gin765

Well I have seen so much negativity on the band lately....and it kinda brings me down. so for those of you who are against or on the fence about the lap band, or struggling with your weight loss, I just want to say.
The lap band is working for me!
100 lbs down!
Yup....crazy. 11 months with the band.
Has it been easy? Hell no.
Burps, puke, reflux, too tight, not tight enough, stalls, ect..
Was it the "easy road"? Definitely not.
Changing the way I eat, the way I exercise, the way i think about food, learning what I can and can't eat so I don't get sick in public or with friends and family. Learning to enjoy meals with the family with band friendly food.
And even if it was the easy way, my hubby still forked out over $12k, sooooo...i know it wasn't easy working for that money.
Have I learned alot? You bet.
I still struggle. What if I fail? Am I really hungry? Why do I weigh myself every dang day? What do I say when I am with people and can't or don't want to eat? And I have to really be honest about what I eat...
And I still haven't found the idea of exercising "fun". But I know I have to do it. And I never regret it when I am finished. I like barely being able to walk because I totally crushed my workout.
So is it going to last forever...my weight loss? I sure hope so. I've worked hard for this. I've followed all the rules, and in the process i have learned so much about myself. I have come way too far to fail. This relationship between me and the band is a tricky one. But this IS the new me..so for now I am going to enjoy this victory....and have a pumpkin latte. ..cheers!

I'm in the UK too and I'm scheduled for October 1st ☺️

Hi All,
So my Op is scheduled for October 13th!!! I'm nervous and excited!!
In going with the hospital group in the UK Got my final consultation this morning!!!
Are there any other October banders out there???

Approved and surgery scheduled for October, check!!! After being on hold for almost 20 minutes with the insurance company today, I expected to be denied for a third time in three weeks due to paperwork. You could have knocked me over with a feather when the guy came back on and said APPROVED! The Subway "sandwich artist" thought I'd lost my mind when I started jumping up and down midway through applying cucumbers. Hehehe! Their denials were starting to get pretty creative too! I was almost curious to know what the next one would be.
For the record, I have hounded the coordinator at my doctor's office and insurance company for a solid three weeks. Seriously people... all the advice is correct... you have got to make yourself a pest to push things through. I have been sugar-sweet nice and appreciative every step of the way, but never allowed myself to hit the bottom of their to-do list. Don't assume anyone is on top of things, because they aren't. Don't wait for the denial paperwork in the mail. Just keep calling and getting the updates so you can tell the doctor's office what they need to do next. Only one of the official denial letters has turned up in the mailbox yet. If I'd waited each time, it would have been Thanksgiving before we got things ironed out.
If a low-BMI gal like me can get approved, so can you. If you know you qualify, it's just a matter of endurance!
Did I mention I booked a 2016 Disney Cruise today too? And that was before I'd even gotten the surgery news! A very satisfying day!

Yippee, so happy for you! You are going to feel GREAT on the cruise. What a nice reward. And to get the news on the same day, perfect.

Well, somebodys been in the awesome sauce !!!! Happy dance ? I think so ! ( By the way, so where are WE going on the cruise ? Just kidding !) Congratulations !!!!

Approved and surgery scheduled for October, check!!! After being on hold for almost 20 minutes with the insurance company today, I expected to be denied for a third time in three weeks due to paperwork. You could have knocked me over with a feather when the guy came back on and said APPROVED! The Subway "sandwich artist" thought I'd lost my mind when I started jumping up and down midway through applying cucumbers. Hehehe! Their denials were starting to get pretty creative too! I was almost curious to know what the next one would be.
For the record, I have hounded the coordinator at my doctor's office and insurance company for a solid three weeks. Seriously people... all the advice is correct... you have got to make yourself a pest to push things through. I have been sugar-sweet nice and appreciative every step of the way, but never allowed myself to hit the bottom of their to-do list. Don't assume anyone is on top of things, because they aren't. Don't wait for the denial paperwork in the mail. Just keep calling and getting the updates so you can tell the doctor's office what they need to do next. Only one of the official denial letters has turned up in the mailbox yet. If I'd waited each time, it would have been Thanksgiving before we got things ironed out.
If a low-BMI gal like me can get approved, so can you. If you know you qualify, it's just a matter of endurance!
Did I mention I booked a 2016 Disney Cruise today too? And that was before I'd even gotten the surgery news! A very satisfying day!

Approved and surgery scheduled for October, check!!! After being on hold for almost 20 minutes with the insurance company today, I expected to be denied for a third time in three weeks due to paperwork. You could have knocked me over with a feather when the guy came back on and said APPROVED! The Subway "sandwich artist" thought I'd lost my mind when I started jumping up and down midway through applying cucumbers. Hehehe! Their denials were starting to get pretty creative too! I was almost curious to know what the next one would be.
For the record, I have hounded the coordinator at my doctor's office and insurance company for a solid three weeks. Seriously people... all the advice is correct... you have got to make yourself a pest to push things through. I have been sugar-sweet nice and appreciative every step of the way, but never allowed myself to hit the bottom of their to-do list. Don't assume anyone is on top of things, because they aren't. Don't wait for the denial paperwork in the mail. Just keep calling and getting the updates so you can tell the doctor's office what they need to do next. Only one of the official denial letters has turned up in the mailbox yet. If I'd waited each time, it would have been Thanksgiving before we got things ironed out.
If a low-BMI gal like me can get approved, so can you. If you know you qualify, it's just a matter of endurance!
Did I mention I booked a 2016 Disney Cruise today too? And that was before I'd even gotten the surgery news! A very satisfying day!

Congratulations!

Good luck! My fingers will be crossed! I'd cross my legs too, but as a pre op myself, we both know that's impossible! ????

I am right there with you. Turned in my packet on the 18th and waiting to hear from doc's office. I'm not good on patience!

After nearly a year of preparation, jumping through hoops, setbacks and jumping through more hoops, my "stuff" was submitted to Cigna for approval last Wednesday. As a low BMI gal, I'm hoping my comorbidities are enough to please them. The suspense is killing me! Focusing on giving up my beloved Diet Coke and hydrating. Guess that needs to be done regardless of the insurance outcome.
That is all. Have a great night!

I hate the idea of any more surgery but saw the bariatric surgeon for my regular visit on Friday and showed her the 'golf ball'. She said it wasn't dangerous but I really needed to get it fixed. So...a lower profile port is what I will get along with her stitching it to the muscle so it gets buried deeper. She said it would hurt more to get fills but I don't get any now so I don't care about what might or might not happen.
I tried on a dress last week that I couldn't buy because my port was so visible. Will be nice to not have to deal with that anymore. Then she mentioned that she didn't do this too often because most bandsters didn't become as thin as I have. She said there's no fat for the port to be hidden by. I must say, I liked how that sounded.

Great idea.

It's really interesting with the changes in style and vanity sizes over the years. Here is what I did. First if I did not love it, it was donated right away. Next, I wear jeans almost every day, but each pair was different in fit, I admit, I just donated all except one pair in each size. Some I never wore because I passed right by that size. I kept all of my polo t shirts, another item I wear almost every day, because Tshirts material is very forgiving when it come to stretch. Whatever next seasons (coats) - you likely will only need one, get rid of the rest. You are probably getting my drift by now. Get rid of everything except for two or three like items and sizes. Once you loose your weight, you are going to want new small great looking clothes because there are going to be choices you have never had before. I would clean the closet out to zero, even shoes, because believe it, your shoe size is going to change. Have a great yard sale, include purses and accessories, display as best you can, then save the money for new items. I literally had thousands of dollars of clothes in fab condition, mostly designer lable. This maximized my return. Facebook is a good idea for photo and selling items, it's just going to take a little time to do pictures and set up delivery & payment. 99% of my closet was empty, but it was so freeing! A new me deserved new clothing in great colors that fit my new body, because man does it change! There were some items that were new with tags that I was able to donate to a club for silent auction that was very satisfying as well. If you can make three piles keep, donate, sell, only look at it for less than a minute and decide. If you had great memories attached to it-take a picture of it. I look at closet space like real estate- it is high dollar limited space, only so much can go in, only keep or buy it because you love it, not because it was a good price. Good luck, have fun with your new dress up fashion show!!

I hit Goodwill about every three weeks. I donate loose clothes and buy new ones that fit. Nothing in my closet from the old days anymore.

You ask good questions !! Smart of you to do your research well and be comfortable with whatever you choose. I don't know about others on this forum, but my life is pretty normal with work, home, family things etc. I eat "normal " foods, just in smaller quantities, like protien, fruits and veggies. I eat lunch with co workers all the time and even those that dont know Im banded wouldn't notice anything different about my meals other than they're smaller sized. ( and I eat a little slower.) You know what else is smaller ? My whole body !!!!! And I have lots more energy ! And Im happier looking in the mirror!! EVERYBODYS life changed when they had WLS. For most of us , it changed for the better. Its been a win win from the very beginning. I dont have a single negative thing to say except I wish Id done it sooner. That is all. Good luck !!!

As someone who is 6.5 weeks out from being banded I feel I can add some info to the early stages with some of your concerns. All great questions by the way!
1. Yes, so far its been nothing but positive, 16 lbs down since surgery
2. Yes I feel very normal. No one would know I had it. I eat fairly similar (no fillers like bread, and only occasional small serving of pasta)
3. Yes, it often amazes me how little I need to eat and feel satisfied. I do not have hunger like when I did WW in the past
4. I also work with a team. I chose to tell them AFTER I had surgery and only those that Im close with and eat with. They are very supportive. To everyone else I'm "on a diet"
5. too soon to truthfully answer this at this point.
6. for me it does suppress my appetite. I started with 2.5 cc fill at surgery, got an additional 1cc yesterday and I typically only eat 1000 cal a day (sometimes less, sometime more) Never would I have been able to eat so little and NOT feel like I'm starving...I don't feel like I'm starving
7. I lost 110 in 2004 on Atkins, I kept it off for for .5 yrs then it started to creep up.Fortunately I only gained 65 of it back but it was a HUGE struggle
8. I was very worried about this too...I got appitizer forks and spoons. I used them at first but honestly I have no problem at this point with regular silverware. I have found I enjoy my food better now that I chew it! I actually taste it!!
9. My advice is research and then be honest with yourself. I had many talks with myself, was honest with myself, confronted my issues. I have not been perfect, I eaten a candy bar here and there but only 2-3 in almost 7 weeks vs one a day! you have to look at what your issues are and come up with a plan to deal with it.
I wish you the best! I love my decision at this point and feel it has already improved my life!

I told no one and from what I have read, I'm glad I did not....sure, it was a topic of discussion..."You look great, How did you do it??"
No one ever questioned if I was sick because I drank my Water, ate my Protein, and exercised regularly so I did look as healthy as ever....more so.
But that was years ago, I've finished this process back then and no one talks about it anymore...and new people I meet never knew me when I was fat...so it's done, over...old news. Time to move on...and I cannot be more pleased.

Its funny because in an indirect way telling people is actually a great motivation and the way surgery helps with weight loss telling people helps keeping the weight off as you know if you ever did put the weight back on you will be critised by the ones you told.

Thanks for posting this topic! My husband and I were just discussing this last night. For some reason, the concept of telling everyone about my lap band doesn't bother me. My husband, on the other hand, feels like it would be nobody's business. In the end, it doesn't actually matter to him which route I take. Of greater concern to me is how in the world you would ever, logistically, keep it a secret. I just feel like I'd be lying to everyone all the time and it would come out in the end anyway. Maybe I'm just naive to believe I'd have more support if everyone knew. I think I'm with the guy who posted several months ago that he "told everyone, including the UPS man." That still cracks me up!

I told everyone and anyone. I don't need anyone asking me if I'm on drugs or terminally ill. 95% of people gave me love and support. The rest really don't matter. My kids are happy and are planning alot of outdoor activities for us. Remind you my kids are cool teens. Lol

Thanks for the advise!
Thanks for the advise!

I am just recently beginning my journey. This is my first post to any forum on any topic ever. I have obtained all the necessary tests and doctors appointments. The only two things I have left to do are having an upper endoscopy and finalize payment. I have decided to keep my procedure to myself because right now I do not want to be judged by people. My struggles with weight are effecting my emotions and the way I feel about myself and it is such a personal and private topic that I don't feel comfortable talking about it to people who I know and love and who love me. This is also difficult because I am usually an open book about my life. I don't know if I will choose to keep this to myself forever but for now I think it is best for my situation. I wanted to know if anyone else has struggle with this decision and have any advice for me.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Thenewlisa

Wow! Thanks so much for the feedback! Some of the meetings I go to are done in a group setting, and all of them are getting the sleeve. I feel that I haven't found anyone to "connect" with yet. Glad to hear about all your great personal success stories! ????
Even the doctors are so pushy with the sleeve?! I don't get it! No thanks, I'm okay with the gradual weight loss ! ????