Comfy_Blue

At this point in my life, I'm not planning to tell anyone except for those I've already told (my parents, husband and bff who had WLS and confided in me a few years ago) because people will think what I thought "It's an easy way out and now that you've had the surgery you can just eat whatever you want, just in smaller portions, and stay skinny". I don't want to hear anyone's negative opinion and I'm already mentally preparing myself that while most people will likely be happy for me, some others who will be angry/jealous/nasty to me about my weight lost.

I understand completely where you're coming from. I'm getting sleeved on Dec. 23 and though I don't have young children yet, I have a husband, parents, a sibling and wonderful friends. Plus I'm not even 30 yet. I don't want to die or have my life ruined by some complication. When I was making this decision what I told myself (and still tell myself when I have moments of doubt) is that if I continue the path I'm going right now I WILL get sick. I WILL lose even more mobility. I WILL die prematurely. If I have WLS, there's a chance something might go wrong, but there's an even larger chance that things will go right and I will be healthier and happier. Continuing on as I am now, I have no chances of being healthy and happy, just fatter and miserable.

I completed my psych exam a couple weeks ago on a Friday and received my approval letter on a Monday. It took me a lot less time than the average person because a lot of the questions. Now that I'm on the other side of the exam, I feel like all those questions are trying to determine: 1. Are you mentally stable 2. Do you have potential for an eating disorder 3. Are you realistic If anything, people who have more issues may take longer because they're unsure of themselves and this huge life change. Not to toot my own horn here, but I was determined to get this procedure done, so I didn't have to think much about my answers. I think you're fine, but please, keep us posted.

Congratulations! I hope that you're all done and in recovery now. Can't wait to take my place on the loser bench beside you in two weeks! Let us know how you're doing when you feel up to it.

I'm getting sleeved on December 23 (two days before Christmas!) and like the OP I feel scared and excited. Even though the idea of losing weight and being healthier and all the other pros to doing this outweigh the cons (possibly having loose skin, 6 months of hair loss, it doesn't work) I'm still pretty nervous. I wish the 23rd would get here so I can stop stressing about it! I'm meeting with my surgeon and nutritionist on Monday to discuss logistics and my pre-op diet. can't wait to see you all on the other side! I love this forum because I've only told my parents, husband and 1 friend (she's a lapbander) that I'm having this procedure done, so it's good to have other people to talk with since none of my friends know.

Cafe First BCBS has been amazing. My friend lives in VA and was able to get her lapband in about a month and a half because they don't require much, just that you have a bmi over 40 and do a psych exam. I have the same insurance, but for Maryland. I was required to have a BMI over 40, do a sleep study, psych exam, have 6 months of a structured weight loss program prior to asking for surgery (weight watchers) and an endoscopy. I started the process in late October. My surgery was approved and is now scheduled for Dec. 23.

My insurance company said they required 6 months of a weight loss program (or 3 consective months of 2 different programs). I turned on my weight watchers card. I had 3 months in a row of weigh in stickers that I actually received from WW, then I wrote in my weights for the next 3 months on the card and added ''eTools'' beside it because I used the website a few times. Since I had my bank statement showing I had paid for WW each month for an entire year, my insurance company accepted it. I think what I did or perhaps using strictly eTools is the closest you can get to not having to do a weight loss program. call your insurance company to find out for sure

I live in Maryland and have Care First BCBS. Yesterday morning my surgeon's RN called and said she was submitting my documents (ie: psych eval, clearance by primary care physician, proof of weight watchers, sleep study results, etc) to my insurance company where another RN would approve or reject me. This morning my surgeon's RN called me back and said the insurance company's RN contacted her and said that I had been approved for a procedure date of Dec. 23. I am obviously excited, but a little confused. Does that mean I am definately, 100% having my surgery, or is it possible that the BCBS nurse approves me and submits me to the insurance company and they reject me? I asked my surgeon's RN and she said that nothing is guareenteed when it comes to an insurance company. I don't know what to think. Has anyone ever been approved by their insurance company's RN, then rejected by the insurance company itself for a procedure? Am I going to receive a letter in the mail from CF BCBS? Is the BCBS RN the one who decides whether or not I will have surgery and since she approved, does that mean I am done waiting for approval?

thank you sue! i looked on my company's website and i didn't see this claim on my list of claims (instead i say things like my psych eval, my sleep study, my lab reports, etc). Maybe it takes them 24 hours to load it. If I don't see it tomorrow morning I'm going to follow your advice and ask.

LoL! Heeey Girl, pretty soon you won't need those lumps because you'll be all smooth. (Real smooth, not poser smooth). :-P

Congratulations! I gotta say, LSP is one of my favorite people. When I read your post it made me smile because as I was reading, I was hearing your words in her voice. Oh my glob!

Thanks. We'll see how it goes.

Hello All, I would really appreciate any advice or answers to my questions because I'm getting very nervous. I'm submitting all my paperwork and going to my initial consultation with the surgeon on Friday. I am feeling nervous about my weight because I am on the "lighter" side of heavy. I'm 5'5, 240lbs and even though my knees and hips are killing me, my weight has caused my arches to fall(which means I wear orthodics 24/7 and cannot go barefoot without pain in my knees and hips) I get winded easily and I wear a size 18/20, when I calculate my BMI, it says I am a 39.9 BMI which is so close, yet so far from 40BMI. My mom says not to worry, that I should keep my shoes on when they weigh me and with my clothes, I'll definately be closer to 40. So anyway, what I'm wondering is: 1. How do they weigh you? Are you allowed to keeep on your shoes and clothes? Or do you get barefoot and in a gown? 2. Do they weigh you and then deduct 2 - 5 lbs for your clothes and shoes? 3. Did they use an old fashioned scale (the kind where you move the large piece across) or an electronic one that sends a pulse through your body to check your weight? 4. Has anyone ever been denied for being only slightly under like me? 5. Did they check your height?

@Fluff: I did the exact same thing, except for a week leading up! It's surprising how hard it is to gain weight when you are actively trying. I also did not realize how much our weight flucuates throughout the day either. One day, I was 239 in the morning, 248 when I got home, then 244 right before bed

@Re147: I know exactly what you mean! When I got on the scale, I kept praying and praying that my weight would be high enough. It's so weird because I am about 90 - 100lbs overweight, but if I had gone in 2 months ago (my weight had dropped to 235 - 238lbs) I probably would have been denied. I feel like anyone that is nearly 100lbs overweight should qualify, but BCBS makes you jump through so many hoops.

Thank you both so much for your replies. I think I was worried for nothing. When I got there, the nurse led me to a large, electronic scale (it had handles on either side and kind of reminded me of what they weighed my dog on at the Vet's). She said I could take off my shoes or keep them on. I opted to keep them off. My weight was 244lbs (never thought I'd be HAPPY to be heavier than expected. lol) which put my BMI at something like 240.4 which means I am heavy enough! WHOO HOO!!!

My husband had a non-WLS related sleep study because I suspected he had sleep apnea and he said the same thing! It's definately a bit awkward, but try your best to relax and sleep even if it's only for a little awhile. He said he felt like he barely got any sleep, but he went into dreamland long enough for them to identify his breathing issues. At one point he said they woke him up and put him on the C-Pap machine and he felt a lot better. I hope you're able to get some rest tonight

I haven't had the procedure yet, but I'd still like to add my two-cents as to what has been resonating in my mind as I am deciding whether or not to go through with WLS. Having any kind surgery is a risk and pretty scary BUT my chances of losing weight and having a healthier life are so much high, whereas if I continue on the path I am at not (alternating between shoveling food down my throat and yo-yo dieting) than the chances are even higher that I'll continue to develop health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, blowing out my knees, joint pain, etc. To me that's so much scarier than WLS IYou'll have to decide for yourself of course, but to me, i feel like WLS is worth a shot, versus if I stay where I'm at and allow my body to continue to turn against me and become my executioner.

I'm still an extreme noob to all this...not having my first consultation until the beginning of November, so if you don't mind my asking, why is it hard to get your fluids in immediately after surgery? Does your stomach hurt? Is your throat sore? Are you just not hungry?

Howdy, My name's Blue and I've always felt fat even when I was skinny. Back in high school, I weighed 140lbs (I'm 5'7), but I thought I was fat because my two best friends at the time were teeny, tiny. One wore a size 00 (Extra, Extra Small) and the other a 0 (X-Small), whereas I thought I looked like a beached whale in my size 8/10. In addition to self esteem issues, I suffered from untreated OCD most of my life which contributed to my 100lbs weight gain over the last decade. I know the LB is not a magical cure and the hardest part is going to be retraining my brain not to reach for food as a comfort (and not to replace food with another vice like excessive drinking, gambling, shopping, etc). I am fearful of choosing the wrong doctor and the incision getting infected and/or having some weird complication that threatens my life or possibly kills me. HOWEVER, if I continue on the path I am now, then my own body will be my executitioner. Right now, I am in the planning phases. I've been researching online for a LB surgeon in my area so I can get in initial consultation. One of my friends had the procedure done in another state, so I'm thinking about asking who did hers. A little non weight stuff about me - I'm 29 years old, a classroom teacher, and the wife of an amazing man. I'm kind of artsy-fartsy and though I can't draw very well, I appreciate art and enjoy seeing it in books, museums and exihibits. I'm always reading and want to publish a novel someday soon. I listen to a varity of music (rock and roll, alternative, punk, classical, New Age, pop, etc). I watch more t.v. than I should, am a Christian who believes heavily in karma and good vibes and I like going to the movies, dinner, road trips and shopping.

Thank you so much everyone for reaching out to me. I really appreciate the support and it's only my second post! Please, if you have any advice, want to share experiences, etc, reach out to me via the forums or pm. @TooMuchFun: I live in the DMV (DC/MD/VA) area, so out of state for us is only a 10 - 20 minute drive depending on the area. I am considering having it done in VA because in MD, my friend (who had the band 2 years ago) said you have a 1 year waiting period, whereas in VA if you're eligible you can jump right in after a psych evaluation and other prepatory mesasures. @Karen: Sounds like we're kindred spirits in that department! What I wouldn't give to go back in time and shake myself and say"You're not fat! You're not even a little hefty! Love yourself!" @Alligator: I am going to private message you, but THANK YOU THANK YOU for the bit you posted. That actually makes me feel a lot better and I think I will try to start making changes now (well once I am approved for an operation) to help me get into the groove of things. @Hazel and Bandist: I'm glad to hear that I am not alone in using food as a coping mechanism and it makes me feel better to hear that this procedure can help a food addict looking for recovery.