Great Idea - I will do it right now !!

Hi

I am Janet and I am a recovering food addict :wink2:

I was banded 7/17/07 - My starting weight was 250 - I'm 5'4

Today (just over 10 months out) I am 154 - size 8 pants (was 18/20) Medium tops (was 22/24)

I got banded as I wanted to extend the years that I have left on this planet and to do that I knew that I needed to lose weight.

The band has been the tool I needed. For the first time in my life I have been able to achieve this goal (actually getting to my goal weight)

If you want a buddy - support - help - suggestions - Please feel free to call upon me - I will gladly share my journey with you - the journey is still on going and by helping you I will be helping me (staying motivated and accountable) and then one day you can pay it forward and help someone else.

Janet. Bday is on the 23rd. Birthdays at my age are just kind of another day...but this year I am going to celebrate my new life and the fact that all my medical woes have cleared up and that I feel so YOUNG!

Yep - I know exactly how you feel... I'll be 54 in January so this year will be my 1st b-day at goal...

Hi Everyone...been lurking on LBT for several months and have posted a few times here and there. This is easily my favorite thread! You are all so encouraging!

I'm hoping you can help me out. I need a bit of a boost. I've gone through all my classes, labs, etc. On November 12th, the bariatric program manager told me my paperwork was going to be "submitted" for approval and that we should know something by the end of last week. (I have Anthem BC and they're known for quick approvals for the center.)

Since I hadn't heard anything, I called this morning and was told to contact the surgeon's office for an update as they had sent it over to them to submit. I left a message for the surgery coordinator who could not take my call. I left her a VERY nice VM, asking her if she could please give me an update on where the process was at, noting that I was sure she was especially busy this time of year, and that I would greatly appreciate her taking the time out of her busy day to update me when convenient.

Well...she got back to me alright....she left me a scathing VM telling me how busy a person she was, how my phone calls keep her from doing her work, and to not call back for atleast three days as my paperwork was "in process." Phone calls? I've called the woman 3 times in two months! Once was to give her my credit card so she could bill me, another was at her request to contact her back if I hadn't received reimbursement from my insurance for the appointment, and then this message I left today.

It has been a long time since someone was that rude to me and I was initially shocked. Now I'm pissed. I tried to pray it away, but I think I might need to ask for a bit more intervention from some cooler heads. I actually do feel a bit better now after typing this, but I guess I just needed to vent. Is it too much to hope for common courtesy these days? Arghh....I thank goodness she's not actually performing the surgery!

Thanks for the venue to vent!

Edited November 17, 200817 yr by HOWLUCKYAMI

Yep - I know exactly how you feel... I'll be 54 in January so this year will be my 1st b-day at goal...

The way I felt a year ago, I didn't think I would make it to my 55th. I can honestly say that I have as much energy as I did when I was is college. I am constantly on the run. My job here on the farm requires ALOT of physical work (not like my DH but always in the truck running for parts, moving the guys from field to field, running to the grain dryer to catch a batch and unloading trucks when I need to). The last 14-15 years of harvest have been hell for me to keep up with. This is why I invited my good friends with me for the weekend to celebrate a new life and a new me!

Janet. Bday is on the 23rd. Birthdays at my age are just kind of another day...but this year I am going to celebrate my new life and the fact that all my medical woes have cleared up and that I feel so YOUNG!

HI, Apples,

My BD coming up next week, too... 25th. I think I need to plan a party, too!! I'll be 65!

Your farm life sounds very busy and strenuous!

Glad you can take time out from all that stuff to party with your friends. I think I want to go to a casino and stuff the slot machines to celebrate!

Well happy birthday gals!!! You celebrate like crazy, you deserve it!! I am going to be watching for ideas on how to celebrate my new one in May. I had my consult for my surgery 3 days before my bday this year and surgery 2 weeks after, so this one will be a biggie and I hope to be at goal!

HowLucky, I'd be ticked at that gal too. Fortunately, she's not the one doing the surgery. Are you happy with your surgeon? If so I'm not sure I'd start the process over elsewhere but at my next visit with the dr. I'd be sure he knew about it. She should be more compassionate knowing how much this surgery means to folks and the ardous process to get approval.

Welcome, Lucky!

I wish I had words of wisdom for you about the nurse's voicemail. It was certainly rude - and uncalled for. I'm sure you feel kinda helpless, since she holds your future in her hands in the form of your insurance approval and questions... I hope she calls you back in the next day or so and has good news for you and the good sense to apologize.

This is a great place to go for support and reassurance - and venting, too, if that is your need at the moment. You will get straight talk here - but always done with love. I'm glad you are here.

HowLucky, I'd be ticked at that gal too. Fortunately, she's not the one doing the surgery. Are you happy with your surgeon? If so I'm not sure I'd start the process over elsewhere but at my next visit with the dr. I'd be sure he knew about it. She should be more compassionate knowing how much this surgery means to folks and the ardous process to get approval.

Thanks for your post, Long2. Fortunately, I do like my surgeon, so that is a good thing. I was just blown away by this gal. She really went out of her way to let me know I was a nuisance to her. I'd like to think I'd have been much more compassionate were I in her shoes.

I'm going to take your advice. Once I get to see the surgeon, I'll be sure he knows about what happened. I know that if I were him, I'd want to know how my patients were being treated, both positively and negatively.

Thanks so much for your response!

Welcome, Lucky!

I wish I had words of wisdom for you about the nurse's voicemail. It was certainly rude - and uncalled for. I'm sure you feel kinda helpless, since she holds your future in her hands in the form of your insurance approval and questions... I hope she calls you back in the next day or so and has good news for you and the good sense to apologize.

This is a great place to go for support and reassurance - and venting, too, if that is your need at the moment. You will get straight talk here - but always done with love. I'm glad you are here.

Joann, thank you for your encouragement and understanding. Yes, I am hesitant to make issue of it at this point. As you said, she has all the power at this point. An apology would be nice and would go a long way. If one doesn't come, I can only hope that my dealings with her in the future are as infrequent as they have been thusfar!

Looking forward to being banded, being here, and being the receipent of this threads wisdom, straight-talk, and love! You all are the best!

HI, Apples,

My BD coming up next week, too... 25th. I think I need to plan a party, too!! I'll be 65!

Your farm life sounds very busy and strenuous!

Glad you can take time out from all that stuff to party with your friends. I think I want to go to a casino and stuff the slot machines to celebrate!

Hey Phyll, in case you can't see me I am doing a pre-birthday dance around my kitchen table for you!!!!!!!! Let us know what you end up doing to celebrate.

Oh gosh...I hope I don't come off as making you guys think that my farm life is soooooooooooooooooo tough. It's not. I actually appreciate my job and how flexible it is most of the time. The point I was making is that everything is such a breeze now with the weight gone. It really was a huge chore when I was heavy.

Oh gosh...I hope I don't come off as making you guys think that my farm life is soooooooooooooooo tough. It's not. I actually appreciate my job and how flexible it is most of the time. The point I was making is that everything is such a breeze now with the weight gone. It really was a huge chore when I was heavy.

Hey, wait a minute! Not exacty "tough", but, HOLY CATS, you do a LOT of STUFF around there! Cooking for those guys, hauling things in the truck, etc.! I'm impressed!!

And, YEP, EVERYTHING gets easier as the weight comes off, doesn't it!!

Thanks for the birthday dance~! I think I want to throw a party AND go to the casino!

Hello to all, Im getting banded in 2 days and looking for nay and all advise ofr success. I know its going to be a long hard road [not nearly as easy as it was putting it on ]. I havent been this nervous since i dont know when. I'm so glad I found this sight!

Hi Everyone...been lurking on LBT for several months and have posted a few times here and there. This is easily my favorite thread! You are all so encouraging!

I'm hoping you can help me out. I need a bit of a boost. I've gone through all my classes, labs, etc. On November 12th, the bariatric program manager told me my paperwork was going to be "submitted" for approval and that we should know something by the end of last week. (I have Anthem BC and they're known for quick approvals for the center.)

Since I hadn't heard anything, I called this morning and was told to contact the surgeon's office for an update as they had sent it over to them to submit. I left a message for the surgery coordinator who could not take my call. I left her a VERY nice VM, asking her if she could please give me an update on where the process was at, noting that I was sure she was especially busy this time of year, and that I would greatly appreciate her taking the time out of her busy day to update me when convenient.

Well...she got back to me alright....she left me a scathing VM telling me how busy a person she was, how my phone calls keep her from doing her work, and to not call back for atleast three days as my paperwork was "in process." Phone calls? I've called the woman 3 times in two months! Once was to give her my credit card so she could bill me, another was at her request to contact her back if I hadn't received reimbursement from my insurance for the appointment, and then this message I left today.

It has been a long time since someone was that rude to me and I was initially shocked. Now I'm pissed. I tried to pray it away, but I think I might need to ask for a bit more intervention from some cooler heads. I actually do feel a bit better now after typing this, but I guess I just needed to vent. Is it too much to hope for common courtesy these days? Arghh....I thank goodness she's not actually performing the surgery!

Thanks for the venue to vent!

Hey there Lucky - Welcome to our little group - it's a great group even if I do say so myself:tongue:

Maybe the chick just had a very bad weekend (not that should really make a difference but heck maybe he dh left her or something terrible) - I can't beleive that she was so rude and yes I would be pissed too... I would give it 3 days then call and be your sweet self and then when you get approved and meet with the surgeon I would let him know what happend...

The way I felt a year ago, I didn't think I would make it to my 55th. I can honestly say that I have as much energy as I did when I was is college. I am constantly on the run. My job here on the farm requires ALOT of physical work (not like my DH but always in the truck running for parts, moving the guys from field to field, running to the grain dryer to catch a batch and unloading trucks when I need to). The last 14-15 years of harvest have been hell for me to keep up with. This is why I invited my good friends with me for the weekend to celebrate a new life and a new me!

HI, Apples,

My BD coming up next week, too... 25th. I think I need to plan a party, too!! I'll be 65!

Your farm life sounds very busy and strenuous!

Glad you can take time out from all that stuff to party with your friends. I think I want to go to a casino and stuff the slot machines to celebrate!

Our November B-Day Girls !!!!

Hey, Janet, I may not go on the Hawaiian cruise in April. I signed my husband up for a seminar given by Dr. Garth Davis. He is considering WLS. I am so excited. I would give up any vacation for a healthy husband. He has had both knees replaced and has a neuro stimulator implant for back pain. He gains and loses at least 60lbs every two years. All that yo-yo dieting has taken a toll.

I am going to get another fill on the 20th. I WILL reach my sweet spot soon.

Happy Birthday to all you gals. Phyl, I wish I could go play slots with you. I started playing them on my iphone and blew out the speakers.....had to get a new phone. When I play the real slots I kinda lose control. I guess it is good I live in Texas where there are none.

Thanks Janet,

I was scheduled to be banded on the 19th by Top Surgeons in Beverly Hills. I just found out that the Dr. scheduled to do my surgery is not Board Certified and has only done a few Lap Bands ever. He has only done surgeries under his supervisor's instruction and has only been trained since July! I found out that the two owners of Top surgeons have had their medical license revoked or are on probation for malpractice! Needless to say, I am NOT going through with the surgery and am in the process of looking for a new Dr.

I am excited to meet Dr. Billy in Ventura next week, but I still am a little sad about missing out on surgery this week.. But I do thank God that I found this stuff out before I went through with the surgery. This website is awesome. The lapband community is small and everyone seems to know so much and thanks to this website, I saved myself a huge headache and future complications.

Hey, Janet, I may not go on the Hawaiian cruise in April. I signed my husband up for a seminar given by Dr. Garth Davis. He is considering WLS. I am so excited. I would give up any vacation for a healthy husband. He has had both knees replaced and has a neuro stimulator implant for back pain. He gains and loses at least 60lbs every two years. All that yo-yo dieting has taken a toll.

I am going to get another fill on the 20th. I WILL reach my sweet spot soon.

Happy Birthday to all you gals. Phyl, I wish I could go play slots with you. I started playing them on my iphone and blew out the speakers.....had to get a new phone. When I play the real slots I kinda lose control. I guess it is good I live in Texas where there are none.

Charlene how great is that - your dh considering surgery - I think that's so cool - Yep you need a healthy dh - there is always next yr..

I am not much a gambler - especially around here the casino is about 2 miles from my house - I like to play but in Vegas or Laughlin not so much here...

Thanks Janet,

I was scheduled to be banded on the 19th by Top Surgeons in Beverly Hills. I just found out that the Dr. scheduled to do my surgery is not Board Certified and has only done a few Lap Bands ever. He has only done surgeries under his supervisor's instruction and has only been trained since July! I found out that the two owners of Top surgeons have had their medical license revoked or are on probation for malpractice! Needless to say, I am NOT going through with the surgery and am in the process of looking for a new Dr.

I am excited to meet Dr. Billy in Ventura next week, but I still am a little sad about missing out on surgery this week.:tt2:. But I do thank God that I found this stuff out before I went through with the surgery. This website is awesome. The lapband community is small and everyone seems to know so much and thanks to this website, I saved myself a huge headache and future complications.

Heck Teach I am glad that you found out about this prior to surgery.... So I guess you found out from here that these guys just jumped on the gravy train and really dom't care about their patients..

I hope you dr billy works out...