TSurran
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Everything posted by TSurran
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I have a lapband pen pal and she was telling me she ate at olive garden the other day. you know how you get a discount at restaraunts if you show them your lapband card, well Olive Garden doesnt honor that but they do allow you to order off the childrens menu apparently. She had chicken off the kids mea section and still didnt eat it all.
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I cannot remember how to post a thread and i need some help/advice. So if anyone reads this - I was banded on the 8th. the protein shakes I could stomach before surgery, I cannot even smell without gagging now. I am very light headed, and doctor said I have to get down a gallon of water before midnight without guzzling ( a total of four hours from start to finish) I have no energy, I cannot stand up straight without pain, I cant get my protein down without dry heaves - I am a mess. I did try the unflavored protein but it was nasty - its like my tastes changed in the last four days.....
any advice? help? I am having serious regrets here. I am a mess. Had to go to hospital on the 9th because I couldnt get pain meds to stay down (had to have a shot of demorol (sp?) What a terrible beginning and now I am already in a panic about my hair falling out or ever being un-dizzy .... (and how the heck do I post again) - ridiculous day..............:cursing:
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How long did it take for insurance to approve you?
TSurran replied to dm5201's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I just got the call - I am approved AS OF TODAY - It took e x a c t l y - fourteen biz days. So with the holiday and the weekends it was 21-22 days.... I am on the books for surgery next tuesday the 8th. I am excited and want to wish all of you that are still waiting for a call - may it come today...... :biggrin: -
Hi. I'm TSurran. I am still waiting for my approval and it should be any day. I was on here originally when my dietician gave me an assignment (I had to have a dietician for insurance purposes) never the less, these banders warned me to run from my surgeon and find someone new and I listend. Now I am on here trying to figure out how folks are doing with their pre-diet. I am nervous I am going to fail it. I mean I know it is important but I have NOOOOO will power or I would not be in this predicament to begin with. I figure I will be on here a lot during the pre-diet stage. Never the less, your blog entry is coming through loud and clear. Congrats on your surgery. I know someone else (that I met at my new surgeons office) that had surgery on the 11th of May and she has also reached a bit of a plateau and is looking forward to her first fill as well. I wish you luck
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so, out of curiousity, what is your pre-diet. My surgeon went over mine with me (but I am not approved yet) but mine is liquids only. I hear you talk of lettuce. that would probably be most welcome after nothing but liquids. 11 pounds already? holy cow. how long has it been are you on the seven day or ten day pre-diet?
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I found a new surgeon. they are six hours away but i feel comfortable there. I have gone over the diet plan over and over and feel confident that I can adhere to the 'real' diet and have learned that my previous surgeon just wants to be number one in the weight loss field. Ok, I understand striving to be number one but at the expense of peoples health? never the less, I chose NorthWest Weight loss surgeons in Everett Washington. they have submitted my papers and I am waiting to hear now. (cross your finger)
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ps, are they saying you cannot qualify with a 35 bmi or are they saying that itjust takes longer
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Just go to walmart and buy two of the flat weights - stick them in your pockets to weigh. take them back to walmart if you need to. Over the next six months as you are qualifying for the lap band - dietician, appts, doctor etc, you can gain the weight. I had to gain thrity pounds also. Gaining thirty pounds now is nothing - when your talking the rest of your life. If you have to gain thirty pounds to secure a healthy future - then do it. if you have to go to a different doctor who will simply ask your weight then do that (then you can switch as you get closer to qualifying)
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How long did it take for insurance to approve you?
TSurran replied to dm5201's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My paperwork was submitted on 5-12-10 and I am still waiting. My surgeons office has called three times and she keeps getting told it is in review. I have called twice and still told its in review - as of today however 6-2-10 we were told it was forwarded on to Pensylvania (and I am not sure why or if this is good or bad) -
I erased the other blog simply because I was afraid that the surgeon was going to see it and he is the closest to me being 2.5 hours away. Please I have another question for myself, not my dietician. . . how do you fit a cup of food into a one ounce pouch? This particular surgeon (DR Fox in Richand Washington), he places the band then pulls the stomach up around the band and stiches the stomach to itself wrapping the band. this makes this surgery ir-reversible. Further, he measures and makes certain that the little tummy is less than one ounce. (so you folks that fit one cup of food in, I dont know how you do it)? The stack of one ounce cups we are given are for use with social settings only as we were instructed at both orientations that we do not need any solids, now later or ever - we are to drink a protein shake in the morning (no milk) and one in the afternoon, and chew two flinstones vitamins - that is all we will need for now and ever. After I read all the posts I was perplexed - do I, find the next closest surgeon more then four hours away (what about follow ups) do I continue with this surgeon and find a more sufficient diet plan or figure out how to work this blog and ask you kind folks, do I - well what do I do. I did not misunderstand the one ounce meal. I has been covered at not one but two orientations and there are one hundred potential clients asking questions like how long is the one ounce meal - forever how many one ounce meals - up to 2 what do you eat in your one ounce cup - first protein then - well just fill it with protein. etc. Further, he actually bragged about a former patient who collected shot glasses and set them as dinner plates at the table. Again, now I am nervous, but I am also relieved. It is no wonder the dietician gave me this assignment in the first place, she too was probably questioning how I was supposed to get all of my nutrition in a one ounce cup -(I just thought the doctor was accurate) - we live in a very small community and I highly doubt there is another bander withing 45 minutes of me.
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Thank you all so much. Because we live in such a small community I believe it is assumed that our options are limited. I did call my dietician this morning and I called my Primary Care doctor. I am not discussing other options with them. I guess it all sounded so crazy but I also didnt know there were others with OTHER diet plans either. This whole situation may delay things for me a bit = but this is also a life changing option and a few months wont change a thing. Againk thank you for opening my eyes and - wow, I am actually figuring out how to blog - T.
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Preemptively writing a plea to the insurance company.
TSurran replied to Julianne's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I think you have to write the letter anyway. My insurance company REQUIRED that information. I was going to suggest, start going to a dietician now, see your doctor on the days you see your dietician - usually there is NO copay for the dietician (not with Blue cross blue shield) But I was denied three times. The insurance company wouldnt tell me why, well not specifically - anyway two of my dietician months did not count. I now how to go until april first. my dietician is not real knowledgeable in this field and has not had any lap band paitents (we live in a very very small town) but you have to go regardless, well I did, and the insurance company looks for any reason to say NO to our surgery. Currently, obesity law has my case and between finally completing the dietician requirments and have the legal team on my side - I am looking for a 'YES" hopefully next month. Good luck, I know it was a long haul with all of the tests, the sleep apnea, the xrays, the bariatric swallow etc - it was certainly time consuming. -
Need advice from the experts...trouble drinking water 1 day post op...
TSurran replied to pmommy's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am trying to become more educated before my band as my doctor has some 'different' ideas then most it sounds. I have been reading all of this blogs and for some reason, I find comfort in the one I quoted here - "wouldnt trade my band for anything" - that gives me hope and happiness - while I am scared to death I almost feel like I found some friends - even though I know none of you - I sure with there was a support group around me somewhere =- anywhere. -
I erased the other blog simply because I was afraid that the surgeon was going to see it and he is the closest to me being 2.5 hours away. Please I have another question for myself, not my dietician. . . how do you fit a cup of food into a one ounce pouch? This particular surgeon (DR Fox in Richand Washington), he places the band then pulls the stomach up around the band and stiches the stomach to itself wrapping the band. this makes this surgery ir-reversible. Further, he measures and makes certain that the little tummy is less than one ounce. (so you folks that fit one cup of food in, I dont know how you do it)? The stack of one ounce cups we are given are for use with social settings only as we were instructed at both orientations that we do not need any solids, now later or ever - we are to drink a protein shake in the morning (no milk) and one in the afternoon, and chew two flinstones vitamins - that is all we will need for now and ever. After I read all the posts I was perplexed - do I, find the next closest surgeon more then four hours away (what about follow ups) do I continue with this surgeon and find a more sufficient diet plan or figure out how to work this blog and ask you kind folks, do I - well what do I do. I did not misunderstand the one ounce meal. I has been covered at not one but two orientations and there are one hundred potential clients asking questions like how long is the one ounce meal - forever how many one ounce meals - up to 2 what do you eat in your one ounce cup - first protein then - well just fill it with protein. etc. Further, he actually bragged about a former patient who collected shot glasses and set them as dinner plates at the table. Again, now I am nervous, but I am also relieved. It is no wonder the dietician gave me this assignment in the first place, she too was probably questioning how I was supposed to get all of my nutrition in a one ounce cup -(I just thought the doctor was accurate) - we live in a very small community and I highly doubt there is another bander withing 45 minutes of me.
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Hi there, getting ready to qualify or submit to insurace and dietician gave me an assignment so please respond. I am supposed to post on here How do you get the bulk of your protein have you had a protein deficiency are you consuming more then an ounce (how long after your surgery) or Are you on a liquid diet how many grams of protein did your doc tell you to consume ( I have submitted to insurance once but was denied. Two of the dietician months did not count and I have to re-do them so we are getting ready to re-submit on April first but I have to have this information posted on lapband talks blog and get the answers from bloggers before my last appt.)
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Dietician gave me an assignment - almost ready to qualify
TSurran commented on TSurran's blog entry in Blog 85785
argh! I dont understand how to blog and where to post what - sorry still learning. to ymjackson1 and imaluckydog: You are not the first to say you eat more than an ounce. I am just flabbergasted and to be honest, quite relieved. I remember during the first orientation we were all handed our one ounce cups and a nurse (who wanted the lap band) stood up and said, this is it, this is all we get? wont we be tired, deficient etc..... but the surgeon had answers to everything - he said, 2 flinstones vitamins and drink 80 g of protein a day - if you have to eat, fill up this one ounce cup. I have to ask, this surgeon actually measures one ounce ( actually he said slightly less) of a pocket when he does the surgery, he then pulls up the stomach and stitches it around the band to prevent slippage and stretching of the stomach. I am curious as to how anyone can fit a cup of food in to a one ounce pocket - but I am so releived you can. I was so afraid of offending people at dinner parties. Offending my boss and a social function where his wife cooked or offending my mother at thanksgiving. Putting a cup of food on your plate and spreading it out to look like a full plate is going to be a much easier task then trying to spread out a one ounce cup of food - After the orientation they send you home with a stack of one ounce cups, I have been measuring things and have beeen simply horrified. I guess I am alone in this . . This doctor is about two and a half hours away - THE CLOSEST ONE TO ME - The next would be about five hours away. Please forgive my goofy question but for how often you have to get fills, appts, follow ups etc - would you prefer I see the doctor four hours away OR do I just need a better nutrionist or after care or? - any help on this blogging and where to find all of the posts would be great too -
Dietician gave me an assignment - almost ready to qualify
TSurran commented on TSurran's blog entry in Blog 85785
Im sorry, I dont understand this blogging and I cannot figure out how to write to you personally so my posts dont take up space on here. Yes, the one ounce cups have us a little worried - also - the non-reversible nature also has us worried. One of the reasons I chose the lapband is because it is reversible. This particular surgeon (the closest to me about two and a half hours away) is one of the first to perform this procedure and he pulls the stomach up around the band and stitches the stomach to itself. This also makes, I would guess, a tighter pocket. How in the heck, and please forgive me here, how in the heck can you fit one or one and a half cups of food into a one ounce pocket. I, myself am a vegetarian so I am going to have to eat processed protein and that makes me nervous. I will quote the doctor on this and I would like to see what you think. I would love to have your contact or a way to contact you as I said, I dont want to take up space on here for just me.....anyway the doctor said. "you will do a protein shake in the morning - 8 ounces of liquid over and hour time. You will also need once at lunch. these protein shakes cannot have milk in them. No fruit either. If you feel you are in a social setting and have to eat, you will live out of a shot glass. you fill your shot glass with protein. chicken (dark meat), beef, pork and take eraser size bites. it should take about 20 minutes to eat a one ounce cup of food" All of that made me nervous especially in social settings - I am not going to tell anyone about my surgery. I posted before asking about the one ounce portion but didnt remember it was on here. Then my dietician found this forum and thought it was a wealth of informatin from 'real' people. I just want to thank you for responding. -
Dietician gave me an assignment - almost ready to qualify
TSurran commented on TSurran's blog entry in Blog 85785
I am so excited thatI have responses. Thank you so much. it is the first time I have participated in a blog. I am going to read them now. Again, thank you . . . -
OMG! I'm like a new woman...that might be a problem.
TSurran commented on BarbaraWM's blog entry in Big Blog Girl
Im confused. Salad and soup. At our orientations we were given a one ounce cup. We had to verbally agree and later physically agree to eat out of a one ounce cup - forever - and eat 2 times a day ONLY. it must be 100 percent protein and nothing else. Soup and Salad? I dont know if I have been duped all this time or? I do know that this particular surgeon pulls the stomach around the band and sews the stomach to itself - to prevent band slippage - and I know for his patients he has a lenghty liquid diet afterwards - but it never turns to a meal that is more then one ounce. I do not think soup and salad are an unhealthy choice by anymeans. I wish you all the best. I have been so afraid of this surgery becuase I am not telling anyone and I fear I will be socially unacceptable only eating one ounce of anything at dinner, out with guests, at a luncheon with the boss, at thanksgiving - I am so scared about this - only one ounc meal. -
Dietician gave me an assignment - almost ready to qualify
TSurran commented on TSurran's blog entry in Blog 85785
Hi there, getting ready to qualify or submit to insurace and dietician gave me an assignment so please respond. I am supposed to post on here How do you get the bulk of your protein have you had a protein deficiency are you consuming more then an ounce (how long after your surgery) or Are you on a liquid diet how many grams of protein did your doc tell you to consume ( I have submitted to insurance once but was denied. Two of the dietician months did not count and I have to re-do them so we are getting ready to re-submit on April first but I have to have this information posted on lapband talks blog and get the answers from bloggers before my last appt.) -
I would like to sign up for the lapband giveaway as my insurance company JUST denied me however I am not able to find a link. can someone help to guide me to the proper page or link where I can apply for the contest?