Teresa-jade

My name is Teresa. I have finally been approved for lapband surgery - after appealing a 12 month wait - so I have jumped that hurdle. I go for my final consultation with my surgeon the 25th and my surgery will be schueduled then - I'm very excited and very nervous. I currently weigh 243 lbs. and my goal weight is at least 140 lbs. I would happily drop more if I can. Be aware I will probably have lots of questions along the way. I'm grateful there is a place I can come too - with all that - :wink_smile:

This is where I'm at now. I submitted for a lapband through my insurance and was approved but I had to weight 12 months for physician documented weight loss. I gathered more information and appealed my insurance and won - now I can have the surgery w/o the 12 month wait - yeah for me. I go for my final consultation with my surgeon the 25th of Feb and a surgery date will be schueduled. So needless to say I'm very excited and very nervous. I have lots of questions. Please bear with me. I already know that I stay for 1 night at the hospital for an upper GI to make sure things flow well after surgery. But when can I go back to work? I notice that varies from person to person. I work in a factory so I figure if I don't lift anything over 5 lbs I should be okay with 4 days off - shouldn't I? Also how much pain will I be in after the surgery? Please be honest. I know no pain no gain and I'm fine with that but I want to be prepared mentally. I've been overweight for about 10 years - I eat not because I'm hungry but because I get bored or it's habit - probably some of both. How do you handle the mental part? I know everyone is different but what do you do? I'll accept any tips from anyone - I'll try them all and see what works for me. I guess I'm just nervous. I'm not afraid of the hard work - I just want the surgery over and to know that I'm awake and okay.

I have not been banded yet but what I say might be helpful. I have BCBS insurance and they require a 12 month supervised diet b4 lapband surgery. Like you I have been on diet after diet with no documentation so I was really upset at having to wait a year. So I appealed that decision with my insurance company and won. I sent my original request in Nov 21 -07, received a note from my insurance that I had to wait 12 months on Dec 27 - 07, I sent in my appeal on Jan 16th -08 and got word on valetines day (2 days ago) that I won the appeal. So I would tell anyone to appeal and get your doctors to write recommendations that the lapband would be good for you. That's what I did and it paid off. Good luck to you.

Thank you - please stay in touch on the board. It helps just to know someone is going through the same thing at the same time. My next post will be with my surgery date.