gottaloseit

Hi claire. I have not yet been banded. I had to do the whole 6 mo nutritionist thing and psych and all for my insurance. I am currently awaiting my 2nd seminar and surgeon consultation. I wish it would happen sooner but then again I embrace the extra time to learn how to eat better. When I took the first step toward weight loss surgery I was ready for anything, throw it at me. Then I started the nutrition. From the beginning she told me baby steps will help you toward your goal. I lost 11 lbs the first month. The following month I gained 7. Through the process I have had the time to realize that I need to work at this. Of course I need the help from the band to make me less hungry but I need me to stick to it. You know making the right choices. I had a friend years ago have the vertical band and she lost around 80 lbs with it she kept it off for about a year. Then she started eating all the garbage she used to. She ate ice cream, sodas, chips and booze. Her band became eroded and later had to be removed. She is now heavier than she was before. I have accepted that I don't love the food more than I love myself. I won't let this thing take me down and I will get the weight off. I say go for the band, because like everyone here says it is less invasive, reversable and no malabsorbtion. Your goal is totally doable and if you really want it you will achieve it. You just have to begin making and accepting the changes now. Sorry I talk too much. lol. Good luck with everything.

good luck with your surgery and weight loss. congratulations and welcome to the forum

Hey Froggy Jas, Just call me T. I am a 39 year old, Latina mother of five and grandma of 2. My kids range from ages of 24 years to 42 months. I have been on the bigger size my hole life. During my young adult years I was pretty fit but still on the bigger side. It all went down hill after my 4th child. I have been obese for several years and morbidly obese for around 4 years. Its so frustrating. I have pcos which makes it even harder to lose the weight. I am scheduled for my second class in the lapband process on November 21 and my drs 1st consultation on December 22. It stinks that it is so spread apart. But I guess it'll all happen in due time but I needed it to happen years ago so you can see my frustration and my impatience. Ok. Thats enough about me. T

Hey Tquad, thanks for they information. They told me that it'd be a couple of weeks before they'd contact me to schedule surgeon consult appointment and that since I would have to have my surgery with Dr. Upadahy (spelling?) due to my insurance I'm looking at somewhere in November. So we'll see what happens. November would be nice the sooner the better. So sick of waiting ya , know. I've been doing things to get closer to the surgery for about 8 months now. And ya know the closer it gets the more impatient I become. I know I shouldn't think like that but I just can't help it. Well thanks again and let me know how it all goes for you as well.

I live in San Joaquin county also and am going to have my surgery at Alta Bates in Oakland also. I have Health Net with Hills Physicians Med Group. I've jumped through all of the hoops so far, you know, 6 mo. nutritionist, psych evaluation, etc. I just attended the first seminar and turned in my paper work last night. My med group already turned in their paper work. So how much longer do you think I have before the actual surgery? I know that you're still awaiting your surgery date but I was just curious to know if you had any information for me to rest my mind about what to expect next. I know they told me last night that it would be a couple of weeks before they contacted me to schedule an appointment to see the surgery. Are they usually pretty fast with all of this red tape or what. Any info is very much appreciated. Thank You.

Hi luv2teech, it appears to me that those feelings have been underlying for awhile now and since you've been banded you've had a chance to reassess your life and the direction that it's going in. I don't think it's just because you've gotten thinner, I think it's because you know that life can be different for you and that you don't need to settle for a lifestyle that isn't fulfilling . I don't think you should beat yourself up over this. I'm sure he's a great guy and you are lucky to have had him in your life, especially through a tough time like banding. But now you both have different desires for the future and it's OK for you to both move on. Enjoy your time in Aruba and good luck to you and your future.

I am married and my husband has sleep apnea, so I knew what the symptoms were. I also had all of the symptoms, but was in denial. I knew in the back of my mind and in my gut that I had it. I woke up through the night, was tired all day, etc. I spoke with my pcp about it and he sent me to have a sleep study done and I was diagnosed a month ago. I know sleep with a cpap and I have had some of the symptoms go away slowly. Well especially the night time ones (don't wake up as often). I feel a little better each morning. I'm sure there are online questionaires that you can take (don't know of any sites but there are questionaires online for everything). Good luck and you really should get that taken care of, sleep apnea can lead to a lot of medical problems including weight gain.

that's cool your surgery is gonna be in your birthday month. Congratulations your going to be reborn to a hole new you. I haven't had surgery yet and I am constantly changing my mind rny v/s lapband. I think you made a good point about the diabetes. Diabetes runs in my family too. I also have poly cystic ovarian syndrome which makes me insulin resistant. So I think I'm gonna jump on the rny band wagon. Let us know how it all turns out. God be with you on your journey.

I have Healthnet HMO with Hills Physicians as the medical group. I feel the same way about doing everything it takes to get this surgery. The first step I took was calling my insurance and finding out directly from them what to do and what steps to take. Then my PCP and staff are very helpful so that helps a bunch. Not sure exactly how PPO will work. Good luck.

Thanks so much for the info Tena. It's very encouraging. Wow 12 lbs in 13 days you go girl. Great job! Wow if you can do that just imagine what you can achieve post op. Good luck to you too. Let us know how the surgery goes. God be with you.

Hi everyone! OK, so I have been approved for a consultation with a surgeon in Oakland, CA. The surgery (if approved) will be possibly in November. I've already jumped through several hoops for my insurance company which is HealthNet &Hills Physicians is the Med. Grp. Anyway, before I actually have an appointment with the Surgeon I've gotta go to a mandatory informational meeting and fill out all kinds of paper work then lose 10% of my body weight. Now I currently weigh 286 lbs. So I'm gonna have to lose 28 lbs before Nov. OMG I have trouble loosing 5 lbs and keeping it off. They said they'd include the weight I lost with the nutritionist (one of the hoops) but I only lost 5 lbs and it always comes back. So does anyone out there know if they will also include the weight I lose durning the pre-op diet in those 28 lbs? Also any suggestions on losing weight fast. I don't want to miss out on the chance to have the surgery in November. Thanks for any suggestions:smile2:

HOORAY!!!! On your way to a better day. Congrats!

Good job Mary. You must be so proud of yourself. I am at the point right now where a flight a stairs kills me. I used to walk all over town because I loved it and now just walking to the car from the store makes me breathe hard. Thank you for the inspiration. I am looking forward to being able to walk happily again. Keep up the good work.

I'm sorry that your family isn't supportive. That's too bad. But all of us here are behind you 100%. Don't let them get to you. I know it must hurt, try not to let it. It is also unfortunate that their so closed minded not to understand that we are all different and have different problems. Yours just happens to be your weight. It isn't that easy to just go to the gym, stop eating and viola your skinny and healthy and happy. Don't let their inability to understand get in the way of your journey. Let go of other peoples opinions and focus on the prize. Good luck with all hang in there.

Than no worries. Just relax and be who you are and let others be who they are and don't let who they are affect you so much. Just do your thing and stick to it your doing great. Keep up the good work.

AMEN! I agree 100%

I have Healthnet through Hills Physicians. So far the hoops I've jumped through are, 6mo nutritionist and Dr. weigh ins, and the pshych eval. I'm not sure if the psychologist approved it or not but pretty sure he did because the Drs office said that they'd submitt the paper work to the insurance today. So know what, how much longer from here if I get approved by insurance? How many more hoops will I have to jump through and what are they? :smile2: Appreciate any info. Thanks

Oh Sadmommy, don't be so sad. Like everyone is else saying take the first step by calling your insurance co. and see what is covered. Talk openly with your doctor. I was kinda embarrassed to talk to my dr at first. The same with me he'd tell me I needed to lose weight and I knew I was there to ask for surgery but just couldn't get it out. When I finally did he first explained to me the alternative ways of dropping the weight. We decided that persuing the surgery would be best for me. So the way my insurance works is I had to see a nutrisionist for 6 mo then get a psych clearance, and now I'm waiting for approval of consultation w/ surgeon. In the meantime I try to do things to keep the ball rolling forward for myself. Like walk a little more, play with the kids, clean you know be a little more active. I try to eat less carbs and make healthy choices because I want my kids to learn healthy habits. It starts out as a struggle but it can be done by taking one day at a time. Don't look at yourself the way you do. Those extra pounds don't make you who you are, you personality, dreams, goals, desires make you who you are. Whether or not this surgery is right for you or approved for you, you have to start with the inside first. The next time you do look in that mirror smile at yourself and know your are special person.