May 2007 Banders

[twinmommy 0]

You are going to be great Wenjea! Better than that, when all of this is over you will look great! I am trying to make more of all our meals now so I can freeze them for Hubby and the three kids for after surgery. I know I will not be able to be around food for a while. I seriourly could see myself crying through some meals at first...........I have to do no bread, no sugar for the two weeks before. Then luquids for 3 weeks after, then mushies for 2 weeks. Then we go on vacation the week after I get to go on solids. Pray for me, I know that will be tough! I am starting to mourn the loss of my friend, food. I just keep telling myself: Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!

[uniqueone 0]

Uniqueone!

How are you doing on the pre-op diet? You're just a week away! Getting any cases of the nerves yet?? I'll be thinking of you!!

Yeah, NV Girl, I am kinda nervous but more so excited!! I am doing well on the liquid diet, how about you? In a way, I don't think it's totally sunk in yet. Does that make sense? I started the whole process back in November and it's been one step at a time as you know. Let me know if you have experienced that at all. Also, let me know how YOU are doing!

[Wenjea 1]

jessica - i sent it to you on your private message. check your box. Thanks!

[chickatee 0]

Hi fellow may banders. My date is May 3rd. The time is going by so fast. I thought that I would be more nervous but I'm not. I'm just excited and so ready to start my journey to being skinny. I want to lose at least 100lbs. but most of all I just want to maintain what I lose. I'm soooo tired of the up and down struggle!!!

[cindyluhu 0]

Olivia3031

You asked about the preop visit. I just had mine today, and it took about an hour. I pre-registered for surgery, filled in a medical history (any surgeries, diabetes, the usual). Then they gave me an EKG. The last thing was that I met with a PA to talk about the anesthesia and to see if I had any questions.

[NVgirl 2]

Yeah, NV Girl, I am kinda nervous but more so excited!! I am doing well on the liquid diet, how about you? In a way, I don't think it's totally sunk in yet. Does that make sense? I started the whole process back in November and it's been one step at a time as you know. Let me know if you have experienced that at all. Also, let me know how YOU are doing!

It started sinking in for me when I started the liquid diet. I'm doing kind of ok on it... starving on Monday, not hungry at all yesterday and kind of in-between today. I did have 2 tbps of Peanut Butter on Monday, just to take the edge off...:phanvan

I made the decision to persue surgery in December and started the process in January - and I'm glad for all the time it's taken. It's given me the chance to really understand what we're doing!

You'll be in my thoughts next Wednesday!!

[phuber40 0]

Hi May Bandsters,

I am so nervous, it is getting close now. I had my pre-surgery blood work and EKG and chest x-ray today. Everything went fine. I am worried though because my Surgeon wants me to be on South Beach and to really stick to it. I haven't really lost any weight since the 4 lbs I lost when I had my 1st meeting with him on March 8. I am following it the best I can but he told me if he doesn't feel as if I am doing what he told me and if I haven't lost what he thinks I should have he will cancel my surgery, even if it is the day of.... I only have 11 days to go and I am so anxious that he won't let me have it done. I have been walking on the treadmill and trying the best I can. It is so hard because on one hand you want this so bad but my head is saying, I'm never going to be able to eat this or that again so I'm going to have it now and I am screwing everything up! I am really, really going to stick to it this next 11 days. Also he didn't tell me to go on a liquid diet either. I have to write everything down and I'm afraid If I just do liquid or just skip a meal he will yell at me for not writing it down. I'm sorry I'm rambling. Anyone have any advice??

:help:

[Melissa S 1]

May 16th... perhaps. I'm just awaiting insurance approval. My md says that my insurance (BCBS) is famous for rejecting initial claims... but almost always approves on the second (or third) time... so I'm not getting my hopes COMPLETELY up... ok, ok, who am I kidding... it's ALL I'VE BEEN thinking about!!!!

It's all I've been thinking about too!!!!! Does your BC/BS require you to have a 6 month medically supervised diet??

On my way to have my endoscopy yesterday I dropped off more supporting paperwork proving my attempts at weight loss (it included emails back and forth to my primary Dr from 8/06 to current regarding diet, exercise, and requested lab work to check thyroid and lipids) as well as my gym payment record (goes all the way back to 8/05 to current)... hopefully that'll do. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

While I was at my surgeons office yesterday dropping off the paperwork..the insurance girl was on the phone with BC/BS for my surgical auth... I was more nervous about the auth than I was about having the endoscopy!!!

[crabcake 0]

I am following it the best I can but he told me if he doesn't feel as if I am doing what he told me and if I haven't lost what he thinks I should have he will cancel my surgery, even if it is the day of....

Whoa! He sounds like a real task master! What did he tell you and how much does he think you should lose by the day of the surgery?

You know they make SB meals and snack bars. Maybe you should just buy a bunch of those and only have that.

I don't know though...if I were good about dieting, I wouldn't have some of the problems I have!

Good luck and keep us posted!

[SillyWillyMommy 2]

:nervous

It's all I've been thinking about too!!!!! Does your BC/BS require you to have a 6 month medically supervised diet??

On my way to have my endoscopy yesterday I dropped off more supporting paperwork proving my attempts at weight loss (it included emails back and forth to my primary Dr from 8/06 to current regarding diet, exercise, and requested lab work to check thyroid and lipids) as well as my gym payment record (goes all the way back to 8/05 to current)... hopefully that'll do. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

While I was at my surgeons office yesterday dropping off the paperwork..the insurance girl was on the phone with BC/BS for my surgical auth... I was more nervous about the auth than I was about having the endoscopy!!!

Yep.. they do make you do 6 months supervised dieting.. but I'm going thru a Weight Management Center...so they do a whole 5 month program that includes seeing a nutritionist for pre and post op diet info, support groups, medical testing, it's a whole process... They submit at 5 mos... arggh.... I don't want to leave the house... every time the phone rings, I'm like... OMG it's them!!! :biggrin1:

Glad I'm not the only one out there... so, did you find out yet?

[SillyWillyMommy 2]

Hi May Bandsters,

I am so nervous, it is getting close now. I had my pre-surgery blood work and EKG and chest x-ray today. Everything went fine. I am worried though because my Surgeon wants me to be on South Beach and to really stick to it. I haven't really lost any weight since the 4 lbs I lost when I had my 1st meeting with him on March 8. I am following it the best I can but he told me if he doesn't feel as if I am doing what he told me and if I haven't lost what he thinks I should have he will cancel my surgery, even if it is the day of.... I only have 11 days to go and I am so anxious that he won't let me have it done. I have been walking on the treadmill and trying the best I can. It is so hard because on one hand you want this so bad but my head is saying, I'm never going to be able to eat this or that again so I'm going to have it now and I am screwing everything up! I am really, really going to stick to it this next 11 days. Also he didn't tell me to go on a liquid diet either. I have to write everything down and I'm afraid If I just do liquid or just skip a meal he will yell at me for not writing it down. I'm sorry I'm rambling. Anyone have any advice??

quote]

What?? How unsupportive. Duh..if you could lose weight that easily, you wouldn't be at a surgeon's office asking for a lapband... Hopefully he's just trying to scare you (although that does seem a bit unethical)...Hmmm... Good luck and keep us posted.

[Melissa S 1]

:nervous

Yep.. they do make you do 6 months supervised dieting.. but I'm going thru a Weight Management Center...so they do a whole 5 month program that includes seeing a nutritionist for pre and post op diet info, support groups, medical testing, it's a whole process... They submit at 5 mos... arggh.... I don't want to leave the house... every time the phone rings, I'm like... OMG it's them!!! :biggrin1:

Glad I'm not the only one out there... so, did you find out yet?

No, nothing yet. I'm SO nervous.. my stomach is in knots!!!

My primary Dr also submit to them a letter stating that she has monitored my weight since August.. I'm really hoping that will be sufficient..since I did not go thru a program...

[SillyWillyMommy 2]

I'm pretty sure it will be... since I was offered the option of using my primary doctor for weight tracking... BUT my PCP is anti bariatric surgery :-( So, I'd rather not deal too much with her.

[Melissa S 1]

Lets keep our fingers crossed!!

I'm here with both the home phone and cell phone next to me... I'll let you know if I hear anything.

[Fluffy 0]

So we hit a snag. I AM SO SO SO SAD. The surgeon's nurse called and said that the bariatric coordinator had her CANCEL the surgery for May 10th because she (BC) doesn't think we will hear back from my ins for 3 weeks or so. SO I called my ins co and they said they have received NOTHING from them!! How can they respond to NOTHING? I am so irritated. So I called back the nurse and she said that the BC said that they're waiting on the psych eval, which was done on the 16th and the guy said he would have it all ready to go THAT DAY. The ins co also said that we would hear back within SEVEN DAYS of when they receive the info. So, I lost my date on May 10th, at the soonest it could be the 17th now or maybe the 24th because AFTER approval for the surgery they are going to make me wait two weeks to do the pre-op diet, even though I already started it......... OOOOOOOOH I am so annoyed. Also throwing a baby shower for my niece on the 20th so not sure if I can have the surgery on the 17th if I even should....

Oh and to make matters worse I told THE WHOLE WORLD about my surgery two days ago. And now I don't know when it is going to be.

DAG NABBIT.