Shelleymb

I heard that with the sleeve you can stretch your stomach out anyway,

My boyfriend and I will be having our surgery aound that time also!! End of December.

Lack of food or food from your normal diet, your brain can become tired. And there may be underlying stress that you aren't fully aware of.

My boyfriend and I are going through this together. We aren't banded yet, and it was actually his idea to have WLS. At first I was hesitant, but I looked into it. And while I was working out at 5 in the morning with a personal trainer I was in the middle of 20 something push ups ready to pass out and it finally hit me, it shouldn't be this hard. I shouldn't have to work out for 2 hours every day this hard to look how I want. Something else was the problem. So that's when my research went into over drive. And now I'm addicted! My boyfriend however is not, it's not that he isn't interested, I just think he doesn't know what to look for. So when I would try to tell him about my daily "findings" he didn't seem as interested as I was. Once I scheduled our first seminar he seemed more interested, and once we attended that seminar he told me it felt more "real" to him. He thanked me for doing everything and now we just await our appointments and surgery. My boyfriend was the one that wanted us to do it together. He wanted it to be something we shared, and now that's how I feel. It's going to be a wonderful journey, it has been so far.

I'm not quite sure how your insurance plan works, but it sound like you should try to find a doctor now so that while you are waiting the 12 months you can be getting all the test ready and such. Because here in America it seems like most people who go through their insurance companies have to prove that they have struggled with weight loss and then spend so many months attempting to lose weight before they are approved.

That's what I have done! I'm addicted to this site and to my blog and I am probably 6 months out from actually getting banded. Everyone here is really helpful and there is so much information. Welcome! I'm glad I'm not alone!

That's great! A lot of people are trying to steer us away from getting it done at the same time, they think that I will have problems with him losing more weight faster than me. I think (well I would like to think ) that I'm going to be happy for both of us no matter what because even if it takes me a bit longer, the end results will be that we are both healthy. I just have this fear that we aren't going to be able to do things with our future children, and that scares me. I'm glad you have a success story with having it done at the same time, you are my inspiration! Thank you!

Got the information back about our insurances... and it's a no go. I think I would be more upset if we hadn't already planned on self paying before calling the insurance company again. Our insurance complany only covers Gastric Bypass and inhouse only. Which figures, because it's Group Health. So that's the bad news, the good new/great news is that now that we know we are self paying, I havemade our appointments for consults!! June 29th it's go time!! I'm a little bummed Ty and I are going to be laying down 30,000 dollars, but I couldn't think of a better reason! Ty is more on board than ever, he has already given up soda, he is on 4 days, no soda. I'm so proud of him. Even though he only drinks diet, but still, a huge step in the right direction. I'm not sure how to bring up the subject to my friend from yesterday, we were drinking and now I'm not sure how to talk about it again. Maybe wait until she asks how it is going. Maybe after my appointment. I'm just happy because it feels more real now. Now it's time to buckle down, save our monies, and follow through with everything. Sorry this is so short, just had to share the news. Until next time. ~Shells

My insurance doesn't cover it, only gastric bypass, so I am self paying. Then I get to say when I want it done.

I just went to my first seminar last week with my boyfriend, and we met our surgeon. There is a HUGE amount of information given. I had a lot of questions. Here are some of my top questions that I asked: -How long will my recovery time be? When will I be able to lift things? -What will pregnancy be like while banded? (if you plan on it) -(If you are self paid) How much are fills? -Why have people been getting Lap Band and Plication? -Where would the best location for the port on my body? -Is this an outpatient procedure here? -How long will I be in surgery? -How is follow up care scheduled and billed? -How is pain managed? Will I be able to tkae medications? -Potential complications and risks? That should get you started, I hope it helps.

This sounds delish! Awesome idea for tacos.

My moment was finding out I was only 25 pounds lighter than my 300 boyfriend.... and when I have to wear yoga pants more often then jeans.

Today at my company's golf tourney, I broke the news to my best friend about Ty and me getting Lap-Band. ( We had been drinking most of the morning and she just got done telling me that the reason why we were best friends was because we were completely honest... how could I not tell her at the point?) She seems shocked at first. Then told me she didn't think that I needed, that I looked fine. I told her that I weigh more than people think I weigh and she asked how much, when I told her that I weighed 275 she was even more shocked. I've always known that I hold my weight evenly all over my body and that I am naturally a thick girl, but I know that I'm not at a healthy weight. She was very interested on how we came to this conclusion, and if I felt that I was doing it just because Ty was, and I'm not. After she had all the facts she was ok with everything. She's supportive of the things that I need in life, so it's going to be good I feel. In the seminar last week, the women that came up to talk about their success stories told us that you learn who your true friends are after Lap-Band. I told my friend this, and I can pretty much peg who is going to have a problem with me loosing weight, and it won't be her. She told me that she isn't my friend because I'm overweight, and she won't be my friend just because I'm skinny, she's my friend because she just is. That is comforting to know. Well, I need to head to bed, I just wanted to get that out on print before the week starts. I hope everyone has a productive week this week. Until next time. Shells P.S. Attached is me at the golf tourney today goofing around.... giving clear evidence on my I need Lap-Band... it's terrible.

That makes sense. I think Ty will just have to learn, he's kinda stubborn. I will be able to give it up. Thank you for the info. Congrats on the 107 downage!

I don't drink often... (not since Japan) but Ty does. Last night we both got pretty drunk, and this morning I had proof of the night in the feeling of my body. IT HURT. But now I'm wonder how one drinks with Lap Band. I know that I can give up alcohol... I think, but I know Ty will have a harder time. We like to go out with our friends, but how does it work with the band? Just some thoughts that I'm having. I'm pretty tired today, after work a 10 hour shift of overtime, and now I am sitting on my couch watching Pride and Prejudice and getting ready for bed. We have an early morning, our company golf tournement, Ty is a very good golfer, I wish he would go golfing more often. I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Any answers on the alcohol question would be awesome.

Thank you! I will let Ty know. Very helpful!

That makes sense, lol, thank you.

And it was only a seminar! After a slightly stressful drive over there, because GoogleMaps is the worst, thank god for my iPhone.... Ty and I arrived about 10 mintues late. I had this image in my head of them turning us away because we were late and I was so scared that I would have to wait a month to go to the next one, but they let us right in, lol. It was amazing to see and hear all the facts about obesity in America, I was shocked by some of it. The doctor running the seminar kept calling it a disease, that obesity is the fastest spreading emidemic in America and that we should consider it a disease. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I know that due to genetics, some people are more proned to being overweight then others, but I really feel like it's more of a culture issue. Our portion sizes in America are out of this world. When I first arrived to Japan in January I honestly thought I was going to have to order two of everything when we went out to eat beacuse the portions were so small there, but after about 2 weeks I found that I could "survive" off the portions that they served just fine, that it was indeed, enough food. We learned about the 4 different types of surgeries that they offer, and all the pros and cons. Then they had three lovely ladies come up who had had the surgery and give their story. That was actually pretty cool, until the audience started focusing more on succes stories, then having important questions answered. That was the frustrating part. I thought that people there would be more prepared like I was, with a list of important questions and ready to just open fire while the surgen was there. And when did raising your hand to ask a question go out of style? My arm got so tired while being raised and having to wait because people were just blurting out questions that I had to rest it on Ty for support. (I don't wan to sound like a b*tch and say that no one should have been asking questions but me, lol, it was just a lot of questions were about clothes and such, and before and after pictures. I just wanted to tell everyone about this site and say "go there! They have awesome b & a pics! but please, I need to know some things first!" but I didn't ) So, as we were walking out, I was eager to set up the next appointments for Ty and me and when I spoke to the lady in charge of that, she asked why we hadn't filled out the insurance sheet (where she calls and checks with our insurance for free) and I told her that I had called about 2 weeks ago and that our insurance didn't cover the band because our employer has decided to exclude it from our coverage. ( I was proud that I could tell her verbatim what was told to me 2 weeks ago) (and I also thought this was something she must hear everyday) She asked if they covered any other WLS and I said yes, gastro bypass and she said she wanted our information, because it's almost illegal for them to cover one but not the other, because the band is FDA approved. So that is what I am doing today, filling out the insurance forms for Ty and myself to fax in. If we can save 30,000 by not self-paying, I'm sure I can find it in my heart to wait a bit longer to have the surgery, plus 30,000 can buy me the new boobs that I've always wanted, or at least some jeans that fit right after I lose weight. lol Sorry this was so long, I was just so excited about last night, I would have posted last night if the drive home wasn't 2 hours long, but luckily for all you folks, it's time for me to get ready for work and finish my last day of training. Hopefully I passed the test yesterday so that I'm not going to training today for nothing. Happy Friday! ~Shelley

....I'm getting the band tomorrow, and I'm just going in for a seminar. Ty just told me that he is confused on why we are going, he says that with all my research I should have all the information. But I have a Million questions that I need answered! This is normal right? ....It feels like Christmas Eve right now... I don't even know how I'm going to get through work tomorrow. I'll need to figure out a way to stay focused... I have a career altering test tomorrow afternoon. Game on. Have a great night and an awesome day tomorrow. ~Shelley

Oh, my insurance isn't paying for it, I'm self paying. No hoops to jump though.

Isn't it weird how people react to needles so differently? I feel like you are of the norm and I, who is only comfortable while watching the needle go into my arm and watching it come out, am the weird one. Good luck in two weeks!

Search on this site or just google it for any doctor, and then call and ask if they execpt Care Credit. That is a financing for medical procedures. That is what my boyfriend and I are doing. Actually we are saving 10,000 to put down in cash, then financing the other 20,000 and paying that off as quickly as possible. Just keep researching. That's what I've been doing. Good luck!