danaclark2

Thanks everyone! I'm really excited here--on my second day of liquids--low carb, etc. I'll have to say that the caffenie in coffee is really surpressing my appetite. I've never been a big coffee drinker--but this is not bad... ***Audra--I used to teach 12th grade Eng. and 7th grade language arts---I know how tough it is. I just love teachers--it's the hardest job in the world, I think. ***You don't have much longer, do you? Just a few more days...We'll be April 2006 bandsters together.

Audra, My surgeon says to do a liquid diet for 30 days before surgery--pure torture, if you ask me. It kind-of follows the Slim Fast plan--you get one meal a day with two shakes, etc.

Oh, Vera--that alone would stop me from getting the RNY. How dreadful!

Went to a local WLS support group meeting tonight. Out of thirty or more people, there were only two bandsters--three including me who has yet to me banded. The leader of the meeting pretty much said I would fail at this band thing--that most banded she's seen convert to the RNY eventually. She said that most of the lap band folks are not happy with their slow weight loss--and she said that there are so many things that can go wrong--slippage, erosion, etc. She said that I'd have a higher chance of having more surgeries than if I were to have the RNY. She said that if I have a sweet tooth, then the band is DEFINITELY NOT FOR ME. This bummed me out for a---SECOND--then I came to my senses. This is the best and safest way to go. Eventually, I am going to have to come to terms with the type of and amount of food I eat, and even if I were to get the RNY, I'd have to come to terms with eating sugar eventually. From what I hear, the "dumping" gets less and less severe as time goes on. I do have some what of a sweet tooth, but I don't care for sugary liquids at all. I do love cookies--cakes, etc., but I willing to say good-bye to them to regain my health. The main thing I'm looking for in the band is to help control real, physical hunger--not head hunger--but physical hunger--that's all my expectation of the band. It just frustrates me that she (leader of WLS meeting) tried to talk me out of the band. She even mentioned how she's struggling with her weight gain (after 5 years out/RNY) and that she still vomits a lot--and that her teeth are chipping easily (possibly due to a mineral deficiency). Ahh--I don't know. I just want SO BADLY to be successful. I don't expect a miracle cure. I just want help with this journey. Am I asking too much of the band for that--help to curb the ravenous physical hunger? Thanks all for listening...

Glad you're home!!

Thought I had responded to this post--but guess not. I have a surgery date of April 18--to be banded by Dr. Steely at Gateway Hospital in Clarksville, TN.

Alexra, 128lbs. in 11 months--you go girl!

I got a date!!! Woo-hoo! I will be joining you all in Bandland on April the 18th. Started today with the liquid diet--boy, am I hungry. I really hope I have some restriction during the healing phase (before first fill) because this is really hard--and I'm only on day 1. C'est la vie! I'm so thankful for this site and all of your advice, etc.You guys have been great!

Welcome! I'm from Clarksville, TN--not far from you. I've been approved but waiting on a surgery date!! Glad you're here. This is a great site.

Thanks everyone! That's what I was thinking--the Synthroid pill is quite small. If you all swallow it, I'm sure I can. Oh--I'm so excited!!! Ready to defeat the O-beast(ity)!

Hi, all!!! So excited--just received my "This surgery is medically necessary" letter! Woo-hoo!!! I should get my surgery date this Monday. I really thought I was going to have to put up more of a fight. Yesterday, I just sent in old weight loss journals--with pictures and all. Guess I didn't need to send them after all. I have a question for those of you who take Synthroid for hypothyroidism. My doctor said I could just crush the pill and take it that way--but I've heard you shouldn't crush thyroid meds. What do you all do? I can't wait to join you all on the other side....

Just when I think all I have to do is wait--wait for the hopeful "Yes, we approve you!", they ask for more information. My surgeon's secretary sent in all the needed info. :psych. eval., letter from doc. (that included all the info. that the insurance company wanted), etc., but after calling them (BCBS of TN) Friday, they said that they needed documentation that I had been on a weight loss program, monitored by my doctor for six months. The letter from my doctor said all of this--I guess they needed his clinical notes. I saw my doctor in August 2005--he put me on phentermine. I saw him again in Sept., October, missed November, and then saw him in December--so about five months. My doctor's secretary forwarded all the clinical notes (with my weights, etc.) to BCBS of TN. I'm hoping this is all they'll need. I HOPE THE ONE MONTH THAT I MISSED SEEING MY DOCTOR IN NOVEMBER WILL NOT DISQUALIFY ME FROM GETTING APPROVED. I stopped the Phentermine in December because it was making me crazy. BCBS of TN also wanted proof that I've been obese for over five years. The only doctor who has this documented is my gyn. I called his office--and they said it would take 7-10 days to get that info. to me. It just seems to drag and drag and drag. Oh, how I want to be on with this... Thanks for "listening."

Congratulations!!! I shouldn't be too far behind you. I'm going to call my insurance soon--they've had two weeks already... See you on the other side. :confused:

Dody-- No--Knoxville isn't too far from Clarksville.--3.5 hours, I think. I'm in the waiting-for-the-insurance-to-approve-me stage. It's been almost two weeks since BCBS has received my paperwork, so I'm hoping for an answer soon. Good luck to you, too. I'm sure you will be very successful. I plan to be.

1. At the mall one afternoon, I decided to stop and get some chinese food for lunch. The tiny Asain lady behind the counter asked me so sweetly and pointing to my tummy, "Oh, eating for two?" This is before I had my first child. I felt so sad... 2. While swimming at the YMCA last summer, my little boy spotted an overweight woman entering the pool. "Mommy, Mommy, look. She's fat like you," he said, as if it were nothing more than sharing the same hair color, wearing the same outfit, etc. He does not associate anything negative with being overweight right now; he's five. He's so funny. He says that I am a "circle" and my husband (who's is about 10 lbs. overeight) is "straight" (like a line). This hurt me more than the Asian lady's comment. I don't want my children to grow up with a fat mom; hence, I am pursuing the lap band.

Here's what Inamed says: ***Number 18 talks about auto-immune disorders but does not mention thyroid problems. Contraindications The LAP-BAND System is not right for you if: You have an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohn's disease. You have severe heart or lung disease that makes you a poor candidate for surgery. You have some other disease that makes you a poor candidate for surgery. You have a problem that could cause bleeding in the esophagus or stomach. That might include esophageal or gastric varices (a dilated vein). It might also be something such as congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasia (dilation of a small blood vessel). You have portal hypertension. Your esophagus, stomach, or intestine is not normal (congenital or acquired). For instance you might have a narrowed opening. You have/experienced an intra-operative gastric injury, such as a gastric perforation at or near the location of the intended band placement. You have cirrhosis. You have chronic pancreatitis. You are pregnant. (If you become pregnant after the BioEnterics® LAP-BAND® System has been placed, the band may need to be deflated. The same is true if you need more nutrition for any other reason, such as becoming seriously ill. In rare cases, removal may be needed.) You are addicted to alcohol or drugs. You are under 18 years of age. You have an infection anywhere in your body or one that could contaminate the surgical area. You are on chronic, long-term steroid treatment. You cannot or do not want to follow the dietary rules that come with this procedure. You might be allergic to materials in the device. You cannot tolerate pain from an implanted device. You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease. That might be a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. The same is true if you have symptoms of one of these diseases. Some surgeons say patients with a "sweet tooth" will not do well with the LAP-BAND System. If you eat a lot of sweet foods, your surgeon may decide not to do the procedure. The same is true if you often drink milkshakes or other high-calorie liquids.

I had heard something like this--but I guess I was thinking it was more severe autoimmune disorders that would prevent one from getting the band--not that one is easier than the other. I have hypothyroidism, and my doctor did not say anything about it. I even asked him directly. "I have hypothyroidsim. Can I still get the band?" His answer was YES. I don't have any allergies--that I know of--except I swell really badly after a bee sting. My husband, however, has terrible allergies, eczema, etc. He might react adversly to a foreign object in his body. I think everyone probably has a slight autoimmune thing going on--even if it's a slight allergy of some kind. Anyway--I'm willing to take the risk to be able to lose some of this weight.

Hi, all! Just talked to a good friend who is a pharmacist. She said that she has seen people on Prozac, Zoloft,---some of the older anti-depressants, as she puts it--gain a lot of weight. Gaining weight would definitely make me more depressed... She recommended Welbutrin XL (300mgs?) or Lexapro (?SP) because she has seen nothing but weight loss on these anti-depressants. I certainly don't want to get on anti-depressants that contribute to weight gain. Being obese is part of my misery. So--there are meds out there that help calm nerves vs. anti-depressants? I thought Valium would only be prescribed for severe, severe anxiety due to life altering events. Am I wrong? I don't know if I'm depressed or just severly irritable (nerves)...I don't feel hopeless and sad, but I do have insomnia at times and could sleep all day at times, too. The VERY WORST TIMES FOR ME ARE ABOUT 7-10 DAYS BEFORE MY PERIOD. Ahh--just want to feel calm. I've never had a panic attack--don't feel that anxious. I'm just on the edge all the time. Make sense? Any thoughts?

Poodles-- Does Effexor make you feel calmer? Does it help with nerves? You know that irritable feeling--you could just scream at anyone who comes your way... Does it help with that? That's what I really need--Something to calm my nerves.

Poodles-- I was telling my husband, Mom, and OBGYN nurse that I really believe I have something out of whack--especially 7-10 days before my period. I am seriously CRAZY about 7 days before--anxious, easily irritated, etc. I didn't know the term for it--but now I do--Manic PMS? I've heard that they have a Prozac that you can take just for a few days around this horrible PMS time. Have any of you used that? I definitely think I need to be on something. Thanks for the suggestion of Effexor. I think I'll ask my doc. about that one.

Mandisa does have an awesome voice. I've heard her live--she has lead the music at our church a few times (in middle TN). She is a genuinely kind person. I really hope she goes far. AND--I like the fact that she doesn't let her weight stop her from pursuing her dreams...

I have BCBS of TN. Just called them today, and finally, they have all needed documents in the system. They said they received all the paperwork on Feb. 15 and are just now getting to it... Anyway--I'm gland they have everything...now I wait for an answer... Good luck to you all.

Poodles--So, so, so true about the sugar. I know I'm addicted. It's like I don't have a good day unless I have something sweet. How sick is that? And--3loves--I think I had vicoden after my gall bladder surgery--it was just like the lortabs for me, too,--such a calming effect. I know all obestiy and overeating is not due to chemical imbalances, etc. But, for me, I do believe it plays a great part. I've often told people if I started smoking or drinking, that I'd probably be skinny. No matter what brought me to this point, I must not sit in self pity and blame...I must take charge of what I've been dealt and reach for healing. I think I might need to be on an anit-depressant for a little while. I've had three babies within four years. I have an almost 5 yr. old, an almost 3 yr. old, and an almost 1 yr. old. I think my chemicals/hormones are definitely out of whack somewhere. :couch2: Blessings to all of you as you venture to defeat the fat. --and thanks for the replies.

Oh, Wow! I hope I follow in your footsteps once banded...

Paraphrasing Dr. Phil--I heard him say that sometimes habits form for one reason and continue for another--or other reasons. As I reach the conclusion that I do need WLS to be successful with permanent weight loss, I ponder why I got here (270 lbs.) in the first place. I know there are a lot of threads on this topic, but it helps me to "put it out there" for comments. I believe my THING with food started as a very young chlid. My family moved a great many times--I was in 3 different high schools 5 different times. Food was constant. Food was comfort. I definitely ate from emotions. But now--while I do believe I eat emotionally at times, I feel I overeat mainly for a sense of PHYSICAL CALM--perhaps for a serotonin increase or what have you. I've never been on anti-depressants, but I wonder if I need to be. I don't feel sad or hopeless. I'm just tired a lot (due to weight, I'm sure) and...I don't know. I know this, though. After my c-sections, I was given Lortabs for pain. While on these, I had NO desire for food. I felt calm. I can see how people get addicted to these pain meds. I just can't help but think that maybe we all (overeaters) have some slight chemical imbalance--some something missing that causes us to not feel satisfied on a normal amount of food. I'd love to know how thin people feel after eating little food. I'm sure many find other food substitutes to feel calm--like nicotine or alcohol. Ahh--I just want to feel normal. I'm near my "time" and have an incredible hunger though I'm not hungry. It's not emotional, I don't think. It's something definitely chemical/hormonal. Any thoughts?