duckydoom

Sigh. It's not just limited to members of the opposite sex, as I'm sure we all know. Guys just seem to be more macho and jerkish about it. When I told my mother in law I was considering the band when I started my journey, her response was "that'd be awesome! Then you wouldn't be fat anymore!" She's also put out such gems as "I don't understand why you're so upset about being fat - you have a hot husband, a good job, and a great house!" and "Man, at least being fat you've got big boobs. I wish mine were big, but I don't want to get fat." Errr.... It's frustrating though, because she's cheering me on and being supportive in her own weird, insulting way. Hubby has to keep taking her aside and working on the mechanics of tact with her. Good luck with your journey - you're a beautiful woman now as I can see from your pic, and from the sounds of it, you've got an awesome hubby

Ooooh, try fat free ricotta cheese. I've been eating that while on the Dukan diet and plan on utilizing it well into post-op stage - it mixes well with everything! Today we had it with shredded chicken in roasted bell peppers. I've also mixed it w/a little splenda and cinnamon for a dessert-type flavor. Good luck!

My husband and I read the books together. They were... enlightening, to say the least The big part of being open is as mentioned before - trust. The more trust there is, the more leeway there can be for... err... experimentation and exploration.

Yes! Please let us know! I have chronic unilateral edema on the left side as well - I'm wondering how the band is going to effect this, if at all. I haven't had any issues with cellulitis or delay in healing, just extreme swelling. Have you had any studies done? I've had a ton - venous ultrasounds, lymphscintigrophy, EKG, abdominal CAT scan and MRI... Mine seems to be simply venous insufficiency on the left side, which sucks, but if I eat high protein low carb it does reduce the amount of swelling.

I haven't officially started my 2 week pre op yet (just got the final referral yesterday, hopefully will get my surgery date sometime this week!!) but the nutritionist I'm working with told me that once I start if I have issues with dizziness, nausea, etc to try Glucerna Hunger Smart. She said it's made specifically for diabetics, but can be a really big help in adjusting to liquids only. Since I tend to have problems with hypoglycemia, this is gonna be what I have on hand. I hope you feel better!

Hi, everyone! I posted on here years ago when my PCP first suggested that I get a lap band due to my seeming inability to lose weight despite dieting and exercising. I put it off at first, but when my brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, my PCOS got worse, and I was just gaining more weight and becoming more fatigued, the band seemed like more and more of a viable option for me. I've looked into it, both online and also within the information available to me at work, I attended the informational seminar put on by local surgeons, and spoke with friends and family who have had weight loss surgeries done (though they have had rny and the sleeve done, not the band). Anyways - while my PCP was gung ho about it two years ago, when I brought it up again she seemed hesitant, but put in the referral for me to see the surgeon since my weight has continued to climb. Since I met with him, things have seemed to be plugging along quite nicely. I rec'd the letter from my insurance indicating that I was approved for consideration for the band, but needed to meet the further requirements - ie lab work, EKG, psych eval, meeting with a nutritionist, sleep studies, and enrolling in a program called Accomplish that will help me 2 months pre op and 10 months post op navigate life prior to and after surgery. I've done all of this, had my psych eval done yesterday, and I have my first phone meeting with my Accomplish rep tomorrow. Surgery could be as soon as 2 months from now. My worry right now is based on whether or not I will get the final approval, obviously. During my eval yesterday, the psychiatrist expressed concern about my "relatively young age" and my "relatively low bmi." I'm almost 29 (which is practically 40 as far as I'm concerned in my quarter-life crisis ), and my BMI is 36-ish. It wavers from high 36 to mid 36. Of course the surgeons are going to say "Heck yeah, go with it!" and not fuss about my age, but have any of you found in your experience (or heard from others) that age is a consideration in this? I'm a logical person, and I know that the band isn't a fix all, catch all, and will require work - but this is work that I'm willing to put in and utilize this tool for what it is meant for. I want to be healthy and avoid a higher bmi as I get older. He said this was reasonable, and based on the diets and methods of exercise I'd employed in the past, it seemed like "not that bad, but nonetheless drastic" of an idea. So, he cleared me of any red flags and said that I was psychologically fit to go through this process, but did note that he was concerned about my "relatively young age" and "relatively low bmi." My husband isn't necessarily thrilled about the whole process, mostly because he is worried about my safety during the surgery and recovery time. He fully supports every diet and exercise program I've ever tried, and loves me at any size. My friends and family who have had the process done as well are very supportive, but I do have many members of my family who are not supportive and trying to talk me out of it. Aside from my background - I do have a few questions to throw out there. My surgeon happily insisted that I should be able to return to work and exercise (I currently work out at Curves) within a week post op. This seems sort of hardcore to me (and I'm one to push the envelope, don't get me wrong) - can anyone vouch for this? I have almost 3 weeks of vacation saved up, and am thinking of taking 2 off. Is this too much? Would I be erring too far on the side of caution? I had a UPPP and my tonsils out last year, and 2 weeks wasn't nearly enough, it seemed. Has anyone done any of the beachbody programs (ie p90x, ChaLEAN extreme) after your surgery? I know I can't jump into it right away, but I'd like to graduate from Curves to something like this. What have been your major annoyances/adjustments since surgery? Are there any specific things you wish you would have known prior to surgery? What's the best goo to use on my incisions so they don't scar so badly? Do you have any regrets? I'm determined to do this if I'm approved. I need something drastic at this point to help me to my goals of being happy and healthy again - I'd love to be back to my highschool weight of 143, but I was my most comfortable at 160. I'm currently 221, and I've been on the Dukan diet for 2 weeks now - I started at 225, my highest recorded weight was at the surgeon's office at 232.7 on April 12th, 2012. Thanks for reading my random rambling post, I look forward to getting to know you as I move through the rest of my process! Rachel Consult with Surgeon 4/12/12 - DONE EKG: 4/29/12 - done Chest X-Ray 5/18/12 - DONE Psychologist Appt. 5/29/12 Nutritional Evaluation - met with a nutritionist Jan-April 2012 Sleep Test I've had 3 - 2 overnight studies and one MSLT most recently in March Labs 5/26/12 - DONE Insurance Approval - in process Pre-Op Diet?? Surgery Date??

Thank you for letting me know! I have to say that the time off of work aspect is almost the most worrying part for me right now (until I get my surgery date, then I know I'll be 100% nervous about the surgery).After the tonsillectomy, I'm over cautious - it took me almost 3 months to feel like a rational, normal human again. I love these boards because I can read everything people have experienced... I'm driving my poor husband nuts at this point, so it's great to have the community support. It looks like you're doing great with your band - do you mind if I ask how the fills have been? That's another point that kind of scares me (scared of needles, despite the amount of ink I have covering my body - go figure!). Take care

I'm relatively new to the boards (at least to posting, lol), and I'm glad that you've posted this. I don't have any kids yet, but plan on having them within the next 2-3 years after I (hopefully) am able to get banded and lose some weight. Please keep me posted on what your surgeon suggests - mine isn't really talking about that yet since I'm not at that place in my life quite yet.

I love reading posts like these - it gives me hope for my own journey, and gets me excited for the next step. You're doing amazing, ladies, and thank you for sharing!

I am still waiting for my surgery date, but I am nervous and excited as well, lol. Glad to meet you! Keep us posted

No worries I had no idea what a PPO was until I started my current job - I still only have a vague idea of how our PPO plans even work, as I work on the *** side of things. I'm glad I could give a bit of info - I think my customer service self took over there for a second, lol. Having a policy that covers it is definitely the first and best step, and navigating the rest can be tricky, but it's worth it. Best of luck to you!

There are Kaisers in Oregon, DC, Cali, Georgia, and one other place that's eluding me... and they all offer the reciprocal benefits under a "visiting member" status, which is for 90 days, after that the insured either has to switch to the local insurance or they have to return to their home plan. Auth is definitely required for the surgical procedure, but if you've got a PPO you can usually self-refer for the consultation, they just need to submit for an auth prior to surgery. HMOs will definitely require a referral for the initial consultation, and then a referral for the surgery. I should probably add a disclaimer that I only know benefits for the company I work with and it's an absolute necessity for someone to check their plan before proceeding! Knowing your benefits can be a powerful thing if you know how to weld them properly!

I actually work for an insurance company that's partnered (sort of) with Kaiser - We have reciprocal benefits in each other's areas. Anyways, you would need a referral from a primary care physician, and they would refer you to an in-network doctor. I'm sort of new in the process (though I have had my psych eval, ekg, bloodwork, etc, I just need a surgery date), and my PCP first referred me to the surgeon, and then I went from there. My insurance requirements that I am falling under at the time is a BMI over 35 and a comorbidity - I'm currently at 36, and have sleep apnea, so I'm pushing it... but the surgeon is gung ho about it, and my insurance seems to be supporting it so far...

Well, spoke to my PCP yesterday, and she says she will do what she can to help me qualify, as I've been in multiple times before with the fatigue and not being able to lose weight. Since they re-did my height, my BMI went down a little (apparently half an inch can actually count, lol) to 35.14. So, she ran a huge panel of blood tests, and had an xray done of my left knee to see if there's any issue with osteoarthritis. I've had swelling in my left leg for years that's been relatively undiagnosed, but the edema definitely makes it difficult to do much of anything when it's flared up. If I have sleep apnea and the osteoarthritis with my BMI, I'll apparently qualify. So, I'm just waiting for her interpretation of the tests. On the semi bright side, she did discover that I've had a lingering sinus infection since December, so I'm on antibiotics for that - maybe it'll help with the fatigue once the infection is gone. So... yay? I also asked for a referral to a nutritionist, so I'm hoping that will help too. I did weight watchers for 8 months and lost absolutely nothing, I'm still at my starting weight. I've been able to see a little bit more muscle definition from using the elliptical, but honestly, that's it. I know muscle weighs more than fat, but it just seems to be migrating from other parts of my body to my stomach. I'm hoping that if I see the nutritionist, they will be able to look at what I'm eating and be like "no, silly, eat this instead" and I'll start losing weight - I've stayed in my points the entire time and avoid sugar, I've learned to love stevia, when I do drink sodas (which is VERY rarely) they're diet... Something is just wonky and I'm not sure what it is. Somehow though, it has to come off. She also gave me some information on some support groups/informational meetings for the local clinics -she referred me to one in Post Falls, which is about an hour from here as opposed to the clinics here in town, so I just have to find time to drive out there and see what they've got. @ Angela - I've tried to have him look at the available information, and he won't. He's being stubborn about it, hoping that if he ignores it and doesn't give it any attention, I'll eventually give up and focus on something else. He did this when I wanted to go on a Backstreet Boys cruise too, and failed miserably, lol. It's Mexico where I caught my cold! I'm really glad you mentioned the piece about emotional eating... I think I'm coming to the root of my comfort in food, which is another nice aspect. Whenever I catch myself feeling a trigger and wanting to eat a spoonful of hot fudge or a grilled cheese sandwich, I stop to see why it is, and then focus on it while doing the elliptical, sewing, cleaning, etc. Its still not failsafe, but it seems to be keeping me from the food a bit better. I hope this isn't a faux pas to ask, but have you had any counseling to deal with the emotional eating? I know you had it done down in MX, but when you get your fills/unfills, do they give you any information or support on that? @ peacequeen - thanks for your words of encouragement as I mentioned above, I think my husband is just hoping that I'll eventually forget about it, but now his mom thinks it's a good idea, too. I think between the two of us we can "wear him down" or at least get him to look at some of the information to hopefully get him to see that it's not as cheat-ery as he thinks. I have had my TSH measured, and now I"m just waiting for the doc's feedback - she had me on levothroid before .1 mg, and my TSH went from 3.5 to 1.5 - I was still within normal ranges, but she said it couldn't hurt to take the meds. I think she'll have me go back on them at this point, because my labs from last night have me at 3 again. Sadly, even when I was on the levothroid, I still had major fatigue.

Hello! My doc talked to me last year about the possiblity of "weight loss surgery" (my insurance covers bypass and the lap band) since I have a BMI of 36 and moderate sleep apnea. I was horribly offended, and opted not to pursue it and lose the weight on my own. However, I'm an emotional eater, and even with weight watchers and staying within my points, I don't seem to be losing at all. My biggest issue right now is fatigue - even with 7 to 8 hours of sleep/night, I'm struggling to stay awake at work. SO - I have an appointment with my doc on Friday to discuss why I'm still fatigued despite taking Vitamins and using a cpap, and I'm going to bring up the topic of the lap band. I still have to qualify through my insurance of course, I belong to an HMO, but my doc seemed pretty confident the last time she mentioned it. The reason I'm looking at the lap band is for two reasons: It seems to be far more easily reversable if necessary than other forms, and it's adjustable, so it can be completely uninflated (is that the right term???) when I decide to have kids. My brother was recently diagnosed with type one diabetes, and I'm terrified that if I don't lose weight, I'll end up with gestational diabetes when the babies do come. I'm 27, 5'6" and according to my Wii Fit just now, my BMI is 35.76 and I weigh 222.5 lbs. Not horrible, I know, but my "happy weight" is around 150, and that's quite a ways off at this point. I'm able to lose seven pounds and then put it back on, and I've been in this flux for almost two years now. My husband is terrified of me having complications from any type of procedures, and is also under the belief that I can lose the weight the "old fashioned way" and surgery is cheating. Which I can respect, but I have to say, not being able to lose when I'm (I feel) legitimately trying is giving me the frustrations. So, I'm on here to find out information, read what people have posted about their banding, and see if it's something that might be right for me. Sorry for the rambling, but thanks for sharing all of your stories

Congrats! I'll be interested to see how your process goes -I'm new and just going to talk to my doc about it tomorrow to see if I can proceed. Please keep us posted

Definitely! It sounds like your husband is like mine.... he has a high energy job (he's a chimney sweep of all things!!) and eats McDonalds, Jack In The Box etc for 3 meals a day, and then comes home to a homecooked meal... and is able to sit down and eat a bag of potato chips and a pound of sour cream dip after... lol. He works out on the elliptical for like, 30 minutes twice a week, and is svelte and muscular. I love him to death, but he just doesn't get it when it comes to that, I think. I work 12 hours a day at a desk. I'm hoping that my visit with the doc goes good tomorrow. I emailed her to let her know that I wanted to talk about it, and she was like "okay, make sure you're covered" and I sent her back a novel regarding my coverage, lol (I work for the insurance company I'm covered by). So I'm hoping it'll go well. I'm finding a ton of information on here that's really helpful regarding my fears, and I think that's cool. I'm ultra paranoid, so I'm reading up on port issues, slippage, infections, leakage, etc, but the stories I'm finding actually aren't terrifying me that much. Plus the thought of having extra energy is just delightful. Heck, I'd settle for ANY energy at this point, without having to use rx stimulants! How is your paperwork going? Is it insane and exhausting? I wish I could find more info on that aspect - it's not entirely clear what I'll be required to do yet, but I've got a coworker who got a bypass, who I"m prodding for information. Are you blogging, or tracking any of the stuff other than on the boards?