Poodles

Hey, Ditto to the above post! Will see you in the chat room if you want to share!

No experience with the lap band, but after my c-section I wore a mumu or what some call a house dress. It was large enough not to touch anything, and still looked ok. Good luck!

How long are psych evaluations good for? Could it be 1 year?, or should this be the last thing you do?

Wow! Congratulations! 100 lbs is a HUGE amount! You are doing so well and are a great inspiration!

Everything is bigger in Texas! Especially our Hearts. Welcome to the forum! And congrats on the surgery date!

I keep reading that if you have an eating disorder you can not be banded. There are so many categories of eating disorders, so which one eliminates you? What if you HAD a specific eating disorder and have stopped? In high school 10+ years ago, I tried the bulimia thing, no eating thing, etc. I am still a compulsive eater, but have not binge/purged in 10+ years. Do you think that eliminates me from being a band canidate?

Sugar is evil. I can not have one bite of it or it will set me off. Splenda is good. Say it with me now, "Splenda is good"... Sugar will take three days to totally get out of your system. Make it past day three and you are set. After that avoid sugar in any form like the plague. **spooky cult voice*** "Sugar is evil, Splenda is good..." "Sugar is evil, Splenda is good..." "Sugar is evil, Splenda is good..."

Right now I don't really care if I lose 100 lbs. I just want off of the medicines I take everyday that cost my family so much. Don't think that is an active eating disorder. I consider eating without being hungry a compulsive eater. I eat when it is time to eat. I have been doing well on Atkins for three years now and that seems to help alot. My doctor actually thinks I am allergic to sugar because I crave it so. When I eat real sugar my joints hurt, my back kills me, and I want more...more...more. I would eat until I could not eat any more. When I was younger, I would feel guilty about eating so much and get rid of it. When I rec'd treatment I stopped purging, but still ate, which it part of the reason I am big today. Now I don't eat sugar. I will eat... mass quantities sometimes... but never feel like I need to purge because I have done something wrong. A nice big steak, salad, and some low carb ice cream don't make me panic. Does that make sense? Or am I crazy? I would not want the band to make me throw up. I want it to make me less hungry, monitor my big mouth, and help my BP and Diabetes. Think I need to be honest about it. If the ins co find out on their own they will surely deny me. ***throwing hands up in the air*** I am still confused on what to do.....

http://similarminds.com/othertests.html I came up Sunset Blvd and Sadam Hussein. Drama queen that likes power. Best comment was if people don't like me I will blow them up!

So basically if it is not an active eating disorder there is no disorder at all??? I did receive treatment for it, but it was from another insurance company, under maiden name, and so very long ago I don't think they would find it. I just don't want to lie about anything. Is there a reason that is a factor?

I am trying to change my habits before any cuts are made. Although I am not banded yet, I have been "practicing". I made it one week on only Atkins shakes morning, noon, and night. So I know I can do the pre-op diet. Now I am trying the Protein first thing but want to make sure I am doing this right. I wake up and eat Breakfast. Don't drink for an hour or so. Then I drink my Water (although I don't know if I am sipping). About 30 minutes before lunch I stop drinking. Eat protein first, veggies second, and my low carb items last. Then 30-45 minutes after I eat I start drinking water again. That is super hard. Although my portions are tons bigger than they will be with the band... am I doing it right? Also, you are supposed to drink 64 oz of water a day. How can you do that sipping all day long? Or does the sip thing go away post op? I currently drink 3 bottles of water a day at work. Will that still be possible?

I love these games! They are fun. I am sad that I have not seen another Saddam... but Hitler is close. Guess Mother Teresa and Gahndi will have to do!

Ok. I made it a week on liquids, and could only make it a day and a half before I attacked a bowl of chili with a pepsi on the side. This worries me because I am so hungry that I have no patience to chew chew chew, sip sip sip. Will the band REALLY help that much that I will make it more than a day and a half? Or will I want to attack things? Maybe I am not doing this right...

I know exactly how you feel. I am ready to get a zip-tie and a butcher knife to do it myself if I have to. Just prepare yourself. Ins companies are told to say no. Like that commercial with the sky miles thing. You just have to fight for it. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

I love the thought of Doctors reading the posts on here. That way they can see the patients sides of things. Good, Bad, or Ugly. Will probably make them better Doctors in the long run. Wonder how many read the comments on obesityhelp.com. Some of those comments are harsh. I also like the little disclaimer DrHekier has on his post, wonder if we should do the same. Wonder if Dr's can sue us for slander????

Great article. Thanks!

Sounds like you have a stressful life. Don't think anything is wrong with you, you just may be used to self medicating with food. Sugar is a drug you know. Do you eat anything with sugar in it? If you do stop now. The first three days are the hardest, and the best time to stop is the first day of your period. You crave sugar before, but once you start the cravings seem to die down. I am a sugar addict. I can not even have one bite or it will trigger me off for days. So I try not to have one cheeto, one bite of bread, one bite of cheesecake. Nothing except for splenda sweetened things. Do you have any Richard Simmons blast off tapes? They are 20 minutes and you are done. They are fun if you like Richard Simmons! If you want eye candy Tony Little tapes are fun too, but I find him annoying so I turn the sound down. Funny how I like Richard better... I too love free food. Seems like if it is free it should be calorie free too, but that is untrue. Drug Reps, Employers, Co-Workers all love to bring high carb "comfort" foods for one reason or another. I hate Christmas with homemade fudge, candies, and cakes. I always bring sugar free pumpkin cheesecake, and they love that just as much. It amazes me how the diabetic people will attack a free stack of Cookies when they know it is literally killing them. It is hard for everyone to stay away from goodies, but you need to think about being good to yourself. I have avoided the get togethers at my work for the past three years. I can't handle the three tables of Desserts. But when I am forced to go, I turn my back to the tables, eat my meat/veggies and then get out of there asap. I take the same approach at Golden Corral. Carbs are Evil. Free carbs are even worse, but it can be done. Stay strong!

Two co-workers of mine have had the bypass, and another has recently had the band. They have all been put in a "fish bowl". I work with kids (I am a teacher) and they have negative things to say, and other co-workers have the "she looks like she has gained some weight back" comments too. So I want to be a closet bandster. Trouble is I have been asking a lot of questions to the newly banded person (mistake?), and another co-worker and I went to a seminar last weekend together. The lady I went with swears she will not say a word to anyone, because she does not want anyone to know she went either. (I won't tell.) Now I am thinking of ways to back out of everyone knowing. My plan is to go to my AIGB appointment that they know about and then make something up about too many pre-op tests, too much money, lousy insurance, etc. and then go to the appointments without people knowing. If I plan right, I can have the surgery on one of the holiday breaks and no one would know. How does that sound? Figure it will work as long as no one I work with reads this. Sure is sad that people make us feel like we have to lie, or hide. Really feel like I can trust the lady I went to the seminar with, but would hate for one little slip to sell me out to the kids. Then my life would be three shades of hell. I have lost 45+ lbs on Atkins in the past few years, so figure the high Protein way of eating won't tell them anything, and they have all seen me drink my Atkins shakes. Guess in a way that should tell me how they would react wouldn't it? But they really think surgery is taking the easy way out. And they make comments about others like "she had surgery and she is still big". Don't want to be the topic of their conversations in the locker room you know. We all have secrets for different reasons. We all have people we think wecan trust. The hard part is knowing for sure.

Thank you Piperbaby. I don't like the up front tests, but guess they help the process in the long run. From all of the patients notes I have read you and I have made the right choice. If not, we need to post something for others to read later on, so please keep us updated on your case. Will keep my fingers crossed for you! And thanks again for the input!

Thin for good from Fred Pescatore. It is a good book with daily modification/self help messages. I read this all the time to help correct the negative "tapes" in my head. You must put good things in. Be positive. Although I do not have the band yet, I am a compulsive eater and have found that when I am very mad I need to sit down and "escape". Thin for good is a diet book, and I think that it would help everyone band or not. I also went on a "Lord of the Rings" diet when I first went low carb. If those cakes/candies started calling, I started reading. Forgive the bad pun...but sugar is my "preciousssss" and reading seemed to help. You can read, take a bubble bath, walk the dog, paint your fingernails, you know try to do something nice for yourself to take your mind off of eating. You are good enough to be good to. You know that because you cared enough about yourself to get the band. Don't abuse yourself or your band. Adjust to this new life with all the strength and willpower you possess. You can do it!

I do not have a band yet, but can tell you Valerian Root (sp?) is the only thing that helps me when I cramp badly. You can get it at Walmart or GNC, Vitamin Shoppe etc. Formula 303 is what I take most of the time. I was given this by a Chiropractor and have never stopped using it. It helps cramps, and will even allow you to relax to sleep if you have insomnia. The Formula 303 is a tablet that can be crushed. Some of the OTC come in capsules and if you search Valerian at VitaminShoppe.com you will find several liquid forms. I would get the one with Passion flower in it too. But please be aware, I am not a doctor, this is just advice based on my personal experiences. http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/browse/sku_detail.jhtml;$sessionid$3LGFAWAIIRAWOCQUAOWSM4QKCQB1AGXK?SkuID=223540&BreadCrumbType=SearchResult Do you have a dog? Or a heating pad? My schnauzer will sit on my lap. The heat and pressure seem to help sometimes. Or it may be the lovin'... Get well soon!

Regarding SCOR. They told me that AIGB is out of network, that the Dr. is out of network, that they would treat me like I was in network, but they never told me the Anesthesiologist (sp?) would not work the same deal. How do you find a doctor that is considered in-network? Went thru my ins provider list and they do not specify. Also called Dr. Hamns office and they told me that for other procedures they are in network, but for the band they are out of network. I am confused. I have an out of pocket Max of $2000.00 but there is a difference of 20% between in network(20%) and out(40%). Can someone explain it to me? If I have an out of pocket max, does it matter what the anesthesiologist charges? I have TRS activecare. Has anyone used it? And BTW, I have an appointment with AIGB on OCT 10th so I need to know something quick!!!!!!

I have checked in there a few times, but no one else was there. Think the chat room would be more utilized if we had scheduled times to be there. Maybe a "newbie chat" at 6:00 M-F, Saturday Night Live from 9-? for all the party bandsters, etc... We would just need to give a time zone and info. Just a thought.

Thank you Keri, you are so wonderful to answer my questions. I really appreciate your help! )

Well thought this might help anyone else doing some research. This is based on Molly Mollys recommended questions, and Answers from Dr.Benevides' office. *How many bands has he done? Over 1500 * And for how long has he been doing them? 4 years, since FDA approval * What percentage of the bands he has done have had -- erosion? None -- slipping? some, said mostly due to patient noncompliance/vomiting -- other problems? Nothing notable * How many free fills do you get? Did not ask. I asked how many fills are allowed? As many as you need. $50.00 copay, if ins covers * What is their procedure if something goes wrong with the band during the first few months or first year? They will take care of it. Do what ever it takes to fix it. * What is the success rate of weight loss of this surgeon's patients? (I know at the center I'm going to, they've got a 70% EWL average, which is higher than the national average -- this may be because of support services offered post op and/or careful screening of surgery candidates)? Says 97% * What kind of followup care will you receive? 2weeks, 3 month, 6 month, 1 year and 1 year after that. * What will the surgeon require of you post-op? (weekly or monthly support group meetings? weigh-ins? meetings with a dietician?) Nothing mandatory, but monthly meetings offered and recommended. * What is their policy on doing fills? Do they limit it to only so often? How do they decide when it's time for you to have another fill? (or is it your decision?) Dr. Will give specific diet if you still do not lose weight then they will do a fill. Overfilling is an issue and they don't want to do a fill and then go back and take things out. * Does he require you to lose a certain amount of weight prior to surgery? No. __________________ Other question I asked: When is the first fill allowed? After week 6 Who does the fills? Usually nurse/PA, but sometimes Dr. B. Will Dr. B do any follow up or just the surgery? Can schedule an appointment anytime to consult with Dr. B, but most aftercare things are done by others. Did call Dr. Hamns office but the lady sounded overwhelmed. She told me the next "new patient" orientation dates and what information was usually covered, but did not have time to go thru my questions (Or I got that impression, so I did not press it). I think I like the setup Dr. Benevides has, but wanted to post the answers to the questions to get your input. Most of you know better than I what is good/bad...