katinafer

I know this is really short notice but I have my pre-op appt. at 11am tomorrow(Aug 8) and have to let them know whether I want the Lapband, Lapband AP or the Realize band. Anyone else had to make this choice? If so, which did you choose and why? They seem to both have their own pros & cons and i'm kind of stuck as far as which one to choose. Thanks!!!

No, I only lost about 7lbs on the presurgical diet.

I was banded with the Realize band on Aug 18th 2008 and have lost about 18lbs. so far. I am working my a** off not to gain any of it back before I get my first fill on Oct 1st.

You're not alone. I was banded on Aug 18th and my stomach growled extremely loud too. It was mostly hunger pains even though I didn't really feel hungry. Now though it's not nearly as bad. It will subside with time and of course being able to eat more.

I had my surgery on the 18th too and the smell of food makes me ill. I haven't really eaten anything b/c I have no appetite. I have to force myself to drink water or crystal light and even then, just a little makes me full. Since surgery, i've a a little protein shake, half of a yogurt, water, crystal light and that's it. What is weird though is that my stomach is steadily grumbling and I get hunger pains but I just don't want anything. I also had absolutely terrible gas. It felt like it was and still is a little bit, right under my ribcage and in my chest. If it weren't for the gas, I would have been completely fine....no other pains whatsoever.

Well, I was successfully banded 8/18/08 at 7:30am and was home by 11:30am. The doctors said that they have never seen anybody come out of the anethesia grinning....lol. So far, I have had minimal pain and haven't even had to take any meds (they give me liquid hydrocodone). The only thing i seem to be having a problem with is keeping myself hydrated...i've had water, crystal light and propel and nothing is appealing to me for some reason. Anyways....let the shrinking begin! Thanks all and good luck to those Aug 19th bandsters.

Well, it's 4:50 am and i am about to leave for the hospital. Luckily i got the first surgery for the day so hopefully, i'll be back home by noonish. I am a bit nervous, but super excited! Thanks for all of the support!:wink2:

Hi all! I'm new to this thread (thanks for the invite Lana :thumbup:). Surgery day is tomorrow the 18th at 7:30am. I'm so excited, this seems like it has been a long time coming. There were days when I thought that it would never happen, but here I am....about to begin this great journey. Thanks to all for your support. If it weren't for this board, I would not be nearly as confident going into this as I am. Hopefully, i'll be able to jump on here tomorrow evening and let you all know how it went. Thanks again!

Thanks to all of you for your well wishes.....5:30am is not gonna get here soon enough!

Good Luck to you tomorrow. I too am getting banded tomorrow, Aug 18th. I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 am and my surgery is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. I've been a bundle of emotions today but mostly just excitedness. :thumbup:

Boy how i am kicking myself for reading this post.......it is reality though. All of the positive replys were great. I am prepared......anxious but prepared. My surgery is this monday, Aug 18th @ 7:30am, and i can't wait!

I chose the realize band. I just liked the fact that the port is lower profile, the injection area on the port is a bit wider and the band itself is not as rigid as the Allergen Lapband. My surgery is this Monday the 18th! and I can't wait!

Karina, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I was just like you. When the Drs office told me that they submitted my paperwork I checked the Humana website every 5 minutes....at a minimum until I saw the "A" in the status field. It took less than two days for approval and I was borderline for the co-morbidity requirements. I'm sure everything will work out just fine for you! Good Luck! Katina

Got my approval this Thursday and surgery is scheduled for Aug 18th @ 7am.....I can't wait!!!!!

TRICARE APPROVED ME TODAY FOR SURGERY! The Dr. office just submitted everything yesterday. This is the best news!!! I am sitting here are work doing the happy dance in my seat. I get to meet with my surgeon today at 2, have my pre-op appt friday Aug 8th and surgury Aug 18th at 7am.....I can't wait:w00t:

I'm approved! I'm approved! Documents submitted Aug 5th approval Aug 6th. August 18th can't get here soon enough!

Wal-mart has an excellent Chocolate protein shake powder. It's by Body Fortress. You use one scoop of powder per 8oz of liquid, preferably water or fat free skim milk. There are 46 grams of protein in every two scoops! I think they also have a Vanilla and Strawberry as well, but I haven't tried those.

I hope that some of the "approval vibes" from this thread rub off on me. I have TriCare Prime and my Dr. submitted everything today. My pre-op appt. is scheduled for this Friday and surgery is scheduled for Aug 18th @ 7a.m....I am so keeping my fingers crossed!!!!!! Congrats to everyone!

RJohns, I too am in SC...Columbia to be exact. I have TriCare Prime and so far, everything has gone smoothly. I am seeing Drs. Tribble & Prickett at Palmetto Baptist Weight Mgmt. Center in Columbia, they are a Center of Excellence, they have been great and I've only heard great things about them. I get to go tomorrow to meet with the surgeon and my surgery is scheduled for Aug 18th (pending TriCare Approval). I'm not sure how far away from Columbia you are but I know that their are people that use this facility and are driving from as far as Myrtle Beach and Dillon so, it may be worth a try for you to switch Doctors.

I know that cholecystitis counts as a comorbidity but was wondering if it still counts if you've had your gallbladder removed? I suffered from acute cholecystitis and my gallbladder was overrun with stones. I had my gallbladder removed this March. I finally have my appt. with my surgeon on the 6th of August and they have scheduled my surgery for 18th August (pending approval by Tricare Prime). I'm beginning to get nervous thinking that I've come this close and they'll deny me for some reason. FYI, i'm 5'2" 224lbs other than the cholecystitis, gestational diabetes that I had and bad knee and back problems I don't believe that I have any other comorbidities. I do however have a bad family history of obesity, diabetes and hypertension but am not sure if that really matters. Thanks and good luck to all!!

Finally, I feel like I am getting somewhere in this whole process. I get to meet with the surgeon on 6 Aug (Dr. Tribble @ Palmetto) and my surgery is scheduled for 18 Aug (pending approval by Tricare Prime ). They require that you do the 2 week Adkins diet pre-op and I am just wondering what suggestions anyone has as far as what to eat. I have a really good Whey protein shake that I'm having for breakfast/snack, but am wondering about lunch & dinner.....just trying to get ideas so that it doesn't get boring and bland. Thanks a bunch!

So, I finally feel like I am on my way to the new me! I went to my PCM, received my referral from TriCare and attended the seminar in May and finally after a month, was able to get in to my first appointment at the Bariatric Weight Loss Center. From there, I was able to schedule my Nutritionist, Psych Eval, ECG, labwork & UGI. I am so excited, and ready for this. If there is anyone else out there who had or is having your surgery performed at Palmetto Baptist in Columbia SC by Dr. Tribble or Prickett, I would love to hear from you. :Dancing_biggrin::Dancing_biggrin:

Kathy, I think I mentioned in a previous post that I too am seeing Dr. Tribble. I was just wondering, what was the time frame for you from seminar to surgery? I went to the seminar on May 19th and they couldn't fit me into the schedule again until June 23rd. Also, regarding the $500 program fee, does insurance cover that or did you pay out of pocket? Thanks a bunch!!

My first Dr. appt is not until June 23rd so I tried to be proactive and go ahead and schedule the psych eval & nutrionist appts. The Dr. office told me that I had to come to the first appt with them first and they would schedule my psych & nutritionist appts. I called Tricare this evening with a few questions and the rep said the they do not require the psych eval or nutritionist appts. Has anyone been able to skip these two appts? Just curious. Thanks

Just wanted to jump on here to say hi. I'm new to the boards and have just began my lap band journey. I had a consult with my PCM May 13th, received a referral which was authorized for 4 visits with Dr. Tribble @ Palmetto Regional and attended the seminar May 19th. My next scheduled appointment isn't until June 23rd :wink2: but I can't wait. I'm just super excited about finally being able to lose this weight and keep it off. If anyone out there has and experiences with Tricare, I'd love to hear from you!