Bea1128

My surgery is scheduled for April 16th. I've been trying to practice chewing and taking small bites, but it doesn't seem to be working. Before I know it, I'm taking big bites and not chewing as well as I need to with the band. How do you teach yourself to do this? How long did it take to make it automatic? I've been eating this way my whole life. How do your change a habit like this? Any suggestions?

Like everyone else said, it probably depends on your insurance company. If you are paying cash, I hear it can be quicker. My "time table" is listed below. My insurance company approved me in days. It took my a couple of weeks to get in to see the nutritionist and psychotherapist because of their schedule. Go to a free seminar. They can get you going. Good luck!

That's one of my biggest fears about telling people. I've done it before. I've lost large amounts of weight and gotten a lot of attention. Then, as always, I've gained it back. It's so humiliating. I feel confident that the band is right for me, but it won't save me from myself. It will only help me to help myself. I read where Carnie switched addictions after GBP. I think that is a greater fear than actually gaining the weight back. I'm not a big drinker and I've never touched drugs so I'm not sure how it would manifest itself, but I understand my addiction is a driving force. I understand I need to work on my brain, but I do have an addictive personality. I have my psych eval next week and plan on discussing this. Does anyone else have this worry?

Hey All! I'm scheduled for April 16th also. I'm glad to finally be part of the group! :smile2: I start my pre-op stuff on March 31st. I've already started a modified low-carb diet (my surgeon likes a low-carb diet like South Beach prior to surgery) so it won't be quite so "cold turkey". I'm trying to cut back on coffee, etc. Has anyone else started their pre-op diet? Good luck to us April Bandsters!!

Angelface - Like other's have said, only you can make the decision to have this surgery. In the past, when considering WLS, I was like "no way". That was because I wasn't ready to let go of some of those things. I started seriously researching and thinking about this a year ago. I read books, I talked to people who've had it done, I went to a seminar, and I've read post after post here. I've tried to make myself aware of the complications as well. I've tried to look at it from every angle so that later, down the road I can't tell myself I didn't realize certain things could happen. Because at the end of the day, I made the decision. My husband asked me a few weeks ago "you know you might not ever be able to drink a coke again or a beer?". And you know what? I'm okay with that. I've finally decided that those are very small prices to pay to be healthy again. I'm so miserable right now. Yes, I can drink all the sodas and beer I want, but I'm not happy. I'm ready to let go and stop the hold food has on me. The idea seems so freeing. I know it will be hard and there will be days when I'm cussing myself because I'm dying for a Dr. Pepper (or a beer depending on how bad the day was :huh2:), but I'm going to do my best. I've tried all the diets before, but the difference this time is that I'm ready to let go. I feel really good about my choice now. I get to set my surgery date on Friday, but I've already started a modified version of the diet my surgeon requires pre-op so it's not so "cold turkey". I'm excited, scared, nervous, but ready. So, the moral to this long-winded story is that you get to decide for yourself. Do your research, talk to others, but make sure it's right for you. Don't rush into it if you're not sure. Good luck to you. I wish you all the best!

My surgeon only does lap band, nothing else. After a year of research and deep thought, I decided I wanted to pursue this in January and went to a seminar on 2/16/08. Insurance approval wasn't long for me and I will set my surgery date on Friday. I was told by his office that I would be able to be banded within a month if I wanted. So, in the end it will have been about 8-10 weeks. I'm sorry some of you have such a long wait. I know the last month for me has been torture. When I finally decide to do something, I want it done yesterday. Good luck!!

I'm just curious NanaRenan, what kind of complications? Did he actually refuse to anesthetize you? What other requirements did he think you needed? Thanks for sharing.

I'm sorry you encountered this. Just because she is a "nursing student" doesn't mean she knows anything about this. She's giving you her opinion not medical fact. I would be willing to bet anyone looking into the band has researched this more than any medical or nursing student ever could. Some people can never understand what it's like to do diet after diet and not be able to loose the weight. I hope to start nursing school in the fall myself (still waiting on my acceptance letter) and I'm getting the band!! I guess the thousands of people who post here and have had good results are "unhealthy". It's your decision and if it's right for you, then do it. Don't let her make you feel bad. And until she's walked a mile in your shoes, tell her to mind her own business.

ReadySteadyGo - you are so right. I'm also worried about all of the attention I know we'll get. I've lost weight before and it was kind of hard because people were always asking how much weight I'd lost. It was nice in the beginning, but then it was embarrassing. I got tired of being the girl who lost weight. I just wanted to be me. You know?

Thank you both for your post. I'm still amazed at how many similar stories I've read since joining this forum. I've always thought I was so alone. I'm not banded yet either. I will set my date on Friday for the next month or so. I haven't had the panic yet, but I think that's because I haven't set my surgery date. Food is absolutely my addiction too. It always has been. I didn't have the best childhood and food was always there to make me feel better. I'm so tired of it though. I'm so tired of feeling bad and I'm so tired of the hold it has on me. I'm so ready to break free. It would feel so good just to eat because I need it to live. I'm so ready to be able to move and to have energy. I want to do things with my kids and not be afraid that I won't fit in the movie seats or won't be able to run with them. Also, I was very athletic in high school. I'm dying to play a game of basketball again, even if it's just with my kids in the driveway. I'm tired of walking with my head down because I feel so ashamed of how I look. I know there are going to be hard days when I'll want to drown my stress or sadness in a box of twinkies, but I hope I have the strength to find another outlet for those feelings. I hope to be able to run again and use exercise as my outlet. I've been pushing the thought of WLS aside for years because I didn't want to admit that I couldn't do it myself. Well, you know what? I can't and I need this help. Asking for help has been the hardest thing I have ever done. They say you have to hit rock bottom before you are able to get help for yourself. Maybe this is it for me. I know I've never been more miserable or at least I've never been so tired of being so miserable. I'm making the ones I love around me miserable too. I'm done. We can do this. I know we can. And on those hard days when we think we can't go on, we need to turn to each other for support. Good luck to you all. This is going to be the best thing we have ever done for ourselves!! :tongue:

I already have insurance approval, but still have to have a psych eval next week. I can't set my surgery date until I have it. A friend of mine who has the same surgeon, paid out of pocket to see the psychiatrist on site. She had to see her twice and was sort of given the run-around about whether or not she really needed the surgery. Because of insurance, I'm seeing someone off site. I hope it's not an huge deal. I'll post again after the eval. I'm just ready to set my date and get on with it!!

Hello! I am in the process of getting insurance approval, etc. I have a friend who had this done about a year ago. She still finds it difficult to eat salad and some raw veggies. I was wondering if this was an individual problem or is it something that most experience? I was wondering about raw fruit also? Please share. Thanks.

I know what you mean. I was a wreck until I found out. I was so afraid to hope. I had a hard time thinking about what my life might be with the band because I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to do it. Good luck and keep us posted!

My surgeon's office just called and told me she got the insurance approval this morning! I can't believe it! My 15th wedding anniversary is at the end of next month, what a wonderful gift, for us both! I'm so ready to start living. They told me I would be a good candidate, but I never thought it would come so quickly. I've been so afraid to look ahead and didn't want to get my hopes up. I've been a nervous wreck! Now I can just get on with it! What a blessing!!

Congrats! I was just approved today! I don't have my surgery date yet, but hope it's in the next month or so. And like you, I'm ready to get on with it! Good Luck!

Just wanted to let you know I also have UHC and no comorbidities and was approved in a week. During one of those years my BMI hovered close to the 35 mark and it evidently wasn't a problem. Good Luck!!

Thanks for all of your input! I just got insurance approval today, so I'll find out soon enough for myself!! :tongue: I'm so excited!

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, instead of an M.D. Both types of docs get degrees that have almost identical training, etc. Historically it has been their philosophy of care that has made D.O.'s different. I have usually prefered D.O.'s because they are willing to try other areas of treatment and not just go for the quick fix (not that all M.D.'s are looking for the quick fix, so please no one take offense to that. It's just my personal opinion). I have also had many excellent M.D.'s over the years. Basically, it's the kind of person they are and what kind of care they give rather that what kind of initials they have behind their name. As long as I'm getting the best care possible, that's really all that matters.

I'm still waiting on insurance approval and therefore have not told anyone, except of course my husband. I haven't told my mom because she's a worrier and the longer she has to worry, the angrier and more aggressive she'll become. I also think she'll be jealous of my weight loss. She had me when she was very young and we've always had this weird competitive thing going on. Right now she's smaller than me, but she's still obese. When she feels anxious or scared, she gets aggressive. By that I mean she will try to come up with any and every reason why I shouldn't do this. "What if I die on the table?", "What if I can't ever eat again?". So my answer is always, "mom, what if I twist my ankle and fall into the street and get run over?". The more anxious she gets the more ridiculous her reasons will become. (Never mind the fact that she tells me on a weekly basis how worried she is about my health because of my obesity.) I had to have my gallbladder out years ago because I had gallstones and when she found out my doctor was a D.O., she told me "I hope you’re happy, he's just going to let you die". (She has an irrational problem with D.O.'s) She came up with all sorts of reasons to be mad at me and made my life hell while trying to recover. So, the moral to that long, boring story is this: You have to manage your family and your situation to the best of your ability. I know I'll catch hell when she finds out (my surgeon is a D.O.! :teeth_smile:), but I'm taking steps to make sure she doesn't have very long to make me feel bad about my decision. It won’t matter to her that I’ve thought about this for a year, I’ve done my research, I’ve read books, and I’ve talked to people who have had it done. I'm having it done whether she likes it or not. I have to do this for myself and to make sure I'm around for a long time for my kids. Also, she is my mom and I love her. She has a lot of good qualities too, she's a great grandmother to my children. I know how she is and love her anyway. I do what I can to lessen her anxiety so I can keep my sanity. :crying: I was accused of being dishonest a few days ago by another poster because I wasn't planning on shouting my decision from the nearest rooftop. Everyone has different feelings about this and in my opinion it's a very personal one. Our attitudes and feelings are shaped, not only by genetics but by past experiences. You have to do what you have to do for yourself and for your own reasons! Good luck to you and I hope you find peace and happiness with your decision.

I have girls too. I don't want them to think this is an option down the road and therefore they don't need to eat healthfully. My oldest has the potential to have a weight problem like me, but my youngest is rail thin. We don't say the "f - word" or "s-word" in my house either. Both have negative body connotations. I also don't want them to think I'm doing this for vanity. It's about my health and about being around as long as I can. And also due to the fact that I'm miserable and don't want to live like this any more. I will tell them something, but I'm not sure what yet. I might sit down with my oldest and get closer to the truth than I will with my youngest. I've been fighting this my whole life and like many of you have fought and fought and fought. I just need help and I'm finally asking for it. That was extremely hard for me. As for my friends and family, I'm not sure who I'm going to tell. I really don't want to have to talk about this over and over again, but I have many friends who are trying to loose weight as well. If I end up loosing more than them, I don't want them to feel bad about themselves. Then if I don't tell them and they find out, they're going to be upset. I just don't want to have to explain myself constantly. I plan on talking about all of this during my psych eval, but it's really been bothering me. I'm excited and want to talk to someone, but at the same time, I don't want everyone at church to know either. I know there are a lot of people who won't understand and will think I'm taking the "easy way out". Unless you've been really, seriously overweight, I don't think you can even begin to comprehend the struggle that I've been through my whole life. I'm sure many of you can understand what I'm talking about. I want to just tell everyone I'm "cutting back" and exercising, but somehow that feels like a lie. I don't lie well. At what point can I be selfish and just keep it to myself? :thumbup: