DrmBig4Evr

Thank you sooo much! This is really inspiring for me as I am getting worse health wise, still don't have enough info to submit to insurance just yet, they hope to have all my records by the end of the week! Congrats on the weight loss and keep it up! And even more kudos for the energy and fun with your grandkids!

You can overdose on protein, but it would show up in your urine...

you can always ask to see if you insurance will cover a panni, this is the removal of excess skin, some insurances will pay for it if you doc writes something about bacteria or infections growning under the excess skin. You would have to pay additional for a full tummy tuck and some surgeons will work with you to get as much as they can paid for by the insurance.

Thank you all so very much! Yes I have the moon face and belly, I have the mood swings and thin skin with bruising. All due to one steroid injection, the last time I took Prednisone was in February and only for 3 days cause all the meds I took gave horrible reactions, so all it could be is the ESI. Some docs say that this is impossible, but I'm here to tell them it IS possible. Thanks so much for your kind words and Freelance Frog, your belly will go away, it may be the last to go, but it will! I know that will be the same for me!

All I can say is increase your food intake just a little bit and also increase the exercise. It is about the length of time. My doctor always said you need an hour a day of exercise to lose, 30 minutes to maintain! You are definitely doing great. I have plateaued before last year when I lost 45 lbs on my own and it was hard, it last about 4 weeks, just be patient!

Completely agree with everything said. And as with most of us, we know how to lose weight, but we need to get our mind focused on it. I have yet to be banded but have lost significant weight on my own and it is not easy. From the wording and "tone" of your post, you truly are a marine. I have many friends who are marines and this is reality. Keep your approach up and all of the attached medical issues due to your weight will get better. That is why I am even considering it. Thank you for the post and congrats on your decision.

I know that I will need one as well after I lose the weight, how did you do it? What did you submit? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Kathryn

Wow! Great job!

Then I think you've done a great job. Its all about adapting to situations and you have been able to stick to the diet for the most part. Keep it up, bring some items with you if you can from home and some tupperware, then make your own soup, etc.

Congrats on your weight loss! Keep it up and you'll keep feeling great!

congrats! that is great news! just be patient and research both options, the pros and cons of each.

Be patient with me...first blog I have ever written Well a lot has gone on in my life recently. And although I am not one to reveal all of my business in the public eye and of course be vulnerable, I have learned that many of you on this site are truly supportive. I feel the need to write a little bit about what I have been going through for the past several months... Like many of you I have been overweight it seems like my entire life. There were times in which I had lost weight, felt great, and looked good. Well, here I am, only 30 years old facing the hardest decision of my life. People who know me probably would not understand this as I had my son at a very young age, 14 and my second son at 21, was able to be a great parent to them, finish high school, go on to college right away, graduate and have become pretty successful overall. I have been through so many things in my life which on the outside appear to be much more complex than my decisions today. In the past I have had boyfriends and husband who physically, emotionally and financially abused me, but all the while managed to keep the kids away from it, and left. I say all this to tell you the following... I underwent 2 back surgeries in my lower back, my lumbar spine at the same level I had two discectomies about 5 years ago. I felt great even lost 45 lbs last year and thought I could do everything on my own. I began to slowly pack on the pounds again and in February of this year, 2011, I fell suddenly on ice and things progressively got worse. Now at the age of 30, when I am suppose to be young and energetic, playing with my boys and excited about the future I am now faced with these decisions. After I fell I progressively got worse, my right leg was going numb, my back in major pain, I bent over twice and got "stuck" in that position and was in agony for the next few days. I went back to the doctor who did some testing including an MRI, nothing was on my nerve, thought this was great news...that night both of my legs stopped working for what seemed like an eternity, maybe 30 minutes to an hour, I swore I was paralyzed forever. Come to find out that because of this fall my back was now unstable and will most likely need a fusion. My doc referred me to an ortho surgeon. This ortho surgeon took a look at my tests, but never physically examined me and said yes you need a fusion, but you need to have physical therapy first to see if it works. I thought that this would be great I'll show them...I will get better with PT, boy was I WRONG, I got even worse. So bad that at the end of my 3rd week of the 6 weeks, my physical therapist told me I needed to go back to my ortho. So bad that my supervisor pulled me to the side and said that I needed to take action that I was looking like I needed to be off of work and gave me the name of her ortho as I complained that mine was not listening to my complaints. Well her surgeon was great and figured if they were going to tell me I needed a fusion which is very involved I would want at least 2 to 3 opinions. He put me off of work, luckily I have great benefits and although I'm a single mom, I am still getting paid. With the first surgeon, he referred me for an epidural steroid injection, that did not give me any relief at all really. The second surgeon did a whole slew of tests and yes actually looked at my back and where I was complaining. This surgeon also concurred that I needed surgery, but interestingly he recommended that I have a choice, I can either have the surgery (but my family lives 1000 miles away so 3 months of recovery would not be fun) OR lose a "significant amount of weight and gain core strength for my muscles to take on the work of my spine" So here I am, I am applying for lap band. If my insurance doesn't cover it, I cannot get it. One would think that in order to save money it would be a "no brainer" to the insurance company to pay for a lapband vs. lumbar fusion. We shall see. Either way my weight loss is needed, with a long family history of Type II diabetes and back surgeries I will need to do it. In addition to the above, I found out I developed something called Cushing's Syndrome from the injection I recevied. I found this out as now I have developed a "buffalo hump" which is a large osteoporosis type bulge at the top of my back now. Although I am larger, I have always been beautiful (well so I have been told). To be 30, single, and have this hump on my back which is a result of the over production in my body of the hormone Cortisol, this too can only be taken away with weight loss and a reduction of steroid medicaion. So I say all this, on the day of my discogram this morning, which was pure agony, to say that I went into this week believing that if I can get a lapband, I would avoid at least 2 surgeries that have long recovery periods and regain my life back for my children and myself.

I would have the gallbaldder first. Went through that last year and recovery time is quick, but if it flares up after or during your lapband recovery time it is an emergency surgery. If something goes wrong you may need the band taken out and your insurance won't pay for 2 lapbands.

Just saw your post and voted! Wish you the best!

Well said Weesie! When you take your height and weight and compare it to what we all should weigh, most of America is overweight. She may have just been comparing you to the average woman. Then again, as Weesie said very well, its your reasons personally and yourself that matters. Not her comments. Congrats!

Welcome, I'm new here too! Scheduling my consult on Tuesday, my insurance covers it, but not sure if they will cover my situation just yet! Getting excited! Congrats on joining! Everyone here is helpful and positive!!

Thinking of you today. Praying all goes well!

How is that place? I only called one place so far, TLC Edge, they have surgeons in Plano. Did you go through insurance or self-pay??

Just wonder if anyone out there had UHC Choice Plus and had to go through the approval process. I have a BMI of 35 and 2-3 co-morbidities. What did they require from you for approval? I know all people are different but I'm sure for the most part UHC's guidelines should be the same. I want to be prepared for my first visit.

thanks so much, I thought so, but thought I'd ask, I have been under 2 doctors with 6 months supervised weight loss programs in the last 12 months so hoping I should get through ok! Congrats on the weight loss!

I am in the Dallas area, made my first call to the office this past week, my insurance does not exclude lap band, but I'm just in the beginning stages of the process, hoping to expedite things....Sorry I can't be much more help. How are you feeling??