BIGDSWIFE

I keep thinking baby steps. Right now my husband was 350 at the seminar and 342 yesterday at the surgeons office. (it's funny, but i dont see him as that big anyway...) His joints bother him now that it about kills him to walk around the block, so when the PT was telling him all this stuff they want him to do, I was thinking no way will this fly. I got to thinking about in the past when he has lost 60-80 lbs that as the weight came off, he became more active so I think we will have to work into the exercise, but I'm not telling our surgeon that. For the ones that do 2-4 hours a day-GREAT JOB!!! But thanks also to the ones that replied that are still working into a routine. It made me feel better. Good Luck to all!

Our surgeon doesnt require a sleep study, but wants a 14 day liquid diet. He said it wasnt a hazing ritual, but he wanted to be able to get around the liver. Normally he does 10 day, but my husband is bigger so he wants him to do a 14 day diet. He said he would most likely lose 20-25 lbs on this diet before surgery. That would be a great jump start.

We spent 12 hours yesterday in appointments, but now they are all done. The phyc evaluation said that my dear hubby is stable. (little does she know..) and we met with the dietian, and phys. therapist and support group. We go next week to meet the surgeon and get a surgery date. I thought it was really odd that no one did any blood work. We are tired today, but almost there. Yeah!!

Thanks for all the feedback. This is a great board and we will be here often:cool2:

We go next week for our pre-op stuff and then meet with the surgeon on the 16th to schedule the surgery. I would like to hear from the ones that have been banded for a longer period of time on how they are doing. Is the weight staying off and how do you feel. I guess I have gone from excited for my husband to nervous and hoping this all works since we are paying out of pocket. Thanks!

The outrageous fill prices and gouging of the insurance companies is part of the reason why most insurances wont pay. We are out of pocket, no exceptions and i'm thinking they mentioned in the seminar that the fills at our surgeon is only $75. However, I'm going to double check this in the morning. I cant believe they can charge 300-1500 and get away with it!!

if you are in doubt now or really not sure if you want the bypass, look around for different surgeons and see what they say. i don't know where you live, but we are in a rural area and can drive 2 hours to one doctor, 2 hours a different direction to another, or 3 hours to a 3rd. it's really not that much difference so look around until you are comfortable. good luck

We are trying samples before the consults and i tried a roadside lemonade last night. it tasted very good, but in the night and this morning i have had cramping and diareaha. I was wondering if this is a side effect of the protein drinks or if something else might be causing this. thanks

It must just have different effects on everybody. The clean me out, but my husband hasnt noticed a difference. We are trying Nectar samples from Vitalady.com and so far they have been very good, except the fuzzy navel.

my neighbor had the bypass done and lost close to 90 lbs and has gained back 100+. i think some people think it is a fix and they dont have to work at it. baby weight is awful though. on a side note, a lady in our town had the band done and still eats like before. she is maintaining her pre op loss but hasnt lost anymore. i dont understand.

Our doctors office is real big on the protein drinks, so how do you survive the pre op and afterwards if this is what happens? Just curious, cause I was up all night.

I was wondering if any of the cash pay patients have regretted paying the money. My husband and I are taking a loan of $12500 to cover the operation and I am in favor of him having the surgery, but our insurance flat out will not pay for it. I guess I am just a little nervous. Thanks. On a side note, we have the appt for all the pre-op stuff on April 10 and see the surgeon on April 16 and our very excited for this. I guess I needed a place to just put it all out there. Thanks. Leslie

Thanks for the encouragement. We one a trucking company, and the price of fuel is really hurting us so I guess that is where all of this stems from. I keep thinking that whatever happens with the economy cant take our health or us from each other, but obesity can. his goal is to loose 125 pounds after having this and he has lost up 85 before but couldnt keep it off. thanks again for the encouragement. he wants to be able to tie his shoes too! leslie

I am supporting my husband's choice to have the surgery for all the right reasons, but part of me wonders if having the surgery will reduce his snoring when he loses the weight. We havnt slept in the same bed since Sept '07 because he snores like a freight train!! thanks for your help.:smile2:

We attended the seminar this weekend and turned in the packet they needed filled out. At the end of the seminar, they mentioned that they would review the info, call our ins. company and be in touch with us. I wrote on the packet that we are cash pay, so i'm just wondering how long to expect the wait to be before we hear back from the surgeons office.

i get headaches when i havent eaten. i would try some juice of some kind to see if your blood sugar goes back up. good luck.

we attended our seminar today and came away with a ton of information. the dietian mentioned a couple of website where you can buy different sample packs of protein drink mixes but i didnt get them written down. would anyone know what she was talking about, or can you recommend some good ones to try? thanks!

thanks so much for the replies. i was feeling really good educated and confident from being on the website, but now feel over whelmed by all the info at the seminar. i am going to take it one step at a time, starting with the protein drinks. thanks again for all the help!

Are you by chance from Quincy, Il? What seminar are you going to? My husband is just getting started like you and was wondering if you are in our area. Good Luck to all of us

I have been seeing all kinds of questions concerning consults so now i am worried. My husband has a bmi of 48, and had a huge family history of diabetes, although for his weight, he is remarkably healthy. if you can be healthy with that high of a bmi. do you think we will have a problem being approved by the surgeon. we are most likely going to pay out of pocket if we have to wait for several months on our insurance. :mad:

I've already called our insurance company and they said over the phone that they dont offer coverage for this surgery. We have Anthem bc/bs of Missouri. I have seen where some Anthems ok'd it but only after several hoops and months of documentation. We may be stupid for not waiting and paying out of pocket, but my husband is in the notion of doing and hoping to be able to enjoy at least part of the summer. I have found that the more we use our insurance, the more our rates seem to increase anyway. Thanks for the input. I dont understand why they wont pay for preventive items instead of having to pay for so much other on down the road.

My husband is hoping to have the band done and we are going to the seminar next week. I was at Kohls this weekend and bought a hand blender on sale and today we got the 26 pages to fill out for the doctor to take to the seminar. Chances are we are going to have to pay out of pocket, but this is the last chance effort for my husband. He has tried everything out there and justs needs that extra help. I am praying that he is a good canidate and can have this done in the next few months. This board is a god send and full of so much information. Thanks to all. Leslie

the surgeons group puts on the seminar and we have to have all kinds of paperwork filled out and bring back with us. it deals with eating habits, health history, other diets he's tried, family history, etc. once we attend the seminar, they will review the paperwork and if he looks like a good canidate they will call and set up the appt. it is probably all the paperwork you would normally fill out at the 1st dr's visit. we started on it last night. one of the questions was "list 3 goals and explain how your life will change after surgery". he put down 2 serious answers and then said that he just wanted to be able to tie his shoes! :scared2:

I am on here as the spouse of someone ready to be banded. We attend our seminar on Feb 23rd in Columbia, MO and I have found this web site to be very helpful so far in educating myself and my husband on what to expect. I would love to hear from anyone that has used Dr. Pitt or offer any advice or tips. My main concern is that my husband is a truck driver and I am wondering about getting in and out of the truck. Good luck to all!! leslie

My husband is registered for the seminar in Columbia, Mo with Dr. Pitt. I was wondering if anyone has used this clinic and Dr. before that might offer some insite. We dont go to the seminar until Feb. 23, but I am anxious for information. Thanks