pandagirl

I have thought about saying no to the open and switching Docs if she can't do it. I'm sticking with her for now though and haven't commited to the possibility of open surgery yet.

It's not my weight that's the issue, nor a hernia or a liver. It's the placement of my fat. I carry the majority of it in a cirumference around my belly button. If my fat were evenly distributed like many, there wouldn't be an issue.

If I were paying out of pocket I'd feel the same way. My surgery is completely covered, so money is not an issue.

I wonder why he wouldn't commit? My Doc told me it's my decision if she's going in. If I say no to it, she says the only reason she would do it is to save my life. I guess in essence they are stating the same thing, but at least I understand my Docs game plan. But all worked out for you. That's excellent. I hope you are happy with your band. :shades_smile:

My two main issues are the down time and scarring. I still haven't settled on a decision.

Thanks for the advice. It helps really. Just so you know the scar thing is partly from the fact that I've had two surgeries this year. My band scars are minimal like yours, but my g/b surgery produced a nasty one inch scar. The other issue is that I have skin damage from being overweight and for the longest time I would look at the skin on my stomach and say "at least that looks good". The current scars are somewhat of an issue. Not too much, but I think this one might. It's estimated to be from 4 to 6 inches long. I know some of it will be chopped off when I have plastic surgery. (more scars) So, it really shouldn't be too much of an issue. Unfortunately it is and I've gone back and forth as to why I should consent to an open surgery and to why I shouldn't. I also keep telling myself that all this worry may be for nothing, they may not need to open me up. Anyway, thanks so much.

I asked about that and the answer was no. She says she won't know until she's in there. I've gone to a strict liquid diet to lose more weight. It's killing me though since I've been on some form of a liquid diet for over a year now. I'm hoping to be comfortably under 300 when I go in. Thanks for the support!

Having the co-morbidity helps. My insurance would cover it, but coverage varies so much that it's hard to say for sure. I would keep track of your weightloss attempts and anything you can think of to "prove" to them that you've tried to lose weight. I would also go to BandstersInsurance : Bandsters-Insurance They might have the information you're looking for. As far as your Doc is concerned...I had trouble with mine. A lot of it and spent a months trying to get an referral from her. I ended up changing insurance and having no trouble after that. If I could go back in time, I think I might have been more adamant about my desire for the band and take control of my own healthcare.

The area around my stomach is "thin". I carry all of my weight around the belly button area. When they went in last time, they said the fat in that area prevented a proper sewing of the band to my stomach. Apparently, the instrument started to bend. I was adamant about not having an open surgery last time. (Or else I'd be banded now.) So, she pulled out and had me lose more weight. I think I weighed about 339 when I went in. I'm roughly at 300 now. I hope that is enough of a difference, but really the fat around the lower half of my stomach isn't gone. It's softer, but it's still there. The rest of me is looking good though. I've thought about the possibility of saying no to the open surgery, trying to lose more wieght or even trying a brand new Dr. I'm not sure. Right now I have so much emotion surrounding this surgery that I'm not sure I'm thinking logically.

It will go from my belly button to my stomach. It will be 2 days in the hospital and about 3 weeks out of work. I only have enough time for a week and a half, but like you said I've come this far... I also have some other emotional issues with the scarring. So, I will have to get through them if I'm going to be able to consent to an open surgery.

Yeah, but since I've already been in for surgery and they were unable to do it. I'm not so confident that they will be able to get me banded without opening me up. But....it happens to rarely so I dunno. Thanks.

I had my pre-op appointment the other day. It was my second one of the year. It went well, but there was one question I can’t seem to answer. Do I want to be opened up if they can’t do it laprscopically? The first time I went in it was an adamant no. I didn’t want the scarring, I didn’t have the time saved up for the amount of recovery time required for an open surgery. This time the time element remains the same, but this time I’m not so sure that they can do it. I’ve already been to the table only to be sent home cut in and un-banded. I’m not sure if I can go through this again. I don’t know what to do. I’ve thought about it to the point that I’ve ignored the whole thing, but I know that come September 15th, I have to tell the Dr, before we go into surgery. What would you do? I know you can’t make the decision for me, but maybe your reasons as to why or why not may spark some conviction. You know I should be head over heels right now. I should have that tiniest bit of worry, but the joy of finally getting into surgery should overwhelm that. Last time I was elated. I felt like I conquered something. This time I’m worried that the fates don’t want me to have this surgery without huge down payment.

THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THIS QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!! I asked this twice when I first got here and no one would give me a clear answer. I just kept thinking throwy uppy Peanut Butter ick!!!!!!!!!! I even googled it and got nuffin. Anyway.....:biggrin:

I used to hate it a lot, but on South West they let you go first to make sure you fit in the seat and you get to pick the one you want. So, I'd choose the one up front with alll the leg room!!!!!!! But I'd rather be thin than have that. So, off with the rest of the cattle I go. I hope your trip goes well and the flight won't be as bad as you fear.

Program fee? Are you self pay?

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morbidly What? This is where I keep my blog. I just posted a few minutes ago, not all entries are public, but some are.

Morbidly What? This is where I keep my blog. I just posted a few minutes ago, not all entries are public, but some are.

I like 'em, but I think everyone's going to be using yours.

I'm planning to take a week off. I've had two surgeries this year. When I had my g/b taken out I went to work one week later. It was kind of rough, but I did it because I was scheduled for my band in March and needed the time. When March came around and I went in for surgery, the recovery was much, much easier than from the g/b. I think the only thing I might have to contend with is the new eating process.(This time, since I didn't have that issue the last time.) Of course, this is assuming that there are no complications. *knocks on wood* But really, I can't see the band surgery being much worse that the g/b. So, like I said I plan to take a full week. (Surgery is on Monday so will be out until the following Monday.)

Here are some non-glitter alternatives. I was thinking dudes,guys, you know men types might not like the glitter. There are men in this place right? I used Aprilapple's color scheme as I really love the black and red combo. Banner generated at Pimp-My-Profile.com Banner generated at Pimp-My-Profile.com

I actually went in for my band on 3-6-08, went into surgery, they opened me up, then pulled out becasue my Surgeon said she couldn't sew the band in; my stomach was in the way. So, they wanted me to lose 30 more pounds on top of the 55 I already did. So basically, I've been spending the last 4 months trying to do that, but my head wasn't in the right space, then the weight just stopped coming off so easily and finally the Doc said she thinks my stomach fat is soft enough to manipulate it properly. They aren't going in the "traditional" way and I will have a whole new set of scars. But hey, I know I'll lose a bunch of them when I get my PS. In case you're wondering. I'm "apple" shaped with the majority of my weight in my lower tummy area. I have relatively thin arms, legs and face and probably only look about 50-60 pounds or so overweight in those areas.Though in reality, I was 227 pounds over weight at one point and now about 130. My situation is not common place and there are people bigger than me getting the band, but unfortunately my weight is not spread out like most people's. I'm hoping everything works out this time. I'm doing my best to continue losing as much weight as possible. I figure the more I lose the easier the surgery will be and the less I'll have to lose after surgery. I can't say that I'm not worried,though. I am and trying to be as positive about the situation as I can be. :biggrin:

Hi there. I recently saved a blog entry as a draft and am unable to figure out how to retrieve it. Does anyone know how to do this? And is there a technical FAQ on this site? If not I hope they make one because I don't participate here as much as I'd like because things are so hard to move through. I supposed I've been spoiled by other forums. Anyway, any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

We could have a subdivision of the September group, we could be the September Samurai's Slutpuppies. :biggrin:

Men can be slut puppies, I'm sure of it. :biggrin: