frogladyaz

:confused:I applaud those of you who have waited many months for insurance; I am now joining your ranks! I decided that I was too scared to wait 8 months (I, too, have BCBS...what if I was up another 50 pounds!) so I managed to wrangle $17,000 and was scheduled for surgery today. My LapBand center (TruReslts in Scottsdale) told me that I could easily schedule for 2 weeks out and get the necessary clearances. The last two weeks have been a crazy juggling of appointments around my already crazy work schedule, and yesterday at 3:00 I was still trying to get the cardiologist to fax the results from my NUCLEAR Stress testing. When I finally accomplished that and thought I was cleared, the TruResults people told me that my sleep study results came in that day as well, and I have something called "moderate obstructive sleep apnea with a severe component during REM sleep" and that the CPAP didn't work for me. NOT CLEARED FOR SURGERY. So, the surgery today is cancelled and I decided to hell with this....since I have to deal with some more of these health issues first, I sent back the $15,000 I borrowed and I will just be patient and go through the insurance hoops. Here's a question, though...if I lose just 60 more pounds (done it before, and now I have the health issues to prompt me) my BMI will be 35...another few pounds and it will obviously be less. Then I would not qualify for the banding, but my history is to know how to take it off, but not keep it off. This can really "mess with your head". Oh, yeah...I've been on this 3-Protein shake a day pre-op diet, and now have to return to eating. __________________

I applaud those of you who have waited many months for insurance; I am now joining your ranks! I decided that I was too scared to wait 8 months (I, too, have BCBS...what if I was up another 50 pounds!) so I managed to wrangle $17,000 and was scheduled for surgery today. My LapBand center (TruReslts in Scottsdale) told me that I could easily schedule for 2 weeks out and get the necessary clearances. The last two weeks have been a crazy juggling of appointments around my already crazy work schedule, and yesterday at 3:00 I was still trying to get the cardiologist to fax the results from my NUCLEAR Stress testing. When I finally accomplished that and thought I was cleared, the TruResults people told me that my sleep study results came in that day as well, and I have something called "moderate obstructive sleep apnea with a severe component during REM sleep" and that the CPAP didn't work for me. NOT CLEARED FOR SURGERY. So, the surgery today is cancelled and I decided to hell with this....since I have to deal with some more of these health issues first, I sent back the $15,000 I borrowed and I will just be patient and go through the insurance hoops. Here's a question, though...if I lose just 60 more pounds (done it before, and now I have the health issues to prompt me) my BMI will be 35...another few pounds and it will obviously be less. Then I would not qualify for the banding, but my history is to know how to take it off, but not keep it off. This can really "mess with your head". Oh, yeah...I've been on this 3-protein shake a day pre-op diet, and now have to return to eating.

I am worried about the plateaus already! When I went on this liquid diet (11 days now) I lost 14 pounds in the first 5 days...since then, 1 more pound. I haven't had one bite of food. Just 3 protien shakes a day and lots of Water. My body seems to have shut down (protecting the fat stores from starvation). What if it does that forever, since the band food plan is eating practically nothing? Any ideas? Have anyone heard this from anyone who has been banded for a while? I am getting banded on Thursday and suddenly a little panicked!

Lots of teachers here...me, too! Central Phoenix, AZ. My doctor likes to schedule for a Thursday, told me I could be back to work Monday. I scheduled it for 3/27 becasue we have 3/31 off for a holiday (Cesar Chavez Day??) so that gives me five days. I have not missed one day this year, so I decided I could take the two days off. Hope it really is enough. I just coudn't wait 6-8 months for insurance approval...sounds crazy, I know, but I've gained 50 pounds since July. I've always been heavy, but in 2004/05 I lost over 100 pounds (WW) and over the past 18 months gained it all back +++. Can't wait anymore. Good luck all!!!

I have not cheated (although I have 5 days to go...am on day 8) EXCEPT that I have had a glass of wine a couple of nights and one night I had a couple of drinks (vodka w/diet cranberry). Supposed to be 3-5 protien shakes per day. My banding is scheduled for 3/27 as long as my stress testing comes out okay. sleep study tonight!

My doctor is at TruResults in Scottsdale, AZ. I am so out of touch with this forum stuff...no facebook, no chatrooms, etc. As computer savvy as I thought I was, I can hardly navigate this place! I am scheduled for my banding on Thursday, 3/27. I have already been through terror, mourning the loss of food, high excitement, and recently, worry as the routine cardiological consult resulted (for the first time ever) in a high blood pressure reading. Now I have to get a stress test and some other tests on Monday before clearance. I am trying to remain positive about the huge cost as well. Even though my insurance might cover it, I thought that in 8 months I could well be at 400 pounds or something, and I can't take these yo-yo cycles anymore! I would like to lose the weight and actually not gain it back plus more. Here's hoping!

I am drinking 3 (supposed to be 3-5) high-protien, low-carb (trying AdvandEdge) shakes per day with 2 liters of Water minimum. This is what my doctor wants. It was terrible the first two days, then great, then terrible again on day 7. I am now on day 8 and feeling ok. I am set to be banded on 3/27, but I turned up with high blood pressure at my Cardiologist screening, so I have to have a stress test on Monday. I have only cheated in the fact that several days I have had a glass of wine or a mixed drink (vodka and Splenda Cranberry Diet).