lyndeeboo

Thanks for your message! Yes, you say it perfectly...unlike drugs/alcohol, we need food to LIVE, so it's always going to be there, always going to be around. It is completely up to me to know when to stop...it's just so easy sometimes to put it off until tomorrow...which is why I'm as unhealthy as I am. Good luck with your recovery and with the rest of your journey! I hope that everything works out great for you

Thank you for taking the time to respond. My intention of my post was to not blame ANYONE other than myself...I know that *I* am the one making the choices to put bad things in to my body. *I* am the one choosing to stop at Arby's (that was used as an illustration, an example so to speak). My point was, that MOST of the time I make the BEST choices...I eat great...but it's those FEW times that I make such BAD mistakes, make such BAD food choices that completely cancel out ALL of my good choices. Because when I make bad choices I make really, really bad choices. There is no one to blame but myself and I'm not attempting to put blame on anyone but myself. The point to my post was to just point out that for ME, i sometimes feel that I'm like a drug addict or alcoholic in the sense that I can't STOP. In addition to that I AM frustrated that my insurance doesn't cover any sort of food counseling services or bariatric procedures.....it will not stop me from moving forward because I'm lucky in the fact that my Husband's insurance DOES cover it and he can add me to his policy...but so many people aren't lucky like me to have that option. And, until someone has walked a day in someone else's shoes they can't imagine just how tough things can be sometimes Again, I appreciate you so much for taking the time to respond and I wish you all of the success in the world in your weight loss journey!

Debbie, I'm right there with you wondering the same. Hope you don't mind I'm following your thread and hoping someone comes up with some answers! I wish there was a thread somewhere on here that specifically answered those questions

I'm in North East Texas (the Mt. Pleasant area)...how do I FIND a doctor? I'm willing to travel to Longview or Tyler , travel west to the Rockwall area or travel east to Texarkana...anyone have any suggestions?!?! How often do you visit the Doctor before your surgery (i.e. consultations, tests, etc) and then how often do you visit after the surgery? Thanks

So far you're happy with him? I'm trying to find a doctor adn am SO afraid I will pick the wrong one!!!

Thank you for this. Thank you for taking the time to do it and for being so willing to share everything about your journey. I am having one of those 'days' and reading this was just what I needed. You have accomplished something amazing and I am very inspired. Thank you.

I'm new here...I looked in to being banded a few years ago but then got pregnant before my first appt with a doctor. Now I'm refocussed and ready to gain control of my life (And my tubes are tied, so no more unexpected pregnancies!) I'm reading all of the posts trying to make SURE this is what I want to do but am having some problems with terms used. Can anyone help?!?! Maybe there's a super-newbie thread I should read that I've looked past? -Green zone -stuck Those are the main ones I keep hearing that have me confused. thanks

Yay!!! Best wishes

Both terms make perfect sense now...Thank you! Green is GOOD, stuck sucks

I looked in to being banded 2 years ago, my insurance wouldn't cover it. I waited a few months and had my husband add me to his insurance...two weeks later found out I was pregnant (exciting and a blessing, but got me off course for "my" plans - haha) Had my sweet baby boy last year, lost some weight right after he was born and decided I didn't need to be banded, so I had my Husband drop me from his plan. I have gained all of the weight back plus some and it's coming close to my Husband's enrollement period again so I want to re-explore the idea. Hubb's isn't as supportive of it this time around (since we 'wasted' an entire year's worth of $$)...totally NOT my fault! Anyway, how long are you typically off from work? I don't know yet if I WANT my employer/coworkers to know about the procedure...I know that's silly, but if I have the surgery and actually LOSE weight, I don't want everyone discrediting the weight loss as me 'just having stomach surgery' as they've done with another employee. I've SEEN this employee change her eating habits and exercise, so I know it's HER and not 'just the surgery', but people that haven't dealt with weight issues can't imagine the magnitude of the struggles people have and are viscious behind her back. I'm just trying to decide if I should take the time off as vacation, or if I would be off such a short amount of time that I could take it as sick leave without raising any eye brows. I know laws protect people from having to share medical information, but I still work in a small enough area where the 'good 'Ol boys' mentality prevail and there aren't many secrets. Thanks in advance if you've made it this far

Thanks so much for all of the replies. All of your info has really helped me. I'm now sure that, at least in the beginning, I only want to tell people that NEED to know. I don't want any negative feedback and don't want the constant 'look' I'm sure I would get. The main thing I guess I needed to hear is that, although this surgery is a TOOL, it's not the only way I will lose weight. I will have to watch my portions, make better choices and exercise. I think that will be my answer to those that ask - - that I began watching my portions, making better choices and exercised...I feel confident I won't feel guilty for telling the truth I also think I will plan on taking a week off and will take it as vacation THANK YOU!

It's funny. I've been overweight my entire life and even though I know my reasons I've never really admitted them to anyone...very liberating

I want to be able to buy clothes somewhere other than plus-sized shops. I want to go for a walk and be able to not be out of breath. I want to walk down the hallway without my thighs rubbing together. Mostly, I want some random guy to check me out...I don't know that I've ever been 'checked out' before and I would like for someone, just once, to make me feel sexy. Yes, I'm married and no, I wouldn't ever cheat on my Husband, but just once for someone to think I'm sexy enough to glance at would be nice.

Thank you SO much!!!

You don't happen to have a website or phone # for him, do you? I am in the very early stages of finding a doctor.

I'm in the Mt. Pleasant area and looking for a surgeon. Any way you can get me his contact info to see if my insurance is in network?

Oh Jen I seriously feel like you took most of your words right out of my brain. My Hubbs is super supportive, other than that, EVERYONE has told me what a bad idea this is, and that I should just 'try harder to lose the weight'. I just want to scream DO YOU NOT THINK IF I COULD DO THAT I WOULD DO THAT AND SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS & GOING UNDER THE KNIFE???? I don't *want* to have surgery. I don't *want* to be teh chubby-bunny that is so lazy and unmotivated that I can't lose weight on my own. I don't *want* to miss out on bread for the rest of my life, but darn it, more than that I don't *want* to DIE of a heart attack!!! I don't want to be the mommy that my kids are ashamed of. I don't want to be the frumpy woman too tired and worn out to play with my kids. I WANT to be in shape, happy and healthy. At this point I feel like this is my only shot at it. I just wish if people couldn't be supportive they could mind their own business!!! Hugs to you!!! I promise I at least will have your back :thumbup:

Hey Ya'll! I'm brand new here and looking for answers before I dive in too deep, only to not really be a 'match' for lap band. My main two concerns are A) if my weight issues can be helped by lap band and :thumbup: If my insurance will cover the procedure. A little bit about me: I'm 28 and I've been over weight my entire life. I currently weigh 240 lbs, even though when I look in the mirror I don't see that much weight packed on my body! I *know* how to eat healthy and that I should exercise, but somehow whenever I go to sit down I can't STOP myself from gorging. I always tell myself: Next meal I won't eat as much. Tomorrow I will exercise. problem is, the 'next meal' and 'tomorrow' I long for never seem to come. When I do diet, I can lose about 10 pounds, but can only stick with ANY diet for about 2-3 weeks. After that i fall off the wagon, so to speak. I eat when I'm happy, sad, bored, mad...you name it, food is my comfort. I don't want to do a procedure if I will have the same results as with any other diet program. i want to do this to change my life and so I can be around to raise my kiddos. I just want to be able to have the energy to be a good Wife and Mom and right now the only time I have energy is when it's shoving food into my mouth My other concern is insurance. Do insurances typically cover any part of the procedure, or is it all out of pocket? What does a procedure cost? Thank you in advance for any and all advice!

I work in an office and am in the early stages of planning to do the band. My insurance won't cover it, but Hubbs insurance will...and lucky for me this is open enrollement, so he's adding me this week..YAY! Anyway, until I know for SURE that I qualify and WILL be banded I don't want to tell my work about it at all...people like to talk if ya' know what I mean Just so I have an idea, how long are you typically off work, from the time you go in for surgery, until the time you are back in your chair at work? Has anyone ever done it and NOT told an employer? You know, pretended to be on 'vacation' for the procedure and then returned after recovery magically losing weight? How often do you get 'sick' when you're first banded? How much warning do you have before you need to hang yourself over a toilett....or do you have to upchuck in a trash can? I know...random questions! I just want to mentally prepare for what lies ahead and want to be sure I will have enough time to get from my desk to the restroom (I'm about 30' from it)! Thank you :wub:

I hate to be a whiner, and normally I accept when I'm defeated, but before I give up before I've even began I want to be SURE this is the end of the road with my thoughts of having LB done. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. I just made a quick call to see what my coverage would be with lapband and was told point blank, (in a nice way!) that the procedure, nor any other obesity or morbid obesity treatment would never, ever be covered, at all. :thumbup: So is that it? Is there any way to protest when it's not that I was denied a particular procedure, but that they don't cover it, ever? I'm just so sad and deflated. Does anyone know what the procedure costs out of pocket? Would insurance EVER cover refills and adjustments if I paid for the procedure out of pocket, or would those too be out of pocket?

Thank you for your replies, I really appreciate all of you! You've definetely given me some great information. My hubby's open enrollment is about to begin with his employer. I think I will check into his insurance and *IF* they cover the procedure it may be worth the extra money to add me to his insurance. Now another question: Since his insurance will be my secondary insurance...anyone ever had to go through that fight?!?! Will the secondary insurance cover me, or is that automatically a good reason to deny coverage?

Nevermind After a quick call to my insurance, the lovely Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, I've been informed they cover nothing relating to obesity or morbid obesity, which includes any and all surgeries. Bummer. Guess that makes my decision pretty easy. :thumbup:

Bob, thank you for this post. I am in the beginning stages of deciding if this is the right choice for me, and your post makes me feel a little less scared. I DO NOT want to have surgery, however, when it comes to eating I can't seem to stop. More than not wanting to have surgery, I want to LIVE to watch my children grow up. thank you for this positive message and post.