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TOM, that answer is exactly what I am talking about. It is so sarcastic and would be pointless to try to answer. I don't have enough time or energy to play ping pong with someone who just wants to pound home their point of view. I was just trying to convey that most of us believe what we believe just as strongly as anyone else, and since this was a thread asking what political party we all belonged to, I thought it would be helpful if people didn't feel attacked or ridiculed when they responded to it.

Grace, I think it is natural to be really nervous...for so many reasons! I also was all set for gastric bypass and chickened out at the last minute. What made me feel better about the Band is that it is completely reversible and for some reason that took away my fear. I'm sure if you talk to your doctor you can get some anti-anxiety meds. But what REALLY helped me was to read all the postings on this site. When you realize that very few have had problems compared to the number who have not, and that virtually everybody here is so happy they got their band and would do it again, then it maybe will help settle you on your decision. Good luck and keep posting and don't be afraid to ask questions! Karen

Angela, your surgery is 1 day before mine....so yes, it would be great fun to have a "drink" during that first week if we are up to it! Will you have access to the LBT website and email?

Angela, let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Burbank is only 1 hour from Ventura. Good luck!! Karen

Amy, where in L.A. are you? Anywhere near the Ventura area? Karen

Angela, why will you be in Burbank to recover? And YES, I also have fantasies about "running into" people who haven't seen me in awhile and showing off the new me. A wonderful thought....keeps me going!! Good luck with your surgery.... keep in touch!

I am in the Ventura area.... where are you??

Has anyone noticed that the poll results at this point is at almost 38% of Republicans, yet very few have had the courage to post a response? I don't think it means they are "ashamed", I think it means that they do not feel safe here because of the judgemental and somewhat sarcastic musings from some. Maybe this could become a little more "open-minded discussion" of issues, and less of an "I know better than you do" group of statements? IMOHO... I don't want to spoil the party, I just think we all feel differently about things and should show respect for others beliefs.

Hi All.... I'll be banded Nov. 8 by Dr. Francis in Fountain Valley, CA. I will be meeting the doctor and doing most of my classes and pre-op stuff the day before since it is such a long drive for me. I was told to do a 1-day clear liquid fast the day before, that is all! Yesterday while driving, I was aware how truly uncomfortable I have become in my own skin, how tight my clothes were and how much I hated catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The realization that I will not be trapped here in this awful place within myself much longer was liberating---I am SOOO ready!! Good luck to all and JDru, please keep us informed about your tests! Karen

Sunflower, you are freaking me out! I never thought about whether the after care was covered by insurance! I just assumed it would be! Did PacifiCare pay for your lapband surgery or did you have it done through someone else? Maybe they don't want to approve the aftercare if they didn't approve the surgery? Good luck with your battle and please keep me posted! Karen

Patty, did PacifiCare pay for the psych evals and the dietician visits? If they put you off for 6 more months, they will have to pay for these things all over again, since I believe they would have to be done closer to the surgery date. I would think also that the blame is with whoever authorized your visits (at PacifiCare), because you should have been doing the 6-month diet while you were undergoing all these visits. I don't think they will deny you the surgery if you do the diet because I think they will have to justify why, if you were enough of a candidate for them to approve all the "hoops", then you should still be one after you go through them! I think they throw the diet in there to try to get you so irritated you pay for the surgery yourself. I was told the diet thing was a new requirement that only applied to insurance plans that were renewed after July 1 (I think that was the date) and that others renewed earlier were exempt. Could you find out anything about that? Good luck, I know how frustrated I was when I heard about the diet and I am not sure why mine got suddenly put through without it. It seemed like once I signed on to it and gave all my info, they approved me. Maybe that would work for you? Keep me posted! Karen

Patty, do you have the HMO or the PPO PacifiCare plan? Only the HMO will cover the Lap Band. What was the reason they denied you---because you haven't done the stupid 6-month diet thing? :confused: It appears that they already cleared you enough to pay for all the other requirements...which they will have to have you re-do if they make you wait for another 6 months, so I don't get it. Or did YOU have to pay for the psych evals, etc.? There must be more to this... Can your doctor help you get to the bottom of it? Karen

Thanks Sharlee, That explains it better. I hope my non-fasting diet will shrink my liver enough. Since the surgeon hasn't met me, she may be unhappy that she didn't insist on the fast! Good luck on your banding ---10 days will fly by --- Good Luck!

Is the reason we are supposed to diet before surgery to shrink the liver and make the incisions easier to do? If so, do you think that any diet we are on is OK as long as we lose something? Or is there something else to the clear liquid fast that is important? Thanks also for sharing your diet/fast requirements. Amazing the variation!

Sorry, I forgot to add that I have lost 5 pounds on my own, but the doctor doesn't know that. I am a slow loser so I probably won't lose much more than that before my surgery day....

Can anyone tell me if they did NOT have to go on a liquid diet or fast for many days before their banding? Because I have to travel quite far for my surgery, I will not be meeting my surgeon until the day before, and all I have been told is that I will need to only have clear liquids the day before the surgery. Everyone else on this site seems to have had to diet for weeks or months before, so I am worried that somehow I have not been given the right information. Has anyone else not had to diet before surgery? Thanks for your help!

Hi Jewels... I will be banded at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital in Fountain Valley.... a good 3-4 hour drive for me!! Since I am so far away, I will be doing most of my pre-band stuff the day before...I haven't even met my doctor yet! I will be having Dr. Kelly Francis. My Band date is Nov. 8 and I can't wait! That is such good news that you are doing so well, amazing! Gives me lots to look forward to! Please keep me informed with your progress, and if you have any tips to pass on for the pre-surgery, post-surgery period, OK? And if you can't find a support group near you, you can call or write me or probably anyone on this list, since lots of us won't be having one, either (I will NOT be driving 4 hours to get to one!) Keep in touch and congratulations on being such a super loser !!!!

Hi Jewels, I'm in the Ventura County area so sorry, not very close. Where were you banded? Are there any support groups connected to the doctor/hospital you went to?

WOW, that is great news!! Congratulations on your surgery!! :clap2: You give me hope for my surgery next month----yeah!! Keep us posted on your progress!!

I can't wait to NOT stand out in a group!! I want to blend in or let it be my personality that creates attention, not my weight! And I can't wait to do my volunteer work. Right now I feel so self-conscious that I have allowed myself to stop doing the things I love to do. I have 30 days till surgery, then I will be back with a vengence!!!

Hi Penni, I have PacifiCare HMO. I was told that the PPO side does not cover the Lap Band, which makes no sense to me but.... Sooooo, maybe you could switch to the HMO side of PacifiCare? The PPO does cover gastric bypass, just not the Lap Band. Good luck and let us know what happens! And I must say PacifiCare has redeemed themselves in my eyes... they are paying a good part or all of virtually everything I have to do for the surgery, which makes me feel bad about my initial complaints about them. :embarassed:

Hi, I just got the authorization from my insurance company and now have a surgery date --- Nov. 8!! They had originally told me in Aug. that I would have to complete a 6-month online diet before they would authorize it, but apparently they changed their mind. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! :dance: I will have to drive 3 1/2 hours, though, to get to the doctor/hospital, and therefore will not be going there for the support groups, etc. I am looking for a support group or person close by that is newly banded or will be soon that I could maybe chat with. Is there anyone out there near the Ventura County area? Or anyone going to the Dr. LaPort group in Fountain Valley? If there is no one, I know that I will still have this incredible group to turn to so I will be OK. I have learned so much from you all already! Thanks, Karen

Ok, I am going to hold you to your promise to tell me "someday" what a "w/o" weight means!!! :heh: That was wonderful to hear how much PacifiCare has done for you. I now feel kinda guilty for being so upset with them at first! They really have done alot lately to try to help. The only thing I wish they would have done was allow me to go to a surgeon closer to my home (there a several excellent ones). Instead I have to drive 3 1/2 hours, through horrid traffic, to get to the doctor and hospital I will be using for the Band surgery. sigh. But I am so excited to be having the surgery, I will gladly drive through fire!! Thanks for being there!! Karen

Thanks Jack. I'm glad to hear you are still having a good experience with PacifiCare, since I thought I was told that they will only pay for fills and OV for the first year after surgery. I guess I will just wait and see, since they surprised me (pleasantly) this time! How are you doing with your band? I still don't understand all the LBT lingo... you have a "w/o" weight. What does that mean?? It appears you have done very well--- Way to go!!

Karen, That is great news about your seminar! I wish I could handle being self-pay, so that I could have more options and pick Dr. Billy :cry Good for you!! Let us know how it goes and what you think of the Northridge Weight Center. Good luck! Karen (2)