jnbwilds

Certainly self pay or financing takes much less time than making it through all the insurance red-tape. I can honestly say that this was the best money I have ever spent in my life. If I never lost another pound, it was worth it!! Good luck!

Yay! Aren't you excited!! Now it's probably time for the wicked pre-op diet. Good luck and stay on track!

I'm so sorry that the schedule is getting all mucked up for you! Don't get discouraged! Just think of it this way - years from now, when you are healthier and skinnier, you'll look back on this little set-back and probably be able to laugh at it. Hang in there - the time will come before you know it!

Welcome to the forum! You are very smart to research your options thoroughly so that you can make the right choice for you. Enjoy reading through the forum - hopefully you will get a lot of good information from reading the posts here. Don't ever feel shy to ask questions - there are a lot of veteran bandsters here, and also many others in the early research stage, so you'll get answers from all over. Good luck!

Congratulations on the happy news that came in your mail today! You are making a brave and smart decisin for you and your children!! Welcome to the forum - you're sure to find a lot of information and probably a few friends here as well.

Welcome, and congratulations on a brave and healthy decision!

First, congratulations! If you didn't lose one more pound, you've done your body a huge favor! I'm totally with you on the plateau and loss of motivation. I'm calling it the "I've lost 50 lbs....I feel better....and I don't feel like working hard to get off the rest" syndrome. Do you have a local support group or an exercise buddy to hold you accountable? It's great that you found the forum - it can be very motivating to follow the progress of others who were banded around the same time. Good luck!

Welcome to the forum! It is awesome that your new insurance carrier covers WLS. Best of luck as you go through the process...again.

So what's the deal....Gibson re-appears and now JaxBandster is missing? We assume you've been on spring break - but do come back and tell us how you're doing!

Hey all - just de-lurking from your forum to say congratulations on 5 months out!! I peek in every once in a while from my normal home with the Victorious Valentines (Feb 08 bandsters) just to see what issues might be coming around the corner for me. You guys are a great group and you are doing so well! I love how you hold each other accountable for exercise. (Must start exercising.....) Keep up the good work!

I totally concur with the above comments! It is great to have a scale that tracks body fat percentage and Water weight as well. (don't be afraid of the metal pads that send the electrical pulse - you can't feel it at all) Seeing my body fat go from 50% to 42% in less than 3 months has almost been as motivating as watching the weight loss! Eeek! How did I ever let myself get to being "half fat"?!?

Awww crap. I haven't had to come here in so long! I've been doing so well! Here's the confession... During the work week I always have a Protein shake for lunch. It gives me more calories free for dinner. But today, when a friend came to my desk and asked if I wanted to go out for Mexican food, suddenly the vanilla Creme Muscle Milk looked boring. The good news: grilled tilapia with steamed broccoli and poblano peppers The bad news: chips, salsa, caramel flan AND (drumroll please....) I drank 2 whole glasses of Water with the meal just so I wouldn't get stuck. In order to feel better about this, the protein shake that was in my purse is destined to be my dinner. I'm crossing my fingers that tomorrow's scale visit will not be sad. I love saying, "yes, I've lost 60 lbs!". It won't be nearly as fun to say, "I've lost 59 lbs. Oh well - back up on the wagon.

Just a tip on B12 - you can buy it in liquid form at the health food store. I put drops in my morning coffee or tea, since I cannot get down the vitamins. It's the only supplement I take besides a multi.

Ack! My panties!! I'm not sure if anyone else is having this issue, but as my belly deflates, I've noticed that all my undies are all stretched out from fitting around my massive tummy, and as I walk around all day, they flop around in my clothes. They really are doing me no good in the support arena anymore, so I think it may be time to say goodbye to the granny panties, toss em in the trash and head over to Victoria's Secret and see if I can go back to buying pretty undies. Re: the pannus (what a nasty word, eh?) gross solution coming up - but it works, so here goes. If you've ever gotten a normal yeast infection, you know how the little over the counter medicine things come with a little extra tube of "external" cream? Why I saved a few of those, I'll never know - but I'm glad about it now, because I used some of that on the rash and it went away immediately.

On the price issue....you can find it much less expensive in the US if you find a Dr. who does the surgery in an outpatient facility. There is no reason you should ever pay over $15,000 in the US. Also, if you are researching in the US - make sure you ask for the "self-pay" or "financing" price. Most surgeons will offer a very different price than they charge insurance companies.

Some nutritionists advise against it for 2 reasons. First, caffeine can be an appetite stimulant (it isn't for me, but I guess for some....). Second, coffee is acidic and can cause heartburn, which is no fun with the band. I've switched to 1 large cup of half caf every morning and haven't had any problems at all.

I didn't think the pain was too bad after surgery. What was more difficult was how tired I was. You'll feel sleepy and sore - kind of like when you have the flu. The pain was easily controlled with Tylenol and an ice pack. If you have kids, send them to Grandma's for a few days so you can recuperate in peace! Keep your ice pack cold and room temperature Water nearby!

Congrats on a brave decision and welcome to the forum! I would definately agree with the suggestion to request a "calming" medication a few hours before surgery. Also - I'm not a fan of IV's either, but when I actually requested of my nurse that I got to pick the place where it went (I believe that the arm is much less painful than the back of your hand!!). They agreed to do this if I promised not to bend my arm and it didn't hurt at all. There's something to just having the control of when and where that makes it less icky. And I hate to be a killjoy - but since you are needle phobic - you do know all about the fills, don't you?

Congratulations on your approval! That is no small thing with all the red tape and records! Good luck on your pre-op diet, and welcome to the forum!

Welcome! It sounds like you have had that "a-ha moment" that most of us come to where we realize our lives have become unmanageable with our weight problem and it is time to make the change! Congratulations on getting there and enjoy researching your way through the forum.

Welcome to the forum. Good luck with your surgery! A good way to burst through a plateau is to drop out carbs, so I'd avoid the frappacino (maybe an alternative would be 2 tbsp of Sugar free Carnation instant breakfast, a cup of decaf coffee and some sugar free french vanilla creamer - blend it with ice, and maybe it will kick the craving!)

There were a number of people in my life who felt similarly. However, after my surgery, as the weight starting coming off (and I got healthier, happier, skinnier, more active, and more social) - suddenly they all changed their tunes. It's hard for them not to notice that the most I ever lost when I was just trying to lose weight on my own was 20 lbs and I've already lost 60 with the band. I might suggest this strategy.....Ask your boyfriend if he can at least support you through the research stage. Tell him you love him and need him with you while you attend the informational meetings (men need to be needed). Have him read information about the band and ask his opinion often (men need to be heard) It is highly likely that just becoming informed and feeling important to your process will change his mind. If after all the research, you still think it is the right decision, and he doesn't....you'll need to make a choice between living with obesity and a boyfriend, or living thin and healthy with a new boyfriend. Best of luck to you!!

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on taking the first step to a new life! Good luck on Thursday - hope all goes well. As far as pointers - give yourself permission to just rest and recover for a few days. Watch your favorite "guilty pleasure" movies, make your spouse or mom rub your feet and if you get grouchy, get on-line and read this forum and know that many of us have been where you are and wish you the best!

Good luck with your surgery - and be patient with your family. When they see the results of the surgery on your health and appearance, they will probably become more supportive. It is understandable that they are worried - bariatric surgery does have risks. But for those of us who have struggled with obesity for a long time, we know that the risks of staying that way are worse. One quick comment on the Mexico issue. As long as folks research well, I say, go where you want. But honestly, where did you get a local quote for over $20,000?? Holy cow! My surgery center was 1.5 miles from my home and I was self-pay and paid MUCH less than that. I know I paid a few thousand more than the best Mexico rate I've seen, but I felt like it was worth it to have local support, and have my monthly appointments, fills and dietician meetings paid for up front and locally available. Just in case anyone was reading this thread, I didn't want them to assume that band surgery in the US is automatically over 20 grand. Best to you - here's hoping you recover soon and get GREAT band results!

Welcome to the forum. I may draw criticism for my response - but I assume you want a variety of viewpoints since you asked. As far as your low BMI - you are pretty young and 50 lbs is a reasonable amount to lose through dieting. If you haven't tried a number of diet programs yet to see if any would work for you - you might go there first, just for the expense factor. (I once lost 35 on South Beach - wish I'd kept it off!) That said, if I had only lost 50 lbs with the band - I would still have done it again in a heartbeat. Now - here's where I get controversial. I share your worry about having the surgery in Mexico and then having fills here in the US. Plenty of people do it and are happy with it. But I know for a fact that part of my success has been the team support of my local surgeon and his office staff. The same Dr. that did my consult did my surgery, does my fills, meets with me on a monthly basis, provides me a monthly weight loss support group, and answers all my questions. I don't have to worry that he will turn down adjustments because he wasn't my surgeon. That does happen - but I don't think it's because the doctor is rude - I think it is worrisome to do fills when you didn't place the band and you don't know the patient well. I paid a few thousand extra to do it here instead, and I have never been sorry for a minute. But I was blessed to have that freedom and I know many save for years to have just enough to go over the border - so I don't judge that at all. Either way - it's a great procedure and I hope all goes well on your journey!