SumthinsGottaGive

Every insurance company is definitely different from requirements to approval rate and approval response. Someone already said it..but the best thing to do is call and make sure they will cover you. After I decided this was right for me.. that was my first move and it determined whether or not I would move forward with it. I'm with UHC..but it's best to call and talk to them.. make sure you understand what you're getting into.

All the best!!

I also have UHC. I have excellent coverage...(which is soon to change since my company is being bought out) . But they are great! They told me they cover everything 100% after I meet my deductible of $200.00 .. which wasn't hard to do w/all these appointments. All they required at my level was a BMI of 40 or >, 5yrs weight history and a psych eval. I was submitted Oct. 17th and approved Oct. 17th! Got my letter on the 21st.. I love UHC!

I know you know already..but I thought I'd post anyway! LoL!

This is day 9 for me and I'm down 10lbs!!

What kind of pre-op diet are you on? I haven't seen one where you can eat Protein Bars. But maybe you should cut the bars out of the diet. Because you're only on a limited amount of cals you need to make sure you're getting enough Protein. It will make you feel full..I know I've been feeling stuffed.. but you really should try to push and get at least 90g of Protein in a day. One thing I do that helps me is start early. I drink my first Protein Shake at 7am. That way by lunch time I may not be hungry but I'm not stuffed. And then when dinner rolls around I can take another one. In between I do protein juices or Cappuccino. It's important to get the protein in, but you want to make sure you're spacing it out so it doesn't feel so forced, because that could be what's making you sick. Maybe try a different brand of protein shake and see if that helps.

Hope it works out for you!

All the best!

I'm sorry you're having such an issue hun! I don't know what you're going through, my surgeons office is phenomenal. But I would suggest that you ask them straight out why they're stalling. Find out what's going on. You're ready and have been assured that you would be able to get scheduled and you're looking to do that asap.

One of the good things is recovery time is not 2wks, it's only about a week and many people have said they were fine to return to work within 3-4 days..so you haven't lost as much time as you think. It's only the 2nd. But you need to push harder. Get with the office that did your sleep study and make them send the results to your surgeons office. That kind of stuff is not supposed to be your responsibility to get. The dr's offices should be communicating that information amongst themselves. And you should not have to pay for another sleep study after having done one already. My psychologist was not affiliated w/my surgeons office, but I made damn sure she got my paperwork to them!

Just keep pushing hun! Don't give up and whatever you do..don't get discouraged. Stay strong and make them accountable!

All the best!

Fabulous!! You look amazing! A million congratulations on your success so far and all the best as you continue your journey!! Such an inspiration!

Congratulations doll!! I know you're walking on sunshine! I was when I got mine! My surgery date is Dec. 8th! Did you get your date yet??

Please keep us posted on your progress!!

All the best!!

I think even if we are "normal" (whatever that is) and we don't have any type of "disorder", it takes awhile for our brain to catch up with the weightloss. It took me forever to really see any change. Even being at a normal BMI for over a year I still see myself as being at least overweight. I still hate pictures of myself (which is the reason I don't post before/after pics) I can't hold up clothes and even come close to guessing if they fit. I have to try everything on an plan ahead even with things in my own closet. I remember the first time a bought size 12 jeans. I wore them without washing them for the first time and I felt slim. After washing and drying, I pulled them out of the dryer and my heart sank. I thought they shrank up by a couple sizes! I said to myself, "oh, look at the cute tiny little jeans, it's a shame I may never be tiny enough to ever wear them again." I figured I would try them on and see how bad the damage was. I thought I might not even be able to pull them on all the way and knew they would never zip. I put them on and zipped them with zero effort! They fit just like they did before I washed them. It's so strange what our brains do to us. Maybe it is a good thing if my brain never catches up all the way. Maybe it will keep me in check and help me maintain.

"It's so strange what our brains do to us."

Amen to that!! We are truly our worst critics and enemies! I know I personally would not wish the type of criticism I give myself on anyone else. Far too many times I crush my own self.. but it's because I know better and I'm so tired of living this way. I'm ready for a change!

Congratulations on your success!!! That is amazing and you deserve it! I understand what you're saying about keeping yourself in check.. but I'm hoping I can see it as the change comes or even shortly thereafter.. only because I am a very visual person. I at least have to see the pant sizes decrease. I don't feel like I'm looking at me when I look in the mirror.. and I can't wait for the day when I truly see me!

Thank you for sharing!

All the best as you continue on your journey!!

Gosh you all....I never knew how much my thoughts were so true until reading this. I ve seen the doctor phil shows about Body Dismorphia and have thought - god that is me - I truly think that is why I am where I am. Once I started gaining - I couldn't see it especially the way sizes change or that was an excuse too I don't know - I banned my husband from buying me clothes saying I never know what size I wear. I had what I called fat days and thin days - somedays I could see it and somedays I am like - it's not so bad - I never know what the mirror had in store for me and pictures - I would see pictures taken of me at work events or family events and I would say - I am not photogenic - I am not that big, I do not look like that, so I always made sure I wasn't in any. But I am at the point that the thin images and days are gone and all I see and feel is big - I love summer and actually had the worse summer ever because of it, I said no more....I am due to get banded at the end of month pending insurance. I wish everyone the best and sumthin your screen name is spot on - something does have to give and were all here for you. Take care!!!

So on point!! Yes..I felt like I was reading my life in your post! Some good days..some bad days. Ready for consistency..and for the good to outweigh the bad by a long shot! Everyone loves taking pix of me..but I hate being in them.. I am so critical of myself and I always find flaws..am always looking for them. And when I find them I feel like they are magnified and everyone is paying attention to them. So trust me..I know exactly how you feel!! I am ready to be submitted to insurance..just waiting for my psych eval to be sent over. Once that's done, I'm praying for a speedy approval! All the best on your approval and surgery! Please keep me posted!

I can't wait to share in the celebration of your success!!

Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed my post.Our journey is not just about fixing the outside,it's about fixing all parts of the equation-our intentions,our minds,our hearts,our relationships with others around us,how we feel worthy,how we take care of and value ourselves and how we see ourselves.Somewhere along the way we all became out of balance in these aspects and we became obese.We must go backwards and heal and forgive the things that happened to us so we can move forward.If we find out what made us turn to food for comfort,we can forgive that in our lives and replace turning to food with healthier habits.

Good luck to all who follow in the footstepsof the brave men and women here who opted for surgery,beat obesity and came out on the other side as new and improved people. :-)

Thank you! Such golden words of wisdom! I did note that I have not been banded yet, but the journey there has been a very emotional one and I am noticing so much about myself. Things I like, don't like, need to change.. relationships ..things that need attention or things in my life I need to get rid of. This journey, so far, has been an awakening, for lack of a better word. And I know this is only the beginning.

Thank you again for sharing! Great words of advice we can all benefit from!

I am down 100 lbs (I weight 162 now) and I wear a size 12 or 10. I look so much better but STILL don't see myself as thin. It is a mental game we play. I try, bur I still head xxl shirts, etc

WOW!! Congratulations!! You should really try to talk to someone because down 100lbs is an amazing feat and you should be celebrating your success..not hiding behind XXL shirts! I'm sure you look amazing! But you're right..it is very much a mental game..as much as it is a physical game.

Thank you so much for sharing and all the best as you continue on your journey!!

It's not uncommon at all. I still have a hard time picturing myself thin ? It's like it can't happen. To Old, To,much skin, Limits with the band, and the list can go on.....

But we don't know until we get there.

I see some Beautiful Bodacious Babes on here,,, and they were all where we all were, at one time.

So sense we are all different. I guess we will see in time.

Hang in there. That's a Normal thought that we wonder about.

Thank you Shirley!! You always have a way of cheering me up! And always have great words of wisdom and experience which I can definitely appreciate!

P.S. I got your pix.. just haven't had a ton of time! But I will definitely get back to you!

The first reply to your thread was amazing.. I've been having the same problem and I haven't been sure how to address it. At my heaviest, I was probably 300 pounds at 5'8. I never got on the scale after I saw the 290s though, so there's no way to be sure. Looking at pictures is shocking because I always felt like I was just overweight.. not the "morbidly obese" tag they stuck on me. Today I am 234 and the only time I even see a small difference from 300 is when I wear a girdle I bought from walmart... Even my program coordinator said, "Oh look at your waistline!" haha. Not so much without the girdle . So it's super difficult to see what other people see.. I told my mom that even though I'm down about 50 lbs, I feel like people I haven't seen in awhile are just like, "Did you get a haircut?" haha. It's nice to see the pant size going from a 24/26 to a 16/18, but I think body dysmorphia is definitely a contender in all this. The only thing that really helps me, other than monthly pictures.. which are super embarrassing.. is my measurements. I bought some cute ribbon and each month when I tally up my total lost inches, I cut that off the ribbon spool and keep it somewhere I'll see it, like right now it's tied around my rear view mirror in the car. My biggest motivation would my mybodygallery.com ... it's amazing to see the differences in the women that are my height and weight, to the ones that are my goal weight. Whenever I feel really down about my weight loss I click around on there for awhile and it helps a little. The biggest help is the guys that pay attention to me now though, that wouldn't have looked twice 50 lbs ago. Definitely an ego booster! Okay, off for my fill in a little bit.. Good luck to all of you, and congratulations on at least taking the first step, plus any weight loss you've achieved!

Thank you so much for sharing!! You have just given me a great idea.. that ribbon deal is a great way to keep a constant reminder in front of you everyday! I am definitely going to check out mybodygallery.com .. I normally use the pix on here as motivation..but I will take whatever sources I can get. Congratulations on all of your success so far!! All the best as you continue on..get use to seeing that pant size decrease!

Please keep me posted!

I truly think your feelings are very common. I am down to a size 8, but for quite some time I found myself still walking into Lane Bryant to take a look, even though there was no way I could fit into even a 12. For the past month I have had people tell me that I am getting too skinny ~ something I have NEVER been called in my life... I STILL dont see 'skinny', I see not too over-weight anymore. I have been told it takes our brains to see what everyone else sees. It's a very strange feeling, and I am slowly adapting. It's funny because when I was at my heaviest, I didnt see that either, I knew I was way way over-weight, but I didnt think I looked as big as I actually did ~ now its the opposite. Maybe I am just weird!

I can certainly relate to this! I haven't been banded yet..but even on my attempts to lose weight before I couldn't see it. I know it's going to come down to mind over matter. That's really what it's always been. Congratulations on your success!! 100lbs..that's amazing!! Stop going into Lane Bryant.. lol you've earned the right to shop the petite racks!

Thank you for sharing!!

All the best as you continue your journey!!

I can't picture myself slim either because I've never BEEN slim - I have no idea what I'll look like, what my body shape will be, what styles of clothes will suit me and what won't. It's an exciting journey to a new destination I've never been before!!!

Definitely understand that!! It should be a very exciting time. That makes sense... can't see what I've never been. But I am very much looking forward to getting there!! Thank you for sharing!!

Best wishes on your journey!

Dear Sumthin-

I think a percentage of us may suffer from Body Dismorphic Disorder (look it up on the Web)whenwe see ourselves as fat even when we are not.I believe I had this when I was 16 and weighed in at 140 because I thought I was morbidly obese then so I just "gave up".

You should find a counselor to talk to about this because these feelings are real.It may also help to have a series of photos taken (1 per month) where you are wearing the same outfit.This will make you consious of the clothing becoming larger on you-thus you becoming smaller.

This journey is a physical journey and a mental journey and step by step our minds have to come together with our bodies and spirit.Somtimes this is more difficult than we anticipate but it is easier to acheive if we are aware of the need for it.

Remember that lot of our thoughts and emotions played a part in becoming obese-especially comfort eating/compusive eating/reacting to bad circumstances.We are all on our way working on undoing those patterns.We are all in the process of healing our lives ,our realtionships with food,our health and our bodies.We are becoming Brand New again.

Good luck to you on your journey and don't forget to pause in front of the mirror each day and tell yourself "I am beautiful,and I am worthy of becoming my ideal weight and returning to complete health."

((((Hugs to you.)))))) :-)

((((Hugs)))))

This was so amazing and inspiring!! If this is the only answer I get, I'm SO glad I posted!! Thank you so much for being so candid and real in your response. This really hit home and I feel better after having read it. It makes so much sense and I think I will look into that counselor for the long-term!

Again, thank you so much!!

Best wishes on your journey!!

I'm getting a little discouraged.. I can't seem to picture myself thin. I can usually visualize how things will come together before they do and this is just a block!! I'm getting anxious because I know that it's a mental game as well as a physical one and I don't want to sabotage myself. Did anyone of you guys have that problem? Does it last long? How did you get over it? It's funny because I can look through peoples pix on here and I can see the thinner them in their before pix.. I can't do it w/me.. Is something wrong w/that?

I'm only 2 weeks post op but for me was the day I had no more gas pains !! I was so happy!!

Thank you for sharing! So funny, I was just reading a forum yesterday on gas and how loud and annoying it can be.. but most everyone just says you'll get used to it after a while. I am glad your pains have subsided! I hope you get to your goal with no problem!

All the best on your journey!

Please keep me posted!

-Mary R.-

I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and so far so good. The gas pains are gone and I feel good. I still have moments when I still second guess my decision to be banded. It is a process to get used to but each day gets better. I luckily have not had any problems with food getting stuck. My band was filled with 4.5 mLs during surgery and my band holds 10 mLs. I can drink liquids with ease. I am worried about getting a fill. I may choose not to get one for right now. I am comfortable with the amount of food I can eat, I feel satisfied, and reading some of the posts about fills make it seen unpleasant. I am down 25lbs now and still losing!

Thank you for sharing! I've heard that a lot of the doubt in the beginning comes from the fact that it's still so new..you can't really see any change and the surgery just mentally does something to you. But if you hang in there!! I've heard it from so many people that this is the best decision they've made in their life! I think, like anything, you have to do what works for you. And if you're ok w/no fills right now ..then stick to that. As long as you are seeing the kind of progress you can be happy with!

All the best on your journey!

-Mary R-

I LOVE LBT!! All of you bandsters are so fabulous! You guys and gals encourage me so much and I am so glad I found this site. I love reading your updates and viewing your amazing progress photos! But sometimes, I know there are wonderful stories behind the photos! If you feel so inclined, I'd like for you guys to share some of your greatest moments in banded history. It could be anything; funny, scary, a learning experience or even a great "look at me now" story about an ex or someone you haven't seen in a long time.

I love to read...so no matter how long or short the story, I want it! So please...share away!

Look forward to reading from you soon!

Thanks in advance for sharing!

-Mary-

Like many others, my regret is not having it done when I was younger. I'm only 28, but I could have had so much fun being healthier in my early 20's!

I love the band, but you have to remember it is just a tool and you have to work with it. Yes, you will still have to diet and exercise, but after you lose a little weight you will be motivated and these things won't feel like a "chore" anymore!

I am always here if you have questions, as well as the others on this site. These forums have been my lifesaver through my journey. I was just banded over a month ago.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!! I love this site..it has so many like-minded people in one place! I couldn't agree more.. healthy choices.. diet and exercise are still very necessary. That is the reason I was drawn to the band... because it's not an "easy way out." It's a tool and if you use as such..you should be very successful.

I am 27yrs old...so I completely understand your statement about a more fun and healthier early 20's.. but as I stated earlier.. everything happens for a reason!

Congratulations on your banding! All the best on your journey!!

I can touch on not telling anyone... When I was Banded in 2006. I spread the good news ! Happy as can be....

Did I catch all the Sh*t that they could throw at me. Why did you do it, don't you have any willpower? Can't you do it on your own? Why would you do something like that? Are you crazy?

You get the idea. Not 1 person said I wish you luck or anything positive.

So this time around, I learned. It's my business. Except for what I share on here.

You may think that's shallow ! But it's not ! It's just keeping a situation under control, so people don't get carried away with it, because they don't understand it. It can run wild, with all the misinformation.

Quite the contrary, Shirley. I don't think that's shallow at all.. I think it's necessary.. it's survival. It's hard to succeed at anything with so much opposing force coming at you. You make a great point. If someone received so much negative response to their decision, I could understand not telling one if you had the opportunity to do it all over again. I guess I just didn't think of that because I've received nothing but overwhelming support from my family and friends.

I'm sorry you had to go through that. However, you are proving them all wrong and congratulations to you for doing that! The best rebuttal for people's doubt in your abilities, is to succeed in that very task. I hope you get to see the egg on all of those peoples faces that ever doubted or discouraged you!

All the best as you continue your journey!!

I am only 10 days post op. Not going to hold anything on this one. I had my first break down a couple of days ago asking myself if I made the right decision. Then the next day I got on the scales. I had lost 11 lbs in a week. So I quickly changed my attitude. So at this point, I have no regrets. But just know that I think we all hit that breakdown at some point after we have the surgery. Every day my clothes fit different and that just reminds me on why I did it! I have been getting more creative on food since I am still on the full liquid diet.

Good luck to you!!!!!!

Congratulations!! That's amazing! I know seeing 11lbs in my favor on the scale would certainly remove any doubt I had, as well! LoL! I guess for some people it's just giving the band time to do its job. And I also agree that at some point many people probably do question whether or not they did the right thing or have a breakdown... but hopefully most of them get the same results as you did shortly after that doubt/breakdown.

Thank you so much for the well wishes! All the best to you on your journey, as well!!

Not one regret!!! Well if I could do it again I probably wouldn't tell anyone.

Hmm..that's interesting. Why not?

Gonna have to jump in the boat with not doing it sooner. Wish I had felt like this when I was 18

Yea, no kidding!! If I'd've known about this about 7-9yrs ago, I surely would have jumped on the bandwagon (no pun intended LoL)! But everything happens for a reason!

Thank you for sharing!

All the best as you continue your journey!!