Fluffy

I wonder how many of us have kept this a secret from others and how that works. I am struggling between not telling anyone but my mom and husband, and telling everyone in hopes of perhaps helping someone who needs help or inspiration.

Hi everyone, I have been so so so so blue waiting and waiting and waiting for approval from my insurance. They made me go through a 6 month dieting program that I had to pay for out of pocket, even though I had already done everything on the planet. It HAD TO be "medically" supervised, and regular appointments with my doctor didn't matter. So, I paid out of pocket and had to make these appts last 6 months. What I learned was that I will not lose any weight and in fact gain on what the dietician had me doing. I cann't have carbs!! She doesn't get that. She doesn't agree with low carbing at all. But, I gained weight on her program and they just don't think I am trying hard enough. It makes me sooooo upset. When I followed the high Protein shake plan that the WLS place put me on I lost 20 pounds. It was low carb and high Protein. That is what I need. ANYWAY, I am just complaining now. I have been so excited and I want to get on with this NOW. But my insurance denied me AGAIN because I need to "finish" this program. My last appt. needs to be a final weigh in, I am supposed to have lost at least something to "prove" that I can stick to a diet plan (if I could stick to a diet plan why would I be going with WLS ?) and at this appt I have to present weeks of food logs that I have no kept up on. My 3 year old rips them apart and things are just so crazy in my house (I have 6 kids ages 1 up to 11) so, trying to keep food logs is really really hard. C MY QUESTION: Does anyone have suggestions on how to put together a food log to turn in to this dietician to finish, and finally get on with having the WLS? I am supposed to count amounts, and starches, meats, dairy, that sort of thing. I think it's comparable to a weight watchers thing. Thank you to anyone who has suggestions!!

Hi everyone, I have been so so so so blue waiting and waiting and waiting for approval from my insurance. They made me go through a 6 month dieting program that I had to pay for out of pocket, even though I had already done everything on the planet. It HAD TO be "medically" supervised, and regular appointments with my doctor didn't matter. So, I paid out of pocket and had to make these appts last 6 months. What I learned was that I will not lose any weight and in fact gain on what the dietician had me doing. I cann't have carbs!! She doesn't get that. She doesn't agree with low carbing at all. But, I gained weight on her program and they just don't think I am trying hard enough. It makes me sooooo upset. When I followed the high protein shake plan that the WLS place put me on I lost 20 pounds. It was low carb and high protein. That is what I need. ANYWAY, I am just complaining now. I have been so excited and I want to get on with this NOW. But my insurance denied me AGAIN because I need to "finish" this program. My last appt. needs to be a final weigh in, I am supposed to have lost at least something to "prove" that I can stick to a diet plan (if I could stick to a diet plan why would I be going with WLS ?) and at this appt I have to present weeks of food logs that I have no kept up on. My 3 year old rips them apart and things are just so crazy in my house (I have 6 kids ages 1 up to 11) so, trying to keep food logs is really really hard. C MY QUESTION: Does anyone have suggestions on how to put together a food log to turn in to this dietician to finish, and finally get on with having the WLS? I am supposed to count amounts, and starches, meats, dairy, that sort of thing. I think it's comparable to a weight watchers thing. Thank you to anyone who has suggestions!!

I have jumped through hoops and hoops and am waiting on the letter from insurance to let me know if I can go ahead this month now. I PRAY it comes tomorrow. I want to get this done. When I get a date maybe I can join you gals and be your partners!!

Hello! Looks like I am the first one here. I was supposed to get banded in April, then May, and then we finally figured out that my insurance won't pay for it till I have been specifically and ONLY for weight loss (visits for that topic only) for 6 mos. So that's where I am at. After 6 mos of doctoring for weight loss if I have not lost weight I will be approved for the lapband. So, looks like it will be my Christmas present!!!! Let's hope!!! Anyone else aiming for December?? :whoo:

What a great calendar Nimblebean! Well I got word a couple days ago that my insurance co. had only just received all the documentation they needed. So, IF they reply within 7 business days, as they said they probably would, and IF they approve me without making me jump through anymore hoops (I think they should) I could have the surgery done either on the 24th or the 31st. I have to get approval 2 weeks before the surgery date in order to assure the clinic that I have been following the pre-surgery diet (which I have for over 3 weeks already!!). So, wish me luck. The 31st is a full moon. Do you suppose that is a good thing or a bad thing???

I am really impressed with how we can discuss things here that are controversial and we can all stay civil about it. Debates are great, and there is no reason to get nasty, but in many forums that is exactly what occurs. I respect our presidents, I respect my elders, I try to always be respectful of people in general, their rights, their beliefs, etc.. But with President Bush, I SUPER respect him. How's that? LOL. I really do like and appreciate him more than I respect people in general. :-) Of course then there are very FEW people that I do not respect at all, like say, Osama Bin Laden or the folks who protest the military funerals (I will not go as far as to dignify their existence by stating their "name" here). But, I do NOT respect them. So I guess I can't say I respect everyone I guess.

I think a person can be proud of themselves too, of course, such as if we lose weight and gain our health back and take good care of ourselves that would be something to be very proud of. And if we graduate from high school and then perhaps college and whatever other achievements -- those are things to be proud of. I did not realize there were so many definitions of pride though. As you thought, there is one that states this, "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc." The kind of pride I feel for our President is a little closer to this definition, "someone or something cherished, valued, or enjoyed". You raise a very interesting point though, because it seems that the definition of pride is much more about how a person feels about themselves rather than how they feel about someone else.... I have never thought of it like that - I am always proud of my husband, my children, and others. I don't very often use the word in a way that means I am proud of MYSELF.

I think that in MOST cases, out of respect, I "support" our presidents because I believe it's the right thing to do. I also support our military men and women and veterans. But I am PROUD of this president - not only support him - but very proud of him and the job he has done. I even had a dog named "Dubya". I am proud of President Bush like I will be proud of my children when they graduate from college or whatever.... PRIDE. American pride. Not only proud of my country but proud of my leader. Not only supportive of our military but very proud of them. And NO, I am not PRO WAR. I am, however, PRO VICTORY. God bless ~

For me it would definitely be a money AND principle thing. I can't afford to do any part of this if my insurance doesn't cover it all. What hoops we have to jump through though!!!

Ooh my goodness gracious sakes oh life. For heaven's sake! ROTFLM*soon-to-be-not-fat*AO.

Thank you Melissa. I know that YOU, all of you here, are the only people who truly understand why I am so bugged by this today. I am honestly sad about it and my husband sort of doesn't get it. So it will be in another week or two or three, or God forbid they make me go for a couple months to meet some other criteria... it's no big deal to him but to me it's putting off this answer that I have found, something that I KNOW is an answer for me, the TOOL that I have finally found to help me get back my health. And I don't want to wait. Besides that, I am a LEO. We are famous for having no patience.

Missy is RIGHT ON THE MONEY! We absolutely DO NOT talk like that. The only time I ever say "Yeah, You Betcha!" Is when I am making fun of that movie. It's really very poorly represented "us" in that way, even though it was a work of fiction (somehow folks seem to think that part of it is true, we all talk like that and listen to accordion music). The other thing is, the only part of the whole movie that was even IN north dakota was the shot in the bar in Fargo. Why they named the whole movie Fargo is beyond me. On a really funny side note, my dad is an accordion player and king of polka music. SERIOUSLY. LOLLLLLLLLLL!

So we hit a snag. I AM SO SO SO SAD. The surgeon's nurse called and said that the bariatric coordinator had her CANCEL the surgery for May 10th because she (BC) doesn't think we will hear back from my ins for 3 weeks or so. SO I called my ins co and they said they have received NOTHING from them!! How can they respond to NOTHING? I am so irritated. So I called back the nurse and she said that the BC said that they're waiting on the psych eval, which was done on the 16th and the guy said he would have it all ready to go THAT DAY. The ins co also said that we would hear back within SEVEN DAYS of when they receive the info. So, I lost my date on May 10th, at the soonest it could be the 17th now or maybe the 24th because AFTER approval for the surgery they are going to make me wait two weeks to do the pre-op diet, even though I already started it......... OOOOOOOOH I am so annoyed. Also throwing a baby shower for my niece on the 20th so not sure if I can have the surgery on the 17th if I even should.... Oh and to make matters worse I told THE WHOLE WORLD about my surgery two days ago. And now I don't know when it is going to be. DAG NABBIT.

I was scheduled for May 10th and now that was cancelled until they hear back that I am approved. I have BCBSIL. I called the ins co and they said it takes 7 business days but that they have NOT received anything from the lapband coordinator to approve. So I called back the surgery center and asked why and they said that they're waiting for the psych eval to come back before they can send in all the stuff. Well, the psychologist told me I was approved by him and he'd get it typed up that day. That was on the 16th. So I am just really annoyed right now. I REALLY wanted the 10th to be the date but now even if it all gets approved fast they have cancelled the 10th and will have to reschedule at the soonest on the 17th. I AM SOOOOO DISAPPOINTED. What I want to ask those of you with BCBS of IL is if you got approved without have a medically supervised diet plan documented. I meet EVERY criteria and then some and have tried every diet known to man, but the only thing I ever did medically supervised was Meridia. My doctor has been my doctor since 2000 and of course has my medical problems and obesity documented so that should be really good. THOUGHTS?? We tried to do medically supervised dieting but my ins at that time wouldn't pay for it so, we just did all kinds of other things (nutrisystem and all kinds of crap).

I lived over by Lisbon for a short time. I hated it. Absolutely HATED IT. I lived in Dickinson for most of my life, actually lived in Hazen too and have a lot of family there. Anyway, now in Bismarck and love it. I went to college in Fargo and it was a hard time in my life...... dirt poor, starving college student, ya know, didn't help my impression of the town much. But At least there are a lot of things going on there.

Hey all, My pre-op diet is TWO meals of liquid protein per day, each one must be at least 20g of protein. THEN one meal per day can be meat and veggies. I don't have to go all liquid until afterward. Well, I think I fast for 12 hours beforehand. I have to read my materials to make sure.

Yep me too (recommend talking to pharmacist). I take glucophage extended release and I think I will have to go off of that and onto the regular in order to break them up. One other extended release I am on too that I will have to go off of and onto regular for the time that I will need to cut them up.

Sleepyjean - tell us how YOU are doing!!!! Give us your one year update!! BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER AND PARTY ON DUDE!!!

Well I am not there yet but this is what they told me. Anything large crush or cut into smaller pieces. Anything small should be fine. Anything that you can get in a liquid or a chewable form, and you'd be surprised if you asked your pharmacist what's available in liquid or chewable forms, should be done. I personally take glucophage and it's a big old horse pill, times 4 per day..... so I am gonna have to do something with that for sure.

You wish for people to make informed, educated decisions, to be thoughtful about everything they do in life, not just walk through it all blindly. I think that's definitely a good thing to wish for people.

How dare you! *laughing*

Amy, I agree with you. I would feel bad if someone close to me didn't share it and want my support through it. Today I blogged about it and sent the blog to all my family and friends who don't actually read my blog (that I know of). So the cat is out of the bag. I figure everyone will be supportive and it will be that much better for me, and if someone isn't supportive then, well, that's not my problem right? So, we will see how it goes. I am kind of excited to hear some responses from my friends and family........ I wait eagerly........

Just an update on my decision about who to tell....... I have told a few people and part of me regrets it (not for any reason regarding their behavior or reactions, just because I told and I am not sure if I want to or not). But I have a REALLY hard time keeping secrets, especially when it is something that I think may help others. I am an advocate for women's health (mostly in the PCOS area) and if this helps me I feel like it's almost selfish of me NOT to share it with others, so, I have shared it in my blog. But I don't know how many people in my REAL life read my blog. It's not hidden or anything, I just don't think they bother to read it. Perhaps I would be surprised, I don't know. So all my blog readers know. A lot of my ONLINE buddies know. In "real life" my mom and one sibling know, a niece knows, and my husband knows. So we will see how far it goes. Part of me wants to lose weight and take all the credit for it myself and not tell anyone HOW I do it. Ya know? Almost like I am cheating by doing this or something.........

Sunta, Though I disagree with some of the things you have to say I definitely think that your thoughts would make a great blog. It is interesting, and I am not offended... I don't really care what anyone thinks about what I am doing with my life. Seriously, I just don't go there. I always try to remember to examine the log in my own eye before I toss stones at anyone else. So I am pretty accepting of other people's opinions even if I don't share them. Anyhoo, back to the blog thing, I really think that you'd make an interesting blogger about this stuff and probably much more, from the sounds of what you have to say. Mommy of 6 & would LOVE to adopt a bunch more someday Older kids who are unwanted by others but would be loved by me and my family.... a dream.... perhaps someday will happen....