Wallybobsluv

Hi Diva Mom, I noticed that you live in Dixon, CA & had the Lap Band surgery last year. I live in Rocklin, CA & will be having it at the end of the year if all goes as planned . I have read & heard about food getting stuck if you don't eat small enough bites or chew enough. But what exactly happens, meaning what do you experience when this happens? I would like to know what to expect, even though I am ever hopeful that it will never happen to me :smile2:! I am sure that at some point, it will ! Any help or suggestions you have would be much appreciated. Seminar Date: Aug 26th Surgeon Consultation: Aug 28th Psych Evaluation: Sept 2nd Upper GI: Sept 9th Nutritional Evaluation: Sept 12th H Pilori/RMR Tests: Sept 25th Surgery: November or December???

Hi to all, I am new to this site. I am in the process of getting the surgery approved. I just went through the Seminar given by the Western Bariatric Institute in Reno, NV on 8/26/09 & I had my Initial Consultation with the surgeon on 8/28/09. I am now getting ready to setup my Psych & Nutritional Evaluations. The problem is, the surgeon is in Reno & I live in CA just north of Sacramento. So I plan on doing the evaluations locally. Has anyone had any problems getting the evaluations done long distance from their surgeon? By the way, I have decided after much deliberation to have the Lap Band. My surgeon tried to convince me the Bi Pass was the way to go. But I do not want my inside plumbing to be moved around :wink2:. Any advice would be much appreciated.:ohmy: By the way, I made a ticker tape, but can't for the life of me figure out how to bring it over to this site. Can someone walk me through it? I am almost computer illiterate ! Thanks

Thanks Stacylynn, Good for you! :thumbup: Keep up the good work! Just keep reminding yourself that a treat once in a while is ok, but only a treat & the less of it the better. I feel like I am making the right decision. I do know that I will always have a problem with sweets as well, but I really don't want to be a statistic. I recently lost a cousin to Diabetes. She had been over weight most of her life & had actually lost the weight, but too late. Her Diabetes was out of control, she went blind & was on a transplant list for Kidney & Pancreas. Unfortunately, she didn't make it. To make matters worse, she lost both legs below the knees a month before she lost her life. She would only be 55 yrs old today. We all have to do what we need to do to survive & this made the decision for me. I want to see my grand kids grow up & have children of their own.

Thanks, I can use all the encouragement I can get. I noticed that you went from a Band to a Sleeve, may I ask why? Did you have problems with the Band? I hope all is going smoothly for you. :smile2: Seminar Date: Aug 26th Surgeon Consultation: Aug 28th Psych Evaluation: Sept 2nd Upper GI: Sept 9th Nutritional Evaluation: Sept 12th H Pilori/RMR Tests: Sept 25th Surgery: November or December???

Thanks, unfortunately, it is ALL pre-op! Then I have the usual post op diet as well! I guess I will either be really used to the liquids or really sick & tired of them! I'm fairly sure it will be the latter! :smile2: Thanks for the information on checking out the Protein drinks. Do you know how to get some samples? Or where to start looking? Do I have to contact the companies directly? Seminar Date: Aug 26th Surgeon Consultation: Aug 28th Psych Evaluation: Sept 2nd Upper GI: Sept 9th Nutritional Evaluation: Sept 12th H Pilori/RMR Tests: Sept 25th Surgery: November or December???

I have an update, I finally did get my ticker tape to work, & I had my Psych Eval last night. I have finally found a Nutritionist in our area that I can work with, so yea!! I am on my way. I will have everything accomplished by the end of the month so that we can apply for approval from the Insurance. Then I only have to complete the pre-surgery stuff (4 wks of liquid diet!) to do. :thumbup: Seminar Date: Aug 26th Surgeon Consultation: Aug 28th Psych Evaluation: Sept 2nd Upper GI: Sept 9th Nutritional Evaluation: Sept 12th H Pilori/RMR Tests: Sept 25th Surgery: November or December??? :smile2:

Thanks for your information & advice Chellz423. You appear to have had to go through much more testing than I am going through. But then, I have already done a lot of these tests in the past year, so I guess I am lucky. And I had my sleep studies as well, which unfortunately, shows that I have both Obstructive & Central Sleep Apnea, so, although the weight loss could take away the Obstructive Apnea, I will have to sleep with my Bi Pap Machine for the rest of my life! :biggrin: The only testing I have to go through is the Psych & Nutritional Evaluations, An Upper GI & an H Pylori & an RMR test. Seminar Date: August 26th Surgeon Consult: August 28th Psych Evaluation: Sept 2nd Upper GI Scheduled: Sept 9th Nutritional Evaluation Scheduled: Sept 12th H Pylori & RMR Scheduled: Sept 25th Then, send off for surgery approval

Hi Everyone, I am a newbie & I finally began my journey to my new self this past week & I hope to have my Surgery approved & scheduled before the end of the year. My Insurance, BC PPO, requires that I have the surgery through a COE site, the BMI, & a Psych & Nutritional Evaluation for them to approve the surgery. The first 2 COE'S I contacted advised me that they charged $3,000-$3,500 upfront, out of pocket, non-negotiable, & non-billable for Fees, Classes, etc. :wink2: This is why I decided to go out of my local area & have my surgery in Reno, NV. Although they are a COE, they never heard of the outrageous additional costs being charged by the other two. Has anyone else had charges like these? Just curious. I am not a huge Water drinker & I am terrified that I will not be able to drink the liquid diet that I will be required to drink for the 4 weeks prior to surgery. Has anyone got any suggestions on what I can drink that tastes good? I am a bit picky about tastes. I like sweet (unfortunately) tastes. I'm afraid that if I can't find something drinkable I will sabotage my own beginning. I need some help.

Thanks lfein229, that sounds great. I will try it! I just had my Psych Evaluation last night & feel positive about it. I will have all my pre-requisites done by the end of the month for surgery approval. If all goes well, I will be banded sometime in November or December! :biggrin:

Hi Padanelle, Your right about the surgeons being more comfortable with the type of surgery they do the most of. But he said that he does all three types fairly equally. He does the Bi Pass, the Lap Band & the Realize Band. The reason he was trying to persuade me to go the Bi Pass route was due to my type of eating habits. Because I am considered a grazer & a sugar addict, he said that unless I was really prepared to change my eating habits, the Lap Band wouldn't work for me long term, & that the Bi Pass was what I needed. He is right, but I am committed to this 100%. I am prepared to change my habits & I REALLY DON'T WANT MY INTERNAL ORGANS REARRANGED :biggrin:! So, thanks for the support, I will need it.

Thank you greytz. I was pulling my hair out. I hope your surgery this Friday is all smooth sailing for you. Let us know how it went. :biggrin:

Thank you Cortney, your response helped me a lot. I found the Psych & Nutritional Evaluators I will see. Looking forward to it with trepidation, but hope. I wish you well in your Surgery on Friday. Hope everything goes real smooth. Let us know how it went. :biggrin:

Hi all, I am new to this. I am in the process of getting approved for the Lap Band surgery. I have already attended the Seminar & first Consultation with my Surgeon of choice. My next step is to have the Psych & Nutritional Evaluation. The problem is that my surgeon/group is not in my immediate area so I have to get the evaluations done locally where I live. Where do I start to find the right kind of Psych Dr & Nutritionist? I'm sorry this is such a basic & stupid question , but I don't know where to start to get my appoints made. Any help would be fantastic!!! :wub: