Rainydayz

Yeah, that's what I thought too. Now I know why the other one they recommended first was so booked up. It probably doesn't take so many visits. Oh well. At least I know they'll do what the insurance needs because they've done it for my surgeon a lot.

OK, well good news. The psych was in my network. Bad news, for some reason this takes 4 visits. Yuck. Today I just gave my basic history, family history, weight history etc. Next time she says I will take a test. Next time we will talk about the test. And I'm not sure what the 4th time is for. Oh well. At least the ins. will pay for most of it.

Yeah, you're right. I'm going. Who knows when I could get an appt. with the other one. I couldn't even get through on the phone to them. I don't want to delay this any longer.

Sorry to butt into the thread but what is malt o meal? I've seen it mentioned here several times. I thought it was a brand name of cereal, but is it a certain kind of cereal? Like cream of wheat or something? Thanks!

I've started drinking them and I just started my supervised diet phase. I want time to try several out and see which ones I like better. I've found that they are great for dessert or mid-afternoon snack when I normally would have eaten a candy bar or piece of cake. They're a whole lot better for me than a candy bar. And I drink the chocolate ones and it cures my craving for chocolate. Something that a piece of chicken will never do!

Hi. I have been asking the same question lately. So far I have tried Muscle Milk chocolate and EAS 100% whey Protein chocolate. Of these 2 the Muscle Milk is better but it has a little more carbs. They are both drinkable to me when mixed with skim milk and crushed ice. Someone suggested to freeze some milk in cubes to make them icy without watering them down. Others suggest adding sugar free pudding powder to make them taste better. I haven't tried that yet but I am going to. I like the Muscle Milk but some others here say it gags them. So you really just need to sample some and find what you can live with. Good luck!

My psych eval. is tomorrow morning. I couldn't get an appt. with the dr. I wanted so i went with the second choice in the papers the surgeon's office gave me. I knew the first one was in my insurance network but when I couldn't get him I made an appt. with the other one not checking if he was in my network or not. Tonight it dawned on me to check and he's NOT! So now I either have to pay for the late-cancellation charge or go through with it and just pay for it hoping my insurance will reimburse me something. I have no idea what it will cost. I might be worth it just to cancel and wait for the other one to have an opening. What do you all think? Has anyone had to pay out of pocket for their psych?

Hi ladies! Are any of you still around? I am in Fayetteville and I'm using Dr. Gorjala. I went searching here for people who have used him and found Paigey. I hope you are still doing good. Do you still go to the monthly support meetings? If so I may you see you there. Take care!

I have heard of that recipe but haven't had the nerve to try it yet. I might see if my kids will eat them. At least it will give them a little veggie in their dessert!

Hi from another forty-something! Congratulations on your surgery date and best wishes to you. I can't wait until I have my date and this is all over with. I don't have any grandkids yet but I hope to be around to see them when I do! I just started my supervised diet that could be as long as 6 months depending on whether the insurance will accept some previous dieting I did. I've cut out Coke and candy so far. I've lost 5 lbs. just doing that. It's hard sometimes when I'm in the mood for chocolate. But I keep ss ff pudding and protein drinks handy. They really do help.

I don't know but I have heard some people here and elsewhere say that they "failed" their psych evaluation and simply had to go to a few counseling sessions then they were approved. IMHO I don't see why any of that matters anyway. Having a healthier body has got to be good for your mental health as well. Good luck and let us know how it works out. I have my psych eval. tomorrow and I'm kind of nervous. I've been "tested" before! Heaven knows what they'll come up with for me!

Good luck to you. If your sugeon's office has a coordinator she should be the one to help you submit the paperwork and appeal if necessary. My coordinator is really good about letting me know what I need to do next and all that. Good luck to you. I hope you get approved soon!

I had my tubal in 2006. From what I've heard about gallbladder surgery I think it's worse. At least it was for my friend. I'm hoping the band surgery is the easiest of them all!

elfiepoo: How do you get your fiber? Do you have problems getting enough?

Not banded yet, but I have seen people talking about how eggs get stuck. I don't understand it but apparently they can be a trouble food.

That sounds wonderful. I too, took phentermine for a few months and lost 30+ lbs. but it all came back after I quit taking it. I'm glad to hear the band is working for you. It gives me hope that it will work for me too. It would be wonderful to be able to take two bites of something and be satisfied. Instead of eating 1/4 of the whole cake maybe I could eat a normal person serving and be done with it. I've already started not having goodies in the house and my cravings are going crazy today. I'm really trying to tame the carb monster during the supervised diet and it is really, really hard.

Good to know.Thanks! I'm just about decided on the Band but some days when I'm craving everything that isn't nailed down, I begin to doubt if anything will ever work for me.

Maybe I'll find a psychologist who can help with head hunger if that's still a problem after the band. I've read a lot of books too that really don't translate to real-world practice. I can know in my head that to eat that ice cream is not the answer to my problems and will just make it worse, but I can't convince my cravings of that!

Me too!

Since the sleeve actually cuts out part of the stomach that produces the hunger chemicals do you think the sleeve is a better treatment for head hunger?

When I take phentermine I have to make myself eat. Food is not attractive to me because I simply don't feel hunger for it. So how can diet pills control "head" hunger but people say that the band does not? And it's not like I'm one that doesn't have head hunger. I can gorge then 30 minutes later I feel like I "need" something else to eat. But diet pills take all that away. But I can't stay on diet pills forever which is why I'm looking at the band.

Does it hurt?

Sorry I can't help with how the surgery will be - I'm not banded yet. But I'm excited for you. Congratulations on getting approved and getting your date!

When I told my primary doctor that I was considering WLS she looked at me and I hope you're talking about the lap Band right? I said yes but why. She looked funny and said that "Well we've lost patients due to the other surgery." She went on to say that her practice has done follow-up care on several bypass patients that were in and out of the hospital for bypass-related problems and she repeated that she has seen patients lost after it. Meaning die. Sooo.... I'm not going there. I would however consider the sleeve, but I'm leaning toward the band because of it being adjustable and reversible.