SchexyMomma

iPod and a book... thanks for the tip! I never would have thought of that! little update for me... my doctor's office has sent the paperwork to the insurance people, and said they think it will take about 2 weeks for approval. so, they want me to start the 10 day pre-op around April 6, hoping for the 16th surgery date. It sure would be nice to get that approval before the liquid diet begins, as I think it would give me extra motivation.

What other areas in your life are you changing now that you are on your way to a new physical you? As for me, I have been to a dermatologist, got my teeth fixed, and I am considering dying my hair- just to cover the in-coming gray. Other than physical changes, we recently began attending church regularly, and I am trying to get really good again about spending vs. saving $$$. And also to be more tolerant of my well-meaning mother-in-law. What about you?

I have decided to NOT tell anyone in my family. Only my hubby knows. There aer people in my family with weight issues, but no one like me. And almost everyone in my family, at one time or another over the years, has made a negative comment about WLS: easy way out; they'll eventually gain it all back; they must have no self-control; it's sad; lots of people die after that kind of surgery; and then whispering when they see someone who had it done. No thanks. I just can't stand the thought of hearing everyone's "opinions" or trying to scare me into changing my mind- and then, even worse, having everyone watch everything I eat for the rest of my life. But I do feel alone. Because I have decided not to tell family, I have also decided to not tell any friends, so that I don't have to keep up with who knows which story. Even though hubby is very supportive, I do feel like I need to talk about this with someone. I sure am glad I found this board!!!!

If you are still hesitant about accutane, or want to start now, I am on a low-dose antibiotic (one commonly used to treat a very nasty STD, so I hate getting it refilled- worring about what the pharma. people think! LOL) plas benzaclin, as well as Retin-A. I can't tell you what a different it has already made.

I use Retin-A for acne (I'm 34) and I have noticed that my skin just looks better in general. And a few friends have asked me what I am using because my skin looks so good. I don't have major wrinkles yet so my doc said the Retin-A will act like a beauty cream and prevent some (not all) wrinkles from forming. She said I was "lucky" to have just enough acne so that insurance will cover the cream. She also said that more than half of her paitients are on it as a beauty treatment. I totally plan on getting Botox when the time comes. I hope by then it is available in generic form so that it will be more affordable!

WTF? What was going through this woman's brain? I can't even imagine what made her say such a rediculous thing! Seriously- this one is going to be with me for a while! On the bright side for you, she was obviously compeltely idiotic! As for me, I have a few. My last boss knew that I had been trying to have a baby for many years (I was far from my heaviest at this time) and just point-blank asked me, in front of my coworkers, if losing weigh would help me get pregnant. I coudln't believe she said it. I explained that I had been trying for years, even at a healthy weight, and that it was not related. She proceeded to tell me about 10 people that she knew that just lost maybe 20 pounds each and, bam!, they all got pregnant.... blah blah blah. In high school on day, I was sick of my boyfriend acting like an immature jerk to one of my friends, and he snapped back at me- "jeez- someone forgot her Slimfast shake this morning!". Do you think I had the courage to break up? Of course not.

Yep! I have suffered from mild adult acne for years and years, but never did anything about it, except the drug-store creams. I don't know why I never did anything about it. I mean, it's not really really bad, but I would always have to wear makeup and was always really self-concious about it. And as for the teeth, it was the expense of cosmetic work- I guess I felt like I wasn't worth it. But now- and I'm not even banded yet- I feel like I absolutely owe it to myself to take care of me!

My advice is to call around for things that are not covered by insurance. For example, my surg, office reffered me to a psy. who charged $225 and didn't have an opening for 3 weeks. I called around and found on that charged only $75 and could see me the next day. Just try to do your own leg work and not rely totally on referras if money and/or timeliness is an issue for you. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. I am waiting to be banded, too, and it is an exciting but stressful time!

Well, I just got home from my sleep study... my last requirement! I sure hope this will get me an April band for sure. I have to do a 10 day pre-op diet, but I am going to start a serious jump-start diet today. I have been eating bad lately, as discussed a little earlier on this thread. Jut a note regarding self-pay and even co-pay's: The psych. eval. is required by my insur. but not covered by my insur. (?!!!) so I was self-pay for that. The office my surgeon referred me to was $225. I called around to others and found one that would do it "no problem" for $75. The sleep study was covered by insurance, although required by surgeon not the insurance comp. itself. The lab my surgeon's office referred me to said my benefits were verified at 80%/20% and my portion would be $125. I called around, just in case, and sure enough another clinic- much closer to my home- verified my benefits at 100% with no co-pay whatsoever! So, call around. Do your own leg work instead of going by the referrals if money is an issue for you. I saved a ton of money and found offices that were closer to my home and more flexible in scheduling. Hope that helps someone out there!

I have a good response for people when they ask a rude question.... "Why do you ask?" It's puts them in a terribly awkward position of having to explain, out loud, why they asked such a rude/personal/nosey question in the first place. Usually, they just nervously smile and say "uh, uh.... well..." and then change the subject. And they don't like it! (good!) I am mom (adpotive) to 2 little ones- one is asian and the other is hispanic. People ask me all the time "are the yours?" and I respond "why do you ask?" . Try it!

My insurance requires the evaluation, but does not cover it; so, I was cash pay. The pschologist my surgeon's office recommended was $255 and said they had an opening in about 3 weeks. I called around to a bunch of other offices, and found a doc that said, "oh yeah, I do those all the time. It takes about an hour and it's $75 and I'll have the paperwork to your doc in days. I can see you tomorrow." Just a heads up for those who are self-pay. I didn't have to do the questionaire, but I did have to play "finish this sentence" (about 50 of 'em!) and do the inkblots (aren't those from the 50's? are they still used???!!!!)

I am right there with you. I am also torn. But the thing that keeps me up at night, is how to face my surgeon if I gain weight before surgery!!!! I have to do the 10 day pre-op liquid diet, too, but doc did not say how much I needed to lose during that time, but I am guessing it's at least 10-15 pounds, right? (Does anyone know?) So if I indulge now, like I am dying to do, then I will not be 10-15 pounds below my consult weigh-in. hmmmm...

Thanks, everyone, for your advice & support! I have really thought about it and... I started covering the bases today... I am doing lab work and psy. consult tomorow, so the inlaws will have the kdis all day. My MIL asked hubby what kind of doc I was seeing all the way across town (I knew she would ask!) and, upon my instructions, he told her it was "female issues" and she left it at that. I plan on saying I have ovarian cysts- did some research, and they are common and almost always not life-threatening, but can be bothersome and sometimes have to be removed laproscopically. As far as future meals together, I am planning on saying that I am on a serious diet- having the cysts scared me because they were not detecable during a normal exam!... blah blah blah. I would like to just add real quick that I am not a big-fat-liar in other areas of my life. But this is just one area where I am going to lie my fat ass off!

:faint: Uh oh. I guess I was thinking that by day 3 or 4 I would be good to watch the kids by myself- with the exception of getting them in/out of cribs. They are both in cribs!!!! I absolutely cannot tall my in-laws that I am having this surgery. But they are my only source of help, other than my hubby. Maybe I can get away with just telling them that I am having a minor "female trouble" procedure and that would buy me a few days of them watching the kiddos... then my hubby could take off work for a few more after that... Please don't judge me for keeping this a secret from family. It's so very complicated, but I should mention that my in-laws are wonderful people. I am just a really private & self-conscious person who doesn't want my gossiping/opinionated MIL watching & commenting on what I eat for the rest of my life. :hungry:

I am really hoping for an April Band also! Please add me to the list. I am on my way!!! ...but this is where I am at right now... Age 34 ; weight 281 Anthem BCBS :thumbs_up:Feb. 15: Information seminar :thumbs_up:Feb. 22: Consult with Surgeon :thumbs_up:Mar 1: Consult wtih Nutritionist (Schedlued) March 7: Ultrasound & Bloodwork Appointment with Psychologist Sleep Study BAND ME!

I am new to the board, so I just found this thread and I love it! Oprah- yeah, I think she had something done. But then again, if she did, she must have set up an OR in her house (or someone's house anyway) and kidnap surgical team and them have their memories erased right afterwards. Otherwise, it would have made worldwide news. Which is why she didn't fess up to having it done int he first place! (((ALLEGEDLY))) Anna Nicole- had to be WLS. I didn't see anything on google search that said either way. Kirstie Alley. If she didn't have it yet, I think she will. Becuase as soon as she is off JC foods, she'll put right back on all that she lost- it's waht happens!! Oh- a few years back there was a sit-com with an "overweight" yougng RedHeaded actress; it was about an office... can't think of the name of it; LaRue? something like that. Anyway, she lost ALL kinds of weight real fast, and was then unrecognizable and I think that's when the show tanked. I never watched it, but felt sorry for her that she lost weight and then lost her show. Fickle fickle. As far as Wynonna and john Goodman and others go, I used to always think that since they have money, it should be easy for them to jet off to Europe and get the newest WLS. But as I appraoch my banding date, I can see how it is a very serious and emotional thing to decide to basically give up food. But heck, if I were filthy filthy rich, I guess I wouldn't be so concerned with finding cute clothes and fitting in commercial airline seats and having to meet new people. hmmm.

I have a toddler who just turned 2 and baby who will be 1 this spring! Since I am not telling anyone but my husband, I will only have him to help me. He works from home, but is a busy sales rep so he can't be home for more than a few days to help me. I plan on changing diapers on the floor instead of the changing table. When daddy is not home to help, I plan on letting toddler eat meals and Snacks at the coffeetable, putting his booster seat on the floor right up to the coffee table. The baby's highchair is one of those that "sits" on a regular chair and is held in place by straps, I could put that on the floor as well, just barely having to lift him up into it. I better practice now. The baby is already 22 pounds! I will buy lots of those "toddler entrees" that look like mini tv dinners and Pasta buckets. Easy stuff that dad can do quickly, or me. My baby can take a bottle in his bouncy seat- something I hate to do, but with a toddler on the loose, it's sometimes necessary to have him give himself a bottle. Please share yoru ideas!

Hello everyone! I am in the process of getting Banded... and i am so excited- and nervous. I really appreciate the plethera of knowledge that runs through these threads, as well as the inspiration I have received from reading about others' successes and how their lives have changed. I knew I needed to make a change, so I looked into this for a really long time, but when I found LBT and saw the before/after page.... wow. I signed up to go to a seminar in my area the very next day. I look at that thread at least 3 times per week, to see if there are any new pictures posted. I am on my way!!! ...but this is where I am at right now... Highest/Current/Goal-for-Surgery/Goal 283/281/265/165 Anthem BCBS :thumbs_up:Feb. 15: Information seminar :thumbs_up:Feb. 22: Consult with Surgeon :thumbs_up:Mar 1: Consult wtih Nutritionist Mar 6: Ultrasound & Bloodwork Appointment with Psychologist sleep Study Submit for Insurnace Approval BAND ME!