An appointment is scheduled!

[Manda87 3]

I scheduled an appointment with the surgeon for Thursday. The woman who works with insurance was very helpful and was very willing to help me. I'm nervous. This is all new to me. This is going to be a HUGE lifestyle change. I kind of started a diet. It's mostly portion control/calorie counting. I've lost 2 pounds, but I cheated yesterday and today.

I have a problem with emotional eating. I eat my emotions mostly when I'm bored, sad, stressed or upset. Does anyone here have/had a problem with emotional eating? Has the lap band help with that?

I think my problem is that I have this need to feel full. The Breakfast that I eat around 6 am wears off around 9am. At work I eat lunch at 10:30am and I'm starving by then. By 1pm I'm hungry again. I'm a certified nursing assistant and I'm not allowed to leave the floor or eat while I'm on the floor, so Snacks are out of the question mostly. Maybe I need a new job? lol

[Catherine55 43]

Hi, Manda! Congratulations on your appointment! I'm 15 months post-band and was really worried about the lifestyle change aspect of this before I had surgery. At that point, a good friend said to me "Catherine, you need to come to terms with the fact that you are either going to have to make a radical lifestyle change [whether with the band or with diet], or accept that you are going to be overweight for the rest of your life." That really drove the point home for me.

Having the band has required me to make some significant changes, but none of them have been difficult for me. The fact that my band controls my feelings of being hungry and prevents me from overeating has been a tremendous help. Honestly, I love it and feel that this is one of the very best decisions I've ever made!

I've been keeping a blog regularly through the last 15 or so months -- link is below. Feel free to check it out if you're interested.

Best wishes for your success,

Catherine

[Manda87 3]

Thanks Catherine. :thumbup: You have helped a lot.

I have one question. Was I supposed to go to a seminar? I think most people go to the seminar and then have an appointment with the surgeon, but I haven't gone to the seminar but I have an appointment. lol

[Catherine55 43]

I never went to a seminar pre-op. I just did my research, talked to the Dr.'s office, flew to MX and met with the doctors, then had my surgery. It seems like a lot of US doctors require them, but it's probably so that they can cut down on initial consultation meetings. I wouldn't worry about it.

Hope that helps!

Catherine

[Manda87 3]

So, I went to the appointment today. It was very long, lol. I get do that pre-testing stuff all in one day. When the results come back they will send everything to the insurance. They say the will get approval from the insurance in about 3 days. They asked me when did I want to get the sugery. I really didn't think they would be asking me now. I am thinking about March or April. I have to bank some vacation time for work. I really don't know how long I will need. I think maybe more than a week? My job is phyiscally hard, so I'm thinking I might need more? I'm not sure. I can't believe I'm doing this. Ever have that thought?