Stephanee

Congrats Ms Judy! I have been on my liquid diet since Monday and my surgery date is set for Thursday Jan 18, too! For me, the first 3 days was def the easiest. It is getting harder and harder for me to do the liquid diet, but I am hanging in there because I want success. So, hang in there, it is well worth it! And good luck on your surgery, too!

Thank you guys for your advice. I feel better knowing that there is hope after all. lol...and Im glad I asked the embarrassing question after all!

I have been on my liquid pre-op diet since Monday and I have already lost 7 pounds. I still have until Thursday until my surgery...I wonder how much more I will lose!

Hang in there! I will say a prayer for you and Im sure others will too! I didnt want to tell anyone either...I just wanted to lose the weight and have people truely notice it on their own. But I have 3 kiddos and I lost my own mother when I was 6, so I ended up telling some people so in case of disaster, they can let my kiddos know how much I love them. Worse case scenerio, really...So, whatever your reason for not sharing, just know that there are people out there who are praying for you!

I called on Monday to speak to Dr Ronnie Keith in Norman, OK. His staff scheduled me for his seminar this Thursday...which is right around the corner! Anyway, things are moving pretty fast and I have a few questions from people who have experience with seminars. What should I expect from the seminar? For example: Will they weigh me and send my information off to UHC? My BMI is about 2 points (10 pounds) away from the 40-BMI requirement and I dont think I am going to gain that much weight in such a short amount of time...and I dont want anything to go wrong with my approval. My co-worker (she just got her approval letter!) did not go to a seminar but she told me that our UHC policy is very strict on the 40 BMI stiplulation, regardless of other medical conditions. Anyway, I am sure seminars are all different, but I would like to hear your personal experiences with them. Thanks!!! :hungry: Stephanee

Yes, I discovered that different doctors do different things. The first seminar I went to (Dr Keith) did make us do a weigh in. However, they wouldnt listen to me that I was only 5'5" and that my shoes had a higher lift in them than other shoes. I ended up going to a whole new doctor and seminar. At this seminar, they did NOT weigh me. Yay! When I went in for the visit (same shoes on!) I came in at 5"6". I asked to take off my shoes and when I did, I was in fact 5'5"...which made my BMI around 40 (yuck, but true). SO, I learned that if you want to know how a specific doctor handles things, ask them! lol, thanks for everyone sharing your experiences! :clap2:

I get to be part of a group! My surgery date is now set for Jan 18, 2007...and as long as Oklahoma doesnt have a huge major snowstorm or something crazy like that, Im set! So, how do I get my name on the VIP List?! Stephanee :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I too went through things pretty quickly. I didnt see my doctor until second week in Dec, went through EVERYTHING by the third week of Dec and had an original surgery date of Jan 4, 2007. The date was moved up to Jan 18, one week away!!! Pretty scary how quickly things can move when you are motivated, huh?! Anyway, I want to wish you good luck and keep everyone posted!

an "insurance" for lapband? My surgery date is Jan 18 but am losing my insurance Feb 28, 2007...so, I am really worried about something bad happening and not having insurance to fix it. My doctor mentioned some type of insurance that will cover complications. He is supposed to find out more info for me but I want to know ASAP. Has anyone heard of this and can you PLEASE guide me in the right direction?! Thanks!!!

I am going to call Dr G today and find out more info. It would be awewsome to buy insurance "just in case". My doctor is awesome and is striving to reach a "Center of Excellence" (he just started his practice here in OKC), but you just never know if a complication will arise or not. I will keep everyone posted once I find more info out. In the meantime, if anyone else out there knows of this, PLEASE oh PLEASE let us know! Thanks!

Im a little nervous too. I hated the idea of giving up all of my fave foods. However, last night, I ate dinner with my best friend Tammy. She had the gastric bypass the beginning of October. It was really refreshing to see her eat what everyone else had for dinner. She didnt even fill up half of the small desert plate but was full off of what she ate. That really helped me. I know that I wont be able to eat my fave foods like I used to, but I will be able to eat food again someday! Im sure its really normal to feel this nervous...I just hope I dont have a panic attack after its done!

I went to my doctor around December 18/19th and the insurance company (UHC) recieved the information on Dec 20th. I called EVERY DAY and always got a different answer (ranging from, I dont show any info on a lapband all the way to it is still in review) all the way until about a week ago when I was informed that I was approved on the 29th!!! No one in the insurance company told me this even when I called to find out! I was told I would recieve the letter within 10 days. My doctor office told me they had to have the approval letter in hand by last Friday otherwise they was going to have to push the surgery date back by a week. I decided to call the insurance company to have someone fax the letter over to the doctor's office. I called and kept getting transfered. After being told to call a number that ended up being a porn number, I had it! I called back and got in touch with a woman (Katrina) who really took the time to listen to me. She spent about an hour trying to come up with a resolution. She ended up re-typing the approval letter and faxing it over to the doctor's office. I had my pre-op appointment today and my surgery is in 10 days. So, it took me 2 1/2 weeks full of pestering the insurance company (a pain but well worth it!) and I had my letter in hand. It really depends on the insurance company but taking the time to keep in contact with the insurance company really does help like everyone else said earlier. I just wanted to give you a little hope and keep your head up!

On Christmas, I started my liquid diet because my surgery date was originally set for Jan 4, 2007. However, the insurance company didnt come through and still hadnt given us any word on approval or denial. My doctor decided to move my date to the Jan 18, 2007. So, the three days of my liquid diet was stopped. I called my insurance company last night. At first they tried telling me they didnt have any info on a lapband procedure. I was floored because I had previously been given a reference number. I i'gently prodded' the woman to look further. Apparently she mispelled my name. She found out that I was approved back on the 29th and a letter was sent out. If I had only waited ONE MORE day, perhaps I would be sitting in the hospital tomorrow, banded. Oh Well, I have my pre-appointment by Monday so I get to restart the liquid diet. Yay. Im really excited because I know in just two more weeks, I will be banded and ready to get on with my life. I really hope that my sleep apnea goes away and my blood pressure is lowered once I have this procedure. I dont like going through life unhealthy. Anyway, please wish me luck because I know first hand how hard the liquid diet really is!

So...my surgery date is "set" for Jan 4, 2007 so I am now on my 10 days of 'nothing but liquid' diet that seems to be very popular with everyone on here! I hear alot of people having one "last meal"...Being the over achiever that I am, I didnt have my "last supper", it was more like a week of smorgasboard...I ate everything I ever wanted to eat, including Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatos, Pie...you name it, I ate it! :hungry: And now I am making my self soooo hungry just talking about food because I have 8 more days of liquids to go before my surgery. Ohhhh, how am I going to make it? Cuz' I have 2 more weeks of liquids AFTER my surgery. Wow! I think I am going to lose about 50 pounds within the first 3 weeks!!! Anyway, I am NOT complaining. I am just wondering this: If I melt some chocolate in my mouth, is that considered a solid?!

Hi Guys and Gals! Okay, so I havient been here in a VERY long time and alot of changes has taken place! So lets get started: My company announced it is closing its doors in Jan. Normally this would be a negative point for me but it has actually been a blessing. I will be opening the doors to my new massage therapy studio some time in Feb, so losing my job has allowed this! Moving on...I decided to go ahead with the lap band after doing more research. I went to meet me new doctor who broke the news that my insurance company (UHC) is losing its contract with majority of the hospitals in OKC. This left me really really disappointed. The office manager told me that they were in talks with other facilities to overcome this problem (Basically, there wasnt a facility that this DR could go to that was in network with UHC). I was called today and told to come in for my EKG, Blood Work, and Chest X-Ray...which means the office has a facility! And (never thought I would be happy to see this) my BMI was at 39.6, so they rounded it up to 40, which is UHC's basic requirement, for my particular coverage. So, next week I have this to do: My psych evaluation, my Pulmonary test, my support group meeting, and my sleep study...and my surgery date is set for... :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: January 4th!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: now, I am not supposed to brag because they might have to push it up one week...depending on the insurance company...but they feel quite confident that the Jan 4th date will stand! Yay!!! And Im SO nervous and excited, I can barely contain myself (:heh::eek:)!!!! So thanks to EVERYONE who offered their support and advice...I cant wait to be the one doing that someday real soon! And I am off to learn how to make one of those cute lil tickers you crafty people have!!!

I fixed it so I will quit talking to myself now...gees, you guys know how to make a lady feel crazy! hehe

its in KGs!!!! How in the world did that happen?! lol

And thanks! Its always nice to talk to new people! :heh:

So, I went to a WLS seminar yesterday here in Oklahoma. As soon as I walked in the room I got nervous for whatever reason. There was a lady taking people's insurance/ID and a nurse weighing/measuring people. Yikes! I wasnt ready for this! I had just learned that I lost 5 pounds (for no reason and in 2 days, mind you). I know, I know...I should be happy about any weight loss. But I wasnt primarily because my BMI may not be high enough as it is to be approved through UHC...and losing a little bit of weight right now sure isnt going to help me have a surgery that will help my health long-term. Anyway, I didnt turn back and went through their routine. There was about 10 different sets of couples and a handful of single people for the seminar. I listened intently to the nurse educating us on the ins and outs of both procedures. I got to listen to two testominals from happy looking patients. And I was very calm about it...even when they discussed the possible complications, etc. So, one step down, many many many steps to go. I was dismayed that they make sure your insurance will cover you before you do a consultation, but I still filled out the paperwork. I didnt turn in the paperwork because I didnt have all of the neccessary info. But I left the seminar feeling really relieved that I went. Today, my best friend called me. I have convinced her to look into lapband with me. She is 5'1" and 220lbs, but she has diabetes, etc etc etc. She had called the doctor that my Lapband Mentor is going through (a different doctor from the one I picked out) and was able to get a consultation set up for November 6, 2006. I called the doctor and set up a consultation for the same day, right after hers so we can go together. But now I am nervous because I dont know which doctor I should go to. My seminar doctor will run my info through UHC and then contact me to let me know if they will approve it, within two weeks. However, from there, it would be another month to 2 months before the surgery date. Which is the only downside. With my mentor's doctor, you go to the consultation, and then they submit the information to UHC. The benefit of the second way is that you perform all neccessary tests while they are submitting the information to UHC. However, you have to pay for these tests and if you arent approved, then you just paid alot of money out of pocket, for nothing. So, I guess I just answered my own question and solved my own situation...thanks, its always nice talking things out with you. hehe So, I guess I will be going to my original doctor, primarily because I should know within two weeks if I am approved. Plus, he was recommended by my own doctor. So, the journey begins...wish me luck!!! Stephanee

WHEW! Thank you ladies for your quick response. I always end up thinking that everything is "all about me"...hehe

:help: Hi! My name is Stephanee and I am a 27 year old mother of 5 kiddos...3 birth children and 2 foster children, ranging from the ages of 3 all the way up to 16. My co-worker told me about the Lap Band about 2 months ago but I was still in denial then. On Friday, I went to see a plastic surgeon about recieving a much needed tummy tuck due to 3 c-sections and major weight gain. I informed him that we go to the gym 3 times a week and we eat healthy. I explained that I didnt want to have the procedure done until I lose some weight. Without him weighing me, he assummed I was accurate on my weight and proceeded to tell me he "didnt know why I thought I was healthy because 240 pounds and 5'5" is NOT healthy". And he went on to repeat the same sentence 2 more times within a 3 minute time frame. I was devasted. I knew I was overweight, but he was being really harsh. I looked at him and told him, "With you being a Doctor, is that all you can contribute to this conversation?" His reply was, "Yes, I guess so." I then told him that I didnt think this was going to work. He agreed with me and got up and left the room...leaving me there in tears and in an XL robe that fit me perfectly. I didnt take an opportunity to tell him that I had recently been tested for diabetes, thyroid issues and even had a CAT scan to make sure I didnt have any tumors. And those tests came back normal. I didnt take an opportunity to tell him that my mother died from complications from obesity. And I didnt take the opportunity to tell him that I was currently wearing a size 16, so I couldnt be as hopeless as he made me feel. As soon as I made my way out to my Jeep, I told my waiting boyfriend that it was over...no more feeling horrible about myself. We went to our gym to speak to a personal trainer. We decided I was going to hire a personal trainer to help lose the weight. But I still felt like I needed something more. I have tried many different diets and have been obese for the past 5 years. I work out reguarly, I am a volunteer baseball coach and the PTA President, so I am always on the go. But no matter how hard or long I try, I get no where. And then, last night, I remembered about the Lap Band. I stayed up until 12:30 in the AM doing research. Before, I was terrified at the prospect of surgery, as my mother passed away when I was only 6. But the more I read, the more comfortable I felt about such a major change. What I need to know is, are there anyone else in my shoes who was able to be approved for the Lap Band? I am 5'5", 230 pounds, with a BMI of 38.3 and I have UHC as my insurance company. Any help you can offer, I would really appreciate it. I am soooo tired of giving 100% to other people and 0% for myself. Thanks!!!

Piper! You could be my twin. Two statements you made, really stuck with me: I feel like Lap Band is the point of no return. It defines me as an obese person - not a normal person who is temporarily obese. Does that make sense? And at the same time, a point of hope. Ok, not really. I say "hope" but I still keep saying in my head "I've become the fat person who gets obesity surgery." Can anyone relate? Meaning, I'm so fat that I've become one of "those" people. And yet, perhaps this is the chance to hope to be normal again. and Whenever I've tried to talk about my weight with any of my friends or family, it's always been brushed off (you carry it well, you can lose it, you're ok, it's not so bad, etc - even though I knew that 100+ lbs of excess weight is not "ok") ... I'm not sure if the intent was to encourage me, to make me feel better, or whatever ... but I've never really been able to talk about this. Both of these statements is how I feel, especially the first one. "Me? Need surgery? Im not always going to be this size and I work out 3 times a week! No Way" But sadly, it's Yes Way. It is a hard pill of reality to swallow. The second statement you made really hit home, too! "You have such a pretty face, you dont look like you weigh that much, etc etc etc" are the most common phrases I hear. And it makes me angry that no one had enough guts to sit me down and talk to me about my weight. It took a jerk plastic surgeon to let the reality set in. So, no matter how hard it is to face reality, just know that reality has always been there...you and I have just been ignoring it. Good luck and please email me if you ever want to talk, okay...because I really can relate to your feelings. Stephanee

Jessica, I really want to encourage you to keep your chin up. Like your son, I was once a child of a severely obese mother. My mother tried every diet imaginable and we never understood why. We loved our momma just the way she was even if we hurt her feelings from time to time. Back in the 80's, my mother died trying to alleviate her hip pain from being obese. I think she gave up on trying to lose the weight because back then, there werent many options. So, be thankful that today there are many wonderful choices, like the Lap Band. And hang in there, have faith that life happens the way it is supposed to, and give your son a HUGE hug, because like Ms Kat said, he does love you no matter what! Good luck! Stephanee

Gayle--That is exactly what I am trying to avoid, so thanks! And to answer youur funny (but true) "question", no, not many people miraculously get thinner AND healthier as they age! I went to the doctor today. They tested my blood pressure and determined that it is in fact pretty high. The doctor even said that if I was due for a surgical procedure, they would have had to reschedule for the procedure. Yeah, that high. He went on to say that I am too young to have that high blood pressure. They took some of my precious blood (again) to see if they can find anything medically causing not only the weight gain but the hbp also. I NEVER thought I would be in this boat. Major wakeup call. I still have my seminar on Thursday and I already have 2 people going with me. And I need all of the support I can get. I am soooo tired of people telling me, "You have such a lovely face..." and you all probably know the rest of that dreaded statement! Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and help!!! I love the way you guys are so open, honest, and helpful!!! And congrats to everyone who has lost any weight and good luck to everyone else out there who are ready to take the neccessary steps to gain control! I cant wait to update you! Stephanee

Jess--Yes, 5 kids is very different. After I had my son (at the age of 17), I swore I didn't wan to have any other children! And thanks for the supportive advice! And its nice to meet you! Jenny--I have no idea why my doctor has approached me about my weight. I really wish he had and not the jerk PS! The only thing I can think of is that I just recently started seeing him and perhaps he didn't want to come off as "rude". But I dont get that because it is NOT rude for a medical doctor to sit someone down and discuss their health and offer them guidance. There is something wrong with attacking someone and then not offering them solutions. Thanks, Jenny because it helps to know that there are people out there in my shoes. And its nice to meet you, too! :Banane33: Lisalee--Ive lived in fantasy land and thought that as long as I felt sexy, other people would view me as sexy...and all is good. Well, it hasnt been and you are sooo right, it's a disease. It killed my mother and I am NOT willing to have my children have to say that about me someday. Thanks for your advice and its nice to meet you as well. Okay, so here is the update people are asking for. I woke up this morning, sick:sick as could be. But I still reached for the phone (8:20 am, too!) not expecting to have the Bariatric receptionist to pick up. I didn't know whether to be scared or thrilled when she answered the phone! She took some information and encouraged me to go to a seminar. I assumed that the next one would be weeks away. Ha! I ended up scheduling the seminar for this Thursday, at 2 pm. WOW, that was fast! I hung up from there, got my 16 year old dressed for school and was ready to walk out the door when I (TMI, so, Im sorry!) threw up everywhere. Justin went ahead and took Cecil to school while I stayed home. Again, not feeling well, I picked up the phone to schedule an appointment with my regular doctor because I want his support, too. And wham, bam, thank you ma'am, I have an appointment today at 12:30. Double WOW! I guess I was feeling lucky because I called UHC just to find out their qualifications. Which are, 40+ BMI and at least 21 y/o. That shocked me because Ive heard you have to have psych evals and possibly other medical conditions. UHC gave me a list of doctors that are in network and wouldn't ya know? The doctor I am seeing on Thursday is IN NETWORK.:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: So, now I am really nervous. Nothing in life has ever been this smooth or fast...and I am nervous because I dont quite have a BMI of 40. Any suggestions? And thanks everyone for all of the support! And sorry for all the cheesy smiley faces...I just feel so empowered today, so thanks so much!!!