AllieBB

Good luck to you. I am just beginning to find my way through this maze of red tape to get to the surgery. Next Tuesday is the seminar after which I get to schedule with the surgeon. I hope all my ducks are in a row and it will happen quickly for me as I must travel again in mid-October for two to three months before returning to the states. I'll keep an eye out for your postings. do hope that you will be able to do for yourself what you were able to do for your daughter when you were pregnant. You won't be able to care for her as much as you like, even though she is just three, until you are able to care for yourself first regardless of her age in life. It is and was a hard lesson for me to learn and from the ripe old age of 66 I sure wish I had done better. My granddaughters are 5, 10 and 10 and it is so difficult for me. My weight cost me my knee joints and if I can't get this last 100 lbs off I won't be able to safely get knee replacement surgery done and will be looking at all the important days in their lives in a wheelchair or on a m scooter. So do it for you now so you can be there for yourself and for them later.

plopez, When I get surrounded by stuff like that especially with kids and grandkids I always try and tell myself that those things belong to them and I can't take it without asking (which gives me time to think) or if I take it it is stealing it from them which is something I would never do. so problem solved and temptation gone. Other than that it is just poison! When offered I tell people I am allergic to it and then they don't go ..oh just a little won't hurt... but just a little always does as the scale creeps up.
Good luck on your journey...10 days is fantastic!

Thank you for your honesty and courage. I heard you loud and clear.

I go to my seminar today. My biggest self-ask question is what if I just did the pre-op and post-op diet plan, wouldn't it create the same results as the lap band? But then, I have been stuck on this plateau for over a year now so is it the surgical process that will shock my system into losing again? Or, have I been dishonest with myself about my diet for the past yr? I don't think so, it has been a miracle that I have lost and kept off 156 lbs with the glycemic index eating plan to prevent diabetes II. I just confused and a bit scared. I will see what they say today at the DeKalb Medical Center....trying to be close mouthed and open minded.

Thanks to everyone who has posted here. It is good to read what is ahead of me. Tuesday 6/4 I have my first seminar and schedule the doctors visit. From what I understand I qualify with my medicare so that will take care of the insurance bit. Do not know what else they will ask of mebefore they schedule the surgery. I am hoping for an early July date. My life is on hold as I need to lose 80-100 more lbs (lost 156 in past 4 yrs but have been stuck the last 12 months) before I can have knee replacements. Very frustrated today with everything! I am totally willing to do whatever I need to to get my knees fixed. I am just tired of waiting. Maybe I should start the liquid diet now even before the seminar??? But then I say what if they won't do the surgery in time before I have to travel in October for 3 months??? Wish I could just stop thinking about all of this for just a little while. Nothing else seems to distract me from this continual what if thinking... very frustrating. But thanks for writing your experiences, it helps.

Medicare doesn't have a pre approval process. If u meet the qualifications (bmi of >40 with no comoribities or >35 with 1) u just take ur chances and u find out after the surgery whether they paid it or not. At least thats what my dr office insurance coordinator told me.
Medicare paid for my lapband in 2009 and my sleeve revision 10 mths ago (at bmi of 28. I had a band complication that necessitated removal). Not sure what/if ur other insuance is, I'm just speaking for Medicare.
Good luck! Enjoy ur vvacation

Hello all! I am waiting to get my approval from my insurance company at this point. But I have done my 3 visits with the nutritionist, doppler on my legs, endoscopy, test for h-pylori and my psych eval. Now I wait. And as I wait, a million thoughts / feelings / emotions are rushing through me. Not fear really... because this isn't the first time I've ever had surgery (I had an abdominal myomectomy to remove 14 fibroids from my uterus in 2009 and then a c-section to deliver my daughter in 2011) - so I don't really have a fear of being "put under" or "cut open".
I'm so excited to start my new life. I guess my fear is that they may deny me and then I'll have to figure out what i'm really doing. For 20 years I've watched this weight just pile on and no matter what I've done - it's determined to stay there. And as I Celebrate my 40th birthday in October - I want to be free of that struggle. But I recognize me and my will power. I need something to force me into place. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I lost so much more weight than I gained because I dodged every and anything they told me was bad for her... because of the consequences to her. I feel like I've heard enough horror stories about what happens when you don't follow the plan after the lap band that it would be enough to hold me true to the system.
My mom died at 65 years old in 2008 because of Metabolic Syndrome. She struggled with her weight all of MY natural life. They've already started using words around me like "pre-diabetic" and "high blood pressure" I cannot. I will not follow that path. I have a 3 year old daughter who needs me to do better and live longer. But i have to stop kidding myself with all these other methods I've been using.
So this is my hello... hopefully in the coming days, I'll report great things about what is on the horizon for me.
Thank you for welcoming me into your community!

I Have Started My Pre-Op Diet Even As Soon As Last Week..But, This Week Is My Count Down Week To My Lap-Band Success..I Am Loosing Some Weight Thus Far, Almost Down 12 Lbs.. & Counting..My Goal Is To Loose At Least 20lbs. Before Surgery, To Help Heal Faster & Less Complications...My Only Problem That I Am Having Right Now, Is That Normally I Take A Nubumetone Pill For My Arthritis & That Has Been Stopped As Of Monday, Being It's A Blood Thiner Also I Gather..And I Can't Take Any Sort Of Asperine/IAcetametaphen Right Now For The Arthritis Pain..SO...I Am Really Starting To HURT In My Joints..I See My Primary Doctor Thurs. & Hope That He Knows An Answer To This Of What I Can Take..Also, I Have For Yrs. Taken Vicodin For My Arthritis & Pinched Nerves Pain In My Ankles, Lower Back, Feet & Knees..And That Is Very Limited Now..I AM In PAIN, Let Me Tell Ya..But, I Know I Have To Follow My Surgeons Orders..Also, Being I Am This Close Now To My Surgery, I Have Been Having The Worst Luck W/ Family Members Coming Around Me While They Have A Cold..I Have Had To Even Put Down My Foot & Say, PLEASE!...I Would Love Your Prayers & Support Right Now, BUT...I Cannot Get Sick, It Is Crucial That I Have Nothing As I Could Not Fight It Off At This Time, Or Soon After The Surgery..O'My Lord!..I Hate To Offend Family Or Anyone, But...I Must THINK About This Up-Coming Surgery & Bee In The Best Health That I Can Try To Be In...Right?...Any Comments Or Suggestions...Or Encouragement Would Bee Appreciated Right Now..I Just Can't Wait Till All This Is Over..God, Please, Let It Bee The Start To A New Healthier Life-Style & Not Worse!...Amen

Friends can have different opinions. Friends don't abandon each other but seek to understand their differences. Your reasons for seeking surgery to save your life and your health are sound ones. Believe in yourself, your doctors and supporters who have your best interests to heart. If your friend was/is your friend she will support you in your endeavors and love you through it. It is your life to live so live it well !!!

Friends can have different opinions. Friends don't abandon each other but seek to understand their differences. Your reasons for seeking surgery to save your life and your health are sound ones. Believe in yourself, your doctors and supporters who have your best interests to heart. If your friend was/is your friend she will support you in your endeavors and love you through it. It is your life to live so live it well !!!