krazygrl77

Hi! I was just wondering if you or anyone you know has used Dr. Provost in Dallas, TX? I have an appt. with him on April 29th. Since he is 5 hours from me I would like to know I'm in good hands!

Congrats!!! Hope all goes well for you!

WoW! You need to not let others discourage you. I know it's hard. Some maybe jealous... some may have legit concerns. Either way you're not going this for them.. your doing it for you.

I am not banded yet, but I have always gotten positive feedback from everyone I have talked to. I think it's a blessing.

I wish you the best of luck!

I'm just moving out of the pureed stage into my soft / regular diet. So here are a few things that were easy and fast and tasty for me. Sorry if I'm repeating recipes that are here somewhere - I know a few of them were ideas I modified from other places on this forum!

Pretend Lasagna - put 1/4 cup of ricotta in a bowl, pour a little spaghetti sauce on it and sprinkle some parm. or moz. cheese on top. Microwave it for a minute, and YUM. My calculation brought it to a little over 200 calories and 16 grams of Protein.

Rotisserie chicken - throw 2 ounces of instant mashed potatoes in a food processor with a few strips of rotisserie chicken. Pour in a splash of chicken broth and puree. I didn't calculate the calories on this one. It looks gross, but tastes really good.

tuna Casserole - drop a 3oz can of tuna (in water) in a bowl, add a smidge of lite mayo, a spoonful of sweet pickle relish and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese. Microwave it for about 30 seconds. This one was about 180 calories and 12 grams of Protein.

Salmon "Mousse" - my favorite one - buy frozen salmon pinwheels (you can get these at SuperTarget in the frozen fish area and they are surprisingly inexpensive). I like the ones with a salmon fillet wrapped around crab florentine. Bake it for 30 minutes and then drop it in the food processor with a pat of butter and squeeze of lemon, then puree. You get a creamy, buttery tasting mousse (I've had it for supper 3 nights in a row). It's heavy on calories - 330 if you eat the whole thing (which I did once and would not recommend) but has a whopping 26 grams of protein.

And - for the old standbys that get boring.... add some Natural applesauce to cottage cheese to bump the flavor. Put a little canned spinach and feta cheese in with scrambled eggs for extra taste. Put a vanilla Protein shake and half a banana in the blender.

Good luck to those entering the "mushies"!

Those all sound wonderful!!!

What an awesome idea!!!

You look amazing! I hope and pray I do half as good as you if I ever get my band!

Congrats and good luck!!!

When i read this it was like you took the words right outta my mouth. (yeah i'm from the south! hahaha!)

I think that is one of the reasons i keep going back and forth on whether i really want the band or do i need the band. Sometimes i feel like i'm going to cheat myself by getting it, but on the other hand i'm afraid i will love it so much and it will work so good that what if it breaks or fails and i have to get it done again and i can't. Such a battle of thoughts going on in my head lately.

Best of luck to you!!!

I think it all depends on what plan you have. I have UHC Choice Plus and it only covers 90% of the costs. You also have to use a facility that they chose. I found that out the hard way.

The other requirments were

• you have to be 18 or older
  
• have a BMI of 40 or higher or you can also have a BMI of 35 - 40 but you have to have 2 other comorbid contidions
  
• have you use a docotor that's in the bariatric center of excellence

Good Luck and keep us posted!

A lot of times its not the insurance it's the doctor that wants you to do the diet. I would call your insurance and make sure it isn't in your plan and that maybe the only way around it.

Because my BMI is over 40... i don't have to do one for insurance purposes. It's worth a check. Good Luck!

Congrats!!! I'm currently awaiting insurance approval so keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

I have UHC also. Here is my story so far...

I called and got the requirements for the surgery..

• have to be over 18
  
• BMI of 40 or more (or 35 with 2 co morbids)
  
• use a doc that is in the Bariatric Center of Excellence

So i did all of these and found a wonderful doc. Had my appt 2-8, they sent in my paperwork 2-11 and I got a call from UHC on 2-13. I was thinking WOW this is too good to be true. Well it was... the doc i wanted to use was in the plan but his facility was not. Said the only hostpital i could use in Louisiana was Ocshners in New Orleans. That's 6 hours from me!!! They didn't tell me that when i called them TWICE to get the requirements.

The funny/odd thing is the doc that I want to use has done MANY people from the place where i work with the same insurance and never had a problem. So the girl that does the insurance wanted the lady's name i talked to at UHC. So she calls her and she wouldn't HEAR of looking into another hopspital. She said I HAVE to use such and such... so she told her to drop my case. She resubmitted it using the hostpital they always use(because i did want to use the oupatient one) and now i'm still waiting. That was on 2-14. I want to call but don't want to pressure them again!!! lol

Good luck to all of you all that had no problems!!!

Take care!

I didn't go through my PCP. I called my insurace which is UHC and asked what my requirements were. I found a surgeon and made an appt. with him. With my BMI being 43 I don't have to do any diet or anything. People below 40 usually have to, but 40 and higher it is not required. I would call the insurance co and see if you have to. People with BMI's of 40 or more are usually cut a little slack.

I have my first consult next week... and I'm terrified. Is anyone sorry they got banded? I've read about the vomiting, shoulder pain, and liquid diet... and, frankly, I'm scared... I'm so tired of being fat... I really don't see any other way. I also worry about the surgery.. and the fills. All feedback would be so greatly appreciated.

Hi Michelle!

I don't think I will regret getting my band... but you really do need to weigh the pros and cons before you do it. Yes I will be giving up alot of the things I love to eat but I NEED this tool to help me get a grip on the way I eat and live. The liquid diet and shoulder pain are temporary and I think they will be so worth it in the end. This site has soooo much information and support. I do worry about the vomiting because it can cause the band to slip. That is definately the first thing on my list for the next appointment. I think I read somewhere that the doc gives you a medication to take if you ever do get sick to stop the vomiting.

Good Luck to you!

Hi Neighbor!

I'm not yet approved for lap band surgery but just wanted to say hi! Finding this site has been one of the best things EVER! All of the info and support you get is just amazing.

Who is going to do your band? I may have to come down to New Orleans to have mine, but i'm hoping i can get it done in Shreveport.

Good luck on your pre-op diet.

Hi Neighbor!

I'm not yet approved for lap band surgery but just wanted to say hi! Finding this site has been one of the best things EVER! All of the info and support you get is just amazing.

Who is going to do your band? I may have to come down to New Orleans to have mine, but i'm hoping i can get it done in Shreveport.

Good luck on your pre-op diet.

Just make sure the facility is an approved one. That is what I am going through right now with UHC. I found a doc that was in the Bariatric Center of Excellence, but the facility isn't. Instead I'm going to have to drive to New Orleans! I'm still grateful they cover it, just wish it was a little closer to me.

Thank you all for your awsome support.

I love this forum.

Oh yes I am very obessed with getting the lap band. I tend to be a bit pessimistic, but I feel it keep me in check. I know I can have the surgery through insurance, I just may have to travel a lot further than I expected. I am praying with my paperwork being resubmitted to insurance that it lands in better hands this time.

Good luck to you!!!

I'm from louisiana.. but i have United Health Care. I'm going to have to go to New Orleans for my surgery.

West Monroe here. I thought I was going through Dr. Merriman, but I have to go to New Orleans for my insurance to cover it.

Thank you for all of your awesome ideas!!!

I knew better than to get my hopes up

Well the insurance company called me today and the doctor that I have been seeing is not going to be able to do my surgery. Instead I have to go to New Orleans which is about 6 hours from here to have my surgery. The doctor is in my plan, but the hospital is not. I have to go to a baratric center of excellence facility. They didn't tell me that to begin with. I'm just so upset about the whole deal because I liked my doctor and felt confident about him. I worry about all of the pre-op testing now. I haven't done any of that yet and now i have to worry about how many times am I going to have to drive 6 hours one way.

I just am all confused all over again...:tt2::tt2::frown:

Cothing questions:

• What did you wear the day of your surgery?
  
• What did you wear coming home?
  
• Did you have to dress differently for work for the next week? If so what kinds of things did you wear?

What are some of the things you wish you would have had at the hostipal? I am going to have to stay a night so I'm hopeing they will give me a list of things i might need.

Good luck everyone!!!

No problem Jess. Have you read the book Skinny Bitch? If not I highly recommend it. There is a lot of great nifo in there about going vegan and it is a really funny read.

I have not go to read it yet, but a good friend of mine did. She said it was a hoot!!!:smile: