Sooverit!

I am so confused here and was hoping someone could forgive my ignorance as I have not been banded yet. I thought when you get the band your stomach is made much smaller so you feel full very quickly and with a very small amount of food. Do you still feel hungry even though your stomach "feels" full and you can't fit anymore into your now tiny stomach!?? This must be just terrible! Or do you not feel full and you can eat as much as before you were banded? Thanks in advance. Marg

Hi Col....so true who the heck cares....people are generally pretty wrapped up in themselves to give too much of a hoot anyhow. This is a very personal decision I feel and only I know if it's right. I do know tho that my 10 year old daughter will freak if I tell her....get worried ...start thinking she's too fat etc....I will cross that bridge when I get there I guess "who cares" ... nice to hear someone who has felt the same as me too )<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message -->

Hi Kat: I haven't been on the scale in a while I bet I'm about the same weight as you now too! The fact they measured you shorter is great!! I wonder if they may have done it as a favor to you...because you know that will increase your BMI and chances for insurance approval! yeah....I hope I'm shrinking but I don't think so...I'm going the other way up and out! :-) I feel that having every single paper in order and taking your time...is the best way to go. I'm actually writing sample letters for my doc ...he could copy them on to his letterhead if he wants ..hope I'm not being too controlling but I feel this is too important to not give it 150 percent! ant to be a dinky round old person. I want to be a glamazon! I, too, am worried that the ins will turn me down, but I'm going to do absolutely everything I can to make sure they have full info to maximize the possibility of approval. Oh, and I pray a lot! Good luck to you - sounds like we're on similar journeys, and I'll be rooting for you! ~kat<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message -->

Hi Pam: I just started developing High bp lately too...yikes...this is making my decision more of a no brainer every day! I think esp. for you being a teacher and on your feet all day...your joints and other body parts will thank you when you lose weight. Also I am now 48 and the body isn't as forgiving as it always was ...a few months ago when the warm weather came I decided once again to beat my body into submission and worked out hard, planted, biked, and walked my daughter to school up a giant hill...the next day I was confined to bed for 3 days because of a back problems which I NEVER had before. My Chiropractor thinks it is weight related. I think even tho to look at us we carry our weight well but it still is unhealthy to be this overweight. I will keep you in my positive thoughts ...keep us posted on your progress with the almighty insurance geeks:wacko: Marg woHi. PS> I'm with you I've only told a small handful of people....I hope I don't slip when I start losing weight....I'ts hard for me to keep a secret.. my secrets I mean....and I'm a talka as you can all see Ihaven't told tons of people and wonder how I will respond if and when I start to lose. I wonder how some people will react - like I'm not as good because I didn't just diet. I gess I really souldn't care, but in truth I do. I probably care too much what people think. When do you think you will get the ok? te gal at my doc's office said BCBS has been preety quick about responding, but it being summer it may be a little longer. Waiting is SO HARD - but not as much as trying to diet...

Trish....any word yet? We are all prayin for a quick and speedy approval from the almightly insurance geeks.

Yes I am "trying" to maintain a peace of mind but I do wake up thinking about this and go to sleep with it on my mind. I feel that once this "weight issue" is no long an issue I can get on with life....not a good way of thinking I know. On a positive note tho; since I have been thinking about this surgery I am feeling that this weight thing is only a temporary issue and it is not who I am and I haven't felt that way in a while ... I too do better under pressure just remember to take it slow.

It just boggles my mind to think about eating 3/4 of a cup of food at a meal. My entire life I ate like it was my last meal. Large portions were a way of life in my family growing up. We were always "big" irish people and "needed" more food. In my twenties however I ate very little and was a verythin person, only until I became preganant did I put on big pounds and the older I got the slower they came off. My question is ...do the banded miss food? Do you you/we experience withdrawal??? What a change in livestyle it must be. Food had to have been a big portion of your life and to carve it down to 3/4 of a cup per meal I just can't even imagine it right now. Of course I am prebanded and need to research everything to the rediculous but would appreciate any feedback.. thanks

Hi Maria: Thanks for checking in ....Yes I did call insurance co and they do cover it though they directed me to a doc only section that seemed from reading it that I would never get covered unless I was had a majorly serious heart condition....but I think that might be wall/road block number one they put up. Did your PCP get back from vacation yet? Yes! and I had the sleep apnia test waiting on results. Have a physcial scheduled for 8/20. I have the Nutritional appt. on the 30th ....have to have all my papers in order by then! . Divine intervention? Maybe.... Well, we WILL be banded, all in good time. Sometimes we make plans and God laughs, ya know? Keep in touch....I loved what you said Maria....you are right sometimes I forget and think I'm in charge at times! Keep in touch! :-)

Hi Gecco: I am in total agreement with Maria, I loved Dr. Huberman and he was so much nicer and more charming than I thought he'd be. He made me feel like I was making the right decision and I actually felt I didn't feel like he was testing me. He talked lap band talk in person and no one I know does that....I only get on line lap band talk, so it was good to talk in person about it. The questionaire was only about a 6 or 7 pages nothing too difficult. The only thing was the foot pain the next day when I sprinted from Penn Station to his office on 40th on the east side. I love power walking in the city though and miss doing it when I worked there. Now if I did that every day...I wouldn't need this!

Maria: I loved Dr. Huberman also...he really made me feel confident about this surgury. He didn't really seem like a "shrink" at all. I thought he'd be playing head games to see if I realy wanted the surgery but he was a great guy. Yes, I too am going to request Dr. F because of the scaring. This part is really nerve wrenching...waiting ..waiting and for me obsessing about being approved by insurance co.

Light how was your appt. with Dr. Ren? Was this your actual surgery date?? If it was congratulations ...and how are you doing now? Had a quick ? about insurance ...did you go thru insurance? Everything work out with that? Well take care of yourself. It only dawned on me after I started to write that you are probably newly post op...:notagree get your rest.

When I went to the seminar that was offered at the sugery center where I want to be banded they gave us handouts with pointers on what to do for insurance coverage. Someone posted here that their insurance co wanted to know WHY the diets failed from the PCP! Geez....I guess I would say for me when I am PMSing I can't stop eating everything in site. Also I could mention injuries obtained by over exercising, or I couldn't control portion size?

I have not been banded and am awaiting to see the Nutritionist . My BMI borders around 36/37 and I am a big boned 5'8" kinda gal. Somtimes I get those thoughts in my head like I'm not overweight enough for this surgery.!!...or maybe I don't deserve it. Then when I went to my PCP and the nurse said I was developing High blood pressure and I think about the people in my family that got Type 11 diabetes I don't think I'm crazy. I must remember this is not a cosmetic proceedure but a life saving/prolonging proceedure but still I know if I told certain people I was having this they would think I was totally nuts but who cares...

Wondering how the band does in the long run - like after 5 years. Has anyone had slippage or other complications after this time period?

Heyhon63: I completely know what you are saying and it's a joke! I too know more about nutrition that any so called expert as well. I've dieted for more than 30 years and took off and kept off 60 lbs till I got prgnant again but not at this age ...just ain't happenen without something like this. I had heard that CIGNA does this as a front...what ever that means...I think it weeds out people who may be able to pay out of pocket or may not be sure they want this surgery. I've been seeing my doc for the past year and I've been complaining about my wieght and he's been making suggestions tho it's not been consistenty for 6 months ,,,I am praying he will just write them up as tho I was doing 6 months back to back. I was told that CIGNA wants your Dr. to write out a progress report on 6 separate letter headed letters stating your weight, what diets you've been on for that month, how many lbs. you lost, exercise and anything he gave you like a food pyramid or anything pertaining to weight loss. It's silly but it's worth getting covered!

Hi Maria: We are neck in neck here....I have my Nutritional Assesment on August 30th at NYU~! Tonight I do the sleep apnia test. I got a check up today and had high blood pressure for the first time ever...must be mind over matter - more reasons for the insurance company to pay out!

Hi Candle: Congratulations on you surgery date! How exciting. I had a question for you about being approved for Dr. Geiss. I would have went to them but the nurses on the phone seemed like they were put off when I called...I probably was asking too many questions and they said I wouldn't even qualify for surgery at a 37 BMI...insurance or not! I found out later from NYU Med Center I certainly can get it done and may qualify for insurance coverage to boot. If you don't mind may I ask you what your BMI is? I am hoping to have fills there when I do finally get my surgery so I don't have to treck into the city every month. Wish I was you!!

I was very confident in my decision to get lap band surgery after reading the thousands of interesting posts here. I was unconsciously or deliberately not reading the 'Difficulties with Lap BAnd" sections however. I finally did and what I'm seeing are problems down the road after being banded for say 6-10years due to slippage and/or errosion and other problems. I felt then like I had been getting too caught up in the hype/hope to think long term. Anyone else think this way or has anyone had this band for over 5 years and how are you doing? I know the Lap Band has only been in existence for 11 years even in Europe.

Faith, thanks for responding, and when I think of it that way you are right. Technology at this rate is probably going to peak in 10 years and I'm sure the problem of obesity will be cured with something even better. Thanks for helping me look to the future. If I can get 10 years I'd be tickled also, but I don't want to have problems in 5 years as I am reading on these posts. But then again at my age the monopausal years are the big weight gain years and after 60 weight tends to decline. My goal is to live at least to 85 so I can see my 10 year old daughter fully an adult. I was doubting that would happen if I entered my 60 obese...even entering 50s obese is asking for a road of possible weight related complications, ie. adult onset diabetes, hypertension, etc. I know you know Faith...sometimes I'm writing to solidify things in my own mind.

Hey Lighter: Congrats on getting your day! I know what you mean about being nervous about the liquid diet...but I think after the 2nd day you may lose your appetite...even people who fast for weeks have reported this. My progress will be slow but that's okay. My PCP went on vacation for 2 weeks:rolleyes: and I am waiting for him to get back so I can do the sleep Apnia test. So far I've done the seminar, on-line video, survey, and psy eval. Then when vacationing doc is back the apnia test, blood tests, physical, and God willing he will write the 6 progress report letters and a letter of recommendation for lap band surgery. I fully expect my insurance company to pay...I fully expect my insurance cmpany to pay...(positive visualization)...I full

The mainstay of my now preband diet are salads -I love being creative with salads and bring them to work; baby greens, spinich and every veggie in between I can find in the fridge along with cheese, bacon, salmon, tuna, walnuts, etc....the reason I'm so overweight is I love them too much and eat way too much of them. MY QUESTION: Will I still be able to eat salads... in smaller doses of course?? How many of you eat salads now and now that we are on the topic would anyone mind sharing what is the mainstay of your diet now that you are banded?? :hungry:

Thanks Mich, Congrats and way to go on getting your surgery date! I'm not going to give up I think the insurance companies are just making me jump through giant hurdles to make sure we won't pay on our own.

Hi Sass: I live not too far from Dr. Geiss' office but want to go to NYU because it is covered 100% there with CIGNA. I was hoping to get my fills at Dr. Geiss' office and also emmergency service, but I put in a request for info about this with my Dr. in NY...it is something to think about! thanks

I am in total agreement with Terri. I have fallen into that trap of working so hard and dropping 2 clothing sizes only to then go to the doctors for a weigh in (I don't own a scale) and being crushed by only losing a few lbs. It made me think the loss was all in my mind or something. I vow to not EVER buy a scale after I have this done! ! There are just too many things in my body that can be me measured by a scale besides fat!

Whoops I mean this for everyone but my previous note was directed to BetsyJane