Ditkadog1

I had my first appointment with my GP on Oct. 1. Because of my insurance I have many hoops to jump through in order to have the surgery covered. So far I have gone to a seminar explaing both lap-band and RN-Y, met with a dietician (with another appointment scheduled for January), signed up for some phone life coaching thing, and met with 2 psychologists. Psych #1 said I had emotional eating issues that she wants taken care of by psych #2 before I have surgery. I now have 3 more appts. with psych #2 in the next month and a half. I still have to meet with a physical therapist (missed first scheduled appt due to a freaking root canal), and lose 12.5 pounds by April 13. Anyway, I am starting to get cold feet about doing all this. I LOVE food! I have tried to make dietary adjustments suggested by the dietician, and did well for the first 2 weeks, but now I am falling back into old eating habits. If I can't stick with the diet plans that they are suggesting to me now, how am I going to do it after surgery? I am sure as hell not going to go through all this nonsense (using a boatload of my already limited sick days) and not be able to lose the weight!! I don't want to sound like a Negative Nelly and I know the surgery isn't a "magic bullet" but will the surgery work if I am already having so many issues with my diet? I was so ready to have this done 3 months ago when I started making appointments and talking to the doctors but now I am really questioning whether I can do it or not. HELP!

Thanks for the support. I guess what's bothering me the most is the fact that they expect me to lose weight before surgery. If I had the ability to do that I wouldn't need the freaking surgery!! If one more person tells me surgery isn't a "magic bullet" to weight loss I am going to lose it! I just want to make sure that if I go through with all this it won't be a waste of time and money.

I would start with a call to your insurance carrier. I called mine, and despite what a lot of people have said here, I HAVE to lose 5% of my total weight in 6-12 months or they will deny coverage for the surgery. I went for my initial consult with my PCP and they had a form to send in to the insurance co that gave them my current (starting) weight and that's the weight they will use to determine coverage after 6 months. Each insurance is different and you don't want to get too far into this process and find out that you missed one little detail that your coverage requires. It would suck to jump through a bunch of hoops and then in 6 months find out you have to start over! Good luck!!

I have been lucky because my husband supports me. Although if he didn't, he knows with my bull headed tendencies I would just do it anyway so why fight me on it. However, I am in that same boat with my mom. Whenever I try to talk about it, she changes the subject. Ironically, she was 100% behind my sister this spring when she decided to have surgery to get new boobs. I think it's just that mind set of some people who believe having weight loss surgery is the "easy way out," which is so far from the truth. If you truly believe the lap band is the one thing that is going to help you get healthy and you are comfortable with your decision, don't let your husband, or anyone else, tell you otherwise. Just be honest with yourself and you will be fine.

So, I have been debating with myself over having lap band done on and off for about 2 years. Two weeks ago I finally decided it was the right choice for me. I called my PCP and made an appointment with him (I go tomorrow for that meeting) and have already registered for the 2 hour seminar at the Bariatric Surgery center here. I am VERY happy with my decision and know this is the only way I am going to get my life back. I waited until this weekend to tell people about my decision and I am getting less than positive responses in all directions. A friend I have had almost my entire life started questioning what I had done to try to lose weight in the past and offering me all these crazy diets and crap to try. She has been a twig most of her life and when she needs to lose a few pounds she has no problem doing so. I told my mom and I could tell she wasn't happy about my choice. She didn't come right out and say it, she just didn't really say anything. I am lucky that my husband is supporting me 150%! He knows I didn't just jump into this decision and I am doing all the necessary research, etc, to prepare myself for life before and after the procedure. I am just at a loss as far as dealing with people who don't understand why I am choosing to do this. I don't think I should have to explain myself and my decision to anyone, but there are those out there making me feel like an explanation is required. Has anyone else had experiences like this or am I just overreacting?

I saw my primary care physician yesterday and it went quite well (except for the part where I weight 7 pounds more than I thought I did). They told me that once they have all his diction (?) was completed in a couple of days they would send the request to my insurance company to get some checklist of hoops I have to jump through for the next 6 months. I go for the 2 hour seminar next week and turn in all my paperwork for the surgeon at that time. I am so excited!! I hope these next 6 months fly by!!! :w00t:

Hi! My name is Carrie and I just made my first appointment for a consult with my PCP. I have been tossing around the idea of having lap band surgery done for a year or 2 but each time talked myself out of it. I have a hard time admitting I need, and asking for, help. Just calling the PCP was a big step for me. I have so many questions for all of you and look forward to hearing real experiences from those who have been there. So long as I am posting, I really want to know about drinking soda after surgery. I am a Diet Coke-aholic and the thought of not being able to have it makes me extremely nervous (seriously, this would be enough for me to scrap the whole idea). The only time in my adult life I was able to be even remotely caffeine-free was during both of me pregnancies and even then I had a full-leaded Diet Coke with Breakfast and then drank de-caf Diet Coke the rest of the day. If I have to give that up I think it could make for a very long de-tox for me, and my family.

Way to go!!!!

I have Health Alliance through the State of Illinois and it actually spells out the 6 month pre-op diet. I have to lose 5% of my total weight in 6 months in order for them to approve the surgery (obviously with all the other requirements that go along with that approval). For me that means losing about 12 pounds. That 12 pounds would also take me under the required BMI of 40, but they said that didn't matter because they go on your weight when you first start the process. I am so glad to hear so many of you saying the 6 months pre-op go by quickly! I am scheduled to see my primary care doc tomorrow and start the journey to being healthy and thin! The quicker these next 6 months go by the happier I am going to be!!

First of all, wow! I am so sorry you have to go through this. Secondly, I agree with what everyone here has already said. You were going to have the surgery prior to this drama, so don't let it stop you. Also, your kids are going to need you to be healthy and strong for them and losing excess weight can only help you accomplish this. Finally, do it now so that by the time you are divorced and ready to move on in a new relationship you will be one hot mama and have guys beating down the door to take you out. Talk about the ultimate revenge on your husband and sister! :thumbdown: No matter what, you have to do what's right for you, emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Well, it sounds like I can put the Diet Coke worries to rest (at least from what all of you have said). Whew! I called today and registered for the 2 hour seminar on October 9. They had me print about 16 or 17 pages of paperwork to fill out. Got that all taken care of. I am hoping to get as much done as I can now so I can do the six months of pre-op insurance requirements and be ready to go right into the surgery. If all goes as planned in my little brain, I will be ready some time in March. I know that's a lofty goal but my sister is getting married at Disney World at the beginning of August and I want to be healed and ready to travel well before that. Plus, I want to be able to buy a new, smaller size, dress to wear to that wedding!! :smile2:

Welcome, Keith! I, too, am new to the site (I think I have been in here for whole days) and have my first appointment with my PCP to simply get the ball rolling on this journey. I have already found that everyone here is so completely kind and supportive. Good luck to you on this journey.

Since you all seem to have such wonderful answers, I have another quick question. I read through my insurance requirements for having the surgery covered (it's Health Alliance in case anyone has personal experience with them), and it says you have to be at a BMI of 40 or greater to even qualify for surgery. Then it has all these other hoops you have to jump through including losing 5% of your weight (which for me would be about 12 pounds). My BMI is just over 40 at this point and if I lose 12 pounds it drops to just over 39. Are they still going to approve me for the procedure? I have no problem doing all the things I need to do in order for the insurance to cover it, I just want to make sure I don't do everything they ask and then they say I no longer weigh enough and they aren't going to cover it.

I am so excited at the thought of losing weight, feeling great and getting healthy. However I am so afraid of the awful caffeine headaches I am sure to get if I have to go without Diet Coke after surgery. I guess now is as good a time as any to think about weaning myself off so I have plenty of time to get used to it. Ugh!