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Ok so it's been over month.  I followed my pre op diet very well.  Two protein shakes and a sensible dinner.  I started liquid diet on September 27th and had my Lap Band Surgery on September 29th.  My Mom and I had surgery together.  our surgeon (Dr. Krahn) did our surgeries back to back.  We were up walking about three hours after surgery.  Not too much pain just some discomfort.  The worst part of the surgery was the gas pain that worked its way up to my left shoulder.  It lasted about a good week and a half.  We had to do an Upper GI the following morning and were released the next afternoon.  We had our surgery on a Tues and I was back to work on Fri (I have a sit down job).  So now I am about two and a half weeks out feeling really well. my incisions (5 of them) are healing really well.  I have been putting coco butter and mederma on my scars to try to fade them. 

I can't wait to get my first fill (November 12)  I am hoping I will get lots of restriction and start losing like crazy.  I really have no restriction now, I can eat anything I want.  BUT, I have trained myself to have some very very good will power.  I have not had soda in over a month.  I have been watching my portions and calories.  I have been walking for 30 minutes 4-5 times a week.  So far I am down 12 lbs.

My Pre-Op Diet starts today, wish me luck.  My Pre-Op Diet consists of proetin shakes, water, and a healthy dinner for the next two weeks.  I hope they fly by, I am so so so ready for my Lap Band Surgery. 

Hi all,

Sorry it has taken me so long to get on here and write a blog.  At the end of June my surgeon's office submitted all of my info to my insurance (Blue Shield of California PPO) for approval for my Lap Band Surgery.  On July 7th I was denied due to not haveing any co-morbidity problems.  My BMI is 39.6???  So onward and forward we went with the appeal.  Dr. Krahn's (my surgeon) office have been angels.  They are wonderful and helped me every step of the way.  Finally...........I got approved on August 26th.  I start my two week pre op diet on September 15, my pre-op appointment is September 17th and my surgery date is scheduled for September 29th.  I will keep you posted on how things are going.  Thanks for everyone's comments and support.

Hi all, sorry its taken me so long to write.  I have been on vacation in HAWAII....yeah!  Still not ready to be back home and back to work, but oh well back to reality.....So for the update, Monday, June 8th I got my approval from my Primary Care Physician.  On Tuesday, June 9th I had my Upper GI, I faxed all my paperwork to my surgeon that afternoon.  I have been on vacation up until yesterday.  Yesterday I called my surgeon's office to make sure they had all my medical clearance's, records, and so forth.  The nurse said they had received everything and my chart was on the doctors desk for review.  Once my doctor reviews my chart which should be done by this week, she will submit all my paperwork to my insurance and then I wait for approval which should only take about 7-10 days.  Then I get a surgery date.  Hopefully it's in July like my Mom and I wanted (my Mom and I are doing our surgeries back to back :)  When I know more information, I will post another update. 

Yesterday I went to my dietary nutritional evaluation.  It was wonderful, very informative.  The dietitian was excellent and answered so many questions.  We went over what my eating habits are right now along with my activity level.  I am at 200lbs right now my goal is to be at 140lbs by the time I am 30....that is August 4, 2010.  So according to my dietitian, he said after my lap band surgery he wants me to be having at least 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week as well as getting 75 grams of protein a day.  He said EVERYTHING YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH SHOULD CONTAIN PROTEIN!  I do not take any vitamins at all right now, he said he wants me to start taking a chewable multi vitamin and chewable 1500mg of calcium daily.  He also informed me all about protein shakes, gave me lots of great information and websites to help me out.  I haven't had a chance to look any of them up yet, but one that I remember is bariatricadvantage.com. 
It was a great meeting and makes me more inspired to do this, have a plan, and a goal in mind.  I can't wait to get everything finished up and have surgery.  On 6/9 is my Upper GI, along with seeing my PCP regarding my blood work and chest X Ray results from last week.  Then, it's just a matter of making sure that my surgeon has all of my necessary medical records and submitting it to insurance.  Everyone that I have met with so far thinks it is very likely that I should be having my surgery in July.  Wish me luck, I'll keep you posted on all the details. 

So today I went in for my physical exam with my primary care physician, my doctor wanted me to get a chest X Ray and blood work done, so why I was in the neighborhood I went ahead and knocked those out too.  A few more things to mark off my check list.  Im getting closer, just a few more hoops to jump through......  I weighed 219 at the doctors office today.  Can't wait to get my Lap Band done, I can't wait to start loosing.

I had my Psych Evaluation this morning.  The Psycologist was very nice.  He said I am a very very good candidate and he thinks I will do excellent.  He said I have realistic expectations and a reachable goal.  I am at 200lbs. right now.  I told him that I would like to be around 135lbs or 140lbs.  I told him that I am giving myself a1 year to get it off.  I want to be at my goal weight by the time I am 30!  I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow to get my medical clearance from my primary care physician.  Next up is my Nutritional Evaluation on June 2nd, then my Upper GI on June 9th.  Then it's the waiting game, wait for my insurance to approve everuthing, then wait for my surgery date.  Wish me luck!

On May 21st I had my consultation with Dr. Krahn.  It went extremely well.  My Mom and I have decided to do this journey together.  Dr. Krahn was so great, he answered all of our questions and made us feel so comfortable.  Do we found out that my Mom's BMI is 36 but, she has type 2 diabetes, so she should be approved through her insurance no problems.  My BMI is 39, I don't have any major problems but, Dr. Krahn also seems to think that I  will be approved no problem as well.  So the criteria that we have to go through to get approved is; a medical clearance from my Primary Care Physician, Upper GI, Psych Evaluation, and a Nutritional Evaluation.  My Mom and I have all of our appointments set up already.  May 27th is my Psych Eval, May 28th is an exam from my Primary Care Doctor.  June 2nd is my Nutritional Eval, and June 9th is my Upper GI.  Then everything should be submitted to my Insurance for approval.  I am in Hawaii, June 13th - June 20th, so hopefully why I am in Hawaii, I'll be approved!  So that is that the BIG UPDATE.  I will let you know how things go as I go through all these procedures the next few weeks.  Wish me luck.

Okay so Dr. Krahn's office called today and I have my conultation with him on May 21st.  My Insurance will cover 70% of the surgery.  I have to do a Nutritional Evaluation and a Psych Evaluation and then I believe I am cleared for surgery. I don't have to do a pre-op diet.  I will know more after my consultation.  As for now I have to wait a month, ugg oh well, at least things are lining up.  Yeah, I am so excited, 

I filled out all of my necessary paperwork last night and mailed it today.  Just waiting for Dr. Krahn's office to receive it and call my for my first consultaion.