Bunny Bandsters - April '09, MASTER THREAD #1

[sandyswhisper 0]

I'd like to join this forum!! I have read ALL the posts and feel like this is where I belong. My surgery date is April 15th. I live in Vermont and there is ONE surgeon in the state! I have the priviledge of having a couple hours of his time on that day!

I chuckled about the 'hiccups' on EKGs!! I went for my pre-op and had major hiccups because I was chewing gum!! LOL.. The tech was freaked out...made me spit it out, and then things looked fine!

I am on day 8 of a 10 day full liquid pre-op diet. Have lost 7.5 pounds so far and the hunger has subsided a bit.

I have guidelines on calories, fat, Protein, and carbs to follow. I created a spread sheet that I use to make sure I"m getting enough of each. I have found this very helpful for journaling.

My surgery will be inpatient, one overnight. I have to drive about an hour and a half and they will call the day before to tell me what time to be there. I find this a bit of a pain, as I have 3 children under the age of 11 who are on school vacation this week...I will have to scramble to figure out a plan for them! I have many supporters who will help me though!

I have been very selective as to who I have told, and been very clear in asking them not to say anything to others! If I want others to know, I will be the one to tell them. My father in law asked me the other day "So, how's your stomach stapling going?" UGH...total lack of understanding!! I just chalked it up to "he cares about how I'm doing" even if he has NO CLUE what I"m doing!!

I look forward to hearing from everyone the good, the bad, and even the ugly (so that if it happens to me I'll know it's 'normal' and I'm not alone).

Kelly

[lingling 0]

WELCOME Kelly!!!

[Ttime1020 0]

I'm getting banded on April 21st, and I'm excited but also very nervous, I'm having another outpatient procedure done on the same day, I figured why not get it all done at one time and not have to be put to sleep again at a later date. This is my second week on the Sugar Buster's diet and so far so good, I am also planning to do a 24 hour liquid diet the day before just to make sure my liver is good and shrunk so there are no complications because I want this done..now!

I will be back to check in and of course post after surgery because I'll probably have some post-op questions. Good luck to all.

[hopeful41411 0]

Welcome Kelly and Ttime! You'll love it here!

[MSan914 3]

Hi everyone!

I am back from my 2 weeks of vacation (well sort of the 1st week was for work).

I started my liquids today -- and I have to say that I have not had any 'hunger pains' yet -

but I think that is because I am busy at work and not having time to think about eating.

My "bad" time is at night - after my daughter goes to bed.

Will see how the rest of the day and 13 days ahead goes..............a little scared and anxious.

glad to hear others have been banded and are doing ok --

[rcher 1]

MSan914&everyone,

I just got approval from insurance and set to go for pre-admisson testing this thursday 4/16. :smile: Really feeling excited now . I started 2 week liquid diet today and will be banded on 4/28:smile:. I am really looking forward to my journey to a new me.

[dminson 0]

Congratulations everyone. I still have 9 days before I get banded. I am starting to get nervous and excited at the same time. I'm wishing all the luck to everyone getting banded and to all that have already got banded.

[jerseygirl518 3]

I am quite depressed because I don't think I have lost any weight. I feel quite bloated and my clothes still feel the same. I am eating according to the nutritionists instructions. I guess I will have to wait until my first post-op exam on 20 April.

Is there anyone else who doesn't feel like they have lost anything yet? My stomach is still swollen.

I know how you feel. My stomach is very swollen and I it hurts me to put clothes ON. Still alot of pain. My post-op is the 30th.

[jerseygirl518 3]

I hope everything went well today for Lachdanon, Elayne, babydoll1, 2Legit2 Quit, tawandabee, hairnv, memzie, Jeansthings, aris, taina009, IsabellaP84, pottergirl and swrktp. So sorry I didn't get this message out last night, but I was thinking of you.

And want to wish the best to Suzdavis, victoria_057, poconomon, barbgrl, tiffalicious81, baljay, trishb13, moonbeam, auntbrat and jukebox81782 for tomorrow.

Please keep us in the link.

[Band_Groupie 3]

Holy Cow Batman! I was gone for a long weekend and I'm not 1/2 way through reading everyone's updates! Hope you all had a great weekend too. The bunnies have been multiplying again...we're just under 250...that's a whole lot of people going through the same thing and supporting each other along the way!

I had my pre-op class on Thursday; couldn't post until I got home today, so it's on my blog today (link below) for anyone interested. I noted anything that was different than the majority here. Have a great week!

[lingling 0]

I am quite depressed because I don't think I have lost any weight. I feel quite bloated and my clothes still feel the same. I am eating according to the nutritionists instructions. I guess I will have to wait until my first post-op exam on 20 April.

Is there anyone else who doesn't feel like they have lost anything yet? My stomach is still swollen.

Agh! I typed this whole thing and then lost it

Darling, i totally get what you mean, I was banded the day after you and I am feeling FAT AND FRUMPY and like I will never find a man! haha.

We need to take a and realise that this month is for healing, and the results won't start to happen till after first fill and when you can start exercising and getting the benefit of the band from eating solids etc.

Just relax - this will happen!! xx

[vayiayia 1]

Wow! Two more full days of my pre-op fast/diet and I'll be heading to the hospital on Thursday morning for surgery.

My stomach feels like a volcano tonight. Guess I consumed something today that didn't agree with me. I've got chicken broth and creamed Soup coming out of my ears.

I bought some ready-made, no sugar added puddings. They only have 1 grm of Protein, and I liked that idea, being limited to 20 grms on my pre-op this allowed me to put a bit more into my stomach than I have been. Maybe the pudding is what upset my stomach.

I've also had the headache from hell for the last few days. Tylenol has no effect.

Getting the pre-op jitters. Hoping I've made the right decision and that I will succeed in this weight loss journey.

Wishing all of this weeks bandsters blessings and quick recovery!!!

[jukebox81782 0]

hello my fellow bunny bandsters... i'm freaking out!

my surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. on the 9th, i received a call from a representative at my insurance company congratulating me and letting me know that the company provides a case manager for all members having bariatric surgery...to keep in touch with after surgery and make sure all is well, etc. i answered her questions, and she let me know that she'd be in touch either the day of or the day after my surgery.

then, today, i received a call from my surgeon's office confirming my surgery date and time. i also received a call from the surgery center where i'll be having the surgery confirming the time and giving me the pre-op instructions (what to bring, what to wear, etc.).

THEN! come home to three letters from my insurance company--all dated the 8th. one states that my application to cover the lap-band is denied, one saying that my application to cover 1 day(s) surgery is denied, and one saying that my application to cover 1 day(s) surgery is approved.

i'm so confused and so worried that this is now not going to happen. i have aetna and cannot speak to a service rep until tomorrow morning... any advice? any similar stories out there?

[lingling 0]

I've also had the headache from hell for the last few days. Tylenol has no effect.

Getting the pre-op jitters. Hoping I've made the right decision and that I will succeed in this weight loss journey.

The headache will probably be dehydration - try 2 litres of Water a day!

And don't worry about a thing - best step you could ever take for yourself!

THEN! come home to three letters from my insurance company--all dated the 8th. one states that my application to cover the lap-band is denied, one saying that my application to cover 1 day(s) surgery is denied, and one saying that my application to cover 1 day(s) surgery is approved.

i'm so confused and so worried that this is now not going to happen. i have aetna and cannot speak to a service rep until tomorrow morning... any advice? any similar stories out there?

Jukebox - did the insurance company set your banding date etc and then tell you to show up and the date (sorry i am not from america so have no idea how it works) if so, then they would have told the doctor/hospital they were pulling the pin on the surgery and they would not have called you.

If however, you are arranging it and then just taking a pre-approval letter along to the surgery then that may be a different story. However, either way - if they have verbally told you that you are accepted surely the letters are computer generated and wrong.

[ThinWithin 0]

THEN! come home to three letters from my insurance company--all dated the 8th. one states that my application to cover the lap-band is denied, one saying that my application to cover 1 day(s) surgery is denied, and one saying that my application to cover 1 day(s) surgery is approved.

i'm so confused and so worried that this is now not going to happen. i have aetna and cannot speak to a service rep until tomorrow morning... any advice? any similar stories out there?

Good luck, I cannot imagine how frustrating and scary that must be. ((hugs))