HolliJ

Anyone take the adult gummy vitamins? They're delicious!

Mine did, too, lmao!! When I told her about the lapband, that was her impression. I had no idea she was thinking that. She just told me yesterday that she watched a medical show and realized it's under the skin! DUH, lol! I was wondering why her expression was like :thumbdown: when I told her about it in the first place.

Also, their self-pay is like... $12,000 or something. Riverside Surgical and Weight Loss Center

I'm going with Dr. Domkowski, who is in Sebastian, FL. I live in the Viera/Melbourne/Cocoa area, so it's about an hour away from me. But my parent's next door neighbor is a nurse and highly recommended him. I went to the seminar and I meet with him on Monday. No program/admin fees, either!

The original surgeon I was looking into charges a $3,700 program fee - which is not covered in insurance. How ridiculous! The surgeon I'll be going with has NO program/administrative fees at all! So I'm thrilled with that. There's no reason we should have to pay some extra out-of-pocket fee.

Damn, that sucks! I'm glad my insurance company doesn't require all that. They want: letter from doctor (letter of medical necessity, I guess), 5-year weight history, and diet history. Then a psychologist and nutritionist evaluation. And that's hopefully it! But I'm still definitely going to try to lose as much weight as I can before the surgery - AFTER I get approved.

Ugh, I'm right behind you. Feels like it's taking forever, lol. I've gone to the seminar. I have an appointment with the surgeon next week. I have an appointment with my Endocrinologist June 30th (to get a note from him & weight history). After that I meet with the nutritionist (we set an appointment after I meet with the surgeon). Then I still have to meet with a psychologist, although I have no idea who I'm going to go to. Need to find that out. But we can't even submit my paperwork to the insurance company until at least next month. :grouphug:

Guess not :biggrin: Taken from Wikipedia: You had said something about a raw potato, so I connected that to Pica.

The surgeon I'm going with (Dr. Domkowski) has a psychologist they refer patients to for the lapband process. Well, for some reason, my insurance company won't accept her as the person who does it. Anyone who lives in the area go to a particular person? I'm afraid I'll find someone and they'll end up being anti-weight loss surgery. I don't want to waste time and money on that. Anyone have any names or ideas in finding someone to go to?

Awesome!! I'm going to be submitting my paperwork sometime this month. I have my consult with the surgeon on the 15th. I'm in the process of getting my weight history from my endocrinologist (been seeing him 5 years) and previous primary (currently don't have one). Then I need to figure out how to determine my diet history, lol. I don't know how the hell I'm going to manage that. I've dieted so many times and have no idea how much weight I lost each time. But I'm hoping I get approved soon after that. I'm so excited about having the surgery!

Nope, haven't tried the "10" yet. I've only had the original, but I love the XXX flavor (Acai-Pomegranate-Blueberry)!!

I also have a problem with self-sabotaging. A couple years ago I lost about 30lbs and noticed that I got more male attention. Before I knew it, I gained all the weight back (and more) in a 3-month period. When I was younger, I had a lot of issues with guys, as far as getting attention. I had a couple guys stalk me. I've been pursued by married men, men older than me, etc.. It really did cause me a lot of stress and mental anguish. When I started gaining weight, the attention lessened. At this weight, life is comfortable and safe. I don't worry about that kind of attention, because barely anyone looks at me twice anymore. Flirting has become almost non-existant. I guess I'm afraid that if I lose weight, I'll get that type of attention again. I've been single since 2001. I haven't even kissed anyone since that time. I'm a virgin (I'm 26). Yes, it's by choice. I actually consider myself asexual.

Does your niece have pica?

I'm wondering if other people were always nervous about the surgery or just right before the procedure? I'm not scared/nervous at all. I mean, I'm a long way out right now. I just went to the seminar and haven't even filed the insurance paperwork yet. But the idea of the surgery doesn't scare me at all. Does that come later?

I haven't gotten mine yet. The only people I've talked about it with are: 1) My parents 2) My immediate co-workers (2-3 people) 3) My niece (she's 12) 4) My parent's neighbors... one being a nurse who recommended the surgeon I'm probably going to go with. Before reading the posts here, I never even thought about how people may be critical of it. I don't think it's anyone else's place to judge. Do they think we just woke up and said, "Wow, I'm fat, I think I'll get weight loss surgery even though I've never attempted to control my eating or exercise!" Please. My boss, I noticed, is kind of unsure about the whole thing. I guess because it's a surgery and she probably can't fathom the idea of having an "unnecessary" surgery. She, herself, said she hates surgery. Well, ok, then don't have it done. I think it's important enough that I will risk having surgery in order to be successful at living a healthy and happy life.

I just went to a seminar a couple days ago. There was about 8 of us (potential patients) in a room. There was also the surgeon, a girl from the office (to talk about insurance/financing), the psychologist, and a girl who got the sleeve in September (and has lost 100lbs). The surgeon just went through a powerpoint presentation about the Lap Band and Gastric Sleeve (which are the only two weight loss surgeries HE performs). Then he answered anyone's questions. And we just filled out a paper with our insurance information (and contact information). We were told they would contact our insurance companies and find out what the requirements are for approval. That's it.

Hello :tt2: I found this forum as I was researching Lap Band surgery. Thus far, I haven't done much. I was going to go to a seminar for Dr. Fusco (in Florida) this past Thursday, but canceled. After reading posts on this forum about the $3,700 program fee, I had hesitations about him being the surgeon I wanted. When I talked to a friend, who is a ICU nurse, she told me that she doesn't recommend him. She said he's an great surgeon "until something goes wrong". Supposedly if he gets called in the middle of the night about a patient of his, his response is "What do you want me to do about it?" I don't want that kind of attitude from a doctor who is to perform surgery on me. She did give me the name of Dr. Domkowski, who she HIGHLY recommends and said he's a WONDERFUL doctor. So I'm now signed up for his next seminar, which is on May 28th. As for more about me, I'm 25 years old. As a child, I had a normal weight. I was pretty active during my childhood and early teen years - very big into rollerblading. I also took horseback riding lessons, tennis lessons, gymnastics, figure skating lessons, etc... When I hit my mid-teen years, I became very depressed. Eating more and no longer having the desire/motivation to be active, I started gaining weight. As the years went by, the weight went up and up. I've tried different diets, but the weight loss I did achieve didn't last long. I was always hungry, always wanting food. While I could eat less, all I thought about during the day was the next time I could eat. After a few weeks or months, it felt like I just exploded and ate everything I could, as if I had been starving myself. Not only did I gain back the weight I lost, I would gain more because of it. I'm sure we've all experienced that. I haven't tried a lot of fancy diets because I haven't been able to afford it. The diet I mainly stuck to was counting calories, although I also tried Atkins and was on a study for a weight-loss drug (I'm pretty sure I had the placebo). The study was supposed to last a year, but I dropped out after 5-6 months. The reason is because it wasn't helping me and work obligations didn't allow me to make my doctor's appointments when the research person was available. I've been diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). I was also tested as borderline diabetic (by one point above normal). I don't want to get diabetes. I considered weight loss surgery years ago, but didn't have insurance or money at the time. I've been working for a great company for the past 1-1/2 years and my mom finally just put that little bug in my ear about it. Now I feel like I'm absolutely convinced this is the right path for me. What do I want out of this? I want to feel good about myself, instead of being ashamed. I want to be healthy. I want to be able to run, possibly even run marathons. I want to be able to perform small tasks and not feel tired or overworked. I want to be able to eat to live and not live to eat. I want to be able to feel satisfied with small portions and not think about food all day. I want to be able to enjoy the things I used to enjoy and do new things which I've been too insecure to do. Or just haven't been able to because of my weight (like sky dive). I look forward to getting to know all of you and hopefully be able to join in as a bandster. Details: Age: 25 years old Weight: 260lbs (highest weight ever) Size: 22/24

I'm fat because... As a kid, I was pretty active. I rollerbladed, figure skated, played tennis, horseback riding, gymnastics, etc... When I hit my teenage years, I become severely clinically depressed. I lost all desire and motivation to be active. I blew off all friendships. Food became my friend. I ate for all reasons and didn't get any exercise. My depression ended in 2004, but I'm now stuck with the eating and exercise habits I had previously. I'm fat and it hurts to exercise, so I don't. And I'm constantly hungry from eating large portions and poor quality/high calorie foods. And feeling so bad about myself and ashamed just makes me want to eat more and exercise less. Plus, mix that with being able to drive to McDonalds. Or not having time to grocery shop because I work two jobs and go to school.

I know many insurance providers require documented diet attempts and others do not. The reason I'm asking is because I'm worried about qualifying. I'm waiting until after the seminar to question my insurance, though. I have United Heathcare. Most of my previous weight loss attempts have been through calorie counting and exercise and not through a doctor. I've lost like 15-30 lbs at various points. I was also on a weight loss drug trial, through my endocrinologist, but I think that only lasted around 5 months (I dropped out, maybe it was 6 months). I've also tried Atkins. Not really anything else because I didn't have the money to spend on fancy things like Weight Watchers (went to like 3 meetings). I also have no idea what the date ranges were that I lost weight. What insurance provider do you have, what did they require, and what did you submit? How detailed do they expect you to be?

Thanks :tt2: I really wish I could have gotten control of it before it happened, but... we'd all be skinny if we had been able to do that. I just hope it all works out and I'm able to get it. I know my insurance provider will pay like 85% of it, but I don't really know all the details (as far as what they require).

Whose seminar did you go to?

I live in Melbourne (Viera). I've just made my Intro post and I'm going to a seminar on the 28th.