you spend on meds and hospital visits? this may be minimal as you are on medicare, but it adds up. I urge you to research and find a center that accepts medicare!! They are out there, you just have to ask and look. SO, go to that seminar, and ask all the questions you can. Ususally there is an Insurance specialist for that center there at the meeting, so ask them as well! They are all there to help you! Good luck

Thank you all for all of your answers. To tell you the truth, I had never thought of it that way! He is a very experienced Surgeon, and has done thousands of bands over the past 8 years or so. I asked him at my appt why he didn't require the diet, and he told me that in his experience, it didn't seem to make a huge difference. I do trust him- I called him after my appt with some other questions, and he took the time to talk to me. I have already had most of the things he requires as far as labs, studies, etc, within the past 6 months- for other reasons, I hadn't even thought of the band at that time. SO, I guess you could say that I did everything without knowing it! I think, for my own safety and wellbeing, that I will go on the preop diets listed on here for a week or so before surgery. It can't hurt, and it will allow me to adapt to liquids before I need to. on anther note, can someone help me put my ticker here? I made one, but I don't know how to get it from there to here! Thanx again!

sorry to be off topic, but how do I get a ticker?

I don't want to start anything bad here, but have you checked with the surgeon that the band and port and tubing are all latex free??? I'm sure they are, but I would still check. Latex allergies are one of those allergies that can get much worse with more exposure. Also, make sure it's on your chart that you are allergic to Latex! There is a blood test (latex IgE) that can be done to see the degree of your allergy to latex. Some people really react badly to tape and adhesives after their first reaction- just be carefull!!

Kat, how on earth did you get lucky enough to go from your first consult to surgery date? Do you need psyc evals and such? It seems like such a long journey! How did you do it? Please, share your secrets!!

Bandlady, Yes, I have reviewed my Insurances requirements- previous failed attempts, 1 comorbidity, and a BMI>40. I have all that covered. I have been overweight since I was 6 years old. I have never known what it feels like to be normal, and not to be the one hiding in the corner, away from the camera. I can't wait until I no longer have to pick out shirts that are long enough in the front to avoid embarassment... I have always felt young and pretty "adventurous" (we'll call it that..), inside, but have never been able to act on it because of my outside. I just cant wait to be able to act the way I feel. Thanx for the reply- sorry for going on like that!

Hi- I have had the worst luck getting my pcp to forward a referral to the surgeon for my first consult appointment. It has been 2 months since seminar, and 1 month and 3 weeks since referral was supposed to be sent to bariatric center from my Dr. Today I called Bariatrics, and they finally got my referral (to the correct dr this time). They said for my first consult with the surgeon, their first available slot was in May!!! She then told me to hold the line- the other secretary was on the phone with someone cancelling their appointment for this Friday!! They asked me if I wanted it... No DUh!!! So, I am going this friday for the consult... I should be BANDED by May...when that was when my first consult was going to be.. I'm just glad this is finally moving on- I hope there arent' too many more glitches in the road- I just jinxed myself- I just know it... Take care!!