WonderWmn

Today is my last day of work and I'll be off the rest of the week recovering... I hope it's enough time but I think if I need more time I can ask for it, we'll see. I've had a checklist of things to do before the day and all that's left is to have my last meal, having my last protein shake now, then take my test in class right after work, then start the bowel prep and that's when the fun really starts, lol. I'll be at the outpatient surgery center tomorrow at 8am and surgery is scheduled for 10am. I can't wait to get this over with... my diabetes really gave me a scare this weekend. I was driving to Houston like I usually do on weekends to go see my sweetie and I had a low blood sugar crisis... since I have been on a low-carb diet it might have been a good idea to stop taking my Metformin, something my doctor forgot to mention... anyway I had the worst feeling and blurred vision that set off my vertigo... it was a scary drive... then yesterday I had to drive back and it was okay at first, then the blurry vision set off my vertigo again and I basically cried and prayed the last 60 miles before I made it home... I knew God wouldn't fail me but it was so scary... So these last few weeks as I've been preparing and telling my co-workers and kept hearing "you don't need that" or "you're not that big" I started to wonder if maybe I didn't need the LAP-BAND®, but after this weekend's episode of what will continue to be my life if I stay on diabetes meds I've been reassured that I do need this! I know I can't do it alone, call me weak, I really don't care... it's my life and body and I know what I have to do for me... I just think of it as getting some will-power installed, lol... I'll try to blog tomorrow evening if I'm not too woozy from the drugs... but then again woozy if nice, hehe TTFN, Jen :huh2:

Today is my last day of work and I'll be off the rest of the week recovering... I hope it's enough time but I think if I need more time I can ask for it, we'll see. I've had a checklist of things to do before the day and all that's left is to have my last meal, having my last protein shake now, then take my test in class right after work, then start the bowel prep and that's when the fun really starts, lol. I'll be at the outpatient surgery center tomorrow at 8am and surgery is scheduled for 10am. I can't wait to get this over with... my diabetes really gave me a scare this weekend. I was driving to Houston like I usually do on weekends to go see my sweetie and I had a low blood sugar crisis... since I have been on a low-carb diet it might have been a good idea to stop taking my Metformin, something my doctor forgot to mention... anyway I had the worst feeling and blurred vision that set off my vertigo... it was a scary drive... then yesterday I had to drive back and it was okay at first, then the blurry vision set off my vertigo again and I basically cried and prayed the last 60 miles before I made it home... I knew God wouldn't fail me but it was so scary... So these last few weeks as I've been preparing and telling my co-workers and kept hearing "you don't need that" or "you're not that big" I started to wonder if maybe I didn't need the LAP-BAND®, but after this weekend's episode of what will continue to be my life if I stay on diabetes meds I've been reassured that I do need this! I know I can't do it alone, call me weak, I really don't care... it's my life and body and I know what I have to do for me... I just think of it as getting some will-power installed, lol... I'll try to blog tomorrow evening if I'm not too woozy from the drugs... but then again woozy if nice, hehe TTFN, Jen :tt1:

Congrats... I have the same insurance and I was approved only two days after they received my paperwork... I'm having my surgery tomorrow... woohoo...

Congrats on your surgery... how is it going for you? Don't we have the best insurance, I am so blessed that my employer offers such an awesome plan... I am getting over it little by little... luckily BCBS approved me in 2 days, yes 2 days!! I called them repeatedly and explained to them how my center didn't advise me of the change so maybe that's why I got such a quick reply... my bf is also going through True Results and he starts this month so now we know that we have to keep checking on any changes with insurance and not rely on the center. They have done a great job with my case other than that one issue...

So yesterday I found some old photo albums with high school pics and realized that I will be back at that weight soon and got so excited... back then though, I thought I was huge but now that I look at those pics I see that I looked great... I just feel so hopeful that I will look and most importantly feel better... I was just diagnosed as diabetic and with high cholesterol last month but I'm sure I have been for a while. I kept putting off going to the doctor and my lab work because I suspected something was wrong with my glucose. But now I have another motivating factor... to lose the weight and flush the new medications down the toilet, lol. I don't plan on taking them after my surgery so I won't refill them... The high protein/low carb diet is getting easier each day and I know it will all be worth it... I have to much to live for and too much to still do... I started crying last night when I was looking through those pics because I thought of all the years I have been overweight and had low self-esteem... I have been a confident woman for the last few years at my size but I can't wait to see the thinner Jenny again... :thumbdown:

So yesterday I found some old photo albums with high school pics and realized that I will be back at that weight soon and got so excited... back then though, I thought I was huge but now that I look at those pics I see that I looked great... I just feel so hopeful that I will look and most importantly feel better... I was just diagnosed as diabetic and with high cholesterol last month but I'm sure I have been for a while. I kept putting off going to the doctor and my lab work because I suspected something was wrong with my glucose. But now I have another motivating factor... to lose the weight and flush the new medications down the toilet, lol. I don't plan on taking them after my surgery so I won't refill them... The high protein/low carb diet is getting easier each day and I know it will all be worth it... I have to much to live for and too much to still do... I started crying last night when I was looking through those pics because I thought of all the years I have been overweight and had low self-esteem... I have been a confident woman for the last few years at my size but I can't wait to see the thinner Jenny again... :redface:

I thought 6 months was super long too but now I'm scheduled for 9/22, woohoo... and now I think it went by quick... I had to do the 6 month program for insurance coverage and didn't find out until my last appointment that BCBS of Illinois changed their criteria on July 1st and I only need 3 months! The center didn't catch it either so I felt like I wasted two months, but everything happens for a reason so I'm okay with it... most days, lol I work and go to school so the time went pretty quick for me... PS - Make sure you periodically check with your insurance coverage for any changes... most companies are changing their policies since this surgery is more accepted now...

Hola... I'm having my surgery on the same day and I'm freakin starving, hehe... but I know I can do it... Good luck, Jenny

I hadn't even thought of this... I just got my date yesterday, 9/22/09 and that is when I should be starting my next cycle but I am going to cheat and not take my birth control 'blanks', this way it skips my cycle :w00t:

Hola... I finally got my date yesterday and now I"m just getting through the pre-op diet... I've tried Slimfast in the past so shakes are not hard for me, now getting home after driving past all my fave fast food places (there's a Taco Cabana on the corner) will be tough, but I know I can do it. I have BCBS of Illinois and didn't find out until last month that back in July they changed their requirement from 6 month to only 3 months... my surgery center didn't notify me until my last weight loss appt last month so I was pretty upset and thought that I could have already had it done and been recovered. But I figure everything happens for a reason so I'm not going to be upset anymore and just try to be patient for 12 more days :thumbdown:

Hola... I finally got my date yesterday and now I"m just getting through the pre-op diet... I've tried Slimfast in the past so shakes are not hard for me, now getting home after driving past all my fave fast food places (there's a Taco Cabana on the corner) will be tough, but I know I can do it. I have BCBS of Illinois and didn't find out until last month that back in July they changed their requirement from 6 month to only 3 months... my surgery center didn't notify me until my last weight loss appt last month so I was pretty upset and thought that I could have already had it done and been recovered. But I figure everything happens for a reason so I'm not going to be upset anymore and just try to be patient for 12 more days :redface:

Hola... I finally got my date yesterday and now I"m just getting through the pre-op diet... I've tried Slimfast in the past so shakes are not hard for me, now getting home after driving past all my fave fast food places (there's a Taco Cabana on the corner) will be tough, but I know I can do it. I have BCBS of Illinois and didn't find out until last month that back in July they changed their requirement from 6 month to only 3 months... my surgery center didn't notify me until my last weight loss appt last month so I was pretty upset and thought that I could have already had it done and been recovered. But I figure everything happens for a reason so I'm not going to be upset anymore and just try to be patient for 12 more days :w00t:

Well I have been so busy with work and school that I have not had time to post in a few months... I have already completed just about all of my pre-op stuff and my last appointment at True Results is Aug 21st! After that, they will submit my paperwork and get me scheduled for surgery. I am so excited and can't believe it is so close... I thought the day would never come... I've already lost about 25lbs on the pre-op diet plan and have posted new pics... can't wait to post my post-op pics :wink:

Well I have been so busy with work and school that I have not had time to post in a few months... I have already completed just about all of my pre-op stuff and my last appointment at True Results is Aug 21st! After that, they will submit my paperwork and get me scheduled for surgery. I am so excited and can't believe it is so close... I thought the day would never come... I've already lost about 25lbs on the pre-op diet plan and have posted new pics... can't wait to post my post-op pics :sad:

I also have BCBS of Illinois and I'm just starting out with my pre-qualifications... the 6 month medically supervised plan and the required consults. I called my insurance to verify what the surgery center quoted me and they were wrong. They told me my deductible was $500 but it turns out that it's actually ZERO!! Luckily my employer chose a plan that covers 100% of the surgery so I only have to pay for the nutritionist... I find it ironic that they require a nutrition consult, yet they don't cover it... anyway, I'm just glad that everything else will be covered. I have the PPO and I'm making sure that everything required is documented and once I complete my last visit on August 13th, then we're submitting those puppies. I'm trying to have my surgery on Labor Day weekend since we get a 4 day paid weekend at work, so that will save me some vacation days... I'll update once I get to that point... good luck everyone!

After reading Band Groupies comment to my last blog (thanks and I posted some answers on your blog on how to add the background and make it pretty... I am such a girlie girl :cursing: anyway, she mentioned that maybe I was too young to member the show... not true. I love that show and Wonder Woman! I dressed up like her for a few Halloweens when I was a kid... my mom made me the costume and even used gold candy foil for the headpiece and wrist thingees. It might have been chafa (spanish getto word for cheap :thumbup: but I loved it! I had long black hair like her and everyone said I looked just like her... well that's when I was convinced that I could do anything she could. Okay so I don't have an invisible jet and boy do I wish I had the lasso of truth with the men I've dated in my past, haha... but I am all into Girl Power and she was one of the first strong women I was ever introduced to. This weekend I told my boyfriend that one of my weight loss goals has to do with WW and for Halloween 2010 I want to dress like her. Of course I could've done it this year, but I didn't want to be the fat WW... I did find the plus size costume and sorry but it was a little to revealing especially when you have a lot to hide, hehe... well I was thinking this morning on my way to work that maybe that was silly, but then I got a confirmation at lunchtime. One of my co-workers got me a WW notebook that she said she had to get when she came across it as the store this weekend... so I take that as a sign that I will be a not-so-fat version of WW by 2010. Then I'll just need to get that jet and lasso and I'll be set... Ebay maybe?

After reading Band Groupies comment to my last blog (thanks and I posted some answers on your blog on how to add the background and make it pretty... I am such a girlie girl anyway, she mentioned that maybe I was too young to member the show... not true. I love that show and Wonder Woman! I dressed up like her for a few Halloweens when I was a kid... my mom made me the costume and even used gold candy foil for the headpiece and wrist thingees. It might have been chafa (spanish getto word for cheap but I loved it! I had long black hair like her and everyone said I looked just like her... well that's when I was convinced that I could do anything she could. Okay so I don't have an invisible jet and boy do I wish I had the lasso of truth with the men I've dated in my past, haha... but I am all into Girl Power and she was one of the first strong women I was ever introduced to. This weekend I told my boyfriend that one of my weight loss goals has to do with WW and for Halloween 2010 I want to dress like her. Of course I could've done it this year, but I didn't want to be the fat WW... I did find the plus size costume and sorry but it was a little to revealing especially when you have a lot to hide, hehe... well I was thinking this morning on my way to work that maybe that was silly, but then I got a confirmation at lunchtime. One of my co-workers got me a WW notebook that she said she had to get when she came across it as the store this weekend... so I take that as a sign that I will be a not-so-fat version of WW by 2010. Then I'll just need to get that jet and lasso and I'll be set... Ebay maybe?

Well here it goes... I have to do my six month medically supervised program and can't think of a better way to pass the time than to blog my thoughts and progress on this journey... First a little about me... I'm not married, but I have been in a very happy relationship with a great man for about a year and a half! I am 36 and have no kids, although I do have 2 beautiful nieces and an awesome nephew... I call them my babies from anotha motha :w00t: I'm not really sure if I want any of my own and realistically time is running out for me, but God will give me what I need so I'm not worried. I work at an advertising agency in the finance department and I love it here! I've decided to go back to school for a degree in Marketing so I'm doing that at night and have finally gotten into the swing of things. I've always been chubby, chunky, and eventually fat, yes I said it, I know I'm fat and I'm okay with it. I did lose about 75 lbs over 10 yrs ago but gained it all back within a few years and haven't been able to lose it as I've gotten older. I have never had a problem with my size and don't really care what others think of me, but I've had to look at my health and I know what lies ahead if I don't do something about it now. Being Hispanic is awesome and I love my heritage, but it's also a whammie when it comes to genetics. My parents are both diabetic and heart disease runs in my family so I know it's only a matter of time before I get it. :sneaky: So after much thought and research I'm taking the big plunge and getting lap band surgery. I chose True Results because Dr Gonzalez did my gallbladder removal a few years ago and I was happy with his care. So then it came time to see what my insurance covered and what I would be responsible for. I have BCBS of Illinois and I'm super happy with the plan my employer has chosen. The WLS is covered 100% and I have no deductible!!! I can't believe how lucky I am, I love my job :tt1: I did notice that my company is pretty big on staying healthy, we have free gym memberships at Spectrum Clubs and there aren't too many overweight people working here... So yeah, I'm the fat girl at the office, but I won't be for long, hehe. Well I do have to pay for the nutrionist that is required but that's not too much. And so I've already had most of my appts scheduled and will post my progress as I move along the requirements. My boyfriend is also having the procedure done so I have a band-buddy already But I am a lil jealous cause he only has to do a 3 months of weight loss program, but then he has a deductible so it evens out... He'll lose weight sooner, but I'll have more shopping money :tt2: Well I guess that's all for now and if you've made it this far, I hope I've kept you entertained. I'm always up for hearing others people stories or sharing mine so don't be afraid to leave comments... TTFN, Jen

Well here it goes... I have to do my six month medically supervised program and can't think of a better way to pass the time than to blog my thoughts and progress on this journey... First a little about me... I'm not married, but I have been in a very happy relationship with a great man for about a year and a half! I am 36 and have no kids, although I do have 2 beautiful nieces and an awesome nephew... I call them my babies from anotha motha :thumbup: I'm not really sure if I want any of my own and realistically time is running out for me, but God will give me what I need so I'm not worried. I work at an advertising agency in the finance department and I love it here! I've decided to go back to school for a degree in Marketing so I'm doing that at night and have finally gotten into the swing of things. I've always been chubby, chunky, and eventually fat, yes I said it, I know I'm fat and I'm okay with it. I did lose about 75 lbs over 10 yrs ago but gained it all back within a few years and haven't been able to lose it as I've gotten older. I have never had a problem with my size and don't really care what others think of me, but I've had to look at my health and I know what lies ahead if I don't do something about it now. Being Hispanic is awesome and I love my heritage, but it's also a whammie when it comes to genetics. My parents are both diabetic and heart disease runs in my family so I know it's only a matter of time before I get it. So after much thought and research I'm taking the big plunge and getting lap band surgery. I chose True Results because Dr Gonzalez did my gallbladder removal a few years ago and I was happy with his care. So then it came time to see what my insurance covered and what I would be responsible for. I have BCBS of Illinois and I'm super happy with the plan my employer has chosen. The WLS is covered 100% and I have no deductible!!! I can't believe how lucky I am, I love my job :ohmy: I did notice that my company is pretty big on staying healthy, we have free gym memberships at Spectrum Clubs and there aren't too many overweight people working here... So yeah, I'm the fat girl at the office, but I won't be for long, hehe. Well I do have to pay for the nutrionist that is required but that's not too much. And so I've already had most of my appts scheduled and will post my progress as I move along the requirements. My boyfriend is also having the procedure done so I have a band-buddy already :mad2: But I am a lil jealous cause he only has to do a 3 months of weight loss program, but then he has a deductible so it evens out... He'll lose weight sooner, but I'll have more shopping money :tt2: Well I guess that's all for now and if you've made it this far, I hope I've kept you entertained. I'm always up for hearing others people stories or sharing mine so don't be afraid to leave comments... TTFN, Jen

Hi hteadtbear... as for the ticker, just click on mine and it should take you to the website where you can create your own... once you get the code, paste it under your signature. I have the biggest thing for Wonder Woman... my cubicle at work is decorated with her, when I was a director with Mary Kay, our unit was Jenny's Wonder Women... she's like my hero and one of my goals is to dress like her for Halloween 2010, well I could do that now but I don't want to be the 'fat Wonder Woman', hehe... :ohmy:

I had my appt with my surgeon, Dr John Gonzales today and I double-checked on the insurance coverage and I was correct, I am only responsible for $500!!! I asked why it's different for someone else who might also have BCBS of Illinois and I was told that it depends on the plan the employer has chosen. I love my job :tt2: But it doesn't surprise me because this company is big on staying healthy and we even have a free gym membership at one of the most expensive clubs here in town... of course even that didn't get me to keep going to the gym, hehe... but I have started back this week...

I just started the process and won't be banded until September since my insurance requires the 6 month weight loss program... anyway, I've already started telling people... I don't really care what anybody has to say about it, it's my body and my health... so far I've gotten a few 'you don't need that, it's not like you can't walk around', lol... well if they knew my BMI was 43 then maybe they wouldn't think that way... my boyfriend is also going to do it and he's not wanting to tell anyone until afterward... he doesn't have the most supportive family and two of his friends kinda burst his bubble when he told them... my family is thrilled for me and they know how long I've struggled with this and they know me and that I wouldn't make a decision like this unless I had thought it through. But for those people that are private and not wanting to share TMI, I totally understand... I've never been a private person so it's in my nature to blurt it out, hehe

I started researching the Lap Band about 3 months ago and found that there are several centers here in San Antonio to choose from. I almost went to a seminar at one place then searched for a surgeon through my insurance website, BCBS, and found Dr Gonzales. He actually did my gallbladder removal about 2 years ago and I liked being in his care. So ultimately I chose True Results and so far, I couldn't be happier. I have an appt to see him tomorrow morning and I'm scheduled to have my surgery in Sept... insurance requires the 6 month supervised weight loss program. The cash cost of the surgery is $15k... if I had it, I would pay it today, but don't mind waiting the 6 months if my insurance can pick up the costs... more shopping money for me :sneaky:

Deener... I am going through a True Results Center and they have been doing everything with my insurance company. They told me that everything is covered except for the nutritionist appt which totals to about $200 for three appts and then my total costs will be $500... The office staff was high-fiving me because they said that I have great insurance. All my appointments are scheduled through True Results and I am using them as my 6 months of medically supervised program that's required for the insurance. From reading on this forum, I've noted that some people have to look for a nutritionist or psychologist on their own... I'm so glad I found this center because it will make everything go smoother. I have an appt tomorrow with my surgeon and I'm going to ask again about the insurance just to be sure. My boyfriend is also going through this but he has Aetna and has to pay $1500, but he only needs to complete 3 months of the weight loss program... as agonizing as it is to wait, I'd rather do it and have more cash in my pocket... and I'm glad he's going first so that I can see what it's like before I go through it... I'll let him be the guinea pig, hehe :sneaky: