Kellster

I'm sure there are exceptions to every rule, and extenuating circumstances do occur, but the one constant I find again and again - to be successful with the band, follow the guidelines! I hope and pray that I do not encounter any problems down the road when I get banded, but you can bet your life that I will be following every guideline, and taking the advice that I learn on here and putting it to good use. But it's good to know that if (God forbid) any complications arise - LB is totally removable! That's a big reason I'm doing this surgery instead of any others. Try that with bypass, it won't work so well... Troll or not, I'm getting banded no matter what it takes!!! :thumbup:

Again, I apologize, sincerely. However, if I were to live my life in the effort to always be PC and not offend a single soul, I would be mute.

Well I apologize for offending you.

I went to my first OA meeting today mostly in support of my roommate, but I mean hey - I'm getting banded - why not?? Strangely enough I didn't feel like I fit in... but I was totally honest about why I was there and it seemed like the rest of the group kind of glossed over the surgery. My dad has been a sober alcoholic for 20 years, so I understand how powerful the 12 steps can be. But I'm still wary about the band + OA.

Re-re is a Kellyism for me being special. :party:

Hi Pauline and welcome! Good luck - a little more than a week left!

I've seen somewhere else on here that silica supplements (aka silicon compound, silica extract, etc) helps with skin and hair and can be beneficial to the extra skin issue, but I haven't had a chance to talk with my doctor about it. Anyone have any info on this?

Well it's been about a month since I started thinking about LB, and a couple weeks since I really got serious about it and started my journey (hoping to get banded 3/09). I have to admit - I have succumbed to the "last supper" syndrome and have been letting myself eat more than I usually would because I am feeling like I "can't" or "won't be able to" eat this stuff after the band. Even worse is that it was my birthday last week so perfect excuse for dinners out and cake (yummmm) :cool2:. The best part is that I've been boozin it up too, and I can tell, my ankles are swollen like sausages (I'm sure my hormones are helping with the swelling too). I love love LOVE beer and wine but know how many dang calories are in there. :laugh: In any case - NO MORE LAST SUPPER! What the heck is wrong with me? I'll just have to lose MORE weight if I keep eating like this... So yeah, no more, I am back to eating healthy and will go to the gym twice this week, dangit! *sigh* It sounds weird - but I can't wait for the psychologist. I don't have what I consider "serious" eating issues, but obviously I have some challenges with control, etc. and would like to get started on those mental/emotional things while I prepare to get the physical tool to help me lose weight once and for all. I know I'm not crazy - any tips on how to stay away from last supper dilemmas? :thumbup:

Hey everyone! I have been hearing here and there about some insurance companies excluding LB when you switch to a new insurance co because it was to treat a "pre-existing" condition. Does anyone know if Aetna does this? Did anyone switch to Aetna and then have LB? I'm currently with Blue Shield HMO and have started the process, the six-month diet, etc. and my PCP knows I'm switching to Aetna due to work. I'm worried that I'll be doing my part and then when I apply to Aetna to approve it, that they'll deny me based on the pre-existing... However, my BMI is 50 according to one calculator, but without any serious comorbities (yet!!). I could lose 50 pounds and still qualify... Help!

Yay, welcome Andrew! I just started the process toward banding, and your story is motivating to me. I am over 300lbs but have no comorbities really, blood pressure/cholesterol/blood sugar has always been normal and healthy. My joints are iffy but that's hereditary and due to sports as a kid. It's great to hear of your success! And your approval too... I have Aetna and am kinda worried about the approval process. Any suggestions?? Again, welcome - this is a great site with so much info and support!

My roomie is considering LB through Kaiser So-Cal, but has a lower BMI (38 I think) and a couple comorbities. She saw her PCP last week, but it was an unsuccessful visit as her PCP was not a fan of LB or any bariatric surgery at all. However, she did mention that Kaiser So-Cal recently approved LB as a surgery, but that it takes a lot to be able to have it done. Good luck with your PCP, and be stubborn - it's your right to pursue anything that will help your health! I know my roommate is frustrated, luckily our work is changing insurances at the end of the year so there is some hope for her, but man I just wish she didn't have Kaiser right now. :thumbdown:

I would try exercise for sure, it helps rev up your metabolism to burn more calories and increase your resting metabolic rate so you burn more even if you're just sitting down (the added muscle will help with that too). Plus, in the past (I haven't been banded yet, FYI) I found that the amount of weight I lost was directly proportional to the amount of Water I drank. The more water I drank - the more the pounds flew off. If only I had been able to keep losing, but I look forward to getting banded and having a tool to help me get the weight off and keep it off! Good luck and congrats on your success thus far! :thumbdown:

Rock on! Congrats on your journey - it will be worth it!

Well if it turns out you aren't PG (and from your response I'm assuming you don't want to be...), then I recommend the Nuvaring birth control. I forget to take b/c pills and so it's nice to have something doin the work for me even when I forget. Plus, it's lower dosage and higher success rate. Good luck, with whatever happens!

Hey you started your new journey on my birthday, so we kinda have the same birthday now!! :smile: Congratulations and welcome! It's great to see someone close to my age who has a lot to lose (like I do) and has already started on their journey. I've found a lot of info and support in this forum so far, and I am still working toward getting banded myself. I especially liked the forums for people in their twenties, and the one for how much weight you have to lose. It was comforting knowing that these people were coming from where I am at and that they were facing issues that I have concerns about. Again, welcome and WOOHOO!

Hey all - I just want to say howdy and THANK YOU for your sharing and updates, it gives me constant hope and inspiration and confirmation that I am on the right path. Seeing folks with lower BMIs and less weight to lose has been frustrating. I have yo-yo'd up and down a few times but feel that the large amount of weight that I have to lose is pretty much impossible - until I learned about LB!!! And now knowing there's a group for people of my size on this journey, I feel even better. Yes, it took me a while to figure out that this group was here, but hey... I'm just special sometimes I guess. In any case, I want to say "Hi!!!" You will be hearing from me now and again for sure, as I get closer to surgery and afterward of course. Congrats to all that have had such great success, I can't wait til it's me telling those stories! :biggrin:

Just as a statistics-lover, I wanted to find out how many people got banded via private pay or were covered by insurance?

Hey Labby! I'm starting right about now too, it'll be fun to see how we progress toward surgery (I can't wait!!!) and see how our lives change. I too have a bit less than 200lbs to lose, I love sports and I miss them terribly! Volleyball and spandex shorts, watch out - I'm comin back for you! Woohoo!

Hahahahahahahaha! I love it - I am SO glad that I am not the only anal-retentive person on this site. Grammatical and spelling errors drive me NUTS! I even catch typos in printed books... I think it's a sickness. Although, I am a comma freak, I LOVE commas and I totally overuse them. :biggrin: It takes a lot of trees (some of them with missing branches) to make a beautiful forest, right?

Yeah I'm so glad this is here! It's nice to know that extra skin happens to us younger folks, because at least now I'm prepared for it. I have a big tummy so I'm expecting some loose skin, especially in the lower tummy. But I love working out and will follow every tip to the T! Repeat question though - did anyone get any info about the silicon supplements? I have fine hair anyway so it'd be good to start those supplements before I get banded and prepare my skin... I'll ask my doc when I go in for my monthly visit, but just thought I'd ask again on here. But man - I'd rather have some saggy skin and be able to fit into a rollercoaster seat comfortably!

It's great to hear from some folks in my age range! I just turned 28 and I feel quite young on this site. I'm excited to move forward toward surgery, and I'm super excited that I'm doing it now and not waiting til later. Just imagine what the rest of our lives are going to be like after losing weight and getting healthy!!

Howdy - There might be a support group at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. I am at the beginning of my LB journey and my doctor works with the Bariatric Group at Huntington so I'm sure that's where I'll end up! I was contemplating Cedars Sinai but we shall see... In any case to answer your question, I think they have a support group @ Huntington, but I'm not sure when. If you find out let me know!!

I would definitely do Cobra so you can keep the approval and insurance coverage. It's expensive to do Cobra but I'm sure it's a lot less than paying for the LB yourself!!

Of all the mean comments and rude looks and skinny girls complaining about being a size 5... The comment that hurts me the most is actually veiled as a compliment. "Oh wow, you have such a beautiful/pretty/gorgeous face!!" To them - they are telling me I'm pretty. To me - they are saying that only my face is beautiful. Honestly, I can't wait to be healthy and in-shape and have someone tell me I'm beautiful - unequivocally, not just my face!!! P.S. I always say thank you, because I know it's still a compliment, even if I hate the way I interpret it.