mags2u

Each insurance is different on the requirements. I have Blue Cross blue Shield (anthem) and they had me do 6 months of Dr. supervised visits for weight loss (I didn't lose a thing). I would just check out and ask specific questions when you are inquiring to various insurance groups to fax you their specific policies regarding lapband surgery and specifically ask how long you have to be insured before it will cover. You don't want to get into it and then have any surprises come up. Good luck with your journey!

Welcome and congrats! I'm not weighing myself yet- I'm only 4 days out, I see my surgeon on Monday, then I will try to weigh only weekly, but I can totally tell I've lost weight! Good luck on your journey- keep us posted!

The lap band is not just a way to get rid of insucurites (although that is an added bonus lol) its about being healthy and being able to spend a long future with your husband
maybe try explaining that to him! hope this helps[
url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w4pTSHD/]

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6 months and a week ago, i had no health problems even with a 47 BMI - BUT i felt so disgusting. I hated clothes. I wore things just to hide myself. I knew I had a pretty face but that all others saw was the fat. Today, 6 months after surgery and 88 pounds later, I feel INCREDIBLE. i am all about what i'm wearing, my make up, I feel just plain unstoppable. I want you to know that yes there can be complications. I have experienced none so far (truly this is thanks to GOD and following my surgeon's instructions) - but they can happen. I am very, very sorry I did not do this 10 years ago (I'm 38). But i cannot dwell on that. This is a LIFE CHANGING thing if you let it be. I truly wish all of you the best of luck in your decision and if you have the surgery - the best of luck on your journey. It TRULY is a journey. God bless us all!!!!

Wow. My post op went good. I have lost 19 lbs in two weeks!!!! They did a test and found I have some restriction already so that totally explains the bubble like feeling I get in the morning. I did have a low temp so they put me on an antibiotic (yuck) it tastes like a grinded up pill. I would much rather have the pill. Oh well I dont want an infection.
I am feeling like I can do this whole band thing today. I have days where I definitly doubt it though. Mainly when my hubby makes his homemade pizza. (My favorite food)
My son cracks me up though. It doesnt matter that I have not eaten anything of real value in almost 3 weeks. Yesterday we went to Chinease and I got a small bowl of egg drop Soup, afterwards, he at 7 says, "Mom, when is that band going to make you skinny? Cuz if you keep eating all of your food at dinner it is never going to work!" HA Oh my goodness. Never mind that I used to eat 5 plates at the buffet before, now if I eat a small bowl of dinner I should just give up!!! I love him.
Here is to us January bandsters! New Years, New Us!!

I've been so busy with my photobooth business (Thank God!) over this last weekend with a big wedding show that the time has FLOWN by! Can't believe tomorrow is here. I have to arrive by 0930. Was NOT very impressed with not finding out my surgery time/arrival until after 5:00pm today, AND after I called them twice. People have to make arrangements, etc. I truly get surgery scheduling because I'm a surgery nurse, but really? Finding out my surgery time at 5:30pm the night before surgery? Kind of re-donk-ulous.
I'm getting ready to go scrub-a-dub-dub! See you all on the skinny side!
Maggie

Getting ready to leave for surgery!

Like everything, some will hate something, others will love it. This thread is a good example of that. I can tell you how much I love my band, but that's me. Fluffy obviously doesn't, and that's her. I personally don't think it's support to tell someone what you believe and expect them to believe it themselves, and I'd like to think that Fluffy knows the difference, coz I sure do. All you can do is relate your own personal experience, perhaps quote some well researched and objective statistics (who's laughing with me at this point?) and hope the person you're offering advice to gains some insight from you.
In the end, everyone has to make their own, preferably informed decision. I am proof it works. Fluffy believes she's proof it doesn't. Oh well, only you can decide if it's worth the risk that you'll be one of the ones for whom it works. And oddly enough, I don't see any statistics that prove that for MOST people, it doesn't work, and that for all those "people", it is directly related to band failure instead of user error, so take from that what you will. You will always have supporters and detractors, in EVERYTHING.
In Australia the lapband has been used for over 15 years and still remains the WLS of choice for most. That sounds pretty long term to me. Just saying.

No, I believe band failure terminology is: 1) losing less than 25-30% of your excess weight or 2) having complications that require removal of the band.
I think you never reached restriction, but you lost weight with your band and you're unhappy that you didn't get it "easy" like other people did. You never deny that you lost weight, just that the band didn't work as you expected it to and you had to diet and exercise. Don't you think that most of the people on here STILL diet and exercise even with the band???!!!
So, please ask yourself the following questions:
What is the point of getting the lapband? To lose weight.
Did you lose weight? yes
Looks like you did both, did you not? There are people who REALLY failed, who didn't lose more than 25-30% of their weight or did have to get the band removed. Why don't you end your pity party and actually provide support for those people and not go around moaning about how the Lapband never got you to restriction? Isn't that always the point of your posts, to complain that the people who failed need the most support? You are providing them no support whatsoever. In fact, you are deceiving these new people that don't bother to look at the blog you posted or the Facebook group you're a part of into thinking you didn't lose weight. Frankly, that's extremely sad and I hope someday you find peace with whatever your problem seems to be.

I completely agree with you, but all the posts I have read from you, seem to be rather aggressive and negative more than supportive. I am sorry you didn't have a great experience with the LapBand, and I hope you found support.

I would say 100% worth it! I have had my band for 18 months and I have lost 70lbs and am almost at goal. I feel so much better about myself and my health! I'm 40 and I feel 24 again! I am 5'5" and weighed 225 at my highest. I'm now at 155 with about 20 more to go to be at goal. I was depressed about how I had let myself go too, but it doesn't have to be that way. It's not a quick fix and it does take work, but I have never regretted the decision.
My advice would be to start the process! You will have to go through a whole bunch of tests and meetings. You will learn if it's something you can handle or not. But start the process and learn more about it from a surgeon in your area. If your doctor is suggesting it and you trust your doctor, then you owe it to yourself to get informed.
I started looking at this website when I was considering it, but in no way did I form an opinion one way or another if I was going to have the surgery. There are too many opinions and situations. Good luck to you in making the decision and no matter what you decide, you are a beautiful young woman!

Hi everyone! I'm having surgery on January 10th and created a group in the groups section "January 2012 bandsters". Would love to get some discussions, support going.

10. Going up in the Arch in the pod-a fat chick is a funny site in one of those!
9. I dont want to be an exhibit at the Science Center on how obese Americans are.
8. Forest Park. THREE words- sinking a paddleboat!
7. West County, Chesterfield, Midrivers, The Mills. Shopping in "Non-big girl stores!
6. Six Flags. NEVER again will I have to get off the Screaming Eagle because I dont fit.
5. Busch Stadium- I'll be able to sit in the seats without the sidearms digging into my hips.
4. June - September in St. Louis. I will be able to go to pools in a swimsuit!
3. December-February in the STL. Sledding Art Hill without having a heart attack.
2. Susan G. I will not be out of breat walking in the Susan G. Walk.
and the number one reason to be skinny in St. Louis is..........drumroll.................
1. When I go to my highschool reunion ( c' mon you knew there would be a highschool reference right?) All my classmates will say " You look the Same as you did in highschool!

Hi everyone! I'm having surgery on January 10th and created a group in the groups section "January 2012 bandsters". Would love to get some discussions, support going.

Hi everyone! I'm having surgery on January 10th and created a group in the groups section "January 2012 bandsters". Would love to get some discussions, support going.

First off thank you for your honesty. Secondly get the word failure out of your vocabulary. I have not had the surgery yet, but I've been overweight yo-yo up and down my entire life. We self sabotage our success. For every "failure", you need to recognize a success, like the fact that you took a step to save your life! Start from scratch. Take today and make it yours. Your surgeon is not your enemy, he's there to help. Prayers for you in getting back on track. Thank you again for posting!

First off thank you for your honesty. Secondly get the word failure out of your vocabulary. I have not had the surgery yet, but I've been overweight yo-yo up and down my entire life. We self sabotage our success. For every "failure", you need to recognize a success, like the fact that you took a step to save your life! Start from scratch. Take today and make it yours. Your surgeon is not your enemy, he's there to help. Prayers for you in getting back on track. Thank you again for posting!

Welcome!

Hi everyone! I'm having surgery on January 10th and created a group in the groups section "January 2012 bandsters". Would love to get some discussions, support going.

Thanks for the kind words.
I managed to not gain any weight during the pregnancy and after I lost my son I still have not gained any.
My total weight loss is 80lbs and Im so happy about that. My goal is another 40-50lbs.
I have talked to some very close friends and my husband has been a trooper. A loss like this is so unimaginable that it is hard to explain. i just feel like I need to pull myself together a little. Like my son would not want me to be unhappy and he would not want me to not live my life.
I am going to do this as much for me as for him in a way. I want him to look down and be proud of a mother who was able to survive and thrive through the worst.
I am going to reach my goals and show my son and my older daughter that just because things get hard, giving up completely isnt the best option.
I am so glad to have a place to go where the struggles of weight loss with emotional pitfalls makes sense and doesnt have to be explained.
Thanks again,
Renee

Hello, we have the same surgery date... Banded kindred spirits!!!!! I'm getting ready to join your group.

My sister's husband had RNY and she is supportive of me getting the lapband. (She is a doctor herself.) The very first thing she told me when I told her I was considering bariatric surgery was that the first couple months would be hard and depression does happen in some folks. She has encouraged me to make sure I have a strong support system, to seek out good after-care to help me adapt to all the changes, to remind myself regularly that it will get easier, and to talk to my doctor if I feel like I'm dealing with depression. There are things they can do to help, but you have to let them know what you are experiencing. So just to echo what everyone is already saying...go talk to your doctor. They can help. Good luck! ++

Hello! I am getting my band on the 10th as well. Good luck!

I hope I might be able to join your group. I'll meet with the surgeon next Friday and since I'm self pay, I'm hoping for a quick surgery date! I will hop on over to your thread as soon as I find out if I might be getting it done in January.
The pre-op liquid diet is something some doctors ask their patients to do to help shrink the liver to help aid with the ease of putting in the lapband. I've noticed not every doctor requires it. My sister is a doctor and she said it's a good idea., so even if my doctor doesn't require it, I think I will probably do 2-3 days liquid prior to the banding.

Hi everyone! I'm having surgery on January 10th and created a group in the groups section "January 2012 bandsters". Would love to get some discussions, support going.