GmaDebi

hey, mammanan - I live in Buffalo too! I was banded in February. I also had the exact problem you're asking about. My BMI dropped below the minimum during my 6 month diet. Mainly my doctor went to bat for me and let the insurance company know that he required me to loose 10% of the total I had to loose (10 lbs in my case, but i lost 15) Also, when they got the records from my dietition it showed that my BMI was higher when I started with her. You shouldn't have a problem as long as records are kept! BTW - where are you having your surgery?

My doctor ALWAYS does my fills under fluoro. He can see what he's doing that way and it's only ever taken one poke. I'm constantly amazed that I can't even feel it, and that's with no numbing medication. The last time I was there he gave me three fills in a row because he could see that the contrast I drank each time was going through the band with no restriction. I think the fluoro is really handy, but my doctors office is in the same building as the hospital, so it isn't any inconvience at all.

I too gained about 5 lbs right after surgery - fortunately, my surgeon warned me it would happen - he said it's all the fluids they pumped into me while I was at the hospital....

I fell below my what my ins. required during my 6 mos. supervised diet, but my Doctor,Nutritionist, and surgeon sent the insurance all the information showing where I started, and that they required me to loose weight, and they ok'd me.

Hi everyone - just thought I'd update everyone - I wrote awhile back that my DH was so against my having surgery, I wasn't sure I was going to go through with it because I wasn't sure our marriage would survive it. Well, I did get my band on the 13th. He's been MORE than supportive, and has even apologized (with a diamond eternity ring) for being so hard on me in the first place. He says he'll never agree with my decision to have the surgery, or that I even needed it in the first place, but since I did go through with it, he'll be here for me. He was soooo sweet when I got home and did everything for me - wouldn't let me lift a finger until I finally told him I needed to do for myself if I was ever going to get better. I'm not 100% sure I did the right thing, I guess time will tell. Right now I'm just starting to get hungry, but on Wednesday, I can up my food intake to 1 cup from 1/2 and start on mushies, so hopefully that will help! Otherwise, I've felt great - never had any pain at all except for the gas - and walking really helps with that! Good luck everyone and hang in there even if you feel like you're not getting support from everyone!

Ok, Erin, I'll relieve you of the "burden" of being the oldest! I'm 51, well almost 52, I guess! (march) I'm married (almost 32 years) and have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. My oldest daughter seems to only be able to have twins, and that's scared the other two out of trying. Thankfully, she's not going to tempt the fates and try for a third set! I live in Minnesota too, and my surgery will be Feb. 13th. I've always thought of myself as fat, but I've gotten a few old photo's of myself in my early teens lately that really look very good! It really makes me mad to think that I was told I had a weight problem when I looked like that! I never even got to enjoy being "normal!" I would love to get down to 150, but I'd be really happy at 180. I'm 242 right now, and started at 264 at my first nutr. appt. I think my highest was something like 272.

I'll be staying overnight too. Yea! :tongue2: I'm actually looking forward to the down time to concentrate on me! My surgery is next Wed. I can't believe it's coming so quickly! Seems like I just started this journey, however when I think about what we needed to do to get here, it seems to have taken my whole life! I guess in a way it did! :drool: Here's to a quick and pain-free recovery for everyone!

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Hi - My date is the 13th too! I'm starting to amass my liquids, etc.for after surgery, and that's making me realize it's already next week! I"m getting very nervious! :biggrin: Good luck and best wishes to all!

Hey, guys! Sorry, I'm not a dude, but I need to ask guys a question.... I'm getting banded on 2/13/08, and am really excited about it. I have a 23 year old son that needs to do something, and I don't want to push him, but he's 6'7" and about 450-500 lbs. Granted he's BIG, but he's obviously too big for his size at any rate. He has fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and issues with his lower back and knees. In fact, he may need back surgery if current meds don't do the trick. I have talked to him (so have doctors) about weight loss surgery, but he thinks he can do this himself, even though he doesn't seem to be interested right now. He said he totally understands why I want to do it, but he's only 23, and he's never really tried to diet. So, my question to you is: What was your ah, ha moment that you realized you couldn't do this on your own, and should I keep pushing, or just let nature take it's course? Maybe when he sees that I"m having success he'll be more open to it? Thanks guys! And, by the way - my surgeon told me the ratio of guys to women that have this surgery is something like 1:5..... maybe it's an ego thing?

Photo - Thanks for the insight - you're absolutly right about him being open and honest about his feelings. I wouldn't want him to keep them inside, although, last night I told him if he couldn't say something nice to not say anything at all. Honestly, I don't think I can take anymore of his negativity! I need to stay focused on the positive and he seems to think that means I'm not taking to heart the negative things that can happen. Anyway, we've been hashing this over almost every night,and he does seem to be coming around a little. I can see now that he's most concerned about the changes that we'll make immediately afterwards. Like cooking meals and him eating alone. I told him that should only be until everytings healed up... He's still not behind me having the surgery, but he says he knows I'm determined to have it and he'll support me afterwards. Guess we'll see! I got a letter yesterday from the surgins office that said; "Congratulations, your weight loss surgery has been scheduled." he flipped! - "Why would anyone congratulate you on having surgery???? Can you tell he has quite a strong personality?:hurray: But I still love him!:biggrin:

Leather - what happened to make your wife be ok with it now? I honestly don't know what it will take to make my DH understand. Yesterday he dug up some information on the internet about the dangers of weight loss surgery. Both RNY and Lab Band. According to the article, the morbidity rate is 1 in 300. I know it's rediculous, and I told him I could probably find another site that would quote something else. He's focusing on the negative, I know, but it's making me focus on the negative too, and I don't need that right now!

It's ok - socialgal - glad to have the input - from anyone! Yes, he has gone to ALL my appts. with me, and has met with the surgeon, and talked to my closest friends, who, while not totally supportave, at least are respectful of my decision. I thought he was at least resigned to me having the surgery, but I didn't think he'd get so vindictive about it! He'd never go the counselor route - it's come up before - he doesn't believe in them. And I've told him flat out that I'm ok with him not supporting me having the surgery, but that I do need his support afterwards, and I THOUGHT we were ok. I know I'm making him out to be a beast. He's really not - we've been married almost 32 years, and since the kids have left home our relationship couldn't be better in all other respects. I'm whining, I know - sorry. You both make some very valid observations and have helped me see all of this in a better light, and I really needed that right now! I do have family members totally in support of this, but they all live in different states, so they won't be much help if I do have any emergencies. So far I haven't called to cancel surgery, and my pre-op physical is Tues. next week. Guess I'll just keep on keeping on and see where it goes!

Girlygirlz, The reason's my DH gives me for not supporting me are that 1) I may no longer be attractive to him, or him to me (even though I've gained 110 lbs-at my highest-but I've lost 19 since I started this journey- since we got married) 2) No one should ever undergo elective surgery if they don't really NEED it 3) How can anyone handle having a foreign object implanted in them forever? 4) What if I die on the operating table? 5) Fat people are happy people. 6) We eat out a lot and he thinks I won't "enjoy" doing that anymore. 7) He would never do it. 8) With gas being so expensive,I shouldn't be driving an hour away for follow-up. Now that I write them all down, I see there's a lot of reasons... If he would just support me, I'd feel so much better about this. Part of me is rebellious enough to go through with it just to spite him, but I really do want to be successful with it, and in a perfect world all would go fine and none of these fears would happen. But it isn't a perfect world and any of them might, and can I deal with them when/if they do, and I don't have his support?

HI - Soooo glad to have found THIS post because it directly relates to my issue at the moment! My surgery is scheduled for Feb. 13th and lately I've been having serious doubts about going through with it, mainly because of a lack of support - from ANYONE! But mostly my DH. He's not even talking to me at the moment, except for clipped one sentance responses to things I say to him. I thought I could deal with it, but I'm seriously beginning to wonder if I really can. My surgeon is an hour away. What if I need an emergency unfill in the middle of the night, or worse yet while on vacation? What if I get an infection? I feel like I won't be able to complain because I'll get the "I told you so" look. I mostly get the "you're not that fat" comments from my friends, or, really? You'd DO that? If nobody else thinks I look that bad, maybe I don't, and maybe I shouldn't have this surgery? I've had doubts since I found out I really do qualify for bariatric surgery last spring, but I keep going through the steps thinking I'll know one way or the other by the time I get there, but here I am, and even though I was POSITIVE I wanted it no matter what anyone said two weeks ago, now I still want it, but don't know if I can do it without any support.... I know part of this is last minute jitters, but I do have to live with this man..... Do I just hope he comes around afterwards, and depend on this site for the support I need? Is that even realistic? Sorry - but I really needed to get that all out...:rolleyes2:

I guess I'm not sure what center for excellence really means, but if they're excellent, I think the must be a good thing! The doctor (Dr. Benn) at the seminar I attended at Fairview, also seemed bent toward RNY, but Dr. Laguna seemed unfazed about it when I told him that was the only thing I was willing to consider. My supervisor had RNY done at Unity about 5 years ago - she looks amazing, however, I think she might be TOO skinny - at least in the arms and legs. Also, her hair is really thin. But she did have a good experience overall. Ustchica - is there a reason you're looking at Nicollet when you live by Fairview?

Hi ustchica! I haven't seen very many people from MN here.... I'm still in the process, but hope to be banded soon. My insurance co. denied my surgery, so I'm waiting to hear about my appeal. I'm going to Dr. Laguna at Fairview Southdale. I've met with him once and he seems really nice. It's a center of excellence, but I didn't know that when I went there the first time. I mainly picked them because my daughter lives near the hospital, and I knew I'd be going down there pretty often, so I'd have a chance to see her more often. I live an hour from Southdale otherwise, so it's really an effort to get down there more often, not to mention I HATE driving to the cities! Good luck in your journey!

This is all encouraging to me - I just got my denial letter yesterday, but my surgeon's office told me they're going to appeal it for me - I started this journey with a BMI of 41.5, but because I was required by my surgeon to loose a minimum of 10 lbs before surgery, and I lost 20, that put my BMI too low without a co-morbiditiy. I've already written my Insurance Co. and told them I have arthritis in my knees and intermitant lower back pain that I've complained to doctor's about, but they just tell me to lose weight! So, I'll send my letter to be submitted along with my surgeon's information about them requiring me to loose before surgery, and hopefully that will be enough! Keep fingers crossed! I haven't told my DH about the denial - I'm afraid he'll jump on the chance to talk me out of this - he's not at all supportive of me having the surgery. I told him he didn't have to support the surgery, but he did have to support me afterwards - I don't need any "I told you so's" or "Well, this is what you wanted's!" when I'm already feeling desperate afterwards!

Oh, wow, do I hear you!!! It's not my mom I'm contending with though, It's my DH. He says he likes me this way, that he's afraid I won't love him anymore, that he won't like me (you know, skinny people are crabby people!) or that I'll regret taking this step! I've gone the distance to have this surgery. I met with my surgen Wednesday and now I'm just waiting to hear from my insurance company to find out if I've been approved. I know I'm making the right decision. I've been through all the diets like the rest of you. I just can't make my DH understand this is for me! The trouble is, I'm really sure I will be able to live with him if it turns out he's right and I am sorry I did this, or if he can't be supportive when I have bad days. He's such an important part of my life, and I really don't want to do anything to jeopardize our marriage. He's told me I have to make up my own mind, and I've told him I already have, I just need him to be able to support me through the tough stuff. He says he will, but I'm not so sure he can....