jtag10_4

I quit Feb of this year (I was sooooo sick and could not breathe, it was the first time I was ever really scared to go to sleep, cause I did not think I would wake up!) I did not use any gum or patches or anything but I gained 20 lbs and I would still have one here and there until my consult in August...I have not had a cigarette since...it takes a while but I do not even have cravings anymore....does not bother me anymore when someone smokes around me. THAT was my big accomplishment for the year - you can do it!!!! IT DOES GET BETTER!!!

GREAT Thread!!!! I luv it! I have been single for YEARS - and a new person has strangely come into my life recently (it has to be my new attitude/outlook/hope) and I can only imagine what it could be like, say next summer...esp when I am feeling MUCH better about myself and how I look! I AM SO EXCITED.... In my early 20's I did not really enjoy sex at all...but now that I'm 28 I think I am starting to hit that "peak" - watch out young'ns it's crazy!!! And I just don't see anyway I can go through the dryspells again that I had 6 or 7 years ago - I just can't imagine....so hopefully 2008 is a GREAT year! Bye! Jen

OK Coloradoans...it's getting REAL now - I attended my full-day pre-op class today - went over everything for surgery, date is set, auth should be received this week and labs are scheduled for Jan 1st...this is getting real now...and I've lost 10 of the 15 required so looks like I'm all set and I couldn't be more excited...hate hospitals, hate anesthesia, hate stictches, hate pain and hate needles but I'm ready for this to begin!!! How crazy is that? I've been gone for a while (still focused, but gone) how is everybody doing after Turkey Day????

Hi Josephine, I am not banded yet but have been mostly lurking since I started this little adventure in June. I remember reading somewhere on LBT that people who took Zoloft had heartburn, the quick solution was if they took it with a little food it took care of the hearburn. I'm sure you can do a search on here and find the thread, but Lexapro might fall into that same category. Congrats on your success! I sure hope to be there in a year or so!

Well you guys have been busy little bee's.....Plentsweet - that's good your better...I'm nervously excited....one minute I can totally grasp the short timeframe, last week I went to a hockey game (go eagles!) and I was sitting there thinking about the Feb 13th game - which is the next time I'll be in that section.."Next time I'm sitting in this seat I'll have my band and I should be about 30 lbs lighter". Then, other times I just don't think this is real, that I was given this gift - it just seems like the last 3 years have been an uphill battle and it's just so strange that this was just that easy. So, I start thinking the ins co will change their mind, or they approved me but their benefits are changing at the 1st of the year and WLS won't be a covered benefit, or the person who approved me will no longer be there and I'll have to start at square 1 again - all those crazy stupid thoughts....which need to go away - positive thinking is the way to life! So, yeah, excited but anxious, December - when I get my auth and pre-op testing I think it will feel more real. All for now...Jtag

A surgeon said once he has noticed that all lap-band patients go through a process of self-forgiveness before they agree that lap-band is an option for them. Forgiving this "addiction" and realizing that you need help to make a change...seems to be a part of the process.

Plentsweet - how is your pain, did it pass?

Blueeyedkitty is correct - it makes a WORLD of difference....for some reason I didn't think I would notice the difference because I was diagnosed "mild to moderate" sleep apnea and my setting is fairly low... but I can absolutely tell the next day, it's amazing!

Denise822 - are you sure it's the pictures? I don't know yet....(cause I've only lost 11 lbs on this little pre-op thing) But I was reading another thread on here that people still see themselves 60,70,80 lbs ago, that when they look at the mirror they still see the "fat" verison...basically your head has not caught up with your body type of thing.....just a thought....because when Manatee posted his pics, I thought he looked awesome (as did a lot of others too) but he was still unsure, ya know? Just a thought...

I had a semi-bf (that could never call me a gf, never said ILU ect) that saw my senior pictures from HS (5'5" 175 lbs, never tiny!!!) and told me that if he would have gotten a hold of me then we'd be married and have kids by now...that should have been enough but noooooo.....so then he was snooping around and saw me really checking out the lap-band ect and told me that when I lose all the weight to give him a call....needless to say he's no longer in my life, I blocked his number <grin> but I can't wait for the day - if he ever tries to stop by - to tell him that I am too skinny for him (he needed to lose around 80 lbs)...grrrr

Hey Steph_cn I went to 2 patient seminars with 2 different surgeons...I got no new information from the 1st one, everything I had already read online, but found out I didn't really like the surgeon. The 2nd one was wonderful with new information, liked the surgeon and the program and I knew after the seminar I was getting it done with him. The presentation that he did, however, was sent out on a CD with my new patient packet. So I could have heard the whole presentation in the comfort of my house :-) So, no, I didn't feel the seminar was a must have, they can probably provide you a copy of the info, it did however help me eliminate without paying the consult fee...but meeting the surgeon was the most important to me! I wasn't really considering IF I should have it done, it was how, and when, and with who....hope that helps!

I, too, had to have a sleep study, tons of wires attached to head, face, jaw, throat, ect. Not invasive just uncomfortable...the 1st night I couldn't sleep - I was up all night (anxiety and new surroundings) the second night I took an Ambien, they put me on the CPAP and "slept like a baby". Just got my CPAP earlier this month and am getting used to it. Sleep apnea is the most common complication after anethesia, your doc is being thorough, that's good!

Dakota - Thanks, none of my family and friends know that it's out there, just here....it's the only way I've been able to "dump" everything that's going on in my little head as to not let out to everyone what has consumed all my time and energy and money this summer. Plus, knowning that this is going to be life altering journey- it will be a good memory of where I've come from...pics are next and food journal....ohhh scarry! Oh yeah and the last time I was --> over there, was 1998??? Can't even remember it, took it for granted!

Hey guys - I sort of have a related question...I was approved on MONDAY (yeah!) but I have to finish a 6-month preexisting condition....which runs out on 12/31/07, they will not issue the actual "authorization" until within 30 days of the surgery, so my Dr is to call back in December and they will issue the auth....sounds legitimate, but now, I'm doubting that this is really happening, it just seemed tooo easy. Can they change their mind? Can they really not issue the auth in December or have they committed to paying for the surgery? How many have had the commitment and then had problems with them actually paying??? I am just freaking out thinking the worst and imaging the day of surgery they back out and say no.....I just have never been this lucky in "life" especially the last 3-4 years have been an uphill struggle with everything Please help! Thanks

Congrats Dakota1984 You are close to going into the "other" section of the store! How exciting!

Was it the "civil war inside me" thread? THAT was funny but people were discussing PBing ect. If so, search on civil war - I think it's in post op stuff

Thanks neveragain, I am well aware that I take part in a viscous cycle where I give absolute losers my time and attention, because I don't feel I deserve any better, then am disappointed when it doesn't work out, hence why I have been single for around 4 years minus a couple brief relationships. I know how I deserve to be treated, I just have to demand/convince others of that too! Regardless of how much I control I have over my feelings and confidence, fat people are treated differently (worse) than "normal" people. I see it everyday because most of my friends are 1) skinny and 2) beautiful. Being called a fat cow by college age boys whom you didn't even notice or interact with at a bar really does affect your psyche, regardless of how strong you think you are! Thanks Jennifer

Hey Sweet - Thanks so much - still scary to think of jumping off without a guarantee but that's what life is about huh! You know last night I was thinking, maybe I should try and lose without the band, maybe I should give it another go....I got up this morning and was like "what was I thinking" that's the whole point I haven't been able to do it on my own for 10 years.....this time would not have been any different. So, all is good in my neighborhood! :-)

Hey, I'm Jen, I LOVE THIS THREAD - I'm trying to catch up... I'm in Colorado and SINGLE...have been for quite a while. I am scheduled to be banded in January and I was just wondering for those who have already lost 60/70/80 lbs - how are you treated now??? Do you notice that you are treated differently, either just out on the town or in dating? That's partially why I just gave up on dating, boys' figure the more you weigh the worse they can treat you....and you'll put up with it.....well I don't put up with it, so it has been easier to just be single than to be constantly disappointed and hurt!

Hey all I just found out I was approved, no additional requirements, no additional conditions - done. My doc just became in-network with Pacificare PPO and all this is going to cost me $4000. Surgery is scheduled for Jan 10th and I'm sitting here in shock! Could this really happen? I can't remember what my life was like before, I have no idea what it will be like to be "normal" WOW!

Hey I'm going with Dr. Johnell too - I did meet with another surgeon and wasn't too happy, met with Johnell and whether insurance approves it or not - I'm getting it done with him! I am waiting on insurance approval too - but i have a 6 month pre existing conditions clause - so I am working on getting it approved but my waiting period isn't up until 12-31-07 so I have a while to go :-( Are you up north here or are you from Denver?

In FTC - hollar! I just had my info session with Dr. Johnell last night...loved it, loved him, very excited!

Hey Carla, Nicely put, I am trying to get insurance approval but I've struggled with trying to justify it when the fact of the matter is that I CAN lose weight, I have been able to lose 20-40 lbs successfully twice (at a rate of about 5 lbs a month) and I exercise, I don't mind working hard and getting sweaty - it's just the FOOD! Mind you, losing 20-40 lbs is great, I'm confident and happy but I'm still as big as a house....I need to lose 120lbs and I have no confidence that I can do it on my own, especially with all the times I've psyched myself up, put a plan into action, started dieting and only to gain 3 lbs my 1st week! How frustrating! Thanks everyone, what other people are going through helps me! You just can't talk about this stuff with your friends that are 103 and 107 and 123 lbs!

Hey everyone, I've known about lap-band for 3+ years now and for some reason it has been this week that just clicked and I finally realized that I've been fat for 10 years now (since I was 18) and that I'm not going to accomplish a 120lb weight loss without some major help...so I did it, I made an appt for a consult. I *might* be getting insurance, they will probably have an exclusion on the policy so my guess is I'll be self-pay....investing money in me being happy, no question it's the right choice. How did everyone else finally decide "enough trying to do this on my own, it's not working, let's look at other options"??? Just curious...

Hi Marjon9, I noticed you were banded by Dr Kirshenbaum, I am looking into surgery, could you let me know how he was as a surgeon, any other information? Thanks Jtag10_4 (on yahoo)