newmein10

just had my 1st fill today @ lovelace....1cc...day 1: clear liq, 2: full liquids 3: mushy/soft 4: reg.......hearin belly rumble as i type...... :smile2:

whew ive so been feeling the same way. i go in for my 1st fill tomorrow am. im prayin for resolve. then i go hmmm is it the cheese was it this or that, thats stalled my success....i know i havent been an exercise diva....but dang. ive done a lot of self doubt/2nd guessing of my decision (like would the bypass have been better). i know society places the stigma of the quick fix, and ithought im above that. ughh. prayin for good numbers tomorrow........i did band kryptonite to break thru the number wall........

thank you for whoever posted this! ...mines due to start and i feel the bloatedness onset...ughh. what can we take for pain? im a motrin girl! ugh. for the love of mash taters, please tellme it doesnt go on for ever.....

i dont know what type of insurance everyone has but i can speak on what i know being that i work in the industry-make sure you're communicating w/the bariatric office and your insurance. find out what codes they use, if they require auth and that auth is obtained. if auth isnt obtained-yes billing is a lot higher and creates a can of worms. also-make sure to document everything. i recently made my appt for my 1st fill. i have an email w/the codes from the bariatric insurance saying no auth req'd when actually it does for one of the codes. STAY INFORMED!

it does get easier. my anxiousness is kickin in, knowing monday is bday. i switched up and bought the genisoy protein powder last nite. added 1 sweet n low and some apple pie spice seasoning.....not too shabby. ive been weighin everyday.....seeing if i make my personal goal. hope the scale at work/home is right. ! if so im -15+ since my consult date. less than 72 hrs til im a new woman.

im in 4 days.......so much is mental, but its knowing what works best for each of us. some need "More" in the am (shake vs cottage cheese or soup) some at dinner. im just ready to have my b-day, and chisel the new refined me.

im not gonna lie the 1st 3 days on preop was crappy...but day 4 and now has brought relief. your body/mind goes thru the w/drawls til the light bulb clicks that tells you YOUCAN DO THIS! .....im on the 19th for sugery.....and i see the light at the end of the yellow brick road takin me to this new Wonderland of me.

congrats tothose who have been banded over the last 2 weeks......i'm on the 19th....5 days away (4 dependin on how ya countin)......diet got much easier. cottage cheese is my friend and sf choc. pudding oh my. im 13lbs down from the time i weighed at my surgeon consult. hope that matches the dr scale on monday morning. im ready. been ready. wish i wouldve done this years ago. but im ready for the upgraded me. watchout world here comes me!

usually a PPO will always have a higher deductible/OOP (out of pocket costs)....and its not til that is met than will the surgery be covered at the said % rate....

BECAUSE I CAN AND I CARE it is hard....especially the 1st few days as our bodies come use to it...and all of us have been placed on different variations of the preop diet. like im 2 shakes, and either a serving of Soup or cottage cheese.... IT GETS EASIER.....IM LOOKIN AT THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD AND SEEING THE BAND WIZARD ON THE 19TH........LETS GO LADIES, AND THE 1 SPOILED APPLE.

:confused:what state are u in? is it a covered benefit? some of the Blues are strict on what they will/not cover.

congrats! what part of NM? im in abq, and getting banded on the 19th@lovelace. whose doing your surgery? being at a healthy weight..hmm. i cant recall what that image has ever looked like. i came out at 9lbs 4oz...lol.. when do you start preop? congrats.....and so long to green chile.....

im also the 19th! i started my preop today too. got up and did the fasting blood work, then grabbed a new blender@wally. breakfast was a chocolate myoplex carb advantage. i was happy to see they had strawberry too. so im not gonna get bored w/ this (lord willing). where are u getting banded at? whats ur preop consist of?

i had orig approached my dr like 8yrs ago w/the idea. that dr was not pro-surgery. this year, i reapproached the idea, new dr/insurance included. i went to the seminar. got the packet. i called my insurance(who i work for ) and found out that yes, if medically necessary its covered 100%. for those that have BCBS-usually this means in terms of weight: your bmi is 40+, or 35+ w/at least 2 co-morbidities(hypertension, diabeties, sleep apea, high cholestrol, etc). i started meeting w/my dr to discuss wt for 2mo (then realized i had proof of my 3months attempt w/WW already). i met w/the surgeon for consult. she did an ekg/lung test that same day(passed). i met w/the psych consult(*NOTE* PLEASE MAKE SURE PER YOUR INSURANCE-WHO IS APPROVED FOR THIS EX. LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR, PSYCHOLOGIST, OR PSYCHIATRIST, as your insurance may deny/delay your request due to not meeting their policy)...once i met w/the psychologist, all my paper work was s ubmitted. and approved. i knew w/in a week. i met w/the dietician on the 28th of june, as well as the NP for the preop visit. the key to the process is staying informed, educated, and communicating w/all parties. make sure all your visits are authorized and submitted for accordingly (ie. psych, dietary). i started my preop diet today(2 weeks til my B-day)-makes sense banding day and new me day...it can be overwhelming, but only if u let it.

july 19th here....preop starts 7/5 but i've been transitioning myself to the shakes at lunch over the last week and a 1/2.... has anyone found a OTC (over the counter) protein drink that meets the requirements that they feel is the tastiest? im prayin the next 18days fly by....picked up more protein drinks today, and the MOM....need to still get my rx filled for the pain and n/v..... countin down to my date w/destiny....

congrats miss lady!!!!!!!!!!!! when is your preop visit?

depending onyour insurance, and if everything is completed when submitted it really shouldnt take long. i know for BCBS of NM our auth turnaround is basically 1 week from time they receive the clinical info/paperwork from dr. make sure you call yourself to find out w/your indiv. insurance. knowledge is key my fellow bandies.... know whats covered, make sure everything is auth'd.(from your dietary to psych, etc). iknow my surg consult, ekg/lung test was already done subbmitted to insurance and paid. it can happen. patience and knowledge.....stay thirsty my friends.

gettin it the 19th also..........starting preop on the 5th.....

Just wanted to see that now LOvelace Westside does the banding-if anyone else is going thru the process, is post-op, or has ?s........the drs are dr smith and dr sanchez..... any issues? kudos? recommendations?

hey happy mom-did u have surgery yet? at lovelace? any stories to share? i start my preop on the 5th....w/surgery on the 19th.........and also a bcbs (of nm) patient.

same here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:ohmy: i just met yesterday w/the dietician and the np for the preop. i start my preop diet on monday the 5th. (farewell 4th bbq lol)......for me its the 2 Meal Replacements w/the Protein drinks. im using the myoplex/eas carb control. since it meets the cal/protein/carb guidelines. and then it'll be Soup for supper. i have bcbs of nm....they said i wont know what time til a few day before....walmart/target seem to have the better prices on the Protein Drinks.....target even has a "protein shot" that is 25gm protein (grape flavor) 0 carb, 0 sugar and 100cal....

start my preop on the 5th...dr said low carb under 30 for the day, 75gm protein......2 meal replacements w/the shakes(protein drinks) and then i can do the soup(no creamy) for the 3rd meal......sf jello/popsicles ok.....

insiders perspective......yes i agree waiting sux...especially when "patience" as a patient is not in my vocabulary. i work for an insurance co, in authorizations of all places, so maybe that helped me knowing what to do/expect. 1. know your insurance's medical policy for the lap band/procedure code-43770(is one used). what do they require: bmi w/o comorbidities, 3-6m proof of failed wt loss attempts in last 2 years documented(most will accept the weigh in sheets or cancelled checks/payroll deduc) as proof, and the psych eval**be sure u know who they accept-licencesed clinical professional counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist**-i had to go thru a loop since mine was done by the one the hospital uses (who is a licsw) and it had to get the med directors approval on it. 2. know ur insurance company's turn around time from the nurse's once all ur documentaiton is submitted. (most is under a week by time they get all the clinicals and support-week being business days). 3. keep documentation/communication flowing between your surgeon's office/insurance/self. i just got approved friday at work, and had tears of joy at my desk. i meet w/the dieticiatn/preop both on monday morning....i have my eas drinks in the fridge waiting...

what state are you in or where u gettin it done at? have you been approved? for regular bcbs-if your bmi is over 40, you dont need cormorbidities, if 35+yes....plus, at least 3m proof of failed wt loss attempts(consecutive 3m in last 2yrs), psych eval(by licensed clinical profesional, psychologist, or psychiatrist).most of thetime ur bcbs should be quick on a turn around if your dr submits everything they're supposed to (within a week)....good luck!

im scheduled the same week! where you gonna be done at? have you started your preop diet or anything?