MsGulfCoast

I was banded on 5/21 and will have my first fill in late June. How much weight did you all lose before the first fill and what was your average weight loss when the fills started? I am soooo ready to see the pounds falling off and the sizes going down.

I am 7 days postbanding. I was fine until yesterday when horrible nausea kicked in. And, the thought of having to drink more Water literally made my stomach turn. I know my body. If I didn't get something significant in my stomach I was going to start puking. I ate just a few tablespoons of oatmeal and the nausea subsided significantly. Anyone else experience nausea from having to drink so much freaking water? And postop diet? What are the different diets for 7 days postop? I have heard still only liquids, mushies, and above. I think a lot of my nausea yesterday was because for the first time I was actually HUNGRY! :thumbup:

13 pounds already!! Good for you! I am allowed pudding, cream of wheat, Egg Beaters, etc. from day 2 through 14, then on to wheat toast, boiled eggs, tuna with mayo, etc. By week 4 I will be eating solids. I know vomiting could cause more problems than eating a few tablespoons of oatmeal and luckily it did the trick. Are you exercising, too, Bethany? You go girl!!

Thank you all. I have become a burper, too. : ) The gas pains are nominal compared to just yesterday. Actually went to the movies today and had no problems sitting there for 3 hours. Didn't even bother me that my husband was munching on butter-soaked popcorn. : ) I did try the codeine and, thankfully, didn't have any problems with it. Yay.

Anyone else out there banded 5/21? How are you doing? I'm still having horrible gas pains in my shoulder. Afraid to take my Tylenol with Codeine elixir due to not having anything solid in my stomach. I don't want to puke. Anyone have problems taking their liquid pain medication on a liquid diet?

Anyone else out there banded 5/21? How are you doing? I'm still having horrible gas pains in my shoulder. Afraid to take my Tylenol with Codeine elixir due to not having anything solid in my stomach. I don't want to puke. Anyone have problems taking their liquid pain medication on a liquid diet? :cursing:

I was banded yesterday, too! The gas pains around my shoulders hurt like heck! I was prescribed Tylenol with Codeine elixir but I'm afraid to take without food for fear of vomiting. Have you had any issues with nausea taking the elixir and being on a liquid diet? Good luck to you!

I am being charged what I feel is an exorbitant out of pocket fee for the hospital's fee for my surgery. My insurance, GEHA, approved 90% of the allowed rate. The doctor's office fee is $200 while Singing River/Ocean Springs is almost $4K! Un-freaking-believable. I should only owe 10% of the ALLOWABLE charge. So, the charge well over $40K for the surgery? I don't think so. I think I'm being screwed. Unfortunately, I will have to pay it and hope I get a refund. I really think I am being overcharged here. Insurance and facility each say the other has the contract as to what the allowable charge is! Grrrrr :thumbup:

I agree. I think their mentality is "if she wants the surgery bad enough she'll pay it." SOBs. How can you NOT know what your preapproved, contracted fee is for this procedure?! DON'T use SINGING RIVER HOSPITAL if you can avoid it. Total opportunists.

I am being charged what I feel is an exorbitant out of pocket fee for the hospital's fee for my surgery. My insurance, GEHA, approved 90% of the allowed rate. The doctor's office fee is $200 while Singing River/Ocean Springs is almost $4K! Un-freaking-believable. I should only owe 10% of the ALLOWABLE charge. So, the charge well over $40K for the surgery? I don't think so. I think I'm being screwed. Unfortunately, I will have to pay it and hope I get a refund. I really think I am being overcharged here. Insurance and facility each say the other has the contract as to what the allowable charge is! Grrrrr

Hopefully, every day thereafter won't be so big. :thumbup: Having the procedure done at Singing River Hospital on 5/21!!! Anyone else having their banding done on that day?

I feel the same way! So excited to finally have been given a date and then anxious, nervous, and a little apprehensive. i guess all that is normal. There is no way I am backing out of this! Are you from the Atlanta area? I'm going to be in Atlanta the end of June for the Braves-Red Sox series. Hopefully I'll be 10-20 pounds lighter by then. Best of luck to you! Let me know how you are doing postop. url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wR6itiJ/] [/url]

Hopefully, every day thereafter won't be so big. :wink: Having the procedure done at Singing River Hospital on 5/21!!! Anyone else having their banding done on that day?

OMG! What a loooong journey this has been! I'll find out more on Monday about what I do next. Hopefully my surgery will be scheduled either late this month or very early in June. I'll be going on vacation late June and want surgery to be at least 3 weeks past already. A dear friend of mine and myself have been talking about going on a cruise next summer. Now I feel much better about actually booking it! What a wonderful Mayday gift! A new lease on life!

OMG! What a loooong journey this has been! I'll find out more on Monday about what I do next. Hopefully my surgery will be scheduled either late this month or very early in June. I'll be going on vacation late June and want surgery to be at least 3 weeks past already. A dear friend of mine and myself have been talking about going on a cruise next summer. Now I feel much better about actually booking it! What a wonderful Mayday gift! A new lease on life!

I have completed my 6 month evaluation, had my psych eval today; doc said I should do well. So, I hope that means I passed my evaluation. :w00t: Now, I just have to sit back and wait to see if, after submitting my 6 month evaluation documentation and the psychologist's evaluation, I get approved for surgery. I am so afraid after this long journey since last August I will not be approved. If I am approved, I am guessing I will have surgery some time in May. I am sooooo ready!!

Okay, so I didn't soak my eyeballs in coffee long enough before I responded! I forgot I had mentioned in my original post that I started out in August and went right ahead and said it again like it was brand new news! Oy.

Me, too! I started in August of last year also! Are you seeing Dr. Avara? How long after your psych visit did it take for you to hear whether or not your insurance approved you? I'm getting really anxious and excited. Anxious that I won't get approved and excited that I will!

I have completed my 6 month evaluation, had my psych eval today; doc said I should do well. So, I hope that means I passed my evaluation. :rolleyes2: Now, I just have to sit back and wait to see if, after submitting my 6 month evaluation documentation and the psychologist's evaluation, I get approved for surgery. :cursing: I am so afraid after this long journey since last August I will not be approved. If I am approved, I am guessing I will have surgery some time in May. I am sooooo ready!!

I will be scheduling my psych evaluation with Dr. Massong very soon. Can anyone who has been to him for preop weight loss evaluation tell me what I can expect? This scares me more than the surgery!

I just called and have an appointment on 4/13. Receptionist said I would have to answer 160 true/false questions and the appointment could take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1-1/2 hours, it really depended on how long it took me to answer the questions. So, have you had surgery with Dr. Avara? If so, when and how are you doing?

Thank you for your quick reply! How long did the appointment last? Did you have to fill out the 300 questionnaire I read so much about? This is really freaking me out. I have waited a very long time to get this close to having surgery and don't want a psych eval stop me in my tracks. :crying:

Hey, Linda! I am in Long Beach and see Dr. Avara (prounced Avery) in Ocean Springs. He has a web site: South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center ? Ocean Springs Bariatric Surgery I am in my 6 month insurance approval phase right now. I am looking at being banded probably in March of next year. Dr. Avara's office hosts a free seminar that you may want to attend. It is very informative and they will answer all your questions. Slidell is closer to you and I believe there are docs over there who perform this surgery as well. You may want to check into that. Good luck!

My husband is a federal employee and is considering switching to Federal BCBS next open season, either Oct or Nov. Does anyone know if MS BCBS covers lap band surgery and, if so, what are the requirements? What was your experience? I just had my first visit at Dr. Avara's office in Ocean Springs last night. Setting out on my 6 month worth of visits with a local FP. I have a BMI of 40, not diabetic, not been diagnosed with hypertension. I don't want to HAVE to life threatening illnesses for insurance to pay for this surgery....that is why I want the surgery! Argh. :thumbup: Thanks so much!

Husband is federal employee and we currently have GEHA for insurance. Husband wants to switch to MS Federal BCBS next open enrollment in October or November. Looking for any and all information regarding having surgery through this insurance provider. I have a BMI of 40 with minimal comorbidities; never been diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension although both are very prevalent in my family. Will BCBS approve under this scenario? I am trying to determine if BCBS is "better" than GEHA and whether or not we should change. I am leaning toward switching. I look forward to any and all information you have regarding the above. Thank you very much!!!