Cheryl Ann

Viviananna, I'm curious -- how many CCs were you filled that first time? I will have my first fill in about a month, so am wondering how much yours got filled.

Congratulations! Finding out that your insurance is approving the surgery is a lot like hitting the lottery, I think! I couldn't believe it when it happened (I found out last Friday, and had the surgery on Monday). I'm SO happy for you!!!

Well, there is some pain -- abdominal and a bit of shoulder again (gas) -- but walking relieves it a bit. I find that if I sit too long, my stomach hurts when I try to stand and straighten up. I slept well last night, and was even on my sides a couple of times. As far as feeling hungry -- yes! But it's more of an empty feeling (like an achy, gassy space that wants for food, if that makes any sense). At the same time, the idea of food nauseates me. I'm sure that too, shall pass, lol! Two weeks! Good for you. I will surely be thinking of you. Who is your surgeon, by the way?

Moved to general discussion thread (realized this isn't quite the right one).

Congratulations! I'm home my first full day after surgery, and sipping away, lol! Reading about that tuna sandwich...mmm, I can't wait! Again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I'm on day 11 of my 14 day pre-op diet (Protein shakes, chicken broth, up to 2 cups of veggies), and have lost 11 pounds. I'm sure it's probably mostly Water.

Yes -- thank you SO much for sharing this! (I am having my surgery on Monday, btw).

Which band (brand) is this?

Yes -- this coming Monday, April 7. Incredible!

:cursing: CONGRATULATIONS! I, too was approved just today -- just before 12 noon. My surgery is on MONDAY! I will be thinking of you. Please keep us all updated. How exciting!

There aren't any in my area, either, but since I saw them at TJ Maxx, chances are they also turn up at Marshall's *don;t know if you have one near you, though). Then again, with stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall's, it's really whatever they get in, whenever they get it in.

Go to "+title+" -- they have a store locator.

I'm still in shock. Right after I hung up with the surgeon's insurance coordinator, I got a call from UHC telling me I was approved. My husband is taking off from work on Monday and Tuesday to be with the kids before and after school. He may be able to sneak in a visit to me while they're in school, but we'll see. His cousin lives nearby and is on alert, and my friend across the street is also there if we need her. Bless her heart -- she has a pre-schooler and a teenager, a husband who travels a lot, and has the flu right now, but is eager to help. My brother lives in Manhattan, within walking distance of NYUMC, but he's a bit funny about hospitals. In any case, I've already warned him not to come if he's going to make me laugh -- which he never fails to do. My 86-year-old mother, who can't resist a good drama, is milking this for all its worth. ("I only hope everything goes all right...I can't believe you got this heavy...you were such a skinny little thing...) Hah!

Thanks so much...now I hear the song playing in my head, and I'm pretty certain it's going to remain there for a while! I've seen them at TJMaxx.

I forgot to add the most important thing to my post: I am absolutely ready for a black president, and nearly everyone I know (with the exception of older, set-in-their-ways, die-hard "traditional" folks) seems to feel the same way. That said, I'm not sure it should be Barack Obama.

I feel especially blessed because not only am I having the surgery, but Dr. Ren of NYU is my surgeon. I have heard so many wonderful things about her.

Thank you so much! OMG!!!

If I don't find out today, I won't be showing up on Monday.

My father's entire family -- mother, father, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and some cousins -- died in concentration camps during WWII. On both sides of my family, I cannot trace back more than four generations, because birth records tended to be destroyed when the synagogues they were kept in were routinely torched and burned to the ground. Sometimes even those who prayed in them were locked inside to burn along with everything else. And you know what? I am alive and living in what is now surely the greatest and most free country in the entire world, ever. Sure there are still individuals and groups that would love nothing more than for me and my kind to disappear off the face of the earth, but despite this, I am still living in liberty and safety. Education is the key to everything. It really is.

I've been lurking here on and off since November, and have finally worked up the nerve to post. To start, I want to tell all of you how helpful this board has been to me -- without me ever having posted anything. I am inspired by your stories and successes, and reassured by your first hand experiences and knowledge. Still -- in spite of it all -- I'm nervous as hell. Not so much about having the surgery, mind you, but the insurance waiting game is killing me. I will probably not find out if I've been approved until days before my scheduled surgery -- which is April 7. A bit about me: I'm 47, married with two children (9 and 11). I live on Long Island, pretty close to the city. My surgeon is Dr. Christine Ren, at NYU (who I think is wonderful). Yesterday, I had my pre-surgical testing, and tomorrow, get my medical clearance forms filled out by my doctor (who should be receiving all the necessary paperwork from NYU sometime today. I'm 5'8" tall, with a BMI of 38.4, have hypertension, high cholesterol and triglycerides, orthopedic issues (plantar fasciitis and arthritis in both knees), but only have mild apnea. Evidently, I'm neither fat enough, nor co-morbid enough, to unquestioningly (if that's a word) qualify under my insurance company's guidelines, which requires a BMI of 40, or a BMI over 35 with two co-morbid conditions (my hypertension is enough, but my other issues may or may not qualify as additional co-morbid conditions). There is no six months of weight loss documentation required. Meanwhile, I started my liquid diet yesterday -- and needless to say, I'm pretty darn hungry. Although cutting my calories is hardly a bad thing in light of my condition, surgery pending or not, I'm very nervous and afraid that I won't be approved by my insurance company. If I'm not, I will have to cancel the surgery, and begin the process of appealing the decision. Has anyone here ever qualified with similar circumstances. I'm in need of a whole lot of hand-holding right now!

You have to stop birth control pills before surgery? When? That wasn't mentioned to me.

What took longer for me (after having seen the nutritionist) was being able to provide additional documentation of possible other co-morbid conditions. I needed a sleep study, as well as a stress test. However, you may not need any of that, so the process might well move faster for you. That said, my surgery is Monday -- and as of today (Wednesday), I still don't have word of insurance approval or not. Hopefully, tomorrow (or Friday, at the latest).

Maybe just a little lightheaded -- which I can understand. The first few days were a killer. I myself am on day 9 of the pre-op liquid diet, and I'm doing okay, Every day is different, though. Today, I feel "emptier" than I did yesterday. But it's not as bad as I imagined, which is good. Hang in there!