kathystrick

Hi Teestir and welcome to LBT! I am waiting on insurance approval myself. You have a great attitude about the changes the band will mean! I have started making some of the dietary changes too, but it really is hard sometimes.LOL Good luck to you and keep us updated on your progress!!

The fear of failing "yet again" is definitely natural. We have all been through that so many times by the time we decide we are ready for surgery that it's hard for us to believe there actually is a chance. This forum is a great place for support and inspiration to keep failure from happening. Educating yourself about how to use this new tool you will have to assist in your weightloss is one of the most important things you can do before committing to the change, so you will know exactly what you will have to do in order to finally succeed. Good luck and let us know how it goes with the surgeon!

Or in this case, offensive? :thumbup:

Honestly, he's starting to give me the creeps. We already know he is sending offensive PMs to other members here. He has posted on other forums claiming to be gathering information and interviews for books. He stirred up this thread, then abandoned it (although I feel he is still lurking and following the drama) to go elsewhere in the forum and try a nicer, more friendly approach. The whole situation involving him just really makes me uncomfortable. Who knows where anything we say might end up being quoted?

I was thinking the very same thing. Especially considering the amount of BS he stirred up over there, only to disappear from that thread and be found posting here. I am also choosing not to share my story here. The flies are getting too thick.

Also, if he is going to take the time to type his story into a PM, why not just do as we have been asking him to for days now and just post it here for all of us to read?

Actually, this isn't corny at all. Part of my pre-op requirements through my doctor's office included learning a relaxation technique with the psychologist nurse. It really does work!

I totally agree with you WBB. I have done my research and am aware of the "common" complications, all of which I am prepeared to live with if it means I will have a chance at reaching a healthy weight. I have found statistics from as much as 12 years ago, none of which indicate any complication even remotely as serious as what has been discussed here. As for the increase in slippages and erosions, I would assume that would directly correlate with the increased number of surgeries being performed. My doctor's office alone said their performance of banding has tripled in the past 3 years, but their complication rate is still <1%. I can deal with that.

I started in 6th grade, so was probably around 12. I attribute my weight gain to having to be put on birth control pills less than a year later due to a hormone imbalance. Once I started, I would have extended and very heavy bleeding for an average of 4 weeks every 3 months. I battled that until I finally had a hysterectomy in the summer of 2006. Wish they had a magic pill the worked as effectively at getting that weight back off!

You can also go to Obesity Help - Weight Loss Surgery, Obesity Support Groups, Obesity Forums, Surgical Procedures to locate a seminar and doctor in your area. Most doctors require you to attend their seminar and have a letter of reference from your PCP before they will see you. Research what you can beforehand, but keep in mind what has already been said and also that you can't believe 100% of everything you read on the internet. Ask your doctor any and all questions you have, no matter how "stupid" you may feel those questions are. It is part of his and his staff's jobs to give you information and answer your questions. Pick up and read any and everything you can find on the surgery you are considering when you go to your doctor's office. Hope this helps and good luck to you!!

Woo Hoo! 9 pounds!!! You go girl!!! Keep up the good work!

Gaynor is the one who made the coment about "how many of us there are", which is the section of his original post I quoted and responded to. Yes, we are asking for statistics to back up these claims, because he and headhunter are the ones who keep on insisting there are so many cases like theirs and the statistics just do not support that. I can only speak for myself, but as someone who has yet to be banded, if there is a reputable site out there that can support their claims of so many people having such major problems that, as headhunter said, the band will one day be pulled off the market, I want to see them before I have the surgery. I have not read any other posts by Gaynor, so I cannot respond to those. If you read them on another thread, don't come here and post your animosity about things others have said towards me on this thread. I in no way said anything that I feel was out of the way towards Gaynor. I asked for facts to back up a claim he made. What is wrong with that?

Congratulations on your band! Glad it finally happened for you and you are doing well. Keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!

Since mine was the only post between yours and his, I will assume that comment was addressed to me. Please point to me where I "attacked" anyone. I simply asked for statistical information to support a claim he posted. Hardly see where that could be constrewed as an attack.

Tha would be good if you could get an agency like that to help you. If they put you in the other program, keep in mind that may be part of their approval process, just like an insurance company making someone go through 6 months on a doctor supervised diet before they can receive approval. Do the best you can with it and see what happens. Have fun yard sale-ing. Hope you find lots of treasures!

Statistics please. Everything I have read (and believe me, that is a LOT. My doctor said I am one of the most informed patients he has ever had) completely contradicts that. That is not denial speaking, as I am not yet even approved for banding.

I am doing well, thanks. Still waiting on approval (or denial?) from insurance. Glad the liquid diet is getting easier. How many more days do you have on straight liquids?

Wow! That does sound easy! I hope it works out that smoothly for you. When are you going to make your first appointment? Good luck!!

Ok, I've got another one... BACK FAT!!!! Ugh! :cry_smile: Thought of that one last night as I was trying to get dressed to go to a shower.:crying:

Aw Mary! I'm sorry you got denied. Any chance of appeal? I'll cross all of mine for you too.:crying: Good luck! I haven't been notified about what my insurance said yet. So still waiting by the phone!:cry_smile: It has only been a week though, so I guess I really don't have any right to be impatient yet. But I just can't help it!!:biggrin:

I am going to stay on plan today because I have lost 1.5 pounds so far this week and I don't want to gain it back!

Have you tried using the blender and maybe adding in a little ice to give it more of a milkshake consistency?

Hi Tanya and welcome tp LBT! Sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble getting surgery. Good luck!

Hi, Maria! Welcome to LBT!! Congratulations on your date and the weightloss. Great job!! Good luck to you!

Hi and welcome to LBT! There is a lot of information and support here, so dive in. I'm sure you will find the answers to the majority of your questions. As far as a time frame, it really all depends on your circumstances and insurance requirements. Some here are self pay and managed to have surgery in a matter of weeks. Others have had to meet the requirements of their insurance companies, including 6 months of a doctor supervised diet. Some insurance companies are just S-L-O-W. Generally speaking, I don't think it has taken anyone who didn't have problems with insurance a year to get approval. Several months would be a more common time frame I think. Good luck to you!!