dratdee

ok guys, just got my bill from my surgery. I have BCBS. My main question is how much did the actual band itself cost??? THe bill for JUST THE BAND itself is over 7000. anyone else have a different rate. I just want to be sure that I am not getting screwed here. Its not very fun at the moment! thanks

Hello all, I was banded on sept 18. I had 2 weeks of liquid before and 2 weeks after. I started mushies about a week ago. I lost 20 pounds on the liquid diet, but am stuck on 20. I know I shouldnt be in a rush, but I was really hoping to keep losing. I dont know what the deal is. I do have to admit that I havent been on complete mushies and have cheated a little. I get hungrier than I expected to get. My MD doesnt put any fill in for 2 months after the surgery so I wont have my first fill until Nov 30. I am hoping that will help. anyone have experience with this?? any advice??? I also know that I need to start exercising more. I plan on joining the gym this week. I was planning on joining earlier, but ended up getting the crud and havent felt like it. thanks for any help!!

hello all, Well, I was officially banded on Fri, Sept 18 (whoch I am considering my new birthday!!). I went to the hospital at 6:30 and my surgery was at 8:30 in the am. it only took about 35 min and then I went to recovery. Things were ok. I was a bit nauseaous from the gas, but was thankfully able to burp alot, which helped. I stayed until around 330 because I had trouble drinking the required 8 ounces of water. finally did and got to go home. Ive been felling ok. Been pretty sore, but am managing well. Havnet been hungy AT ALL. I have to make myself sip on gatorade and water. My MD doesnt put in any fill until 2 months to let the swelling go down so things must be pretty swollen in there because I feel full. I have lost about 4 pounds since friday (this is now sun night), which makes me very happy. I will be glad when the gas reabsorbes from my chest. it seems to get worse after I drink something. I have another 2 weeks of liquid diet to do now, which suits me fine because I could not imagine eating any solid food. Hoping that things get better day by day. My hubby goes back to work tomorrow and I will have to take care of my 19-month old all alone, which makes me a little nervous. she likes to crawl all over me. thankfully, my mom will have her until late afternoon so we will see how it goes! Hope everyone else is doing great! Im so glad that this is the beginning of my new life!!! d:thumbup:

Hello all! I was officially banded on Friday Sept 18th so I guess I can move to this message board now!! YAY!! Everything went well with the surgery. Surgery was at 8:30 and I was headed home by 3:30. Probably could have left sooner, but I was having trouble drinking the required 8 ounces of water that I had to and was having some wierd heart palpatations. They finally sent me home after an EKG and thought that the heart stuff was a reaction to either anesthesia or the gas that they pumped me full of. Im healing well. Still pretty sore and still am not hungry. Ive been sipping on gatorade and water so that I dont get dehydrated, but havent had much else. I have lost about 4 pounds since surgery which makes me very happy! So Far, So Good. My MD didnt put any fill in yet. He doesnt put fill in until 2 months so that all of the swelling can go down first. I still fill full though so there must be quite a bit of swelling. Im on a liquid diet for 2 weeks after surgery, but at this moment, I could imagine eating anything (which is a good thing, I guess). Hope everyone else came through well!! cant wait to hear everyone else's stories!! Im just happy to say that it is over and my nwe life has begun!!!

I cant believe that it is finally here!! I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 so we are getting ready to leave in a few minutes!! Im nervous but also very excited. Hopefully I will look drastically different in several months!!! Good luck to everyone else whose day is today and also to those waiting. :biggrin:

mickey, I am right there with you! I had to stop watching to (same shows, I might add). the commercials were killing me! BUt YAY for us! we made it! Today is the big day!! I have to be there at 6:30 this morning so Im getting ready to leave soon! Im excited for both of us! soon and very soon we will be very different looking people!! GOod Luck! cant wait to hear how it goes

thanks restless monkey. Im feeling better about it now. I think it was just the night before jitters and the 2 weeks liquids talking. thanks for the encouragement!

Hello all, My surgery is in the morning and I am excited. HOwever tonight, all I can think about is all of the good food that I am gonna be missing out on. I have been on liquid diet for 2 weeks and on clears all day today and yesterday so maybe that is where it is coming from. All of those "good foods" are what got me in this position anyway. Im just so ready to eat normal food! I know this will be the best thing for me and I am really excited and ready to make the change. I guess its just the night before jitters!! Hope everyone else is doing great! NOw Im off to get a pedicure so my feet feel pretty!

YAY! Im so happy for you! My surgery is friday to and I am sooooo excited!! I have had 2 weeks of liquid but have only lost 8 pounds. Im a little jealous of your 19!! Good job though!! Cant wait to see what we drop after friday!!

Hey!!! I am a September 18th bandster to!! I cant believe that its only a week away! My MD has his pts do a 2-week liquid diet before surgery and a 2-week liquid diet after surgery. Its really not been as bad as i thought it would be. Ive been doinf it for a week now and Ive lost 8 pounds which makes me very happy!! Protein shakes and fruit smoothies have been my life saver. I also really like egg drop soup and chicken broth. those actually make me feel like I am eating some actual food. adding protein helps me stay full longer. chewing gum has also greatly helped me. Im excited that we are going through this together!! cant wait to see how we all change

Hello all, Im pretty excited that my surgery is right around the corner. ONly 1 week from today until I start my new life on 9-18-09!! My MD has his pts do a pure liquid diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery. this past week has been tough, but Ive made it through week 1 so far! Happy news is that Ive lost 8 pounds in a week!!! that makes me VERY happy!! hope it keeps up!!

I so agree with you!!! It is so frustrating! I went to check out a gym near my house yesterday that I am planning on joining after the surgery. I was talking to the owner (who is also the personal trainer) and was telling him about getting the lap band. He stps back, looks at me and says "you dont need that, just give me the money that you are paying and Ill make you look better than you ever thought you could. I could have kicked him. My response was "well, lucky for me, insurance covers the procedure, but they dont cover you. c-ya