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I would ask that question when you go for your informational meeting tomorrow. I was one who was always at my dr.'s frustrated with my weight loss attempts, so I had good documentation. I have heard of people that just document their weight loss attempts and get their dr's signature on it. It all goes to your ins. company for approval, thats what they want it for. They are also interested in your BMI being over a certain # and any co-morbitity issues you might be dealing with. I would think that any ins. co. would look at those 2 things with more importance than any weight loss attempt over a 13 year period. Although it is important (don't get me wrong) it is not all there is to this process of getting approval for the surgery. Good luck tomorrow and keep us posted. Carol

Hi Everyone, NOt sure how many of you are from the Rochester area and go to Highland Hospital for your bariatric surgery, but was just reading the death notices in todays paper and saw that Dr. Thad Boss passed away yesterday. I knew he was sick, and had not been part of the practice for a while due to his illness, didn't realize it was a terminal thing. I heard he was an awesome Dr. his patients loved him a lot. I bet he will be missed. Hope all are doing well.....Happy Holidays to all. Carol

Thanks Joann.....I have NEVER been an inspiration to anyone in my life....so those are nice words to hear. After I read your letter I went back and read mine, I actually got teary eyed as I read it.....its all so true, and food has become so unimportant in my life, that sounds strange, and maybe should be worded differently, because I know food gives you life, but its taken a back seat to the rest of my life, and maybe thats how "normal" people look at food. Perhaps I am also becoming "normal" now too? wow....imagine that! I may not post alot on here, but I know all about your wait and struggle to get banded JoAnn, I am just glad your date is finally around the corner for you. Thanks for your response. I can't wait to see your weight go down for you...Just imagine how much more healthy you are going to be when you see your grandbabies in April...oh I am so excited for you:thumbup:

April you sound like I sounded a year ago. Just not sure of where I want to go as far as the lapband was concerned, did I want to go through with it or try once more loosing weight on my own. I was going through menopause, I was quitting smoking and I was gaining weight to the point where I was at my heaviest weight ever, and boy did I feel horrible....I could barely move without a struggle, every joint ached every bone creaked, my clothes looked like hell on me and I didn't want to do a thing except sit and watch TV and eat. I was scared to be without food, I pretty much had no choice but to persue the lapband road. I realized that at 313 lbs and age 51 the only way out was lapband or probably death at an early age, and with my first grandbaby on the way, I wasn't too thrilled with the latter. I was banded in July and I can honestly say that this is the best decision I have ever made for me! I am truly eating to live, and not the reverse anymore. As I sat on the floor last night playing with my 6 month old granddaughter with almost 40 lbs gone, I had a realization that I would not be on the floor with her if I were still 313 lbs, I would not have been able to get down there and get up again. So much of who you are changes for the better with every lb. you loose. I have truly changed my relationship with food and as that relationship has changed and allowed me to loose weight, my relationship with others has changed too, all for the better, my husband just is so proud of me, my kids are thrilled for me, and I am amazed at who I am becoming, The head hunger goes away, I am banded well, I am eating very healthy foods now, I don't want to eat junk, my portions are small, and I am really learning to love myself for the first time in a long time. So trust me as I say what I truly believe....that NOTHING tastes as good as skinny FEELS.....I thank God every day for the path I choose, for I KNOW that I would not be down to the weight I am at now if I had decided not to go with the Lapband. I can't wait to see what I am in for when I reach goal! I am so excited for me:rolleyes2:

Hi Terrilynn, sorry for my stupidity, but what is RNY? If she is looking for Lapband Dr.s I would suggest the group at Highland Hospital, Dr. Johnson is my dr. and is awesome. He's in the phone book under Dr. Joseph Johnson....he's in with Dr. O'Malley. Hope that helps....now tell me what RNY is.

Just want to say hello to everyone as I have not posted in forever! I read the posts as often as I can and get so much out of them. Sometimes it's time to pay it forward so to speak and hopefully someone will learn by my mistakes. I went for my 2nd fill on Wednesday the 29th(first one was 9/12) I never felt a really good restriction but lost 8 lbs in that 6 weeks which the Dr. was pleased with. He decided to give me a fill due to my hunger waking me in the middle of the night. He first put 1 CC in and tested it with the fluoroscope...felt it was going through a little too fast and then put in another CC and had me drink again. He said the restriction was better and told me I now had 7CC's total in my band of 14 CC's. I didn't feel any tighter, but burped a couple of times and agreed with him that I was all set. He told me to stay on liquids for 2 days and then resume normal eating. To make a long gross story short here wouldn't do it justice, but I will spare all of you! Thursday wasn't too bad a day, but the night proved something was drastically too tight, I couldn't even keep water down, the sliming was unbelievable. As I got to work on Friday ( I work at a dental office as a manager) I couldn't even talk to patients without burping up slime (sorry) I was so embarrassed. I called the Dr.s office and went over immediately. They put me on the scale and in 2 days I was down 4 lbs. I was severely dehydrated he said and needed to remove some saline. He removed 1.4CC's and I could feel immediate relief. That was scary and as much as I felt like I was on the "biggest loser" loosing 4 lbs in two days it just wasn't fun :wink: I think the burping was an indication I was way too tight. So be careful out there and when you go for a fill and you do any kinda burping.....take some out! I am finding out it is better to be a bit underfilled and sometimes hungry than to go through those 2 days of whatever it is I went through. :cursing:

Nani, I was banded in July and still get shoulder pain to this day, it doesn't last as long as it used to, but I still get it after I eat. It seems when I burp it lessens the pain, and walking helps with the burping, also try a heating pad right on the shoulder. That really helps with the pain. Good luck. Hope something works for you. You might also want to try some GasX.

Terri---so sorry you are in pain and not sleeping! Hope you feel better soon. Gilta--I did try and increase protein, I have not been as hungry but I think my new job keeps me a lot busier and keeps my mind off my stomach. I am definately feeling hunger though and not head hunger, I feel it at work and just go and drink some water or I grab a snack if it's time for a small bite to eat. I have been bringing some cheese and some hummis to work, it helps. I called the office for a fill....oh, can't get in until mid November! How do they expect this to work if we can't get a fill appt. for 6 weeks? I also have watched the scale stop moving, I am actually playing with the same 3 pounds going up and down. So frustrating. Not sure what I am going to do about an appt. I hung up on them I was so mad:cursing: Anyway, hope everyone has a great weekend! Hope it is rain free. Carol

Heather, I checked out those pictures from Barktoberfest, cute dogs, I believe the bigger one is a pug?? My sister has 2 pugs, both fawns, she wants to get a black one next. They are the noisiest things when they are sleeping! They snore like my hubby. I am such a dog lover, we have 2, a golden that is 11 and a shit-zu poodle mix that is almost a year old. They are best buddies. My daughter owns her own dog grooming shop in Fairport, I am there occasionally and always see a dog I want to bring home! I did the same thing Barb when I was growing up, lived with my parents until I got married. My son just moved out at 24 and my 26 year old daughter still lives with us. She wants out so bad (no we are not difficult to live with!!) she just needs to be on her own, she is working hard on becoming independent. Unless you are making lots of money todays financial situations make it difficult for anyone to live on their own. Terri, thats a good weightloss for two weeks. I know what you mean about the hunger though, I had my first fill almost 3 weeks ago now and I am struggling with hunger again as I was 2 weeks post op. I have to call them for a fill, but I am working on increasing my protein. Thanks to Gilta's help, I think my protein might be low, which would cause the hunger, I am going to try to increase protein for a few days, if that doesn't help I will call for a fill. Enjoy your day everyone, are we ever gonna see that sunshine again?:cursing: Carol

Barbie, I live in Webster, grew up in Irondequoit, and now have a daughter that lives in Irondequoit. Did you grow up around this area too?

yeah Gilta!! :thumbup: What an awesome accomplishment! I have a long way to go to get out of the W's, but I too will get there someday! Yes we do have to get together, its been a long time since Eggbeaters at Perkins. Melody, glad you found us. This is definately a journey that needs to be shared with others that are going through the same journey, so welcome aboard. My daughter and I are going shopping for a dress for a family wedding, can't wait to see what size I am in. Enjoy this dreary day:thumbdown:

Hi Melody and welcome. I was banded at Highland on July 29th by Dr. Johnson, just had my first fill 2 weeks ago. I am in the Webster area, there is another lady I met on here that was banded 3 days after me by the same Dr. She and I have become good friends, I am sure you will see her posts on here, her name is Gilta. Small world isn't it~ Just wanted to say hi. I am sure I will talk to you again soon. Carol