peacequeen

How can you figure out what kind of eater you are? I eat when I'm sad or happy. Most every event and holiday is evolved around food and has been so since I was a small child before I could even remember. So that could make me an emotional eater along with a social eater. I have no motivation right now, very depressed. I'm just trying to figure out why because I'm gaining weight and I'm trying to make this life plan with my future lapband to help me put a stop to the madness. I also just love to think about food. I like trying to decide what will we have for dinner. So I am a food lover, I overeat most 99.5% of the time and most times I will stuff myself to the point of pain and still not be able to stop. I love the smell of food, I can taste it by smell. But it makes me have to have it. I watch the food channel and I think that's setting me up for failure because it makes me starve watching some of those shows because then my visual side comes out. I think the motivation will come when I have my consultation on Mar 10, not sure though. Sometimes I don't know who I am anymore. I know I will have a psych eval and I don't know how to answer the questions. I'm worried I'll mess up. I'd love to get feedback from any of you who have an opinion on any of these areas. I'm trying to figure out,,am I going to get motivated on the band. I'm excited about the process but the waiting time,,I'm living like the bottomless pit. I just eat and eat. Someone told me it's the feeling of getting "the last supper". That I know something drastic will be coming so I'm hoarding food like it's my last chance. I truly believe that. I am worried because I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing to the psych doctor. What do you say? What do you not want to say to them? They kinda call the shots, I hear.

Sometimes posts get buried if it's a busy day. You might also be more specific in your post title. Just posting HELP might deter some from responding especially new members who feel they can't help. I haven't had my surgery yet to answer too many questions but I can help be supportive or just say welcome. So welcome, v2girls!!

Maybe involving your husband in the process might help? Show him some of the really nice photos at this site of before and afters. I read from this site to my husband all the time and trying to educate him too..this is a journey for the both of us even if I'm the one getting the surgery. Let your husband read about the hard work you have to do with the band so he will no longer label it "cheating". It may not bother you now but if he goes into it with that kind of mentality, it might bug you later to hear him say you are cheating when all you can have is a couple ounces of food or a Protein shake.lol On a different note..I'm 46 years old and I have hypothyroid and one of the first and most common signs is the fatigue. Just to play it safe, if you haven't already, have your TSH checked (just bloodwork). This is a condition that doesn't matter if you're overweight or skinny. Good luck, sweetie! I wish you the best.

I think what we're dealing with is because we are trying to not only improve our health but because we want to feel good about ourselves and look good too..people are going to compare WLS to cosmetic surgery. They think it's a selfish act on our part and that we don't need it and throw all these risks out to make us feel guilty. I really do believe that's the issue. Society looks at fat people as if we did it to ourself, that we are lazy. I think I would tell them, on top of the physical and mental health problems that being overweight has caused, the stress of not having family to give support is a big disappointment but..I'm going to do it anyway and they'd have to deal with it. This is a life or death decision and it's a shame they can't be there to help support you for wanting to live! I've only told a few people and I've told them my doctors have recommended it for me. I have a large list of health problems and I tell them I don't have a choice and so far, I've either gotten silence or support. Good luck sweetie, you have support here!

I finally got my call today from the bariatric center! My seminar was on Jan 4th. I'm sort of glad I've had the time to read up on the procedure and how the band works. No surprises. I'm scheduled March 10 for my consultation with the surgeon and they said I would be there all day testing and having labwork done. Is there a name for this appointment and what tests are involved? I have an idea but if someone experienced something similar, could you tell me what all that appointment involves? They're sending me the info but it'll be a few days so I'm just curious and if this is a specific appointment, I'll know what info to search for. Thanks! Weight 271 BMI 45 Height 5'5" Seminar 1-4-11 Consultation 3-10-11

My experience was pretty much exactly what kalipso stated. The seminar I attended, they introduced one of the surgeons. Everything was set up on a slideshow. He discussed the history of WLS then he talked himself as a surgeon and then about the hospital and their success rate, etc. Then he went over each individual weight loss surgery..this will really help you decide which is right for you. He also went over a few details about self pay and a program they offer. They ended with letting a couple of the former patients speak about their personal experiences. We were also able to turn in an information packet to a nurse and ask questions. It was exciting and a pleasant experience. About 1 1/2 hours.

Hope all went well, let us know!

Hi, sorry I don't have Humana but I'm a fellow Kentuckian,,wanted to say hello! Good luck to you!

How long did it take to get the call after the seminar and turning in paperwork? Went to seminar Jan 4, turned in paperwork that night. Had issues with the insurance coordinator but straightened it out ,,still no call and I'm feeling very anxious and depressed. Am I overreacting?

Thanks you guys. Knowing it's not just me having the long wait,,makes it easier. I'm sorry for everyone else now.lol

Good luck! Keep us posted!

Sorry this is a long reply. I think I'm pretty patient. Just hoping to hear how long it took before the call after going to the seminar and paperwork turned in to get an appt with the surgeon. I had a strange experience with the Ins. Coor., I have it in a seperate post. I went to the seminar Jan 4, turned in my paperwork. Told the ins. coor. I hadn't completed the dr referral yet. She said that was ok, not a problem. Told me to call them and they could take that info over the phone when I got it. So I did. I called and the receptionist said ins coor wasn't in, to leave a msg so I did. Waited a week, no return call so I called back and the receptionist said she should call me and didn't know why she hadn't, she took a personal note on a post it to leave on her desk. Said if I didn't get a call the next day by noon to call. Didn't get the call so I called, the receptionist again, left another note,,I told her not to, there should already be a note from the previous day. She said she was anyway. So a week later I get a call from the Ins. coor. She was very hateful and rude to me saying she was out of town and that my paperwork was being returned to me because it was incomplete and not sure why I hadn't rec'd it yet (without asking if I had rec'd it yet??) I was never told she was out of town and I told her I had told the receptionist not to worry about leaving a 2nd note but she insisted. Well, her tone changed. She then said, well, I do have a "copy" of your paperwork here and it seems we need the doctor who is recommending the surgery..LOL I told her that was what I was calling about and had been told it was ok to call this info in. So she wrote my doctors name down (wow) and said she would resubmit the "copy" to the clinician. I wanted to be very nice to her, she was the one who would be responsible for getting "my ball rolling" . I asked her when should I expect a call for my appt with the surgeon and she said about a week or less. Well, it's been 2 weeks, no call. That's all I'm saying. I just wanted to know how long everyone else was waiting. I understand about the diet, like I said, not a problem for me. I read here at this site that others didn't have to go on the diet, having UHC, they apparently have several different plans.

Yeah, I heard that. I also heard there are several different UHC plans and they have different requirements. Medicare requires the diet also, I think they might take some things into consideration though..record of diets tried/failed if recent, health issues and such. Either way, I think my UHC plan and medicare will require me to go through it. That's fine, I'd just like to have an appt with my surgeons office and get this show on the road. Anything for motivation at this point.

I'm not sure how the process works. The insurance coordinator told me on the phone that I should bring my doctor referral letters with me at my consult with the surgeon so I haven't even turned those in yet. I have United Healthcare ChoicePlus. But I will be eligible for Medicare April 1. She told me I would just need to decide which insurance I wanted to go with. Do I need to just call her with that decision? I was under the impression I would let them know at the consult. She told me I would receive a call in about a week from the time I talked to her almost 3 weeks ago. I really don't think her job is a priority.

Congrats,,I think that is major progress..you should be very proud!!!

Congrats and good luck to you!

Congrats! Hope all went well..prayers lifted for you!

Comments like this may not affect those who have already had the lapband surgery or who are in advanced stages of getting it done but those of us who are just beginning. It's very confusing when someone comes on here dogging the procedure that I'm thinking of having. It makes me feel nervous and question my choices. It makes me start scramming to find more information..looking for some fine print that tells me how bad it is what I'm trying to do. Not to mention, my doctor will not give me a referral for any other WLS due to my autoimmune disease, she feels it would be risky. So I only have one choice and she's making me question my one chance. So I was just wondering why someone would want to come on here and make even more sour remarks about the lapband, it only adds to what she's saying.. but of course sleevetalk is more positive, it appears they are coming here to lay out dirt to make the band sound bad. So I end up with self doubt and wondering if I should do this at all. By the way, I did a little searching into the sleeve and I've read plenty of negative in just the 1 hour reading. I think you're going to find good and bad if you look hard enough about all WLS. And after reading for 2 months, I've found that different procedures suit different individuals. I read that the sleeve is for people who have very large amounts of weight to lose. I need to lose 125, it's enough but I don't feel I'm in a chronic stage that I have to go drastic to have a very large portion of my stomach removed,,which is irreversible. I'm looking for something to aid me, to be my helper. I know I have to work too, the lapband would be my partner in crime. I really want this to be a happy and exciting journey for me but I'm getting fatter and very depressed. I want to come here and get motivated and plan my new life. I do that through the successes of others while waiting for my turn,,please people,,don't ruin it for some of us.

I'm sorry, I want to be nice but I've been struggling enough with my decision and what I need to do. I'm not sure I understand the purpose of your coming on LAPBANDTALK to tell us about you getting a sleeve?? Is it to convince us to get one instead of the band?

I attended my seminar on Jan 4. I turned in a packet and had told the nurse there that it wasn't complete, that I had to get my doctor's referral. She said, that is ok, just give us a call when you get it. So I got it..4 of them in writing. I called to pass on the info and the receptionist told me to leave a msg for the ins coordinator so I did and asked her to return my call. I didn't hear anything for a week so I called back,,the receptionist,,sounding a little frustrated said she would write the msg down and leave it on her desk, I told her I was sorry she had to go to that trouble, I just needed to turn in my info, she said no, don't feel bad..you deserve to hear something from her. She told me if I didn't hear from her within the next day to call back so I did. The ins coor. wasn't available..again. So they left another note for her. When I finally rec'd a return call from her..last Monday..she act like she was mad at me. She told me she was out of town and they should've told me that. She also said, "Oh, I sent your packet back to you because it was incomplete". I was like, you told me to call the info in when I got it and that's what I was trying to do. I told her I was never told she was out of town. Her tone changed and she said, well, I have a copy of your packet right here in front of me and well..I'll just take the info you have over the phone and turn it all back into the clinician. I asked her about all the paperwork I have, she's like,,well just bring it in when you come for your consult with the physician. I said, when will that be,,and she said in a couple days,,they will call. I still haven't heard anything. This is supposed to be the best in the state? I've been held up for a month. Should I be angry? Is this all normal?

Yay!!! I'm so excited for you! I think you'll find the seminar very educational and informative. Hopefully they will be able to answer any questions you may have afterwards! Good luck and keep me posted!

Morgandonar, I just realized you are from Ky...so am I! Check out Central Baptist in Lexington. You can sign up online for the seminar and you could register as a self pay to get in. I'm insured so I didn't really focus on self pay so not sure what the payments would be but there will be someone there to answer your questions. You aren't commiting to anything by just going to the seminar..and I didn't have my paperwork completed when I got there so I wouldn't stress about anything till you get some answers. With a bmi of 52, you shouldn't have any troubles qualifying. Dr. Weiss is very knowledgeble and they are rated up there as the best in the state. I was so impressed and relieved afterwards.

Maybe someone with medicare can shed some light. I currently have United Healthcare through my husband's work. I am disabled and qualify for Medicare 4/1/11. If I start the process now having UHC..meet with surgeon, all the pre-op stuff, etc..will medicare help pay for the actual surgery when that time comes? If the starting process is up to 6 months or possibly longer, I'd like to at least get started now. I've seen the seminar, filled out the pre qualifying forms, waiting on appt with surgeon,,haven't gotten a call yet? I've already called UHC and they will cover lapband 80% if I qualify,,bmi is 43, i have comorbidities and past 10+ years of all my weight documented by dr's and i have referral letters from 2 doctors and 2 other doctors willing to push it if I need them. I've heard medicare can make things difficult so I'm trying to decide if I shouldn't just wait till 4/1 to start any of this so I would have primary and secondary insurance. Without medicare it's still gonna cost about 3000.00 out of pocket costs. Just anxious to get this going!