june09bandit

I haven't even attempted the ticker yet, so I can't help you on that one! To get to the June group, to "Monthly lap band support groups" (left side of your screen toward the bottom) then click on June 09 bandsters. Put your information on to the June 2009 band date thread, and hopefully Gonna Loose It will add you. She knows a lot more than I do about how to use the boards to their full potential. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome to the board! You'll be banded about the same time as me. I think we all try to "practice" something. I tried to practice the protein shakes, but I'm not doing a very good job! There is a social group created for everyone being banded in June. Hopefully someone who is better with the boards will show you how to join. Good luck!

Thank you. That sounds like a wonderful idea. Even if you can't eat the orange, at least you get to enjoy the flavor. I can't believe I never heard of that before!

I've never heard of freezing an orange. How do you do that? Just put the orange in the freezer? Sounds like a yummy treat.

It depends a lot on your doctor and what his specific requirements are. Most of the hoops we all jump through are to satisfy insurance requirements. My experience - as soon as the insurance was approved, they wanted to schedule surgery 2 weeks later. That would have been in the middle of my vacation, so I had to put it off 2 more weeks so that I could avoid the preop diet while in Mexico! Good luck to you! We all see the band as a tool to start life over and live healthily every after.

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. It helps all of us newbies to read about those of you that are already banded. This time next month, I'll be banded and asking how to make the shoulder gas stop!

I just ordered a sampler package from them yesterday so I could sample all the flavors. I had to email them to get the info, but here's what they sent me back. I promise I am not affiliated with nor advertising for the company. We are currently offering a Variety 'Sampler' containing 11 full serving packets of the following flavors: Apple Ecstasy, Caribbean Cooler, Crystal Sky, Fuzzy Navel, Lemon Tea, Roadside Lemonade, strawberry Kiwi, Twisted Cherry, chocolate Truffle, Vanilla Bean Torte and Latte Cappuccino. The price is $21.89. We are however offering a coupon discount of $16.90 leaving a total of $4.99 plus $5.00 UPS Shipping. The total you pay is $9.99 and arrives in 2-3 days. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please give us a call at 866-333-7403 x 718. Our hours are Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm Central time. Best regards, Amanda SI03 Customer Support Phone: 866-333-7403 x 718 Email: customersupport@si03.com SI03 INC.

I'm not banded yet. But I'm sure that someone will come along that has the answers to your questions. This site is a wonderful resource - lots of people who have already gone through the process.

Sounds to me like you want this for all the right reasons. Perhaps you could start talking to your doc about weight - that would give you a head start on the "doctor supervised weight program" even while you are still pregnant. Most of all, for now, just worry about having that baby! You are close... Good luck!

I think your insurance will be mostly happy with that. That's pretty much what I had. I also documented every other weight loss attempt - Used Alli program for 3 months, weight watchers, nutri system, etc. I didn't have to "prove" any of it. I think the doctors notes from each appt did the trick. It showed that I did try to use my doc to lose weight. My insurance approved my in less than a week. Good luck!

Thank you all so much. I worked up the courage to go to Wal Mart on a Saturday in southern AZ (all the Mexican nationals LOVE our WalMart) - it's not a fun experience at all. But.. I did get their version of protein powder, but the Magic Bullet was sold out. Ventured to Target and got my magic bullet! I think the nectar protein sounds the best. I will try to get some of that. Thank you all for your suggestions!

This may be somewhere else, but I can't find it. I'm going out today to try to buy the things I'll need for the pre and post op diets. What's the best tasting Protein powder you've found and where do you get it? And please share your favorite recipe! Thank you so much for saving me from taste-tests gone wrong!

Hi friery! I don't know about the diarrhea. Did your doc give you a post op diet? That's one of the big things I've learned from this site - every doctor has different guidance. He's the only one who knows what's best for you. Good luck and congrats on being banded!

Thank you - Magic bullet is on the list already. Will it handle ice at all?

I don't have a port yet, but that's exactly where mine will be located. According to the doc, it makes sleeping a lot easier - especially if you are a side sleeper. I asked specifically about the bra, and he said he's never had any complaints due to bra on port. I'm glad my doc is not the only one! Like you, I was getting concerned.

And now I have a surgery date - June 2!!! I can't wait!

Hi all! I've been reading all ya'lls words of wisdom, and I've learned a lot. I figured it was time to introduce myself and give some background. I screwed up my knee last year, and it's not much better after one surgery. The ortho keeps telling me it's arthritis and it won't get any better. I'm only 44. The only thing that will help me (until eventual knee replacement) is to lose weight. I found myself angry with the ortho, so I scheduled an appt with my PCP to get referred to another ortho. I had to wait a few days to get in with PCP, but while I was waiting, I did some soul searching and decided that I should try to lose weight first. Sounds good until you know that I can't exercise much because of the knee. So my weight just kept going up. I decided to discuss lap band with my PCP (3/2). He agreed that it was worth a shot and gave me a referral to a bariatric surgeon. Got in to see the surgeon a couple of weeks later (3/19). He looked at my stats - declared that I'm not heavy enough - BMI was not 40. Dammit. Lucky for me I took my insurance papers with me (along with 5 years of medical records), so I showed him insurance allows for BMI of 35 with co-morbity (knee is comorbidity). He didn't think it was going to work, but he was willing to try. He told me the rest of the requirements and sent me on my way. He billed insurance for over $900 for this 5 minute consult. Scheduled myself to see the psychologist the following week (3/23). She agreed that I was ideal candidate, so I checked off another block. Now I just needed the letter of medical necessity from PCP. I called them, they whipped out a letter and sent it to the bariatric guy. Now they have everything they need to submit it (4/6). I had been in constant contact with insurance company (Heath Net) and knew they processed stuff quickly. I called the doc's office to find out submittal date. ARGH - they don't submit to the insurance company, they submit to another company that prepares the submittal (4/13)(with a 6-8 week lead time). Depressed now, because knee hurts and walking is getting harder every day - and now they expect me to wait another 6 weeks?:sad:. Eat more, gain more weight, knee hurts worse. You get the picture. I was totally deflated inside. Today, the doc's office calls me and tells me that the third party company has made the submittal to insurance. Right away, I called insurance and she said she has an authorization with an admit date of 5/13. Now to me, this felt like at least a year's wait. Now that I'm typing it, I realize it was less than one month from consult to approval. Now I have to get that admit date changed, hopefully sooner. I leave for Mexico on 5/16 and I'm sure it's a bad idea to leave the country 3 days after surgery. That's my story up till now! Hopefully I can move to the post-op forum soon! Good luck to you all in your journey!

I finally got the call from the surgeon's office. The insurance DID approve the surgery. Now I have the pre-op appointment scheduled for tomorrow! I guess it's easy to see I'm very impatient. I'm so happy!:thumbup:

I'm so happy for you!!! It sounds like it's already making a huge difference in your life. Can't ask for much more than that! Congrats and consider this a new birthday!

Congratulations! I hope you have your AC ready to run, or you're going to be terribly uncomfortable when you get home. Supposed to go over 100 today in Phoenix I think. Just a sign of how "hot" you'll be soon!

I don't have any recommendations for you, but your post looked so lonely.....:crying:

I'm nowhere near NC, but I wanted to welcome you to the board. I'm at the front end of the process as well. I think I got my approval last week. I'll make all the phone calls again today to see if the doc's office is ready to make the pre-op appt. It took about a month to get the insurance approval, but I bugged the crap out of everyone (politely of course) so that no one would let my papers wait too long. I gathered all my medical records myself and took them to the first appt with the surgeon. I self-payed for the psychologist so that I wouldn't have to wait. I'm happy I used the psychologist the surgeon recommended since she knew EXACTLY what the insurance company would be looking for. Good luck in your journey and feel free to keep asking questions. With all the people on this board, these is always someone with first hand experience for most any topic!

If your ticker is updated, and you're at 200 even, your body is resisting onederland. :crying: FORCE IT TO GO THERE!!! I bet as soon as you cross that threshold, it will start melting away again. My body (or brain) does the same thing. I can't remember the last time I was under 200 - probably about 5th grade. Good luck, and keep pushing!

Loose skin or not, you're going to feel better after you lose the weight. I didn't realize what carrying this weight was doing to all the load bearing joints. My knees are shot - yours will be too eventually if you don't lighten the load. Are you doing this for health or only for looks? You have to do what's right for you.