ldeere2005

Originally, I was to have had surgery on March 25th, but my doctor is going out of town so it was re-scheduled for April 8th! And I'm just as excited to be a part of the Bunnies!!! I start my liquid diet on Monday! I'm so ready for my new life!!!

I can understand where you're coming from, in a sense... kinda like going to college... some pay their own way which many times makes you work harder.... and some get scholarships or the parents pay their way... and they party more then they do their work... but, on the other hand.. this is a journey that is going to be different for each one of us. We've all had/have our struggles with our weight and even those who have only lost a few pounds, have still lost! If it's only 1 pound, that's a loss and not a gain like many of us would normally have. I have very good insurance...no dedc't, and it pays 90% of my allowable... I'm blessed to have this insurance due to it would be impossible for me to come up with the payment any other way. But I had to fight tooth and nail to get their approval... and the copay I had to pay up front was $1200.00 and I had to come up with it quick... that was like coming up with $13000.00 for me... but Praise God, I had it the day I needed it and I will be having surgery April 8th!!! I think most people have their concerns that the band won't "work" for them... I've had the same worries... but I've had to change my life and my thinking about food. I have a huge amt to lose... approx 250 pds... and I feel in my heart this is my last chance at life. I not only want to make the best of it, I HAVE to make the best of it! And I started making those changes several months before I had a surgery date.... down 19 pds and I'll start my liquid diet next Monday. We've just all gotta remember that we are worth this!!! We are worth whatever we have to put into this whether financial, physical, or mental! And we can do it! Congrats on your weight loss!! That is so awesome!!! You just keep going and remember that whether you pay $300.00 a month or not, this is for you and you are worth it!!!

My date is April 8th too! I start my liquid diet this coming Monday... have you started yours yet?

P.S.... I'll have 5 shakes a day... with 1/2 cup fruit with my shakes, and I can have broth.... and if I have to "chew" something... I can have dill pickles.... that's pretty much it for the liquid diet... and I've heard the first 3 days are the hardest and not so bad after that. I also have vitamin supplements I have to take during that time.

My surgeon has me on a protein shake diet 15 days before surgery.... I'll start March 23rh and surgery is scheduled for April 8th. I've read some posts where some docs only have patient's go on liquids for 3 days before surgery.... guess it's according to the surgeon. My understanding is the reason for doing this is so the liver will shrink and it will be easier to get the band around the top of the stomach. My surgeon has been known to put people on the shakes for 4 weeks prior to surgery.... but only 15 days for me and I've got 250 pds to lose. Good luck!

:cursing: I'm excited too! I was suppose to have been banded on March 25th, but doc is going out of town so they've postponed me till April 8th! I was upset at first, but I went for my consultation today and had a great visit with the surgeon. I've lost 18 pds so far!!!! And then went to the hospital to do my preadmission and prelab testing.... that went great too. So it was a good day and I'll have my lapband in just over a month! Again, I'm excited!!!!

Congratulations!!! I'm going to see my surgeon this Thursday. Which band did you get? My surgery was scheduled for March 25th and was changed to April 8 due to the doctor going out of town.... made me sad but I'm still on my way!!!!

I found out yesterday from the surgeons office that I may have to have a "filter" inserted the day before I have lapband surgery due to having had blood clots in my legs when I was in my early 20's. I explained to them that I've had 3 surgeries since I had the clots and have never had any problems..... and I even had a clot test done (lab) per their requirement and it came back within normal range. Has anyone out there heard of this or had this done? I just don't know what to expect if I have to have it done. Thanks!

I found out yesterday from the surgeons office that I may have to have a "filter" inserted the day before I have lapband surgery due to having had blood clots in my legs when I was in my early 20's. I explained to them that I've had 3 surgeries since I had the clots and have never had any problems..... and I even had a clot test done (lab) per their requirement and it came back within normal range. Has anyone out there heard of this or had this done? I just don't know what to expect if I have to have it done. Thanks!

:thumbup: Did you have the Realize Band? That is so scary. I'm so glad you took action when you did. Thanks for sharing with us!

Congratulations on your insurance approval! I am also in Arkansas. I work in Searcy. Are you in Little Rock? Which doctor are you using? My surgery date is March 25th and I'm using Dr. John Baker in Little Rock. I go March 5th for my consultation. I have BlueAdvantage which is a subsidiary of Ark BCBS... and I had to fight a pre-exisiting clause that they tried enforce on me. But I do medical billing for a clinic so I knew how to fight them and thank the Good Lord, I won! I'm so proud for you!!! You are truly on your journey to a new healthier you!!! Congrats!

Hi there!!! I'm in Arkansas too... not too far from Searcy. I'm being banded on March 25th by Dr. John Baker in Little Rock. You are doing so great! I'm excited and nervouse at the same time. I've been doing research to see which band would be best for me due to I have a lot of weight to lose, about 250 pds or so. Did you get the Lapband band? Congratulations on all the weight you've lost!!!

That is soooo great!!!! I have a lot to lose too and am being banded on March 25th. Which band did you end up getting? I'm trying to decide which one will be best for me and I've heard so many complaints about the Realize Band not giving restriction for many, many months. Did you by chance have the Lapband System band? Thanks for the info and you're doing great!!!!

My aunt has Medicare primary and Tricare 2nd and she was approved... they said that Tricare would pay for what Medicare doesn't cover with any deductibles and copay. Good Luck!!!

I'm being banded on March 25th. You are doing so great!!!! I'm so ready to get on my journey! Which band did you get?

I'm being banded on March 25th. What kind of band did you get? Sounds like you've done great so far... you've got 35 pds behind you! Congrats on that!!!

Which band did you get? Sounds like you are doing great! Congratulations!

I am being banded on March 25th and I am very concerned about what band to use. I've heard pros and cons about Realize band. That's actually the one I was going to use and now I'm just now certain, so I'm trying to get some info from those of you that have the experience with the bands. Please let me know which band you have and how it's worked for you. I know the band is a tool, but I need the restriction. If no or very little restriction, I'm afraid I won't stick to it. With the proper restriction, I know I will.... I don't like to be sick! I've got 250 pds to lose. I appreciate any comments and all the help!!!! I love this site! You are all so awesome!!!

I am being banded on March 25th and I am very concerned about what band to use. I've heard pros and cons about Realize band. That's actually the one I was going to use and now I'm just now certain, so I'm trying to get some info from those of you that have the experience with the bands. Please let me know which band you have and how it's worked for you. I know the band is a tool, but I need the restriction. If no or very little restriction, I'm afraid I won't stick to it. With the proper restriction, I know I will.... I don't like to be sick! I've got 250 pds to lose. I appreciate any comments and all the help!!!! I love this site! You are all so awesome!!!

Great job Biker!!! Congrats!!! I'm being banded on March 25th. I'm trying to decide what band to use. Which one do you have if you don't mind me asking. You're doing so great!!!

Congratulations again! I'm being banded March 25th. I need to lose 200-250 pds. I'm trying to decide what kind of band to use. What band do you have? Realize or what? Thanks!

:thumbup: You've done great with your weight loss! Congrats! I am being banded on March 25th and trying to decide what kind of band to use, Realize or otherwise. I have a lot of weight to lose (250 pds or so). What kind of band do you have? I wanna make sure that I get a band that will give me proper restriction and be safe. Thanks!

:biggrin: Great job!!! I'm just getting started. I will be banded March 25th... and I have 254 pds to lose to get to my goal weight. You're success is definitely encouragement to me! So proud for you!!!

Please check with your insurance company regarding in-network surgeons. They can tell you. I am an insurance biller for a family practice physician and I can tell you that with all the different insurance plans out there, unless your insurance is a "major" insurance company, it is almost impossible for the clinic to know sometimes if they are considered a covered provider. You also need to check with your insurance company regarding if you have any deductible amounts and copays for the surgeon and the hospital. I'm being banded on March 25th and I had a huge fight with my insurance company for almost 2 months before I was able to get my benefits straightened out. And being an insurance biller gave me an edge because I knew what to ask and what to expect. But it was still a fight with them that paid off. The biggest thing to remember is that it is the patient's responsibility to know their policy and which doctors are covered.... that will save you a lot of grief later when the bills start coming in. Besides, if you get a surgeon and hospital that is in network, you'll get a discount because of the contract between the doctor/hospital and the insurance company. Those discounts can add up to thousands of dollars in savings!!!! My best to you!!!! ldeere2005 looking forward to surgery March 25, 2009!!!!

My surgery is scheduled for March 25th!!! I'm excited and the March Melters sounds great!!!!!