BeckyinTexas

I was telling one of my coworkers about my visit and what the doctor told me about my belly button being either shaped different or in a new spot and she said to just tell them to forget the belly button and afterwards I could just a smiley face tattooed where one should have been. Steph...I just noticed you have only 8 pounds to goal....wow that is so great! I don't have a number goal. My goal is to be able to look into a mirror and just think to myself...damn, I look hot for an old broad!

Findingme....I'm trying my hardest to quit thinking if my insurance comes through and thinking WHEN my insurance approves it. I hope we both get the go ahead and get the surgery! The rest of y'all that posted here, you're great! You know when it's something that is so humiliating, being about to laugh about it just makes it so much easier to get through. But the upside to this now is...I did keep my panties! someday after my surgery, I plan on getting those babies out and strutting my stuff in them...hopefullly a whole lot less stuff to strut with!

This is to Willsmommy.....I've had my band for 3 years, have lost 278 pounds, have only had 3 fills and not one problem. Well, other than people being so negative about the lap band and that is a problem. Headhunter, I was the first to post to this thread and I wished you luck and still do but some of the things you have said are just hurtful. Like it's been said, this is a support group and you are less than supportive of so many things. I understand you have had a horrible experience but thank God you are in the minority. You certainly didn't help your case by talking about law suits and talk shows. That just brings to mind someone trying to make a buck off something. If you do any talk shows or whatever, I'd volunteer to go along with you and tell the positive experience I've had and am still having with my lap band so people can see both the good and the bad. Willsmommy, don't let one person's experience, although there are problems that can develop for anyone, stop you from achieving your goal. All this talk about risks....well we all take a risk everyday of our lives. Heck we could start to get out of bed, trip over something and break our necks. Not likely to happen though, just as the horrible outcome that Headhunter has experienced with his lap band. Again, good luck Headhunter but try not to scare the living daylights out of people that are here for the sole purpose of getting support. Willsmommy - just how I feel, but the lap band has given me my life back and I'm so thankful for that! I hope that for you as well.

I posted on line yesterday before I left for my doctor's appointment. Now it's just a wait and see game with my insurance company. I wish I had talked with someone about their first trip to see a plastic surgeon so I would have known what would happen when I got there. I was completely shocked when they said I'd have to have some pictures taken. I should have known they would do that but I guess it was just something that I didn't think about. After the initial interview and answering a lot of questions, I was told that as soon as the photo room was available, they'd take me there. That's when the nerves hit! I didn't know what to expect at all. Then the moment of truth came and I was taken to the photo room and told to take all my clothes off and put on a pair of surgery panties. Needless this was nothing more than a small piece of cloth held together with elastic strings. I told the nurse that was helping me that I had always thought my first time to wear a g-string might be under different circumstances. Then the doctor came in and that's when the tears started to flow! He told me this wonderful story about daffodils and what it all meant was to not look back at the past but just look forward to the future. So, there I stood completely naked with tears rolling down my cheeks and have pictures taken. Now those will be sent along with a couple of letters from doctor's stating medical necessity for the surgery to my insurance company. All I could think of was "great, now a bunch more people can look at my horrible body". But if that's what it takes to make part of a dream come true, so be it. I'd be stupid to not know that I couldn't have blown my body up to the size it was and not expect there to be some "party favors" left over. I feel like a balloon that was blown up way too much and then all the air was let out. Not that that isn't a great thing because I feel like a different person, now I just want to be able to look into a full length mirror and not be grossed out by my own reflection. I just wanted to share my first step with anyone that might be taking this journey as well. Like I said, I just wish I had talked with someone so I would have known somewhat to expect. Now I have to just sit and wait to hear from my insurance company and the good Lord willing, I'll be scheduling a pannicolectomy in the near future. Thanks for letting me share all this with y'all cause if there's any one in the whole world that can even somewhat relate to all of this I know it's y'all. As you can see by my novel disguised as a post....I'll keep everyone updated on how this all goes for me. __________________

I'm living proof that even people that start out needing to lose a massive amount of weight can and will do it! My goal was 300 pounds by my 3rd bandiversary but I'm just a bit shy of that goal. When I first started considering the Lap Band, I had some people tell me I was too fat for it work...well, I can be a bit stubborn so my attitude was...stand back and just watch me! Hang in there and yes, it most certainly can be done!

David....So sorry to hear about your horrible experience with your lapband and I hope everything turns out well for you. Good luck with your upcoming surgeries! I guess the lapband is like anything else, it does wonders for some but has horrible results and causes horrific problems for other, like yourself. I'm one of the very fortunate and mine has been a wonderful experience and I hope and pray it continues to be one. Again, good luck with your future surgeries.

I never had to have sutures removed. They told me to keep the steri strips on until the either fell off by themselves or started curling up and then I could gently pull them off. Being the paranoid person I can be....I used bandaids for like a month afterwards cause I was so afraind I'd do something to mess up my band. Good luck and hope everything goes great for you!

Steph....I've just been reading your posts and I'm so happy for you! I just hope to jump on the bandwagon and get approved by my insurance company. I hate the waiting game but man it'll be so worth it if I do get approved. Good luck and thanks for the great posts cause I need all the help I can get. So, get ready girl cause I'll get all Perry Mason on you and ask tons of questions!

Thanks so much Barb and Julie.....it means so much to always know you have someone in your corner that truly hopes for nothing but the best. We're all on this trip together and man, that so helps!

Lori Ann......My insurance luckily does cover if it's deemed a medical necessity. My original surgeon, Dr. Jay, is going to write a letter documenting the problems with the "fat apron" as will the plastic surgeon. I work for a county and we have an employee health clinic and any problems that I've had with infections, so forth, I've talked to them about but the plastic surgeon seemed to think my pictures alone should be enough. I go through a can of Gold Bond power weekly and yesterday I didn't use it on purpose. By my appointment it was red and had some blisters. They took pictures of that as well. It's even caused a couple of yeast infections that I had to be on antibiotics for. I know this all sounds gross but it's something that does help with insurance approval....hopefully! I'm just so afraid I'll get my hopes up and then have them burst my bubble. Good luck and let's keep each up on what's happening for us.

Shannon....Good luck to you! I had my first visit to a plastic surgeon yesterday and now I'm playing the wait and see if the insurance will pay game. I'm so excited about it happening that's about all I can think about. Hope everything goes well for you!

I had my surgery done on a Friday and went back to work at noon on Monday. I was miserable on Saturday but then woke up Sunday and couldn't even believe myself good I felt. I would have loved to have been able to take some extra days off but I honestly felt well enough to go back to work. Good luck to you and I pray your lapband experience will be as wonderful as mine has been!

This site has never failed me when I've needed it the most and once again, it came through for me. Thank you for your well wishes! It means so much to know that no matter what, we're here for each other.

I posted on line yesterday before I left for my doctor's appointment. Now it's just a wait and see game with my insurance company. I wish I had talked with someone about their first trip to see a plastic surgeon so I would have known what would happen when I got there. I was completely shocked when they said I'd have to have some pictures taken. I should have known they would do that but I guess it was just something that I didn't think about. After the initial interview and answering a lot of questions, I was told that as soon as the photo room was available, they'd take me there. That's when the nerves hit! I didn't know what to expect at all. Then the moment of truth came and I was taken to the photo room and told to take all my clothes off and put on a pair of surgery panties. Needless this was nothing more than a small piece of cloth held together with elastic strings. I told the nurse that was helping me that I had always thought my first time to wear a g-string might be under different circumstances. Then the doctor came in and that's when the tears started to flow! He told me this wonderful story about daffodils and what it all meant was to not look back at the past but just look forward to the future. So, there I stood completely naked with tears rolling down my cheeks and have pictures taken. Now those will be sent along with a couple of letters from doctor's stating medical necessity for the surgery to my insurance company. All I could think of was "great, now a bunch more people can look at my horrible body". But if that's what it takes to make part of a dream come true, so be it. I'd be stupid to not know that I couldn't have blown my body up to the size it was and not expect there to be some "party favors" left over. I feel like a balloon that was blown up way too much and then all the air was let out. Not that that isn't a great thing because I feel like a different person, now I just want to be able to look into a full length mirror and not be grossed out by my own reflection. I just wanted to share my first step with anyone that might be taking this journey as well. Like I said, I just wish I had talked with someone so I would have known somewhat to expect. Now I have to just sit and wait to hear from my insurance company and the good Lord willing, I'll be scheduling a pannicolectomy in the near future. Thanks for letting me share all this with y'all cause if there's any one in the whole world that can even somewhat relate to all of this I know it's y'all. As you can see by my novel disguised as a post....I'll keep everyone updated on how this all goes for me.

The most I ever weighed was 449 two weeks before my surgery. I don't even know what I weighed before then because there were no scales to weigh me. Today I weighed 187 and that's the least I have weighed in over 30 years. I'm still amazed that I have lost 282 pounds so far. My goal was 300 pounds lost by my 3rd bandiversary but heck, I'm not complaining!!!!!

I'm about the head out for my visit with a plastic surgeon to see about getting a pannicolectomy. Hopefully my insurance will cover most of it and I just hope and pray that everything will go well. I can't even imagine how much better I'd feel not to metion looking better. If all goes well and I get to have my surgery, I'll probably asking a million questions of people that have had it done!

Congratulations!!!!! I just made the onederland club a couple of week ago myself. I hadn't weighed until 200 pounds in over 30 years so I know how excited you are. Man, this lapband is so amazing and whoever came up with the idea....God bless them!!!!!!

I have lost over 260 pounds and quite frankly, I now look like a deflated balloon! When I first started losing weight, I was just so thrilled to be losing, I told everyone that ever mention cosmetic surgery that I didn't ever want it. Well, it's a different story but I don't think my insurance will pay for it and I certainly can't afford it. I have United Health Care. Does anyone know if it would be covered?

I have lost over 260 pounds and needless to say, I have lots of "party favors" (excess skin). I can cover up and girdle up lots of it but the skin where I used to have my double chin looks like a turkey neck. Well, I went last Saturday to Body Wraps and had the facial wrap done. I can see a difference after only one wrap. They told me up front that I'd probably need 2 or 3 to get the results I wanted and I was very leary that it wouldn't work at all but I had a coupon and it was going to be $30 so I went ahead. I now have my second appointment for the full body wrap December 28th. I'll let you all know if that works for me or not. I'm sure hoping that it will work!!!!!

The county that I work for has wonderful insurance that paid for my band surgery along with about 75 others that work for the county over the past couple of years. So that's the good part but...they are now doing The Biggest Loser contest and anyone that's had lapband surgery can't participate. I told them that a girl can have a boob job and still enter Miss America so why can't I play just cause I've been surgically enhanced! They finally agreed to let us play along but we aren't eligible for any of the prize money. I just hope I can make a good showing!

I have found that reading this thread picks me up when I need it the most! I can't say enough how much it helps to know that all of y'all know exactly how I feel and where I'm coming from about every part of this lap band journey. I was told by a lady recently that she'd "heard" that the lap band doesn't work for extremely overweight people and I proudly told her that whoever told her that was full of....well you know what I said. I watch this show every morning called "I Lost It" and most of the stories deal with people that start their weight loss journey at a weight that I can't wait to get to! They talk about how horrible they feel and how depressed they are and I think, man I still weigh way more than they do and I can't believe how great I feel! When I get to that weight I'm probably gonna be dangerous!!!! I just thank all of y'all for always being here when I need a little boost!

Chabutter....I so needed to read that right now! I've had an awful week at home and work and when I went to weigh just a while ago the scale hadn't dropped in a week. But you just made me feel so much better! I'm glad to know that others experience the same thing I do about night eating. I'm trying really hard to control it. But have to admit that's it's easier now than it used to be. Anyone that says we took the easy way to lose weight by getting the band doesn't know beans!

I love this site simply because it helps you to know no matter what you might be going through...someone understands!

Wow Paul what an inspiration you are! I so know what you mean about hitting "onederland"....I can hardly wait for the day that that happens. You'll be there before me so save me a spot in "onederland"!

I was wondering if anyone else faces this....I try to eat breakfast and I can't get more than 2 bites to go down. Lunch isn't much better, a two or three bites and I can't get any more down. But boy oh boy, when evening comes I feel like I could eat a horse! For some reason I can eat more in the evening and sadly I do sometimes. Does anyone else feel like this?