100lbsforsale

LOL I definitely get the cumbya reference. I have had the exact thoughts the last few days. I don't see why I can't continue with the healthy lifestyle I was planning just because I won't have a band. I'm pretty sure it wasn't going to magically make me exercise nor was it going to knock the cookies/ice cream out of my hands if I reached for it. I have been sort of relieved too about not having to say good bye to sandwiches etc permanently. Yep I have an addiction too, but I have been disciplined on this pre-op diet, no reason it can't continue. (Not the liquid diet, but the ability to say no to myself. I've been pretty successful and I didn't die because I said nope, no ice cream tonight.) Keep your chin up. You'll do fine, you've already shown determination to get this far!!!

Carolk1, OH man I am so sorry. It completely sucks! I am in a similiar boat. The old fashioned way. I just want to say "oh, yeah, Old Fashion THIS!" *Sigh*. Here's to a speedy recovery for you. (((Hugs))).

Cerrin, Thanks, I'm hoping so too. I am so drugged up on antibiotics, steroids and living with my inhaler, I think I'd have to die to feel better, (just kidding). Take care, happy banding!!

hey everyone, I haven't been on the site much lately, I've been pretty sick. I've had my surgery postponed/cancelled for awhile. :faint: I've got a bad case pertussis(whooping cough), and the docs tell me 2 to 4 months before my lungs are healthy enough for surgery. It's been fun reading all of your posts and finding out I'm not the only one who feels the way I do. It really sucks that I went all this way on this journey and it's basically jerked out from underneath me. Well, everything happens for a reason. Take care and Merry Christmas! Maybe I'll be back on the list in a future month in '08.

Boy, and here I thought I was the only one driving myself crazy with worry over the approaching "date". I tried to do the liquid diet on Monday of this week just to get a feel for it. I was sooo bleeping hungry by 4 pm I had my 'sensible meal' and then went on to McDonalds from there.. I was so upset. On Tuesday I ate 'sensibly' without the protein drink and did much better. Since I've so smartly gained about 8 lbs since October, I need to start my pre-op diet Monday Nov 26th with the hope of losing at least 4 lbs by Dec 10th. My doc says no more than a 5 lb wt gain prior to surgery.. I am such a loser!!!

December 17th here too! I can't wait, just finished my Psych Eval today..self pay also

My list: 1) Shop for clothes in the normal sizes. Why do all plus size shirts have horizontal bands on the bust or the waist?:cry 2) cross my legs like a girl 3) Not sweating on a 70 degree day 4) my kids being able to hug me all the way around not just the front of my stomach 5) shopping at Victoria's Secret-had to throw that in there for the husband! 6) Be able to Water ski again and buy a wet suit that's not from BIGGIRLS.com 7) Not be the fattest chick in the room. ooohh I could go on and on! thanks for the thread!

Hey everyone, I haven't been on in awhile, so its nice to read what's been going on with everybody. As my title says, my band date is fast approaching. I'm getting nervous and impatient all the same. I'm having Dr. Hung do the surgery ($14900?) and am worried about his 'no more than 5 lb wt. gain" policy. I had my initial consult on 10/19 and I've sorta been on the farewell to food tour. Not intentionally, but for someone who didn't think I restricted myself much, I can see that I did! I've been eating pretty much whatever/ whenever since the 19th and I'm up 5-7 lbs. I switched to Protein drinks 1-2x a day but the scale isn't moving. My pre-op diet isn't supposed to start until Dec 3rd buy I'm thinking the day after Thanksgiving is the day! I know what I NEED to do, its just making myself do it. Anybody have any concerns with Dr. Hung/Tadducci and their staff? I am confident in them at this point. I do have a couple of 'hmmmms?' about the surgery in general or maybe it is just me being bitchy. I find it strange that 'ST. E's' requires a chest x-ray, EKG etc for this operation. I had a hysterectomy last year and didn't need any of this pre-op stuff. I'm really burning up about the $450 1 hour Psych consult. If I remember right, the last time I went to counseling (recently) it was about $100-150/hr. My therapist doesn't do weight loss counseling, otherwise I would use him. I just feel like its odd that a major operation like a total hysterectomy costs about $8000 with 3 days in the hospital and this lapraroscopic out-patient surgery is double that. I guess these doctors have tapped into a hot market. Ok, guess I just needed to vent. I would love to hear from Nebraska people!! I live in Bennet, SE of Lincoln about 10 miles. I have 3 kiddos, two boys ages 7 and 4, and a very spoiled momma's girl who just turned 3 yesterday. I currently getting my pre-reqs. out of the way while I'm wait-listed for the nursing program at SCC.:eek:.

Great thread, I've been wondering the same thing myself. I am a world class grazer because I'm so afraid of being hungry. I read a thread earlier where someone was worrying about being hungry and when she was going to eat.. right after she just finished eating. That is me to a T! I eat when I'm not hungry because I don't want to GET hungry while I'm going to be someplace I can't eat. I already eat when I'm not hungry so how am I going to deal with head hunger? Eating is my comfort, so is cooking. I like to putter in the kitchen, make stuff my kids and husband love. Does that stop with the band? How do I change it to fit the band lifestyle? I'm worried about the liquid/mushie diet and trying to keep my family fed at the same time. My husband is pretty easy-going most of the time, but I can see him getting pretty cranky at all the changes coming with this band. I've talked to him about most of them, but some things he just doesn't want to to know or whatever. Its too complicated he says. I 'm the one everyone comes to for comfort. I'm the one who does all the organizing, planning and cooking for any and everything we do. I'm wondering what I'm going to feed my family. I'm sorry, this is a rambling post, but I am so worried. This band is for me, but I'm feeling guilty at forcing my family to come along with me. :thinkDoes this make any sense? Anyone else feel this way? What did you do? or what are you planning to do? :help:

Miss polly, I'm not a finance expert! but instead of cashing out your 401K and taking the huge IRS penalties, you could borrow against it. Contact your human resource people. My husbands company lets you borrow up to 50% of the what your balance is. The interest rate is 2% above what the 401K is earning and you are essentially paying yourself back. I don't know the exact 'rules' for taking out a loan against your 401K is, but I've read some on the board use it as a medical hardship loan. Worth a shot.

Hmm, great thread! Lets see..people who tell me that the band is the easy way out, I can lose it if I really want too, if I'd just quit eating so much, tell myself no. Britney, Lindsey, Paris, Ashlee Simpson, Pamela Anderson and anyone else Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood feature nightly. Bush, ..eck, loved the polyp comments earlier tho! Wayne Newton..he's everywhere(HGTV-Design Star, Dancing with the Stars, Multi-million dollar homes..) and they lick his boots whenever he's on camera. The guy looks like a PS 'whoops' story. Who cares if he's 'Mr. Las Vegas'? WTH is that worth? my father in law the fat-phobe:angry last but not least..my belly!

I'm self pay too. I started the whole insurance dance, but then my husbands insurance quit covering bariatric surgery. I was pretty upset, but then I'm like alot of people I am so determined. I am in nursing school and have that debt also. I figured it would be alot easier to be ALIVE and a slim/energetic nurse than an overweight oh-my-god-my-knees-back-hips-and-feet-hurt-nurse. So I'll be paying off the loans for a long time. Worth every penny and monthly payment!

:)I'm a nursing student, can I play too?

Hey all, I just came from my consult with the surgeon and have my surgery date of Dec. 17!!!!! I'm a STAHM and a student so I'm doing it on my Christmas break also. I'm so frigging excited I'm about to pee my pants! This has been a quick journey (since Sept really) because my husbands work decided that as of Oct 1, they no longer cover bariatric surgery. I was just getting started jumping through the insurance 6 month diet and exercise, sleep study etc etc..then wham, they shut the door on me!! I want this so bad I thought, screw it, we are taking out a loan and here I go. I'm doing my surgery here in Nebraska. Its $14000, way more than Mexico but I have 3 little kids and no family support to take care of them so I have to stay close to home. Interesting about Ortiz tho, I have a friend who almost went to him but then decided on another doc here in the States. Good Luck you guys. Keep us posted on your progress! funny, 2008 will be the year I KEEP that NEW YEARS resolution to lose wt!!! My vote is for the Merry Losers!

<p>Mrs. H& Marz88</p> <p>Glad to see someone else in Nebraska with the band. </p> <p> </p> <p> I went to the Nebraska page...pretty uh..blank? </p> <p> </p> <p>I am planning on having my surgery at St. Elizabeths in Lincoln. I haven't got a date yet nor have I been to a support group. I know when they meet, its just I'm in class every night of the week, so hopefully I can find one that works for me schedule wise.</p> <p>Just wanted to say hi!</p>

LOL, This thread was so much fun! I was so bleeping angry you couldn't believe it. Here's an update on what happened. I ate and ate trying to gain the 20 lbs to get the 40 bmi, and yes I did lie about my height. Although, I didn't see the post about that until today. I went to my new PCP, wearing jeans, 2 shirts and had 2 baggies filled with pennies stuffed in my bra, and another with quarters in my pants. I'm cracking up just typing it. Anyway, I weighed 8 lbs heavier(256) than when I went to my last WW meeting 2 days before. So, I get to the doc and he looks at my weight and says his scale is 10 lbs TOO HEAVY. :cool: ARGGGGHHH So he says I actually weigh 246. Can you believe it?? I've never been to a doc office where the scale weighed me lighter than my home scale. We talked about the Lap Band and he wasn't encouraging or discouraging but said he had 8 patients that have the band and they've all gained the wt. back. Then he told me to consider ordering an obesity drug from the UK (that isn't approved in the US) called Accomplia. He said it would kill my appetite etc etc. It costs about $170-200 for a months supply, cheaper than the band he said.. So I researched it just for the heck of it,=== not for me. After all that and the screening bs:mad: with these other docs, my husbands' company sent home a flyer saying that as of Oct. 1 2007, they will not cover any charges relating to bariatric surgery. :faint::faint::whoo: Guess who is now going to be self pay??? I have to tell you the relief at being able to skip the 6 month diet pgm, the sleep apnea study etc etc. was unbelievable. How am I paying? I don't have 2 nickels to rub together but I have a dear friend who is loaning me the money. Lapbandland here I come, momma gets a Christmas present this year! Thanks everyone for your input and for giving me a laugh over a really crappy situation.

HI, I'm looking at using Benjamin Hung or Ray Tadducci here in Lincoln, NE. I was wondering if anyone has used them or who else they would recommend in Omaha, KC etc. What was your experience, impressions of them(doc you used) and their staff etc. I've been to their seminar and they seem great, but then I have no basis for comparison. Thanks!:help::ranger:

Andrea, I'm no insurance expert but as long as you pay your COBRA you will be fine, your coverage should continue without any interuptions or changes. My husband quit his job the same day I found out I was pregnant (surprise!), we kept up the COBRA payments and everything was covered just like we never changed jobs. The most important part is not to let there be even 1 day of lapse of coverage cuz the insurance company will dive into that loophole! Good luck!

I'm just starting the journey, but already I can see the wisdom of keeping it to myself. My husband was originally NOT supportive, and still isn't sold but at least he's not saying I just have to tell myself no and get up from the table anymore. Its hard! He's watched me cry with frustration as my weight goes up and is my best cheerleader when it goes down. Without my lifelong friend Michelle(dakota1984) I wouldn't even be on this journey. I was too scared and too..I don't know, ashamed I guess. Both my parents are gone, both were obese. Every celebration centered around food. My in-laws are all normal weight/underweight food phobes. They think I am just lazy, so nope won't be telling them. I asked my husband not to say anything but I don't think he will keep his mouth shut..he likes to talk too much. I've mentioned the band casually to a friend who is very overweight and she was interested in knowing more, so I hope I can talk with her for some local support. Mostly it will/has come from this forum.

Thanks everyone for weighing in on the 20 lb thing. I was appalled, now I'm just planning my attack! Weights, a few more buffets...:hungry::hungry::hungry: The 2nd thing I was upset about was the 'screening' process these doctors are using that seems to be the rage here in Lincoln, Nebraska. Both offices I contacted told me was that because of the number of specialty clinics in town, your acceptance as a patient was based on what type of care your were seeking.....HUH???????? :faint::flypig: So as of today I've been denied by 2 clinics for reasons stated in my first post. Has anyone else encountered this? Any medical professionals want to explain this to me? I (obviously) don't know the insurance re-imbursement game very well, but I do know my former PCP is my FORMER PCP because his office wasn't really interested in treating sick people, only people who wanted botox, micro-dermabrasion or lipo-dissolve(for that pesky little fat bump that just won't go away ...,) He isn't a plastic surgeon, but you wouldn't know that from his ads on TV!! Whoops sorry, got a little carried away there. I am just so disgusted with this... but, I am determined. I will pursue this and I will get my degree in 'jump thru the hoopology' as the bariatric coordinator called it. Can anyone explain the 'screening'?..

LOL, I actually had that conversation with my husband last night! I said I was wearing heavy jeans, work boots and about 3 shirts with a ton of heavy jewelry, my cell phone, my ipod and that gigantic ring of car keys I carry everywhere in my pockets!!! Well, I think I AM already on my way to doing just that(the 20 lbs). The scale says I'm 4 lbs heavier that I was last week(thats nekked too:nervous)!

Ok, help me out here. I am 5'8' and weigh 247 according to the scale at my WW meeting. That gives me a BMI of 37, which is down from a BMI of 40 that I WAS 18 months ago. I have been so frustrated watching my wt go up and down. The stern looks from the WW people when I gain wt again or just lose/gain the same .2 lbs for the 8th week in a row is driving me crazy. So I decided to pursue the Lap-Band. After attending an info mtg, getting stoked from reading this board etc, I talked to my insurance co., got their info (sorta-whole 'nother thread there) but was basically hinted if my BMI wasn't 40 or higher I 'could always gain 20 lbs'..ha ha.... I was appalled. I worked too hard and changed my eating habits to get that 20 lbs off! I then went about trying to find a doc to supervise my wt loss for the next 6 months. Heres what I got. Screened!!!-:heh: as in screened out by 2 separate doctors becuase 1) my BMI is too low ?37? (oh is that tooo healthy for ya?? 2) I lack a heart condition or diabetes or something thats an easy to pinpoint co-morbidity. Huh? Since when do doctors only take cases that are slam-dunks? Gee I just want to be proactive and STAY ALIVE FOR MY FAMILY and I found out doctors are screening prospective patients because of the kind of care they are seeking. So my question is this? Should I gain 20+ lbs so I qualify? I can't self pay, but I also can't stand the thought of damaging my body by putting the wt back on!! :hungry: pancakes with Peanut Butter here I come?? :help::help::help::help::help::help::help:

MileHighGreen, How is the 3 month program different from the 6 month? I talked with Aetna (I have the 'open PPO'-whatever that is) yesterday and they said I have to do 6 months supervised diet and exercise. I'd be all for the 3 month.. If they won't pay for fills, how much are they? Does anyone know?

Really? You put on weight? I'm not being a smarty pants, I just wondered what the insurance company reaction is if you are following a supervised diet and you put on weight. I spent the last 18 months losing 20 lbs only to find out today that I am 20 lbs too light to qualify for the surgery(according to the latest insurance company rep). My chiropractor told me he had a client that actually set out to gain 20 lbs so she'd qualify. Is that a hoot or what?!!! What would you do?

naw, I learned my lesson on the candy bar thing years ago. When low carb became all the rage I cut out alot of carbs and was amazed at how much better I felt! If I don't eat though I still get the shakes.. I do small servings of protein like a cheese stick or a hard boiled egg to keep my self stable. I was just concerned because I've read that you shouldn't eat cheese etc with the band.