ladybugchaser

Oh wow! UK may have different rules, guidelines..etc. Maybe you all DO require a referral there. But it's still worth calling a doc who does lapbands to ask. How very interesting! Umm...I can only tell you in the USA..that if you don't pass the mental eval...they work with you...the psycholgist or whoever you did it with...they will help you work through the issues to get you back on course to have surgery. Normally, if one isn't a candidate for surgery you will know with the evaluations...a few get to the table and get opened and wake only to find the surgery didnt' happen (ie...fatty liver prevents it) but that seems relatively rare. That's why the doc has you do a pre op diet to take stress off the liver so it's as healthy as possible when you go under. Generally speaking....they want your money. So if you are breathing, in general good health, will follow doctors orders...it's probably unlikely to get turned away. Wishing you LOTS of luck!!!

WELCOME!!!!! This will be a great start for you considering all you have handled in your life! You don't need a referral from your GP!!!!!!!!!! Grrrr...to your doctor. This is YOUR decision, NOT hers!! Attend a free seminar provided by docs in your area. Start learning and asking questions to them. If you have insurance...you may have certain hoops to jump through...my insurance didn't cover my surgery and we chose to self pay. BEST DECISION EVER!!!!! My SEVERE PCOS is pretty much in remission! SO...your first question (find out by calling your insurance provider) will they cover lapband for you???? What steps does your insurance require for you to have the surgery (some make you do 6 months supervised diet by doctor). I was 'on the table' 3 wks after I decided to do it. But again...I was self pay. I did a mental eval, chest xray, baseline blood tests and I think something else...but can't recall. You probably will be able to get off all the meds too. Please keep everyone here posted!!! You deserve this girl!! Ladybug

my surgeon was able to get my time released med in liquid form so I was safe during recovery. I can take it normal now. talk to your doc... good luck!

I was a self pay and was 'on the table' 3 wks after I said...'let's do it'. You will still have to have some tests done but it's a piece of cake and honestly...I am glad I didn't have to deal with the insurance crap. Whatever you choose...to self pay or to wait and see if insurance later in life will cover...I wish you luck. Rock on, Ladybug

I am back on all my normal sized Vitamins and let me tell ya...the Vit C are HUGE! Whenever your doc allows...you will be fine to take the pill again. GOOD LUCK!!!

Okay...now I am just over 3 months post op and I am STILL seeing my hormones improve. Over the Christmas holiday I was telling hubby how much better I was feeling...almost normal like I was eight years ago before the hormones got funky. I wish you all luck...hoping and praying we keep seeing blessed results! :thumbup:

my insurance BCBS would not consider my PCOS...but in other states it will. It's just crazy. GOOD LUCK ALL!!!!

Congratulations on your date!! I used EAS Myoplex that are sold in all grocery stores. They are already made...so you just refridgerate and drink! :wink_smile: My dietician has started promoting them because they are only 300 calories for 17 ounces and 42 grams of Protein. Several flavors too... Good luck girl!!!

Hey September friends... It's just fascinating to me how different all our experiences are. I am so in a holding pattern with my weight loss and I KNOW what my issue is...I am not eating enough. I have to FORCE myself to eat in the morning. Have no interest or desire AT ALL. It's a little better but not much by lunch...at dinner I am hungry. I get 70 oz. of liquid a day (still could use more) and only at bedtime do I feel thirsty/dehydrated. Other than that...I FEEL GREAT! My main reasons for having the surgery were to trick my body to make horomes again...which thankfully started 48 hours post surgery and I feel so freaking wonderful. It's nice after EIGHT years to not feel dead! Anyone have creative responses for those who know you've had the surgery and ask on a daily basis... SOOOOOOO, how much have you lost now????? People assume it's just going to drop off all at once...I get tired of that question. :biggrin: HAPPY DECEMBER!!! LC

Ditto the above poster. I have THREE dogs who love to climb all over me! They don't know what ouchie/boo boo..etc. mean. lol... I was proactive and preventative and honestly...still am a little. :thumbup: I protect that side of my stomach like crazy...post op I always kept a pillow over me to protect, even when I slept (they sleep around me, not hubby). I even spent the first few nights post op in the guest bedroom, alone. Now, if I see them coming..I just turn to protect the port area. My doc told me he had a patient who cracked her port when her 40 lb. child jumped on her. I don't want another surgery...so safety first! :ohmy:

SUN! What an interesting theory!! I can't wait to watch my hair...I thought if you made is past the 6wks mark and your hair hadn't fallen out you were golden...I will sure be watching mine in the coming months. Hormones are the most interesting and complex thing. And extremely frustrating!!!! Good luck to us all!!! :teeth_smile:

Hey girl! :teeth_smile: I don't really agree with your doctor. No offense...but is it a man? People (even lady docs) who haven't first hand experienced PCOS will never fully be able to relate or direct you clearly with YOUR SPECIFIC CASE. It really depends on what TYPE of PCOS you have and HOW SEVERE your PCOS is. If it's a milder case, sure...you might be able to do it yourself. But if it's anything other than rather mild...it will be a daily battle. Ex. My doc told me the same thing actually..that if I just changed my lifestyle, I could be fine. NOT TRUE. I have to eat so significantly restricted and eat my food in a certain order to lose a little bit of weight...that's just not realistic. Listen to your instinct and use the docs info to make a good choice. YOU ROCK!!!! Good luck!

A lot of people here also use dailyplate.com I haven't set one up yet at any of the places. :teeth_smile: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's soooooo interesting how the doctors differ. I go in every 2(ish) wks.... my doc tries to have us 'where we need to be' within 3 months.

Ditto on contacting doctor for his/her advice...I was putting Protein powder in all sorts of food and was STILL starving. So it was HIS idea to fill me 10 days out...not mine! Good luck! And not everyone experiences 'bandster hell'...everyone has a different experience with the band and with how their doctor directs them. :w00t:

No offense...I am sure your mother means well. LITERALLY, I have NEVER heard about this and do not know any with the band who this has happened to. I am sure it 'can' happen but it's probably extrememly rare. Not as 'common' as she 'thinks'... Good luck!

When is your first post op appt? I saw my doc 10 days after surgery and I was starving too...so he took me in for my first fill!!!!

MOLLY!! So proud of you!! Smart, smart...listen to your gut on who you tell/who you don't. I have a cousin who has ALWAYS been heavy. When I mentioned LB to her she was like...OMG, you're so tiny!!!!!! You don't need that!!! Her eyes are broken, first of all. For my body, I am carrying around plenty more than I should...and second I had this surgery PRIMARILY to put my severe hormone problems in remission. I never told her I went through with the surgery. I only want postive energy around me as I proceed with this journey. ~~some people will NEVER get it~~ We are here for you and support you which ever way you choose!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

Ditto. Get back to what the doctor told you regarding eating...let your stomach HEAL fully. Experience is the best teacher. I slimed once because I was eating too fast. Hasn't happened since!! GOOD LUCK!!

Hi there! I laughed after my first fill because I was so anxious and there was no reason to be. It MAYBE took 3 minutes????? And it did not hurt. My doc had a nurse spray cold stuff on the site (numbing spray) and I never felt the needle go in at all. People say it hurts more to have your blood drawn...I have to agree! Nope, you're not knocked out. I don't like needles AT ALL...so I talk to them...and ignore their hand region. Call your doc's office to ask what their procedure is....some use the cold spray I mention...some don't. I just had my 3rd fill yesterday! WHOOP! GOOD LUCK!!

Sherry! You are doing so great!!! Congrats and enjoy the good life...if you get stuck AT ALL...or frustrated...come here! This site rocks!!

I agree with Brownskin... I was invisible until I stopped wearing sloppy clothes and started wearing trendy items that showed off my weight loss...with that came the confidence...and with that came...well...let's just say LOTS of honks, whistles, double takes when I drive around. I am happily married but being NOTICED again was HUGE for me...and it started because I was 'dressing for the life I wanted, not for the one I had.' GOOD LUCK!!!! It will happen when you least expect...and yeah....maybe YOU should ask them out!!! You little hottie!!!

lol...I had been putting this off based on what others experienced. I had a salad last night and had no problems...just had to slooooow down and chew good. :thumbup:

Hey Kristi... I was self pay but I do have insurance...it just wouldn't cover me. If I lived in Kansas...oddly, it would. I would have had to wait at least another 2 years and get much sicker for insurance to cover me. We made the choice that my health was paramount and you cannot put a price on that. Plus...my medical situation was costing out of pocket $15k per year for the rest of my life.... Why not risk $12k for a surgery that could put my issues in remission???? Well, so far it has. Been put in remission!!! I have been significantly sick the past 8 years and 48 hours after my surgery...I could 'feel' a major improvement. Every day is like a new day. And THAT is worth every last penny we are paying. :thumbup: You are one of the greatest resources to your family and deserve to be healthy and strong. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!!! * * * We put it on a few ZERO interest credit cards because we're too cheap to pay someone to borrow their money... lol... we will have it paid off within a year. K

Hi everyone.... I have been seeing here and there that you have to get unfilled if you get stomach flu...etc. If you are vomiting. I have taken this for YEARS to PREVENT getting those seasonal bugs that float through the workplace...no colds and no flu. It's like I have a protective forcefield around me...everyone is dropping like flies getting sick and I am not. It strengthens your immune system. ACIDOPHILUS 4 X 6 BILLION 60 CAPS - NOW FOODS - Code 2920 You can get it at most major grocery stores (has to be refrigerated) and it's rather cheap too. I follow the dosing instruction on the bottle but when I get in to flu season and people are getting sick around me I bump up my dose...I double the dose and take it more than once a day too. Thought I would share...and seriously...haven't puked in YEARS. Have a great day! K