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Lucky you. I've paid $600.00 so far out of pocket. $200.00 first fee when I met with the nutritionist at month 4 of pre-op. $200.00 on the first day of 2 hour meeting with the nurse nutritionist and they sent me home with 42 (14 day supply) of shakes for the pre-op diet. $200.00 on the last pre-op appointment with the head nurse, where I received my spirometer, my last testing orders. I get free appointments for life with the nutritionist, and the head nurse, free monthly group meetings for life, etc. discounts at a fitness club by my home. My insurance is 90/10 - and unfortunately medicare (my secondary) doesn't cover the sleeve yet, and since my surgeon changed hospitals from Methodist to St. Mary's they have to redo their Centers of Excellence Bariatric thing for medicare. I'm hoping medicare picks up all the ekgs, upper gi etc. I have heard nothing about tummy tuck or the pan(whateveritscalled) surgery. Thanks for the awesome information and wow - what great friends. I don't really have friends that live near me and truthfully only one friend and my parents know about the surgery. Looking forward to hearing more about your journey and being in the June 2012 club with you!

I went through a similar experience over the Memorial weekend, my niece's 21st birthday BBQ with the family, hamburgers, hot dogs, cake and ice cream..... I served myself a hamburger patty with cheese, a few slices of pickle, a tablespoon of potato salad, but strangely, it filled up that paper plate, and as I sat down, I realized there was no way I could finish that plate. I ate half the burger and the pickles, and tasted the potato salad, and I was FULL. I could see those around me with their loaded plates, and I was remembering days gone by, with a hot dog and a burger, salads, chips, drinks...then dessert later, and I would never be really full. My old tummy needed volume to quell the hunger...and even then, I think my gherlin was always in overdrive. I had a taste of cake and it didn't do a thing for me...I felt elated that it had lost it's hold on me. I am lovin my sleeve. It has given me the gift of control. True, I don't get the subtle high of what my old meals brought me, but it has given me the choice to find other ways to feel good, not just by eating myself into a never ending cycle of feeling good and then feeling guilty.

So true. You will never look at food the same. It is amazing how just a bite is enough now. A friend directed me to this website and I found your blog I really enjoy reading your post. Thanks.

Time will fly and before you know it, you'll be wheeling into the OR

Agree with posts, and actually we all have a food addiction. Addiction is something hard for any person to face no matter what the drug of chose and all of our drug happened to be food. You are correct in saying that bariatric surgery will not fix the addiction thinking of any of us, only we have the power to change our behavior and we need help to do that. You do need to seek professional help with your addiction, the band will work but you have to make it work, it is just a tool and it will allow you to eat what ever you chose to put in your body. The only person who can help you develop positive coping skills is a professional and shame on your doctor for not suggesting this unless he already has. I am sorry there is no magic answer or pill we can take for our addiction because if there was I am sure all of us would be taking it. Good luck to you, I know it took courage to ask for help, this is a positive step in the right direction.

You need to be willing to confront the deamons inside you. The band is a tool, nothing more. It is functioning as it should. You need a mental health professional to assist you and I encourage you to seek one out. Until you do get help the band is just a waste of time for you.

Good for you "smoking hot" mama.

Agreed. We all gained weight because of our issues. I'm sure there are few that breeze on through without struggles. We have to look at the banding as a tool and if we aren't ready to face the issues that got us there in the first place, it's going to be fruitless. As foodies, we are so used to failure. This to me is HUGE. I told myself a long time ago that if I ever got the opportunity to be covered through insurance that I would give it my all. I'm not saying that I am going to be a success story, I just know that this is my last ditch effort...I hope that you are able to get some help. I will keep you in my prayers! Much love and hugs!

I know it can be very frustrating when the scale goes up and not down. Keep in mind you had surgery less than two weeks ago! Your body will be doing some strange things just because of that alone. You have some major accomplishments already, the others will come in time.

We are a family of 6...3 of which are teenagers. They enjoy their food. Me being excited about my journey has made them excited. They still eat what they like but make alot of effort to not do it in front of me. When I feel like slipping back into old habits my kids are my biggest fans and say "Mom, you can do this". I am still a mom and have to make dinner so my oldest will make the "sides" which are my trigger foods. I cook the meat because only 1 week post-op have no desire to try to choke that down. My girls will put away left overs to avoid temptation. Until I can take charge of the behavior that got me here my kids and husband cheer me on. My goal is when I can control myself I can take better control of how my family is eating. It is a work in progress. Our families love us and want us to succeed. Good Luck!