Ineedalapband

Hope everything went smoothly. Can't wait to hear all the details!

I know EXACTLY how you feel. My surgery is also in 2 days and I have the same thoughts. Last night I went ahead and wrote down all of our financial information and passwords for my husband as well as a short note to him and our children just in case. I know thats crazy talk but I'd rather do it than not. It wasn't anything long or drawn out, just a quick sentiment and the info he would need if anything were to happen. I'm a planner by nature. I'm scared but I'm going to just believe God that this is going to be a good thing and that he will carry me through it. I'm so excited to start the next chapter of my life. I try to put that in the forefront of my mind. After all, when the Lord wants you, he'll take you, lap band or not. I could get hit by a bus 5 years from now, but at least I'll be healthier and happier for those 5 years after this. I'm going to cling to the scripture "For the Lord has not given you the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a SOUND MIND". I don't know if you are a believer or not, but this is just what is going to get me through the next 2 days. Hang in there. I'm sure we'll be posting about our Gas in a few days to each other! :wink2:

Well, it arrived today so I'll definitely have it for my surgery. Guess I'll bring a pad, a tampon and my diva cup and see if they'll let me use any of it. How embarrassing! Uggh.

Heartfire, I know exactly what you mean. My mother has been mailing me Lap Band articles for YEARS. Now that I'm finally doing it (just found out my insurance just started covering it this year) she kind of acts like she doesn't want me to. I told her that shes been sending me this stuff for years and she said "Yes, but I didn't think you would actually DO it!) WHAT????? Anyway, its something I've been wanting for years so I am completely excited (and scared). I feel like I've had a disease my entire life and I'm finally getting to start the treatment for it in a few days! I think in my head sometimes - man, they need a lap band too, when I see people. But I know thats wrong. I guess I'm just so happy about this I would like to see everyone else that looks as miserable as me happy too. I know how hard it is to live like that. I would NEVER say anything though. I haven't told many people and don't plan to unless directly asked. I plan to just say "I eat less" when people ask what diet I'm on, etc. Its not a lie. :thumbup: If someone comes to me and really needs help and really wants to know, I'll tell them.

Thanks everyone. Guess I'll end up with the mesh panties. I'm used to them though, I've had 2 kids and thats exactly what you get after childbirth.

Oh no. I was afriad you'd say that! Uggh. I wonder how they "handle it"? Not to mention, I guess your privtates are all hanging out because they'd have to live the gown to get to your stomach. Double uggh.

Ok, so Tuesday is my clear liquids day before surgery. So far I've got broth + water! What else constitues clear?

Ok, when I said "cheat" I really meant - not follow your preop diet exactly. I wasn't trying to guilt anyone or make anyone feel bad. Sorry if that is how anyone perceived it. The "cheating" I've done is the equivalent of an extra tablespoon of cottage cheese or brussel sprout. Not pie. I do not feel guilty about it and have lost 8lbs since starting last week. My surgery is on Wed.

In my reading I see such a variance in the preop diets. I thought mine was hard until I see people on straight liquids for the entire time. I'm on the Optifast 800 14 day preop diet. I use whey Protien instead though. Its different each day and I usually get to eat some veg and some protien. A couple days I even get a fruit and starch. Its mostly shakes but I can have Jello (SF) and Crystal Light. I don't have to do to Clear Liquids until the last day before surgery. What is/was yours like?

Well, my surgery is 8 days away and I find myself getting a little scared when I think about it. I have two small children and a husband who need me. I need them. I'm so afraid that something will happen to me in the surgery. I'd hate to have something happen and then people think that I put myself in this position for vanity. I know its healthier for me to have this done and it will lengthen my life if I loose this weight. I'm just scared. I love my family so much, I just don't want to leave them. Crazy or not, I'm thinking of writing them a letter about how much I love them just in case. Is that irrational? I can't talk to my DH about it because he'd say great, call it off. I don't want to not do this, I just want to be sure I'll be ok. Does that make sense? Anyone else scared? Anyone banded already this month that dealt with this?

Thanks you guys for the encouragement. I prayed before I was even approved for the Lord to only let me be approved if its going to be a good thing. So, I'm going to trust that it is! I know I'll go through with it when the time comes. I'm just scared. I guess its because I love my DH and my kids so much. Thats the only part that scares me, not being with them anymore.

Thanks tomatogirl. That makes me feel better. I head to my preop, class and to meet the surgeon tomorrow!

So after reading here that Tricare required an overnight stay I asked my Dr. office to look into it. She just wrote me back and said that Tricare did not require an overnight stay. I have Tricare Prime (Humana South). Just want to be absolutely sure this is correct. I certainly cannot afford to pay for this surgery because someone made a mistake. So, overnight stay required or not?

I just got an email from the surgeons office in response to my email. It simply said "Its the hospitials responsibility to call Tricare and let them know you were discharged early".

Ok, I just called AGAIN. She said that the surgeons office would have to call on the day I am discharged and change my surgery from inpatient to outpatient. I sent the surgeons office an email stating this fact. I also CC'd myself so I'd have proof that I told them. I also kept a record of who I spoke to at tricare and at what time - she told me they record all of the calls. Hopefully, that will do it. Now, I just hope I can remember in my drug induced haze after surgery to ask if they did it!

Or what are you doing now to get ready? I haven't done a thing except purchase a magic bullet blender that I am using now for my Whey Protien drinks (and to make baby food for my DS!). I know I should go get some Gas X strips. What else?

I know what you mean. I asked the lady at the surgeons office at least 3 times if that was the case. She told me "You aren't my first Tricare Prime patient. I've never had a single person call me after surgery and tell me that they had to pay more, or pay anything because you were authorized to stay overnight and were discharged". She assured me it would be fine. Wonder if I should call tricare again and ask if they can deny payment because of this?

Thanks you guys. Glad to know I'm not the only one. Heartfire, thanks for sharing all that. Nice to know someone knows EXACTLY how I feel. Josie, you make a vaid point. I wonder if that is being negative and I shouldn't do it? I was going to do it, give it to my mom and tell her just in case. If I'm fine, tear it up and never open it. Negativity or preparedness, I just don't know yet. I haven't started it, now I'm torn on whether or not I will. Ok, I'm going to go make a new thread on what have you done to get ready. I haven't done a thing!

So I called Tricare today and they said that the Dr. had put it in as a inpatient procedure. I called the Dr. office again and they said they put it in that way so they can get an approval number. She said if they put it in as outpatient they won't get this number. So, although I'm put in for an overnight stay, I won't be staying the night unless there is complications. (Please Lord, help that not to happen). Just as long as they can't say they won't pay because I didn't spend the night I'll be happy. I don't care about staying overnight but it would make things easier.

I can't remember the title of a book about lap band surgery - something like the before and after of living with a lap band? There is a moderator here that usually suggests it. Anyway, I'm only a week or so out from my surgery and I should have ordered it already! I had it saved on my other computer but it bit the dust. Can someone please tell me again what its called and if you know of anywhere I can get it cheaper than amazon? Thanks!

Never mind, I found it. Its Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band: Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully by Sewell and Rohrbough. Thanks!

Well, I'm a little aggrivated today. My DH is really supporting me in this by doing the preop diet with me. We are on day 5. It helps so much to have him starving right along with me . He also makes my whey Protien shakes, grills and measures the meat, etc. So, we both weigh ourselves today (I know I probably shouldn't but I just had to) he lost 12 LBS! Me, I lost 3. How is this fair? I swear I'm not cheating. I may have had an extra brussel sprout or two the other day but thats it! Its really frustrating. Guess this is why Ineedalapband!

Cool, I'm USM Alumni! Go Eagles! I lived in Hattiesburg while I was in College and then lived/worked there for 5 1/2 years until I met my husband. My husband just came back from some training at Camp Shelby. Small world.

Ktork, have you lost 28lbs on your preoop diet! If so, I'm going to cry. Just kidding! Off to have a SF Jello to keep the hunger pains at bay. Thanks for the support you guys.

Hi guys, my name is Penny. My DH is a Navy Seabee (note the avitar!). He's been in 12 years and we've been married for 7. We have two little precious babes 2 1/2 and 7 mths. My tricare process has been pretty easy and I have surgery scheduled for August 20th. I'm on the 5th day of my preop diet. My DH is doing it with me (now, thats support!) - he's lost 12 lbs and I only lost 3~ Guess this is why I need a lap band. Get it, Ineedalapband. Ok, well, only i think Im funny. Anywhoo. We've been overseas the last 6 years (Sicily, Spain) and are currently in Gulfport, MS where we've been for about a year. We LOVED living overseas and hope to get to go back. Oh, and I'm hungry.