Days 7 & 8

[dljonline1 18]

Hello All,

So yesterday was an especailly trying time for me. I had a headache from the time my feet hit the floor, and it seemed like everytime I turned around, I was catching myself falling asleep. Is anyone else this tired? The broth has gotten boring to me so I have just stuck to the coffee (black), water/crystal light, and the shakes. I finally ran out of strawberry, and I'm sitting on the chocolate and vanilla. The banana flavor is blah (nasty), so I figured the more I drink of it, the faster I can rely on my supplyof the good stuff til the end.

I also had my pre-op appointment yesterday. Everything went smoothly. As a word of advice, do ALL your pre-registration paperwork online and ahead of time. I got there yesterday, sat down, wrote a check, and within 5 minutes I was off getting my bloowork, urine sample and X-Rays done. Also, arrive early. My appointment was at 3PM, but I got there at 2:15PM and was out by 3:15PM. Majority of the wait came from the X-Ray assistance goofy off and not paying attention to a patient in the waiting room.

Also, for those of you who may not know, you may be eligible for a discount if you pay for surgery at the pre-op appointment. The total cost of mine was $13,000. At 80% (Cigna), the remaining balance was $2,600. Might I remind you that this was AFTER I had paid or met my yearly deductible throuhg co-pays, etc... So keep that in mind. Had I not, I believe they would've only paid up to 70%. 10% more makes a lot of difference. Because I offered to pay at the pre-op appointment, I got an additional 25% discount from the hospital as a "good faith" effort for paying in advance. But I will get credit for the whole $2,600 towards my out-of-pocket expenses for they year. How? The although I paid the hospital $1,950 (After a discount of $650 was applied), they will report to the insurance company that I paid $2,600. Cool huh?

Also, ask the anesthesiologist for a set of bath sponges that you will use the night before and the morning of the surgery to sterilize your skin of bacteria and infectious diseases. There has been cases of flesh eating diseases in recent months from people who's had surgeries; and chances are they are not going to test you to see if you are a carrier, so C.Y.A and ask and if they don't provide one ask for one. Mine provided me with one.

As of this morning, I have lost a total of 30 pounds (pre-op). It hasn't been that bad, but there has been plenty of temptation. I encourage you ALL to follow your diets to the "T". Reason why my doctor has me doing this is not only to shrink my liver, and shed some fat before surgery, but to also help me recover faster. From he's told me and the nurses at the hospital, all his patients have recovered the fastest with little to no complications. I guess I'm happy my doctor is so strick. So "DON'T CHEAT!", it's not worth the longer recovering past what you already have to go through, and you don't want to wake up with no band because your system is still filled with gunk!

As always, thank you for all the responses, and I hope that you all haivng a great journey! Have a great weekend!

V/r,

DeShawn Johnson

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

love your posts and positive attitude

thanks for telling the newbies and prebies not to cheat.

all the best