firefaerie266

You know, I never actually experienced this before. I really thought that some people just made this sort of stuff up. But after the phone call with my primary care doctor yesterday, I am seeing things differently now. Back in January I had started doing research on weight loss surgery, and I found this website. I decided that the LapBand would be the best option for me and I started to get really excited about the possibility to be satisfied with smaller portions, to be able to learn the self control and good eating habits to make this a success, and to just start a new life. So I talked to my doctor about it. She agreed it sounded like a good option for me. Gave me a referral to a Bariatric Surgeon and I started to do their pre-op program (including spend money on classes and exercise equipment, all of which my doctor knew). Things were looking real good. I found out that my doctor hadn't submitted her official referral paperwork though - she didn't submit her letter of medical necessity either. So I gave them a call and they said I would need to come in and sign a release, odd, I thought, since all the other referrals I hadn't had this problem. Last week I received a very odd voicemail from my doctor. The receptionist said she wanted to schedule me to talk to my doctor about appetite suppressants. What?? I couldn't understand why on earth my doctor would even think that was an option for me - especially since I have a rapid heart rate already. I am already on meds to LOWER my heart rate and now she wants me to try appetite suppressants, which increase the risk of heart complications? I was very confused my this voicemail, so I called back and of course no one had any idea what I was talking about - they told me to leave a message with my nurse and someone would call me back. I sorta forgot about it over the weekend, until yesterday. Yesterday I got the call from my doctor so that she could explain what was going on. Long story short (too late! haha) she didn't think bariatric surgery was right for me. She thought that since my other medical issues were all straightened out (no sleep apnea, heart rate under control, Iron levels in normal ranges, hormones controlled by BC pills) that I should give it "another shot" at doing it on my own. And couldn't support my choice for lapband surgery unless I did an additional 3 months diet/exercise with her. Forget the fact that I had already spent the past 3+ months talking to her about diet, exercise, and healthy habits. Forget the fact that I already been making lifestyle changes (give up Coke, drinking more Water, eating Protein shakes for Breakfast [instead of not eating breakfast at all]). None of that matter. It apparently wasn't good enough for her because I while I was extremely heavy, I have no other comorbidities. She couldn't bother to tell me this 3 months ago when I first mentioned it. She had to wait. And I know that insurance companies often require a 3 to 6 months diet/exercise plan to get approval, but this wasn't that. As far as my insurance was concerned I had already fulfilled that requirement (my doctor appointments in January, February, and March fulfilled this). This is just my doctor and her own prejudice. She tried to explain to me that she has seen the lapband fail. And that "You know, you still have to learn those habits." and all I could say was "Yes, I know that. I know this is a just a tool. Its just an accountability partner." to which she said "Well, you can still eat around it. You still have to learn to choose Oranges over Oreos." That was the part that really made me snap. Why does everyone ASSUME that "Oh you're fat, that must be because you pig out on potato chips and sit on the couch all day doing nothing." I am so sick and tired of that attitude!! And from a so called medical professional nonetheless??? Surely she of all people realizes that there are other things that cause obesity?? After I got off the phone with her I had a very good long cry. I was absolutely devastated - like all my dreams that I was only weeks away from achieving were being shattered. My husband was so supportive, and he was even angrier than I was at what she had said to me, and how I had been led along for 3 months now into thinking everything was OK. If she had said 3 months ago when I first mentioned it "Ok, I'm going to need to put you on a supervised diet for insurance reasons, since I don't have your complete medical history, and then I'll put in the approval," I would be DONE BY NOW. But no, she waited and pulled me along, and then told me that weightloss was as simple as choosing "Oranges over Oreos" and exercising a little bit. So today I found a new doctor. I know at this point I am going to have to do the diet and exercise for 3 months because they will need that for their records (since I'm a new patient). But I would much rather work with someone who hopefully has more sympathy and experience with fat people. / rant

Thanks you guys, it means a lot to be just be able to get this off my chest and have people understand. My head is still pounding right now. I knew this process was going to be long and stressful, but I never imagined I would be so emotionally invested in this! I'm just trying to relax with some music and my spinning wheel. Hopefully I'll be able to see my new doctor next week and I'll get back on track.

"We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine!" Sorry, couldnt help myself lol

I had a similar conversation with my husband recently. I had skipped a couple days of exercising and my husband was getting annoyed with me for not sticking to it. Turns out that he was excited for me to get this surgery and start my transfornation. Not because he didn't love me for who I am now - but because he was looking forward to doing new things together, buying me new clothes, and watching ME become happier. He would still love me the same if I failed, but he didn't want me to fail at MY dream! Maybe your husband is the same?

What branch of the military is your husband in then? Navy? I hadn't heard of a base down there - seems like GA is full of them! Looking forward to hearing about your journey as well!

You sound like you are looking fantastic. I wouldn't worry too much about the extra weight. Just because it falls into the "healthy" weight range on the chart doesn't mean it looks good on you, kwim? I think the number one goal should always be your health. Perhaps talk to your primary dr about what they think about your current weight and ultimate goals?

Do you have a CPAP machine you use for your sleep apnea? If your lack of good rest at night is the cause of your lethargy no amount of diet and exercise is going to make it better

Ps. I dont think I would ever be able to eat at a Mexican place again. Their portions are HUGE and the chips and queso would be my downfall. Thats why I prefer to cook my own!

You could make refried Beans without the refry in your crockpot (the recipe is in allrecipes.com) and maybe some shredded pork or chicken with a tiny portion of lime and cilantro rice, with a sprinkle of cheese and lettuce? You can get fajita sized tortilla shells for your hubby to make tacos out of too. (Thats my standard mexican food recipe that I use now. No clue what the calories and Protein content is or how best to modify it for a lapband patient since I havent had my band yet. But I am hoping I can still enjoy a small portion of it from time to time after I get banded!)

Hi! Are you at Ft. Stewart by chance? Thats where we are stationed currently. My husband was suppose to deploy recently but his orders got changed at tge last minute so now he gets to stay home. My plan was to lose a bunch of weight and get all sexy while he was gone - but now that he is home I am relieved that I will have his support. Dr. Whipple in Savannah will be my surgeon, I really liked their office and staff so I am looking forward to this. I just went into my first appointment last week and we are getting the ball rolling on all the pre-op requirements.

I hope you didn't think I was being snarky. I was being 100% honest. Even though your information didn't apply to a lot of people, I can tell for people like me that habitually swallow their gum it was an eye opener and something I'll be asking my surgeon about. I definitely don't want to have to have a piece of gum surgically removed once a week! O.o

Oh wow, I'm so sorry you are going through this My heart really aches for you and what you have been through. I hope you can get back on track and taking care of yourself. Can you call your surgeon? If you aren't able to swallow normal food like chicken and veggies you might be too full and in need of an unfill. Or you are just not chewing slow enough. Does your surgery clinic have a psychologist? They might be able to help you with developing coping mechanisms for your pain and emotional stress. I know for me, I tend to turn to craft projects when my mind gets over loaded - but I'm sure a psychologist or therapist would be able to come up with things for you to do. Hang in there, you'll get through this!

Sheesh I might never be able to chew gum again LOL I never thought about how dangerous it would be if I swallowed it! Eeek! (I have a long standing problem/habit of swallowing gum)

Eat after. I read on some diet program that if you have food in your tummy when you start exercising then that is the first source of energy burned. So unless you feel feint while exercising, I'd wait until you are done and have cooled off. Just make sure you drink plenty of water!

I found your other post so I got the rest of your story

Everyone handles anesthesia differently. My dad stays in a fog for hours - he can still think/hear and is aware but he has difficulty responding. My mom and I wake right up and can be carrying on normal conversation in a matter of minutes. I had my wisdom teeth out recently and had woke up during the procedure - despite the large dose of meds I had. That experience alone has me nervous about future procedures, despite the fact that the conditions would be completely different. In the end, it's really a personal decision. If you are someone that is going to be constantly worried and stressed about surgery, then maybe the lapband isn't the procedure for you. There is always the chance that an adjustment might need to be made or something replaced. But on the other hand if your other conditions get worse that could outweigh the risks of this surgical procedure. I would see if you could get another appointment with your surgeon to talk about your concerns. Your "surgery coordinator" or whoever that is is probably nothing more than a glorified secretary and not capable in answering your questions or alleviating your concerns. I would also ask your surgeon if you can talk to his anesthesiologist and see what they have to say about your reaction and if he has any concerns etc. Good luck!

Like others have said, this stage is for healing. Try to focus on getting in all your Water and Protein, and then just be patient and let your body adjust. The goal is to get healthy - and that doesn't always mean losing weight

My doctor charges out of pocket "program fees" as well. It's about $750 for all of it - and that includes nut consults, psych eval, support groups, and a all day post op class and I think a few other things. I wasn't expecting to have to pay that much out of pocket, but I also wasn't expecting to get so much for it either so I guess it's a fair trade. My doctor seems to really put the emphasis on the follow up and the support groups.

Did you gain back your weight or were there complications that prevented you from losing? I'm assuming it must have worked at least a little or you wouldn't be considering replacing it?

Sounds normal to me and I dont even have my band yet! Lol Just make sure you have plenty of Water while working out and be sure to eat a good Protein rich meal when you have cooled off. The more calories you burn the more you need to consume. You still want a calorie deficit so that you can lose weight, but not so much that your body thinks you are trying to starve it. You could also try turning down your workout just a notch. You shouldnt be so exhausted that you want to pass out. I know the temptation is that if we work out harder than its better for us (or we can not feel bad about that extra bite of cake...) but if you work out too hard (ie. Before your body is ready for that intensity) you can end up injuring yourself or even just getting discouraged. And if all else fails - I would take a nap! Not immediately after working out, but an hour or two after I have finished if I am still tired. I actually started doing my workouts in the evenings so that I could go straight to the shower and then on to bed. And since I struggle with insomnia sometimes its helped me go to sleep easier. Good luck and take care of yourself!

That's very interesting! I've only heard of that applying in places where kids eat cheaper (and portions not necessarily smaller). Guess I'll need to be on the look out next time I go out!

I'd call your surgeon just to be safe and keep them informed - but you may just be weak (I'm assuming you are still on liquids, right?) or possibly dehydrated. Also, you just had surgery so for some people just the pain/stress of standing could be enough for you to feel faint. I remember when I was recovering from my c-section showering for the first week was impossible for me to do on my own because my back and tummy were so stressed and not use to supporting me how they were now (w/o baby and w/ sutures). And the first time I saw my staples after my gallbladder removal I almost passed out as well!

What sort of card? I've never had trouble ordering off the kids menu or just getting a salad (haven't had surgery yet) so why do you think you need something special to do so...?

I did my cardio and ad ripper disk last night - and man am I SORE! I didn't have trouble keeping up - I breathing was fine, and my heart didn't race any more than normal - but my thighs and butt are so sore! I also think I over did it the first day with my workout (I tried really hard to move slowly and not over do things, but it seems like pretty much any exercise after not exercising for so long counts as "over doing" it...), so my range of motion was some what limited on day two. I was not able to do "Power Yoga" at all during the warm up phase. I tried, but by the time I got on the floor it was time to stand up again! The hardest part for me was coordinating some of the workouts (like when I had to move my legs and my hands at the same time lol), but I'm sure I'll get better at that with time!