froggin4colorado

Day two of liquids/water only. I actually am doing pretty well. I was dreading the headaches most and I haven't had them yet. Yipee! One more day to go then surgery. I am going to look into getting myself a ticker....

I am on liquids now. I am hungry but holding on. The hardest part is watching the family eat. I am on day 2, one more day to go and then surgery time! Yippee!

You are the customer and they are there to service you. When I go into my docs, I take as much time as needed, which really isn't that long because I come in with my questions and research. I have never felt rushed and thus far I always feel like I am their priority. If you have a ton of questions ask them, it's your time, your dime. Everyone's questions are different. One of the questions I asked that I had read on here was, "how do some people not know where their port is?". I had read it on here and thought what an interesting question. I also included, "can I use my Breville juicer to make carrot juice, green juices, etc...?". From research online and talking with others, I discovered that doctors vary their preop diets, I wanted to know why. I shared my excitement about surgery and additionally I told them of my fear of going under, not feeling in control scares me. I also asked each individual where they were in their careers and why they choose this career? I asked that to become a bit personal, for my own sake- to feel more comfortable with the people that would be taking care of me. So, as you can see, questions vary and just know that you can take your time. Be a responsible and do your research so you truly understand what you are doing to your body. I believe this is why dan created the poll that he did. I believe he is looking at do you do your research and know what to expect going in, how to use your tool to weight loss? If you didn't know the ins, outs, sideways, twistways, backways of the surgery/tool, then are you succeessfully using the tool?

My surgery is the 16th, Monday. I just started my preop liquid diet. So, all day its been water, sugar free jello, and sugar free popsicles. To be honest, my butt hurts from the runs! Otherwise, no headaches yet.

Dr. Brown in Denver is also comparable to Dr. Kirshenbaum. His rate is $9,900.00. Denver, Colorado Lap Band Weight Loss Surgery | Aurora Gastric Lap-Band Price Options My insurance is covering me but he is my doc. Good luck! Lynette

The love and support that is pouring out of my workplace is amazing and so encouraging. I am a sped teacher on Fort Carson at one of the elementary schools, its a tough school to be in. I finally sent my "Dear Staff" email to everyone to let them know that I am having the surgery on Monday. Everyone that I have run into has said they will pray for me, how excited they are for me, and offered to help in any way for my family/recovery. It is so encouraging. We are having parent teacher conferences Wed (along with a regular day of school- 7:30am-8pm day). So it was a long day! Thursday is another 8pm day and my last day of food. So my last meal, if you want to call it, was food shared with my staff and catered by 3 Margaritas resturant. What a last meal- it wasn't all that great but it was with great company! I think it was definitely more memorable because of the amount of laughter, handing out flowers, and the encouragement of my upcoming surgery. So tomorrow is all liquids, my pre-op diet. I am starting this journey at 252 lbs. I am 31 years young and I love life. I am really thrilled that life is going to become even greater.

I start my pre-op diet tomorrow. I am very excited, anxious, and ready for this! I know the biggest issue I will deal with are the headaches. I am going to embrace these headaches- they are a symptom of detoxification....getting rid of the toxins in my body. I know my liver needs this badly. I wonder if I will make it long enough for my tongue to resemble the detox- the white coating? I love showers and look foward to taking hot showers to exfoliate my skin as it excreetes other toxins. I am on the road to a healthy life! For those of you who are struggling with the pre-op diet/liquids, please join me in a new walk in life, looking at food as a means to survive and being picky on what we will put in our body! I took my preop/fat pics at work yesterday...wow. I have been avoiding the full length mirror and camera...

Congrats to those of you who had surgery early Feb! Don't forget to keep posting to let the rest of us mid-monthers and end of monthers know how you are doing! Feb 16ers, we are next! Lord, continue guiding our surgeons hands and ease our minds. We more than willingly give you all of our fat:) We will succeed!

I am being banded on the 16th by Dr. Brown in Denver. I can't believe its a week away. I start my pre-op diet of liquids Friday. I tried a protein shake today and couldn't get it all down. I started the day out with a shake, an approved yogurt from the list, my vitamins, and some broth. By the time evening came, my body was having some withdrawls of food and I had a horrible headache. Glad my pre-op will be over the weekend so I can rest the headaches out. Can't do that teaching!

I went in for my pre-op and nutritional class today. Went a lot smoother than I thought it would. I was expecting to arrive at 1:30 and to end at 4:00 and home at 6. Well, it didn't go that way and I was home at 5 so that was nice. I have realized how much I drink my calories. I thought I was doing myself good by juicing fresh fruits and veggies in my Breville juicer and didn't realize how many extra calories I was downing. Wow. The post op diet for weeks one and two are going to be tougher than I thought because I can't stand milk and it seems everything is around these protein shakes that ask you to add milk. I have tried Soy/Silk and it isn't that bad. I am also not a pill popper so taking vitamins is going to be a change for me. I am still excited and optomistic about the surgery...even though I am coming across more and more people who have had issues with the band. We all have to die somehow, I just don't want to die of a heart attack due to obesity.

I am doing Dr. Brown. So far so good and I have BCBS fed. Went through the eval with no problems and next is the nutritional class on Thursday.

:thumbup: So I am scheduled for surgery on the 16th...but I am a little freaked. I interviewed and hired a new para this week. She agreed to take the position and was going to start on Monday. However, wouldn't you know it- her dad is in the hospital right now dying because his band has eroded and it is poisoning his body. What are the chances that the person I hire has a dad who is dying because of it? Is it a sign??!

I am very excited! I had a bit of a "oh my gosh" moment this week when I discovered my newly hired para has a dad in the hospital because his band eroded through his stomach and was poisoning his body. My mini me that sits on my shoulder kept telling me it is a sign! LOL!!! The chances of that happening is less than 1% though. I go in for the nutritional class Thursday afternoon. I am not looking foward to that one...but oh well. Blood work is the following week, and then onto my 3 day fast. I am so excited about fasting for 2 weeks and 3 days. Fasting is great for the body- allowing it to get rid of toxins, flush out the system and make repairs. I am big fan of fasting, I can't wait!! Wish I could go longer than the two weeks! I am going to ask that question at the nutritional class. Keep in touch!

Froggin here...my preop consists of 3 days on a liquid diet. So, on Feb 13th, I will start on only liquids and go in for surgery on the 16th. They said I couldn't use my Breville juicer to juice fresh fruits and veggies because of the amount of sugar in fruits. So that means I can't have store bought juice either. So, I am considering doing strictly water or use the Master Cleanse that weekend. Its also known as the lemonade diet--it keeps hunger down and it cleans your system out which is what I understand what they want me to do. Fasting is such a wonderful thing to do if you want your body to start repairing itself!! I think that is the most exciting part for me, letting my body clean itself out while fasting 3 days before hand and the 2 weeks after surgery. The part that sucks is the side effects of your body dumping all the crap- toxins...headaches, sweats, chills, feeling fluish, etc. I've always wished I had enough will power to do a long fast but could never go for very long. I know some on here will bash me on this but if you read about rawfoodism and research the benefits of fasting, hopefully you might not burn me at the stake!

I'm still going through with it, but I must admit I had a mini me sitting on my shoulder telling me it is a sign!

I thought I was going to Mexico and was considering Ortiz. However, when we switched insurance in January, I tried AGAIN and was successful. Saved myself thousands of dollars. I have to pay my co-pay of $100.

I remember the 80s and calling guys foxes! What a fox! He is so hot! 10!

I would like to officially join the February bandsters group- specifically the 16th groupies! Yippee! I have been researching this for a few years. When DH switched insurance companies in January to Fed BCBS, I started trying again. I got in for a consult and wouldn't you know that I hadn't been out of the office for an hour and I recieved a phone call stating insurance approved me! So, nutritional class is on the 5th, pre-op diet of liquids starts the 13th. It's still so surreal. Good luck to everyone!

I called another surgeon and went in for consult. The consult took 3 hours. I left the office with an office approval and in 45 minutes they called my cell phone telling me that insurance had approved me and they had my approval number/code. I was shocked. Surgery is set for Feb 16th. Oh yea, I am the one with BCBS fed and was frustrated with the 6 month thing. Turns out Penrose requires it, not the insurance.

I am very familiar with the valley...I graduated from HS at Mt. Valley- Saguache. I only lived there for a year, but I spent every weekend cruising Alamosa, Monte... Of course that was back in 1994-95. Times have changed! I now live in Colorado Springs. I tried going through Penrose...forget it. In fact, when I am done, I am going to call Penrose and let Fran know that I didn't have to do the 6 months like they wanted me to...that they swore was an insurance requirement. I am going to wait until afterwards though! Nice to meet you and thanks for posting!

I gave up trying to get banded in Colorado Springs. I was told by Penrose that I needed a 6 month supervised diet and my insurance company kept telling me that I didn't. So, after having enough with it I returned a phone call to Dr. Brown's office up in Denver. I was scheduled in one week for a consult. I went up to Denver today with DH to the consult. I met with the dietician first where she asked me about my yo-yo dieting, what are my favorite foods, dietary habits when dieting and not dieting, etc. She explained what life will be like afterwards and we discussed where I will probably struggle. Then, I went in to see Zen Ken...lol. Ken was the social worker and such a hoot. He immediately gave me a koosh ball to play with--yippee! (I am a sped teach and all about sensory stuff!) and we visited for awhile too. It was like a mini counseling session. Really nice and good person to know. Glad I met him. Then, I dragged DH up a floor where I met the physician's assistant (she is awesome, great lady) and then met with doctor. After poking fun at his artistic abilities, I asked questions, we joked, laughed, and then I sat down with Amy who set up a surgery date. She prepped me on the nutrional class that I need to take yet, lab work and diet restrictions. Surgery is FEBRUARY 16th! Yippee! We left and within an hour...EXACTLY 50 minutes she was calling me to tell me insurance had approved me and I was set. JUST LIKE THAT! WOW.

Wonderful! Awesome! Beautiful! So glad things are working well for you! I love to exercise! I can't imagine not being able to walk. My fav is lifting weights!! My thighs can press 235lbs when I power lift. My arms can only do 120lbs. I have always been muscular. Unfotunately I have been unsuccessful at losing weight all my life with watching calories and being physically active. My BMI is above 40 and often docs don't believe I am so active. I feel like I should bring people from the gym who can say that they are amazed that this fat girl can run a mile in 12 minutes and lift so much weight! Thyroid shows no problems... Anyhow, I am going to get banded and I think banding should only be used when truly other diets haven't. I know from past experience that my weight loss comes from eating only 500 to 600 calories a day...that's just me. It isn't healthy for many people, but keeping it at 1200 doesn't move the fat or scale. I am so proud you choose diet and exercise and am being successful at it. Banding is not a quick fix to fat problems and I think so many think that. Exercising and watching food intake is a must!! You are doing that without invading your body and your body is going to look so much better because you are! Congratulations on your choice and success!

There is a doctor here in Denver, CO who will do it for $9950. That way you could stay state side. There is a lot of discussion here about him. About Gerald Kirshenbaum, MD, MHA, RVT, FACS | Lap Band of The Rockies - Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum

I called fed BCBS Monday and talked to a rep about surgery. I specifically asked her if I needed to prove that I had followed my docs weight loss plan for 6 months and I was told that fed BCBS doesn't need to do that anymore. So, I called Penrose and set up an educational consult. Today I was called by Penrose and was told she had recieved a memo that said I needed to follow a 6 month plan. So, I called my doc, set up an appt and they proceded to tell me I didn't need to. So I turned around and called the insurance company again and they again told me I didn't need to. So I called Penrose again and left a message...talk about confusing! I went ahead and kept my doc appt for my 6 month plan...but talk about getting the run around. Anybody else experience this with fed blue cross blue shield?

According to the gal I talked to for the surgeon, they just found this out this week when they sent in a claim for payment. Supposedly fed BCBS had sent them a memo Jan 1 that said they were to follow the same 6 month plan like they do with Anthem and that the claim they were sending was going to be denied payment. I am seeking other surgeons to see if I get the same answer but can't find anyone else here in the Springs that fed BCBS has under their preferred providers. I might have to start searching Denver. I did email Dr. K that everyone talks about but they don't work with insurance companies, everyone who goes through him self-pays. In the meantime, I have my appt with my PCP and I am going back on phentermine...yuck. I don't like the side effects of phentermine...I am a zombie on it. I only sleep 3 hours a night on it and I am not really coherent on it.