Kellster

Oi! This is so true! Work toilet paper is so CHEAP! And my ultimate pet peeve is when the cleaning folk come and leave the half-used rolls on top of the dispenser. Now my cleaning crew at work are great, they keep everything spic and span and I always tell them thank you - but that one thing just drives me NUTS! Why put a half-used roll on top? Just leave it in there and replace it when it eventually actually runs out. We have two rolls in the dispenser and the backup roll never gets used, it's totally pointless. Even funnier - my parents use totally cheapo t.p. and I complain about it every time I am over there. I use twice or three times as much as I would if it were good t.p. so it's not even saving money! Ah and now to go use some of the good stuff!!

What insurance do you two have? I currently have Blue Shield HMO but have to switch to Aetna PPO in 2009 for work. My BMI is 50.5 right now so I won't have a problem with the BMI requirements. I'm committed to do whatever it takes to get insurance coverage and want to make sure I do it right!!

Right on, congrats that you have made it this far! I wish the best to you with your band and in fighting alcoholism.

I think we all just have to remember - there are going to be potential complications with any surgery. ANY surgery. We could talk about C-sections gone bad, or screwed up laparascopic knee surgery. Or people who die on the table due to anesthesia complications. There are always risks with any type of surgery. It's good to know the pros, and even better to know the cons, that's why this forum is here - for us to learn the good, bad, ugly, amazing, results of this life-changing surgery, and decide for ourselves if it is something we choose. For me - a lifetime of being morbidly obese, the complications both mental and physical that arise from that disease, and the societal judgements from being obese far outweigh (pun intended) the risks associated with LB. LAPBANDFREE - I'm sorry you had the complications you did, and I'm happy for you that you were successful in losing weight after the band. I'm glad you posted your opinion, because if anything - it gives people something to ponder and discuss with their own surgeons.

One of my oldest friends that I've had for 14 years is starting to be a negative Nancy (sorry for you nice ladies with that name). She is actually bigger than I am and was there when our friend mentioned LB. I decided it was for me, ran with it, and have done a ton of research and gotten the ball rolling for me. My friend is so angry and against the surgery and almost doesn't even want to hear about it. I know she has issues/concerns with money, family support, change, the unknown, and just hasn't tried everything to lose weight like I have so she's not at her rock bottom. I get that. However, she is one of my best friends and I need my friends to understand what I am going through. My family and friends have all been absolutely supportive except for her. So when telling one of our mutual friends about it, I could feel the resentment and anger coming from my bigger friend and so I called her out and said "You know, I understand you don't want to do this, I totally respect you for that and I'm not trying to convince you otherwise, but I need to talk about it with my friends and have you guys understand what is going on with me and what will be happening to my body, so you are going to hear about this a lot more in the coming months. So please, you don't have to do this yourself, but understand that it's what I have chosen to do." She shut up pretty quick but I can still feel the resentment and anger, and I know it will just increase more and more as I lose weight and look great and she is left as the only big girl in our group of friends. The extent to which people go to prevent change and ensure their "control" of their own unhappiness in life never fails to surprise me. All I can do is live my life to the best of my abilities, support and love her through her idiosyncrasies, and encourage her to be her very best self - whatever that means to her. Ok I'm getting off my soap box now. Hugs to all of you ladies with jealous friends.

I'm sure there are exceptions to every rule, and extenuating circumstances do occur, but the one constant I find again and again - to be successful with the band, follow the guidelines! I hope and pray that I do not encounter any problems down the road when I get banded, but you can bet your life that I will be following every guideline, and taking the advice that I learn on here and putting it to good use. But it's good to know that if (God forbid) any complications arise - LB is totally removable! That's a big reason I'm doing this surgery instead of any others. Try that with bypass, it won't work so well... Troll or not, I'm getting banded no matter what it takes!!! :thumbup:

Again, I apologize, sincerely. However, if I were to live my life in the effort to always be PC and not offend a single soul, I would be mute.

Well I apologize for offending you.

I went to my first OA meeting today mostly in support of my roommate, but I mean hey - I'm getting banded - why not?? Strangely enough I didn't feel like I fit in... but I was totally honest about why I was there and it seemed like the rest of the group kind of glossed over the surgery. My dad has been a sober alcoholic for 20 years, so I understand how powerful the 12 steps can be. But I'm still wary about the band + OA.

Re-re is a Kellyism for me being special. :party:

:party: Hey everyone! I started the six month diet recently and am kinda confused - should I lose weight? Or not? I mean... I know the insurance requires it to get approved (and that is what I want - approval), but if I can lose weight with the physician supervised diet, isn't that kind of uhhhh counterintuitive? I am waiting on my referral to a dietician, but need some advice in the meantime. I want to do whatever it takes to get approved through insurance!!!!

Ok so I've been slowly learning the LB lingo, and I consider myself a decently smart girl, but what the heck does "DH" mean? I've seen it in reference to a husband, but I can't for the LIFE of me figure out what it means. :party: 1st - please help end my confusion! 2nd - any other random LB lingo you know of, please feel free to let me know. I have a long journey ahead of me and want to be in the know while I'm traveling... Plus it'll probably help some other newbies! :thumbup:

Hi Pauline and welcome! Good luck - a little more than a week left!

I've seen somewhere else on here that silica supplements (aka silicon compound, silica extract, etc) helps with skin and hair and can be beneficial to the extra skin issue, but I haven't had a chance to talk with my doctor about it. Anyone have any info on this?

Well it's been about a month since I started thinking about LB, and a couple weeks since I really got serious about it and started my journey (hoping to get banded 3/09). I have to admit - I have succumbed to the "last supper" syndrome and have been letting myself eat more than I usually would because I am feeling like I "can't" or "won't be able to" eat this stuff after the band. Even worse is that it was my birthday last week so perfect excuse for dinners out and cake (yummmm) :cool2:. The best part is that I've been boozin it up too, and I can tell, my ankles are swollen like sausages (I'm sure my hormones are helping with the swelling too). I love love LOVE beer and wine but know how many dang calories are in there. :laugh: In any case - NO MORE LAST SUPPER! What the heck is wrong with me? I'll just have to lose MORE weight if I keep eating like this... So yeah, no more, I am back to eating healthy and will go to the gym twice this week, dangit! *sigh* It sounds weird - but I can't wait for the psychologist. I don't have what I consider "serious" eating issues, but obviously I have some challenges with control, etc. and would like to get started on those mental/emotional things while I prepare to get the physical tool to help me lose weight once and for all. I know I'm not crazy - any tips on how to stay away from last supper dilemmas? :thumbup:

Yay, welcome Andrew! I just started the process toward banding, and your story is motivating to me. I am over 300lbs but have no comorbities really, blood pressure/cholesterol/blood sugar has always been normal and healthy. My joints are iffy but that's hereditary and due to sports as a kid. It's great to hear of your success! And your approval too... I have Aetna and am kinda worried about the approval process. Any suggestions?? Again, welcome - this is a great site with so much info and support!

Hey everyone! I have been hearing here and there about some insurance companies excluding LB when you switch to a new insurance co because it was to treat a "pre-existing" condition. Does anyone know if Aetna does this? Did anyone switch to Aetna and then have LB? I'm currently with Blue Shield HMO and have started the process, the six-month diet, etc. and my PCP knows I'm switching to Aetna due to work. I'm worried that I'll be doing my part and then when I apply to Aetna to approve it, that they'll deny me based on the pre-existing... However, my BMI is 50 according to one calculator, but without any serious comorbities (yet!!). I could lose 50 pounds and still qualify... Help!

My roomie is considering LB through Kaiser So-Cal, but has a lower BMI (38 I think) and a couple comorbities. She saw her PCP last week, but it was an unsuccessful visit as her PCP was not a fan of LB or any bariatric surgery at all. However, she did mention that Kaiser So-Cal recently approved LB as a surgery, but that it takes a lot to be able to have it done. Good luck with your PCP, and be stubborn - it's your right to pursue anything that will help your health! I know my roommate is frustrated, luckily our work is changing insurances at the end of the year so there is some hope for her, but man I just wish she didn't have Kaiser right now. :thumbdown:

I would try exercise for sure, it helps rev up your metabolism to burn more calories and increase your resting metabolic rate so you burn more even if you're just sitting down (the added muscle will help with that too). Plus, in the past (I haven't been banded yet, FYI) I found that the amount of weight I lost was directly proportional to the amount of Water I drank. The more water I drank - the more the pounds flew off. If only I had been able to keep losing, but I look forward to getting banded and having a tool to help me get the weight off and keep it off! Good luck and congrats on your success thus far! :thumbdown:

Rock on! Congrats on your journey - it will be worth it!

Well if it turns out you aren't PG (and from your response I'm assuming you don't want to be...), then I recommend the Nuvaring birth control. I forget to take b/c pills and so it's nice to have something doin the work for me even when I forget. Plus, it's lower dosage and higher success rate. Good luck, with whatever happens!

Hey you started your new journey on my birthday, so we kinda have the same birthday now!! :smile: Congratulations and welcome! It's great to see someone close to my age who has a lot to lose (like I do) and has already started on their journey. I've found a lot of info and support in this forum so far, and I am still working toward getting banded myself. I especially liked the forums for people in their twenties, and the one for how much weight you have to lose. It was comforting knowing that these people were coming from where I am at and that they were facing issues that I have concerns about. Again, welcome and WOOHOO!

Hey Labby! I'm starting right about now too, it'll be fun to see how we progress toward surgery (I can't wait!!!) and see how our lives change. I too have a bit less than 200lbs to lose, I love sports and I miss them terribly! Volleyball and spandex shorts, watch out - I'm comin back for you! Woohoo!

Hahahahahahahaha! I love it - I am SO glad that I am not the only anal-retentive person on this site. Grammatical and spelling errors drive me NUTS! I even catch typos in printed books... I think it's a sickness. Although, I am a comma freak, I LOVE commas and I totally overuse them. :biggrin: It takes a lot of trees (some of them with missing branches) to make a beautiful forest, right?

Hey all - I just want to say howdy and THANK YOU for your sharing and updates, it gives me constant hope and inspiration and confirmation that I am on the right path. Seeing folks with lower BMIs and less weight to lose has been frustrating. I have yo-yo'd up and down a few times but feel that the large amount of weight that I have to lose is pretty much impossible - until I learned about LB!!! And now knowing there's a group for people of my size on this journey, I feel even better. Yes, it took me a while to figure out that this group was here, but hey... I'm just special sometimes I guess. In any case, I want to say "Hi!!!" You will be hearing from me now and again for sure, as I get closer to surgery and afterward of course. Congrats to all that have had such great success, I can't wait til it's me telling those stories! :biggrin: