Dulci

My thyroid levels were suddenly out of whack and my PCP sent me to see an endocrinologist. He increased the dose very slightly and changed the way I take the medication. He instructed me to set two alarms in the morning. One hour before I have to get up, the first alarm rings and I take my levothyroxine with a sip of Water. My real alarm rings an hour later and by the time I shower, brush my teeth and feed the cats, the thyroid med has had nearly two hours to be completely absorbed before I have coffee and Breakfast.

I feel your pain! I am waiting to see if the insurance coordinator received the doctor's notes from my PCP which will document 3 months of supervised dieting. Then I'll be waiting to see if the insurance accepts them as being recent enough. I have completed everything else. I really want to get started on my life with a band.

When I met with the psychologist, she asked me to write a personal history before I my appointment. She said to put anything that I thought she should know. I wrote about my lifetime history with weight (underweight until puberty, then I blew up like a balloon). I summarized my experiences with losing weight and regaining it. I wrote a paragraph describing why now was the right time for me to have WLS (have insurance coverage, have full support from my husband, have a job that isn't so stressful (I binge on carbs when stressed). I added some of things that I learned while researching WLS as well as what changes I have begun to make (learning to tolerate Greek yogurt, eliminating carbonated drinks, trying to not drink with meals, eat slowly and chew, and I started taste testing Protein drinks. Finally, I talked about what I learned in trying to adjust some of the lifestyle changes as I wait for insurance approval. For example: ff I am really hungry, I take larger bites and don't chew well; and I don't like soda any more. Good luck with your letter. Just be honest with yourself.

I am working on approval with Fed BCBS also. My surgeon's insurance coordinator is waiting for the notes from my former PCP regarding medical supervision of dieting. I was on phentermine from April to October 2009. Hopefully, they will accept that as the required diet. Otherwise, I will be doing 2 more visits with the dietician at my surgeon's office (1st one was August 18) and they will write up the report for the supervised diet for BCBS. My surgeon will be out of the office for the month of September, so my surgery won't be until October regardless.

Even capsules? My antidepressant is an extended release capsule.

Congrats! You are making great progress.

I have been dealing with hypothyroidism for about 10 years. I have been on synthroid in doses that were gradually increasing. The past 3 years my TSH levels have been erratic and my dose has changed frequently. I recently changed PCPs; my new doc sent for me an ultrasound of the thyroid. The US showed several nodules on the thyroid. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist on Friday. On Wednesday night, I am having a sleep study done to confirm sleep apnea. Thursday morning, I am attending the WLS surgery seminar. 2011 is turning out to be a year a positive change for me. New job, new home, investigating and resolving the medical issues that have been keep so fatigued all of the time, and (if my insurance approves) lap band surgery to finally get my weight to healthy level.

Like you, I am in the decision phase. Before I started researching, I thought that the band would "force" me to eat less. It doesn't. It does make you feel full on less food. However, we will have to change what we eat, how we eat, and how much we eat. Exercise seems to be a component for most, if not all, successful bandsters. There can also be some unpleasant side effects. I have pretty much decided to go forward with the band, assuming that my insurance company approves it. Next Thursday, I am going to attend an information seminar at the facility I hope to use. My husband is attending with me, at my request. If I do this, this will be a major lifestyle change and it will have an effect on our life together. Good luck with your research. This site has been a great resource.

I've struggled with my weight since puberty. When I was younger, I was always in state of weight change - I was either losing or gaining. I never learned how to maintain my weight. I'm in my early 40's now and I have been losing and gaining the same 25 pounds for over 10 years. Like many of you, I have tried so many diets - Weight Watchers, Atkins, Jenny Craig (on which I gained weight), Slimfast. I've tried walking, Pilates videos, gym memberships. The only physical activity that I enjoy is swimming/water aerobics. I can stick to a diet plan, but not to an exercise plan. I have learned so many ways to talk myself out of exercising. In the recent past, I have had the most success with an appetite suppressant which my PCP prescribed. For many good reasons, he will not prescribe it for more than 3 months; nor do I want to be on a dangerous medication. I recently changed jobs and my new health insurance may cover WLS. Since I did well with the diet pills, I think that the Lap Band will be finally be a solution for me. If my physical hunger is under control, I can overcome the mindless eating due to boredom, the emotional eating, and stress induced carb binges. Next week I have a sleep study to confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnea. (My prior health insurance's meager contribution to that test had made it unaffordable.) The morning after the test, my husband and I are attending the WLS surgery seminar at Cleveland Clinic - Florida.

I have FEHB BCBS Standard as well. I'm just beginning to research lap banding so can I finally get off this weight roller coaster and attain then maintain a healthy weight. I'd be very interested in hearing about yours and others experiences in obtaining approval.