kaytiebugs

Generally speaking, doctors make you wear no makeup and no jewelry... so I would assume this would have to be removed as well :-) You should be able to put it back in soon after surgery though, so no worries about it healing unless you've just had it done recently.

I absolutely love this. Thank you for posting this! I'm so glad I found it. What an amazing analogy.

I chose Dr. Robert Richard MD at Obesity Solutions in Gainesville Ga. I am very excited. I went to a seminar on 7/12/08. At the seminar I received my application packet. I decided that Dr. Richard was 'the one' on 7/15 and started filling out my application. I was waiting on a form from my PCP until around 7/29/08 when I mailed my packet. An obesity solutions nurse called me on 8/1 to go over my app and make sure I didn't miss anything and to ask me when I quit smoking... (PS - I QUIT SMOKING!!!). I wish I was paying more attention to what she was telling me, but I was so freakin excited that she called that my brain was just stalling out or someething!! She said they would be calling to verify my insurance, something about education (I jotted down 'ed' as a note regarding the call lol), and then I'd have my consult. She said either they'd call me in two weeks or my consult would be in two weeks and she'd call back later. I'm pretty sure I'll be waiting two weeks to hear back from her though. Danget. And so the waiting begins. These will be like the longest two weeks of the whole process I think. Luckily I've already gotten my sleep study out of the way. I just can't wait to get this big fat ball rolling!!

I chose Dr. Robert Richard MD at Obesity Solutions in Gainesville Ga. I am very excited. I went to a seminar on 7/12/08. At the seminar I received my application packet. I decided that Dr. Richard was 'the one' on 7/15 and started filling out my application. I was waiting on a form from my PCP until around 7/29/08 when I mailed my packet. An obesity solutions nurse called me on 8/1 to go over my app and make sure I didn't miss anything and to ask me when I quit smoking... (PS - I QUIT SMOKING!!!). I wish I was paying more attention to what she was telling me, but I was so freakin excited that she called that my brain was just stalling out or someething!! She said they would be calling to verify my insurance, something about education (I jotted down 'ed' as a note regarding the call lol), and then I'd have my consult. She said either they'd call me in two weeks or my consult would be in two weeks and she'd call back later. I'm pretty sure I'll be waiting two weeks to hear back from her though. Danget. And so the waiting begins. These will be like the longest two weeks of the whole process I think. Luckily I've already gotten my sleep study out of the way. I just can't wait to get this big fat ball rolling!!

I love love love drinks like Bolthouse Farms, Odwala, Naked, etc.... they are so YUM yet sooo healthy (well, for the most part... some are a little high in calories but at least they're not empty calories)! My hubby brought home some MonaVie last night. Have any of you ever used this? It tasted pretty good and honestly I felt a little boost afterward... like I felt a little more vibrant instantly... What are your favorite drinks/super juices for the liquid diet?

My boss has been nagging me to quit smoking (he's a former smoker) and he said they would not do the lap band (or any voluntary surgery) on a smoker. He said they'd make me quit and wait two months. I think he's yanking my chain. Is there any truth to this?

Just a little update... The doctor I selected will not operate on someone who smokes and requires you to be smoke free for three months prior to surgery. I started quitting last Monday and I haven't had a cigarette since this Monday!

1) I quit smoking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't had a smoke since Monday at 7:00 pm.... it was the only cigarette I smoked all day Monday and I was just about to murder someone so I had to have just one last one! As a result 2) I have selected my doctor! Dr. Proctor, Obesity Solutions in Gainesvile Ga. 3) I called my insurance company to get the super specific details (make sure everyone was in network, all procedures are covered by my policy so long as they are pre authorized and performed by an in network doctor). Everything was perfect. All of the doctors are in network. They gave me very specific directions for payment, submitting bills that I might receive, tracking what I've paid vs. what I've submitted, etc. My insurance (BCBS) was super helpful. They answered so many of those tricky questions and spent literall over half an hour on the phone with me explaining things! 4) I am going to have to pay $1,000 LESS than I originally anticipated!! I thought my out of pocket MAX (insurance) was $3,000, but it's actually $2,000!! YaY! 5) I don't think I'll have to do any medically supervised diet and per my insurance company, pre auth should only take 2-3 business days!!! I will have to do a psych eval but the doc I've chosen requires that anyways. I've filled out all of my paperwork, made copies of everything, now I just need my PCP to sign off on a form and everything will be ready to send off to the surgeon. ~~~~~~~~~~YYYYYYAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY~~~~~~~~

People don't understand. Getting banded isn't the easy way out. It isn't about quick weight loss.

I just want to share my experience with everyone. I did my sleep study at a sleep center in Johns Creek, Ga. I arrived at 8:00 pm. My room was awesome. The blankets and sheets were a lot higher thread count than at home, there was a flat screen TV, nice decor, I had my own bathroom, etc. Very nice. I was really expecting to get some awesome sleep on the super soft awesome pillows they had. They explained everything they would do then gave me 30 minutes to get settled in for bed. She came in and stuck the little sensors all in my hair, on my face, and my neck (I swear there were like 30 thingeys taped all over me). The ones in the hair sucked the most because I was left with globs of goo in my hair and didn't pack shampoo so I had to go to work with the globs still in my hair... but my hair covered them and I was able to wash out the one that was visible. They also put the nose thing people wear in hospitals for oxygen up your nose, but don't actually send any air through it... it senses your breathing or something. So between the 20-30 things stuck all over me, the band around my chest and abdomen, the thing stuck to my finger, and the thing stuck up my nose.... sleep was IMPOSSIBLE!! I tried the CPAP thing before I went to sleep, so I would know what it was like. It's really strange. It's basically a mask that is constantly blowing air to your face. It felt harder to exhale. I felt like I was really pushing out the air. I woke up every 30 minutes or so because I couldn't sleep. I'm afraid I'll have to do it again because I don't think I fell into a deep sleep all night.

I just got back from the doc. I don't have sleep apnea, but he said I slept for a total of TWO hours!! That wasn't even two hours straight, that was like 15-30 minutes here and there.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I go today to get my results. For anyone who has to do a sleep study in the future, I strongly suggest bringing your own pillow if they will allow it. I think I would have gotten more sleep if I had my own pillow.... theres were a little too fluffy for me.

Help me understand this.... If a doctor has his/her own practice but performs the actual surgery in a hospital, can he/she be considered a "center of excellence"? Or is it the hospital that would be considered a "center of excellence"?

One of the unspoken thoughts I've been having since considering the surgery has been "what about my precious food?! Will I never again be able to gorge at the all you can eat seafood buffet on vacation?! Will I never again be able to have a big ole birthday dinner with a big dessert?!" I associate special occasions as occasions to splurge and eat whatever. I usually eat pretty healthy... especially when I cook at home... but around the holidays and other special occasions I say "To hell with being healthy!" At first I didn't know if I could handle letting go of the pleasure of food long-term. Then I started thinking "Maybe the emotional/pleasure side of eating goes away with time?" Is this true? Two years or so down the road, will I be perfectly happy eating two crab legs, two shrimp, and a bite of lobster tail for dinner on vacation? Or will I despise my husband for being able to eat until he is just about to pop?

I think I read this before, but I want to be sure. From what I gather, my plan to get surgery on a Thursday and go back to work the following Monday should be fine. Right? Because I was just on lapband.com FAQ's and it says the average is a week before someone can/should return to work. I have a desk job and it would probably fine to wear sweats or something equally comfy to work (and bring a pillow etc). Does surgery on Thursday then back to work on Monday sound like a good idea or bad idea?

Even if my doc doesn't require me to quit smoking..... you guys have made some super excellent points. 1) I should quit for my own good, even if the doc doesn't require me to quit... because of the recovery and the risks (sure I need to do it for my health, but honestly I wasn't going to quit until a little bit before DH and I start trying to concieve in a couple of years). 2) If I am willing to have voluntary surgery to better the health of my body, it is stupid to keep smoking because that kindof contradicts the whole "get healthy" thing. This is going to be hard as hell.... but well worth it. I talked to DH last night and because he's a college student he's pretty much not on board for quitting with me. Luckily he doesn't usually smoke at home unless either I ask him to come outside with me or we're out drinking. But honestly if it's either smoke or eat something bad, I'll light up. I'm definately quitting pre op, but I can't guarantee I'll continue to not smoke post op. I'll stop until I'm all healed, but after that I can't promise myself to continue to not smoke. I might change my mind but right now I can't imagine giving up both smoking and food at the same time. Thanks everyone for your input. My last cig will be this Sunday... at least for now and maybe forever.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) last fall. Then I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) early this spring. I'm still learning about this and because it isn't severely effecting my day to day life, researching it usually gets put on the back burner. The biggest problem I have from it is I don't menstrate... and who likes doing that anyways?!? lol. I know my body needs to though. Anyone else here have these two health problems? These two are known to make you gain weight and make it hard to lose weight. I have been treated by my PCP for both and I was just referred to a specialist... waiting on a call back from my doc with referral info as we speak. I'm wondering a couple of things..... 1) Since these two things make it difficult to lose on your own, will it still be difficult post-band? 2) PCOS is "symptomatic" if you have the symptoms, you have it... if you don't then you don't... and basically PCOS is a complication from obesity. I'm hoping if I'm no longer obese then I'll no longer have PCOS (symptoms are no period, abnormal horomones, etc). Anyone have PCOS go away after a lot of weight loss? 3) Same question as above except for thyroid problems? From what I understand thyroid problems are FOR LIFE, right? It's not going anywhere is it? Thanks!

I'm not banded yet, but I will be. I'm still trying to think of what to say to people. My close friends and some family know (DH, mom, step dad, and maybe one or two others). I wouldn't tell anyone BUT then when I start losing they're all going to be thinking "Well, why didn't she try losing weight sooner?!?" I have tried a bagillion times and it doesn't happen. So I'm thinking about saying something more like my doc finally got the right combo of meds for my PCOS and thyroid problem.... that sounds a little more "PC" or socially acceptable or whatever.

If you finance, can you still deduct it?

Thanks everyone for the info.

I've done lots of research and am still learning something new every day about the lap band. I'm okay with the lifestyle changes required to be banded, all around I'm comfortable with everything about being banded, pre op, post op, etc.... The # 1 thing that is really making my stomach do flip flops is the surgery in general. I am a WUSS! I have to have had to have blood work done every 2-3 months for a thyroid problem I have and I've been doing this since October so you'd think I'd be okay with getting poked, but I STILL act like a child at the pediatrician every time I go to get my blood drawn. I had an anxiety attack when they gave me an IV when I gave birth to my DD. I actually had a couple of anxiety attacks throughout that VERY routine process. I'm just so freakin nervous. I have watched an animation of the surgery (can't bring myself to watch the actual surgery on youtube). I'm just scared. Really scared. I'm scared of being put under general anesthesia, I'm not sure if they put a breathing thing down my throat and if they do I'll be super scared of that. I'm scared of being cut open. I know it's small incisions, but I'm still scared. My mom almost died in having a routine hysterectomy because the doc severed an artery... so I'm scared of that too (BTW that was like 14 years ago). I'm just so scared of it all. In my heart of hearts I know in the end I'll be fine and I'll be so glad I went through with it. I'm not joking when I say this... I think I should get a xanax (aka zanex) prescription for the evening before and morning of surgery so I won't be so freakin scared. I have been prescribed xanax before. What do you think? I just need a little guidance... someone to set my worried mind at ease. Some kind words. Thanks.

Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone!!

I'm on the synthroid generic. Something weird is going on with my thyroid. Every time I go my blood work says something different. What was a little high last time is now normal but something else will be abnormal. Last time I went they checked my insulin (PCOS) and it was pretty high... I think 104... and something about my T something glubinoid or glubin-something was off. My doc referred me to an endo specialist and I'm waiting for them to call me back with the information to call the specialist and make an appointment. They haven't changed my meds since I first started, but they might at the specialist. How do you take your thyroid meds? Do you crush them or take them whole? Is there a liquid form you take? I haven't been banded yet, I'm in the "Hop all over atlanta from seminar to seminar" phase. I wanted to be 100% comfortable with getting banded before I spent $150 in gas traveling to seminars :wink_smile:

What then? Do you still get fills? Do you get some of the fill taken out? Obviously you'd still be making healthy concious decisions on foods and exercise, but is it necessary to stay filled for the rest of your life?

Really quick... Does insurance usually pay for the psych eval if you already have insurance coverage for psychology/psychiatry? Does insurance pay for the other pre op appointments you're required to attend? How does post op work? When you pay the $15-20K (or insurance pays there part, you pay yours, or if financing is used... either way).... is followup included in that amount? If you're using the same doc to do surgery and fills. I'm just trying to prepare myself for any extra expenses I might incurr.