Big As Life

Honey, Your story is my story...I have tried every diet known to man...I have done diet pills, Adkins, South-Beach, weight watchers, staple in ear, you name it, I've tried it...nothing worked for me....I pray that you will find comfort here at this site...knowing that we all have been where you are, today....find yourself a new doctor..I agree with BetsyJane...find a lapband doctor, go to the seminar, and get the help you need...yes, this procedure will fail if you do not follow the plan, but it is a very valuable tool that can help you loose the weight...I had to pay cash for mine and I don't regret it at all...I would do it again in a heart beat....good luck to you and honey, come here if you need to be encouraged...this is a great bunch of caring people that understand your pain... Di

Kacee, Thanks For Info...i Know That Has To Be Very Painful...i Have Had To Have Old Age Spot Burned Off My Face...they Say They Freeze It , But It Feels Like A Hot Fire....and Mine Had The Blister And Took Two Weeks To Heal...you Can Still See The Spot But It Is A Lot Lighter...i Plan On Covering My Face To Tan....i Can Always Wear Darker Make-up....i Just Hate Being Snow White...and I Agree With Ryan...tanned Fat Looks Much Better Than White Fat...

OMG...that is terrible...how frustrating this must be for you....how on earth have you gone thru this for so long? I pray that your troubles will soon be over...hopefully, you will be able to find a better doctor that will be able to help you....good luck...

I am a self-pay, so the day I went in to talk to the doctor, my surgery was scheduled that very day.....I knew when I walked out of the office that my surgery would be on 4/6/07....they gave me the date to start my two week liquid diet and that was it....

Now she tells you to call the surgeon and have him fax the info to her, but she didn't bother to get a fax number to send the info to the surgeon...to begin with....That is crazy....and why would she have to hear from the surgeon as to where the surgery will take place...why won't they just let you tell them? You are their customer....you pay them for their services..and yet you can't be the one to tell them where you are having the surgery..that is just so stupid... Di

I LOVE food...our entertainment is going out to eat...our lives are always surrounded by food... AND --we are also Southern Baptist....we have more fellowship dinners than anyone else... I use to eat large portions...portion control was a big part of my problem....I know that it is not just what I eat, but how much I eat... Di

I had no luck with CIGNA....I tried to get it approved, but they wouldn't even discuss it...they just out and out said, "NO" ....We no longer have CIGNA insurance...we now have First Health...and they want pay for it either...I am a self-pay....but worth every single penny...

Bless your heart...sounds like you have really been thru it...I would just go in on Monday and tell him exactly what you have posted here... surely he can see where you are coming from...and will make things right...I pray all will go well for you...this has to be so frustrating...Let us know how you are doing... Di

lol...your friend sounds like a real hoot...she gave you good advice...don't look at the negative...focus on the good....I know what you mean about body image disorder....but...I bet you look really good...don't worry about what is not perfect...Just enjoy being thinner.... Di

I was put on 3 Slim Fast (optima) (the Optima curbs your appetite) a day..also drank, crystal light, sf tea(decaf) coffee(decaf) diet cokes....and lots of Water....For the first 3 days I had 3 or 4 slim fast a day....on fourth day, I traded one slim fast for a small garden salad with ff dressing...you have to wait for the fourth day to trade the slim fast for garden salad...or you can just stick with the three or four slim fast a day...which ever works best....but that garden salad sure did taste good.. Di

I have graduated to soft foods....yahoo!!!! I had beef stew for supper, without the beef...just ate the soft veggies...tasted pretty good.... Di

Bless your heart...I know that must be so disappointing and frustrating...I hope that there will be a way for you to have the lapband done..I wish that everyone that needs it, could have it done...These insurance companies really confuse me...I don't get it....mine denied my claim, so I am a self pay....good luck....I wish you all the best...

Kerry, You can do this...you can....just drink the drinks that you have been told to drink and stick to it....I will be praying for you and I am sure there are others that will pray for you, too.....Please hang in there and just make up your mind, you are going to do this....drink lots and lots of Water and stay well hydrated...that will help...I had to drink 3 or 4 slim fast (optima)a day,for the first three days.. and then on the fourth day I could add a green salad with ff dressing..but I had to trade one slim fast for the salad.....I had sf Jello, and crystal light, diet cokes, sf tea....this will be so worth it...you will be so glad you did....please let us know how you are...you are with a group of caring people and we have all been where you are today... Di/Texas

mine was probably a level of 3 when I woke up...then I got up and started walking as soon as I could...that helps relieve the gas in chest...good luck ..hope all goes well... Di/Texas

Congratulations....that is super..sounds like you are on the road to recovery....glad the surgery went well....take it easy for the next few days...don't over do it... Di/Texas

I didn't have to have all of that...I did have to have sleep study, but I only had to wear a monitor at home and then took it back in the next day..I had went to pre-register at surgery center and the anesthesia doctor said I would have to have EKG and release from doctor before he would feel comfortable putting me under...I went that very day and got appt for next day to have EKG and release paper work done...I was so upset I was afraid that I would not be released to have surgery..but...no problem...doctor said everything was fine...I was a self pay, so I didn't have to go to all of the different doctors...

I was so scared.. I was more scared about this surgery than I was when I had open heart surgery...I think it was because I had three weeks to think about it...I didn't have that much time to think with open heart... The nurses at the surgery center was wonderful to me...they reassured me every step of the way...once I was taken into surgery and moved to the bed, they started giving me the medicine and the next thing I knew I was in recovery...went to surgery around 9:00 and was home by 11:30 I pray that you will have an easy surgery and a fast recovery.....but you are perfectly normal to have these concerns... Di/Texas

Congratulations...hope you have a speedy recovery...each day will get a little easier...I was sore for several days, but now I have very little discomfort...hang in there...and get ready for the journey... Di/Texas

Beth, Hello...I am Diann from Texas...Good luck on a quick reply from insurance..I wish that everyone could get this approved with their insurance...Mine was denied...My insurance company will not do anything to help with obesity...so...I just paid for my own...it will be worth every penny that I have spent...I was banded on 4/6/07...I will have the first fill on 5/17/07 ...I have lost a total of 24 lbs..as of this morning...

I have tons of exercise equipment..the only exercise I get from them is moving them over to clean under...I have sold many of them at garage sales for a fraction of what I paid for them...I am always being sucked in to the infomercials...I believe that this "new" gadget will be the one to work...what a sucker I am...I think I will just stick to walking on treadmill and leave it at that... Di/Texas

Congrats on your surgery date....Good luck and best wishes... Di/Texas

Hi Suzie, I am Diann from Texas....I live in Texarkana....congratulations on your up-coming surgery...don't worry about the surgery...I watched the films and I was a bit wigged out, but you will sleep thru the whole thing and wake up without knowing what they have done...I am a kind of person that does not need to know what they are doing, just do it...and then I will start the healing process...The less I know , the better...I don't need all the details...I felt the same when I had open-heart surgery...I didn't want to watch the films to see what they were going to do...I didn't need to know..I wasn't doing the surgery... I pray that all will go well for you.. Di/Texas

you know the old saying, "You don't miss your Water until the well goes dry" that is what you are experiencing...I have had cravings for food that I never liked before...it is just the fact of knowing that you can't have anything...This will pass...just keep drinking lots of water and stay well hydrated....good luck with your surgery..I pray that all will go well for you... Di/Texas

I was banded on 4/6/07...Please add me to the April list...thanks so much...and good luck with your surgery... Di/Texas

You are probably still swollen...my doctor says not to worry about weight loss during this time...you will start to lose after the first fill...some people lose and others don't until after the first fill....