YngGram

The scale thing is big today! I posted and I think you are third to do so today, it must be Mon. I thought of this about an hour ago, the need to weigh is in connection with progress, and the need to see it. When I turned my head for about the fifth time to not look at it, the thought came to mind. I started my pre-op today and it is for 2 weeks. I went to workout, just some treadmill time and a little bike. My thought was to burn off the 180 cals. in the breakfast drink. I have pre-admission tests tomorrow so I won't get the gym. I will struggle in the morning to NOT get on the scale. I promised I would hold out until Fri. but I think we all know I won't make it!

Got mine at WalMart Super Center

O U T S T A N D I N G !!!!

First the good news, TriCare responds very quickly. My paperwork was submitted on 01/21 and approved 01/23!! Next, depending on where you are, I believe the sleep study is something your doc is asking for. I am TriCare North (HealthNet), and the test is not required by TriCare. I needed Pulmonary, cardiac, nutrition, and psych evals, TSH Leve, H-Pylori (bloodwork) for clearance. It took me 3 seminars, and 2 consults with surgerons to find one that didn't charge program fees or have requirements that insurance didn't have or cover. This group lets you do all the test at the same place. Not the way I went because I live an hour away. I got lucky because my PCP had oreded some of these as part of my yearly workup. I get banned in 2 weeks so just keep working and don't give up. Niterun

Ha Ha tag you're it!! I posted about this earlier because I know where I am headed. Started my pre-op diet today and I guess I will have to have that scale hidden until Fri. I have told myself that during this time I will only weigh on Mon. and Fri. when I get up. Today I have fought well for the pass few hours however I don't think I will do that well tomorrow. Whenever you think you want to get on the scale just scream 'NITERUN", maybe that will keep you off while you laugh at yourself and me. Niterun

Hi All, I was just wondering when and how often you guys hit the scales. I start my 2 week pre-op diet tomorrow and I have lost about 16lbs. in my efforts to prepare for the changes that are on the way. I will also track my actual loss on the pre-op but I don't want to be scale crazy. My DH says I already am.

I am Tricare Standard, not the same but still military related. As with all things military, if they got a rule, follow it , follow it, follow it. Check out their website if you haven't and start with their guidelines. I think you have to go through a military facility and documentation will be a big deal. Weight history and proof of weight loss programs tried and failed, 5 years is what is looked at most often. I also think you will need to do a 6 month structered weight loss program. They would have you meet with a base nutritionist and then once a month check in. I didn't have to do all of this but I think the people with TriCare Prime do. Good luck. I was approved in just a few days of having paperwork submitted. There are some ohter things you will need to do, but start with their requirements because it can get involved.:tt2:

Hi All, TriCare(Standard) offically started processing my request on the 21st., I just checked the web site and it has been approved as medically necessary:party:. However the date of service listed is 3/5/09, hope I really don't have to wait that long.

I'm not self pay but this is how it went. Seminar on 11/3 evening about 2 hours in a classroom, on time. Next week consult with surgeron, was weighed and discussed questions, the procedure, and upcoming tests needed and turned in the med history packet. Waited for results from tests. Had a nutrional eval and paperwork submittet to insurance. Approval on 1/23 then had a 4 hour nutrion class to cover what to expect in hosptial, pre-op diet, food after surgery and q & a. My date is 3/9 so I have pre admission blood work and such this Monday and will start 2 week pre op diet.

I have same date, feel same way. We rock, just don't worry.

I'm not there yet but, was told to expect this. Sip, sip, sip. No sugar added Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink made with skim milk. The nutreints are there, go slow.

:eek: Doc's letter came on Wed., I will roll on 3/9 as promised!

I am in the trainning stage. I start the liquids next Monday for 2 weeks. I starting trainning in Nov. for the changes that were to come with lapband, it is my hope that it will make things a little easier for me to learn to do it on my own. Cut out the sweet tea and learned to drink the no cal Crystal Light type. Not to hard, saving a ton of money on sugar. Next was to start to cut back on the protions, little tuffer but OK. 3 weeks ago I started to have a liquid for breakfast. This was hardest because I NEVER ate breakfast, understand that's part of my old weight issues, also I use Skim Milk. I am now doing 2 shakes (slimfast or carnation instant) and whatever meal I want, down 14lbs. without exercise and I haven't felt hungry. This is self empossed, so I can't cheat because I don't have any rules to follow. I really hope this helps on Monday when the rules start. :blush:Taking a test run now on a protein smoothie...OH BOY! Not happy now about this.

Thank you and good luck to you as well. I will be banned on the 9th of March. Just got back from the "Hopstial & post surgery" shopping trip. Sipping a protein smoothie (yuck), NO PAIN NO GAIN UHHH LOSS!

Don't know if it will help, but it's what I am doing. I gave up (mostly) SWEET TEA, I drank it by the gallon daily. The replacement was the Wal-Mart or Food Lion brand of Crystal Light type drink. It's flavored water really but it doesn't have the funky aftertaste of diet stuff that I hate. Also it comes in Raspberry and Peach Iced Tea, enough flavor to not miss the sugar. I also am weening myself off of the heavy lunches and dinners. Smaller portions on smaller plates, slowly started to replace one of those meals with a slim fast (equate) and I added a breakfast drink (Carnation w/skim milk). I didn't usually eat breakfast and my doc says that has been a big part of weight problems. I have lost lbs without exercise. I am trying to move around the house more. I get up and just move, vac a little longer than needed, make more trips to put away the laundry. It hasn't been so much about losing pounds but prep for the pre op liquid diet. Many here say they are straving by the third day and I wanted to help stop that if I can.:thumbup: It's been about a month and I feel OK about it if I have a "bad" day. I start the real liquid diet on the 23rd. so I hope this has worked the way I wanted it to. Good luck.

I just told my best friend tonight. The kids and spouse were told when I started my research. I hesitated to tell my friend because she had bypass a few years ago and has gained about 50-60 lbs back. She is very sensitive and I don't want her to feel bad about her situation or about mine(success or failure). I know she will give me all she can to help me be a success. I am very strong minded and I will not take guff off of anyone about anything I do. Therefore, the fewer people who know, the fewer I should be charged with assaulting!

I think that with bypass the weight loss is much faster in the earlier stages. With your issues it might me the doc's attempt to get those under control as qucikly as possible. The other poossibility is that he perfers to do that procedure. I don't think it will be a big issue of being thristy but you should talk to you PCP and don't get pushed into a procedure you are comfortable with. I don't have your health issues and I haven't been banded yet, so all of this is just my opinion. I thought of the bypass for the quick weight loss, but can't handle having the bod rerouted, also it is very permanant. Good luck

Spouse and kids have been told, next month on the 9th. The support is in place but.....my DH will make me nuts. I know it, I know it, I KNOW IT!!! He doesn't think I eat enough now, he also thinks food will cure anything that sex doesn't. I am working on telling my best friend. She had bypass a few years ago and has regained most of it. I know she will be there for me, but I don't want her to think that I am trying to 'OUT DO HER!' I also don't want her to feel bad, she has some kid issues now and she is a sensitive and passive person. I won't let anyone else in because I don't need or want a keeper.

Did anyone go home with a pain relief system in place? Something to deliver meds for 2-5 days attached to a catheter that had to be removed by you or the doctor?

I will be using Dr. Brengrman, and this was covered in the pre surgery class. Must be his thing to do. :frown:

I haven't done it yet so this is off the top of my head. See if you can have anything with zero calories like...popsciles, crystal light type drinks. They might help fill without adding anything, and of course MORE WATER!! I am just trying to cut out stuff as I go along so that when I start the pre op liquid diet I will have an easier time. I replaced really SWEET tea with the Great Value (WalMart) Sugar Free drinks. Raspberry drink and Iced Tea with Peach has enough flavor that I don't miss the sugar and lable is straight zeros:rolleyes: More fluid might make you fill fuller, and help flush out the bad stuff.

CONGRATS!!!! Jumping with you on the same date! I don't have as much work as you, but I will be pulling for you as hard as for myslef.:frown:

I am making changes to make life easier with the band. My date is 3/9 but I had first seminar in Sept. I started the gym, not doing to well with that (old problem). I then gave up most of the really sweet tea I drank daily and switched to sugar free drinks. Great Value from WalMart works well for me. I then started to work on portion controll, this was really easier than I thought, use smller plates and just don't go back for more. Not doing to good with drinking more water, but I am better than before. Now I am doing a version of the "liver shrink" diet. I have a carnation breakfast dirnk, a slim fast and a meal. I have lost 12lbs. in the last 3 weeks and am really happy with myself. Now here is the thing I find surprising. I always thought I wasn't an emotional eater, but I am. I thought I couldn't do a liquid diet because I would always be hungry, but I'm not. Now I almost am more disappointed in myself for all my earlier failures with diets. I feel really good that I'm doing well with my self impossed changes and it gives me great hope for after the lap band. I was most worried that I wouldn't be able to just eat 3 small, small meals but now I think I will be okay. I am ready and happy to know that I have the strenght for this. The real liquid diet is not far off, it doesn't look to bad, not very differnt from what I'm doing now. The excitement hasn't set in yet, but happy feels real good right now.:biggrin:

1) It took an hour to do the "test", then a short talk with the Doc. Checking to make sure you understand what is in front of you with the life changes. 2) My PCP had ordered test because I have HBP and he does stay on top of it anyway, I also had a Nuclar Stres Test. So in that area I was over tested by incident. 3) Simple blood work, mine was done when I went to get my colestoral check, nurse just worte it in on my lab sheet to check for it 4) I had the chest Xray for a recent bad cold, again just good timing thing. Don't worry about the test, the surgeon I am seeing usually had all those done at the hospital where the surgery will be done. I happen to live a little over an hour away and had them done as part of my regular work. My surgeron had the cost for the test bulit into his fee for the surgery.

Hello, Welcome and Congrtas!!! I will use the same group, but Dr. Brengman. Had my nutritional class on Mon. and will be banned 3/9. I will add you to friends list. I don't live in Richmond but I was born there.:smile: