enjoylife

hang in there. you may very well find a support system here. i would say try to stay away from the food network, but i like to watch it too sometimes

I'm sure it didn't help to have been called those degrading names (especially as a child). It's good that you haver decided to take control of your future and do something about your weight. Start doing things to build your self esteem. Even if its simply looking in the mirror every morning and reciting an affirmation of beauty, intelligence, worthiness, prosperty or whatever you need to hear that morning. Good luck to you and keep us updated on your journey.

I see you haven't gotten any responses. I haven't been banded yet either, so I really can't give you any advice, except to read othr people's journals and read the message boards. They are a great source of what to expect, do, and not do.

As a man thinkith so he is... If you think you are going to fail then you will. Believe in yourself. I don't know you, but it sounds like you are setting yourself up to fail. Stop doing that. Instead of saying, "I cannot fail" - say, "I will be successful." Not telling people aboout your decidsion to have WLS doesn't have to mean you are ashamed - it could mean you are keeping this private because it is a private decision about your private life. I have no intention of telling anyone. Its my business. Another thing, you are one week post-op - should you be eating all those things you listed? Forget about failing - think aboout messing yourself up - your stomach has not finished healing - it is not ready for those foods. I'm pretty sure I'm right about that - though I am not a doctor. Stop beating yourself up. Celebrate you and your decision. Envision yourself getting thinner and making better choices. Get rid of the foods that tempt you if necessary. I don't know you, but I am confident that with the band's help you can win your war against fat. Just BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!

funny

where can I get it done for $7000?

Ten pounds!!! Yay YOU!!!

Try Drs Singh and Averbach. They practice at St. Agnes in Catonsville. My friend had her surgery with Dr. Averbach. I am working with Dr. SIngh. He's great and he has trained many Maryland doctors on laprosopic surgery. There is also Sr. Sofransky in Salisbgury. Dr. Sofransky charges a $2500 fee for extras that your insurance will not pay for. That was the price two years ago. it may have gone up.

I am so sorry this has happened to you. I am waiting for my insurance company to respond. they got the information they needed on Dec. 5th. The longer I wait, the less confident I become. I am praying that I get approved. If not, I will be heading to Denver, CO. From what I ahve been reading on this site there is a place that will do it for a little over $9000. You may want to consider that. Good luck to you.

your family has a right to eat and enjoy food. its funny that you're going through this. my friend went through the pizza hut thing right after gastric bypass - i mean she was still in the hospital - her husband and mom bought pizza back to her room! she thought it was insensitive too. but like it or not - the family is not banded and has no restrictions. i'm sure it would help is they only ate bland odorless food until you were able to eat again - but let;s face it - that's just not realistic.

i found a doctor that doesn't have a program fee. they are hard to find. now the hard part is waiting for my insurance to approve my surgery. i don't know how you guys get your surgery dates so quickly. I have had to jump through hoops and get hmmm - four clearances - cardio, nutirionist, psych, pcp diet monitoring. did you do all of that in three weeks or did yo not have to go through that?

how long have you been banded? I'm asking because I'm surprised that you have gotten two fills and you're still on liquids. I have not been banded so i'm reading everybody's post as often as posible to learn all that I can.

stress can be good and bad. jsut chanel it properly and you'll be fine. my situation sounds like yours - only i'm pretty sure I'm older than you and I have a job. But then again I have a child and I'm working on my Doctorate. I must be crazy. I feel crazy quite often. I ma in the process of moving onto a piece of property I purchased over a year ago. There is a tiny dwelling on it that has cost me about $2500 to make liveable - I don't think I'm doen spending my money yet though. I decided that it would be better to move there than to continue paying both rent and mortgage. Its my mini masion and we are going to live in it. once we actually get into it - i will be able to live soooooo much cheaper. ANYWAY! i wrote all of that to say - yeah you may have a lot going on, but its ok - you sound focused and mature. do your thing - get your surgery and be happy. it's true you know ... you can do it all.

hang in there. from what i have read, and talking to a friend of mine - you will begin to feel like your old self in another day or two.

I know how you feel. I live alone in my state too. Well, I have my five year old. I too came here for work and I too have decided to get lap band surgery for myself. I hope that you are not really having it so that you can be a good role model. I hope you are doing it for YOU. I want to be a good role model for my child. I want to model good health and all that stuff. I want to make sure I'm here for her, but I also want to do this just for me. I want to feel better, look better, dress better, switch my butt better . I want to be happy. Do this for yourself. And don't worry, you are not alone. We are here with and for you. :ranger::ranger::ranger::ranger::ranger::ranger::ranger:Take care.

what are you saying when people ask about the change? are you telling them the truth or are you fudging it? Its a personal thing, yet people have no problem asking. since you are in the public eye - i know they will ask. how will you handle it? anyway, congratulations. i can't wait for my turn to get here.

yeah i believe in food addictions. i have one. i will eat to the point of misery even when i am not hungry. that makes me nervous about the band. but i guess we all have remeber that it is just a tool. i have not been banded yet, but i am going to try to work on some self issues before i do. - i hope.

tuna fish huh? you were feeling brave (or really hungry) i see. i am so glad tht i found this site. i get to read about other people's trails and erors before i get started. i know this is gonna be very helpful to me when i get banded.

wow. hell after reading Secreststolen i'm not even angry anymore.

so how is getting back to work? I hope it went well. you're right - a little make up can do wonders for your looks and your attitude. men don't know what they are missing - not that i want then in makeup!

you may be dealing with a pcp that doesn't like the idea of wls. go to the office and stand there and wait for a copy of your records. they won't like it, but you will get what you need. or you could go the long route and switch pcp's. they have to give a copy of your records then. but i would use that as a last resort. just go there and tell them you will wait. then hustle your rear over to a library or your job or whever there is a fax machine and fax it in yourself - or better yet - drive it over and hand deliver it to your surgeon's nurse. on another note, i think a five year history is ridiculous. that's just Aetna's way of avoiding paying for the surgery. heck i wonder how many people age out before they reach the five year mark or how many people just give up. that really sucks and they know it. I'm glad you got yor five years. now remember that most pcp's work more for the insurance companies than they do for their patients. if you want something and you are entitled to it - fight for it. go stand in the office. be polite, but be firm - let them you know will wait - all day if necessary. Good luck to you.

if your surgery is not performed in a hospital, then where is it performed? i hope this doesn't appear to be rude or nosey. i am simply curious.

wow. lotta will power.

i know how you feel. i should have stared this earlier too. i'm waiting to hear if i got approved. the waiting is awful. some days i'm hopeful -other days i'm nervous. i should know something within two - three days. that will be two weeks after submission for approval. seems like an eternity. fortunately i am moving so i have alot of other things to concerntrate on.

well you got banded today. how the heck are ya?