Bandista

Hi there, I have United Healthcare as well and they are not going for my comorbitities (high blood pressure and sleep apnea) -- their only requirement is a BMI of 40 and they don't seem to be budging on that no matter what. I am a little borderline and so have had the mind-bending project of keeping my weight up and even cheating at the scale. Imagine cheating in the other direction, to be heavier? So screwed up! Like 240s are not fat enough? Meanwhile hospital is dragging its feet a little and United ("Passport" here in my state, there's a Harvard Pilgrim rider attached to United) went from 100 percent down to 90 percent. If we don't get this scheduled soon I worry they'll come up with other ways to make it difficult to pay out.

One of the (many!) reasons I want this so much is being able to go into the next stage of my life with optimal health. I'm only 52 but I have arthritis and sometimes I feel like I'm 80 already. I know that I need to get this weight off so I can be happy and healthy for the years to come -- and able to enjoy them. There's so much I want to do! Good luck to you!

Hi there and congratulations. From what I read, I think it's normal to feel hunger at the stage you are in -- banded and healing up but no fill as yet? I am pre-band and, like you, getting so much info from reading people's stories. Thanks for sharing yours! Way to go on the 19 pounds -- you are on your way!

Yippee! So happy for you. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Nice to have a 17 pound head-start.......you are setting yourself up for brilliant success and good health.

We live in crazy times for healthcare, that's for sure. Is it possible the doctor/hospital can appeal this absurd decision -- can you go at it from both angles (you, the insured, and them, the provider)? So sorry you are going through this. It's very frustrating, but you can do this. You are almost there! A few more hoops, don't let the Bastards get you down!

Congratulations on surgery date -- you're nearly there! A whole new chapter has begun. Best wishes.......

Three boys under three? Wow! Congratulations and good call on losing weight as they are sure going to keep you on your toes! So happy for you and your family. Exciting times ahead -- and what a great thing to have that fifty off. Best wishes for continued success!

Yippee! That is so great!

Thanks for that! Writing down all of these tips in my LB notebook. I don't know yet whether I HAVE to take this particular brand but it's what the nutritionist hands you at the hospital as part of the program. I mentioned liver cleansing in advance of the liquid diet just to have a really happy liver for them and the program coordinator said that liver cleanses do nothing. Well, I think lemon water and grapefruit juice, etc. is a lot better for you than Maltodextrin, Asparateme, Phenylalanine. Just saying......

Wow, great link -- thanks......

Hmmmm....I had a cap with the leads attached -- no goopy stuff. And I went in at 8PM, it took an hour or so to hook everything up and get me settled in. I watched TV for a while and they came back in an hour to turn it off at 10PM. Then of course I had to go to the bathroom. Back in bed I laid awake and was in and out sleeping for the night, but that is normal for me. I was glad the guy was so nice. No dogs at the bottom of the bed and they didn't wake me to go out at dawn, nor children to drive to school. Geez, I must have really needed a vacation.

Hi there, first of all commiserations on the bean-pole family -- I totally know what that's like. I'm adopted and the women in my family are fairly petite and of a certain genotype. They don't get fat. Ack! Anyway, I'd say you are in the best possible place for research. The process takes a long time so while I've been waiting for the wheels to turn I've been on here nearly every day reading people's stories and participating as much as possible. Every time I ask a question I get amazing answers from very kind and knowledgeable people. There is a lot of compassion, which is something that has been missing for me because of course I beat myself up so much for "getting this way." Every one here has walked in the same shoes, and I really appreciate that. I decided on the Lapband because it's the least invasive and it is reversible. I want something to help with my appetite so I can be successful at losing weight. Like most people I have dieted a lot and even lost a lot of weight, but only to gain it back. I need something permanent and this tool will help me reach my goals. I'm already wishing I had done this twenty years ago rather than struggling along into my fifties. Best wishes to you!

Congratulations! Not banded yet and no advice for you except that every day will be a little better. Best wishes for a speedy recovery......

What is a five-day pouch test? I do know I can do most anything for five days but I'm not sure what this is -- a way of checking to make sure you band is set? Thanks so much for the intel!

Look at those beautiful eyes!

Good luck! Ten days out is a milestone -- you are on your way!

I was very lucky and had a good experience. Our local hospital has the sleep study rooms set up to resemble a hotel, so maybe I just went into hotel mode. There was a TV, etc. My spouse dropped me off and then came back for me the next morning. The nurse was very nice -- he stuck on the sensors and put them into a kind of pony tail at the side so I was able to fall asleep. I was worried about having to get up and go to the bathroom but when I did it was very easy as everything unhooked from one place. They checked on me from time-to-time and I had what for me was a "regular" night's sleep, i.e. waking up constantly, otherwise known as apnea. No wonder I was exhausted all the time -- and endangering my health. The next thing was getting the machine. A respiratory therapist set it up and I was fortunate to be able to have the kind that has nose pillows rather than a thing that goes over mouth and nose. It's a bit like how oxygen is done but the nose is sealed. Straps over the head to keep the thing on but they are pretty well-designed for minimal intrusion. I travel with the machine and last year even shared a hotel room with a friend for the first time. She did not laugh at me! Prior to that only my husband had seen the thing, and he is not horrified. It's just a little weird but really it's so amazing to be able to go to that place of deep sleep. I didn't realize how long it had been since I was there. Really hoping that a big weight loss will enable me to sleep without the machine, but I suspect I have had apnea and sleep issues my whole life, even prior to the weight gain. We'll see, though -- it's definitely a goal for me. Good luck -- I think you'll do fine on the sleep study. A sense of humor is always a good idea because the whole thing is kind of bizarre. Let us know how you do!

Welcome home and congratulations! Sorry about the glue issues -- that must have thrown you guys for a loop. Best wishes for a smooth recovery now with lots of walking and Popsicles and SLEEP! So happy for you at the beginning of this journey -- and a jump-start at that. Good luck with all!

So sorry you had a crummy day; this can be a stressful time of year. Well, yet to find a nom-stressful time -- seems like life can get dialed up fast! Still, end of summer, lots going on.. I think emotional eating is how most of us got here. I am still pre-band but really working to address the issues that I know the band can't -- if possible I want to be ahead of my game. One thing I realize is that when I'm stressed I prep myself with food. Like if I have a conference call and I'm starting to bank anxiety, I eat. I use food to anchor myself, too, so if it feels like things are flying out of control I look for food to tamp things down. Then there's the whole reward system. I won't have these devices anymore -- I don't want them -- but I know I will need other outlets. Healthy rewards. Hoping to use walking. If I can walk off my feelings instead of eating them down then maybe I'll really be on to something. I hope things go well, that you get rest, etc. Do you know HALT? Don't get too hungry, angry lonely or tired!

Congratulations on Friday -- and on being open. I admire that and am looking at my own issues of why I feel so embarrassed. Obviously because it is so embarrassing being overweight and feeling judged, etc. but maybe theres more and a way to ditch decades of low self esteem behavior. My family, though, beyond the immediate (great spouse and son) are not what you would all a support system. Keep us posted on your progress -- so happy for you!

Yippee! Imagine carrying around a bale of hay all the time. Oh, wait -- I have two. Good grief, going to have some ENERGY when I put those thi go down! Congratulations on all the hard work that got you to this place. Yippee!

Congratulations! So happy for you -- and glad you found this site. I sure am glad -- pre-band but I've learned so much, way more than through the hospital program, etc. good luck walking and ice chipping and check in when you can!

Let us know how it went -- did you get your date? Laughed aloud over the one hour early part. I so get that. Let's go already!

Thanks -- will do. Top of tomorrow's list! Best wishes!

Loved the Flame comment, too -- and I've heard "Tiger Stripes" before. The coordinator of the LB program at our local hospital (who is banded herself) said something that cracked every one up at the seminar when some one asked about stretch marks: " all the important stuff happens in the dark anyway so who cares?" She is pretty irreverent. My husband had a major abdominal scar from a back surgery (they went in through the front). He did Vitamin E oil every day and it's hard to see that scar now. Totally different, of course, as that was fresh and different than stretch marks. I'm white but have a boy of color who is one scar after another -- sometimes I rub Vitamin E oil on the worst spots but honestly I can't tell whether it does anything. Trader Joe's makes a good one that is not too expensive or sticky. I've wondered about starting to grease up my beach ball in advance of the band and whether that would do anything -- the way pregnant women do. Oh my, do I look forward to getting rid of this belly! If there are stretch marks it will be better than what I have now, that's for sure.