Northern Mist

I, too, have been trying to cut my food in small pieces and chewing, chewing, chewing. I have found that our dinner conversation may be my down fall - I just swallow the food fast and reply or laugh, etc... I can't install a no talking at the dinner table rule - we have always went over the day at work and school, etc.... I will adjust and they will wait for my response.... I have been trying every Protein drink under the sun - yuck! I'm hoping I will be so hungry they will taste good! My husband is probably tired of hearing me say (at every meal) what I'll be able to eat and what I probably won't be able to chew up small enough because it's too chewy, fiberous, or I have read a lot of bandsters have issue with it, etc.. NYSparklegirl - We will have to keep in touch since we are going to go through everything together - sorta Good luck to all!

Does anyone else think the smell of the protein is horrible? I'm hoping I'll be so hungry I will be able to drink them without gagging. I've tried about 6 different kinds and flavors - i can smell the same thing in all of them - yuck!

As you will see in my thread - I started this process over two years ago! This is what finally got me approved - Weight Watchers daily logs had to be wrote on by my physician - EVERY SINGLE DAY. At my appointments I would bring in my logs I printed from Weight Watchers online and my doctor would make her suggestions and comments on every page. This was time consumming but I have a great doctor. The daily logs consisted of Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and an exercise log. I put my food choices in and it calculated my points and I put my exercise activity and minutes in and it kept track of those too. I had to show a progression EVERY month. Less points, more exercise and weight loss (even if its a little bit)EVERY month. TIP:Start your exercise low and let the doctor write down her suggestions and then the next month make sure you follow her suggestions on the logs so BCBS sees you are following directions/rules. You can start out exercising pretty low but as long as you show "progress" your good. This was the thing they were so strict on in my experience. All the other requirements were pretty cut and dry. Paying for this surgery out of pocket would've strapped my family so fighting the insurance company was my only option. Good luck and don't give up!

Currently I'm the GM at a medium sized hotel and a Bed and Breakfast/Fly Fishing Lodge on a beautiful river. Busy, busy! Married ninteen years to a fab. man and mother to a 16yo boy and a 9yo girl.

Welcome Marge! We are all gearing up for our surgeries, pre-op diets, etc.... Lots of excitment and nerves going around. Good luck with the shingles.....and hope February is your month!

It's less than two weeks until I start my Pre-op diet! I'm getting more nervous as the time gets closer...... I'll deal with it. Does anyone else have weird dreams and lose sleep over big decisions? I sure do :tt1: In one dream my sister had the surgery instead of me and I had to pay for it! I was confused and pissed at the same time!

The first time I submitted BCBS of IL said they didn't rec. it - I refaxed everything and called a couple days later to confirm. Then they told me it wasn't detailed enough the next two times I submitted. BCBS recommends Weight Watchers but when I called and said I was on it and sending WW logs the representative on the phone wasn't sure what WW's was and asked what points were? and proceeded to tell me I should watch my calories and not these point things!! Argh!!!! I talked to someone else that knew the program and they told me that I wasn't showing progression - so I had my doctor write her suggestions on every single days food and exercise logs for 90 days - I exercised more, cut my calories and lost a little weight every month. This is what finally worked for me. They will give up - don't stop trying!

My grandfather said to my husband and I, at the dinner table with a whole lotta family present, "Jack Spratt could eat no fat and his wife could eat no lean" I said, "Thanks Grandpa, you made my day" and my very angry husband and I left. This is also the guy who pitched a wiffle ball to my three year old son and accidently hit him in the face - this made my son cry..... to which my grandfather says, "Yep, he is a sissy boy and sure to grow up Gay"......My husband came around the corner of the house, picked up our son and said,"You truely are a bastard" and we left the family gathering once again. If it wasn't for my Grandmother and ailing uncle we would never even go over there. I do have to say that after my husband called him a bastard he has toned it down a lot. Family...... gotta love 'em.

Maybe he is worried about the surgery and this is how he is expressing it. I know my hubby is worried about the surgery itself and the possible issues afterwards..........He also wants me to be healthy but still a "little" curvy. I don't think I'll be bones anytime soon! LOL He will adjust when he sees how good you feel and that you are healthier.

I'm glad there are so many February bandsters! I think keeping in touch throughout our journey will help us feel like we are not alone and that there are others going through bandster hell, etc.....

I did the same diet (Weight Watchers) for almost two years with my physician documenting everything - BCBS of IL. always found some tiny thing they wanted me to do. ie: doc to sign every single page, every word/suggestion she wrote had to be 100% legible to them, etc.... They eventually gave in and approved. It was a nightmare.

I'm almost to my 30 day mark! My surgeon says NO blood thinners, birth control, etc... 30 days out. It's getting closer!

I was unsure about telling people at first but I have decided that if I'm asked or if people notice the lack of eating or the different issues that may pop up with the band I'm not going to hide it. I have told some family members and friends about it so I don't have to feel as if I'm hiding it. I have also told the owners of the company I manage - they're in their 70's and were suprisingly supportive. I'm not announcing it from the rooftops but I'm not going to hide it either. If people judge me or say rude things - I'll have to call them on it so they don't continue. I will not be asked , "How much are you losing" twice by the same person - unless they want to be asked something rude in return. (unless they're the ones that really care) I'll have to think of some responses because I really am a non-confrontational person but I have decided that needs to change too!

It's a lot of fun and doesn't seem like exercise at all until you feel it in your thighs! My kids love it and I love they're up and moving instead of sitting and playing a game.

Welcome southernbelle! Mexico sounds like a good alternative if people don't have insurance. It's something I would have looked into if I had to pay out of pocket. Have a great New Year!

Just curious if anyones allergies or asthma improved with weight loss? I'm not expecting it but it would be a added bonus!

I'm getting banded on February 8th and I'm very excited and nervous as well. I like to control things and there is a big ? when it comes to how my body will handle the band. I am trying to be positive but I am also a worrier! Not a pretty picture - a worrying control freak :biggrin: Ha!

My asthma is triggered primarily by allergens. Colds and the flu always end up being difficult to get over because they go right into my chest and stay there. Sometimes exercise and being too hot will do it too. I would say over the last two years my asthma has worsened considerably as well as my allergies. They always told me I would "grow" out of it. I've had it my entire life - when am I going to grow out of it!?! I have tried all sorts of remedies - all natural, over the counter and prescription drugs. Thank god for inhalers and nebulizers! At least the doctors and allergists know alot more now than they knew when I was young. The drugs, side effects and treatments used to be near torture for me. I am looking forward to losing the weight and imagine that alone will make breathing a little easier!

Do you have a nebulizer? Helps the asthma but not sure about the bread issues. If this doesn't clear up soon, I'd call the doc. just to be safe. Take care.

My goal is to be healthy. IMHO starving oneself and not exercising can't be what the lap-band was made for - I would expect my body to rebel at this treatment. My doc and surgeon said I have to exercise, in some way, in order to get things moving along...if you know what I mean. I'm not being critical of you but sometimes things are obvious to people outside of the situation. Then again I'm not even banded yet and looking through rose colored glasses at this point. I hope I control the band and it doesn't end up controlling me. Thanks for the heads up at that possibility. I hope all gets easier for you and your band :smile:

I'm absorbing all the info. and hoping I put it to good use. I'm hoping I am one of the people that can keep their band loose enough to drink ok and not have acid reflux. It seems if you go too tight there's a whole set of other problems you have to deal with. I'm hoping I can get off my high blood press. meds and my knees will let up a bit in the pain department! It's going to be MY tool and I'm going to use it the proper way! This is the only thing I have ever spent this kind of money on (besides car and house) and I have to make it work or I will have incredible guilt. It's only $2400 out of pocket but that a lot of bills paid off! Here's to a New Year and getting healthier!

Are they giving you a good deal for the 2nd surgery?

Excellent answers! LMAO!

Do you have to tell the person picking you up what the procedure was? Can't you aay it was a hernia repair or something? I wish you had a support system to make things easier for you but I understand the privacy issue all to well.