Arin

Aside from my Mom, Aunt and Husband...I have told no one that I am even considering WLS. But last night I was at my hair salon and my hairdresser was talking about her husbands WLS and telling me that she was considering it. She was talking about it failry openly, and for some reason I felt comfortable enough to share with her that I was thining about it myself. Well, another hairdresser overheard and decided that I needed to hear her opinion. She told me I was way to young and that even though it is hard, I need to try on my own. Maybe when I am her age I can consider taking that path because by then I will know that it is my only option. I could not believe that someone whom I was not even talking to would feel that she needed to tell me anything. My response to her (she was aerage size by the way) was, If you were my age with teh health problems that I am facing, you might understand that I may not live to be your age without this surgery. It is my life and I will choose to live. But thank you for your opinion on the matter. I was SHOCKED though at what she said to me. I would not ever tell someone that even if I thought it. So I doubt I will tell others after that. It was really difficult for me to listen to. Thanks for sharing!!

WOW!! That is wonderful!! Did you receive a call or a letter? Who submitted it to the insurance? Sorry, I am waiting for approval...I have Blue Cross PPO and I had a BMI of 35.8 at the hospital on Monday. I am hoping and praying that they will approve me. I also have diabetes:( That is so great that they were able to get you approved so quickly, if only we were all so lucky:) Keep us posted on your journey!!

I completed all of my initial consultations yesterday (nutrition, RN/program coordinator, and psych eval). I started thinking that the lap-band was 100% for me, the entire program at the hospital where I will have the procedure seems to be pushing for RNY...I have diabetes and I am hearing that there is much better success with the resolution of diabetes after RNY, as compared to the band. I am so confused. I know it is up to me to decide, but it is dreadful. I am also feeling really discouraged because I am 5 foot 4 inches, and the nurse measured me at 5 foot 5! I have never been that tall. And I apparently lost a few lbs on the way to the hospital that morning (friendliest scale I have ever been on...) so my BMI was lower than I thought. It is still 35.7, but I had it in my mind that it was 37+. I am not really sad that my BMI is lower that expected, I am just discouraged because I know I am right on the edge for insurance approval with diabetes. My insurance seems to be really positive regarding the surgery, and I am probably just worried for nothing. It is just hard. I have been going through the motions for a couple of months now, and it is hard to think that all that I have been working for and waiting for will not be. I feel like this is/was my chance to rid myself of this dreaded disease, and finally find the "me" that I know is in this body. I just need some encouragement right now, as I continue to wait to hear what is going to happen next...Thank you all for your support and kind words, I appreciate you all so much!

Thanks guys! I know I should not worry...It is just so hard with all of the waiting. I cant believe how impatient I am! I just want to meet the new me so badly. We will see how things go in the next couple of weeks. I should know something by then. I would really love to have surgery before the end of the year. I am working really hard to make that happen...It will be difficult, but I pray that I can do it!

I love quilting!! I dont have a lot of time to sew currently, but I really enjoy it. I think my favortite part may just be buying the fabric! I have quite a few projects in the works right now. I have only actually finished two quilts completely. I hope to throw myself into quilting this winter. I have finally got my sewing room finished! Been in our house a year, and it is the only room that is finished:) I was so excited to see this thread!! I cant wait to hear more about projects and maybe see some photos:) I am still going through the process. Just had all of my consults yesterday. Now I have to wait for my consult to see the surgeon and go from there. Wait wait wait. That is what I am doing now...It is very difficult for me. Have a wonderful day my fellow quilters:)

Ok, I am so excited to report that I finally have my first round of consultations scheduled!! I am going in on MONDAY morning to see the nutritionist, then I will see the program coordinator mid-day, and then I will have my psych evaluation that afternoon! I am so happy. I feel like my life is about to change forever, it is finally here:) Can anyone tell me what the first consultations are like? Especially the psych eval, for some reason I am worried about that one the most, no clue why. I am also curious how it works from here. Will I have to wait forever to see the surgeon for my first appointment with him? Thankfully, I have spoken to my insurance at great lengths to see what is covered and how things work on their end, and it seems like it will be WONDERFUL. I know insurance and wonderful in the same sentence, what can I say? I am very excited:D

Thanks guys:) I know I shouldnt worry, but I think it is the fear of the unknown! Thanks for the input. My insurance requires the nutritional eval, psych eval, Primary care refferal, and thats about it. I am 24, diabetes, high cholesterol, BP is ok right now, but getting worse, with a BMI of 37 or 38 (seems to be different on the different charts, its a rounding thing). The program requires all of the things the insurance requires, as well as two support meetings BEFORE surgery, and the committment for lifetime supprt meetings (they will settle for two after, but I am happy to go). I feel like I am on my way, and I love it. I am going to my first support meeting tomorrow, and I will have attended two more by the end of the month. I have one to go to in the town I will be having surgery in, and the town I actually live in, so that is nice. I am trying to stay extremely organized so that I can make sure I have all of my ducks in a row, and I dont miss anything along the way. Thanks for listening to me go on and on...I know you know how I feel though. So excited:)

I have not been banded yet, but I have never gained weight on any form of birth control yet. As you know, everyone is different though. I was on the patch for a little over a year, but it always got that gross looking ring around it from my clothes or lint rubbing on it. I always worried it would come off, and it sometimes did toward the end of the time you need to wear it before changing...So that is not good. I then tried the ring. I didnt mind the ring, but I felt like I needed to reach in and check it a lot. That was strange. I never felt it other than when I was putting it in or taking it out. There were however, a couple of times when it popped out during the act. I know you can take it out and put it back in after, but I was too paranoid to do that. I also had some breakthrough bleeding with the ring, so that was not cool. I am now on seasonal (pill) and I LOVE IT!!! I only have a period every 3 months, no bleeding in between, and I really have not had any problems with it at all. It was not too hard to get used to taking the pill either, it seemed to fit right in with the rest of my nightly routine; brush teeth, take pill, go to sleep. It works for me. Good luck, but I would definately schedule an appointment with you doctor. It is really important to stay current with your annual exams, your doctor can be a great resource for many of your questions as well. Good luck!!

I am so glad that I found this thread! Boy do I need to hear that I am not alone. I have not been banded yet, but my husband seems to be dead set against it. He is fit and athletic, has never had a problem with weight. He thinks the whole idea is a cop-out. He would be the first to say that I have not tied hard enough. If only he knew! So I have no support at home. My family is more than supportive but they live an hour or more away. It is very hard. We of course have other problems, lots of them it seems. He does not hug or kiss me now. I cant even think of what life will be like later...I have begged him for over a year to go to couseling with me, and still he refuses. He does not seem to want to change his ways at all! It is so hard. This is the time in my life when things need to change, this is my chance. I want to live a full and healthy life and if he doesnt want to be a part of it, then I dont know what to say. I am doing this for me, no one else. I am finally willing to look inside and see that I have lost myself. I have let myself become someone that is not ME. I am done being his doormat. We both have some changes to make, but if he is not even willing to try, I am still moving forward, I am still going to get my life back. I am so thankful that this website and support forum exist. I dont know what I would do without it! It is so nice to feel like there is somewhere to go to vent and get the support that is needed. Thank you for that!! Good luck to everyone who is struggling with this. I know how hard it is!

I am patiently waiting for a call back from the program/hospital that will be doing the surgery. I have not even had a consult, but I have been to the informational seminar, and I read and research every day. I have the WLS for Dummies, and I am waiting for another book. I find myself getting so excited, and then feeling like I will let myself down in some way. One day, I cant wait. The next, I am scared to death and I dont know if I can hang in there and do what I need to do to become the person I know I really am... So what I wanted to know is: How did you know it was the right time for you? Was there an event that just made it more clear than ever? The thing is, I feel like it is now or never for me. I am still young, but my health is not great. I want to live. I want to live happy. So why am I having doubts? Why am I so scared. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and opinions, I greatly appreciate it!!

Just curious what led you all to choosing the band? I know we are all unique individuals, so I am just curious to hear why all of you chose the band over GB. Thanks for your replies:)

I recently attended a seminar as well, where they discussed both RNY and the band. It was just a few hours north of you, in Redding. I went in thinking its the band all the way, and I left more confused about which to choose than ever. I am still waiting for the first round of consults, so I have not made a final decision yet. It is very hard. Good luck!!

Thanks so much for your kind words. I guess all of the waiting is what really makes it hard for me. My program is supposed to be completely patient driven, and yet I feel like I have done all that I can for now, and I have to just sit and wait...This is a very hard thing for me, I really struggle with patience in my life. Always have. I am so ready to begin. I dont want to call and bug the hospital everyday, but I feel like if I dont, then I will be the one that gets passed by. Ok, sorry to be rambling about that. It is just hard to wait. I have even been looking for a support group to start attending in my area, just so that I can get ahead of the game. The program requires that you attend their meetings as well, but if I can get going early, then maybe I will be that much more prepared when it is my time... Thanks again!! I just hope I can get going down the right path...

I too am feeling the same. I am just starting my journey, and I have no clue what the future holds! I am scared to death of failure, but I need and want this to work so badly... So no, you are so not alone. Good luck and keep us posted!!

I just had to post on this!! I too am type 2, 24 years old, taking 5 shots per day with no orals... I am just starting this WLS journey and I am so looking forward to losing the insulin as well as the weight!! It is so uplifting to hear others having such great success with their diabetes after surgery. I cant wait to read more on this as I travel the road... I just think to myself, before you know it, you'll be a completely HEALTHY person! That is a great thought. Good luck, and congratulations!! :clap2:

Although this may not be true for everyone...No matter how much encouragement my mom has offered through the years, she has always suffered the wrath of all of my tantrums, breakdowns, freakouts etc...My mom is my best friend it the world, the maid of honor at my wedding even, but I have made her suffer and probably still do sometimes...That being said, she has always been much smaller than me, and I do get jealous of her often. She has always been very supportive in my attempts to lose weight, but I can always take kind words and make them mean with my Mom...If you just talk to your daughter, you guys will find that common ground again. Hurt feelings take time to heal, weather it was intentional or not. Good luck, and congrats on your success!!!

It is so refreshing to read everyone's posts and experiences with the band. I have been giving myself pep talks daily since starting my research on the band...I have been telling myself (after hearing several descriptions of PBing) that I can handle it if it happens, although I will fight like hell to prevent it. I tell myself what you all have told me it is like, I have even described it to others, just to hear myself talk about it again...I can do it, I can do it... LOL, I know, its so ridiculous, but I need to do this. I keep thinking to myself, if there is even a shred of a chance that I can get rid of this dreaded diabetes (for a while at least), and stop taking insulin, then my life will have improved more that I can even comprehend...plus I would love to lose the weight and prevent future issues...I feel like this is my chance to really do something for myself, pbing and all

So glad I am not the only one out there with this fear! I too would do nearly ANYTHING not to vomit. I would rather get hit by a truck that just "get it over with". It has been an issue for me since childhood. It sounds silly to most people, but it is real. Although I have only been to one WLS info seminar, I got the feeling too that times are changing in WLS, and more and more people want the band. I think that is the only reason why the program near me even started. Yes, I know it is my decision to make, and whatever I decide, it will be mine. I only know personally two people who have had GB, and no one (other than here) with the band...I think I need to get to some local support groups and keep reading here until I can get my appointment to get the ball rolling... Although the surgeon who will perform the surgery said that he is neutral and he feels they are both effective tools to fighting obesity, I feel that he may be biased (the GB way) solely because he has done so many GB procedures, and has patients to track his progress with...The Lap-Band program is brand new in the hospital I have to consider so they dont have a long history of patients to keep track of. They cant talk about patient success stories and the long term effects because they have no data, yet. Everything they said about the band, I already knew through reading here and other research online. Thank goodness I have time to weigh all the options before I have to decide. Today, I am thinking more positively about the band...who knows where I will be tomorrow...Thank you again!!

Thank you so much for sharing your thought and experiences on this thread...I just went to the info seminar on Tuesday and I think the surgeon/program like the RNY much better. I went in thinking its the band all the way, and walked out thinking why did I ever want the band. I will have a HUGE decision to make. My worries for the band are this... I am deathly afraid of vomiting. I know I am lame, but it is a real fear... It is also concerning to me to have a foreign body living in there (what effect will that have on me later on?) Will I sabotage myself? Can I afford all of the adjustments for years to come? Sorry, I am really struggling to find my way on this one. I appreciate that there is a place like this where I can come and interact with other who know what its like. Thanks!!

I just wanted to share that I am headed on a whim to an information seminar on GB and Lap Band tonight. This is my first proactive step to actually getting the surgery, well, not counting talking about it;-) I am taking my Aunt (more like a sister) with me for support. I am getting so very excited. Just wanted to tell you all thanks again for being such a motivational crowd. Thanks!!!!!

Bubba, Congrats on making the decision!! I am still working on it. I am 24 have diabetes and have been on insulin for about 6 months. I would love to be banded and get rid of all of the injections!!! I think you have a lot of courage, and strength to come through what you have. Your daughter is lucky to have a Dad like you, fighting to stay with her!!! Your story is very humbling, you and your family will be in my prayers. Congrats again!

I have not even had a consult yet, still deciding what road I need to travel. I am also not at a weight where the insurance company will be jumping through hoops to pay for the band, but I do have some other health issues (at only 24 years of age) that may help with getting approval. I have read post after post on this forum, day after day since I found it! What a great resource. Please keep us posted on your journey, I love hearing about all of you who actually KNOW where I am...So thank you!

Hi, its me yet again:) I would have emailed you privately, but could not figure out how...I was just wondering how it was dealing with the insurance for the band? I too have blue cross, but I have a lower BMI than I think they like, but also have diabetes, and high cholesterol...Just curious about your insurance experience. Thanks again Brenda, I truly appreciate your posts!

Wow! Thank you for the info. I know of the Dr., so that is good:) I requested some info, but have not received it as of yet. I have the option of going to either Redding or Davis, because I am right in the middle. It does worry me that he has done so few bands...I see your point about what a great surgeon he is though. Thank you for the update! I will be anxious to hear what you have to say along this journey, as I may be following right behind you!! Thank you for posting! I appreciate it more than you know!!

Thanks so much for your posts! I am here reading almost daily since I found you! I appreciate the clarification on vomiting and pb-ing. It still scares me. As for my husband, I think we have just gotten away from communicating with each other about much at all. It has been a rough first year of marriage. He says do what you want, but I dont want to hear about it when it doesnt work out. That hurts, but I have to say, it makes me want it even more some days. I like what you guys are saying about continuing to educate him, and find out what he is really concerned about. He is a tricky one sometimes, so I may not have a clue what is really bothering him about me considering the band. I am in the process of finding out what is required of me for my insurance to cover the surgery. I pray that they do, or I may be out of luck for some time. Congrats on being obese!! That is wonderful. I pray that I can get there some day. I love what you guys are saying. Thank you so much for all of the support!!