twiggysmiff

I found out today that I need to pay my surgeon $1500 before I have my surgery. $500 must be paid at my appt on Tuesday and the rest must be paid by 3 days before surgery. I'm planning on having surgery in January. This is the out of pocket costs and deductible and program fee that I'm required to pay after insurance kicks in their part. I know there are companies out there that will provide financing for medical procedures, but I was wondering if anyone knows of a good reputable company that would give a loan to someone with not so great credit (I had a bankruptcy 7 years ago). Thanks for your help. Tina

It is understandable for you to slip up, especially in the beginning. I've not been banded yet, but have read many, many posts and from what I gather, this is the time for you to heal and that's why we have the special diet post-op. I'd say maybe go back to clear liquids for a day or two and then full liquids, then mushies again. Maybe this will restart your mindset...kind of a "reboot" if you will. Don't beat yourself over it. Just remember that this is a new day and a new beginning. Good luck to you and your family through this trying time.

I got the call today that I have been officially approved by my insurance to have the surgery done! It's a green light. My file has been moved to the Pre-op nurse and she will call me to set up the pre-op appt and any last minute testing that may need to be done. At this appointment, we will schedule the surgery, hopefully in January! Happy New Year!!

OK...I have created a social group called Fibromyalgia Bandsters. The problem is that I can't figure out an easy way to find it so here's how to get there.... Click on the blue Forum tab at the top of the page Scroll down until you see LapBand Social groups Under that, you'll see a little link that says join scroll through the groups until you see Fibromyalgia Bandsters. Click join. :rolleyes2: See you all there. If you can find an easier way to get there, please share!

I too have fibromyalgia and am in pain regularly. In fact, right now I'm sitting here on my couch with pain in my shoulders, back, and legs that is making it hard to function. Combine this with the fatigue and its miserable. I am hoping to be banded in January sometime and I really hope that it helps the symptoms as well. They keep saying to exercise, but if it hurts so much to simply sit, how can you exercise? I'll be interested to see how much the lap band surgery helps the symptoms of everyone. I agree that we need a subgroup for us with fibro/CFS. Tina

You have to take off jewelry except for wedding rings which they can tape to your finger. Also, no nail polish. The anesthesiologist watches the color of your gums and nail beds to be sure you have enough oxygen.

I have not been banded, but I can assure you from my experience with other surgeries that the quick action of the anesthesia is NOT an exaggeration. They tell you to count backwards from 10 and you are out before you reach 9. I remember having a D&C and as I was moving myself from the gurney to the or table, he was putting stuff in my IV. All I remember is laying on the table and saying, "You snuck some good stuff in my IV didn't you?" He laughed and said, "Yes, I di..." and I was out before he finished... :thumbup:

No, it is not a scare tactic. All psych evals have something called a lie scale. These are questions on there that are "duh" questions like true/false, I have NEVER told a lie. We've all told a lie before and if you answer true, you will score higher on the lie scale. If you score above a certain number (each test is different), you will invalidate the test. They will also ask the same question in several ways to see how consistent your answers are. If you are truthful, you will answer it consistently. It's always best to answer truthfully. If something comes out that makes you incompatible, then its better to find out now than after the surgery.

It looks like I might be on the list for November. I have my final intake appointment on Oct 23 and then comes the final insurance approval and setting the date. I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup:

I had my echo, stress test, labs, and pulmonary testing done last week and all the results were normal. No heart disease or coronary blockage. Now it is down to just the psych eval and finishing the last 2 appts for my 6 month supervised diet. I'm on my way!! I was worried about having panic attacks from the machine for the stress test, but it was fine. I was nervous, but I made it through!!!!!!! I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I started out on this journey long before I ever knew I was on it. If I really think about it, I can remember even as young as 9 years old and being entered into a pre-teen beauty pageant. I remember that I had begun to gain weight even then because the dress I had for the formal wear portion of the contest almost didn't fit by the time pageant date rolled around. I remember my mom trying to zip it up in the back and saying something along the lines of "you're gonna have to start watching what you eat!" Moving along, during my teen years, I started gaining weight slowly but surely. I remember wearing a size 14 when I got my first job in a fast food restaurant at the age of 16. When I graduated high school, I was 170 pounds. College came and more weight came on. By the time I graduated, I was up to about 200. My wedding dress when I was 25 was a size 18 and was so tight I could barely breathe. When I got pregnant, I was 258 pounds. In April of 2008, my top weight was 294 and I was wearing a 28/30 size. What the hell happened over the years? Well, mom stocking the fridge with pizza rolls and mini cheese burgers for my after school snacks, working in fast food and eating it all the time, living on pizza in college because the dining area was horrible, developing PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), going through fertility treatments, anti depressant meds, and then the yo yo dieting throughout all of it. I managed to trick myself into thinking I was fine with the way I was and I was happy being heavy, as long as I was healthy! (Yea right) Well, I was in for a rude awakening when I started having problems. My sleep was all messed up and I was so tired I couldn't function so I had a sleep study done. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and put on a CPAP machine. After sleeping with it a few nights, I had more problems with sleep because I was afraid I was going to die in my sleep. I realized that this was just 2 steps away from being a respirator and I'd had enough. Then, I started having a weird side effect. When I slept with the CPAP machine, I began to swell up and my blood pressure shot up to 148/98. The doctor's had no explanation for this, but it was more dangerous to have my BP up that high than it was for the sleep apnea, so now I'm back to no sleeping. It was then that I decided I had to do something. I had toyed with the idea of weight loss surgery, but thought it represented cheating and the lazy way out. I was also scared about my family's reaction to it. I talked with my doctor and he suggested I look into lap band and we began a weight loss program. I did research, attended the seminar and realized it wasn't what I thought it was. I now know this is the tool for me and now my family is on board. I just got my appointment for my first round of preliminary tests. I need to do the pulmonary function test, stress test, echo test, and blood work in September. I'm excited and nervous and scared and impatient all at once. I feel like I'm about to go on a huge roller coaster ride. I just hope that everything goes smoothly....here we go!!

I started out on this journey long before I ever knew I was on it. If I really think about it, I can remember even as young as 9 years old and being entered into a pre-teen beauty pageant. I remember that I had begun to gain weight even then because the dress I had for the formal wear portion of the contest almost didn't fit by the time pageant date rolled around. I remember my mom trying to zip it up in the back and saying something along the lines of "you're gonna have to start watching what you eat!" Moving along, during my teen years, I started gaining weight slowly but surely. I remember wearing a size 14 when I got my first job in a fast food restaurant at the age of 16. When I graduated high school, I was 170 pounds. College came and more weight came on. By the time I graduated, I was up to about 200. My wedding dress when I was 25 was a size 18 and was so tight I could barely breathe. When I got pregnant, I was 258 pounds. In April of 2008, my top weight was 294 and I was wearing a 28/30 size. What the hell happened over the years? Well, mom stocking the fridge with pizza rolls and mini cheese burgers for my after school snacks, working in fast food and eating it all the time, living on pizza in college because the dining area was horrible, developing PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), going through fertility treatments, anti depressant meds, and then the yo yo dieting throughout all of it. I managed to trick myself into thinking I was fine with the way I was and I was happy being heavy, as long as I was healthy! (Yea right) Well, I was in for a rude awakening when I started having problems. My sleep was all messed up and I was so tired I couldn't function so I had a sleep study done. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and put on a CPAP machine. After sleeping with it a few nights, I had more problems with sleep because I was afraid I was going to die in my sleep. I realized that this was just 2 steps away from being a respirator and I'd had enough. Then, I started having a weird side effect. When I slept with the CPAP machine, I began to swell up and my blood pressure shot up to 148/98. The doctor's had no explanation for this, but it was more dangerous to have my BP up that high than it was for the sleep apnea, so now I'm back to no sleeping. It was then that I decided I had to do something. I had toyed with the idea of weight loss surgery, but thought it represented cheating and the lazy way out. I was also scared about my family's reaction to it. I talked with my doctor and he suggested I look into lap band and we began a weight loss program. I did research, attended the seminar and realized it wasn't what I thought it was. I now know this is the tool for me and now my family is on board. I just got my appointment for my first round of preliminary tests. I need to do the pulmonary function test, stress test, echo test, and blood work in September. I'm excited and nervous and scared and impatient all at once. I feel like I'm about to go on a huge roller coaster ride. I just hope that everything goes smoothly....here we go!!:frown:

I am a teacher, but haven't been banded yet. Hopefully, my surgery will be in Oct or Nov. I too have wondered the same thing. I look forward to seeing the responses.

I'm fairly new to this whole process and right now I'm finishing up my 6 month doctor supervised diet (last appt in Sept) and my bariatric surgeons are beginning to send me off for the pre-op testing. I have been scheduled for a pulmonary function test which is no biggie since I've done that before. They are also doing the labwork that day which is no big deal. My question is about the cardiolite stress test and echocardiogram they have ordered. I've googled them and know what they are, but I'd like to know from a patient's perspective what its like to go through them (don't hold back). I'm a little concerned about the camera they use for the stress test. The picture from my doctor's office website shows a machine that resembles a CT scan or MRI machine. I am claustrophobic and have pretty severe panic attacks (even had one 2 days ago going through an automated car wash!!) What should I expect? Thanks, Tina

Thanks for the info. Yes, I have to do the nuclear testing with the cardiolite injection. I've heard about the medicine induced exercise stuff and I definitely don't want that! I'll do the treadmill thank you very much! LOL They did give me instructions as to no caffeine for 24 hours and nothing to eat or drink after midnight. I am supposed to drink 8 oz of Water 30 minutes before my test. I guess I'll have to muddle through somehow. One more hurdle in my journey. At least at the end, I'll have a pretty clear picture as to how healthy or unhealthy I really am. Thanks again for the information.

Hello! I am a newbie here and I am really thankful that I have found this forum. I have not been banded yet, but I'm on the journey to getting there. I have been married for 8 years and have a beautiful 5 year old daughter. I am a 4th grade teacher from Lexington, KY and I have struggled with my weight since I was a teenager. I have tried numerous things to try to help me, but I still keep gaining. I am now at 294 and 5'3 which puts my BMI at around 51. I don't really have a weight goal, but I would love to be able to fit into size 10/12 clothes and shop in a normal store. My weight has caused a lot of problems and I'm ready for them to be over. I have been diagnosed with PCOS, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, and migraines. I attended a seminar with Bluegrass Bariatric Surgeons based out of Georgetown KY. I have submitted my paperwork, but my insurance requires a 6 month doctor supervised diet. That means I won't get my surgery this summer while I'm out of school. I have discussed my plans with my family and with information, they are supportive. I have also talked to my coworkers and boss and they are all VERY supportive. My boss has even had gastric bypass with the same doctors and so she knows first hand where I'm coming from and has offered to be an information source for me. While I'm excited about the idea, I'm also scared to death. I've had my share of depression and panic attacks and I'm concerned that the surgery will cause me to have panic attacks. If I feel the band around my stomach, will I panic and want to dig it out? Will the gas pains after surgery cause panic as well? What about if I get something stuck in the pouch? I'm so afraid that I'll end up with worsened panic attacks and won't be able to undo it! I hate feeling like this, but it is my reality for the moment. Anyone have any advice? Anyway, I'm glad I'm here and I look forward to getting to know everyone and sharing our experiences. Tina Seminar Attended: 5/20 Paperwork submitted: 5/28 Primary Care Appt to begin diet: 6/24

I appreciate your defense of bandsters here, but I for one, would like to hear both the positive and negatives of the surgery. If this person has a problem with the band, I want to know. I don't just want to hear the successes because then I'll be expecting a wonderful, no negatives experience. I want to be fully informed. :behindsofa: Tina