Hope2bthinrn

Hi, Just wanted to say hang in there! It was a very long process for me too. my insurance required 6 months of stupid stuff, closely followed by my m.d., various weight loss attempts documented, etc. Then at the end of 6 months, they tell me I have to have proof of my weight for 5 years. Come to find out,my weight dropped after one of my pregnancies to slightly below the required bmi. Appealed for 13 months and finally won after multiple letters from doctors and lots of praying. It was the absolute best thing I have ever done. I have lost 62 lbs since August 1st, from 256 to 194. Long way to go but I'm loving it. If you have any questions drop me a line at bcjl@mchsi.com and don't get discouraged!:huh2: Cindy

Thanks for the advice, Cathy. I graduated to soft scrambled eggs and mashed potatoes for the last couple of days and can really tell a difference. I know its going to be slow but the first 2 weeks the weight came off fast and I got excited. lol. I am learning to be patient and know a year from now I will feel much better. If you would like to email me directly its bcjl@mchsi.com Have a great night

Hi Cathy, nice to "meet" someone local. My surgery was at 1030. got there at 8. Was sooo nervous. You're lucky your first fill is soon. I don't go back to the dr until the 9th of Sept and am actually starting to get hungry. Not sure if its head hunger but finding myself wanting more after my 4 oz. Lost 7 lbs pre-op and 16 the first 2 weeks. Now the scale hasn't moved since last Thursday and really frustrated! Cindy:cool2:

Hi, My name is Cindy and I live in Mobile, Al too. I was banded on August Ist at Mobile Infirmary by Dr. Weinstein. Small world. Congratulations on your band. I'm loving mine but starting to want to eat a little more...

Ok, so I live in the South and I'm missing my sweet tea. I did make some decaf tea with sweet and low while at home. I was at the ballpark with my kids every day this week and only been banded a week. Its been so humid and I am trying to sip like I was told but am sick of water and Crystal light already. Was wondering what do you drink? I mean, if you are out and want to stop and get a drink will it always have to be water? Not many places offer noncarbonated non caffeinated beverages. What is the deal with Sprite? I know it has carbonation but has no caffeine. Can we not have caffeine or carbonated drinks ever again or just post-op? Anyone know the reason? Diet Pills

thanks to everyone who responded and more ideas are welcome! Will try some of the different crystal light flavors but sure miss my sweet Milos tea! Never been a water but guess its time to start.

Hi, I am a mom to 4 beautiful and smart kiddos. My boys are 13, 8, and 5. My princess is 3. I was banded Aug.1st and am so excited to start a new life with a thinner me! I do have to ask to anyone who has been banded if you had a wave of mixed emotions after the surgery? My husband is wonderful and has been cooking for the kids so that I didnt have to be around food. I am honestly not hungry a bit and have no desire to eat (first time ever). But I am trying to distance myself from food I can't have yet because it still looks good and smells good. Ok, so here's the honest part: I feel very depressed and left out when they are all eating and chatting and I am in another room. I know its my choice to join them but find it torture to watch them eat things other than liquid. My poor husband doesnt know what to do. Hes been trying to make things they eat and I am not fond of. Is this selfish or smart for me to just want to be in another room? Did anyone else have depression after the band and miss eating although you're not hungry? Thanks

Thanks to everyone who responded. Each day that goes by gets better. I have lost 19 lbs in a little over a week, (7 on pre-op and 12 since surgery). Starting to feel better about things. Last night when I said how much I had lost already, my 5 year old said "Hey mom I'm proud of you. You aint fat no more, you're medium." Was funny but made me realize that when I can run and swim with them more easily it will all be worth it!

Hi, Wanted to respond about the emotional eating. I was banded on August 1st. As crazy as it sounds, was concerned about the first few weeks of liquids. Was more nervous about that than the surgery itself. I can tell you that I am not hungry, not even the slightest. Have trouble eating 4 oz of soup. I did get emotional when my husband and kids were having supper and I was in the other room, just because I didn't want to smell or look at food that I cant have yet. The next night I actually joined them at the table and the weird thing was that they were eating McDonalds, and it didn't bother me. I was a big emotional eater, didn't need to be hungry to eat. This is the first time in my life that food doesnt bother me. You will do fine!:biggrin2:

Hi, Unfortunetly I was banded in the hospital where I work. Was banded on Friday, Aug 1st. The nurses kept saying " Oh, you're a nurse so I don't have to explain all that to you." Yes, I should have asked more questions, as that is not my field of nursing. So, my question is Can I drink any amounts of water/Crystal Light that I can tolerate? The nurse sent me home with small medicine cups that are 1 oz and said to make each last about 15 minutes, for a total of 4 oz every hour. I am finding this hard to do, the continuous sipping.. Went to the football park for my son's practice yesterday and was so thirsty. Can I drink water or how long should I be sipping just an oz every 15 minutes? Thanx

Thank you all very much for responding. So scared of dehydration but also of drinking too fast and getting sick. I'll try and drink slowly but definetly see if I can tolerate more than an oz at a time. That's too much effort with 4 wild kids to concentrate only on sipping all day long!

Hi, Dont think I ever introduced myself, so here it goes. I am a mother of 3 boys, Jonah (13), Luke (almost 9), Caleb (5), and 1 princess Brianna (3). They are the joy in my life! Married to the sweetest guy I know for 14 years who puts up with my constant mood swings! I am an Rn on a cardiac floor and love doing 3 twelve hour shifts,so I don't miss out on all the field trips and band concerts. I am lucky that my parents are able to schedule their work around mine so that they keep the kids and have never had to send them to daycare. I was always a little overweight, but between having 4 kids and nursing (school and job), had allowed my weight to get out of control. Was 251 before surgery and now 4 days later down to 238. Surgery was easy, but have had mixed emotions since. trying to distance myself from food and letting my husband handle meals (hes on vacation this week). Feel a little left out at times but keep telling myself that when I have the energy to swim,jump on the trampoline, and play footbal with them it will be worth it.Hope to make friends here, as my whole family and spouse are thin and dont have a clue!

I can't thank you all enough for reading my post and responding. I never thought I would feel a bit of depression after getting approved. Never seen that brought up by anyone before but definetly something I think about, being an emotional eater. Its great to know that I can still have my "date night" from time to time with my husband at a restaurant. Also, looking forward to being able to chase my kids without getting out of breath! Cindy

ok, so please don't think I'm not committed to doing this because I had to appeal it with my insurance 3 times before getting approved. Now I am 2 weeks from surgery and very emotional. I realized I love to eat. I eat whether I am hungry or not, just because I crave sweets, etc. I've been very emotional thinking about working full-time opposite schedules from my husband so that 1 of us is at home with the 4 kids. The only real talk time we get is going out to eat every couple months and really sitting down without the kids. I guess my mind is running crazy. Any advice? Thanks, Cindy

Hi. So excited to be part of this forum. Never posted before but finally approved after 10 months of trying. Blue Cross of Alabama is tough! I did the 6 months with my physician as required and then when time came in April to be approved, they denied. They stated somewhere in their fine print I had to maintain a bmi of 40 for 3 consecutive years. They had records where my weight had dropped at the beginning of my last pregnancy. Duh.. I had been puking for 2 months! Anyway, here I am. Surgery is August 1st and boy am I nervous! Cindy:crying:

Thank you to everyone that responded. My spouse is thin. Thin family and 4 thin children so sometimes feel like I am all alone in this journey. So glad to have found the forum. To AprilApple, Yes, had to appeal with blue cross 3 times and kept wanting to give up. My doctor told me to be persistent and keep harrassing them because they want you to give up. She was right. I called every day and had every doctor I've ever seen write a letter to the Medical Review Board. They say it doesn't help but I think it did.Good luck with your journey! Cindy