jingleboob

If I could have had my gallbladder removed BEFORE I had attacks i would have! Never had pain like gallbladder pain. Literally would knock me to the ground or wake me in the night. It happened after I lost 70 lbs in a year... large weight loss often causes gallbladder issues and they really suck!

it was my biggest worry too so I called all over the place to figure out how much it would end up costing if I needed to pay... for me at the hospital I'm going to and the surgeon I'm seeing it would have been about $10,000 without insurance. My insurance did approve and covers 80%, but it's going to be less than my 10K estimate because of the negotiated prices insurance pays... ex- surgeon charges 3200 but Insurance negotiates 1600 so I'd only have to pay about 350... Good luck!!! Fingers crossed for your approval. I know how miserable I was in the 3 weeks I waited!!!

Counting down to next Friday too! 9 days to go until we're banded! Liquids aren't too bad here either, although I am allowed a piece of lean meat (chicken or fish) and plain green veggies for dinner... guess I've lucked out on my pre-op diet! Pre-op admission testing and appointment with surgeon tomorrow! Woohoo!

Speaking only from past weight loss (lost 70 lbs a few years ago) my boobs are the first to shrink a bit!! 44DD here and yes, they got smaller and there was extra skin when they did. Wasn't pretty but losing the weight and belly and hips and butt would certainly look better than non wrinkly breasts and fat everywhere else! I always have had larger breasts, but I've also always been overweight, even as a kid. My mom was a C cup when she was younger and thin, and that was bigger than her mom so I think I would naturally be larger anyway, but probably a D rather than a DD popping out of the cups! I've already warned my boyfriend about it and he isn't worried. He said he'd like them no matter what! lol

I have 3 favorites and I love them! chocolate Protein powder, skim milk, ice, 1 spoon of instant coffee... it's my mocha in the morning! chocolate Protein Powder, skim, ice, 1 tsp Peanut Butter and 1/2 frozen banana... blend this up and it's a chocolate peanut butter banana shake... YUMMMM (also good without banana as just choc-peanut butter! vanilla protein powder, orange crystal light (already mi and ice... kind of an orange julius...

My levels were fairly high too, I think near 400, but they didn't seem worried as I had eaten prior to getting my blood drawn and the Dr said what you eat contributes to them. From what I have seen online there are medications to lower your levels and since it's over 800 it might not be a bad idea to ask your doctor about medication... other than that a healthy diet, cut out fats and sugars (esp saturated fats) and it should go down!

my dr only requires a 1 week preop diet. So it must be possible to get what you need out of 1 week. Mine starts on Friday but I started yesterday... had a bit of a relaxed diet while camping last week adn would like to make up for those few pounds before I go in! Don't put yourself down for "cheating"... it will only make it easier to do it again!

I took a week off... and just told them I was having surgery. It's not anyone's business WHAT surgery I'm having...

August 13 here!! Lucky Friday the 13th!!! Less than 2 weeks away... Just got the car unloaded from vacation- week in the Adirondacks with the family... I know I could have eaten better but I certainly didn't eat like in years past. A little nervous to step on the scale in the morning though!!! Hope I can get back down to my last weigh in weight by thursday when I have all of my pre-op appointments! And once the liquid diet starts on Friday I'm sure it will feel real... but not nervous yet. Just anxious to get it done! -shannon

I didn't need to have one. I did have to bring home one of those pulse oximetry meters and sleep with it on my finger for a night. it recorded my O2 levels and they were good all night so I didn't need the sleep study. Which was great because like you guys I am a PICKY sleeper! It seems it takes an act of God some nights to get me to sleep. No chance of it hooked up to machines in a weird bed unless I was drugged.

Packing for the family camping trip! Really glad my dr only requires a 1 week pre-op diet... liquids, protein shakes, and 4oz lean chicken or fish with green veggies (nothing on them though) for dinner. Happy I won't be on the pre-op diet in the woods! But kind of looking forward to the pre-op diet to lose these 5 lbs I've gained back from "last meals". (I know they're not last meals and once I've hit restriction I can eat normally, just less) but everyone I know keeps taking me out to lunch and dinner for the "last time". I need to just shut my mouth and stop eating!!! I am going to allow myself 1 smore while camping... probably the last night. And I will eat smaller portions of what everyone else is. I will have my protein shakes for breakfast (except on french toast day... my dad goes into town and buys homemade bread from the general store-- there's a real general store!!! and it makes french toast that is to die for! So I'm having 1 piece... not 3 or 4...) and I will be getting more exercise than usual with canoeing and hiking around so hopefully by the time I go in for my pre-op visit I'll be within a pound of where I was when I was OK'd for surgery!!! Pre-op visit and pre-admission testing on Thursday Aug 5. Nutrition class (required) on Aug 6. Pre-op diet starts Aug 6. SURGERY ON THE 13TH!!!!!!!!

thanks! I'm looking forward to getting the surgery over with! We have a family camping trip this week and then pre-op starts! SO glad I don't have to worry about a pre-op liquid diet in the woods!!!

I'm pretty freaked out about hair loss too. I asked my nutritionist about it and she said that it doesn't happen to everyone, but if it does happen it's going to happen between 50-70lbs lost and it all will grow back. She assured me it's a thinning and not losing in clumps so I'd have a bald spot. She said that eating extra protein won't fix it and recommended the biotin and nioxin (sp?) shampoos you can get from a hairdresser.

definetly DO NOT read the complications board if you're feeling nervous... I made that mistake and now avoid all posts that hint at "bad". Also, avoid the Discovery Health channel. There are risks to ANY surgical procedure. You could have complications from having your tonsils out! But your life is better not having constantly infected tonsils... just like our quality of life and health will be better once we've dropped the extra weight. But yes, I am a worry wart by nature and I suspect the couple of days leading up to my surgery will be hard on me and my poor family! But not backing out of this. Too many important reasons to NEED this surgery!

I understand what you're all saying. Shame isn't the right word, but I do feel like it shouldn't have come to this. That I am capable of losing weight because I have in the past, and I always put it back on. Lack of self control. I just have to remind myself that the band isn't going to make me magically lose the weight, I have to do it. The band will just be there to remind me all the time. And I need that. I can't afford a personal chef or trainer to babysit me 24/7, but thanks to my 401k loan and insurance I can afford this band! My boyfriend has been wonderfully supportive, mom and grandma too... my dad doesn't understand (he could eat a cow and gain nothing though- super high metabolism) but when I told him I had a surgery date he sighed and said "If this is what you're sure you need to help you then I'll be behind you 100%". That helped with any doubts I was having. Haven't told many other people because I don't want to hear ANYONE say I should just eat less and work out more (DUH). I think once I'm banded and there are visible results I will be more open. So... not excited about having the surgery. Will be very glad once it's over and I'm on my way to a "new" life!

It's official!!! Being banded on August 13th! Pre-op testing on the 5th, pre-op diet starts on the 6th! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT makes me feel better. I'm 3 weeks from being banded and they keep telling me it will be no worse than when I had my gallbladder out... which was awful!!! Before that surgery everyone told me it wasn't that bad and i'd be up and back to work in a few days... I was miserable for 2 weeks!!! So if you had a painful gallbladder too and your banding wasn't as bad it gives me hope! Thanks!

my nutritionist told me to take 2 of the kids flintstones chewables! also to take B12 and calcium citrate (so no viactiv). I'm looking for chewable b12 and calcium right now...

you could be...I was! will just depend on your plan

waiting on a call back from the surgeon's office, just talked to them and they're trying to fit me in on August 13!!! Fingers crossed!!!

Called insurance to check... again... and I'm APPROVED!!! They determined it is covered and that I meet all requirements! So now just have to wait for Surgeon's office to call with the date! Should be in about 3-4 weeks!

APPROVED!!!!!!!!!! Just stalked insurance for the last time! They said it is determined that the surgery is covered and I meet all requirements! Just waiting for a date from the surgeon! (The bariatric coordinator is off today... of course! but I'll call tomorrow!) WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!! Fingers crossed for mid-august date!

Welcome to the fun! They started preparing my papers on July 1... insurance finally got them on the 12th... and now I'm a crazy waiting mess!!! I'm really really trying to NOT call ins today to check... it would be the first in a week I didn't bother them!!! Hope yours goes quickly!

glad you made an appointment!! I was going to say it sounds just like my gallbladder pain when I had it. Horrible pain, woke me up too often and even had me crumbled on the floor. If it is gallbladder get that sucker out asap! :-) good luck

Same boat here... Dr's office approved and said they'd get paperwork in on the 1st... it was the 13th before the ins got it all and I've called *several* times since then... the last time was 25 minutes ago... I don't want to be too overbearing, but it's getting really frustrating!!! The surgeon's office made it sound like a piece of cake, we'd have an answer in 1-2 weeks... nope. So now my potential surgery date is getting later and later and if it doesn't happen before labor day it's not happening until Christmas (can't take time off sept-mid dec where I work). So I've called insurance almost daily for the past week. At least I talk to a different person each time but they must have made a note about me by now!! I never knew the waiting would make me look nutso!