peacequeen

It's in the top right corner.

You don't have to respond.lol But I thought it was really awesome how you responded to each post individually. I've never seen anyone do that and I thought it was really nice

I'm so happy for you, Shirley. I'm sure you were stressed to the max and you must be one tough cookie to keep it from beating you down. Here are links for a tutorial on setting up the ticker and the site where you get one,,they have quite a few to choose from. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/124594-ticker-tutorial-for-vst-lbt-with-pictures/page__p__1573140__hl__tutorial__fromsearch__1#entry1573140 http://www.tickerfactory.com/ezticker/ticker_designer.php?type=3 Good luck and look forward to seeing how things progress for you!

Good information! Glad you're ok, Acadia! Congrats on your success with the band. You're doing fantastic

By the way, I think what minimeme was referring to was,,,did you really see Shirley posting?

Shirley, please quit giving these crack pots the satisfaction of trying to make you look stupid. I do not care about your grammar. I think many feel the same way. I think it's perfectly appropriate to post in caps when you are upset. You owe them no explanation. I'll apologize now for any spelling or punctuation errors, your highness, doctor of the universe. Oh, should I have capitalized any of that? Yeah, I'm a smart a.. but I have no respect for people who don't give respect.

generally

I wish I knew the whole diet process from beginning to end. I want to know what to expect as I'm starting to get really psyched about having the surgery. I'm having alot of preop diets stuff to go through so I'm sure it will be a while but I'd like to know what I'm headed for. I'd love it if an experienced bander could tell me how they have dieted as they decided to get the band (preop), when they got the band and now that things have settled in. Maybe some samples of what you've had to eat and how it was to be prepared. Thanks!

I've been so busy focusing on my past, it's been hard to see my future. I've posted this before but I haven't gotten alot of responses to several of my posts,,maybe I bore people or I'm too sad? I lost my parents in an auto accident and a 24 mth old nephew to drowning. I've developed a bunch of health problems and gained over 100 pounds in the process. I've been so down and out and depressed. All of these things have been stirring in my mind along with alot of personal issues from my childhood. I have had a constant fear of failure because of my eating disorder being due to the fact I am an emotional eater also. It's all been getting in my way of living. I've been self doubting and having the pity party of my life. This post has been exactly what I've needed to hear so thanks to all who have commented. I'm so sorry it's at the expense of Myzz Courtney's post about her brother passing. I'm so very sorry. But your post was here for a reason..funny that the responses YOU received have really touched me. Trish's post has really made me put some things into perspective. I will wake up tomorrow making some changes. I've been waiting for this moment. Courtney, try to stay focused and know that your brother would want you to live a healthy life. Do this in honor of him! Good luck sweetie, hopefully we can all stick together on here that have emotional problems and issues in our lives.. I know I could use the support. Feel free to contact me anytime if you want to talk. I think you're doing great really, considering what you've just went through a couple months ago. Sounds to me like you are an amazing person.

I took metformin for steroid induced diabetes..was on prednisone for an autoimmune condition. Metformin didn't help me much and certainly didn't help me lose weight. I think prediabetes is one of the co morbidities included to get approval for lapband so I would think surgery would only help you.

Thank you all for the honest replies. 7 years ago I had gotten myself down to a very healthy person. Running and excercising were part of my everyday life. I wasn't on a diet but I watched what I ate. I was 157 pounds wearing size 10/12. It seems like a lifetime and over 100 pounds ago. I think that makes me feel like I have failed and what if I fail again? I have alot going on in my life which could be some of the cause for me sounding like an out of control and desperate person. Reaching my mid 40's has brought up some things from my past and my childhood that I'm having a hard time coping with and it couldn't have come at a worse time because it is impacting everything. I lost my parents in an auto accident in '99, I have a child with special needs. I am disabled now due to an autoimmune condition along with some other health issues. My husband went to 3rd shift to help me when I got sick. He's stuck there for a while so I rarely see him and I'm lonely alot. My oldest son is going off to college in the fall and though I am so proud of his achievements, I'm already mourning his absence. I am currently seeing a therapist, hoping he can help me with some of my emotional problems. I do want to go into this with the mindset I should have. I've been educating myself for months here at this site and other sites, I've talked to people who have had the procedure and I have attended the seminar. I've watched videos of the actual procedure. I seem to get really excited about the life change I will have. I know the sacrifices to be made with the band and the outcome it can bring. I just don't want to be a failure again.

How can you figure out what kind of eater you are? I eat when I'm sad or happy. Most every event and holiday is evolved around food and has been so since I was a small child before I could even remember. So that could make me an emotional eater along with a social eater. I have no motivation right now, very depressed. I'm just trying to figure out why because I'm gaining weight and I'm trying to make this life plan with my future lapband to help me put a stop to the madness. I also just love to think about food. I like trying to decide what will we have for dinner. So I am a food lover, I overeat most 99.5% of the time and most times I will stuff myself to the point of pain and still not be able to stop. I love the smell of food, I can taste it by smell. But it makes me have to have it. I watch the food channel and I think that's setting me up for failure because it makes me starve watching some of those shows because then my visual side comes out. I think the motivation will come when I have my consultation on Mar 10, not sure though. Sometimes I don't know who I am anymore. I know I will have a psych eval and I don't know how to answer the questions. I'm worried I'll mess up. I'd love to get feedback from any of you who have an opinion on any of these areas. I'm trying to figure out,,am I going to get motivated on the band. I'm excited about the process but the waiting time,,I'm living like the bottomless pit. I just eat and eat. Someone told me it's the feeling of getting "the last supper". That I know something drastic will be coming so I'm hoarding food like it's my last chance. I truly believe that. I am worried because I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing to the psych doctor. What do you say? What do you not want to say to them? They kinda call the shots, I hear.

Sometimes posts get buried if it's a busy day. You might also be more specific in your post title. Just posting HELP might deter some from responding especially new members who feel they can't help. I haven't had my surgery yet to answer too many questions but I can help be supportive or just say welcome. So welcome, v2girls!!

Maybe involving your husband in the process might help? Show him some of the really nice photos at this site of before and afters. I read from this site to my husband all the time and trying to educate him too..this is a journey for the both of us even if I'm the one getting the surgery. Let your husband read about the hard work you have to do with the band so he will no longer label it "cheating". It may not bother you now but if he goes into it with that kind of mentality, it might bug you later to hear him say you are cheating when all you can have is a couple ounces of food or a Protein shake.lol On a different note..I'm 46 years old and I have hypothyroid and one of the first and most common signs is the fatigue. Just to play it safe, if you haven't already, have your TSH checked (just bloodwork). This is a condition that doesn't matter if you're overweight or skinny. Good luck, sweetie! I wish you the best.

I think what we're dealing with is because we are trying to not only improve our health but because we want to feel good about ourselves and look good too..people are going to compare WLS to cosmetic surgery. They think it's a selfish act on our part and that we don't need it and throw all these risks out to make us feel guilty. I really do believe that's the issue. Society looks at fat people as if we did it to ourself, that we are lazy. I think I would tell them, on top of the physical and mental health problems that being overweight has caused, the stress of not having family to give support is a big disappointment but..I'm going to do it anyway and they'd have to deal with it. This is a life or death decision and it's a shame they can't be there to help support you for wanting to live! I've only told a few people and I've told them my doctors have recommended it for me. I have a large list of health problems and I tell them I don't have a choice and so far, I've either gotten silence or support. Good luck sweetie, you have support here!

My experience was pretty much exactly what kalipso stated. The seminar I attended, they introduced one of the surgeons. Everything was set up on a slideshow. He discussed the history of WLS then he talked himself as a surgeon and then about the hospital and their success rate, etc. Then he went over each individual weight loss surgery..this will really help you decide which is right for you. He also went over a few details about self pay and a program they offer. They ended with letting a couple of the former patients speak about their personal experiences. We were also able to turn in an information packet to a nurse and ask questions. It was exciting and a pleasant experience. About 1 1/2 hours.

Hope all went well, let us know!

I finally got my call today from the bariatric center! My seminar was on Jan 4th. I'm sort of glad I've had the time to read up on the procedure and how the band works. No surprises. I'm scheduled March 10 for my consultation with the surgeon and they said I would be there all day testing and having labwork done. Is there a name for this appointment and what tests are involved? I have an idea but if someone experienced something similar, could you tell me what all that appointment involves? They're sending me the info but it'll be a few days so I'm just curious and if this is a specific appointment, I'll know what info to search for. Thanks! Weight 271 BMI 45 Height 5'5" Seminar 1-4-11 Consultation 3-10-11

Hi, sorry I don't have Humana but I'm a fellow Kentuckian,,wanted to say hello! Good luck to you!

Thanks you guys. Knowing it's not just me having the long wait,,makes it easier. I'm sorry for everyone else now.lol

Good luck! Keep us posted!

Sorry this is a long reply. I think I'm pretty patient. Just hoping to hear how long it took before the call after going to the seminar and paperwork turned in to get an appt with the surgeon. I had a strange experience with the Ins. Coor., I have it in a seperate post. I went to the seminar Jan 4, turned in my paperwork. Told the ins. coor. I hadn't completed the dr referral yet. She said that was ok, not a problem. Told me to call them and they could take that info over the phone when I got it. So I did. I called and the receptionist said ins coor wasn't in, to leave a msg so I did. Waited a week, no return call so I called back and the receptionist said she should call me and didn't know why she hadn't, she took a personal note on a post it to leave on her desk. Said if I didn't get a call the next day by noon to call. Didn't get the call so I called, the receptionist again, left another note,,I told her not to, there should already be a note from the previous day. She said she was anyway. So a week later I get a call from the Ins. coor. She was very hateful and rude to me saying she was out of town and that my paperwork was being returned to me because it was incomplete and not sure why I hadn't rec'd it yet (without asking if I had rec'd it yet??) I was never told she was out of town and I told her I had told the receptionist not to worry about leaving a 2nd note but she insisted. Well, her tone changed. She then said, well, I do have a "copy" of your paperwork here and it seems we need the doctor who is recommending the surgery..LOL I told her that was what I was calling about and had been told it was ok to call this info in. So she wrote my doctors name down (wow) and said she would resubmit the "copy" to the clinician. I wanted to be very nice to her, she was the one who would be responsible for getting "my ball rolling" . I asked her when should I expect a call for my appt with the surgeon and she said about a week or less. Well, it's been 2 weeks, no call. That's all I'm saying. I just wanted to know how long everyone else was waiting. I understand about the diet, like I said, not a problem for me. I read here at this site that others didn't have to go on the diet, having UHC, they apparently have several different plans.

Yeah, I heard that. I also heard there are several different UHC plans and they have different requirements. Medicare requires the diet also, I think they might take some things into consideration though..record of diets tried/failed if recent, health issues and such. Either way, I think my UHC plan and medicare will require me to go through it. That's fine, I'd just like to have an appt with my surgeons office and get this show on the road. Anything for motivation at this point.

I'm not sure how the process works. The insurance coordinator told me on the phone that I should bring my doctor referral letters with me at my consult with the surgeon so I haven't even turned those in yet. I have United Healthcare ChoicePlus. But I will be eligible for Medicare April 1. She told me I would just need to decide which insurance I wanted to go with. Do I need to just call her with that decision? I was under the impression I would let them know at the consult. She told me I would receive a call in about a week from the time I talked to her almost 3 weeks ago. I really don't think her job is a priority.

Congrats,,I think that is major progress..you should be very proud!!!