tommygirl

Hi everyone, I got insurance approval and a date of September 27:clap2: !! I have to start the optifast liquid diet Wed. and stay on it for 2 weeks! YIPEE!!

I will be banded on the 27th!!! I start 2 week optifast diet Wed. Good luck to all!!

Caroline, Hi, I found Mercy through Inamed, Dr. Kasper was a nearby Dr. in my area. I was thinking about going to Umass Worcester, but their program is full and takes much longer to complete. I called Kasper's office (at the time he had done 0 lapbands but hundreds of lap RNY's:omg: so I was very worried about that until I met with him.) He put me in contact with the group he works with at Weldon Rehab called Comprehensive Weight Management, they are awesome. From my first appointment to my surgery date (scheduled for September 27) was 3 months. My insurance approval was 3 days, everything is going smooth so far, I am just waiting to wake up! It feels kind of unreal, I do have to complete a 2 week preop diet starting this coming Wed. (OPTIFAST) maybe reality will kick in when I start doing that! Kristin

Hi, I am from Western Ma, too. I am 37 and have no kids, I have been married one year this week! I have been overweight on and off (mostly on) all my life, too. I just got my approval, I am having lapband surgery with Dr. Kasper at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. I have to do a two week liquid preop diet. I don't feel very nervous yet, but I am sure as time goes on I will. Nice to meet you all and best of luck! Kris

Isn't this board supposed to be for lap band support? I look on here everyday to find help and inspiration (not banded yet) I know I am new here but it seems like the questions I have asked when I got the nerve got far fewer responses than this bicker fest has.

Fish like tuna or halibut steaks are great on the grill, I am not yet banded so I am not positive if you can have steak type fish like swordfish.

Hi,I just got back from the required pre-surgery support group (some people were post-op, too) and it seems to me the people who are getting or who have already gotten gbp surgery treat us lap-band hopefuls like second class citizens (they also outnumbered us 28 to 3). Has anyone else noticed this? They wanted to skip past any discussion of lap band and seemed to act like it was a joke. It seems to me the two surgeries and the questions regarding each one are so different that each group should have their own meeting. I went there KNOWING the lap band was for me, and I left there wondering if I was making the right choice, even the Doctor running the group showed obvious favor to the gbp. Any thoughts?

debbie, I feel the same exact way as you, it is a personal journey and no one elses business, for the preops I have told people that I need to have tests done for a possible hernia, I would have said gallbladder but I still have it, so it is also setting me up for my excuse for time off at surgery. I will just say the need to operate on the hernia! Best of luck to you!

Hi, I went to the Doctor at the weight management center today, he said I am a great candidate for lapband and my bmi should qualify me no problem for insurance, my question is: does the surgeon (first appt. with him is 7/18/06) get me approved right away or do they wait for all of the pre-op requirements to be met?? The reason I ask is that my insurance, bcbs of ma, is changing it' s policy on wls requirements as of 2007, so I wanted to be prequalified now, because I know realistically it could take until after the first of the year to be done with all the tests, nutritionists, etc. Any input?? THANKS!!! Kristin:p

Hi Everyone, I went today to meet with my dietician, she put me on a diet, she said I have to start now, trouble is, I am going to an all-inclusive resort for a week in Punta Cana, DR. I am leaving in the a.m., I told her it is all inclusive, even cocktails, she did not care!!! How the heck am I supposed to come home lighter??? BTW, I am just starting out on this lap band journey, not yet banded. Any survival tips, BESIDES DRINKING THE WATER???:angry Thanks, Kristin

Hi, I am back from Dominican Republic and it is SOOO beautiful, the best part is I did not gain, possibly lost, from sweating, drinking tons of water, eating right and not too much and not having any of those sweet drinks, just a few bloody marys.

I am scheduled to start my program June 28th at Mercy Medical Center, Springfield MA, the surgeon is Dr. Kasper, he hasn't done any Lap-bands yet, but hundreds of gastric by-passes. I already have all my referals and everything set up with this program, but when I found this out I must say I was scared!! What should I do???? Kristin:help:

Karen, I have not been banded yet, but somehow I feel that I totally relate to you. Thanks so much for taking the time to write down what you feel, I have gotten so much from everyones experiences on this site, but your post made me feel like "Trink" is healing you and helping you make yourself healthier on many levels. You give me hope! Best of luck, Kristin

Hi, I just found out today that my surgeon has not done any lap bands yet!! I will not be his first, as there are some scheduled and I am just starting the program, but it is still scarey!! He has done a lot of RNY's but what would you guys do?? I did a background search of him (the kind you pay for) he has a good record, he is board certified, which according to the website, only 6 out of 10 surgeons are board certified. Do you think I am unreasonable to feel apprehensive about this?? Thanks, Kristin

Hi everyone, I am scheduled to see a surgeon June 28. I have done a lot of research and I am certain this is the best option for me, the only thing I am unsure of is that my bmi is just at 40 if I lose a couple pounds it will be under, my insurance is bcbs ma hmo blue.I have been lurking on this site and it seems I have read a lot of insurance horror stories. I have no comorbidities other than knee pain, but that is because I am somewhat young, 37. I have tried all types of diets and lost, but regained and then some! I guess my question is if I am starting out at a bmi of barely 40 and get the nutritional counseling, etc to show I am capable of losing, if in the process of following the program. lose a couple pounds, in order to qualify will I disqualify myself??? I know that sounds nuts, but I keep wondering if they use your starting bmi or what? Just wish i knew so i could sleep! Thanks, Kristin:notagree

Hi, Has anyone had lap band at Mercy?? I am getting scared because I do not see ANYONE who has had surgery there, only one person who looked into it and got "spooked" I am scheduled for consultation with Dr. Kasper June 28th, should I run away????