charli27
I am 35 years old married and I have THREE beautiful daughters.
I had originally planned to have the Gastric by-pass surgery but I have since "chickened Out" I am going to have the lap band procedure because I kept thinking I would die or something bad would happen and I was talking with my friend who had the lap band done the end of March 2004 and since she has lost 80 pounds. I know this procedure is not as invasive and the RNY so I feel a little more comfortable having it done.
I talked to my doctor about getting a referal since I have an HMO but she told me my insurance company has gotten so strict on covering this procedure that I would have to go through one year of Dr's supervised diet. I really feel I do not have this time I really need to get this weight off now. I have been diagnosed with Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis, Thyroid condition, Diabetes (not completely yet I had very bad gestational diabetes and they stated if I do not lose this weight soon I will be FULL Blown Diabetic)and Fibromyalgia and now High Cholestrol. NOT FUN I am on soooooo many meds I can't stand it anymore. My doctor feels I will be alot better if this weight comes off and maybe able to lower some of my meds.
I have to be off the prednisone before they will do the surgery so I am trying to ween my self off this now.
I talked to my husband and I am going to pay for this surgery myself since I really don't want to wait that long for the insurance to cover it. I am making my appoinment with Suburban surgical care in Elk Grove hopefully I can get in this week.
Sorry for babbling. Cross your fingers for me!
2005
2/17/05 Boy what a journey this has been! I was going to switch my insurance to a PPO plan in hopes this would be covered. I called my insurance company and they explained it is covered but under no exceptions will it be covered (medically necessary or not) unless I go on a 12 month supervised diet plan from my doctors office. I thought I could get this approved but when I called the WISH center they told me that in the last 6 months Blue Cross has become one of the hardest insurances to get this procedure covered. I am now definately going to pay for this on my own. When I called the Wish center 2 months ago they told me the procedure would be around 15-$16,000. Now they have lowered the cost to $10,700 So I am glad in a sense I have been looking around at my options over the last 2 months it saved my around $5,000.00's. I have my first appointment scheduled on March 7th and they will be doing everything that day. From the cardiologist to the dietician to the surgeon. (5hours I will be there) Then my 2nd appointment will be 6 weeks from that date then we will get my surgery date! I have been waiting for this for sooooooo long I just am glad these things have happened for a reason (my mother from above) I know she has had something to do with this because I believe the Gastric Bypass was too risky and this was her way of telling me to wait for a while and things would work out better. I feel the Lap Band will be so much better for me. Well I know I babble alot sorry to whoever is reading this but I am just so excited about this coming so quickly. I will return......
3/2/05 I never actually thought I would say (type) this outloud to anyone in my life. My husband doesn't even know how much I weigh. But I feel everybody is so honest here I really want to be open and honest for myself! I am 5'2 and 284 lbs. I have lost 20 pounds in the last 3 months or so but not enough. I am anxiosly awaiting my meeting on Monday!
3/7/05 Well I went for my first pre-op visit OMG I was in there for 5 hours I had blood work, EKG, Chest x-ray, pulmonary test. I met with Dietician, Psychologist, Exercise therapist, Surgeon. Boy very informative and I felt so good leaving there knowing they are so knowledgable and they don't let you just have the surgery. They make you go 8 weeks practicing eating, exercising and given goals to meet. They want to make sure you don't fail! I am glad I chose them! I will keep you updated.
3/13/05 Found out today my hubby won't be able to take time off work in May or June so I am hoping they will let me come in sooner because I would like to have the surgery prior rather than having to wait until July. I called the Wish Center and left a message to see if they will let me wait 6 weeks instead of the standard 8. Please cross your fingers for me.
3/16/05 I am getting a little upset I am still waiting for a return call to see if I can move up my appointment. The dietician and exercise therapist has contacted me to confirm I am doing everything correctly and I gave them all my information. Now we play the waiting game which I am not very good with.
I swear they must have read my message I just posted! Within 30 minutes of me posting this they called me. They needed to talk to all involved to see if it was OK for me to move up my date! I have the all clear I go April 13th for my pre-op appt. and SURGERY IS SCHEDULED!!! APRIL 28TH wow I guess it is a reality now!
I am having surgery in 3 weeks! I am now in the excited stages! I was no nervous but now I can't wait!
I am 5'2
3/7/05 weight 283
3/16/05 weight 277
4/6/05 weight 273
4/26/05 weight 270
I am having surgery in 2 days!! OMG I can't wait yet I am still nervous! I guess that goes for others as well everybody gets nervous before surgery. I keep telling myself I am only under for an hour at the most so everything will be fine!!! I will update when I get home on Friday.
4/29/05
I am home and banded I am feeling pretty good. I didn't have too much gas and not alot of pain either. Had some good drugs though (morphine drip) I will give so more info later I need some zzz's they woke me up just about every hour in the Hospital.
5/9/05
Just thought I would give an update on how I am doing! I feel great my port is a little sore but other than that I really feel good. I just can't wait to get these staples out which will be tomorrow!! Thank god! I really bounced back fast from this surgery I feel blessed because I have to admit I was a little scared. I would definately recommend this to anyone who is thinking about it! The hospital was fantastic and I really felt like they were genuinely concerned not like some hospitals when you call the nurse they act like you are bugging them. When I first got to the hospital I was already pre-registered by my doctors office then they took me right away to the holding area for surgery. I got my IV and away they shewed my hubby and away I went to surgery. I remember getting in the room and I got on the table I told the girl I feel a little weird and she said doesn't it feel "good" then I look up and see my handsome surgeon and smile and said "hello sweetie" then I was OUT! I woke up in recovery thinking OMG I made it! I made it!! then I was brought to my room where they had me up and running about 2-3 hours later.
6/05/05
Boy I guess it has been a while since I updated. I am feeling wonderful!!! (band related) of course when I was going to start my exercising again I get in a bad car accident!! Then I am down again. But in all I am finally feeling better my friends/neighbors all get together at 7pm each night and we walk just about 2 miles. They are waiting for me to start again they actually started this for me they are just the most wonderful people in the world! Anyways I go for my first fill on Tuesday (my DH birthday poor guy) I can't wait! I have the Vanquard band and boy I can eat anything and everything I was getting so discouraged until I went to the store to buy an outfit for my friends 40th birthday party and I went down 2 sizes! I was wearing 4X and 28 pants I bought a 2X top and it was loose and 24 jean capris and they were very loose! All my friends are like I just look like I am shrinking (around) not my height I am still wondering where my inch went that I lost in my height when you are 5'1 every inch counts!!! I used to be 5'2 Well I will update on Tuesday when I get home and let you know how my first fill went! I can't wait to say Fill r up!!!!
6-13-05
Well I had my first fill last Tuesday he put in 4cc's I have the Vanguard band so it holds 10 or 11cc's I can't remeember which. The fill wasn't bad at all the popping sound when he went through the scar tissue kind of freaked me out a bit but It didn't hurt. I go for my 2nd fill next Monday my Dr. does your fills in the begining every 2 weeks until you get the right restriction. That is fine with me I have been swimming alot lately and I think that is the only reason I am losing. I can still eat anything and everything NO RESTRICTION I am getting so anxious I want to start losing some more weight. I know I am down just under 30 pounds since March but I was hoping for more. I know I have high expectations but I feel so much better than I did a year ago I just want to keep going in that direction.......... Till next time... I will be filled again...
I am 5'2
3/7/05 weight 283
3/16/05 weight 277
4/6/05 weight 273
4/26/05 weight 270
6/7/05 weight 262
6/21/05
my stats are: 5'2 Highest weight 311 (Aug 2004)
3/7/05 283
3/16/05 277
4/6/05 273
4/26/05 270
4/28/05 Surgery date
6/7/05 262
6/20/05 255
I went for my 2nd fill on the 20th my port did not cooperated so I go back on the 28th to try again. If then they can't get it I have to have it done under fluoro. My weight had been steadly dropping even then I do not have ANY restriction! I LOVE MY BAND! I would do it again in a heartbeat. Well until my next fill......
6/29/05
I went for my 2nd fill (so I thought) yesterday Dr. Rosen did my fill and got it first try but on the down side he said there was nothing in my band. They believe the first fill didn't go in. He said what he put in is all that came out. They told me very common for first fills because sometimes they can't tell if it went in the fluid could have been behind something and that is why they didn't see it on u/s anyways I can totally tell I have restriction. They put in 4 cc's and I can tell I get full quicker and my food keeps me full for a while. I will go for another fill in 3 weeks they will put in another 2cc's next time so I should be pretty good. I am still losing even since I didn't have any restriction before so I am happy that it is not going the other way!!! So for now I have restriction and I am happy! Oh and they found my port flipped slightly that is why they couldn't do my fill last time and that is another reason they think the first fill wasn't actually put in my band. I am going to have Dr. Rosen do my fills from now on he really knows what he is doing. Dr. Iwanicki is the best also so if Dr. Rosen is not there I will have Iwanicki do it. I don't like to talk bad about Dr's but I think Dr. Salvino just didn't pay attention that the fill did not go in the first time. Anyways you live a learn right? ta ta for now!
7/21/05
Went for my 2nd fill yesterday YEAH! Well he pulled out all 4 cc's from my last fill so he got it no problem! He put in another 2 cc's yesterday so I am at 6cc's I do not go for another fill until August 17th! But I am feeling some restriction good thing! Well I am down to 250 YEAH! Well I will keep you posted on my progress with this fill!
WOW Can't believe this year has flown by! I have had several fills now I am at 8.5 cc's and finally have some good restriction. I am down quite a bit but I plateued (however you spell it) for several months now. Summer is here so I can get some good exercise in. I have severe RA and can't do much of anything when it is cold or damp out. But we bought a pool for our backyard and I will get plenty more exercise this summer! I am down to 219 pounds. So almost 90 pounds so far since I started at 307! I am just dying to get under 200 then I will have a major party! My kids and work have been keeping me plenty busy. Yes, I just started working after being home for almost 7 years! I got my Real Estate License so I got a job that is busy busy busy which is great for me! Well I will post again soon.
