newbie

[angelicforever 0]

Hi :smile2:

I am scheduled for my seminar next week.I just hope I qualify for the procedure.I have a lot of medical issues and take a lot of meds.I did find out that my medicare will pay for the procedure and my mother who lives in Australia is also going to help me out with the cost.:tt1:

I have been reading a lot of other peoples stories and it's nice to know I am not alone out there.Other people have the same worries that I do.Some times I just feel so alone.

Wishing anyone who is about to go through the journey well.:laugh:

[paulawally 0]

You are in for a heck of a ride. Its a journey well worth taking !!! Hang in there ,your worth it. Good luck ! :tt1:

[angelicforever 0]

Thank you for replying.....

Have you had this procedure done? If so where are you in your journey? How long did it take before they even did the procedure. I have heard stories that it could be a long time before getting it done.:tt1:

[paulawally 0]

Hi Angel, It really all depends on what your insurance requires,they are all different. My insurance required that I have 3 mo supervised diet with a Dr with no success at weight loss ????!!!!!! Also if you have any co morbities such as diabetes, high blood pressure,sleep apnea your chances of being ok'd for the surgery are much greater. From the time I started the process until I had my surgery it took 6 months. Just don't let yourself get all bumed out if it takes awhile, take it one day at a time. The time will fly by. I was banded Jan 28th and am feeling great and have had no problems at all. I have lost 25lbs and I still don't have alot of restriction yet . My Dr does the fills a little at a time and I believe that is the way it should be. Your insurance will give you all the guidelines that are required by you. Just don't get discouraged. It's going to be a great journey. Good luck Angel !

[angelicforever 0]

Hello...I do know that my ins will pay for most of the procedure and my mother is going to help me. I do have HBP,sleep apnea,depression,arthritis in my knees and back.I have a lot of swelling in my legs and feet. I can't even walk down and back in my own driveway with out being in pain.I also have asthma,migrianes and I feel like it never ends.

Was the procedure painful? Did you have to stay in the hopsital at all?My clinic and hospital is only an hour and half away from me. So I am very excited about that.Was it hard to do the diet restrictions after the procedure? Sounds like you have a very good Dr and things are going well for you.

[paulawally 0]

Hello Angel, sounds like you are pretty miserable with all the complications .'m so sorry! I was feeling pretty bad myself and being I am diabetic only makes things worse. My primary care Dr said if I didn't do something I would be on dialisis in 5 yrs.Thats why I went with the lap band to get healthier and be happy with myself again. The surgery itself was not very painful at all ,it's more of a discomfort feeling than anything. I was really surprised by how "not" painful it was. It's only naturally to be scared, we all go thru that. But the outcome is worth it.. Most people go home from the surgery the same day but I stayed over because my heart rate was not where it should have been(due to my blood presure meds) and I lived 70 miles away. Let me tell ya I "LOVE " food just as much as anyone and as far as the post op diet goes I have no trouble at all. Befor the banding I thought about what I was going to eat all the time ,now its not important to me. When your not hungry you don't think about "what you can eat next" The band works when you work with it. Hopefully you have a Bariatric surgeon that knows what he is doing.Havin a good Dr is a must. Hope this helps !!! Wishing you the best. Paula

[angelicforever 0]

Paula,

I have reading a lot of blogs and the forums. I have read some horror stories and and good ones. Did you have to have any pre op testing done to see if you were a canidate? I have read some people had to have an upper GI. Are you taking the Protein supplements twice a day? If so where do you get yours from? Did you experience any problems following surgery with gas and bloating?Does the fills hurt?

The clinic that I am going to requires me to pay $2500 up front for their weight mgt program. I will find out more about that on Wednesday.Ins does not pay for this portion.This is out of pocket.If I am asking too many questions please tell me.If I may ask how much did you weigh before you had your surgery?Right now I am 45 and weigh 333 lbs. So I am so ready for this life change. I just have not been able to do it on my own.It's always been a yo yo diet.Take care and hope to hear back from you.

[paulawally 0]

Angel, being that I am diabetic and have high blood pressure and that I am 5'2" and weighed 287 when I started I didn't have any trouble being approved. All my pre-op requirements consisted of cardiac clearance(ekg), pulmonary clearance(just blowing thru whatever they call it),I had to have an endoscopy(upper Gi)which was not bad, all they do is give you something to numb your throat and then go down and look ,make sure you breath thru your nose and you will be fine, I think it only took 10 min,did not hurt at all.Also had to have psychlogical clearance(4 visits),dietitian consultation,had to attend a support group,and pre op lab work. I think thats it !!!??? I know it all seems so overwhelming but just take it one day at a time and don't get too frustrated. Everything falls into place. Yes I try and get 2 Protein Drinks in a day. I get mine from HyVee,I think the whey Protein is the best.Also I get the Protein Bars from Wal Mart the ones with 20 grams of protein. They are really good and a treat. I did not have any bloating and very little gas, I just did alot of belching.Get some Gas X to keep on hand,the kind you put under your tongue. Ya know , I was scared to death to get my first fill.I was more scared of that than i was the surgery itself. My port is located between my breast bone,my Dr puts them there because there is less fat there and makes for an easier fill. I think he is right on,it did not hurt at all, just the pinch of the needle was all I felt. Yes there are horror stories out there but I think there are more good ones. I think the horror stories probably come from people that didn't have good surgeons that didn't know what they were doing. Having a good bariatric surgeon was the number 1 goal when I started my journey. Hope everything goes well for you,just do what you need to do no matter how long it takes, it will be well worth it. PS: There is never too many questions,I hope I have helped. Paula

[angelicforever 0]

Paula,

I just wanted to let you I went to the seminar last night and it went great.The DR stayed after the seminar to answer any questions and of course you know me I had some.He said I shouldn't have any problems with getting the lapband done. I have had a lot of the pre op stuff done already.So that's good. I have an appt with the DR on 5/11 to get things rolling. I am looking for the surgery to be the end of July or early August.Medicare requires you to wait 90 days.I went to my family DR today and he went over some labs with me he went nuts on me.Everything is out of wack with my chol and my liver. So he changed my meds and my blood pressure was sky high today. It has never been that high before.So there is another new med.He is really happy that I am getting the lap band done.

So woooooohoooooooo starting my journey. :thumbup:

[angelicforever 0]

Paula,

I just wanted to let you I went to the seminar last night and it went great.The DR stayed after the seminar to answer any questions and of course you know me I had some.He said I shouldn't have any problems with getting the lapband done. I have had a lot of the pre op stuff done already.So that's good. I have an appt with the DR on 5/11 to get things rolling. I am looking for the surgery to be the end of July or early August.Medicare requires you to wait 90 days.I went to my family DR today and he went over some labs with me he went nuts on me.Everything is out of wack with my chol and my liver. So he changed my meds and my blood pressure was sky high today. It has never been that high before.So there is another new med.He is really happy that I am getting the lap band done.

So woooooohoooooooo starting my journey. :thumbup:

I don't think I have ever told you my name.... It is Annette and I am from Delaware.