Victoriana

Thank you for your post. I hope you dont get the idea that we are anti anything but the band, we are mostly pro band. I appreciate knowing that there is another option after banding and that none of us can take for granted that we are truly blessed to have the choice. I was very glad to hear that you do not have the dumping problem. I supliment even though Im banded, but I have always used supliments anyway. I appreciate your courage for pressing through for victory over weight. I just might need to do this in the future so Thanks again.

I took a second mortgage for part of my payment. Insurance didnt cover as much as I wished

The overall mortality rate for both stapling and bypassing was to high for me. The people I know with bypasses have begun to gain thier weight back after 5 years. I also dont like the malabsorbsion problems. That is the most serious long term problem between the two. The skin has a chance to compact better with the band, I like wings that flap on angels, birds and bugs, not on me.

Im happy to hear your doing better and better, continue to take good care of yourself, Iwish you all the best moving forward.

I felt like part of my life was ending. Yet happy about it and intrepid. Could this be real? Isn't it a little drastic? Did I pray about this with an open mind or did I answer my own prayers with wishfull thinking? Can I rewind a little? I began to eat like there was no tomorrow. Like I never did before, there was this shadow of justification that it was my last meal before execution. I think it is absolutly normal to have mixed emotions. The week I was approved I was giddy really silly and euphoric then 2 days prior (to banding) my mood shifted to sort of a quiet somberness. I closet ate M&M's etc. Then the morning of, it was so matter of fact. My brilliant husband was there cheering me on, He wants me around for old age. It was definately the right choice. You are not alone!

I think there is something really wrong here. Did anyone ever have you sign anything? I dont think you are legally bound. I have never heard of such an outrageous fee for any changes that aren't already scheduled. I think someone in the office is putting thier hands into the cash drawer. If you wern't informed about this before, and havent signed anything, sounds like smoke and mirrors here. Do you think they would change their toon if they knew that an international message board has been airing thier dirty laundry?

When traveling to the islands or anywhere for that matter, If you arent a regular visitor you may have an experience with runs or food sickness that makes you vomit. I would wait till after surgery so as not to risk these things. The water change can do this or eating fresh local salad. Even if you eat in clean looking restasuranuts you can run into trouble as you cant see bacteria. I think you would want to start off on the right foot and not risk it, let your new band settle in and heal properly. You wouldn want to be stuck in your hotel room driving the porciline buss. My hubby in Cancun... never mind, it isnt a very pretty picture.

Dear fiveholtz, I am so sorry you hd to listen to the dribble of those "church gals". Going to church doesnt make you a christian any more than standing in a garage makes me an automobile. I learned through my faith that I was precious. My heavenly father actually sings over me. He had plans for me since before the foundations of the world were laid. He does more for me that I could ever do formyself. You must realize that your life is precious, just look at your children. I became morbidly obese in spite of a healty self image, I just didnt see myself, my body image was and still is distorted. I want to be healthy, I was banded very recently. I dont know what place you are in, Banded, not banded etc. but the first step for me was to realize just how unhealty I really am. When I consulted the Northwest Weightloss Surgery center they had me go through a Phych eval, sleep study, nutritional consultation, and a visit to my pcp and cardiologist. I learned a great deal about myself and my health, ie needing a c-pap machine etc. I felt good just because I started to take care of myself. The banding is the tool that will enable me to become more healthy. The other thing I kept hearing people say was "take care of yourself first, then you can better care for the others in your life" and now I believe them. I dont know where you are as far as faith is concerned, I visit a websight regularly to remind myself of how loved I really am. It brings me to tears of Joy everytime. If you dont mind my sharing with you Its called http://www.fathersloveletter.com/ and click on the watch button. Remember you are loved.

P.S. I would also ask them if they are ready to take responsibility for any future health issues or even death since you have had a Dr. request this procedure for you and They denied it.

Im glad you are not intimadated by them after your insurance primiums pay thier payroll, They work for you when you look at it this way. I would call the insurance commissioner of you state and ask them how to handle an Insurance Co. that doesnt follow due procedure, You might get approved because they broke the law for not following documented procedures. Very biased and illegal. They may have just opened the door completely foryou on just this one issue.

I had to have copies for each visit to my Dr. showing weight and chart notes for at least six months prior to approval. Some Dr. prescribe weightwatchers, some zone,some atkins etc. I also provided reciepts (Just for added push) of the same months that I went to Curves. Some insurances are real sticklers. I had Great West.(Health One Plus).

Could the fact that you were a little nervous influenced your tummy? Relax, I think that if he doesnt stay interested then he was the one who losses out, Right? You sound sweet, and maybe your next date can be a do something date not a sit at a table date. Who wouldnt want to date a woman who is taking very good care of herself! Your belief in yourself makes you the good catch!

O by the way, there is a link on that website that directs you to the Today Show program that aired recently, very informative.

Dear Velvet Kiss, I think the clinic I used is outatanding. I do know that the total charge is 18,500 as of today(I heard this in the office). Please review thier websight at www.thelapband.com for more of thier info, These 2 DR.s are proctors and This charge covers the first full year of follow up fills and unfills. The clinic has many staff workers there that hve been banded by Dr. Watkins and Dr.Montgomery and I think that speaks volumns about thier professionallism. We are just a little north of Oregon, Everett WA.

I still have pain meds at least once a day so far,,,Here is what I did today. I rushed out this morning late as I didnt know that getting ready nstuff would take as long as it did. I rushed to Starbucks!! I started looking intently into most gals eyes and they were all polite and smiled,,,I couldnt see one person that looked like anyones pictures so I sat down and sipped slowly my coffee. I began to wonder how so many gals could miss such a nice morning coffee clutch. Then a strange feellling crossed my mind, Did I have my dates wrong? Check the Daytimer..Yup Im not early or late Just by about a couple of weeks!!! Gadfrey whats up with this? Did a get a brain band as well? Did starvation do this to me? I dunno all I know is that I had a nice late, went to Sees candy for stocking stuffers(honest) and then went to my first post of visit. It went well, so now I wlll see everyone one the 21st! .. Be kind to me okay?

DiSanders, I agree that you had a tube too its sop. he he Drink lots of water, it will help move the residue of anesthesia out of your lungs, its necessary and dont be surprised if there any old blood in your spitum. Breath deeply as you can every once in a while and be prepared for that to stimulate a cough. Were you sent home with a breathing apparatus that measures your out or in flow? I got mine before surgery and was instructed how to use it.

I have just prayed for your brother, Jesus knows who he is, Father God, in the name of Jesus I ask for a creation miracle ot occur in his ear, create clean new cells and new hearing system. Please glorify you son in this healing, If our needs dont include You, then we wouldnt have a miracle. We ask for this gift at Christmastime the true giver of all gifts. We want the whole world to know of your Divine power and mercy. We thank you that you are a great God of compassion and love, and thank you that we can come to your throne bearing our burdens and leave them there. I the Mighty name Jesus, Amen.

I have my first post op visit Tues at 11:45 so Ill be at Starbucks around ten or so and stay as long as I can so I can meet as many as possible, Im excited and not just for the coffee!! This is a great idea folks! See Ya

Are you sure yu r not preggers?

This is day 7 for me and I am still puffy. I am starting to experience hunger a little, I have stayed the same weight for 3 days. I know that I am still in a sort of shock stage, sleep alot and only want to watch tv (qvc) and thats just fine with me. I want to heal well and then get serious, so six weeks out I expect to start really working. I wonder also how long I will stay puffy and gassy. I miss swimming, and curves. I want to get Christmas deco going but too puffy!! so I think I will have myself a puffy little Christmas now!

Growing up I had a very happy chhildhood with over 100 cousins, Lots of fat aunties that were the best cooks.. I loved thier hugs, so tight and squishy, no fear of fat for me. I love those memories and the Aunties always wanted us to sit down and eat, more and more! To them fat children were a sign of wealth, as they grew up in starvation. Well fast forward to adulthood, 3 pregnancies that never resulted in weight loss of any kind, adding 130lbs to a healthy 150. and then life happened, great stress, eating only once a day out of business and not realizing that stretching of the stomach was happening. I was content with my self image, in management in a highly visible position and I took care of my " "appearance" ie, make up, clothing and hair, even manicures and cologne (gag). After retiring I was free to graze and do lunches and go to events and pta and gobble gobble. Then the back aches, sore feet, heart problems, migrains, no sleep, hip pains and then I woke up. I did this to my self not realizing that over time my lack of concern about wieght hurt only me. Never mind that I was in rebellion about societies view of obesity, after all fat people were safe, happy, non threatening and very real,genuine. no pretenses. But I was hurting now realizing that being healthy was different than being thin. There are some very ill skinnies out there. How could denial be so much a part of who I am? So the revelation that I was out of controll, and spiraling downward and dispising what I became. I too started hate the demon that plagues the mind trying to confuse fat with wrong, Fat with bad, fat with weakness and self indulgence. But what I hate more is hate. I didnt want to hate myself. That would be the last straw. then I learned of the lap band, I could never see myself with stapling or bypassing, but this seem to be just right. I wondered if it was to good to be true. Was I just getting decieved again in false hope? This board comfirmed otherwise. So for about a year I became keenly aware of how my ideas of fat, yes largeness, obesity became mixed with ugliness. I refused to let my mind stay there. The battle field is the mind. I truly believe that. I am now preparing myself for sucess. I envision myself as healthy not skinny. Free from sore feet, backaches, lethargy and heart diseased. Free to live as long as I can with my precious family and friends. and I am so very gratefull.

Dear Imaline, I too researched before banding and some of the stats you quote arent what I discovered but anyway I would definate still consider banding, However having said that I would like to encourage you to to see an american Dr and continue, My Dr.'s charge includes the first year of post op check ups and fills. This is the most important time to get your band healed properly and filled properly, even unfilled when necessary. I would also be concerned as you were before surgery especially out of country. I know many have banded outside the country with great sucess so I cant speak to that. Its just that as you said that getting urgent care could pose as a problem. Could you save and be banded in a few years in the US?

I am not a member of the black and white club, hardly anything is all or nothing. I hope you are drinking enough water, that is critical to get toxins our of your system, I wonder if you could do juicing for breakfasts? If you juice organic fruits and drink them asap then you will get the Phytonutrients, the living part of nutrition that helps move out waste, you colen can hold up to 20 pounds of matter. I also encourage you to take baby steps. eg, maybe one day a week you can pick to do 3 of the four most important things or maybe just one or two, whatever to help your focus. I also belive that exercize is a gift to yourself. I know how hard it is, but maybe one day a week you can take a walk with the baby in the stroller, the idea is to get oxygen to the muscles as they need this to burn calories, think of a fire, it cant burn w/o oxygen. I agree with the others here, he is looking for perfection perhaps, but this is your body and it needs care not just whipping a tired horse. If your energy level is down try a few of these things. I hope your body says thank you. Best wishes dear, and I wish I could love on you and that sweet baby. (((0)))

I love laughter! I think putting on panty hose counts as exercize too! One of my goals is to be able to wear them again sometime** Thanks for the memories!

I have a very cocky Pembroke Corgie, He is sable and white. We were able to aquire him in a rescue, papers included. He is a big dog stuck in a small body, But he is so cute you cant stay mad at him for very long..and he KNOWS IT. Today he wouldnt stop barking at a squirl and when I went to put himin his kennel He jumped up and kissed me, bugger. I dont know how animals do it but they can have us wrapped around their paw in no time. Im glad he can stand up to my sons, he keeps them in lline, He herds them!