bobbiezhere

Good luck!!!!!!

I joined about a year ago..not realizing how long this process would actually take - but i am FINALLY done with all those things I had to do!!!! I hope to be called tomorrow by the surgery coordinator --- I'm thinking i will be banded in June!!!! You have no idea how excited I am. I couldnt read posts before because i was so frustrated that this took so long! Ok...so I'm so very ready to be banded....I hope there are others that will be banded in June that i can start this journey with...this site has also changed alot in a year, I hope to be more versed in it. Is there others here going through Arcadia Methodist? I need to study what to have the first 1-4 weeks! This makes me nervous! Any encouragement, suggestions, help would be great. Others feedback would be immensly helpful i'm sure!

Seems like forever since i posted here. I finally started nutrition classes in June..so i'm just about done - long 6 months. Dropped about 11 lbs. - more than i thought i would lol. Today i attended a symposium. My nutritionist said i have to conclude the full 6 month nutrition class prior to getting the psych evaulation - does that sound right? My nutritionist said that my insurance WILL cover this procedure...I hope so...i just hadnt expected the $1250 fee i had to pay for after care. So...as i get closer i'm more excited and i know this is what i need to do. I'm just nervous about what i'll actually be able to have to eat the first few weeks...I plan to scour this site a few weeks prior to the surgery to prepare. Silly question....but....average weight loss - in say the first month after banding....what have some of your results been?

Well, I went to a symposium today to find out about the lap band procedure (tho i really didnt learn anything new as i had investigated it already). What i WAS surprised by was the program fee they charged...apparently from reading some of the posts here, this is a normal process? This group charges $1250. To be honest, i was dismayed at this - im struggling financially as it is - to take on another bill is too much..yet...i want this procedure so much that somehow i do have to come up with the money. They did have Care credit brochures, so maybe thats an answer. So...am i to believe then - that this is pretty normal - this charge - for follow up care and such?

sorry--guess i should have posted this in the pre-op category

Question....if you have had to do a 6 month nutrition program....and have lost weight in that process....you THEN have pre-op parameters which may also require weight loss? This is confusing to me i guess. In my nutrition, i've slowly lost 11 lbs. It seems strange to me that the doctor would also mandate another "diet" to lose prior to surgery. I mean, really...if I could really lose weight - i'd have done it long before now! What i've lost so far, has been difficult to do.

Yeah, i started thinking about what they mentioned..after care, support group, newsletters, etc..and for a "lifetime"...so ultimately i guess it makes sense....i just hadnt had a clue about this fee...thank you for the response..

Hi Stephany... I'm far from Knoxville...but like you..i'm in waiting...i actually started the 6 month nutrition program in June and went to the symposium today. Still need the psych evaulation then the tests from the doctors...of course, i still need approval too - but i'm told this should NOT be an issue. We'll see. Isnt it hard to wait when you've finally made the decision you feel is right for you?

I will be 2009 too - and either Huntington or Arcadia methodist hospital...I'd like to speed this process, but its not easy to do!

Ok..been waiting for approval after talking to my pcp right? I call and finally the woman says "you were approved! You will get a referral letter in the mail". I'm on cloud 9! I get the paper...uh...its not an approval for the lap band procedure..its for the nutrition program- it just says a session - weight management program. Hmm..doesnt sound like approval for procedure to me..buti figure..ok..maybe i'll get another letter. I call the dr. office - they tell me "oh...your procedure was denied". I was like "what? denied? are you kidding me?". Well, the other girl in the office told me that this is a journey..and that i do need to go to the nutrition doctor anyway - to do that step, then the nutritionalist will send a report and then they will resubmit for my procedure. Well, ok i can understand that...but...hearing "denied" made me very upset! Oh, and when i called insurance - THEY told me "your doctor submitted for Bariatrics surgery--gastric bypass. they need to resubmit for lapband". So..isnt bariatrics surgery EITHER OR? Meaning one of the two procedures? Sigh....so i went from extreme happiness and highs to upset and lows. But i made the nutrition appt...and after i will keep calling and askign them to resubmit. One more questions tho...i have high blood pressure and diabetes...so i'm a good cAndidate..but i also think i have sleep apnea. Should i mention this to my doctor - will having that diagnosed as well push me over the top into the approval field? Thanks all!

Oh Wow! Everyone has been talking about some mandatory 6 month diet - and i dont understand...i've dieted all my life...and t hey want 6 more months worth? My doctors office KNOWS i've tired for years to lose and have not been successful - I'm so hoping i get approved and they waive that. Good luck to you - i'm excited FOR you! I am so ready for this procedure...I hope it goes great for you! Take care...

Good luck to you! I am still waiting for approval, hope to hear this week! I cant believe they made you go all the way to Cedar Sinai...i am hoping for a local hospital with my approval! Did they make you do the 6-month diet??? Bobbie

I noticed your in gardena..nice to see another calif girl here! And you've done soooo well! I'm still waiting for approval....sigh....hopefully i'll hear soon.... Your right..I have always been pretty shy too..yet, writing/texting is def an option!

omg..i go hanging on a pole upside down and i'll hurt myself! hahahaha! and people might be wondering about that wad of dollar bills in my purse... lololol..:thumbup: Bobbie

these are great, i am chuckling as i read some of the comments......i know that weight can make you very self conscious and you hold back...and the right person brings that side of you out in spite of weight....i will say, i dont have my surgery scheduled yet, waiting to see if i get approval/insurance...but you can bet, when my weight starts going...that will definately release the inhibition and then watch out, lol. I do love sexy, risque lingerie..and definately "naughty" talk during the day via text messages gets them thinkin...start with that...it wont take long when they get home and they'll KNOW you're in the mood and ready for some fun!

A couple of years ago when i spoke with my pcp, i broached the subject of gastric bypass..my girlfriend and i had talked about it and figured maybe we'd try to do it together...well, she got approved through her doctor, my doctor said "no way you can do this on your own, etc etc"...i walked out sad...but i couldnt afford it, so...went my merry way.... Flash forward...been about 1 1/2 years...she's probably lost about 100# and i've gained i'm sure. I found this site after researching lap band..knowing as i read that THIS was it for me..this is what i would do...less evasive..good results...etc etc. I was terrified but i made an appt to see the other doctor (pa i believe) that i've begun seeing. She sat there..listened to what i had to say..my reasoning..my thoughts...my research...diabetes, hbp, etc etc. And to my surprise and excitement, she told me she thought i was an excellent candidiate for this! I was soooooooooo relieved. That hurdle being done, they were going to submit for insurance approval yesterday and she said maybe i'd hear by friday! Keeping my fingers crossed because i cannot afford to pay for this on my own - please keep good thoughts!!! I really need for this to move forward! Any idea how long it's taken for approval????

Good luck to both of you!!! Your on your way to the new "you"! I can hardly wait till i get there! Take care and congrats!!!

Question??? I'm at the beginning of this journey...i have a meeting with my pcp next Friday and hope/pray she'll help me get going on this... I've been researching everything because i want to know up front what is ahead...and i'm ready to make changes.....i had a question on diet coke...i typically have one each day with lunch...am i to believe that diet cokes go away and are not allowed once your banded??? At all??? I am ok with making changes..i'm ready....but honestly i often thought i could give up food before my diet coke.:w00t: My girlfriend had a bypass a year ago, and she couldnt have diet coke at the beginning..but slowly introduced it back a few months after surgery... The other thing i have come to like the sugar free or lite Cranberry juice - is that ok? Finally, coffee..i usually have a cup in the morning with sugar free sweetner - yes? or no? I know i will get info on the do's and don'ts...but please bear with me..i'm trying to get my head in the right place beforehand so that i dont feel deprivation which always leads to me feeling cranky! lol:biggrin2: Thank you for your help - its truly appreciated!

i dont know but i do love my diet cokes. When i do get my procedure i do plan to adhere to the letter of what to eat before and after...but i do think that eventually i will introduce just a few sips of it back in at some point..not right away...i'll probably never ever again drink a 44 oz. cup of it....but i think i'd be happy with a small cup..and everything in our world is about portion control...

In another thead someone posted that the doctor had originally thought soda caused band errosion, then upon studies, found out that it hadn't after all....so...maybe this is not the case...i guess ultimately, anything "overdone" is not a good thing.

thanks for all the responses...of course esp at the beginning i would be diligent because who really knows what will happen until you slowly start testing things carefully...i do like crystal light..so maybe that will help....just knowing that its still a possibility to have a diet coke in my future makes me happy...lol....now if only i could hurry up this process! I'm certainly gaining alot of info and help already by finding this site! Thanks all!

oh gosh i envy you... i guess i'll call my doctor NOW and hope once i talk to them, they'll refer me...i so want to be like you and have things to do to get this going!!! good luck to you!

im off the 57 and 10--not in orange county, but close...since you are all locals, i'm trying to find out some info - i need to find a place to go for this process...i'm hoping my doctor will work with my insurance to get me covered (he would not do it for gastric bypass, but I'm hoping he'll go for this)...first off, any recommended doctors??? and did you have to do a 6 month diet plan???? i dont get having to do a 6 month diet after a lifetime of dieting. Im already discouraged about how long this will take to even start this program.....it would be nice to chat with locals when i finally get into this...i really need help cuz i'm discouraged already....

I am in the San Gabriel Valley..and found a center on line that works out of Arcadia Methodist hospital. But i wondered if anyone could recommend any doctor they have had? I'm in the West Covina area and was hoping to find someone relatively close by. Any help anyone could offer would be appreciated. Also, my insurance is Blue Shield. I asked about coverage and the note I received "Surgical benefits for members with morbid obesity that meet Blue Shield Medical Policy and clinical criteria for defined procedures and services which have ben approved by their Personal Physician." Clear as mud..but i'm thinking its a definate maybe? Bobbie

My boyfriend found this site for me....he's helping me research the lap-band, tho in my mind i already want this. I've been wanting to do something like this for a very long time. But i'll admit, this site overwhelms me! I want to be able to just go, have it done have my insurance cover it and Viola - be on the way to a new me...lol....but apparently there is a whole bunch of stuff i have to go through first - and that soooo puzzles me. Understand going to the seminar to find out about the process..and the doctor/surgery consult..and the insurance stuff. But nutrition classes and such???? It truly takes months to get this all going???? Sigh. I've waited so long to make this decision..i've tried diet after diet..i know what "good nutrition" is...just havent been able to be successful in it in my years of dieting! I guess i'm looking for encouragement..and some help in navigating the SLEW of info on this site. I turned 50 last November. I'm sooo ready for my life to change. I'm divorced 2 years after a 27 year marriage. I NEED this for me. I also NEED for my insurance to cover this! I cannot afford to pay this on my own...am i foolish to think they'll cover it? I have high blood pressure and diabetes (type 2) both medically controlled. I can't help but think if i dropped 100 lbs. i would be sooo much better, plus the strain on my heart would be less. I have two daughters (6/12)..i need to be around for them. I know this is alot...i just feel hopeful in this process..and disappointed that it looks like it will be a lenghty process just to try to get approved. Words of wisdom welcome!!! Bobbie