chickiepickle

HI! I am Krista - I am 29 3/4 years old, fat my entire life, and just today called my new insurance and found out they have a morbid obesity clause. Yay! I have been researching the Band for 3 years, and i think I am as prepared as i can get without knowing the results post-op. I am running into a "schroedinger's cat" wall. :thumbup: So i am at the very beginning. i have, as we all have, dieted and exercised in the past. I was diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome when I was 16 after starting puberty, gaining a ton of weight (without eating more), periods that would not stop and having severe pain. When I was 19 a dermoid cyst ruptured and I felt as though my appendix had burst or something (i presume - never had appendix problems before). I tried a nutritionist when i was 14 and again at 16, Atkins when it was popular, spent 9 months at a gym 3-5 days a week at least 1 hour a day, gave up fast food entirely for 6 months, never got into drinking sugary beverages or sodas (i m a Water and iced tea girl at heart), and I even went on Phase 1 South beach Diet for 6 straight weeks, no flubs, and did not lose a single pound. Although i did not lose weight, the SBD let me get pregnant and I had my first child :tt2:. I tried South Beach Diet again after my son was 8 months old and within months I was pregnant again (but, again, no weight loss). My second boy is 3 1/2 now. From the time I was 23 till now (nearly 7 years) i have gained no weight, nor have i lost any. My body seems content to be 5'5" and 280 lbs. As far as I am aware I do not have an eating problem or disorder. My appetite fluxuates from nonchalant about food to always hungry but even when always hungry i try to keep it modest. I have been known to eat when bored, but when I do I am also so bored i am pacing and i go for a walk so not sure if it balances out... I did not even gain or lose when I was pregnant! I was back to my weight within a month after giving birth despite breastfeeding and healthier eating. Can you imagine my frustration?!? Tomorrow I make an appointment with my PCP for a physical and a long talk about bariatric surgery. I am apprehensive - I know that I respond well to physical cues, and if I get ill by eating bread I will no longer eat bread (south beach was SO HARD to do because of that) and by that I know the Band will help me out. I am very good at avoiding things that hurt me! I do understand it is a tool and I plan to use that tool to my advantage. But I wonder - if diets and exercise have so far been complete failures (I mean come on - 9 months at a gym without losing weight or inches?!?! South Beach Diet phase 1 without losing a pound?!?:drool:) can i expect to have no results with the band? Or is the band exactly what I need? Also - will my PCP be in favor of the band or against it? What hoops must I jump through? Can anyone tell me if they have United Healthcare (i know all plans are different but still) and who a good surgeon is? i am scared, and hopeful, and excited...so i am here for advice, support, and a smack about the noggin if i do something stupid. It;s nice to meet you all!!:cool2:

Hi! I am pre-band, WAY pre-band. I want to know who you went to and your experience. Anything - who your PCP is and who your surgeon was, how long it took from start to finish...I know that it is different for everyone but I want to be ready for anything! Thanks!! krista

Thanks everyone! I went to my PCP and talked about it and because I have done lots of stuff for myself in the past with no results - not under doctor supervision - I agreed to one more try with portion-control, diet and exercise. He says if i don't lose anything or less than a pound a week, we will reevaluate my status in a couple of months. I think that is a healthy way to go - I still think the band will help me long-term, but i think proving to the doc that i can't do it alone will help more. I really like my PCP and I am willing to do this for him! Funny thing - I was hoping to get approved for the band next year so i could save in my medical savings account for the surgery copay and stuff - seems to be working out well!

awwww, shucks. i am glad you are doing what is right for you and are able to make the decision for yourself. How did you come to the conclusion that it wasn't right for you? I read it earlier...but I don't want to go searching through posts for it. Could you email me? My email ought to be available to the public...on my profile... I am in the medical profession (albeit for animals because I could never work medically with people LOL) and I know all about complications and the like. Daily I educate people about surgical complications and stuff so it's second nature. If i ever get to the surgical point...I wanna stay awake and watch! I know it's not possible but still... I am kinda wanting to do the band because i walk into a room, kneel down to talk about the pet's condition, and the clients get up to offer me their chair!! I'm only 29!! I can handle kneeling down ad getting back up to talk to clients and pet dogs!! *sigh* oy. But that's why I am here. I go on. Off to bed. - krista

dude - I hope you are joking. :tongue: I have read every single post on the thread, and lots of horror story posts on other boards. I have even been on 2 lapband blogs for 3 years so I can get an accurate representation of life with a band. I want to be 100% sure that this is what i want and I will be accepting of the consequences when I choose to be banded. I can't imagine ever NOT researching and seeing all the negatives as well as the positives... krista

Good luck!! You are in my thoughts and prayers too! Just imagine...the shake is a lifeline. If you can do this, you can do anything. People are so resilient that you will get through this and come out on the other side smelling of roses! Sweet, skinny roses! :tongue:

LOL this is awesome. i have not been banded but i am hopeful that i can experience this!! I respond very well to crap like this and i can SO lose weight if i have to deal with this!!! Funny - you are miserable as all heck and I can't WAIT to be as miserable as you!

you know, over the last 3 years that i have been researching the band, my husband has never once said he did not want me to do it. But when I told him our insurance has a clause and there is a slim chance i might be able to have the surgery...he is balking on being supportive. Because...wait for it...if it doesn't work, we are out a lot of money. I can understand his POV (he was recently unemployed for 2 years and we finally have the job that will get us out of debt for good). And he and i have an amazing ability to communicate honestly and not hold anything back. I know this is just his first impression and he will come around (he always has the wrong impulse first) but can you imagine?!?! It doesn't help that because of my PCOS I am concerned that it won't work for me...but I am willing to give it a fantastic try and enjoy the beautiful results!! -krista

OMG - seriously?!?! I would be so lucky!!! My BMI (according to the generic calcs) is 47!! ((but my wrists, fat-free as all wrists are, are extremely thick - 7 1/2 inches!!)) And I am looking into seminars around here so I can get that under my belt (tho not sure if they can tell me anything i don't already know...heh heh...being in lapband groups and researching it for 3 years and all...). On obesityhelp.com I did not see and Colo Springs surgeons but I am here in the Springs too! My PCP is Dr Yoesel at the briargate medical campus. He's been great in the past and I hope he will understand about this. I am very timid, especially about bariatric surgery. Just admitting that I have looked into it is something that I feel so bad about - like I am giving up on myself. But I am going to be 30 in December and dangit - I want a better life! Why get older if you can't enjoy it? I need to be strong. My appointment is Monday morning at 9am!!! I was told that if they will cover me, my insurance covers 80% with a $300 deductible. For a $15k surgery I think it's $3k i would have to pay. pretty sure I can get that paid off in a year! -Krista

If i ever end up getting the surgery, I will also keep the surgery on the down-low. Not that I would not get any negative feedback (i honestly have no idea) but I don't really want them to badger me with high expectations if I don't lose as fast as they want me to or if I want ice cream one night for a rare treat. If i lose weight, it will likely come up but I don't want to deal with that at this time. I tend to be dedicated to something as long as I am the only one who knows!! As soon as I tell people, I lose interest. But this is all speculative - I JUST found out that my new insurance has a morbid obesity clause and I MIGHT be able to jump through the necessary hoops. I have been researching the band and everything about it for 3 years now. I am pretty darn sure i want it, I just need to make sure it is right for me. -Krista