Mommie_of_4

I would really bring this up with the dr. It seems like you have had a slow weight loss over the last year. Have you asked you dr. about that or the nutritionist. If you really feel as if you haven't been given the adequate amount of fills then I would have a 1 on 1 with them. No mind you...I'm not banded (yet), but my nature is not to sugar-coat things...I get to the point and let it be known that I am unhappy. Hope this helps and good luck!

Sweetmeat ~ 70 pounds since February that's great!! Have you been working out this entire time or did you just start? If you just started working out, do you find that this has produced a greater loss? Do you feel toner?

Thanks to all that have replied!! TDR - love the baby port view!! With 4 kids, I really don't have the option to be sedentary. I hope to do a lot of walking!

sweetmeat ~ when were you banded? how much have you lost? Working out 3 times a week is GREAT. I wanna be like you when I grow up (oops I mean when I get banded!!)

Thanks gardengrl!! Glad to hear that c-section recovery was harder. After 3 c-sections, I feel like the c-sect pro!!

OK ladies!!! For those of you that have had a baby by C-section...which recovery was harder? The lapband incision recovery or the C-section recovery. I've had 3 c-sections and was wondering how the recoveries compared to each other. I was up from my c-section pretty quickly, had gas and some pain, but the meds helped when needed. Would love to hear from those of you who have been banded AND had a c-section!!

It looks like several are viewing the thread but not voting. Please vote...as they say 'Rock the Vote'!! The poll does not say who voted or what they voted. So if you say no...no feelings will be hurt. :cool2:

Never thought about a cab!! Great idea!!

Hi Flowers!! You don't have to be banded a long time to be a mentor...Just going through the experience is enough for me. Also BB wanted someone to help her over the hump and motivate!! I think we can all do that!

Lulac/Bigbaby....looks like a party starting in DFW!! I wanna come to!

Wish I live in Miami or you in Dallas!! We could pick each other up after the surgery since neither of us want to tell anyone!!

Sometimes I think men don't understand that women like their ego stroked. I know my husband sometimes asks me if I think he did this well...when I tell him yes he says well you didn't tell me. OMG...such babies!! You are so blessed to have found a man that loves you unconditionally!! Congrats on your weight loss!! That is so wonderful and such an inspiration. I wish you lived closer too. Where is Beeville?

I'm getting banded on September 15th. Yeah me (OK I watch to much TV with my kids)!! Do we want to do a name for our September Bandster group? I think it's kinda cute...you know that one of your fellow group members posted just by looking at their siggy. If you say yes to the poll...suggest a name too and then we can poll for the name a little later.

Big Baby!!! I'm in Grand Prairie. I haven't been banded yet but my date is scheduled for sept 15th. i would love to pair up with you...I can give motivation to keep going and you can give me 'been-there-did-this' advice. We can do lunch (soup, slim-fast), work out (24 hour fitness membership). Let me know if you are interested!

[/url] I will be joining my band sisters on September 15!! So excited but wish my date was in August! I have my pre-op meeting on Aug. 25th. I just wanna do a little dance...make a little (I'll leave it at the dance with you guys!!)

I haven't told anyone that I'm having surgery. My mom/dad would be worried out of their mind and wouldn't understand. They would think that I'm only doing it for my hubby and not for a healthier 'me'. My husband is a military man and in great shape (yes he is fine as hell!!). He would love for me to lose weight but loves me. He thinks that excercising and diets are enough. But like many of you have said that just isn't enough. So here is my dilema...would love to have the surgery without telling anyone but don't know if that is possible. If I could get away with it I would. My hubby is suppose to go to Iraq in Sept and my surgery is scheduled for Sept 15th. My deal would be having someone to pick me up...I might see if a hotel is in walking distance and stay there. I know I'm being selfish but i just don't want the grief!!

Congrat skinny!! Let us know how you are doing and feeling. I pray that your recovery goes smoothly!!

My doctor hasn't mentioned the EKG or Xrays yet...but I haven't had my pre-op meeting yet either. WOW 42 pounds in 40 days!! That's awesome...Now I like 42 lbs in 40 days better than I like 40 days of rain...Noah would have been so jealous!!:embaressed_smile:

Not sure if I was over by 100 lbs or not...my bmi was less than 40. My dr. submitted my paperwork to tricare and it was approved. Do you have a consult approved with the dr. from tricare already? if so, schedule the initial consult and have them submit the insurance paperwork. If you have to tell them that you would self-pay if insurance denied surgery then do it. Thier initial visit with you is covered already..

I am so glad that aprilapple created this group for the STRONG and EVER SO PROUD women of color!! A little about me...34 years young, married - 8 years, mother to 4 beautiful children (3 girls, 1 boy...ages 5, 3, 20 months and 6 months). My baby boy is the last and final chapter of kids in my life:cool2:. I work full time as a Internal Audit Control Manager, but my passion is my own Wedding and Event Planning business. I live in Arlington, Texas (close to Dallas). My husband is a Navy officer. I love to plan events and weddings. Growing up and in college I was never heavy and thought I was always going to be fine. I ended up getting a depo shot for birth control and it's been down hill from there. I want to lose weight because I want to be able to enjoy life with not hesitation. I want to wear shorts and not feel self-consious. I want to run around with my kids and not feel winded. I used to Water and snow ski, but you're not about to see me on any type of skiis right now!! I would love to do that again. Also...I want so apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur (just kidding).:tongue_smilie: I remember a time when I was trying to gain weight for Track but could never maintain 110 pounds. Now I wish I could get to 150 pounds. I'm 5'5 and weigh 225 pounds I would love to lose at least 80, but 95 would be ideal!! I have tricare insurance and have been approved. I have my psych eval today and hopefully will find out when I have have my surgery. Again...thanks so much for this site. I have wanted to know what folks like me have went through and how they got past it. So I'm so grateful to have other beautiful black women to confide in about my journey to a new sexy me. And if there is any insight that I can give...you better know that I will give it!!

Please forgive the multiquote!! Kasey ~ Would love to be buddies and go through the steps with you of your 6 month journey to a newer you!! Losingjusme ~ CONGRATS on the baby!! I saw that you have lost 160 pounds and gained a baby!! Did you have the lapband previously? If you have any baby questions let me know...I'm a mommie-pro (4 kids - ages 5, 3, 20 months, 6 months) :cursing: CassCass ~ Wish my date was Aug 7th! Have you gone to any of the Tuesday support sessions at the office? I would love to chat with you more about your feeling on the Dr. office and staff. Also about the pre-op diet that they put you on.

Hi, I'm going through the process of getting banded. I have had my initial consult with Dr. Ferrara, and my nutrition meeting. I have my phych eval tomorrow and hopefully will be scheduling my surgery for August or September. A little about me...I'm 5'5 and about 225 pounds. I want to lose at least 80 pounds. I'm married with 4 kids (just in case you didn't get that from my user name ). I don't have the spousal support for the surgery, so I'm hoping to find a friend that would help me through it. This site has been great but wanted someone locally to talk to in person (lunch visits, phone, email, whatever). Would like buddies that have been there done that...and someone going through the motions now like me. Thanks so much!!

Hi, I'm going through the process of getting banded. I have had my initial consult with Dr. Ferrara, and my nutrition meeting. I have my phych eval tomorrow and hopefully will be scheduling my surgery for August or September. A little about me...I'm 5'5 and about 225 pounds. I want to lose at least 80 pounds. I'm married with 4 kids (just in case you didn't get that from my user name :cursing:). I don't have the spousal support for the surgery, so I'm hoping to find a friend that would help me through it. This site has been great but wanted someone locally to talk to in person (lunch visits, phone, email, whatever). Would like buddies that have been there done that...and someone going through the motions now like me. Thanks so much!!

nursejag, who called you and told you that? Your PCM or tricare? I've never heard of that before. Maybe they want you to choose your bariatric dr. I had to tell my PCM who I wanted them to refer me to. You have to look for a bariatric surgeon that accepts tricare prime.

Well Tricare Prime (South) approved my surgery!! :biggrin: So I'm excited about that!! But from what I have read and discussed, Tricare has required an overnight stay and the surgery had to be performed by someone from the Center of Excellence. On my tricare authorization letter, it says 'General Surgery, Outpatient'. Has anyone else been approved and didn't have to stay overnight? I'm almost scared to call Tricare because I don't want them to say...oops we made a mistake and you are not approved!! I have more than 2 comorbids but little less than 100 pounds overweight. Also, Tricare hasn't said that I needed to have all of the pre-tests done (ekg, etc...) that a lot of you have had. I've only done the nutrition and physch (7/15). Doctor has never mentioned the other tests. Any answers would be appreciated!