FinallyFree

Sounds like you are almost there! I'd suggest calling the insurance, get a name and have them fax or mail the requirements for lap banding to you and your surgeon's office! Good luck!

Whoaaaa!!! MamaJava!! This nutritionist is a TOOL for your help! NOT your mother, not your keeper, NOT your best friend!! YOU are doing great!! Had the surgery and have cut the calories!! You just hang in there, it will get better!! Keep a diary of what you eat and when, so you can show her and then maybe she can make some helpful suggestions. I had to keep a one week food log to show the nutritionist when I started the paperwork process. I was so proud of that log, I'd cut out eating between meals and was so suprised when she looked at it handed it back to me and told me, "Well you know what you have to work on." WELL NO I DIDN'T! I read the packet given to me by the dr. and that helped more than anything. If you are worried, call that nutritionist tomorrow and ask her for suggestions. But Please, Please, don't beat yourself up about cutting your calories. You are not a failure! You are just starting out and it will get better for you. Hang in there!

FLMan, Whatever you do make sure you chew! CHEW! CHEW!! And then chew some more!! I was working out of town and ended up being stuck for 3 days when I tried to eat a grilled chicken breast. Ugh! It would be a good idea to buy some papuyia(sp) enzyme tablets to take along with you in case you do get stuck. You can buy these at any Herbal/Natural Foods stores. EAT what you know you can safely! Wendy's chili is good. I can't eat breads without having problems either. Omletes? Soups? I found milk shakes worked if I was desperate, but I can no longer use a straw because it creates too much air in my stomach. Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Current wgt. 149 2-08

I had the surgery on Fri. and went back to work on Mon with out any problems. What type of work do you do? I'm a secretary, but do quite a bit of walking. Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Current wgt. 149 2-07 76 lb. gone!

After 7 mo. I had to get rid of my clothes, I couldn't wear them any more, and look half way decent. Looking at them, I'm surprised at how big I really was. It's fun now to wear the smaller sizes. I have a pair of pants that I can pull off buttoned and zipped. I remember buying them in Sept. and feeling so proud at the smaller size and how good I thought I looked then. They are an 18. Woooo Hoooo!! Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Current wgt. 149 2-08 76 lb. gone gone gone!

HI Melanie, I attended a seminar held by a group of dr. who perform the surgery. Then made an appt. to talk with the lap band dr. of my choice. The sec. over insurance gave me a packet about what the insurance companies require and the time frame which was very helpful. Have you checked out your insurance yet to see if any part will be covered? My Sis in Law shocked me with the reply "You're taking the easy way out." That was in July 07, I spoke with her again over Christmas and now she's telling me "You cheated by having the surgery" I don't bother to go down that alley and discuss it with her. I'm "normal" now, look great and she's not. Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Current wgt. 149 2-08 Lost 76 lbs forver!

I had my surgery on a Fri. and went back to work on Mon. without any problems. Starting Wgt. 225 1-07 Current Wgt. 149 2-08 76 lbs. lost Forever!

Jencys, :eek::party: Let me know how it goes. Shrinkage, Here's the phone number for Rocky Mtn. Assoc. Physicicans 801-268-3800 @ St. Mark's Hospital in SLC

You've just gone through a serious surgery. You won't have as much pain because there aren't the nerves on the inside of your body like there are on the outside. Give yourself time to heal. The stomach area has been prodded, pushed, pulled and banded. The anethesia needs to leave your body. You'll be able to sustain yourself very easily on the post op diet. We all have been there, so this is a truth I'm telling you. It's no longer necessary to consume the massive amounts of food over a day that you ate a month ago or even a week ago. Oh, and now you'll start to lose the weight. Welcome to the other side! Now you're life as a "NORMAL, HEALTHY" person begins! FinallyFree Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Current wgt. 148 2-08 #3 more to hit my desired BMI!

HI Jencys! Do you have a surgery date scheduled yet? FF

The stomach/and newly formed pouch has been through a lot with the surgery, and is still swollen and tender. Treat yourself gently. There's a reason why we given directions. Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Surgery wgt. 203 6-07 Current wgt. 150

Bandme08, The appt. with the nutrionist and trainer will help you start your wgt. loss if you follow the advice they give you. It's important to change your eating habits, and start exercise (yeah, yeah, yeah, you say to me...well this is what they are going to help you with) I'm so excited for you!! Do you know how much you want to lose? FF

HI! I'm from Evanston! Anyalee, Where did you go for your surgery? Sara, I've heard there is a wonderful dr. in Jackson that performs the surgery, are you using him? I went to Salt Lake City, Dr. Simper, Rocky Mtn. Assoc. Physicians, at St. Marks. He and his staff are wonderful! Here's to looking great by the summer!!:cursing: FinallyFree Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Surgery wgt. 203 6-07 Current wgt. 150 1-08

I had the surgery on Friday and went back to work on Monday.

I found this board before my surgery and discovered I was interested in the areas that applied to me at that time. At first I read everybody's introductions, then on to the insurance part, post-ops, what to eat during recovery, etc. Now I just cruise through, but find something helpful and supportive every day. Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Current wgt. 148 1-08

PT, I don't know how the physc. eval. works with the Rocky Mt. assoc. phys. as I told you in my pm to you. Checking with them before you go would probably be a good idea! FinallyFree

Hey Chell, I don't know if my friend claimed the surgery on her income tax or not. Yes, I mean vigorusly rubbing the flappy underside part of your arm with you knuckles for 1-2 minutes once or several times a day. I've tried it and it's quite a work out. Hang in there with you 6 mo. supervised program. I had to do it too. Ask the nut. if she's referred people for the lap band before, and if she has, ask her what she needed from the pt. to ensure you get accepted for the band. FF

K. The oil is FAT! You could add a tsp. of butter/margerine to you oatmeal, or vegtables. Don't get carried away though, I don't use it everyday. Please don't take my word over your nutritionist. I found the tsp. worked for me. I need the tsp. but not more than that. I like the idea of Biotion, I'm going to check it out.

Pashmina, I had hair loss too, but remembered having to add 1tsp. of oil (cooking, butter) a day when I was on the Diet Center diet to prevent hair loss. I added the 1 tsp. of oil a day and that helped. The hair loss should stop around the 5th month.:biggrin: Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Current wgt. 149 2-08

ronwifey and all the rest of you....I'm so glad that you are finally doing something about your wgt. that is going to permantely work, especially at your age!! I was 54 when I had my surgery,,,,been over wgt for 44 years. How sad is that! My dr. told me people are having the surgery done at earlier ages than they were 10 years ago. Fantastic!! With your wgt controlled your quality of life will be so much better! How can anybody not support that?? You all rock !! Starting wgt. 225 1-07 Current wgt. 149 1-08

Jeni!! Welcome to the other side!! Are sugar free/ or regular popsicles allowed? Applesausce? pudding? Protein drinks? Remember, your stomach is healing and needs to be treated gently to allow the swelling to go down. I promise it will be worth it, in the long run. starting wgt. 225 1-07 current wgt. 149 1-08

My sister in law called me a cheater too, when I told her I had the lap band done. Now let's be realistic here....I've been on every diet pill known to man since my parents put me on them at age 12. :biggrin: You know, the pills that people took and died from taking, the pills the company made that people are sueing because of physical damages caused by the pills? And the list goes on and on.... The band is teaching me how to eat like a "normal" person should eat. I'm learning I perfer quality foods rather than quanity. How can this be cheating???? I get very angry when I see this type of attitude. starting wgt. 225 1-07 current wgt. 149 1-08

Hi Chell, Unfortunately my friend wasn't able to get to get reimbursed by the the insurance company. I don't think my inurance will pay for any type of plastic surgery. My arms are flapping as I type, but somebody (GHOST?? maybe) took a picture of her arms several months ago. She rubbed one arm using her knuckles for a minute or two several times a day, but left the other. The one she rubbed firmed up quite a bit!! I've been trying to rub mine before my shower each day, so hopefully they'll start to show improvement before summer.

A friend of mine had gastric by pass, lost her wgt, and decided to go in for a tummy tuck (self pay) After her surgery the dr told her he had to repair a hernia he found while operating and her insurance would've covered the price of the tummy tuck. So there's something to keep in mind! Research the hernia option first!

CHELL!! DON'T GET NERVOUS! OK, get nervous, but don't talk:eek: lolol. I'm just kidding. I discovered at my appt. that the physc. really didn't care-- she was just going through the motions. I started talking about my past history, wgt. gain, emotional issues---She brushed me off and gave me a list of books to read. She did get excited when I told her I can talk to spirits though. When I wouldn't go into it, she called me defensive and said I would have problems with the limitation of the lap band. OK. So then I pulled the trump card--age. I've been trying to be happy as a fat person all my life, since she was younger than I all she had to do is pass the info on to the insurance company. Later that day I talked with the sec. and she told me everyone has problems with that physc. She thinks all people who are over wgt are negative. Long story short, I have the the band.