Poodles

Unzipped...Life without the zip-tie.

I have been having "cold feet" too. The "what if's" have left, and now I am just trying to find an excuse to change my mind. Second thoughts, third thoughts, too many thoughts going around in my mind. But then I remember that I am doing this for my own good. I need help. My fat butt is just going to get bigger if I don't do something. So I am doing it for "my own good." It is scary to change. It is weird to think of life differently. But we must change. For our own good. Be bold, true (to yourself), stout-hearted, and brave!

I don't want to give up my Carbwatch ice cream from Braums (made with splenda). Think there is a chance I can keep that? PPPPLLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE!

I have three Texas Map turtles in a 65 gallon aquarium with various fishes and they are so cute. I love turtles, but don't want to be one. I have been sharing a lot of information with my husband regarding the information on the board, and we have come to an agreement that this is the best thing for me, but he says he will be "really mad if it does not work." So, I better make it work. Talk about motivation. What factors do you think attribute to being a turtle verses a rabbit? Is there anything you can do to avoid being a turtle?

The wife of one of my co-workers was banded last summer. She has hit her plateau for a while now. I asked him if she was happy with her choice. His only response was that she had no idea she would have to work so hard with the band. Several other co-workers have had "bypass" surgery and dropped very quickly... but they are gaining it back... and one lady has terrible bowel problems now (impactions/such). I know that I do the "what if's" alot, and I know that no one has a crystal ball to tell me what my future will be or if I will be a turtle or a rabbit, but heck with my luck I will be in that 25% that it does not work for. I read somewhere that someone said that the band was a "good place to start", but I want it to be where I finish. Finish gaining weight, finish taking meds, finish being a bowling ball dressing like a female. I want to be done with it. On Atkins I plateaued out for over 7 months and then just quit. Guess I won't have the option to quit with the band. So that may help out. With Atkins I started at 318 went down to 268, came up to 273 and held for 7 months, then went off the wagon and am back up to 298. Damn carbs. I am back on Atkins, trying to get my liver in shape, but figure I will do the same with the band and will plateau when I get back down 30 lbs. Will lose the weight at first rather quickly, and then will hit a brick wall. But that is just what I think now. What if I don't hit a plateau? What if... I lose all this weight and turn into a supermodel? Now those are good "What if" questions... I will be happy to hit 250 at this point. Really happy. Totally Giddy if I ever see 200. Just hope the band will help me get there.

Oh, I just love you Jack... Would cross the seven seas with you... but I only know how to dog paddle. This issue really does scare me. If putting a band around my stomach does not work, I don't know what else to do.

Once upon a time (in high school for about 6 months) I had a 25" waist, 35"/25"/35". Pretty hour-glass figure and all the boys wanted me. But once I started to gain weight (again) poof! they were gone. Now that I am a perfect size 26, don't have to worry about many advances (been married for almost 12 years, and in those 12 years been "hit on" about 3 times by other men). My fat body will take my high schoolers to field trips to various places, and I can not get over how many men trip over themselves to help/talk to my teenagers. Went to a mexican diner with a small group of kids and got the best service of my life because I had two of the cheerleaders with me. I was the afterthought of course, but it absolutely amazed me that I could be so obviously excluded, and it kind of hurt my feelings. Now I have to worry about the opposite happening. My husband likes big women... what will he think when/if I get thin?

New Answers: 1. How long did it take to get approval? 6 months. If not approved how long have you been working to get approved? Approved. March 20, 2006 2. Did they require a psyche eval? Yes Nutritionist consult? Yes Sleep Study? Yes 3. How many months supervised weight loss did you have before approval? 6 . 4. Did you have to call them constantly? Called every day after submitted, but just to check. 5. Were you denied the first time? No Did you have to appeal? No 6. Any recommendations for people trying to get approved? Write a good letter requesting approval with detailed info on illnesses and family history. Get Doctors to write letters for you. I had three doctors letters. 7. What plan are you on (1, 2, or 3) and what was your total out of pocket? Activecare 2, about $910.00 out of pocket so far.

My sweet hubby of 12 years, the same man that has seen me struggle with my weight, supported me through rehab for my back injurys, seen me end up in the hospital for chest pain, wear diabetic shoes to work, and bought me hundreds of dollars of diet products told me this morning that he thinks I am taking the "easy way out" by having the surgery. I want to kill him. He is insured. Any advice on what to tell the JERK?

You know the irony is my hubby is only about 15 lbs behind me, and an inch shorter. He has the same sweet tooth, and lazy habits as I do, but he has NO health problems. No meds, no high bp, no diabetes issues, no back pain, nothing. I am so screwed up BC/BS approved me in 6 months, no appeal process nothing. I told him that in itself shows that I am on deaths door because BC/BS does not pay for much. Think he is actually worried about the surgery. He does not want another child because of what my only son put me thru, and we planned on 3. He loves me, and I love him, but he just has a weird way of saying things. "Easy way out" hurt me deeply and he is sorry for saying it. I now use it for everything, "don't take the easy way out- do the dishes by hand." "Don't take the easy way out, go kill that cow yourself." "Would not want you to take the easy way out, guess you have to cook dinner." It will blow over with time. I did tell him that I did not care what he thought, I have to live. I want to live, and I need help. BTW, he has put in for a week off around my surgery date to help. Guess I will keep him. cashley- did not mean to offend. I know lipo will not remove the 100+ lbs that I need to lose. But it sure would be easy to take the Hoover out and get rid of it if I could. Just a bad joke I guess....

What gets me is that it was his idea. He said that he would understand if I wanted to get surgery because after 3 years on Atkins, he knows it is a struggle for me... he said that 6 months ago... guess he forgot. He was very sorry when I informed him that "I told on him". He said that he just feels that I need to exercise more, which I do. I talked with him more about his feelings regarding me being banded. He will support me no matter what, because he wants me to be happy and healthy. Number one he wants me to be healthy. I just could not believe that he would say that knowing what I have been thru. Now I think I will be a closet bandster, because that is what people think. It hurts to know that even though you try your best and fail at every attempt, people still think you are weak when you try to get one more tool to help you. I know it will not do all the work for me (Unfortunately), but I know it will help. I looked at 4 oz of meat, and 1/2 cup of veggies. That is four bites for me, and just the tip of the iceberg of what I eat daily. I can stick to my low carb diet for years, but portions keep my weight on. If I can get that under control I think I will lose... and then I will feel like exercising more. Thank you for all of the support. We really need to figure out how to change attitudes. Wish people would not be so small minded. Easy way out my big fat butt... Now Liposuction that is the easy way out.

I am literally bawling after reading this. Two minutes after I heard the words "your approved" I started freaking out, wondering what the heck I was going to do to myself. Practically every question/concern Carolyn has has run thru my mind. Thank you for posting the questions Carolyn, and thanks to all that have replied. This board truly helps people with their choices.

Wanted to *bump* this thread up, because I am terribly interested in the information. I could do the surgery at Easter and have 4 days to do the surgery and go back to work Thurs-Sunday, back to work on Monday, or I need to wait until summer. I really don't want to wait, but think I may need to since I drive 45 minutes one way to work. Please keep the info coming and share your opinions on this too please!

Upon hearing the news of my approval, my sweet hubby raised a question I thought I would ask here. If I were to change jobs and therefore change insurance companies would aftercare be covered or a pre-existing condition? I am so excited and never really thought about this. Anyone know?

Have been calling my insurance company all week, as they have been telling me that my file is in "medical review". I finally asked today what that means. The lady said that once it gets thru the first person it goes to a nurse, once it gets past the nurse it goes to a doctor. The doctor then puts the final yes or no on it. It has reached the doctor at this point. My sweet hubby says that it sounds like it has rec'd two yeses at this point and waiting for the final ok from the doctor. My hopes are WAY up. I hope they don't burst my bubble... what do you think?

I must admit... I love Jack... AARRRRRR

Guess our biggest worry is that if anything goes wrong we want to make sure it is covered. Think Dr. B charges $50.00 for fills regardless, but if something needs to be replaced or opened up/etc. we want to make sure it will be covered. Think if it got that far it would be an emergency, right? Not every school district has TRS so just wondering. But thanks Dolphin Dreams for letting me know they cover aftercare! I still can't believe it! I am scared and excited at the same time!

OH HOLY HECK... I can't believe it. I have been approved. Now I am scared to death and excited at the same time. I have a million questions now too. Oh my gosh! I can't believe it! Keep on calling. It really works!

Figure I will call late Monday, or Tuesday. I am calling once a day. Being very polite and saying thank you. Have not pushed any buttons. I always ask if I can call back the next day. I know Mondays are hectic so it may be Tuesday before I can get to it... Just don't think I could make it to Wednesday without checking in. Waiting is the hardest part. Especially when someone else holds your life in their hands...

OH 3loves, I hope you get it. I just got off the phone with my insurance company again and the lady said that it is still in review. She said that it has made it through to this point, just needs the "final" ok. Hope! hope! hope! Let me know what you find out today 3loves! Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Watched a show last night about plastic surgery. In particular breast implants. They say the average life of a breast implant is 10 years and then they need to be replaced. Thousands of women do that. I am willing to take the risk that this may need to be replaced. With other WLS you can't replace the things they cut out and you are just screwed if anything goes wrong. (Forgive the way I put that... but it is true.)

Not banded here, but can honestly say that a call to the doctor won't hurt. He/she may want you to come in but it is better to be safe than sorry. Did they give you any nausea meds after the surgery? If not suck on some peppermint. That has a natural anti-nausea effect.

Contractual adjustments. Most are at least 50%, most are more. I was a Medicare biller for a while and for an $80,000.00 open heart surgery they would pay about $850.00, most of the time putting $780.00 to the patients deductible. Please be aware this was quite some time ago, but the numbers are still outrageous. Also know that if you know you are going to need treatment you can ask the hospital to give you a discounted rate if you pay up front. They do that for deliveries a lot. I did ask once why the insurance companies rec'd such discounts, yet we would bill others for the whole price. The manager muttered something about volume makes up for it. So 100 sick bcbs members = 1 self pay. You would think that I pay over $6000.00 a year, they should cough up the $2000.00 for my surgery.

www.vitaminshoppe.com has a lot of liquid vitamins. Be sure to check out www.currentcodes.com first to see if you can find a discount code.

I always sing the praises of low carb. Even though I am still heavy, low carb regulates my periods. I have to keep my carbs under 80 a day. Cycles are normal. Mind you, I do not lose weight regardless, but no pain with cycles and they come regularly. No band yet but hoping that the band will help too. Do some research on PCOS and you will see more and more doctors are recommending a low carb lifestyle for their PCOS patients. Good luck.