txbldhnds

So glad to hear you are better. Mental illness is one of the last disabilities that it's okay to discriminate against. Obesity is another. Great! We've got them both! Each person is different and what works for one is useless to another. I just try to "hold on" and recognize that it is what it is and know that it will pass in a few days. It's rough sometimes, I know, but know that there are a bunch of us out here and there's always someone to talk to, who knows what you are going through, and who isn't going to judge you or tell you to snap out of it. I hope that you continue to feel better and that your weight loss helps to buoy you up. It has helped me. I have only had one low period since the surgery in July and it was not real bad. You are doing everything right, just hang on and ride it out like a wave (or a labor contraction!). You have plenty of company here. Colleen

Thanks for the advice. Just to clarify--"I've had enough" meant feeling satiated, something that I don't think I ever felt before my surgery. Before, I just ate until a) it was gone or no more would physically fit in my stomach. And yes, I know that I am not starving, but am very hungry most of the day. Someone asked if I could eat bread (No!), no brisket or roast beef or steak, no dry chicken. Everything else goes down as long as I chew. Thanks. Colleen

I am on Effexor XR and it is helpful. I hope that you are off with meds with Dr's supervision. Coming off the meds can be rough and can cause you to feel your symptoms wven more acutely. I have tried every antidepressant in the book, but so far this is the best and has had the fewest side effects FOR ME. If your PCP is monitoring you, he/she may want to check your tyroid levels. They can give you the weepies, too. Hold on, sweetie! Colleen

Hi guys! I have lost 40 lbs since banding in July. I know that is good, but I am starving and have not lost any weight in several weeks. I used to feel full after just a very small meal. Now I am able to eat more before feeling full and am hungry again much sooner than before. I had a fill in August and again at the end of Sept. I have gone from a 24 to an 18 in pant size and I know that is great, too. I just am worried about my resolve and losing that "I've had enough" feeling--something I NEVER felt before surgery. What do you think? Colleen

Dr. Spivak in Houston is my dr and he and his staff are great. I have had nothing but great experiences with them. Colleen

Propel is good too. A little too sweet, but it does have vitamins in it an it is very refreshing, espeically in this Houston heat! Love that Dasani flavored water! Colleen

Hi Micki! Congratulations on your success! I was banded the week before you and went in for my checkup Thursday--I've lost 26 lbs and feel great! I told my dr (Spivak in Houston) that I wasn't feeling as full as I did in the beginning and he gave me a fill right then and there (1.5cc). I didn't really feel a big difference until today. I don't feel bad at all, but do have the full feeling again. The lap-band is the best thing to come into my life in a long time. I fianlly real some sense of control. I only regret I didn't do it sooner. Keep up the good work! Colleen

I'm in La porte, near all of you, and I am another Dr. Spivak cheerleader. I was banded on 7/20 and have lost about 20 lbs with no trouble at all. I feel great and my whole demeanor has changed. I sure could use some new clothes, but hate to buy any when I'm losing. Maybe we should have a clothes exchange! I would love to get together sometime if anyone else is game! There are a bunch of us and it would be nice to meet the names and faces that are on the web. Colleen

I was banded on 7/20 and felt good enough to go back to work after about 4 days. I didn't have to, but I could have. I was a self-pay, too. I have had several other laproscopic surgeries and this was by far the easiest. I was really anxious since I'm older (52) and I'm a big baby, but I was amazed at how quickly I bounced back. By now, you've had your surgery and I hope you are doing well. I have had zero problems and am losing weight (knock on wood!). Since the surgery I have lost 20 lbs without too much trouble and have seldom felt deprived. My only regret is that I did not do it sooner, but finances did not allow it until now. I hope that you and all the others who have taken this new direction are successful and happy with their decision. Keep in touch! Colleen

Does your weight affect your social life? Does it keep you from participating in activities that you enjoy, that help you relieve stress? I would concentrate on those things. I would talk about how you think your quality of life will improve. I see a psychiatrist anyway, have for years and while I will always have the chemical imbalance that causes my depression, my weight makes me have more negative feelings about myself. Hopefully, my self-esteem will improve as I lose weight and the periods of depression will be fewer and shorter in length. Good luck! Colleen

It all depends on the policy that your employer has with United. If they have an exclusion on obesity surgery, then they won't pay. The way it was explained to me is that the employer is given rates on different policies, depending on how much coverage they want. It costs your employer more to insure its employees for obesity, so some companies opt out on that coverage. Good luck! Colleen

I was in a similar situation, but was not able to get them to pay. I understand that there are attorneys that will fight it for you. When I was doing resource for my appeals, I came across some websites, but did not save the info. Sorry! I was able to self-pay through a series of events both unhappy & happy. One lady I know who had several co-morbidities was able to get her insurance company who had exclusions to pay by having her lawyer write the insurance company saying that if she died from one of the stated co-morbidities, her family would sue the insurance company. This was while the procedure was still in clinical trials. She was successful, both in getting her insurance company to pay and in losing her weight and keeping it off. She looks and feels great! Good luck! Colleen

Wow, Tina! You are doing great, especially after all your extra problems. Do take it easy this weekend, especially since you are going back to work. Congratulations and welcome to the July Bandsters! Colleen Dr. Spivak 7/20/05

High 5, SuSu! Congratulations on your loss! (That sounds contradictory) We are close to the same age and have the same weight loss goals. We should be good cheerleaders for each other. Keep in touch! Colleen

I'm with you on the protein shakes being too sweet, plus they have such a "processed" taste! It seems like everything is sweet--yogurt, jello, pudding, shakes. I just keep thinking that it's just a temporary thing and so far it hasn't been too bad, just boring. Colleen

I am a self-pay with Dr. Spivak and was banded last week. Everything was great and I have had great follow-up from both Dr. S's office and the Surgicenter. I know that everyone is different, but I have had an easy recovery so far and have lost 10 lbs in a week. I have had several laproscopic surgeries and this was by far the easiest to recovery from. I am 52 and was worried about my ability to "bounce back" in time to go back to work. I can't sing the praises of Dr. Spivak & his team enough! Colleen

Lu Ann! My 7/20-Dr. Spivak buddy! Are you feeling any better? I hope so. My sister had an awful time with gas, but I think I may have dodged the bullet (knock on wood). I took Gax-X chewables and walked a lot the first 2-3 days. I hope it's not going to hit me now. Get feeling better quick! Colleen

I dropped by my PCP's office today to weigh on their super accurate scale--10 lbs lost since my banding one week ago! I was so excited! I called Dr. Spivak's office to share the good news. So far I have had no real trouble and have bounced back pretty fast--not bad for an "old lady", huh? Colleen (gotta figure out the ticker business!)

I almost mentioned that we are close to the same age, too. I went back to work today on a trial basis and it kicked my butt! I had to come home midafternoon--soooooo tired and sore! Putting a bra on was no fun and I decided folks were just going to deal with unrestrained boobs. This was my first time to eat out in public and it really made me nervous. I ended up not eating very much at all. Came home and slept for 3 hours! Will try again tomorrow. I don't have have a scale at home, so I'm going to try to find one at work to see if I've lost any. Fingers crossed! Colleen

My husband picked up a rubbermaid step stool and that has helped the tall bed problem 100% and last night I was able to sleep on my side again (it's the little things!). The heat is bad here too and the mosquitos are AWFUL, so it has been hard to walk as much as I should. Everything else is going fine though. Colleen

Back in the early 80's I visited the then USSR when there wasn't a lot of travel by Americans to that part of the world. I had received a Fulbright scholarship to study there for the summer. It was kind of a big deal in our small town, so there was an article in the local paper. My son was in day care and one of the kids said, "Your mom is fat!" Matthew told the kid, "Oh, yeah? Well she's the only human being to go to Russia!" What a sweet boy! Completely inaccurate, but sweet. He just graduated from Texas A&M and is married. Time flies! Colleen

Hey y'all! I got my band yesterday and once I got home I felt much better than I expected to. My biggest problem was getting in and out of my tall bed and sleeping on my back. Feeling pretty good, but my body tells me when to take some pain meds. When my husband gets home for lunch I am going to take a shower. I think they glued my boobs to my belly! Colleen susu said it right, now I need a ticker and a cute picture! Good luck everyone!

Who's your Dr.? I'm going in tomorrow too! 7:30 at Houston Surgicare Center. Dr. Spivak is doing the honors! BTW, mine was $15,500 and I am self-pay, too. Good luck! Colleen

Tomorrow, July 20, is my day--seems like it is for a lot of folks! Good luck to all of you! The adventure begins..... Colleen

She is the one who is going to look bad to everyone else. If that fails, give us all her phone number and we'll tag team crank call her! Colleen