#MagicWithinme

I've had nutter butters the little Snacks Cookies and they go down ok.

I know someone like that personally she's had it for 3 years and when I started talking to her about it, she said she couldnt recommend it because all she lost was 20 lbs, that she could still eat everything. She had even at one time put 9ccs in her 10cc and but that still didnt help as she was drinking shakes. I stopped asking her questions because she was being so negative about it. I felt she really thought that the band didnt do its job. When in reality it was her. I found other people who have been supportive all the way!

I don't know...seems like there was a bit of fraud. One of the first things my surgeon's office did was verify my coverage. Someone profitted from you having all those tests done when you didn't need them (or at least you would not have had them if you had not been prepping for surgery). You are out several co-pays. All the time off work you may have taken for the appts. Your insurance company is out for several office visits with the surgeon and specialists you saw.

Quinnmc is right, though, the info is available to the insured as well as the surgeon. Before I did anything I checked my coverage.

You might wander over to obesitylaw.com and see what they say.

I agree, there were several tests and (still coming in) bills that say I am responsible because insurance does not cover testing or follow up for this kind of diagnosis. I'm still waiting to hear from insurance. The drs office said some insurances allow $15,000 for this type of surgery and more and its out of pocket, but I have spoken to 2 co-workers who have had both the gastric and lapband and they have no problems with insurance. Right now I feel had I known all this there would have been a good chance I wouldnt have done it.

check with your old insurance , and see if they would offer you outside insurance. I know where I work they do that.. You leave/retire they ask if you want to continue your insurance. You would be responsible for all of the cost, but you would be covered. Wouldnt hurt to ask.

Wow, there are SO many surgeons doing this surgery who are just failing miserably to support their patients.

I'm glad you're finally feeling that you can work with your band. It does take a certain degree of understanding and commitment - nothing that is beyond the average person, but when your doctor doesnt provide you with the basics it makes it very hard!

totally agree! they had you a stack of papers and tell you all you need to know is here. If it weren't for sites like this, there'd be alot of lost people out there!

Totally mental, how long have we had this image of ourselves big? That's not something that's gonna change overnight. even though our bodies are growing smaller. The mind and body haven't synced. My thing is I will still wear the XL stuff, its a comfort thing for me. Although I did get rid of the really big stuff that just hung on me. and I have been buying smaller stuff, just haven't worn it yet. I never wore close fitting stuff before.. I know I have gone into a store and the lady was very very nice and she helped me buy some pants, and try on different things. We are now into the numbers ladies, not the XXs anymore..!

I havent had that "signal" yet. I sometimes get a soft 'stuck' if I eat chicken or bread. This is usually within the first 2 bites. Once that passes, I kick myself, and actually sit down to have my meal, I dont get a full signal. I just evaluate how much I've eaten and make myself stop. I'm going in for my 2nd fill next Monday, and I cant wait to not be hungry all the time

Its gotten better for me for the most part, because I have gotten smaller containers so I know I should only eat so much and a pack of baby spoons, (pretty colors lol) and thats a big reminder to take those small bites at a time. I use KFC containers from the mashed taters gravy wash them and use for containers for Breakfast /lunch.(they have the lids on them just the right sz)

my md said two weeks after surgery "I can hangglide and whatever else I wanted to do". But I agree its upto you, and what you feel comfortable with.

It gets hard to swallow,

Congratulations! I would say its best to get everything out of the way as soon as you can, in case something comes up and delays your surgery.

Dr waited to schedule my eco(?) like a week before surgery and they found that my gallbladder had stones. so instead of doing surgery for lapband I had to have my gallbladder removed, set me back 2 months. I started my process in June with seminar and got approval in October.

This is a great forum I'm on here daily for now.

I've even had a few pieces of chicken too, missed the biscuit n honey but the mash potatoes and gravy make up for it. I do a lot of Beans, baked potatoes, with a piece of laughing cow cheese sprinkled on top melts great, and I only eat as much as I feel like.

God does have a sense of humor and an immense heart. I was just telling my hubby that this morning. He didn't start me on this trial and not be watching out for us. God can do it all, but he wants us to do it and when we follow his plan, we will be richly rewarded.

Best of luck!

Hi Steph, I'm newly banded myself. 1-24-12. If you go to forum down at the bottom there is a group for Looking for mentors/I'll be a mentor. I've just been reading the dailey stuff that gets posted plus talking to a few people locally. Getting the lapband is seems to be more than we signed up for right? But with dedication and determination, we'll get through it, till we will be able to enjoy the weight we have lost and you will have energy to keep up with those boys!

Good luck!

thank you for sharing ! and thank you for the advise you give the rest of us..

Your body is detoxing from the high and carb-filled diet you were on that got you to needing a lapband. I remember it well - the hunger pangs, the headaches, the sleeplessness... But you need to do it now, because firstly you need to reduce your liver size for surgery so that its safe. Secondly, you don't want to be recovering from surgery AND going through the carb withdrawals at the same time! No way! Do it now and get it over and done with! By about day 4 for me, I was over the worst of it - no more headaches or dizziness, energy levels felt much more stable.

as long as we eat right eat slow and chew chew chew!

my banana flavored Protein Drink, Protein pudding like 3 spoonfuls. church when I came home it was vegetarian Soup. I had been so busy the day before that I went down for a nap, 4 hours later.................... hubby had make chicken stir fried veggies/pastas. My throat was still hurting from the night before (I think the smoke from casino didn't help) so I pretty much just chewed the flavor out the food and then spit it out. evening dessert is applesauce.

I still make at home for hubby and make a tiny one for me with a poached egg over it. I'm learning to eat Protein first and less likely to eat more of the other things on plate.

My sister had WLS ten yrs ago and warned me that I might go through a grieving process for my old eating habits. I didn't, but was so still glad she had given me a heads up on what could happen.

I think we are grieving not only for our old eating habits but our old lives, the things we have gone through to get to this point.

Sorry I didn't mean that to come out so harsh. That was not what I intended.

You just know what she should be doing to help her

Don't judge someone's reasons for choosing to be banded until you've walked in their shoes! One reason I haven't told people I got banded is because the typical reaction would be that I'm not big enough. But I have a very small frame with a congenital spine defect and have been in terrible pain for years that was only getting worse. No one other than immediate family knows about my issues with the pain because I don't like to complain!! If I had not had this surgery, I could see myself being confined to a "jazzy chair" within the next 10 - 15 years! That is not how I want to live my life. I thank God this surgery was available to me and I am already noticing a decrease in my chronic pain! DON'T JUDGE!!

Isnt that the truth? No matter how many times you hear "oh you don't need it. You aren't big enough. Oh you can do it just eat less exercise more. " Thats not going to make the weight disappear.

I agree there should be a pricing difference. I got my lapband card 2 weeks after surgery but I have yet to use it in a restaurant. I 've order childrens plates but in some places I was charged adult charge, They would probably get more peoppe into the restuarants if they knew they would not be hassled about amount of food they will eat (and won't it make it easier on the cools?)

Weight watchers, Herbal Life, Jenny Craig, slim fast (dr recorded) anything showing that you tried to loose weight is what I was told. I even got copies of my college transcripts where it should that I had exercise fitness for 4 years. had dr write down my weight for 2 years showing ups and downs. Anything the lapband dr can submit to insurance on your behalf. (Ask dr first though) some might not want it.

I read we are supposed to eat the dark meat on chicken now, easier to diget plus more protein..?

Everything you wrote, I have felt most of it, and its ok to release all those emotions, if even to your mom who soun ds very supportive, don't think about the past, its time to look to a bright new future for the new you (and me!)