txbldhnds

Hi Candice, First of all: CONGRATULATIONS! My goodness, that is great news! Could you (or anyone else) share how your were able to get insurance to pay for the arms, TT, and breasts? I have heard about the "apron" being covered because of rashes. What is the best way to try to convince them about the other things? Good luck with your surgeries. Your transformation will be complete. Won't that be great? Colleen banded 7/2005 Dr. Spivak (or Saint Dr. Spivak in my opinion!) -78 lbs!

I feel really stupid asking this, but I have been hurting pretty badly for about 4 hours. My upper abdomen is distended and hard. It feels like severe gas pains, but nothing is moving. I sure don't want to go the the ER and be told I have gas, but I am in some serious hurt. Any idea of what's going on or any advice? Colleen

Hi! I'm in La Porte, just down the road! I have had my band for a little over a year. Dr. Spivak (or St. Spivak as I think of him) did the honors. He is wonderful and his staff are great. I'm a slow loser. I have lost 70 lbs with another 70 to go. The band is not a magic bullet. I found that out when Girl Scout Cookies arrived last year! I have a terrible sweet tooth and that has been my undoing several times. Also, whatever it is that caused you to be overweight might still be in your life. You will need to deal with that. That being said, I am still so happy that I had the surgery! It was caused me to more mindful of my eating and enables me to get a good start on this weight loss. My port is located just under my sternum. It can be easily felt with your fingers. It feels like it's about 2" across. It reminds me of the squeaker in a toy. You know how you can feel around for the squeaker in order to squeak it? It kind of seems like that, except that you can only touch one side of it (that, and I haven't squeaked so far!). I don't know about what happens post weight loss. My sister had the surgery and it and at her goal weight. She is thinking of just having it unfilled, but leaving it there. I would love to get together with some other folks in the area. It would be a great support. Colleen

I am a teacher of kids with visual impairments. Anyone else notice how many of us are helpers/nurturers? Even Teresita! If that isn't a service worker, I don't know what is! Colleen

Hey, it's me again! I just thought of a couple of other things: Call the psychiatrist again. Tell them it is an emergency. They will probably ask if you are having suicidal thoughts. Tell them yes. They will see you or refer you to someone immediately. Once you get in there, you can say what you have to say, but the thing is to get in. I think you have heard from enough people who can vouch for the fact that this is not going to fix itself. Do what you need to do to take care of you. If you don't, who will take care of yours kids? They need their mom to be well and happy. Moms are used to putting their needs after everyone else's. You are the priority right now. You get to go to the head of the line. I have heard people make an analogy that is a good one. When you are taking off in an airplane, the flight attendant comes on and gives the safety instructions. They tell you that if the oxygen masks come down and you are with a child, for you to put your mask on first and then the child. You won't be able to help your child if you lose consciousness. You have a lot of people here pulling for you and you can do this. I know it is hard and that there is still a lot of stigma associated with having emotional problems, but that is other people's ignorance. This doesn't have to be a "for the rest of your life" thing either. You may just need some help getting your panic attacks under control. Let us know how you are doing later on! Hang in there! Colleen

Thank you for the encouragement, especially from a fellow Texan! I do appreciate any help on how to stop sabotaging myself. It seems that the more I try to ignore the "hunger", the worse it gets, and I get into a cycle of giving in to it "just for now" or "this one last time", then into disappointment and putting myself down for giving in, and on and on. I guess that whatever it is that led me to be overweight in the first place (take your pick of reasons) isn't gone and until I come to some sort of way to cope with that, I will continue to have problems. It does help to hear that I am not alone in the struggle. Many thanks again. Colleen

Well, I hate to be the buzz kill of the group, but I am not doing well. I had my surgery July 20 and have only lost 40 lbs. and almost all of that was in the first 6 months. I am so disappointed and am dreading school starting (I am a teacher). Everyone knows about my surgery & I am going to show up with no change. I am going in for my last free fill on my anniversary--hope that helps, altho I know that "head hunger" and a sweet tooth that won't quit are my downfall. Congratulations to the rest of you! Colleen

I hope that by now you have gotten in touch with someone who can give you some help with your emotions. You need to take care of yourself. Sounds like you are going through an especially rough spot and you may need some meds to help smooth things out for you. I am a teacher of kids with special needs and almost all parents who have kids with special needs are spread pretty thin. No matter what disability your child has, there are lots of organizations or govt programs that offer respite services to parents, especially with your family income being reduced due to your dh's schooling. Check with your school district or your state's department that is over disabilities. And twins, too??? I can't help you there! It's no wonder you are cratering! Please feel free to private message me if I can help you with any special ed issues. Maybe I can give you some ideas or some places to start looking for help. Good luck! Colleen

Hi, Kryssa and All, I have been reluctant to post and had even quit visiting the site because I would feel so down while reading about everyone else's successes. I remember being one of those people and I can't believe that less than a year out and my expectations have been so shattered. It's my fault, not the band's. I guess that all the reasons that I overate in the first place are still there and until I resolve those or learn to cope with them in a dfferent way, I will continue to have problems. I have an appt with my Dr., not the usual person who does the fills on 7/20 (my anniversary and end of free fills). I'm anticipating a sermon of all the things I already know. But I am going to ask him to close this puppy up as much as possible! The last fill I had at the beginning of the month felt like they reduced the amt in the band. Kryssa, when you say that your posting is discouraging to other members, I don't think that is true. Now if you were posting to one of the thread where everyone is just getting their band or doing great, maybe so. then again, it doesn't hurt for people to know that this is not the Holy Grail of weight loss. You are posting on a thread for slow losers, so I don't think you are discouraging anyone. Colleen

My insurance would not pay. I went through all the appeals and was rejected repeatedly. It took me 3 years to come up with the money. While I was still waiting & saving, my sister "fudged" and her insurance paid for every penny of her surgery. It pisses me off! Not that her insurance paid. But that she cheated and it paid. That ain't right.

Nope. I had all of the co-morbidities. They will pay for my high blood pressure, my sleep apnea, my back and knee problems, my depression, but not WLS! I, too, have United Health Care. Not all policies are the same. My employer bought an insurance package that has an exclusion on any weight loss treatments (meds, too). I had to pay for the surgery myself.

I haven't posted in a long time. I have been so disappointed in myself and am dreading the approaching 1 year anniversary of my surgery and I have only lost about 40 lbs. I have a 2.8 restriction on a 4.0 band. I feel almost no restriction. Of course, I have figured out how to "trick" the band and shoot myself in the foot. The compulsion to eat, especially sweets, is overwhelming. The very first thing I think of when I wake up is "what can I eat?" I suffer from bipolar disorder and eating is a huge issue for me and a huge symptom of the depressive episodes. nevertheless, I am overwhelmed with self-loathing and disappointment. I remember how well the band was working at first, how the weight was coming off, how people were always commenting on how good I was looking. I also remember paying $15,000 cash for the surgery because my insurance wouldn't cover it. I am so disappointed in myself.

$15,500 hard earned dollars! No insurance! So far, the best $$ I've ever spent. Colleen

Hi, I am a career teacher. The first 16 years, I taught social studies to jr. high kids and history & sociology at the high school level. I got tired of hall duty, discipline, and 160 kids per day, went back to school and became certified to teach students with visual impairments. Now I have 19 students, aged 9 months to 20 years old. Some are "just" visually impaired, some are totally blind, 2 are deaf and blind, I have 3 Braille readers, and several kids with multiple impairments. So everyday is a new experience! Gone are the days of asking a class, "Have I already told you this?" No more term papers to grade, but reams of special ed paperwork. I love it, absolutely love it. Colleen

How great for you! A change within yourself is way better than an outward change, although with that change, I'm sure the outward will come along. Congrats to you on your committment to exercise! That is where I need to get serious. I injured my back a few months ago and got the go ahead to start this week. There is a Curves right down the block, but I hate that financial contract. I need to get this body moving! It sounds to me like it won't be long before you are booted out of our little group! Colleen

I want to join, too! I haven't been posting or reading in a while--too tired and a little discouraged, but maybe this is just what I need. I was banded in July and have lost 40 lbs since surgery, 52 from my highest weight. Colleen

Hey Firecracker! I am 53 years old and have had many, many surgeries for various reasons. Dr. Spivak did my banding in July. It was a piece of cake. I thought it would be a hard recovery for me. I prepared for all kinds of possible complications and side effects, even made out my will and had my advance directives signed (now, THAT'S worried!). As it turned out, I had some pain the day of and the day after the surgery, but I did not even have to use all of the painkillers I was given. Honey, I am a devout believer is better living through chemistry, and figure God wouldn't give us Vicodin if He didn't want us to take it, but it really wasn't all that bad! I feel as though I have been given a new life. Just think, you will really be able to start the New Year out right. You are doing something that is going to help you be healthier and happier. You've chosen a great surgeon in a great medical center. You may have a harder time than I did, but I think you will be fine within a week of your surgery and this time next year you will be so happy that you went through with your decision. Good luck and keep in touch! Colleen

What are the H3 wellness meetings? How do we find out about them? Colleen

This idea has been floating around there there are LOTS of us in the area. I am in La Porte. My sister, also a bandster, is in Baytown. Email me and I will happily help arrange a get together. Colleen

Kim, Lu Ann, and I were all banded by Dr. Spivak on the same day! He is St. Spivak as far as I am concerned! Love, love , love him! Colleen

Can you give me more info about the mtg? I am in La Porte and would love to meet some other bandsters. Colleen

Maggie, I had plenty of reasons to put off my surgery. I had to pay for every single cent ot it myself. I am married to a great man who doesn't understand why I can't just buckle down and lose the weight by myself. I got my band in July and I have only lost about 40 lbs and the loss has slowed down so I sometimes get a little frustrated, but I have had so many people comment not so much on my weight loss, but the change in my affect, my demeanor. I'm sure that a lot of that has to do with having more energy and not dragging that 40 extra lbs of fat around. Next time you have a chance, take a look at a 40 lb sack of dog food and pick it up. Sure, I'm still tired at the end of the day and my knees and back still hurt but NOTHING like they did 6 months ago. People say I am standing taller, striding rather than schlumping, and that my complexion looks better. I am smiling more, my eyes are brighter. I have gone from a 24 to an 18, which enables me to get into some "regular" clothes. You are lucky to be young and your skin will do much better than you think. Your skin is much more elastic than mine and the sooner you start the loss, the better. You might not be perfect, but you will look and feel so much better. You will probably add years to your life and the quality of your life will be so much better. As I said, I am 53 and have been overweight ever since I had my kids--30 years. My mother literally dropped dead when she was 62 and she was not overweight. I have too many co-morbidities to ignore the weight anymore. I want to enjoy the retirement that I have worked so hard for. I want to travel. I want to spoil grandchildren that haven't even been conceived yet. The decision is yours, Maggie, and your reluctance to go the final step is understandable. I worked on having the surgery for literally 3 years before I was able to come up with the $$, so I was raring to go when I finally was able. Sometimes there are issues that people have that cause them to "need" to be overweight. If you do, you might need to get those resolved before you have the surgery, but if you qualify for the surgery, you are going to have some time to work on that as you lose. It's not going to just fall off overnight. Whatever you decide, you will will find supportive people here on the list to encourage you. Good luck! Colleen

Thanks for all your suggestions. It was a long and very miserable night, but at about 3:30 a.m. (8 hours!) it "went away". I guess it finally passed through. I was so scared that I was going to have to go to the hospital. I was a self-pay and my husband was not 100% behind me getting this done, so I was worried about all those aspects of having messed it up. For those of you who haven't experienced it, and Jack referred to it, you MUST be mindful while you eat. Last night I had nuked the Lean Cuisine and wanted to catch the few last minutes of a TV show, so I took a bite before I even sat down. Old habits kicked in and that bite was down in nothing flat. I cannot watch TV and eat like in the old days. It's bad for you anyway, but I've learned my lesson on that now! Anyway, I am a little sore, and very, very careful about what goes in right now. I knew those extra jellos would come in handy. I'm playing it very safe for a few days. Thanks again for all your help! Colleen (40 lbs lost since 7/20

OK, I'm new to stuff gettting stuck, but some chicken didn't go down about 2 hours ago and I coughed/pb'ed/whatever it up. Thought everything was ok, waited awhile (20 min or so), drank some tea. Tea came up. Now something still feels stuck and I am sliming like crazy. Any suggestions?? Colleen

Amos, I feel your pain! But when I have tried bread, even really crispy toasted bread, it has not been good to me. I give only miss it now when it comes with a meal and I forget to tell them not to bring it or if I'm at one of those places where they keep the breadsticks coming. Every person has their own problem foods or sure bets. You will find yours through trial and error (and the advice of others, of course!). Check out the Food section. I have found ideas there. Good luck! Colleen (40 lbs gone since 7/20)