U_go_gurl68

Mommie, Congrats on your approval for surgery. The time will pass before you know it. I am guessing your husband will probably come around, especially when you don't back down and do this for you. My fiance pretended to be supportive of my surgery until about a week or two out. He suddenly became standoffish and never wanted to talk about anything related to my surgery or recovery. He was even going to pay for it, or at least he said, until right before the date came. I thought I wasn't going to be able to have my surgery, but God was on my side. I was able to get a loan against my 401k and the surgery was on as planned. The morning of my surgery, my fiance told me in not so many words that we were over, but he wanted to be the one to take me anyway. I guess he thought I would back down and give it up. I stood my ground and went through with it and ever since, he has a new respect for me and does everything he can to help me. He was very insecure and thought I would make so many changes and find someone else. I don't think those fears have totally gone away, but at least he is supportive now. He is also seeing how much hard work and discipline go into making the band work, something he thought I lacked in my other attempts to lose weight. He didn't fully understand before and somehow thought I would wake up and magically lose the weight (I wish). He is my biggest supporter now and even wants to know more about everything on a daily basis so that he can help me. I think once your husband gets more information and sees how important this is to you, he will be more supportive. I wish you all the best in your journey. Sincerely, Stephanie

brttny88, If you don't mind me asking, what are your stats? Qualifying for surgery under insurance is different than just qualifying period. There are usually strict guidelines if you are relying on insurance to cover the surgery. My BMI was lower than 40 and I wasn't a hundred pounds overweight. I also didn't have a personal significant medical history other than achy joints. My family history on the other hand is not all that great. So, although I qualified for the surgery itself, I didn't qualify under my insurance guidelines. I went the self-pay route and even went out of town for my surgery. The surgeons in my area wouldn't even do the surgery under self-pay because I didn't meet insurance criteria. So keep researching, but don't give up. It could be that you would be covered under your plan, you just need to do all the required things. Some have a requirement of following a physician supervised weight loss plan prior to seeking surgery and several other things. Best wishes, Stephanie

I think most of us have had similiar thoughts during those pre-op days, but we are doing well overall from what I have seen the past couple of months on this site. Like you, I have tried many diets and have yo-yo'd for much of my adult life, only to steadily gain more weight. Sometimes it is better to remain fat than to continue the insanity of yo-yo dieting. That is much harder on the heart than remaining big, in some cases. If you have made up your mind to have surgery, then go for it. I just think you have to be absolutely ready. It took me several years of researching the band and more failed attempts to finally make up my mind that I was ready to be healthy and happy once and for all. I knew the band was the tool I needed to succeed. Most of my eating was done for emotional reasons or out of boredom. Seldomly did I eat just because I was hungry. I figured if I wasn't able to eat much, then I couldn't just stuff my face all day and would have to come up with other ways to relieve stress and those blahs I had often. It has only been a short while since I was banded (june 30th), but I feel so much better and food is not a big factor in my life anymore. I am so loving the Banded life and I hope you will too. Best wishes, Stephanie

Hi Amy, Welcome to LBT. I hope you are enjoying reading all the posts. I can't wait to hear about your progress. Will be looking for you around the site. Best Wishes, Stephanie

You go girl!!!!! I felt so sore and bloated after my surgery, but sure felt much better when I could get my make up on.

No you can't. I wondered about the same thing, but they said NO. During the procedure they have use tape to secure your eyelids shut and the breathing tube, etc, so wearing makeup wouldn't be good. Plus there is the issue of having a sterile environment. When I woke up from surgery, before we left, I had to at least but my mineral foundation on, some mascara, and some lip gloss. I am one of those that puts on make up before doing anything else, so I know how you feel in that regard. Just wait until after surgery, then fix yourself up. It will do wonders for your spirit in making you feel better; it did for me anyway. Best wishes, Stephanie

The lunches are on the first Saturday of the month (every month) at 2pm at Aparicios in Plano, Tx. You can google it, but it is on 18th Street off of I75. Hope to see you there. Stephanie

I borrowed from my 401k for my band and I am so happy I did. Since you are relying on credit for your surgery, I would definitely find someone less expensive and go for it now. With all that you have going on, the approval process for another loan later on down the line may be even harder to get. Do it now since you already have been approved but get a cheaper price if you can, so that your payments aren't as high. Like someone else said, I had to look at this as an investment in myself and my future. I am a single parent with two teenage kids at home and I need to be around to get them out of school. Plus I want to be around to enjoy the rest of my life, outside being a mom, in good health. I figure the bills will always be there and besides, the better health I am in, the longer I can work. And in the long run save money on groceries and who knows what healthcare needs I would have if I didn't do anything. My prayers are with you. Best wishes. Stephanie

illion, I am planning on going to the Saturday meeting. This will be my first one. Saturday meetings work for me because I am about 2 hours away and I can plan a shopping trip while in the area. I can't wait to meet other bandsters in person. I don't have anyone around here to talk to personally. All my friends here are little skinny women that have never had a problem with weight in their lives.

dkearby, Hang in there. Don't let a few comments upset you or frustrate you. There is no reason why you need to wait until you are pushing 400 to get the band. I am 5'2" and weighed 206 before getting my surgery. Like another person said, I didn't look all that big either. When I told a few people I was thinking about getting it done, they said, I wouldn't qualify to get it done even self-pay, but I did and just hadn't told them. I saw where my life was headed because of my constant weight gain and family health history. I was not on any meds nor did I really have any problems, but I didn't want to wait until I had problems either. My surgeon said I was smart to take control early on because of my family's health history. I just wish I would have done it sooner. If WW, Atkins, South Beach diet, NutriSystem, and so on were the answers to our problems, I don't think hardly any of us would be here. I know, personally, I have tried all the ones I mentioned and then some. I have also tried many exercise programs and accupuncture. All were temporary because I didn't mentally change my relationship with food. Now that I don't need food to satisfy me all the time, I am a happier person. Just make sure this is something you are ready to commit to. Yes it will be hard and at times you may feel very hungry til you reach your sweet spot with fills, but in the end will be well worth it. I don't necessarily speak from a lot of experience with the band, since I haven't been banded long and haven't had a fill yet, but I know how I have felt and what others have told me. I am in my 5th week and still don't get hungry. I pretty much have to make myself eat something and when I do, I am so full on very little. I tell you, if I didn't keep a food journal, I would think I was eating like a pig, LOL!!!! Best wishes to you, Stephanie

I had my surgery on June 30th and earlier this week, I finally picked the glue off because I was tired of looking at it. Now I am not having as much itching as before, but occassionally will have a clear drainage from my port site incision. Was concerned with an infection, but doing great. I do have to watch out with my incisions though because I am a healthcare worker and my surgeon said I am at greater risk for infection and if I were to get one, it could cause early erosion of my band. So I am always scrubbing my skin when I get home from work and occassionally will clean around the site when I am at work. He said even after they healed sometimes infections could still get in. WOW!!!!

I have to commend you on your attitude towards the whole thing. My fiance wasn't for me having Lap-Band surgery. He pretended to be supportive, until a couple of weeks before my surgery. He also wanted to pay for it, at least up until he decided he wasn't for it. So at the last minute, I had to come up with the money on my own. I was not going to let his attitude about the surgery stop me, so I borrowed money from my 401k and had it in the bank in two days, which was 4 days before my procedure. (talk about luck) The morning of my surgery, he even told me he didn't think he could handle all the changes I was going to be going through. He thought I was going to immediately lose weight and move on with my life without him. He did drive me to the surgery center, since it was two hours away, after I told him I would drive myself. I guess he thought threatening to leave me would make me change my mind at the last minute. After the surgery, he hovered over me and told me he was sorry for being such a jerk. Now we are happy and he is seeing what having surgery has done for me. I am a happier person because I finally have control of my life again. Something I haven't had for some time now. I have lost 18 lbs and I feel great. Your wife is so lucky to have a supportive husband on her side. And you will see first hand how life is like with the band and may decide it is something you may like to have as well. I wish I would have done it sooner, but in any case, I wouldn't take it back for anything. I love it!!! Best wishes to both of you, Stephanie

I was banded on June 30th and even though it hasn't been all that long, I do feel more powerful than before. Now I can stop eating just about anything in a lot less bites than before. Since I am not hungry all the time, I can actually focus on other areas of my life, instead of the food. I was a big emotional eater as well, so being hungry wasn't always an issue to cause me to eat. But since my surgery, I couldn't eat very much even if I wanted to. If I even dare take one more bite than I should, my stomach hurts so much from the bloating, that I don't even dare try that again. Having the band has helped me so much. It was my 40th bday gift to myself. I proclaimed this my year to take back control of my life and this is what being banded has helped me to do. No more yo-yo dieting, no more failed attempts to lose weight, no more excuses, and no more insanity. I was my own worst enemy I think. If I didn't see quick results, I would quit and go on to something else. And when I did lose significant amounts of weight, I'd end up putting it back on and then some. I am so happy, I wish I would have done this sooner, but I guess mentally, I just wasn't ready. I wish you all the best on your weight loss journey. Stephanie

Just got Zumba videos and I have to say, I am really enjoying them. I don't feel like I am exercising at all, but can sure tell they are working me out. The workouts incorporate latin dance moves and music so you feel more like your dancing than exercising. I love them!!!!

With the cost of healthcare, food, gas, and everything else rising, think of all the money you will save in all those areas. With the band you won't be able to eat much, so you will be saving there. You won't be going to the store much for groceries, because your food will last longer since you are eating less. Your health will improve so your healthcare costs may go down and you will save money there. You will spend more of your time actually enjoying life and being healthy and in turn you will actually be saving more than money, you will be saving your life.

ivytone, Best wishes on finding money for you surgery. I was also self-pay and thought it would never happen for me. My ex-husband pretty much ruined my credit, so I couldn't get approved for financing or would get very high payments. My fiance said he would pay for it, yet the closer to surgery I got, the more he was against me having the surgery and kept giving me the run around about financing it for me. A friend of mine suggested I borrow from my 401k and that worked out just in time for my surgery. I put in the request on a Tuesday afternoon and had my money in the bank by that Thursday, which was a few days before my surgery the following Monday. I just wasn't going to give up. When it all fell into place, I knew it was meant to be. I wish you all the best. Stephanie

If you do add some weights to cause that needed weight gain and are able to get approved for surgery, just think how successful you will appear to the doc when they weigh you the day of surgery. He/She will think you did super with your pre-op diet. I pray your appointment goes well and you get approved by your insurance company. I was self-pay and borrowed the money from my 401k. I didn't even tell my primary physician about the surgery yet because she is one of those people that believes in alternative medicine and I know she wouldn't approve. Plus my insurance company would only pay for Docs doing surgery locally through the hospital where I work and since they are fairly new to this type of surgery, I didn't want to take a chance and chose someone out of network. Best wishes, Stephanie

The gas pain is very painful. I had it for almost 3 weeks and still do, if I eat something that doesn't agree with my stomach. I went through a whole box of Gas-X strips during those first couple of weeks. Make sure to walk, walk, and walk. Also using some occassional heat to that area helped me. I used a heating pad, but make sure to keep on a lower heat setting. I like high heat, but ended up with a slight burn around those delicate scar areas because of it. Unfortunately that gas pain just takes time to get rid of. I wish you all the best. Sincerely, Stephanie

I know exactly how you feel. I am a Registered Nurse on a Pediatric unit and most of the nurses are very cute and tiny. So I know all too well about feeling out of place. Also I can't wait to be able to go shopping and know that I will be able to find something cute that fits. It is so frustrating to me when I want to go out and find something nice to wear, and I spend all day shopping only to end up settling for something I didn't want because it was the only thing that really fit. I wish you all the best in getting approved for you surgery. In the meantime, please stick around. Keep us updated on your journey. We are all here waiting to cheer you on. Sincerely, Stephanie

Sounds like you do have some health problems that would normally be considered, but since you don't have any coverage for WLS and your BMI is low, you may want to consider self-pay. Is that an option for you? I had to borrow against my 401k to pay for my surgery. Like the other person said, you will have to follow a strict diet and exercise plan to be successful, but it is much easier with the band. I am not going to say you don't need the band, because I know all too well how frustrating it is to be considered "not so big" and getting bigger all the time, until one day you wake up unhealthy and fatter than you've ever been and wondering how you got there. I hope you find the way to finance your surgery if you decide to have it done. Just make sure you are READY. Lap-band surgery, unlike everything else, is not something you just try. You have to be committed for it to work. Best Wishes, Stephanie

I also researched WLS for several years before taking the plunge. I realized no matter what diet or exercise program I tried, I couldn't do it alone. I was so fed up with yo-yo dieting and had to take a really hard look at myself and my reason for failure. Everything was about my inability to control my food intake. I ate because of boredom, depression, for nourishment, for celebration, for getting angry, for just about everything. I felt like I was eating all the time. Most of the time, it wasn't due to actually being hungry. I hated myself because food had more control over me, then I had over anything and everything in my life. All of the ups and downs were affecting all aspects of my life. I was so tired from all the sugar ups and downs. I felt lazy. I was emotional. I was just a downright MESS. Several months ago, I decided it was time to take control of my life and this DEMON that was causing so much trouble. I had my surgery on June 30th and I turned 40 on July 9th. I feel so much better about myself and my future. I am very hopeful and happy about the life I have ahead of me. I borrowed from my 401k to fund my surgery and I have to say, it is the best investment I could have made because it was one I made in myself. I wish you all the best on your Quest for good health and happiness. Sincerely, Stephanie

Michele, Congrats on your awesome weight loss. You are doing great. Best wishes, Stephanie