dragonfly34

Hi ya!! Just wanted to post that I have gotten my surgery date!! I will be banded on February 11th, 2009. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I'll start my 2 weeks of liquids on January 28th, 2009:whatchutalkingabout!! Does anyone have any advice on the liquids or my surgery? Thanks!!

Hey! Yep I'm excited! I know you are too! Please keep me posted on your progress! Good luck with your surgery!! Thanks!!

Gosh!! Sounds like some of y'all have had it easy. I've been through a number of tests--a required education class offered by the doctor's office, chest x-ray, EKG, ABG, lab work drawing numerous viles of blood, endoscopy, sonogram on gall bladder, echo cardiogram, upper barium, nutritionist visit and psych visit, plus 3 doctor's visit, one to meet doctor and see if he thinks I'm a good patient for the surgery, then a decision visit to decide if I want gastric bypass or lapband, and my last visit will be my support visit where the person who will take care of me after surgery has to go with me to meet the doctor and I also will have a physicial and any additional blood work done at this visit--I think that's it. I started in Sept. 08' and now I'm at the point that I have a verbal okay from my insurance and now my doctor is waiting on the written so we can set my surgery date. I have to do 2 weeks of liquids before the surgery and of course 2 weeks after. So is it the insurance company's that make you either jump through the hoops or not? It's amazing to me what I have had to go through to get to this point compared to someone that has hardly had to go through anything. Not meaning that in a bad way I would have loved to have not had to do all these tests for a number of reasons. I live about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes from my doctor. Plus the expense of all these tests. Although it has been frustrating at times and expensive--I hope and PRAY that it will all be worth it in the long run!!! Hope to have my surgery date set for Feb. 9th, 2009!! Will keep you posted!!

Hey Everyone, I'm new to all of this. I have had my first visit with the surgeon and a few tests. I have had a required education class. Now I'm waiting on a letter with my next series of test. Any advice from the "experienced" lapbanders on this process? I hope to have my surgery sometime after the first of the year but I know it's a slow process. Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks so much. :wink2:

Hi! I just started this process. I met with Dr. Pender on Sept. 30--He was very nice and answered all my questions. I spent more time with the nurse and another doctor in his office. And they were very informative and so I didn't really spend that much time with Dr. Pender cause most all my questions had already been answered. I do know that Dr. Pender trained under Dr. Chapman. They also sent right over to do 3 of the many tests you have to do while I was in Greenville. Which was good since I live about an hour or so away from Greenville. On Oct. 8 I went to the required education class which I learned nothing that I didn't already know but met some really cool folks. They said to keep your appointments cause they are seeing tons of new patients everyday. I'm waiting on my letter with my appointment schedule. I should have by tues/wed of next week--if not I will take the advice of another poster on here and CALL!! Good luck!!:wink2: