minpinmom

Sorry no one is responding - I have my surgery tomorrow, give me 6 months and I would love to be interviewed!

This has all gone so fast, I didn't want to skip or forget anything that happens - so here I am at 8:00 in the morning, the day before surgery, recounting the events of the prior days. My Pre-Op appointment was on Friday of last week. I found out about it 2 days ahead of times and was so excited. Don't get me wrong, I HATE needles and knew there would be blood work, but I didn't even care. I had to be at Dr. Spiegel's office at 9:30. We arrived and were the only people in the waiting room (my hubs and I). One of the staff members called me back, took my weight, and we sat down at the table to fill out paperwork. I was given a small book/pamphlet with all of the instructions, dos and don'ts, what to eat, what I can take, everything. I signed the paperwork I think there were like 10 pages (I didn't really read it, I just initialed and signed :-) They gave me 2 prescriptions to be filled one for pain and one for nausea. Then they gave me a pre-printed map to the hospital. No copay or anything like that. We arrived at the Hospital, about 15 minutes from his office. University General Hospital. Wow. Talk about posh. Free Valet parking at the front, they met us at the door to check us in. Everyone was so incredibly nice. The hospital is privately owned by the Dr.s who work there - and they do wls, plastics & some ortho, so they cater to the wealthy. The rooms are all private, huge, wireless internet, 42" flat screens in every room, it is so nice, I may want to stay a few extra days. They immediately took me to an office for pre-admissions. Then walked us to the waiting area for the testing. They had HUGE tables of fruits and treats and drinks and anything you could think of in the waiting room. (Hubby liked that) They had me fill out a paper on history and took me into a room to do the tests. They drew my blood, did some heart test, asked me like 1000 medical questions (not exaggerating) and then walked me down the the xray department. They took the xrays and then walked me to the front entrance and said have a great weekend. All in all the entire thing took about 2.5 hours. I was very impressed, and more excited than ever. Tomorrow is the day!

They told me to be there at 5:30 and I should be having surgery around 7:30. I am having it at University General and my Insurance is making me stay overnight. I will make a few of the support groups, it is over an hour to his office, so that sucks for an hour support group, but I am sure I will go some. They have a local support group (not affiliated with Spiegel) that I will probably go to here.

Congrats on starting your Blog, us Tricare chicks need to stick together!

We are going to be close together, he does mine on Tuesday 19th. I am on liquids for 1 day (but I think that is because I got in so quickly.) I found out on Wednesday of last week, had my preop on Friday, do Clear Liquids tomorrow and surgery on Tuesday. I liked to have died when I found out we can't ever use powder Protein. I have spent a small fortune on protein powders. But, he has the best success rate, so I am going to do what he says. Good luck with your surgery, keep in touch.

My hubby was at Sheppard for tech school and training - I stayed in Houston - not a fun base - all that training - I got stopped everytime I went to visit him. The Security Forces are so serious about their job there! Hope things go well.

Yes, my insurance is paying 100%. I have to pay a $11.00 copay for the overnight stay in the hospital and that is it.

Hey guys, I am having surgery Tuesday the 19th (FEB) at University General in Houston by Dr. Spiegel. Boy did it go fast. Found out the approval was good, they called me on Wednesday, had pre-op on Friday, start Clear liquids on Monday and surgery on Tuesday. Tricare is requiring all of their patients to be inpatient. (per Tricare rep) All I have to pay is $11.00 a day for overnight hospital copay :-) Gotta love Tricare! Wish me luck!

Well, one day down. Tomorrow is my pre-op. I will be spending most of the day down-town (Houston) having blood drawn (yuck) and all the testing. I am actually excited. I promised my husband, I won't even cry when they bring out the needle. (I am notorious for crying and passing out). I spent most of the day dreaming about Tuesday and the days that follow. I can't wait. I stopped by Wal-Mart, grabbed more water, protein water, broth and jello. Yumm My hubs wrote me the most beautiful Valentine's Day Love Letter. I cried like a baby. We were watching Dr. Phil earlier in the month, and it was over V-Day and love letters. He said he was inspired and wanted to do something to show me how much he loved me. It was awesome. Then he took me to lunch at Chili's (I had requested Chicken Crispers as my last supper). I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Well, one day down. Tomorrow is my pre-op. I will be spending most of the day down-town (Houston) having blood drawn (yuck) and all the testing. I am actually excited. I promised my husband, I won't even cry when they bring out the needle. (I am notorious for crying and passing out). I spent most of the day dreaming about Tuesday and the days that follow. I can't wait. I stopped by Wal-Mart, grabbed more water, protein water, broth and jello. Yumm My hubs wrote me the most beautiful Valentine's Day Love Letter. I cried like a baby. We were watching Dr. Phil earlier in the month, and it was over V-Day and love letters. He said he was inspired and wanted to do something to show me how much he loved me. It was awesome. Then he took me to lunch at Chili's (I had requested Chicken Crispers as my last supper). I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day.

I just got my date and it is Feb 19 also! Woo Hoo, I will be having it in Houston, where will you be?

TachaBaby505.................Natacha.......................9 January 2008 crystalcml...................Crystal..........................28 January 2008 DxMOM........................Jennifer........................1 Febuary 2008 CynthiaMcC ..................Cynthia......................1 February 2008 Sadie........................Sarah.............................2 February 2008 4jin02.......................Janis...............................4 February 2008 Neenco.......................Dineen..........................4 February 2008 Kittenquite..................Ko................................4 February 2008 slbindc......................Susanne.........................4 February 2008 Babedoe4......................Babe.........................4 February 2008 patticNJ....................Patti................................5 February 2008 petergriffin.................Russ..............................5 February 2008 Big marathoner...............Amy...........................5 February 2008 Michelle9003.................michelle.......................5 February 2008 Beachbum0519.................Alisa........................5 February 2008 girlsmack....................Shannon........................6 February 2008 Lily76............................Lily............................6 February 2008 Peabody......................Amanda........................6 February 2008 JaxBandster..................Karen..........................7 February 2008 EnchantedRuby................Ruby........................7 February 2008 Shinyhappymommy.........Melissa.....................8 February 2008 TinaBobina...................Tina...........................11 February 2008 LilMissBand-Aid..............Irene.......................11 February 2008 Baby Ruth....................Ruth..........................11 February 2008 MightyQ.......................Quinn........................11 February 2008 Angie4b1g....................Angie........................12 February 2008 aveamora.....................Staci.........................12 February 2008 sharon160....................Sharon.....................12 February 2008 GmaDebi...................... Debi ......................... 13 February 2008 Mac the Knife................Mac..........................13 February 2008 travel_anna..................Anna........................13 February 2008 Princess21...................Kimberly....................13 February 2008 Viridescence.................Viri............................14 February 2008 Nikki2001....................Nicole.........................14 February 2008 taismommy....................Tamika.....................14 February 2008 voxwatt......................Cristina.......................14 February 2008 Glynda.......................Glynda.........................15 February 2008 St Louis Gal.................Pat.............................15 February 2008 HappyOne....................Lesly..........................15 February 2008 Bluelion........................O...............................18 February 2008 DancingBelly.................Sherry.........................19 February 2008 MinPinMom ...........Wendy..................19 February 2008 Jlobyxmas.....................Megan.........................20 February 2008 Rhapsody♥.................Lori........................... 21 February 2008 Rocket City Guy............Tre............................22 February 2008 Peek.........................Kylie (Aust)....................22 February 2008 teegee.......................Tracy...........................25 February 2008 Valvinnek....................Alyssa.........................25 February 2008 Coolcrystal.................Crystal.........................25 February 2008 Gibson........................Christy....................... 25 February 2008 jaunderwood................Joyce..........................26 February 2008 luv2smile.....................Nicole..........................26 February 2008 Amieru.......................Amie............................26 February 2008 Dana-k.......................Dana...........................26 February 2008 hijabigirl1973..........Stephanie.........................26 February 2008 Mel119.......................Melinda...................... 27 February 2008 fireleo.........................Jess..........................29 February 2008

We are all going to be so close, we really need to stay in contact and watch each others progress. 20lbs, wow. I have lost 20lbs before, but have always known I would put it back on. What an amazing feeling to know that you have lost it forever!

Thank you! I am so excited, I thought it would be a month out, she asked me how soon I wanted to have it, I said yesterday, she said how about this Tuesday! I flipped, uhm, of course! Keep me informed about your surgery, the dates will be close - we can be band buddies!

I can't believe it, the Dr.s office called, and said they had been double checking my stuff because they said it is paid at 100%, and most people have a co-pay, deductible or something, but they checked and it is correct. I have a pre-op appointment this Friday, she mentioned a barrage of tests. I am only worried about the blood test. I am anemic, and occasionally the Dr.s get concerned and put me on iron pills, so I am starting the iron pills tonight as a preventive measure My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, this Tuesday, like in less than a week Tuesday. Gulp, I am a bit freaked out, I feel like puking and crying and laughing and eating all at the same time! I will learn more at my appt on Friday and I hope I have time to post everything I go through, if I don't, I will post afterwards. Tomorrow I am taking everyones advice and cleaning house. I don't want me or my hubs to have to worry about it while I am out. I have a 10 hour day on Saturday, I am taking my CHL (Concealed Handgun License) test. So that day is smashed. Sunday we are supposed to be meeting my best friend and her hubby and baby for our annual v-day dinner, but I am wondering if I am going to be so busy trying to get ready that I may need to cancel. I still have a few odds and ends to pick up at the grocery store prior to - not have to haves, just want to haves. I may go do that tomorrow night. I can't believe this. I knew it was coming, but I didn't account for the feelings that would hit me like mac truck. I can't wait to be on the other side of this journey.

I am so jazzed, the office called today, said they were taking their time because my insurance said it was covered at 100% and they said, normally there is some sort of copay or deductible or something, but nope, they doubled checked everything and I am good to go! I go in for pre-op this Friday, barring a problem with that, I will have surgery on Tuesday. I can't believe it. I am almost sick thinking about it. What a great Valentines gift!

I can't imagine that they wouldn't. I have had Tricare forever, and they really take care of you, as long as it isn't an excluded procedure. It may be hard for us at first, since we are the first Lapband cases they will be seeing, but I can't imagine them not covering it.

Thanks for sharing your personal thoughts through the process, I imagine myself in your shoes daily. I wonder if I will have second thoughts when I am where you were. As to the funny thoughts after surgery - I have had a few major surgeries where I was in ICU for a few days and on LOTS of morphine. Let me tell you, I hallucinated, said all sorts of weird things, and didn't remember a lot of it. My first time in ICU, I was about 18, had major surgery for sleep apnea. I was in ICU, my eyes were swollen shut so I couldn't see anything. I heard the nurses saying "we are loosing her, we are loosing her". I thought they were talking about me, had a panic attack, blood pressure shot up, started hyperventilating, they had to calm me down and gave me something in my iv that made me not care if it was me or not :-) Apparently their was an elderly patient that died in ICU that night. Soon after, my friends came to see me, and everyone kept saying is there anything we can do for you? I told everyone that they needed to Water my plants. I was 18, lived with my parents and didn't have any plants! Too funny, they still razz me about that.

Hey Navy wife, I am about to be banded and there are a people that have been banded this year with Tricare Prime. You will want to search the threads in Insurance. Not many people read the BLOGS. I will respond again with more information for you, I have to work for a few hours, lol, then I can spend some time and get you some information :-)Do you have any co-morbidities? Your weight is too low for the 200%. Feel free to email me also, I can give you some things to take to your Dr. too.Wendy@Beldwinkennels.com

My hubby just got me a new WLS book for Valentines day (ok, so I walked up, handed it to him and said, here, this is what I want for V-Day), anyway, I read the entire thing today and freakin love it. It is called: recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery by Margaret M. Futrado & Lynette Schultz. I have a couple of other books on on WLS with recipes, this stuff is in color, with pictures and uses "NORMAL" ingredients. I am going to make some of these before I am banded! Oh, and I checked out the Weight Loss For Dummies book, it looked pretty good, but at least 1/2 of it was about determining if you need/want surgery, which surgery you want, how to deal with insurance, etc., then it had some recipes. I would have liked to had it about 2 years ago when I was researching so much, but not needed if you read this board very much. Just my 2 cents . . .

Well, the title is 2 fold. I still have not received a call from my Dr.s office. I am so anxious I can't stand it. I haven't gotten real sleep in a week, I toss and turn and think about this surgery all the time. I am hoping that they will call me on Valentine's Day and give me my surgery date. Thus the first part. The second part, my hubs got me a new Cookbook for after surgery. Let me clarify, I walked up, handed him the book and said, this is what I want for Valentine's Day! And yes, he really needs that much instruction. He would have gotten me roses and chocolate (I work from home, so roses are mute and uhm, chocolate, yeah, no explanation needed). The book is called Recipes For Life After Weight-Loss Surgery by Margaret M. Furtado and Lynette Schultz. I have read all but a few pages that I skimmed and it is awesome. The recipes call for normal foods and sound yummy. It is full color and has beautiful pictures of most of the recipes. I love to cook, I am a total Paula Dean fan, so I have a lot of learning to do when it comes post surgery. I will be posting some of the better recipes on the blog at a later time.

Well, the title is 2 fold. I still have not received a call from my Dr.s office. I am so anxious I can't stand it. I haven't gotten real sleep in a week, I toss and turn and think about this surgery all the time. I am hoping that they will call me on Valentine's Day and give me my surgery date. Thus the first part. The second part, my hubs got me a new Cookbook for after surgery. Let me clarify, I walked up, handed him the book and said, this is what I want for Valentine's Day! And yes, he really needs that much instruction. He would have gotten me roses and chocolate (I work from home, so roses are mute and uhm, chocolate, yeah, no explanation needed). The book is called Recipes For Life After Weight-Loss Surgery by Margaret M. Furtado and Lynette Schultz. I have read all but a few pages that I skimmed and it is awesome. The recipes call for normal foods and sound yummy. It is full color and has beautiful pictures of most of the recipes. I love to cook, I am a total Paula Dean fan, so I have a lot of learning to do when it comes post surgery. I will be posting some of the better recipes on the blog at a later time.

Well, my phone still isn't ringing and I am still waiting. No word yet. I am so scared that Dr. Spiegel's office isn't going to take my Tricare for one reason or another. They have been in network forever - but of course, it wasn't a covered procedure. I am the first to come through the system with Tricare for them. They called on Friday and said the codes were not what they were used to, and the office manager would have to look into it and they would call me back. I have a sneaking suspicion that maybe they don't like the amount that Tricare will pay. I am so scared, I feel that Dr. Spiegel is the best there is and I don't want to settle for a different Dr., let alone having to go through the process again with another Dr. Well, maybe I am overreacting. Tomorrow they will call and say sorry for the hold up, we are going to do your surgery tomorrow! Well, maybe not exactly that, but something with we are going to do your surgery in it.

Well, my phone still isn't ringing and I am still waiting. No word yet. I am so scared that Dr. Spiegel's office isn't going to take my Tricare for one reason or another. They have been in network forever - but of course, it wasn't a covered procedure. I am the first to come through the system with Tricare for them. They called on Friday and said the codes were not what they were used to, and the office manager would have to look into it and they would call me back. I have a sneaking suspicion that maybe they don't like the amount that Tricare will pay. I am so scared, I feel that Dr. Spiegel is the best there is and I don't want to settle for a different Dr., let alone having to go through the process again with another Dr. Well, maybe I am overreacting. Tomorrow they will call and say sorry for the hold up, we are going to do your surgery tomorrow! Well, maybe not exactly that, but something with we are going to do your surgery in it.

As always, good to hear from you Dallman. I am writing a LOT more right now, just to keep my mind busy. I have my fingers crossed that Monday I will get to schedule. Keep us updated!