Thin4Anisha

I was on phentermine five years ago. I dropped 65 pds in 6 months, got down to 165 but my doctor wanted me to get to 150. My doctor kept me on it for almost TWO YEARS and my body became immune to the appetite suppressing and began to gain back the weight while still on it. The unhappy ending of my story is that now I weigh 275. But I think that phentermine would be very usefull right after banding to help control hunger while you are getting proper restriction. No doctors in my area prescribe it anymore but if yours does I would go for it. Ask if it is ok to crush it though or if you get the name brand Fastin, to open the capsule.

I dream about lap band almost every night. Either preparing for the surgery, going to the surgery or of loosing the weight after the surgery. My mind has never taken me into the actual surgery, thank goodness. That would freak me out. Last night I dreamed that I went into the surgery and when I woke up they had not put the band on me.

I have, after communicating with the wonderful people on this site, finally put myself at ease as far as recovery from the surgery. Now I am haunted at the idea of being that 1 of every 10,000 that dies during the surgery and that I will leave my 5 year old daughter all alone in the world (I am a single mom, no dad or family in the picture). That terrifies me and leaves me with a cold pit in my stomache. But I remind myself of the surgeon I think I will use and his expertise in these surgeries. And that I have no health problems yet and am young (will be 25 in 13 days) so the chances of me being that one are slim - or this is at least what I tell myself.

Here is a link that will let you know your BMI and what classification of obese you are. The rule of thumb is if your BMI (Body Mass Index) is over 40 you are morbidly obese. BMI Calculator You should call the insurance company, you don't have to give them your specific policy number, just the group number for the insurance your employer has with them and ask if Gastric Banding is covered, this is your first step. If they say yes, ask what are the qualifications one will have to meet to be approved. Some have to do 6 months of a diet with a doctor, have a BMI over 40 or a BMI over 35 with comorbities (like diabetes, high blood pressure..). Also, ask if there is any waiting period from the start date of the insurance to being able to be approved for the insurance. My insurance does not have a waiting period because I was insured before switching to them so there is no break in coverage. Sorry so long. Browse through the forums, they are wonderful and will teach you everything you ever wanted to know. There is one particulair forum you can find from the main page specifically dealing with insurance questions. Everyone on here is so very wonderful and supportive. Good Luck!!

I presented your problem to a close friend of mine who has been banded for 3 years and greatly successfull, lost 135 pds in 10 months. His surgeon has him come to the seminars to talk to people and they send patients who are having problems loosing the weight to him. His recomendation is to cut the Protein drink before bed and to not eat anything 2 hours before bed. Also, he said you are getting an excess of protein and could stand to cut that back, best done by cutting the drink.

It is funny how the band affects some people so differently than others. My bf father was banded 3 years ago (lost 130 pds in 10 months and is who inspired me to start looking into this) and he was unable to belch for the first two years. At all! He said that the gas will come out one way or another, literally, and that he wishes he would have had a belching problem instead of what he got :sneaky:

I am in the same boat. Now that I have decided lap band is the way to go I have thrown the diet restrictions I have had in place for 2 years out the window. I had given up french fries, Whoppers (my fav. burger), spaghetti, manicotti, lasagna... I went on a cooking frenzy (love to cook and am REALLY good at it) this last week and every night made my favorite meals. I am going to have to find a new hobby instead of cooking once I am banded.

Hooray for you!! That is wonderful, it has to be so overwhelming to begin a whole new way of life. I am excited for you - check in as soon as you are able

I am wondering if I have to visit my PCP or if I can just go to the seminar and start the insurance hoops through them. What did you do? My PCP for the last 2 years quit and moved away, the facility he was in is still there but I have no relationship with the new doctor I have been hooked up with and wonder if she will agree to do a letter or referral? I have one iffy condition on my insurance policy, proving my morbid obesity for 5 years when it has only been morbid for 2 and sever for 2 before that.... Any input is greatly appreciated. And I just want to give my shout out to this forum - I LOVE IT AND EVERYONE ON IT. It is a shame there isn't support like this everywhere.

I am trying to exercise to prepare for surgery, to be in as good of shape as possible. I have tried treadmills ane elliptical (sp?) bikes but as soon as I get close to my target heart rate my feet go uncomfortably numb. Does anyone know why or a way I can avoid this. Is it something I should be worried about?

That is exactly what I wanted to hear!!!! Can I just mention here how incredibly excited I am, a little scared as I have never had surgery, but super excited!! Being able to reclaim my body has been something I have been wishing and trying to achieve for years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, as described in another post, I will soon be switching to my companies insurance policy with UHC which DOES cover wls . I called UHC today to get the specifics on getting it covered. Here is what the very nice gentlemen said to me: 1) it must be done in network, in patient at a hospital (thats fine, I kind of wanted to stay one night anyway), 2) must be over 21 years old (I am turning 25) Anyone else getting excited yet, sounds too good to be true huh... 3) must have a BMI over 40 (I am at 44.4) and "you have documentation from a Physician of a diagnosis of morbid obesity for a minimum of five years" Ok, so here is my problem. I have been morbidly obese for two years, and only obese before that. Anyone with experience or an opinion I would appreciate your input on if you think I will get approved?

010308 - You are exactly the person I needed to hear from. Thank you for the information you have given me, it is priceless. And you have convinced me to not play with fire, you are right it is not worth it. One question. I now plan on having my parents drop me from their plan and the next day enroll with UHC through my employer. Because I will have been covered by insurance in the 90 days prior to signing up with UHC they state they waive the waiting period to cover treatment, do you believe this would include a waiting period on getting the surgery? Does this make sense?

Is it 10% of the hospital bill or is that 10% up until you meet your deductible? If it is until you hit your deductibe limit you could at least plan on the total cost not being more than that - say $1500 (which is what mine is)

I did not have a sudden onset of memories, as you had, but have very vivid memories of my childhood. It is tramatizing in both instances and yes these issues are tied to weight gain even when we do not know it. I experienced molestation, rape (twice in one month), physical, emotional and verbal abuse starting at the age of 4 until the age of 15. Ironic that my weight problems began at 15.. something to ponder. You are not alone. You are not to blame and you will be ok. I too have eaten and pushed down all emotions. I am not yet banded and do not know what I will do when there is nothing to stop them from surfacing. Keep us posted on how you are doing. As you are here for support, others will find support in following your journey.

Yes, I have a pretty consistent history with weight records. Five years ago I went in (in the obese category) and started Fastin (other half of phen phen) and had to go in to see my doctor every 3 months to check in. I lost weight but put it back on, which is also documented. So I can prove the obesity and the gradual gain that put me into morbidly obese (what a term!)

UHC, my insurance, only requires someone to be at least 21 yrs old (I am), have a BMI over 40 (I am at 44.4) and have a history for 5 years of being morbidly obese. What if you have been in varying levels of obesity (well documented), have documented weight loss attempts in those 5 years (was on Fastin for 2 years, lost 65 and have regained 130 as of now) for the last five years but have only hit the morbid category for the last year? Anyone have experiences like this and got approved?

Good point, well looks like I need to cancel some insurance and sign up for the other on the same day. No reason to get greedy. I need to stay focused on how lucky I am to have this problem

At the end of 2007, to save money, I chose to not re-enroll in my employers insurance (UHC) but to use my last year on my parents insurance, before turning 26 next year and getting booted off, to save some money by not double insuring myself. Then I decided I wanted to get banded and found out that my parents insurance, Altius, does not cover banding but my employers insurance, UHC, does. So I spoke with my HR department today and they said that if my coverage was terminated with my parents plan I could enroll with them and not have to wait for the end of the year annual enrollment. So here is the question - they work on the honor system. If I tell them that the coverage has been terminated they take my word for it, I enroll with UHC and get banded sometime this summer. Otherwise I have to wait for January and hope my company keeps UHC next year. Any thoughts and opinions would be appreciated, I am on the fence on this one. Thanks guys, love this forum!!!

I just wanted to post the update in my progress to being banded. I spoke with my employers insurance company and they told me if the insurance on my parents end is terminated or if I tell them it has been terminated (I didn't say that, is it really wrong to fib if its for a really good reason?) that I can enroll in the company insurance! This is great news for me, I could enroll this spring and possibly have the band done this summer while I take a break from school:thumbup:!! Also, my company only needs you to be 21+ yrs old (check), have a BMI over 40 (check), and have documented history of being morbidly obese for 5+ years (maybe a check, I have been obese but not morbidly until the last two years). So no 6 month diet, psych eval. or any of that red tape. :biggrin:

I haven't been banded yet but wanted to drop my congrats to you - my bf of 4 yrs wouldn't and hasn't touched me since as I hit 190, a 30 pound gain from when I met him (5'6, current 270), so I am happy for you that you have someone undetered by your struggle.

Yes, please let us know how you are doing. I have said a prayer for you to be safe and well and to accomplish what you have set out to do.

Great thread! Here are some of my own - --fitting into the desks at my college and not having to arrive 20 minutes early in an attempt to get the one desk made for larger people --feeling comfortable in the movie theater seats and not having the concession counter girls just add butter to my small popcorn because they figure I am fat and of course I want butter (I hate butter on my popcorn) --Shopping in normal stores and not having to dress like I am 45 (no offense, but I am 24 and want to dress accordingly) -- not wondering if the table at the booth has been pushed farther onto my side, because it seems like a tight fit, and then realize that no it has not, I am just to big! --To not have the nurse at my doctor's office say "uh oh, here is the worst part" when I am about to step onto the scale -- to never hear my boyfriend (or any other man) make a comment about my weight again, to ask me if I really should be eating that or suggest abandoning me in the forest for a few months so I would be forced to starve myself skinny. --Shopping at normal stores and lingerie to be a fun possibility. And to be comfortable wearing it in front of someone.. which will also lead to having great sex again --not being the fat mommy and to be able to play with my daughter the way she wants me to --getting flirted with by men -- not having to use the handicap bathroom stall because the others are such a tight fit --never getting stuck in my lawn chair again I could go on for forever. Mostly, to be treated like a normal human being and not seen as disgusting or freakish because I am bigger!!

I will be doing the same thing. I (for various reasons) did not sign up with my companies health insurance during open enrollment. Now that I have decided to have the band I find out my other insurance, through my parents, does not cover the procedure but the insurance my company offered does. I will sign up with the company during this years open enrollment and on 1/1/09 I will submit the paperwork. Good luck to you and please keep us posted on the companies response!

I think the nurse/nanny idea may be a good way to go for the first day or two. Just to make sure nothing happens that would leave my daughter scared because she see's that mommy needs help. I have discussed, with one of my daughters friends mothers, about the band and mentioned I was looking into having it done. She offered to pick up Anisha from school the day of the surgery (our daughters go to the same private school) and they could have a sleep over and that she would bring her home the next afternoon. I planned on taking her up on this so if I had to stay over night she would be taken care of and having a great time. Having the meals already prepared and in the fridge/freezer is a WONDERFUL idea. That would make things so much easier and Anisha would get a big kick out having smaller versions of milk/water/juice that she could get herself. You guys have given me wonderful ideas and the hope that with some preparation and a little hired help that I really can do this!!!!