avanderhoof

I haven't been banded yet, my sceduled date is Feb 11 (only 3 days away woo hoo!) but I am wondering who started over 300 pounds and have you hit the 100's yet? How long did it take? I started my pre op liquid diet at 329, I went it for a check up 1 week in and was down to 320. I hope to be at 315 on Wednesday. Just looking for some inspiring stories because at this point even 199 looks so far away.

Took me 14 days to find out that I was approved. I have UHC and a "board" has to review it.

I am in Missouri and not on BCBS, but I did have the pysc test. Mine was a 45 minute paper test that asked about emotional eatings, addictions, and previous weight loss mainly. After that I had to sit down and talk with the doctor for about an hour about what to expect and how I will handle the emotional part of losing weight.

I have UHC as well, but I have a HUGE group plan. I work for JP Morgan Chase. Our policy is amazing and they don't require the 5 year documents. With that said, I did submit weight history just in case. I had very sparatic history since I don't vist the Dr. regularly and it was still approved. I think that it varies per group plan what exactly is required, and also what board reviews your paperwork. It seems crappy, but it seems as there aren't a black and white set of rules to get approval.

I had a sister with CP, I understand your need for insurance. With you currently unemployed would you quailfy for state healthcare? I am in Missouri and al kids quailify if the parents are without employment or don't have an insurance plan available at work. I also know that when I attended the seminar at my clinc they said MO Medicaid would pay for the surgery. Maybe you could get on state insurance while you are on unemloyment. This is a hard time to be unemployed and I am so sorry that it happened to you in the middle of your band journey.

:thumbup: I thought my husband was the only one with that first thought. Nothing about complications, nothing about will power and making right choices for life, nothing about the cost, just what about my boob. I must admit at a 46 GG I am kind of looking forward to losing some. I just want them lifted back up since I won't have a belly to rest them on.

Wow...that is amazing. Good for you! How much are you working out?

I hear you on this one. I am a 25 year old mother of 3. Obviously at some point I enjoyed sex , but right now I HATE it. For me it is mostly my self esteem. I hate the way I look, and hate for anyone (even my partner of 6 years) to see me nude. While I am so worried about my looks, if my fat is thumping around, my boobs are up around my neck, ect. I just can't focus on being in the mood. My partner has become more and more upset about this and is getting angry about the 6 week spans we go without being intimate. I hope that after losing some weight and seeing what I CAN do with my body I will have more self esteem and this will resolve itself. Have you considered if yours could be a similar issue?

Yuck, but thanks for the answer! I wasn't told about that. I'll make sure to remember that one when I feel like woofing my food down.

I have been on here only one day, and feel like I have asked so many questions. In looking through the post op forum I notice a lot of questions about pb'ing. What does that mean? :thumbdown: I guess I don't know everything about post op complications.

I went to a theme park with my kids, and couldn't get fit in the seat of a ride. I decided that day to have the surgery, I called my insurance company that Monday to find out if they covered it. I attened a seminar the next week, filled out my paperwork and had my first appointment the end of that same month. From the day I decided until my surgery (Wed, Feb 11) it was less than 4 months!

Anyone else on here that has had, or is scheduled to be banded in Springfield? If so, who was/is your surgeon? Have you found a support group locally?

Hal and others, I am with you! I am currently on the Pre-Op journey, and it does stink. I am sure that many more trying times will be to come. I honestly have spent the last 4 months trying to accept my body and my health just wishing to be happy with my body so that I don't HAVE to do this. It comes down to this (for me): I have to lose the weight or I will die If doesn't matter if I am "okay" with being a size 24 and weighing in at 329 pounds I am still unhealthy My kids are the main people suffering with my wieght and I can't parent with my full potential at this weight and in my health. Those are the things I tell myself everytime I think about quitting and just accepting my obesity. I am sure that you will make the right decision for yourself. You have the support here if you need it!

The surgery coordinator at my doctor's office said that I would need it also, but I only had something from 6 years ago and then I skipped a few years, and then one more, and then a skipped year and the current time. Since I have no co-morbidities I just go to the doctor regularly. It wasn't an issue with my insurance approval so I don't think there is a "set" number or wiegh ins that you need.

I get banded on Wednesday too! Good luck!

Did anyone else have this terrible side effect? I am only the 5th patient at my surgeons office to have the surgery so they were "unaware" of that complication. I ended up dehydrated, getting IV fluids and moved to a clear liquid fast. It just amazing me that they didn't know this could happen. I had blood work ran to see if it was virus/bacterial infection of some sort, but everything came back clear. Just wondering who else had this problem, and what they did to overcome it. I tired over the counter meds and fiber additives but it didn't help.

This is what I tell myself when I get nervous about the liquids after the band since the pre-op diet sucks so bad!

I too will be banded on Wednesday! I was on a 14 day Optifast diet, but it made me horrible ill. I lasted 4 days on it and then I had the worst diarreha of my life (TMI...sorry) anyhow, the doctor then moved me to clear liquid for 2 days, then to low fat, low carb for 2 days, and then back to clear liquid the last 5 days. I am DYING! I'm not sure who can survive on chicken stock, popsicles, fat free sugar free pudding, and water but it is not this fat chick. I can't wait for this to be over. I never figured I would say this, but I can't wait to eat over cooked broccoli and oatmeal. I have cheated a bit by eating 3 pieces of pepperoni off my kids' pizza and 3 cheetos in the last 2 days but overall I think I will be fine....I hope!