donna12

Hi Sarah, welcome! Yes this site is really informative, the good, the bad and the ugly... I too am in my early stages of this journey. I see my surgeon this week for the first visit, can't wait. I've had my Psych eval, my sleep study done although I have to have another one done Friday night at the hospital with a CPAP grrr but rather safe than sorry right? I'm 46, recently divorced, well, almost a year now but most of my adult life I have spent overweight. When I got married I weighed 155, wow, what I wouldn't give to weigh that now!!! I now weigh around 285-287. I went to a Lap Band seminar back in '08 but was not ready for this journey and now, well, now it's time, time for me to get healthy and get my life back. I want to be able to walk normally without getting out of breath, walk up flight of stairs without getting out of breath, I want to feel like exercising, so much more living left to do and I want to experience it. I know with God's enduring love and my family's support I can do this. Good luck to you! Donna

I have BCBS also but it is COBRA, glad to know it didn't take too long for you. I see my surgeon Thurs. I've talked to the nurse coordinator and told her about my ins. running ou June 30th and needing to have surgery by then and she is trying to rush things along. I do have to do a 2nd sleep study this Friday night at the hospital, ugh, but better safe than sorry, right! I don't want to stop breathing during surgery. I'm so excited for this journey to begin. Yes, I am a bit nervous as with any surgery and I'm anxious I guess is the word, as I have to do a pre-op diet of liquids well shakes and I want to do well on this journey of weight loss and work the program.

I had an "at home" sleep study done 2 days ago and got the results today, shocking! It said I stopped breathing over 300 times, scary. Dr ordered me another sleep study to be done next Friday night at the hospital so that I can actually wear a CPAP mach. and be monitored. My surgeon required this before surgery. I figure better safe than sorry during surgery. I hate it for next Friday night but I gotta do it.

I have to do a 2 weeks 3 times a day protein shake. Yes I'm shopping around now for them and hoping fo surgery date next month. I like fruity things. I bought Isopure Grape today at GNC, will chill and try. Has anyone tried this: Nature's Plus Spiru-Tein® Shake Cherries Jubilee? I don't do caffeine so will not or don't like chocolate shakes and do not like vanilla. I'm more into crystal light tasting things. I can tolerate strawberry with skim milk and ice but that will get old for 2 weeks so I'm looking for suggestions on brands. I know a lot of you said Unjury and Jay Robb??? thx, Donna

No, I haven't tried Unjury, may be next on my list! This one was really good but was really thick and thank you for the suggestion of adding water. I feel full now and feel ok, it was just while drinking it at the end I was gagging. ew... thanks ladies!

Sojourner you are such a wealth of knowledge, I love it, thanks!!!

I have not been banded yet, hopefully next month if all goes well. However, I have found my saving grace in solving my severe sweet tooth, Extra Dessert Delights Chewing Gum. My favs are Key Lime Pie, Apple Pie and Strawberry Shortcake. They are so yummy and satisfy my sweet tooth....Yippee!!!

thanks everyone for their input, wow, I have a lot of info here to go by. Eyewonder let me know how yours taste when you get them please so that I may order. thx

where can i buy the Designer Whey Protein Powder in berry? I like fruity drinks instead of milky ones. help?

Thanks everyone! I love this site, great support. @ Mountainman, I hope I have as good a luck as you with my sweet tooth leaving me...and yes, I am very committed at staying on track, working the program and follow visits. This is my last resort at life and I am bound and determined to take and run. I have prayed and prayed for this time in my life and God has finally answered my prayers. I've been buying sugar free puddings etc. and things like that and I enjoy them now and sugar free popsicles and am looking at the band to be a tool for me to lose the weight. I can do this!!! With the help of my new friends on here.

May I ask a question? I have to do a 2 week pre-op diet as well, coming up soon, and am shopping around for Protein shakes etc., I am not tolerant of "milky" tasking things like "slimfast" type shakes, I gag, if you use unflavored protein powder how do you make a shake or what do you mix it in??? Help! I wouldn't mind mixing it with skim milk but would need a flavor of some sort its the pre-flavor already mixed up milky shakes that gag me and I throw up on. thanks

You look great by the way!!! I was wondering if you had any advice for me after I get banded. I have a, how do I put it, severe sweet tooth, I got it bad, and do not know how I will control it once I am banded. any suggestions? I want to work the program and eat healthy and get healthy. thx, Donna

I am going thru the same thing you are and I also have BCBS of MI but live in KY, my ex-husband's employer is MI based. However, my situation is a little different. My BCBS Cobra that I was awarded in the divorce will expire June 30th and they will pay for the Lap Band so I am trying to get everything taken care of now. Have had the Psych eval done, sleep study tonight, surgeon appt next Thursday and see dietitian June 14th. With that being said, the surgeon's nurse coordinator is aware of my insurance situation and is trying to rush things along and I am hoping to be banded by the end of June if not I will self pay as I do not want to wait months or another year and red tape of going thru another insurance company that I will pick up on my own July 1st. I do not know what to expect next week when I see my surgeon but I am excited. I knew the night of the seminar I wanted it done and even told my mom "I'm ready now, if he was working nights I'm ready for the O.R. now!!!" lol. Good luck on your journey.

I've got to do 2 weeks of protein shakes (3 a day) pre-op. From what I've read on here, which is great info is Jay Robb protein shakes are good, EAS is what my surgeon was pushing, Max Muscle shops, there are all kinds of drinks out there with high protein so you don't get hungry, just google them and i'm sure others will post on here too for you. Good luck.

I just wasn't ready back in '08 when I attended a seminar but now, now I am. Yes, I will admit, I am a bit nervous but I've got my faith and family and that's all I need. It won't be easy I know this, but I am determined to make it thru and work the program and lose the weight for good. Keep your attitude and keep looking towards God and He will keep your doubts away.

I felt the exact same...I finally turned it over to God. I went to a Lap Band seminar in '08 but I just wasn't ready back then but now, now I'm ready. I'm tired of hurting knees, back hurting, getting out of breath and furthermore, I do not have children so if I were to ever get in the situation of not being able to take care of myself I would be in a nursing home and my obesity has robbed me of so many things in life. My obesity has robbed me of fun activities throughout my adulthood, being self-conscious, it eventually ended my marriage (guess he was tired of me being fat) and now, well now I'm at my witts end of getting around. I watched my dad die of heart disease at age 67 and I certainly do not want to die an early age like that and if I keep going like this, I'm headed down the same road, death's door. Thank you for your words of wisdom, they are powerful. May God bless you on your journey. I'm just starting mine. I do not see the surgeon until the 24th, just had my Psych Eval Friday and I am hoping to have surgery by the end of June. The rush, well, my BCBS ins expires as I have Cobra from my divorce and it runs out June 30th and I told my surgeon so they are doing all they can to rush things along. If I can't have it by then, I am looking at doing a self-pay because I will have to wait months maybe almost a year before I can have surgery with the insurance I have to pick up come July 1 and I can no longer wait. I'm tired of waiting, now is the time for me to be a better me, a healthier me. As stated above, send all your worries to God, He listens and He will rest your soul. Put all your trust in Him. Donna

An old remedy my grandfather used to use was peppermint candy, just a thought since you can't get any meds right now. I haven't been banded yet but I do have some nausea meds already from having a stomach bug earlier this year. Hoping for a banding in June, we'll see. Hope you get some relief.

Does anyone on here have Ky Access Ins? I currently have BCBS-Michigan that I've been on with my ex-husband and he had to pay for in the divorce for 18 mos. That will soon change, come June 30th it expires and I will have to get insurance. Due to my weight and height, 5'2" 285 lbs no ins company will carry me other than Ky Access. When I call them the only thing they tell me is "yes they cover Lap Band" but will not let me talk to anyone further regarding the procedure like do I have to wait 6 mos and do the required diet because BCBS waived that part because my BMI was over 50. I am trying to rush things along with my surgeon and get banded by June 30th, fingers crossed! But would appreciate any input from anyone on Ky Access??? Thanks, donna

Joy, I am a heavy drinker, no not alcohol, Water with crystal light, and I drink constantly, wondering if I'm pre-diabetic. Anyhoo, I am struggling with not going to be able to drink once I'm banded, during meals, I know this is how to lose the weight and I can do it, I know I can and will, but I simply get thirsty while eating. A gastric bypass patient told me a trick: she takes a glass of ice and when she feels the urge to drink, she take a pc of ice and puts it in her mouth and gets her mouth wet and then takes it out. I think this may work for me. I can't wait till I'm banded and want so much for this to work and will work the program. Congrats on your weight loss.

I don't know where I fall? My prob is I eat late at night like from 9:00 pm on or until midnight, things like chips and dip, popsicles (sugar free), ice cream, sweet rolls, chips and salsa. My sweet tooth gets me in to trouble.

let me know if you order, I'd like to know how they are?

thanks, I just googled them and the nearest one to me is an hour and 20 mins away, so not so bad a drive plus great shopping too...lol. Thanks for heads up as I will soon start my pre-op diet hopefully. Trying to get everything completed for a June banding.

thanks, I will keep this address for future purchases when I have my post op, thx so much for googling it for me. ur the best!

I went to this web addy and called the number but it had been disconnected. Can you get me a phone number to the business where you buy yours? thx, Donna

I don't think Ky Humana is the same? Currently my BCBS that expires next month didn't require the 6 month weigh in diet by my doctor because my BMI was at 52, they waived it. As for Ky Access, all they told me was they would pay for the Lap Band if it deemed medically necessary, that's all the info I could get out of them.