nebraskahickchi

Hi all!! My surgery date is DECEMBER 22!!! Soooo excited!!:thumbup:

OOOoookkkk... UPDATE UPDATE: As frustrating as this is... I WILL HAVE THE LAP BAND SURGERY BY THE END OF THE YEAR IF IT KILLS ME... well, maybe not THAT drastic... but I have been trying to do this for 4 years now. Maybe just not hard enough?

Anyway... this is what I went through. I had insurance through my job. I was approved in July 2008 for the surgery. Also, in July 2008, my insurance was cancelled due to my hours being cut at work. So... per my husband's insurance, I began the 6-month dietary consult. At the end of my 6 months, my work made a change in insurance coverage stating that the minimum hours policy had been waived. I got MY insurance back. I made the appt with my doctor and called my insurance company. Lo and behold they only requested an updated Physician's Verification Letter (Letter of Medical Necessity). My downpayment is paid... I am just waiting for the insurance company to receive the faxed PVL from the doc's office... and then their authorization. I started calling last week and I will call EVERY SINGLE DAY TIL I GET RESULTS!!

So... wish me luck... I hope to post my surgery date sssssoooooonnnnn!!

UPDATE - I have to finish a visit with a nutritionist per my ins. company. In the meantime, due to some downtime I had to take in March, my company is threatening to turn off my benefits!!! (Cry) Keep your fingers crossed. This has been such a long, hard road to go... and I am almost there!

Godspeed! xoxo

Carleen

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Godspeed! xoxo

Carleen

Hi! I know what you mean. I come from a family of "Food solves everything", too. I'm sure your Mom is like my Mom and set in her ways. But, it sounds to me like she wants desperately to make you happy... and it's probably the only way she really knew how - in the past. I find myself feeding my son - who eats like a horse and is the size of a string bean, age 18 - the same way my mother did me. He's not fat, but if it weren't for his metabolism, he would be. No thanks to me. But, until I read your post, I never really thought about it. Now I am wondering... what else could I do for him that would make him happy? Because, I am thinking, food always made me feel good... I want him to feel good, too, right? Maybe this is what Mom is thinking when she is trying to feed you??

Instead... if your Mom isn't as easily offended as mine, you might try explaining that your wants have changed and NOT eating that pie makes you happy.

Old habits die hard and she has raised you and fed you one way all of your life... I am sure it is an adjustment that will take a lot of time, especially since she is not making that change to her life as well. Maybe if she would just keep some Slimfast on hand and say... "Want me to make you a glass of Slimfast?"... or something like that... I don't know, maybe I don't know what I am talking about. lol

I just know that I drive my kids nuts now that they are old enough to think for themselves and I don't have to decide for them. I find myself trying to please them and make them happy any way I can. It's a "mom" thing. =)

Good luck to you and Godspeed, dear. Don't give up.

xoxo

Carleen

I can't wait to have my surgery!! But, I'll tell you what my doctor told me. My doctor is Dr. Glen Forney from Scottsbluff, NE. Their group has been using Lapband for more than 5 years, along with Gastric Bypass and other bariatric surgeries. He said that in his experience he has found that you will be in the same spot in 2 years that Gastric Bypass patients are in 1 year, but healthier. The weight may come off slower, but you are not losing healthy nutrients and your body isn't going through the shock it would go through in a Gastric Bypass. He highly recommends lapband most of the time. However, there are cases where Gastric Bypass is literally the only option.

I went to the consult hell-bent on Gastric Bypass with or without the consequences. I left feeling good about the choice to go with the lapband.

I have read more positive material than negative on lapbands as well. They are safer and it is easier to keep the weight off as they are adjustable and are more of a "tool" than a quick fix.

Good luck and keep us posted. Make sure you get your before and after pics... I find those so inspirational!!

Godspeed! xoxo

Carleen

Hi All! My name is Carleen and I'm from central Nebraska. I have posted before, but this is my first blog. I posted some messages after seeing some extremely wonderful "Before and After" Pics. Everyone is looking so, so wonderful!!

Well - I just spoke with my doctor's office (Dr. Forney and Holloway with Western Surgical Group in Scottsbluff, NE) and Melinda, my insurance person, assured me that they would finally be submitting my files to insurance today. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. I should hear something back in 4-6 weeks... hopefully sooner!!

I am so excited to be making this change to my life. I almost feel like everything else in my life is "on hold". I am ready for the life changes I need to enforce to help myself live a longer, happier and more fulfilling life. For once, I am finally doing something for ME. I am actually looking forward to taking pics of myself... before and after. :thumbs_up:

Once again, thank you all for your inspiration. I am so thankful to have found this online group, I so seldom go out and about.

Godspeed! xoxo

Carleen :smile2: