hrtgoeson

a three-incision lap-band surgery? My surgeon told me that usually it's 5 incisions but there is a new method with only 3 and barring any complications I'll have three. I don't doubt his word I just haven't seen anything about it

Hi all, I've given up soda and I don't drink coffee or tea. I'm having nothing but Crystal light (I'm about a month away from surgery). Well, I LOVE Crystal Light but the acid I guess is giving me cold sores (which happened to me in college when I drank nothing but Gatorade). Anyone have any suggestions? Please don't say plain water - I just don't like it plain. If I have to I imagine I can force myself but I was hoping someone had another suggestion for something that is not so citrus-y. Thanks!

yeah they have aspartame :-( I'm picking my battles at this point. It's sugar-free and I'm having a hard enough time giving up soda lol.

say don't get the lap-band! the nurse at my regular dr's office had gastric bypass and she practically begged me to do that instead. Same thing with an online friend of mine. What made you decide to get the band instead of bypass? I was so floored I couldn't even think of the reason why I chose the band over bypass lol.

Well I went to Walmart and found some new stuff. There's Sugar Free HAwaiin Punch Singles to Go (not too bad...but not Hawaiian Punch-y enough for me), Welch's Dark Berry (also Sugar Free) to go (Raspberry, Blueberry, Cranberry and Grape together) and that is really really good! I also got SF Kool-Aids to go but haven't tried them yet. Not bad really, still citrus-y but it's a variety!

Woohoo i have been approved! So I'm April 24th, yay! good luck to all getting banded!

Waiting on insurance approval but I'm scheduled for 4/24 in the meantime!

Well I'm getting there! They submitted my paperwork to insurance and set my (hopfully permanant) surgery date for 4/24....Ohhhhh I'm so excited! Cross your fingers for me!

YAY! Congratz! I have BCBS Highmark. I've seen everything in this forum from 3 hours to 6 weeks so I have no clue! They were supposed to submit my papers last week but the psych eval wasn't given to them til yesterday so it was just submitted. She had an opening on 4/10 so she put that on my paperwork even though I can't do it that weekend just to see if that will hurry it up.

I'm at the point that they are going for approval at my insurance, but I am having big problems with mis and or confusing information about financials. It's starting to concern me to the point of finding another surgeon. Anyone have any wonderful advice for me? He's supposed to be really good but i don't want to get stuck with a horrific bill full of suprises because new charges keep popping up that they haven't told me about...

Hmmm that's the same one. His main practice is in Hollywood but he has offices in Bonita and Cape Coral too. I guess it's just me then... Congrats on your new band!

We can wait together! lol. My Dr should have submitted to insurance a day or two ago...I just want them to approve it so i can move forward....First they said I had to do 6 months of dieting and then said 'whoops, no you don't' so I guess I should count my blessings, eh? Good luck!!

I got lucky and my nutritionist recommended the Jay Robb Protein Powder. It is AWESOME! A little pricey but so worth it IMHO. It kind of froths up and tastes like a milkshake without the ice cream.

My surgeon started me on a 6 month Dr supervised diet and i was just heartbroken that I'd have to wait that long to go forward - especially since he said the insurance company doesn't even care if you lose or even gain weight...but my policy must have changed because they called me and said I odn't have to do it afterall. YAY!!!!! So I just need my psych eval and approval and I think I'm golden! I'll find out Thursday when I go back to see him again

Hey all, I've been a 'lurker' for a month or two and went to a lapband seminar in january and am scheduled to have my first consultation with the surgeon tomorrow and I'm petrified! Is there anything I should or shouldn't say?? Is there anything I should make sure to ask? I think I've done my homework and have been reading up on it and my parents have both read through the info to see if they have any questions (I'm 31, lol) but I want to see if the pros have any advice. Don't want to say something 'wrong' to get this thing derailed before it even gets on the tracks! Thanksfor any help!