Wendydarling19

I want to quit smoking preferably to help the healing process with my band. Also obviously for health reasons because what would be the point of losing weight and getting healthy and then becoming sick from cigarettes? Anyway... Just wondering if it's a good idea beforehand (I want to quit like 2 weeks before) or is it going to amplify the food addiction I am also trying to kick?

Thank you <3 it hasn't been an easy road but if I can overcome the grief and depression from that and turn it into a positive, then I sure as heck can beat my food and nicotine addictions!

Thank you for your condolences ladies that means a lot I am at a place now (about 14 months from the date of his passing) that I have learned to accept and live and prosper in his memory. This is part of the reason I work in the hospital's postpartum unit. And a huge reason why I am getting the band in the first place. I want to create a healthy me for any future children I may have. I want to decrease as much risk as I possibly can. To B-52, that is exactly what I was wondering but I think it may be worth a shot. If I see myself unable to quit both, I will choose the weight loss and the band over the smoking, at least until I have a better hold on my food addiction.

Thank you everyone. Lol I do know that I stink because I HATE the smell of cigarettes. I have quit before. Last time I quit for 7 months when I was pregnant but when my son passed away and was born sleeping, it's the only thing I have held onto to help me cope. It's time to find a better way to do it. I need to mentally prepare. And Karen, yes I know the dont allow smoking on hospital grounds. I actually work at the hospital I am having the procedure at. My school doesn't allow it either so really, if I can go a whole 8 hour shift without smoking and then to school and not smoke there for 4 hours. I think I just need to commit to it. All I really want to know is if it'll be tougher on my weight loss if I do it at the same time. I will commit to quit January 2nd! I've set a date and you my friends are my witnesses!

I haven't heard anything from my surgeon regarding a pre-op diet yet. I was only told that I need to go for bloodwork and fill out some papers that they are going to send to me. Hopefully they will say something about the pre-op diet there because it's only a month away

The 27th is my birthday! What a wonderful day to be banded I wish you the best of luck!! I have another month to go for mine.

We new people so much appreciate the advice we get from the vets. You guys are the faces of what we strive to be. It is really very important to our journey to have real life people we can look at and say "I can be like them one day".

Thanks for the input and motivation everyone. I was most comfortable when I was 145 so that's what I'm going to shoot for. I'll be psyched if I get back to onederland but ultimately would like to see 145 again. It just fits my frame very nicely

I say "with help from the band" because I know that it is ME who needs to make it possible to lose this amount of weight and that the band is a tool that will help me but it is not the end all be all. I need to also eat healthy and exercise in order for the band to work correctly. I was told at my nutrition evaluation that striving for 100 lbs is too far of a stretch and to not set myself up for failure. I set that goal because this is the most comfortable weight I have been at in my life. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get back there. I am currently about 240 and would like to be close to 140. I was told to expect to only reach 165, that kind of kills my dreams. What is everyone else's opinion?

January 23 1pm. Starting weight 243, age 23, sex Female

I have signed up for a pilates class at my school next semester. The class begins 7 1/2 weeks after my surgey. Will I be okay by then to work out?

I was told I will need to supplement with protein drinks. I am just wondering what are some of the best drinks out there? Tastewise, moneywise, and amount of protein. Opinions please!!

Since my PCP is taking his sweet time getting my letter of medical necessity to my Surgeon and my Surgeon won't schedule me until I have all of my requirements fufilled first. So, with that, I will need to have the date scheduled in order to submit paperwork for leave at work, which must be handed in at LEAST 30 days in advance. I MAY have to schedule my surgery 3 days before I have to return to school for my spring semester. I have read that 2-3 days may be okay, is this true or should I expect missing the first few days of classes?

I don't plan to go back to work for a week or two. I just don't want to miss classes since the ones I'm taking are going to be pretty intense

Thanks everyone for the input. I think I'm going to look around at all of those brands and prices. I will stay away from premier vanilla though lol.

I am enraged!!! I have been so worried about seeing a new PCP and having to get his approval for lapband. I had my appt today and he said he wants to check my thyroid before approving me. He said IF I have a hypoactive thyroid he wants to try my on a pill first which throws a wrench in my whole process! Plus I don't want to be on medication!!!! That's the point of the surgery... So I don't get to the point where I ever need medication for weight related health conditions

The only issue is that this IS a new doc and I don't really have the time to bounce from Dr to Dr but I suppose if he'd rather me be on meds than have the surgery, I will have to postpone it and find another new Dr. I wish I could go independant of my PCP but I need a letter of medical necessity from him for my insurance co.

So I have only 3 things to have done for my approval process. I have to have a nutrition eval which I did and it went well. I have to have a psych eval, which I am doing in the morning. Next week is my last step, I have to get the letter of medical necessity from my PCP however, this is going to be my first appt with this PCP. I am so nervous that because he doesn't know me well that he won't approve my surgery. I don't know what exactly I can say to (for lack of a better word) convince him to approve me.

Don't be scared. Think of the reasons why you are doing this.

It may be tricky but its worth a shot. Especially if dr reccommends it. Why don't you call you insurance company and find out?

Everyone is different. Some ppl need to go to a ton of appts including sleep study, cardiologist, pulmonary specialist, pysch, nutrition for 6 months, and semenars. This however usually happens before submitting to insurance. I have the lowest requirements for my surgery because I work in the hospital where it is to be performed, so thats also where my insurance is from. I only have to get a letter of medical necessity, psych eval, and nutrition consult

I have decided to start my lapband journey and only have 3 prerequisites before my surgery. The most difficult I believe is the letter of medical necessity. My previous PCP is no longer practicing and I have to go to a new one. I don't know how I will be able to get him to sign off if he doesn't really know me or my history. Also, I'm going the route of BMI over 40 with no comorbitiies which makes it even more complicated. Any thoughts!?

Thanx!! And yes luckily my insurance covers 100% except 80% dr fees. This is because I work at the hospital where it is to be performed. I only have 3 things to do before approval, the letter, psych eval, and nutrition eval. I am most worried about the letter.

I will give a call tomorrow and find out what I can do. Thanks everyone! I'm most worried however not about who has my records but if this new PCP is likely to sign off being that we have no history together/

I don't know how I would do that though if my old PCP is no longer practicing