Froggie D

April is almost here. I just wanted to say good luck to our "pioneer" April Bandster Bunnies who are having their surgeries on April 1st and 2nd. Best of luck to you and we will all be thinking about you and sending our support! Montynic, DeeDee, HappyTrucker280, Mamasugar, and anyone else who is this week, we are with you!

TOO COOL! You should be sooooooooo proud! Do keep posting and help the rest of us keep motivated. :tt1::party::eek:

I would start with the insurance requirements. What does the 6 month program consist of? If it is a medically supervised diet, they probably want you to have a first appointment with a PCP and then six monthly followups to see how you are doing and track your weight loss. I would have all that info when I went to see the PCP. Since you do not have a PCP, you might want to go to a seminar and ask for a referral to a doc that the surgeons know and recommend. Then you will not pick a PCP who is anti-lap band. My insurance required a letter of medical clearance from my PCP and if he had not been supportive, that might have been difficult. One surgeon I spoke with said if we had to do a six month weight loss program, to be sure and not lose weight because they could deny you saying you could do it on your own. Not sure if this is true or not. I did not have to do a 6 month progam, but has to show evidence of structured weight loss programs so I joined Weight Watchers and did not lose. I have tried many other programs over the years and have lost but not kept it off. I really think they are looking for a commitment. If you can jump through all their hoops, they will take a risk on you. I can assure you, it gets long and frustrating. I first picked a doctor who was ok with my insurance but his hospital was not. I made an appointment with his partner who practiced at the right hospital and then decided to drop his privileges there before I would have surgery. then I picked aurgeon who was ok and his hopotal was ok but his staff did not follow through with getting me approved. I fainlly have found a good surgeon who is ok with my insurance and at the right hospital and I am scheduled for April 7. I started my journey in Oct 08 and I did not have a 6 month program. So the moral of the story is, keep in close touch with your insurance, do everything they tell you to do, and keep the faith. You will get there!:thumbup:

Wow, CONGRATULATIONS to both of you who have hit the 100 lb mark. That is fabulous! I am tying to get a visual of that - 100 one pound packages of hamburger in the grocery store - 100 one pound boxes of butter. Unbelievable! I am getting banded April 7 and I have over 100 lbs to lose. I can't wait (weight). LOL How do you feel physically and what medical changes and medication changes can you share with us? :smile:

Has anyone had the flu with vomiting or food poisoning after getting the band? How did you survive it? Did it cause damage to your band? :smile:

Got my fingers crossed for you. I know how hard the wait is!!!!:smile:

There are lots of studies out there about how losing weight, including weight loss surgeries, end up saving huge dollars for employers because employees get healthier. My employer added weight loss programs and weight loss surgery and are pushing it really hard to help employees be healthier. You might research this and present it to the employer. Good luck.:smile:

I agree! Your patience will be tested over and over. I decided to move forward in Oct 2008 and I am finally getting banded on April 7, 2010. It has been a trial, but has given me plenty of time to consider, reconsider, learn and learn more.

Taht is so fabulous! I am getting banded April 7 and hope to be sharing my milestones soon.

I would just talk about how great it is and show off how good you look! Generally people do not like a zealot, regardless of the cause.

I have BC/BS Anthem and they were very helpful and supposrtive. She my stuf was finally all ready and sent it, it only took three days for approval. My surgwon's office found out first and emailed me.

Wow you are doing great for a "self inflicted" preop!:laugh: I am doing the same thing since I am only required to do 48 hours of liquids before my surgery. I have now lost 12 pounds. I just do not want to get booted out due to fatty liver and I don't need the sugar withdrawal along with the surgery discomfort. :tongue2: I want to be at my best for the surgery.:smile:

I am allergic to dairy so I use a soy protein powder (vanilla) in unsweetened soy milk. I add a Crystal Light kind of packet to it (acually I like Propel mix better). I found a "Blender Bottle" at the health food store that has a small wire "egg beater" in the bottom that works to blend up my drink just with shaking. I have bought 4 of them now so they are everywhere. I also get the soy protein powder at the health food store, their own brand. I shop at Whole Foods Health Food Store. :laugh:

I started using Propel mix. It is less sweet and intense, but adds some flavor. I like it better too because it is made with Splenda rather than Aspartame. Aspartame makes my joints hurt. I did not believe it at first, but I have tested it by going off and starting up again three times.

I think it is much worse because: Food is legal Food is everywhere you go Food is everywhere you look Well meaning people push it on you at every corner You are supposed to eat when you are happy and celebrating (birthday parties, Christmas, etc) You are supposed to eat when you are sad (people bring food to you when someone dies) We use food to reward our children If you don't eat enough, people worry about you. I could go on and on. At least with drugs you can remove yourself from the scene while you are going through withdrawal and not have to watch other people enjoying it. I guess you have to find a reason that motivates you enough to change. I am still looking for that, too!

I thought I was being banded last August and was doing great. Then I had problems and had to change surgeons. I have been doing "last suppers" for months since. Now I am finally set to get banded on April 7 so I ended all that almost 2 weeks ago and I am eating low carb, lean Protein, with Protein powder shakes. I am hungry but I feel better already. I have lost 11 pounds and am counting down the days. I figure when I have the surgery, the better eating won't be such a shock to you system. Congrats and best of luck to you!

Congrats. It does finally happen!

Has anyone strated their preop diet yet? What do you have to do? How is it going?

There are lots of other comorbidities like reflux, apnea, joint pain, severe stress incontinence - maybe you have not looked deep enough. Find a doc who will work with you. Most insurances also have an appeal process you should ask about. I think sometimes they are testing your commitment by denying first. Tey again!

I am thinking about you and offering up my support. My surgery is April 7 and I am counting down the days. You will do great on the preop and the surgery. It will be worth it!

I have been using butter substiitutes and margarines so long that I don't even like real butter. I use the spray and it works great to give just the flavor without a lot of fat.

Are you on blood pressure meds. You should check that out if you are.

We are all with you! Keep positive thoughts flowing and you will sail through with flying colors. Keep us posted!

Someone on here said she gets a burger or chicken sandwich with the bun and uses the bun just for handles, tearing off strips of it and throwing it away and eating just the meat. I thought it was a great idea!

Wow, thanks for the wonderful post. I have been working for a year and half to get to this point. I get banded April 7. I have been fat for 48 years, starting at age 10 and I wish I had had this option years ago. I do not have a preop diet, except for liquids two days before, so I have started dieting a month out. I am worried about my liver being too big and I was eating terrible before, including candy and ice cream nearly daily. I am eating two Protein shakes, breakfast and lunch, and eating lean meat and veggies at dinner. I just can't stick with 3 oz and 1/2 cup, but my extras are cauliflower, cucumbers, yellow squash, avocado, and chicken breast and shrimp. I have lost 10 pounds so far. I have stopped drinking diet pop, am drinking at least 60 oz of Water a day. I have not gotten myself to get out and walk yet, I am not eating slowly, I am not chewing enough, so many things to work on. I feel guilty because I have not done it all yet. I am afraid I will fail. I want to succeed and I think I can do it, but I have failed at losing weight for 40+ years, so it is hard to believe things will be different this time. Funny, though, I have succeeded at most everything else in my life - two grown, happy children, a pretty good marriage, a college degree and two advanced degrees, a good job, a wonderful grandaughter. So why does my weight make me feel like such a failure? Sorry I am so long winded, but it really reacted to your post. You seemed to understand. Thanks again! I would love to continue to talk with you. I would like to know about your surgery experience, your time up to your first fill, how many fills, etc. Froggie D:rolleyes2: