RestlessMonkey

Join Weight Watchers! Seriously, they have a good solid program. Most people lose their first 10% in about 12 weeks. I don't know how much you have to lose but you should be able to do it IF you follow the plan properly.

It's really important to follow your surgeon's diet, as I am sure you know! You have to do liquids after the diet...each surgeon is different but mine requires 2 weeks post op to allow the band to heal! I'm sure you can tough it out...it's for your health benefit! So hang in there but pass on the pizza or anything not on your approved list! :thumbup: You'll be so glad you did!

I wish I could help you but I didn't even know there was an "obesity law" or that it was a specialty.

Welcome! No insurance advice (although there are bandsters here who use the same ins; hopefully they'll see your post and help you out, or you can put BCBS of IL in search bar) BUT I wanted to say glad to see you here!

I don't know if you're the only one but if it is acid reflux it is vital that you treat it or you can literally erode your esophagus! If the prevacid didn't help it, go get some taken out of your band. Once your symptoms resolve and you heal, you can get another fill if your doc says ok!

OK! Better to be scared of the surgery for you than to be a 50's icon! LOL My DH is an RN and was against ALL WL surgery (he's seen too many horror stories) but was much relieved once he went to the seminar and got to meet the doc etc. So good luck! Let us know how it goes!

SORRY! LOL computer's fault, not mine! I swear! ANYWAY What's the name of your ins? Have you dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's? Have you met all their requirements? If so, you're good to go! Good luck to you!

Good luck! wHAT

My doc required EAS Carb Control AdvantEDGE shakes and the 2 chocolate ones are fine. Shake WELL though...I mean, it's a diet shake you know? I'd never order it in a restaurant LOL It gets you through, anyway

Welcome. I'm only 8 days post op but I think this may be one of the smartest things I've ever done for myself.

Deb I don't know if I could say it any better LOL LOL

Did he say WHY he wanted your DH to go to a psych doc? And fyi...like any professional...you need to find one you like, one who works for you. It's like a hairdresser...one or two bad hair cuts shouldn't put you off all of them! Just keep looking until you find a fit! I personally went to 10 months behavioral therapy on my own before I even thought of getting the band, and it was very very helpful.

Wow sounds like your psych eval let you down! But you are triumphant anyway! This isn't a horror story, it's a success story, in my book!

Surgery! I'm having it. Lots of it when I lose enough!

Good for you CProctor. I didn't have my surgery date until my ins was approved! I love the band!

Jackie you are a grown up so I won't fuss any further...except to tell you all it takes is once to pull your stitches loose. Your stomach will work to digest one egg or 12. Doesn't matter to it...it's going to go to town on it. And...honestly I've lost 9 pounds in the last week, plus the 14 I put on during surgery day. Down 41.4 pre and post op. I probably started higher than you (not many bandsters weigh as much as me...I think at my weight most go for bypass not sure) Hang in there. It's hard, but so worth it!

Loper...right now it really isn't "able" to, it's "should" Man I don't want to sound like the band police (I held a can of refried beans yesterday and cried, to be honest, but I didn't open them) but your stomach needs to heal and when it digests (mushies, real food, etc) it CHURNS like a little washer. That can rip out where your band is sewn into place and while you may not feel anything now, down the road you'll suffer slippage and/or erosion and wonder why. Please try to tough it out and follow your doc's diet. It's hard, we all know! But there's a reason why... You'll get through and be proud and your band will heal like it should!

Good for you. advocate for yourself!

Thanks. I personally can't believe that I'm looking forward to getting a 1/2 cup of applesauce on friday (mushie day) that's just wrong. LOL but you are right. I want food. They tell me...have jello..well YUCK! I would kill for a 3 oz portion of baked fish. really. I'm with you. let's start a union.

LOL you know that's not REALLY why, don't you?

Thanks Becky I'm feeling marvelous! I've lost just over 10% of my start weight, I'm over half-way through "bandster hell" (I get mushies on your surgery day! I'll have some applesauce in your honor LOL) I love my band, I'm healing wonderfully. I know you'll do great as well!

Part of this only you can answer. You can eat around the band by drinking milkshakes, eating Cookies, eating candy. You can eat around the band by grazing, constantly eating little bits of stuff. The band works if you (once you're healed etc) eat 3 meals a day. My doc says NO Snacks EVER!! (caps are his LOL) some let you have a healthy snack. You have to get your head around that way of eating, and plan on having cookies occasionally for Christmas say, or cake only on your birthday... The upside...those 3 meals, once your band is adjusted (and that may take a bit of patience to find the right spot) you will be full, and stay full, for 3-5 hours. You have to handle the "head" or emotional hunger. The band will take care of "physiologic" hunger. Once you're ready for that, have your mom watch the kids and take your DH. Get some statistics on how many diets fail (95%, isn't it?) Get some statistics on how likely you are, at 90 + overweight, to develop things like diabetes II. If he things fat people lack willpower, he needs an education. That is 1950's-1960's thinking. I have great self esteem and the willpower of a power station LOL Obesity is a disease, not a character flaw. If after the seminar, he still is prissy, but you feel you can handle the head hunger, go ahead and get the band, or at least start the process. In the end, while I'm a firm believer in a team effort, it's your life. not his, not your mom's. You know what you can and can't do better than either of them. The band isn't "the easy way"...it's hard hard work. But if you work it, it will help you drop the pounds. When you are ready, whether they are on board or not, go for it.

MissBS I'll be thinking of you! Is your date next Fri?

I just want to say KUDOS! to those of you who have stuck to a severe preop diet while your family eats as usual around you. Mine was hard as heck and my wonderful DH ate what I could eat. He had pizza once I was a few days post op and feeling good about everything. If he had eaten in front of me I'd probably be a headline right now...postal wouldn't even describe it! So good for you all! You're darned impressive!

Just FYI I remember the mask they were putting on me as I went off to lala land, and I remember the mask as I came to post op in recovery. If you have major surgery and are "out", you are intubated. They have to do it, as far as I know. They paralyze you so you don't move while they are operating, and since you are paralyzed, the machine breathes for you. And trust me you don't want to be moving when they are "inside" you with a sharp instrument!