msbug

I write book summaries for a library distribution company. I've been doing it for 8 years, and have been lucky enough to work at home for the last 6. Which gives me plenty of time for my second job, Mommy! I have a 6 year old dd and a 3 year old son. My son has lots of health and developmental issues, so we're constantly running to doctors appointments, therapy sessions, etc. I'm so glad I work at home, otherwise I would have had to quit my job because of his issues and needs. I'm hoping to keep working at home till he's in kindergarten in a couple years, then I'll head back into the office if they want me to. My dh does tech support for the same company I work for. Makes my job easy because he just brings home my books everyday for me!

No problem! I'm having it done at the Centegra Bariatric Center in Crystal Lake, Il. I'll be paying $11, 500 for the pre-op testing, surgery, hospital stay, and year of after care and about $5,000 for the surgeon's fee.

I'm going to be banded Aug 15 and am self-pay. The hospital offers all its self-pay patients a 35% discount. The price they quoted me includes all pre-op testing, the actual surgery and post-op care (one night in the hospital) and a year's follow up. Basically the only thing that is separate is the surgeon's fees and the anesthesiologists. I was told the surgeon fees at my first consult (also get a 30% discount on the surgeon fee) and will find out the anesthesiologists' fee next week. I'd sit down with the hospitals financial advisor and the bariatric coordinator, whether through the hospital or your surgeon's office, and have them spell out exactly what is covered in the surgery cost and what is going to be extra. Good luck!

I was just wondering who dieted in the time between starting the whole banding process, ie consults, pre-op tests, classes, etc, and having the surgery. I know most did a pre-op diet for 2 weeks or so, but I'm talking about before that. Did you just decide to eat whatever you wanted for the last time and not worry about losing weight or were you still trying to lose before having the surgery?

Welcome to the board! I'm another 30 year old waiting for surgery. Scheduled for August 15 and I can't wait! My dad is down in Scottsdale and I'm pretty sure he had his gastric bypass at the same place you're going to. Not sure who his doc was, but he had a great experience there. Good luck! Hope you get the approval from insurance soon.

I am right there with you! I'm not getting banded till August 15 and it seems like forever! Luckily, I've got a couple vacations in there to occupy me, but the days I'm home are just going to drag I think. I've started adopting some of the lifestyle changes too. Getting ready to give up my Diet Cokes, chewing more, eating slower, exercising everyday, etc. But, it's still going to crawl by. Hope your time flies fast. It's only a couple weeks away for you!

Well, I could have had the surgery done on July 11, but I'm going to be on vacation the following week and didn't think it was a good idea to be running around after 2 kids, doing lots of walking, and being in another state just a week after surgery. :girl_hug: So, I decided to wait until August 15 because then my dad will be able to fly in and help with my kids for the week or so after surgery. He's not available before then, and it would have meant my mom and dh would have had to use up all their vacation time just to help me during the recuperation. Dad is semi-retired and can make his own schedule, so him coming up just made more sense to me. In some ways I'm disappointed that I have to wait so long because I want to get banded and start losing ASAP, but I know waiting is the best decision for me and my family.

That stinks! I hope they can find a way to get you in sooner.

I had my consult with the surgeon and his bariatric nurse today and am all cleared to start the banding process. :clap2: I just need to do the psych consult and one on one education sessions with the dietician and nutritionists, then I'll be all set to schedule the pre-op testing and surgery. But, I'm trying to figure out when to schedule it. My ideal time was the last week of June because my dd will be in Arizona with my dad and stepmom, which makes childcare issues much easier. But, the surgeon is out of town then, so we're looking at the first week of July instead. The problem is, I'm going on vacation from July 19-23. I'd be on full liquids if I do the surgery 2 weeks earlier, and honestly, that would pretty much suck while on vacation! So now I'm wondering if I should wait and get banded 2 weeks after vacation. That gives me the time for the 10 day liquid pre-op diet and I can enjoy my vacation without worrying about food. On one hand, I really want to get banded and start losing the weight and get healthier. On the other hand, only being able to eat liquids while on vacation is not going to be much fun! Also, if I wait till 2 weeks after, my dad will be available to help out with the kids the week after surgery. Otherwise my mom and dh will have to take time off work. Dad's semi-retired, so that's not an issue for him. I'd hate to put off the surgery, but it seems like it would make more sense to. But do I really want to wait a whole extra month? What would you do?

Haven't been banded yet, but I feel the same way. My dh and parents know and that's it. There are some people I absolutely don't want to tell, like my judgemental, overly-critical, cranky uncles and the people in my department at work, but the rest I haven't decided if, when, or how I'll tell them. I lost quite a bit of weight on Weight Watchers a couple years ago, so I plan to tell them that's how I'm losing again. I work at home and only go into the office once a month or so, so it's not like I have to worry about them analyzing what I eat. I just don't want to feed the rumor mill there and have them all talking about my surgery.

I know all the infomercials and seminars make it seem like the band is a piece of cake with little or no complications or downsides. I've done lots of research and know that's not true, it's not all roses and sunshine, but would love to hear from the experienced bandsters here. What do you wish someone had told you BEFORE you had the band put in?

Yep, I'm pretty sure it's 4 Optima a day and no food. I'm having my first consult with the surgeon on Thursday morning (yay!) and I'm going to ask for sure then. I'll let you know what they say! He seems to have a pretty conservative approach, but I think that's because they've been doing lapbands for less than a year. I won't even get to eat regular food till 11 weeks after surgery. :faint: Lots of mushies though. Oh well, I'm betting it'll all be worth it! Just remind me of that when I'm cranky from lack of food and wanting to eat my kitchen table the week before I get banded. :confused:

As a mother, I can imagine how scared you are! Glad you're being pro-active and getting the treatment right away. Let us know if your hubby finds anything. The idea of getting a photo of bat poop for him to look for is a great idea too. Keep us posted.

I haven't been banded yet, but hope to be in the next couple months! My doc has his patients drink 4 cans of SlimFast Optima a day for the 2 weeks before surgery. I think it has to be the Optima as opposed to the regular Slim Fast because it has more protein in it, which, from what I've read, is the biggest part of the band diet. The purpose of the preop diet is to shrink the liver so it's easier to do the surgery. Good luck!

If you were self pay for your band, what was the total, if you don't mind me asking? Did your surgeon have a "package deal" with aftercare included?

I'm agreeing with disneynut, I'm tired of thinking "Oh god, I'm the fattest person here!" no matter where I am. I want to be healthy and live long enough to watch my kids grow up. And I want to look good in a pair of jeans!

I'm a newbie too! Had the informational seminar last week and the first consult with the surgeon is this Thursday. I cannot wait! I'm tired of hating the way I look and having diet after diet fail. I'm hoping since I'll be self-pay and that the hospital's program doesn't have the 4 week nutrition class (they don't do as many bands as bypasses so the classes are geared towards bypass and the banders get a couple one on one sessions with the dietician and nutritionist) that I'll be able to get in and have it done in the next month or so. Nice to meet you!

Wow! That is amazing. Such an inspiration for us newbies and band hopefuls too. Any secrets you can share? What type of stuff do you eat?

How long was it before you could eat regular food after you were banded? I had the informational seminar on Wednesday and they gave us the diet layout and I can't start regular food till 11 weeks after surgery! :faint: It seems that that is a lot longer than other people have had. I'm on full liquids from 3 days after surgery to week 3, then on pureed food till week 5 and soft foods (is that what's considered mushies?) week 6-10. I have my first consult with the surgeon on Thursday and will definately be asking about the post-op diet! Just wondering what the average is here.

Am I going to have to give up my Starbucks habit after the band? I usually get the Carmel Lite Frappachino once a week or so. Will I still be able to after getting banded? If not, I need to start the mourning process now!

I'm starting the process to being banded, have my consult with the surgeon next week. :clap2: Anyway, I'm sitting here getting more paranoid that this is one more diet attempt that I'm going to fail at. I want it to work, I intend to follow all the rules, and am trying to get ready for lifestyle changes. But, I'm still nervous. Some of you have great stats and I'd love to hear the secrets to your lap band success. I want to do this right! So what tips, secrets, changes seem to work best for you and help you lose the weight?

Well, I just had the informational seminar at the bariatric center tonight. It's a smaller center, they only do about 2 wls a week, but their program is top notch. Lots of pre-op education and support and a very comprehensive post-op schedule with the dietician, nutritionist, personal trainer, etc. I was very surprised when the surgeon said that 80% of their patients are Roex-en-y bypass and only 20% are suitable candidates for lap band. It's all determined after the consult with the docs and filling out a long questionere. I'm hoping for the band, really don't want to take on the risks of bypass, plus I would prefer to lose slower and I'm not done having kids yet. So what made you choose the band over bypass? Did you consider bypass at all?

Thanks for all the input! I really appreciate. Just to clarify though, the docs don't go in and say "You have to have this surgery" and that's the end of it. They make a recommendation as to which they think would be best for you, but the ultimate decision is up to the patient.

I haven't been banded yet, but I can sympathize. I have no desire to tell my family, aside from my mom and dad. My uncle's are so critical and gram is a blabber-mouth, so I'm not sure how I'll get around it. The good news is I probably won't see any of them till Thanksgiving! I like the idea of telling them you're on a high-nutriet, small portion diet. Or tell them you've just gotten over the stomach flu and are afraid if you eat you might puke all over them. That also covers you if you have to rush to the bathroom to pb. :eek: Good luck!

:clap2: That is very good to hear! My insurance does pay for wls but only after you've been enrolled in the program for 2 years and if you have at least 2 co-morbidities. I've only been with them since Jan and have no co-morbidities, so I'm not even trying to get it approved and will self-pay. However, I'm really hoping they will cover the fills after. Thanks to you I know that some insurance companies do this!