wvgal33
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Everything posted by wvgal33
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I cannot wait until we are all banded and compare notes either!!! We ought to set up a yahoo group or something so that we can email as a group! I don't know how to set one up...but I belong to a few LOL!
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OMG...I meant my insurance pays 90%...I am left with owing 10%...Sorry about that!! I am having my surgery in Huntington by Dr. Nease. So are you all bringing like a sports bra or regular bra to the hospital?
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Hi Maggies! I live near Huntington WV. The leaves are beautiful here this week! Ok...I went to my preop appt to see my doctor today...I was scheduled for noon....and I got to see the doc at 2:33...OMG.................that sent my blood pressure to the roof!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All that wait to see the doc for 15 mins top. He didn't rush that bad...but I felt like I needed to hurry and get back to work after all that time had passed...so maybe I rushed. I asked him about red Jello, and red stuff in general...and he said that if I were having like a colonoscopy I wouldn't be allowed red stuff...but red is ok (at least for me) before surgery. He kept asking me ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS.....is this normal? Also....I thought I was coming home the same day...but it looks like for some strange reason...I am spending the night. I don't know what to make of this because all along the plan was for me to go home. I don't know how I feel about this yet. I still can't get a straight answer about paying the balance for the procedure. I have asked everyone in the office and they don't really know how that is done. I will owe 90%...I have no idea how much that will be...I dont even know how much the whole procedure costs! I hope they don't ask for it on the day of surgery....I won't have it. I have asked for months how much I will need and if I will need it the day of surgery...and no one knows....now, w/o saving...I will have to make payments - and now that I think about it....wouldn't it be a different price if I stayed 5 hours or 23 hours??????....so how would they charge me? I know hospitals are different...but have any of you that had insurance coverage paid for your surgery yet? Another question that popped into my head today is....I wear an underwire bra....am I going to be able to wear it on my way home from the hospital? I think there is an incision under the breast right? So many questions are popping through my mind...I have a headache!
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Here we are....less than a week away!!! I have my final doctor appointment w/ the surgeon tomorrow! How is everyone doing? I am a little scared and am not sleeping well. I will be starting my clear liquid diet Monday and was wondering about something....I really don't like chicken broth....I was wondering what you people think about having STRAINED hot and sour soup broth? Do you think that is ok for a clear-liquid diet? I also don't know what really to take to the hospital with me...my insurance doesn't cover an overnight stay...so I will be going home unless problems occur. I know they make you walk around the halls ....so should I bring pj's? My mind goes a thousand miles a minute these days....thinking about all that is about to happen.
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You are not alone...I only have a 2-day clear liquid diet and they called it a "bowel prep diet" - I have read so many stories on here with on inparticular where the patient's liver didn't shrink as much and they didn't put the band in....she had to have the surgery again after losing more weight. I am scared this will happen to me...because I have actually gained like 11 pounds in the year that I have been working towards this. I have my surgery on Oct 29 and I have been "kinda" counting points like in weight watchers to lose a few pounds before surgery. I don't know how people do the liquids that long....if I had that will power I may not need the surgery LOL...but once I would quit the liquids I would gain it back for sure w/o the band. Anyway...im in ur boat!
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I am starting to feel a twinge of saddness too Gracie. I keep thinking of all the foods I will be missing...and pop....I could care less about caffeine...but I Love Diet Pepsi...and have already went three days w/o it....but I am mourning and craving it. I am going to miss baking this Christmas season and making candy (of course I can still bake it...but if I can't eat it...I aint going through the trouble!) Mostly I am starting to panic...I am worried for some reason about me developing a blood clot...i dunno why. I can't die.........LOL......my family would have NO ONE...I am starting to think I am selfish for doing this and taking the chance of something happening to me.... Is this normal to feel this way? I been pushing the thoughts back and keeping busy...but it keeps creeping up. Sigh. I am not going to back out now....but we all better be saying prayers that morning for each other!!!! LOL
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Oh that story sounds too familar....I have a 2yo nephew w/ autism and even on a good day it is hard...and then it is sooo hurtful when people treat you like you have never tried to discipline your child. We were in a waiting room with my nephew (he was going for an EEG for seziures) and we were trying to entertain him...and I heard a lady saying "that boy needs a good ass whoopin" I lost it....told her off big time whilst spitting all over her face in doing so! With autism on the rise...people really need to educate themselves...or just forgo the ignorant comments! So sorry about your day...I would look elsewhere. BIG HUGS
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Hi Tammy! Welcome aboard! I will be laying in my recliner on the 30th wishing you a sucessful surgery and a speedy recovery! I see you live in KY...beautiful state! Way to go on that preop diet - I wish I could say I have lost some pounds...but my doctor only requires a 2 day clear-liquid diet before surgery...and so I am probably gaining as we speak
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I just got a call from my surgeon's office and I am scheduled for a gallbladder ultrasound Monday. Did ya'll have to do this?
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Hello Gracie! I cannot answer your question but can suggest that you call up your dietician or your surgeon's office and ask them. I just wanted to drop by and say I am getting banded Oct 29 as well! I only have to do a 2-day clear liquid diet before the surgery for some reason. Good Luck!
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New here... insurance question
wvgal33 replied to MzSnapCup's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My husband works for Toyota w/ BC/BS PPO and they are paying for it. I have already been approved! I called them about six months ago and they told me they cover it if I meet the requirements. You should call and see! -
Has anyone figured up what stage we will be eating at on Thanksgiving? Will it still be mushies? I have no clue....if so... what are your ideas of how to deal with this and what to eat!
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YAY BRIDGETTE!!! I can't wait to find out our times and talk to you guys on the other side of surgery! This is great! Good luck to you and keep us posted!
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Good luck today Cindy! I am a redhead too! Welcome Sunwyse and good luck to you! Did you get your vitamins from bariatric advantage? I am trying to figure out soo many things before Oct. 29 gets here...I quit drinking soda today!! So far, so good...maybe I wasn't as addicted as I thought!
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Welcome Watermum! Are you nervous, scared, excited? Probably all of the above! I am starting to freak a little. Maybe CMTurner and I will be able to post after we get home from surgery and let you know how things went! I hope I will feel like it..otherwise I will be hurting....and not excited about that. Cindy: Are they going to excise the skin cancer while asleep during your surgery? This is weird...but I am having a lesion removed and checked for cancer as well..........sooo odd two things on the same day, two different people! I hope all goes okay with the results! Have you had skin cancer before? As far as my appointment goes....All went good....I am a little nervous about being confused...LOL I don't know when to start taking Vitamins....I asked and she said it is in a book I got.......ummmm the book is for gastric bypass patients...I don't know whether it is the same for Lap band or not...and of course...after that I felt discouraged to ask anymore questions. The "educator" also spoke about a guy dying from a blood clot the other day while walking 2 hours after his surgery....and I am spoked by this! He was 33 years old! I am soooooooo confused about liver shrinking diet.......I only have a 2-day bowel prep diet!!! They said........if my liver is large..they will put in a bigger band. I asked if the surgeon usually uses Realize and she said no way of telling till he gets in and starts digging around! LOL... I don't know how much I will be left owing after the surgery....which I kinda need to know if I will need the money the day of surgery or not! I have a lot more questions running through my mind...but I better get back to work for now. Keep in touch everyone!
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Hello all, I have read some posts on here regarding the lovenox shot in the belly right before surgery a long time ago when I started this journey and I can remember someone saying they felt like jumping off the table it hurt so bad. Can you share your experience with it? Any tips as far as to tense up or relax when getting it? I asked if they could give me something for nerves before the shot and they said nope...grrr....why in the heck not? LOL....crybaby here.
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Good luck tomatogirl (cute name!) Let us know!
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This happend way to fast....I found out that I was approved on Oct. 1 and called the surgeon's office and they told me that they would call me back in a week to ten days for a surgery date and that there was a "waiting list" and that it would be at least the first week of December! They call today and said to come in tomorrow for educational class and that surgery is Oct 29!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY COW>>>>>>>>>>>> that is only two weeks away so I have a few questions if you all could take the time to answer them. First of all...GUYS STOP READING HERE.......I may be having my menstrual on the day of surgery.....anyone else have it anyway? The reason why I ask "blush" is because I know that Vet's don't like to operate on dogs in heat because their organs are swollen during that time...at least that is what my vet told me...are we the same way...OMG...I FEEL SOOOOOO CRAZY ASKING THIS......AND COMPARING US TO DOGS IN HEAT......FORGIVE ME. Ok guys you can start reading here again....Secondly I have failed at quiting smoking entirely.....If I smoke my last cig tonight...and start with nicotine Patches and tell my doctor...do you think I will be ok? Thirdly, I know I will learn what to eat after surgery during the class tomorrow, but is there any tricks to NOT STARVING during the clear liquid diet? Anything that you have sipped on that helped? I have a two-day preop diet of Clear liquids...I know this is easy compared to some people and I feel lucky....HOWEVER, I have gained a few pounds since seeing the surgeon nearly six months ago...and I wonder if this will be enough liver shrinking? I wouldn't think so...I am thinking of trying to diet here and there and lose a few pounds before surgery - but at the same time I am typing this...I am thinking of running to Chinese buffet for a last meal...LORD HELP ME! This is all happening too fast...maybe the Good Lord knows I would probably chicken out (mmm sweet and sour chicken LOL) if I had to wait to long. For those of you on liquids and hungry please forgive me for mentioning food! I have a lot to do to get ready in such a little amount of time...I wanted to purchase shake stuff, blender, nice recliner (which won't be happening now cuz of funds), Gas-X, Vitamins that they recomended...etc. I know there have been posts about what you need right after surgery...but if anyone could just throw in a "must have" real quick I would appreciate it. Please don't get me wrong...I feel really blessed that the ball is rolling and I have a date....I just wanted to be better prepared. Two weeks sounds like a lot of time...but I have a PACKED schedule this week already! Thanks for listening...You guys are lifesavers...oh...there was another food gesture.:wub:
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Becca you are such a wonderful person to offer to sit with me! Unfortunately I live in West Virginia so it would be quite a trip for you LOL! If you could, just think about CMTurner and myself on Oct 29 and whisper a little prayer that we will both do well. How are you doing with everything Becca? I hope all is well and you are healing nicely. CMTurner - I knew there had to be someone on here having the surgery the same day as me! I go to educational class today and I will msg you when I get back. Thanks so much for the information you posted on the other msg about the liver shrinking diet. I am going to go by that even though my doc only requires 2-day preop diet of Clear liquids. I am so happy to have found you so that we can compare notes before and after surgery. How wonderful this board is so that we can meet people! I gotta run to that appointment so I will be back later!
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Freaking out - help please
wvgal33 replied to wvgal33's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Thanks soooo much for taking the time to reply. I am heading out to the educational class here in about 5 mins. They have me fasting so that I can go over to the hospital and have some more tests done....I will be starved by then. I am going to go get some nicotine Patches and try to quit smoking tomorrow. My doc only requires 2 day preop diet consisting of clear liquids...wonder why? I am worried that this will not be enough to shrink the liver....I am going to buy some slimfast and try what CMTurner posted...and I also agree with having some Protein shots during liquid diet as Mindwing posted (Good luck Mindwing!) I will post more when I return. I am starving. -
:smile2: I am happy to announce that I was approved today! Unfortunately I did not find out until after the surgeon's office was closed...sooo I will have to call them tomorrow and hopefully get a date. Ok...going through the six months of visiting my doctor and going to the psyche eval and all the other appointments that go with this....all along I was thinking...I would not get approved...or SOMETHING would happen and the surgery would never happen...now it is real and I am a little scared now for some reason.... I think it has to do with my husband...he told me that he would support me in my decision but he was afriad something might happen to me (I know this is probably normal but it got me thinking ....eek!) Anyone else scared out there now that it has became reality? Anyone chicken out? LOL! Somebody hold my hand and kick my big butt all the way to the hospital to have this surgery! I love this board...and the people that give their time to post - we are family!
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My surgeon says that nowadays, he is letting patients go after the procedure, but still turns it in to insurance as an overnight stay in case I would need to. This would definitely cost me more right? How many of you went home and wish you would have stayed in the hospital for one night? How many stayed but would have been fine at home. I have low pain tolerance and would like the available medications to help with this in the hospital...I am just wondering how much it would cost to stay overnight versus going home.
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Hi Nat! Good luck to you! My paperwork was submitted 09/15 and I am still waiting .....but I called the insurance company today and they said generally they take the whole 30 days to review it :girl_hug: I had never heard that an appeal takes that long....yikes! I wish I would have done better on my 6-month supervised diet, all in all I lost 2 pounds total...but fluctuated from gaining and losing all six months - I didn't do the best I could have unfortunately. Hopefully we will here something soon! I am really looking into all the great recipes for protein shakes while I am waiting! This site is wonderful!!!!
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Hello, I am starting to get ancy about whether I am going to be covered or not. My "things" were turned in to my insurance company on 9/15...and now I wait for their answer. Does anyone have BC/BS PPO? I don't know ANYTHING about insurances...what does the PPO stand for? My husband works for Toyota if that helps. If anyone has the same insurance, can you tell me what experience you have had with them? and how long do they make you wait? What is the longest anyone has ever waited for approval....i want this YESTERDAY! When I first started this journey...friggin 8 almost 9 months ago...I called my insurance company and they said that my policy did not require a 6-month supervised diet. HOWEVER, the surgeon said that he has never ran across an insurance company that gave approval w/o the 6-month diet. Soo.....I pouted...but went to the doc for 6 months and FINALLY...here I am.:confused:
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OMG - I can see why you would have wanted to stay overnight!!!!! If he is anything like my husband...I feel for ya! If I say my elbow hurts...he ALWAYS one-ups me by saying "ya know...my elbow and fourth toe have been kinda hurting me these past few days" and I am like "can I just have a pain that is ALL MINE......!!!!!!!!! LOL