August 2005-
I have been researching this lap-band surgery for many months now. I have checked w/ my insurance and they do not pay for weight loss surgery for ANY reason what so ever (it is a policy w/ my husband's work that is self funded). So, I guess I will be self pay. I have found a group doctor in Topeka, KS that has a self pay price right at $10,750. I will be attending one of their Seminars on October 8, 2005 .... this is required by then. I hope I like them and what they have to offer.
I have been overweight most of my adult life. I have 3 very young children that I would like to be invovled in their activities. Because of my weight right now, I am not. My hubby is also very active. I feel like I am sitting on the sideline of my life just watching it go by .... I want to be a part of it!!!
I talked with my doctor this month about getting a referral. She is totally against WLS for anybody!! I know she is not informed and educated about the LapBand .... I truly believe she thought I meant the Gastic Bypass. I felt so helpless when she said this. I have been going to her for years and I just love her. She went on and on about how to eat right, exercise 5-6 days a week for 1-2 hours ............. RIGHT!!! She is really thin and she has no idea what I'm talking about. I just know she thought I was talking about RNY.

September 24, 2004
I attended a WLS seminar in St. Joseph, MO from a doctor in KC today. I went just to get information even though I are not going to be going to that doctor. The guy giving the seminar was really putting down doctors in Mexico - really bad!! This guy was so far fetched in things he was saying ...... he had people gasping at things he was saying. I was REALLY upset over it. I know people that have gone to Mexico and have done just fine. There can be problems with having WLS weather you are in the States or out of the States. This man also downplayed so much stuff. When I left there I was so glad that I was not going to be using them. 


October 08, 2005 -
I attended a WLS seminar this morning in Topeka, KS. I am FOR SURE going with this one. I am just waiting on getting my funds together. I hope to be able to get this done w/in the next 3-4 months.
I have a good friend, Alice, (we've been friends for 23 years!!) who is also wanting to get the lapband done. We went to this seminar together.
We talked to one of the doctors afterwards and asked him some questions we had and voiced some of of concerns. I also talked to the Bariatric Surgery Coordinator and I told her about how my doctor will NOT give me a referral. The Coordinator said that since I am going to be self pay I don't need a referral from my doctor, BUT she did stress that I really need to find a new doctor that is supportive of me having WLS so that my doctor can partner with the WLS doctors for my health care.
A friend of mine told me that she really thinks I need to talk to my doctor again and just explain that I AM going to have WLS and I would like for her to be supportive of me, that I like her as a doctor and have come to really trust her and that I want her to continue as my doctor, but that this is something that I feel I must do.

October 22, 2005
I attended a LapBand support group here in town this month. I want to have a support group in place BEFORE I have the surgery.

November 27, 2005
Here I am still waiting to get my money to get this WLS. I am getting very impatient about this. I want to have this surgery NOW!!! I want to start being able to live my life again and not carry all this baggage around with me.
I, at times, wish that I was more disciplined and could just stick to a diet and lose weight without having to have this surgery. I have seen so many others do it .... I just can't seem to. Sure, I can lose weight, that's not the problem for me. I just cannot keep it off. I have lost SO MANY pounds over my life time - - a lot!! Only to gain it (plus more) back.

December 31, 2005
Here it is the last day of 2005 and I still have NOT gotten this WLS done. I was soooo hoping to have it by now. It makes me kinda bummed by it all.
Getting the funds together has taken longer than I had thought. I am hoping to have the $$ w/in the next few months.
The longer I wait to get this done, the more I start to doubt if this is the right thing for me. I know deep down inside that it IS what I must do if I ever want to be 'not so fat'!!
When I first started on the research of lapband, I read EVERYTHING I could get my hands on ..... went to every website board there was MANY times a day. The longer I have been waiting, the less and less I go to these sites. I need to get that excitement back again!!



2006


February 13, 2006
Good news!!! I got ALL my funds together to have surgery!! I am soooo happy!!
I sent in all my paper work today to my weight loss surgeon's office. Called and made my appointment for my psychological evaluation. I also called the weight loss surgeon's office just to make sure that the 'cash price' was still the same .... it is!! :o)

February 15, 2006
Rachael from Tallgarss in Topeka, KS called to set up a time that I can come in my my consultation with the surgeon. They have three surgeons in their office and I asked her could I pick which one I wanted .... she said yes .... I told her that I wanted Dr. Dunshee. So, that is who she has me down to see.

February 16, 2006
I went to the local WLS support group. It is just good to go and listen to others tell their stories about how their weight loss journey is going. It really inspires me. I want to hear BOTH the good AND the bad!! There are 2 guys in the group that have lost over 100 pounds each in LESS than a year. They are a great testimony for the Lap-Band surgery. I can see that this group will be a great support for me.

February 17, 2006
Well, I shared with the women on 2 MSN online groups that I belong to that I was having WLS and I tried to explain to them what it was all about. Most of the gals were supportive, some had questions and a few really had no idea what I was even talking about. One gal thought that it was just a "quick fix" for me. It is hard to for me to be 'open' about such a private issue for me. I feel like I am judged because I cannot control this weight myself. I know that I am going to need ALL the support I can get during this time .... that is why I decided to tell them in the group.

I saw a good friend of mine today. I 'briefly' told her about my decision to get WLS. For part of me it's scarry to tell people about this ... I know they will be watching me to see if I am losing weight or not ....... that makes me nervous. I know with the band, weight loss can be very slow. I know that .... but what will people think if I just don't drop the weight off.

I have not told most of my friends or any family about this. I think I may wait a while longer. My Mom knew months ago that I was 'looking' into this to check it out .... I have not yet told her that I have my appointment set up to meet w/ my surgeon. My mom is not very understanding and supportive of me w/ my weight issues (or any other things for that matter). She was able to loose a lot of weight many years back on Weight Watchers .... she did gain some weight back, but NOTHING compared to what she had been. I will probably wait until just a few days before my surgery to tell her. I don't need for people to start judging me months before I even have the surgery done.

February 24, 2006
Well, I went to Topeka, KS for my Psychological Evaluation today. I was soooo nervous about that ... which was crazy. It was not bad at all. It is a 2 hour drive for me, so I took my good friend, Robin B., with me ...... That helped a whole lot!! I saw a gal named Leigh Alexander and she was GREAT!! At the end of the evaluation, she told me that she would tell Tallgrass that she WOULD recommend me for weight loss surgery.
Now, I just have to wait for March 16 to go back to Topeka for a consultation with my surgeon.

February 25, 2006
My husband told me this evening that it would take the day off and go w/ me to my surgeon consultaion w/ me on March 16. I really DO want him to be supportive of me w/ this WLS, but I also feel like he judges me greatly because I cannot get this weight off myself. So, I guess this means, before we go to the appointment, I probaly need to tell him my 'real weight' ...........

February 26, 2206
My dear friend Judi shared this with me today:
"I hope this surg is all you hope for it to be and it helps you in the ways you want it to.....personally your an awesome person with out this surg it is what is in your heart that makes you a good mom, wife, friend, person.....but I am here to help you in any way I can."

It meant a lot to me that she said those kind words to me - that she validated me as a GOOD person, weather I am fat or not. That is a true friend to see a person beyond their 'weight issues'.

I wrote her back this:
"Thanks Judi for your kind words .... you know they mean a lot to me, as you do, also!!
I 'may' be a "good mom, wife, friend, person" - - BUT I am not going to be one for as many years as I would like to be if I don't get this weight off of me.
This weight loss surgery is not being done so I look good .... it is being done for MY health and to be able to hopefully live longer. I have 3 young kiddos that I would like to see grow up - - I have 3 beautiful & young granddaughters that I want to see grow up. I am doing this for ME and for THEM!!"

February 27, 2006
I emailed the link for my profile here to a couple friends to look at ..... Kathy and Robin S. both wrote me emails that were so encouraging and supportive .... they both made me cry. I truly need to have the support that these friends can give me. They are not judgmental whatsoever ..... which means so much to me!!


March 17, 2006
I went for my surgeon consultation yesterday. I have a date for surgery .... April 17 at 7:30 in the morning!! One month from today!! There is this killer liquid diet you HAVE to be on 10 days before surgery ..... ONLY clear liquids and protein powders. It is to shrink the liver which makes it easier for the surgeon to get around in there ... I CAN DO IT!!!
With me living so far, they require that we stay overnight, just in case something were to happen.
Roger (my hubby) went w/ me yesterday and he will also go w/ me when I have the surgery ..... he is going to take a few days off after my surgery. I am not to drive for 1 week.
That means I have 20 days to eat normally ........ then no more.
I have lost 25 pounds since my birthday in October!

March 20, 2006
Well, I told my mother today about my upcoming surgery. Not that I wanted to tell her, but I will need help w/ my 3 kiddos when I am gone. I made her promise to not tell anyone or to be putting it on our prayer chain at church. My mom worries me, even tho she promised she would not tell anyone, I KNOW how my mother is!! QUEEN OF GOSSIP she is.

March 29, 2006
I went to my 'Girl's Night Out' today. There are 4 of us. Robin S. already knew months ago about me getting the LapBand. I did tell the other 2 girls, Jenny and Missy, about my decision and about my upcoming surgery. I had even brought along a little booklet that had pictures to show them wht it was all about.
Jenny wrote me a VERY nice email later. It made me cry. She was very kind w/ her words and offered to help w/ my children and meals in anyway she could.


April 1, 2006
Roger and I took the whole family down to KC to go to the Hibachi on the Plaza. It was kinda like my 'last supper' meal!! I told Roger that this was something I wanted ALL of us to go do before my surgery - - and WE DID!! :o) We had a great time and I was so glad that ALL of us went together. Jade brought her boyfriend, Dustin. The 2 grandkids had fun. Ashlyn would not eat a thing, except of course the ice cream. Nevaeh of the other hand was eating everything, she loved the zucchini and she even ate onions!!! Izaya and Gracie loved it when the chef would try and toss a shrimp in your mouth .... Joey would not even try it (he's funny sometimes). We all ate way to much ... they give you such BIG portions. They have the BEST fried rice I have ever eaten. Your meal comes with this little glass of dessert wine ... I took a little sip and it tasted like pure alcohol .... no thank you!! I thought wine was to taste good.
After we left there we went walking on the Plaza ... just visiting and enjoying each other. We went on a carriage ride though out the Plaza ..... the kiddos really enjoyed that.
The night did cost us quit a bit ..... but it was worth every penny for us to be together and having a good time!! I love 'family time' together.
I am hoping my this time next year I will be a much healthier person.

April 6, 2006
I start my 10 day pre-op diet tomorrow ....... wish me luck. I have stocked up on broth, flavored water and other no sugar drinks, sugar free popsicles and sugar free jello. I am also allowed 1/2 cup cottage cheese or sugar free yogurt 3 times a day. I'm stopping by Sonic and buying a couple bags of their crushed ice to munch on. I can do this .... I can do this ......... I WILL DO THIS!!
I have also lost another 5 pounds. So that makes 30 pounds since the end of October.

April 9, 2006
Well, I am on day 3 of my pre-op diet. Not as bad as I thought it would be at all. I am sticking to it just fine .... not 1 cheat at all!! :o)
I had to send in my BIG check to the surgery center where I'll be having my LapBand done .... Gosh, I hated writing that check for that much money.
I highlighted my hair today (way to much!!). I am going on Tuesday to get a 60 minute massage, a haircut, manicure and pedicure. I thought I would treat myself to this since my surgery is just 1 week away.
I am going to my doctor's tomorrow for a med check.I have to go to her every 6 months. I have not seen her since I scheduled my surgery. I guess she'll find out tomorrow, huh? I am ready to find a new doctor if she is still so against weight loss surgery. I have been going to her FOREVER and I like her soooo much .... but, I am having this surgery weather she likes it or not!!
I go to Topeka this Wednesday for my pre-op visit and to have some labs run. I also have to write out my check check to them.
I am going to start trying to get my house in order this coming week ..... I have a bunch of dressers and closets that I need to clean out.
ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW IS MY SURGERY!!

April 10
I went to my primary doctor today. She did all the 'stuff' for my visit, talked to me about 'things'. At the very end I told her I had something I wanted to talk to her about. I was VERY nervous because I already knew how she felt about WLS from our previous conversations. I just told her .... "I AM having LapBand surgery, I know you are totally against WLS, but I AM having this done". She asked me if I needed for her to get any paperwork ready to summit ..... I told her I did not because I am self pay. We talked about the lapband for a while and my reasons why I wanted to have this done. I asked her did she fully know what the lapband was .. she said she did and that she has a few of her patients that have had this done. I asked her if she would partner w/ my WL doctor in this journey and she said YES. I told her I was very glad to hear that because if she could not the WL doctor said I should find a new doctor. She said If I needed anything at all to just let her know. She asked me when the surgery was ..... I told her NEXT MONDAY!! Now I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing she will support me.
I think she was pleased that I have lost 35 pounds since I last saw her.

April 12, 2006
Went to Topeka for my pre-surgery visit. I had to have blood taken and have an EKG. I lost 9 pounds since I was last there on Mrch 16th!! :o) Dr. Dunshee just went over every detail of the surgery and the post-op stuff. The nurse gave me a packet w/ the info about he post-op diet - - OH MY GOSH!! I can di it tho!! I am determined to succeed w/ the Lapband - - I am not spending all this money (self pay) for the fun of it. I will do EVERY step that my doctor and nurse tells me to do ...... I WILL SUCCEED!! I

April 15, 2006
My Lapband surgery is only 2 days away ...... April 17th at 7:30 AM. Part of me is very excited, yet part of me is scared to death!! This will be a life changing surgery ... my life will never be the same again ..... the way I eat will never be the same again .... the person I am will never be the same!! I am kinda referring to my surgery date as my 're-birth day'.
The 10 day pre-op diet has not been as bad as I thought it might be. I have not cheated once I can say!! The hardest part is fixing meals for my family and not eating it.
Tomorrow is Easter ... a BIG eating for most families. My dear friend, Alice, talked to me several weeks ago and told me that she wanted to host Easter at her house for my WHOLE family (all my kids and grandkids) since I was having surgery the next day and that way I would not have to worry about any of the food prep and cleaning. That meant the world to me .... she has no idea how much I appreciated her offer!! (love you Alice!!)
My 3 younger kids and I cleaned house ALL day yesterday!! I got up at 7:00 AM this morning and started cleaning out my dresser and closest. With me loosing so much weight already, most of my clothes do not fit me anymore. I want to take them to Good will today ...... one less thing to worry about later.
My oldest daughter and my granddaughter is coming up from Kansas City today and will be staying here w/ the younger children until Monday evening. Then my mother will come up then and stay over night and then put them on the bus Tuesday morning.
Please be praying for me on Monday!!

April 18, 2006
I survived surgery!! :o) We got to Tallgrass on the 17th at 6:15 AM ..... we left our house at 4:30 AM to get there. Check in was very smooth. All the nurses and just EVERYBODY was super nice. I think the worse part of the whole thing was having to drink that stuff' for the x-ray ..... talk about NASTY!! I got released from the surgery center about noon and they put us up in a hotel next to them (it was VERY nice!!) for the rest of the day and night .... which was very nice to have to not make the 2 hour drive home right afterwards. I did have quit a bit of pain .... worse than I thought I would have. But, Praise God, there was no upper front shoulder pain that I have heard from a lot of lapbanders after their surgeries. I am having awful pain in the middle area of my back ... don't know what's that's caused from..... terrible. I slept a whole lot of Monday ... would get up every hour or so and walk 'laps' around the hotel room. Tried to drink as much as I could, but just didn't feel like it. Rog did run out and get me some SF jello.
We left Topeka around 9:30 AM and got home in good time ... did not stop once!! :o) I slept pretty much the 2 hour drive home. I did put a pillow between my stomach and the seat belt. Far worse today than I was yesterday!! Taking my pain meds faithfully!! I cannot drive my car until the 26th. I feel like I have been ran over by a big steam roller - my tummy area is VERY SORE!!! I know as the days go by, I will start to feeling better. I have been very lazy and just laying around ............ and I don't feel guilty for doing that.
I have to go back to Topeka on the 25th for my post-op visit. All in all ....... I am STILL glad that I did this surgery ........ I know I WILL be a better person for it!

April 19, 2006
Man oh man, I could not sleep at all last night. My bed is way to high for me to get into, so I 'tried' sleeping in two different recliners and the sofa ........ didn't work very well. I actually cried this afternoon from the pain ...... I think it was worse today then any the last two days ...... I thought it was to get better!!
My mother came and got me and took me into town to her house so I could take a shower and wash my hair (it sucks not having a shower here!). Roger picked me up later from her house. It felt good just to stand under some running water. :o)
My friend Jenny is going to bring Rog and the kiddos supper tomorrow night .... I know they are going to appreciate that LOTS!!
I talked to my friend Robin B. tonight. She asked me w/ the way I feel now, would I have had the surgery. I told her that was not a fair question as right now I feel like crap. I said nobody would choose to feel the way I am feeling right now. I told her to ask me again several weeks down the road.
I know I am not getting in enough water .... but I really am trying!! MY mouth is just so dry ALL the time!!
I am just praying that as each day goes by that I will feel a little better ... I have got to stand on that!!

April 21, 2006
I'm hanging in there!! For some strange reason I thought I would be back to 'normal' by this time ... but, I am far from it. Still having LOTS of pain ... still not being able to sleep. I feel bloated ALL the time. Just after drinking a few sips of water, I have pain from feeling bloated!! It is driving me crazy.
I got to start on 'full liquids' today. For breakfast I had a Carnation Instant Breakfast drink w/ 1 scoop of protein powder. I couldn't drink it all and I did not like the taste of it. I can now have things like 'blenderized' cream soups, SF pudding and protein drinks. I am not even hungry at all .... never!!
A dear friend Jenny, brought a taco bar supper last night for my family. She even brought a casserole meal for them to have tonight!! (Thanks Jenny!).
I had some visitors today which was VERY nice!! Robin S. and Kathy came to see me. I so enjoyed their company .... I feel like I have been stuck in this house all week ..... REALLY I have!! :o) Robin brought me flowers from her garden and some homemade cookies that my kiddos and hubby said were yummy!!

April 22, 2006
We had 2 birthday parties to go to today. One was for a family friend who's daughter turned 1. The other was for my granddaughter who also turned 1. My granddaughter's party was held at my all time Pizza place. It sucks going and not being able to eat. I did good at both parities and drink my water. After the first party, I got to feeling bad from feeling bloated and was in a whole lot of pain. My hubby thinks I am drinking to fast ... but, really - I take little sips - - I don't know what's going on. I just know I NEED to get in more water .... lots more!!
Going to the parties today really made me think how we, as a society, arrange everything around food. It seems like we don't have any event where food is not the center of attention. No wonder why we are all overweight.

April 24, 2006
I weighed last night before bed ....... since March 16, 2006 I have lost 26 pounds!!
I know NOT to expect weight loss llike this all the time ...... it is due to being on a full liquid diet. 12 of those pounds I have lost since my surgery last Monday, April 17. I do realize that I after starting 'real food' I probably will gain a little bit of it back.
So, all together, since the end of October I have lost a total of 48 pounds!! I am HAPPY!!

April 26, 2006
Had my surgery follow up appointment w/ Dr. Dunshee yesterday. He said the incisions look good and that I can take the strips off ... like it will take me FOREVER to soak them to be able to get them off!!! He was a little surprised that I have not been 'eating' very much at all. Told me to take it as my body tells me to. He told me that I could advance to 'mushie food' ... applesauce, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes ..... things like that. He said to try a new mushie every few days and just to keep adding to it ....... he said by the time I come back that he would like to see me being able to get some ground meats. I go back in 5 weeks for a check up. He said by then he will know if I need a fill or not by telling him what I am eating and how much.
I was a little disappointed w/ their scales ..... they weighed me 8 pounds heavier ...... I took off my shoes and then it was just 6 pounds heavier. Oh well, I have GOT to learn that it is not a race to see the numbers go down so fast right now, as it it to let my band heal in place. I gotto keep remembering this.
I told him how once I had heard about Tallgrass and the low self pay price how I had did a VERY good research on him on SEVERAL of the lapband support boards and how everybody had wonderful things to say about him and his office. That made him smile!!
In the evening our family went out to supper at Bob Evans. I ordered a dish of mashed pototoes and gravy ..... they tasted sooo good. I ate about 1/2 of it.
I am going to Kansas City tomorrow night w/ this gal that I met at the last WLS support group meeting that was held in St. Joseph. The KC one is to have a BIG Lapband support group down there. The gal is from Savannah and her daughter is in Joey's class .... talk about small world sometimes.


May 3, 2006
I am doing pretty good this week. Still sore ..... more than what I thought I would still be. I am eating pretty good - - just not near as much as I used to - - which is VERY good!! We even went out to eat Mexican last night and I ordered 2 chicken tacos and just ate all the stuff from inside of them. I am not having near the restriction as I was having just last week ..... that kinda sucks!! I guess I will indeed need a fill when I go back to Dr. Dunshee on May 30, huh?
I joined TOPS on Monday. I just want to have a weekly accountability group. There are 2 other lapband gals that goes to this same TOPS group.
I am still having a hard time getting in all my water. I just can't seem to drink it all w/out feeling bloated.
I went shopping today and was very brave ..... I bought 2 pair of jeans that were on sale (and REALLY cheap) that were several sizes to small for me. I guess I have faith, huh?
I have not started walking yet. I think I will try and start doing that next week ..... I want to start out doing it every other day.

May 9, 2006
I had a really bad reaction to Chinese food yesterday. I had a bowl of Hot and Sour Soup w/ some 'crunchy' noodles mixed in. Oh my gosh .... I thought I was going to die ..... I ate about 3/4 of it and had to stop ... I was so sick the rest of the day. I had diarrhea so bad I thought I was never going to stop. I don't know if it was the MGN that they put in it or what. I got so weak around 9:00 - - I think from 'pooping' and not being able to keep any liquid in. I was up all last night. Roger even stayed home today because he was very worried about me. The only thing I have eaten ALL day is 1 SF jello and 1 SF pudding. I am scared to eat anything else. I have been doing nothing but laying around all day. All I know is that I am NEVER going to go for Chinese again!! I even missed the Mother/Daughter supper last night for Girl Scouts because I was so sick. I had my Mom take Gracie so she would not have to miss out on it.
At the TOPS weigh in yesterday I have lost 3.6 pounds since last week .... I was very pleased w/ that weight lost.


June 8, 2006
It's been a while since I have posted anything. I had my first fill last week on May 30 .... I was scared to death ...... I have such a fear of needles. Dr. Dunshee knew I was terrified and he was very sensitive to that. He explained everything he was doing. It only hurt a tiny bit when he shot the pain killer stuff in me. I could not even fill it when he stuck me w/ the big needle for my fill. Here I was scared for nothing!! He was very quick in doing the fill. I am not losing as fast as I want to be which is getting me down quit a bit. YES, I KNOW if we loose 4-8 pounds a month w/ the band that we are doing fine ...... BUT, I want to loose it faster!! :o) I still fill like I have very little restriction even after my fill. I can eat almost all foods I want - - I will still not try bread, rice or pasta .... I don't want to risk that!!! I look at other lapbanders and see how well they are doing and I get very discouraged w/ myself. Dr. Dunshee told me if I loose around 10 pounds before my next appointment to call and cancel it and reschedule it for another month out ..... he won't give you a fill if you are loosing the recommended 4-8 pounds a month. The only thing is, I am having to use ALL my will power w/ this weight loss and not getting much help from my band.
I had started walking in the evening but I pooped out on that when the heat got high ..... I know I REALLY need to get back to that. I know that will help w/ my weight loss ..... I just gotta get my big butt in gear!!
I got something stuck for the very first time last night and I thought I was going to die!! I had bought some 'cheesecake bars' that are 180 calories for a treat once in a while. I was eating one last night and I don't know if I was not chewing good enough or what, BUT it happened!!! There was a VERY tight burning sensation in my chest area that was SO FREAKING bad ..... I was foaming up spit and couldn't shallow .... it was terrible. I kept coughing hoping and praying that it would come back up .... this went on for about 15 minutes ..... I was dying the whole time ... THE PAIN!!! ..... finally after coughing so much, a hunk of that cheese cake bar just 'popped' right out. This may sound crazy, but I am still sore today in my chest area. I just kept thinking what would I have done if I was got to eat when this happened? I would have died!!
I am still going to TOPS for my weekly weigh in and for the support group. There is know a total of 5 of us lapbanders there at the TOPS group. It really does help to have an 'official weigh in' each week and have it written down.


MARCH 5, 2008
I need some prayers (or if praying isn't your thing, some positive vibes), please.   I had my LapBand surgery 2 years ago. Everything has been fine .....  Except that I have developed reflux really bad and take pills for it!!! Well, about 4-5 months ago I started 'throwing up' some about 2-3 times a week. These past 4 weeks have been TERRIBLE and this past week has been more than I can take. Yesterday I 'threw up' 8 times. And most of that was from TRYING to drink liquid stuff ..... Not even food. I could not even sleep last night.   I have been worried that my band as slipped or something (things like that DO happen .... I knew all this up front!!).   I called my Weight loss (WL) doctors office this morning to talk to them. They want an upper GI done to see if slippage has occurred and then to take some fluid out of my band to give my stomach a rest. Okay ..... Here is where I am going crazy!!! My insurance will NOT pay for any of this at all. I did know that up front 2 years ago that they do not pay for any WL surgery or complications from it ( I was a self pay patient). So my WL doctor is asking if my primary doctor can have me get a GI Xray here where I live and fax him the results ASAP. I live in a different state than where my WL doc is at. So, I call my Primary doc and she HAS to see me first before she can refer me to a doc for an upper GI?!?! I ask why .... She says for insurance purposes ..... I tell her that my insurance will not pay for it, that the upper GI will be as a cash patient, so why does she have to see me. Now she said she wants to see me so she can have it documented that she saw me and referred me to a doc for an upper GI. WHAT?!?!? So, I ask when is the soonest I can come in. They say Friday afternoon. WHAT?!?! I then ask how long after I come in can I get an upper GI ..... She says it could take 2-3 weeks for them to get me in to a GI doctor!! I tried to explain how I need something ASAP ..... That I am throwing up and cannot hardly eat!! I took the appointment and told them that if I can travel to where my WL surgeon is this week and he can get me in someplace then I may be calling back and canceling that appointment w/ them.   I just am so depressed. I have a call back to my WL surgeon's office and am just waiting for them to call me back. I want to get something done ASAP. I hate this waiting game and I am not good at it.

** 4:30 PM - Great news!! My WL nurse got me in down at Topeka in Friday ...... Upper GI at the hospital at 10:45 am and then meeting w/ my WL doctor and her at 1:30 Pm to go over X-rays and decide what to do.

About Me
Northwest, MO
Location
40.8
BMI
Surgery
04/17/2006
Surgery Date
Jul 25, 2005
Member Since

Latest Blog 2
MARCH 9, 2008
March 5, 2008

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