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I'm afraid I have to disagree with you just a bit ... they don't know you best, YOU KNOW YOU BEST. Do what YOU think is best for you, trust yourself. Remember you're talking about the rest of YOUR life, not theirs. Good luck to you on your journey! ~Fran

Your insurance doesn't cover psch care? If it does, you should only have to pay the co-pay. I would check with my insurance carrier to be sure. If your ins does not cover psych care, I would look for a cheaper psych. Because I wanted to be certain I was having the surgery for the right reasons so that I would have a better chance at success, I started seeing my therapist (an obesity specialist) 8 months before my surgery (and continue to see her 18 months after my surgery), many people only go in for the required psych eval. Geezzz $500!?!? Sometimes this can be such a racket. As for your BMI history, I wouldn't think that your past BMI of 35 should be an issue but, take a look at the surgery requirements that your insurance lays out. I have BCBS and read through the rather long, but informative info on their website. All the best to you! ~Fran

So sorry to hear about your band slipping, Tracy. I hope your revision goes well and you are back on track in no time. BTW, how are your students reacting to your weight loss these days? I remember months ago when you told a couple of really cute stories about them. LOL I worry a little about slipping because lately I have had food come back up more frequently. I know it is because I do not stop when I should, but 4 bites of something that tastes really good makes it hard to stop. When you say you started vomiting, was it like vomiting when you are sick or just food coming up because you ate more than your pouch could handle (like I do)? I am working hard to stop before I am too full. Some days I am okay, others ... not so much. Again, the best of luck to you on your revision. ~Fran

CONGRATULATIONS on your decision! Be sure to read, research and ask questions. This forum is great! I would also suggest that, if possible, see the therapist regularly before having the surgery. With the negativity you are living with you will need re-enforcement to get through this and succeed. About this quote: "He told me that I'm not committed. That nothing was going to change except that I would have wasted a bunch of money and have something around my stomach. He says that I will get even lazier than I am now because of the less calories. He said a lot of other stuff that I can't really remember because I was so upset at that point. I spent the rest of the night crying while he went to sleep..." I have a (or a couple of) question(s): Would somone that loves you EVER say something so hurtful and demeaning? Three years IS a long time (for someone young ...for me it's just a blink of the eye -- but I'm ooooolllllddd ... LOL), but how much longer are you willing to allow someone (and it could be anyone) beat you up emotionally? Is that really love? Would you REALLY miss being treated in this manner, if you said goodbye? And, if you would miss this (and I can't say that I don't understand, cuz I do), then you really should spend time with a therapist so that you can learn about your worth as a person -- NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WEIGH. I wish you the best. Please take good care of yourself and keep us posted on your progress. ~Fran

Tasha, Congratulations! You are asking really good questions BEFORE gettting the band. Smart, smart, smart! This forum is full of good info. To begin, the band is not really a "special occasion" tool. It is meant to be a lifestyle change. That said, if you can get your doc (and you are willing to pay your doc) to unfill you for Christmas, etc., have at it. But, the idea is to change your life, the way you eat, the way you think about food, etc., so that you never have to be obese again. Pregnancy is a different story, of course. I think most people get an unfill when they are pregnant. There are posts about it on this forum. I would ask that you think about this: what point would there be in having surgery (and this is serious surgery) for weight loss if what you really wanted was to yo-yo diet just as you (and the vast majority of us) probably have done in the past? Again I say, GOOD questions you are asking because you will have a much better understanding than many by the time this thread is done. It may take months before you reach your "sweet spot" and by the time you get there taking a "break for a month or so" will be the last thing on your mind. LOL Another thing about unfilling your band so you can "take a break" has to do with your doctor. Many doctors depend on their "success rate" to bolster their numbers in the bariatric surgery community. A high success rate will increase their patient roster and make them more $$$. So, they would prefer you NOT take "breaks" because when you take a break you are likely to gain back weight that you've lost and possibly more. Get the picture? I am not at goal yet so I can't speak from experience about whether I will get an unfill. But, based on my food issues, I likely will not unfill. Some people do, others don't. It's a personal decision. Keep reading this forum. Take what you can use and leave the rest. KUDOS to you for asking these particular questions BEFORE surgery. All the best to you. ~Fran

I can honestly say that "physical hunger" was never a big problem for me even before the band. And now that I have the band I rarely feel/hear my stomach growl. My problem was always head hunger - and it was a BIG problem. I am 18 months out and when people on this forum talk about being hungry post-band, I cannot relate. I do, however, applaud those who, even with the continued hunger have managed to lose weight, achieve their goals and maintain. KUDOS! As for the part about "I read that Ghrelin is also connected to learning and some other things." I can't say I have first hand knowledge of this being a problem for me since my "zest for learning" left a long time ago ...somewhere around the time I was experiencing the 10th grade for the 3rd time with my kids ... LOL But, in my reading about ghrelin it is my understanding that ghrelin is also produced in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (which is in the brain) and further research says that "Ghrelin plays a significant role in neurotrophy, particularly in the hippocampus (also in the brain), and is essential for cognitive adaptation to changing environments and the process of learning." My guess is that you would only have an issue with learning/studying/focusing if you reduced the production of ghrelin in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Don't quote me on that, just seems logical to me. Please let me know if your research is to the contrary. I am about to take guitar lessons and, I don't want to waste my time if it's a lost cause. LOL Good luck! I'm sure you will be back on track with school in no time! ~Fran

I am glad that I waited to buy a new scale. Now I can buy the "right" scale, the Omron Full Body Sensor Body Fat and Body Composition Monitor scale. LOL I had never heard of this scale before your post. I looked it up online and did some reading about it. Do you find it to be fairly accurate? I think it will be good for me because I need more than just numbers. How does it tell you if you are drinking enough water? That particularly function would make the scale worth every penny for me. Either way, I will buy one this week! I am keeping my fingers crossed that I do not become obsessed again. Thanks for the info. ~Fran

Best wishes on a speedy recovery! Great advice you offer newbies: STAY HYDRATED!

I too was a scaleaholic! But, I am happy to say that I have not weighed myself in 7-8 months. I was so obsessed with the scale that the number I saw in the morning determined how my day was going to be. It was NOT pretty! So, I threw my scale out. I was down about 50 lbs and my scale started fluctuating 2-3 lbs, up and down. It was making myself C-R-A-Z-Y! As it turned out the batteries in my scale were dying, so I threw it out and haven't weighed myself since! I am actually ready to get on a scale again. I know I am losing because my clothing size is 10/12 numbers down from when I started this journey. I worry that I will become obsessed again, but I think it's time. ~Fran

Can I/do I go 5 hours between meals? Yes. Do I have to force myself? No. BUT, and this makes the big difference: physical hunger was never my problem. So, you will probably have a good number of people that will respond that they can go 5 (or more) hours and not get hungry -- physically hungry, that is. I struggle (albeit much less since banding, and much therapy) with "head hunger". Tuesday I was irritable and grumpy. I sat at my desk and wanted to eat something sweet/chocolate ... it was almost lunch time. I called a friend to talk about how I was feeling so that I wouldn't eat over it. When I got off the phone I wasn't hungry but it had now been more than 5 hours since I'd had my breakfast -- a Protein Drink. So, I steamed a handful of baby carrots and ate them, thinking that I would eat lunch later. Well, I forgot -- I actually forgot -- to eat lunch. Before I knew it the workday was done and it was time to go home and make dinner. I didn't get hungry, and this, for me is not an anomaly. The thing that has been changing more and more since banding is that I do not eat over emotions -- most of the time. I still have slips, but I am better than I have ever been in my life, thanks to the restriction provided by my band. So, some people can go 5 hours or more because the band is keeping their hunger at bay, and some people (like me) can go 5 hours or more because hunger was never the issue. I don't think that many doctors consider this when a patient comes in for a fill and they ask "Are you hungry between meals?" All that said, I really do believe that the band, with proper restriction, will keep you from being hungry for a longer period of time. All the best to you on your journey.

And when she asked about sleeping with your husband did you, on reflex, slap the hell out of her!?!?!?! LOL Really, some people have a hell of a lot of nerve. But seriously, of course you could not slap her, but you could have said "Well, sure, I wouldn't mind if I'm dead ... but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want YOU!!!" Okay, I know, not nice, but that, along with the other things she said, was pretty tacky. Hang in there and get ready for more "haters" once you have lost the weight. All the best to you on your journey. ~fran

Isn't it a great feeling?!?! Today I am wearing a blouse that a friend gave me before I had my surgery. Well, at the time - and for many months after - I couldn't even get close to buttoning it. And here I am today, wearing it proudly with slacks that are 10 sizes smaller than when I started this journey. YAY bandsters!! Congratulations!

LMAO!!! I love your post! It is clear that you are truly happy and I am happy for you! Welcome to the world of lapband. Keep reading this forum (particularly the post surgery threads) to get the "real deal" on the what/how/whens of lap band surgery. Don't let the negative stuff get to you, just take what you can use and leave the rest. There is a well spring of information here. All the best to you on your journey! WOOOOOO WHOOOO! YAY jblady!!!

Take a deep breath and remember: once YOU are banded and your weight is falling like autum leaves, you have have a whole new perspective. You will also be a lot calmer because you will know the TRUTH from first hand experience and you will calmly set them straight. Don't let them get to you, just consider the source. There are so many people that don't have complications (like myself) and are happy and living a much healthier life because of the band. Concentrate on preparing yourself for your upcoming new life. It's going to be great! All the best to you!

I'm like you, Choe ... I never used to watch the weight loss shows, now I do. I watched "Heavy" this weekend. I found it interesting. Now, I do agree that TV shows tend to exploit these people, but, when you desperately want to lose the weight, sometimes that doesn't matter to you. I don't blame them. Just like I don't feel one iota of guilt for taking the surgical route. My weight loss post band has been the hardest I have ever worked to lose weight; and that's okay too.

FANTASTIC!!! And I thought I was doing something when I did my morning walk in the rain ... LOL You've have just raised the bar VERY high! Congratulations! ~Fran

LOL Cleo's mom .. I accidentally hit "reply" to your quote instead of elfipoo (Melody), sorry about that. But, of course you are right, there are many different reasons that each of us is overweight. I know that if I were in your shoes with not getting results with the band, I would be incredibly frustrated. But even with that, you have done an amazing job on your own. Good luck as you continue your journey! ~Fran

You make a good point, Melody. Why not just cut the vagus nerve? IMO, the reason is because not everyone is overweight because of constant physical hunger, and to discover the true reason for obesity in each person before deciding which surgery is the right one would take more time and effort than many doctors (and/or patients) are willing to put into it. Add to that the fact that insurance companies are looking at their "bottom line" at ALL times, it would seem that generalizing about the reasons for obesity is the easiest path. I have for years thought that I was different from my (always thin) sister. I thought that she didn't get hungry EVER, and, to an extent this is true. After much therapy I learned to pay attention to what I was actually feeling BEFORE I ate the cake, candy, mac & cheese, etc. I discovered (and this was before lap band surgery) that my stomach was not hungry. I wanted to eat because I had a need to stuff down my feelings and using food (a habit learned in childhood) was my vehicle for doing that. Since being banded I feel even less physical hunger than I did before surgery. I get weak and lose energy, but my stomach rarely growls. So, for me, restriction is important. It makes a difference because it stops me before I have done damage to my weight loss efforts. Restriction gives me time to think about the "why" when I want to eat more after I am full. You say that you continue to feel hunger (only not as much), and that you are able to eat large amounts of food, but you don't. You make a conscious choice to stop eating. For me, making that choice was my greatest challenge. This says to me, that whether you have head hunger or physical hunger, it still comes down to making a decision that will get us to our goal weight. Making a decision to change our lifestyle as it pertains to food so that we can keep the weight off. So, cutting the vagus nerve AND doing the mini bypass is kind of a "catch all" if you will. It will help those with constant hunger, while at the same time helping those that eat even when not hungry. Just my opinion. ~Fran

I have stepped up my exercise: I get up at 5:30 a.m. M-F and power walk 2 miles at the track before going to work. I am being disciplined with my food: Protein drink for Breakfast (I haven't been able to eat solid food for breakfast for over a year now); meat/protein and veggie for lunch; and meat/protein, veggie and starch for dinner. I am trying to only eat a cup of food at each meal. The problem is that my energy level start going downhill around noon each day. My days have been very busy at work, and long due to responsibilities after work. I am happy with the improved weight loss, but I am tired of being "tired". BTW, I take multiple Vitamins, Calcium, Fiber, etc., daily. Still, I am dead on my feet by the time I get home to cook dinner. I am not sleeping well, I suffer from insomnia ... but it has not been too bad lately. I'm sure it's because I am exhausted. How do YOU keep your energy up and get enough nutrients with exercising AND minimal food intake? Please help. Thanks very much, ~Fran

Ok, does it REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY (and did I say REALLY - LOL) work? But seriously, I ask because about six months ago I tried the sublingual B-12 vitamins and didn't feel any different. But, if you tell me that the "liquid" REALLY works, I will be happy to give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion. ~Fran

@Trish, it is definitely time for a physical. I should have my thyroid checked while I'm at it. I so hate going to the doc, but I know I must. "Is it possible you're going too long between breakfast and lunch? When I do that, it doesn't matter that I'm eating lunch, my blood sugar levels have dropped enough that I'm still fatigued for hours. Same thing if I don't drink enough Water. You might try having a Protein snack mid-morning (a hard boiled egg, 1-2 oz of hard cheese)...maybe even mid-afternoon. I tend to avoid carbs (except those in vegies) at my lunch meal because just 1/4 cup can set me up for mid-afternoon fatigue. Might not be an issue for those who aren't carb sensitive." @Elfiepoo, I frequently wait too long to eat lunch. I have been very busy at work lately and sometimes lose track of time. But, I also have a problem when I don't bring my lunch, trying to think of something to have for lunch. I don't buy food out very often since banding, so thinking of something healthy and tasty and small can be a challenge around here. You know, I tried a "light" string cheese between breakfast and lunch the other day. I don't know if it was that the cheese "actually" tasted horrible or if, because I was not really hungry, I just didn't feel like eating. Either way, snacking is sometimes a problem for me -- unless I am eating a cookie, cupcake, or something ELSE that is sooooo BAD for me, but sooooo GOOD to me. LOL I also tried some steamed baby carrots the other day before leaving working because I knew I was not going straight home. They were okay. I looks like I am going to have to experiment and keep notes until I can get this right. Thanks to all for your very helpful advice! ~Fran

I DO love my band! Probably not for the reasons you might think. Before I got my band I thought that it was much like GB only less invasive. Turns out .... not so much. I have never worked harder to lose weight in my life; I have never been more challenged to be patient; and I have never learned more about myself and my relationship with food. Oh, and I have never been more determined to exercise. I hate exercise ... or at least I did before my band. I won't say I am madly in love with it now, but I DO look forward to getting up at 5:30 a.m. M-F to walk 2 miles at the track before going to work. And, I am looking forward to adding a quarter mile this coming Monday, even though I have been struggling this week because I am exhausted (i.e., busy workday, busy evenings). I love my band because restriction means that when I feel overwhelmed about the process of losing weight (or anything else for that matter) I don't have to start from square one again because I messed up my diet -- for a month, or two. With the band I am unable to go overboard. I have time to think, write, and use the tools my therapist (an obesity specialist) taught be about dealing with emotional/head hunger. I don't know exactly how much weight I have lost because I stopped weighing myself after I had lost 50 lbs. I was becoming obsessed with the scale and it was ruling my life. But, I do know that when I started this journey on June 15, 2009 I was wearing a size 26 and today I wear a size 14/16 -- and still losing. There are many who have had a much smoother journey, and still others with more difficult journeys. Remember this, each person has an individual journey that is is unique. I MUST add a disclaimer because lately there has been quite a bit of vitriolic discourse about the band: The band is not the right WLS for everyone, it does not work for everyone. As for myself, I think if I truly understood the band before I had the surgery, I would not have believed it was for me. But, once it was in, and the truth about the band was made clear to me (mostly through this forum), I decided to work with what I had and so far ... so good. I DO love my band! All the best to you on your journey. ~Fran

Actually there are a lot of us bandsters that cannot eat solids for breakfast. I don't have a problem with it because I don't get hungry before lunch. Chances are because I take a BP med with a diurectic, I am prone to being dehydrated in the morning, as a result my band is tight when I wake. Once I am hydrated, I can eat. I have a Water and usually a cup of tea between breakfast and lunch. Physical hunger has never been my problem -- "head hunger" all the way! Now, as for my calorie count ... you may have something there. Between breakfast and lunch I am probably averaging 400-500. I do better at dinner, maybe another 500. I must pay closer attention to my calories. I have been trying to cut my carbs drastically in hopes of greater weight loss in a short time period. Even when I was on diabetes meds (that ended about 3 months after lapband surgery) I had more issues with low blood sugar than high blood sugar. I have to keep an eye on it. Thanks for the Nature Made Sleep Aid suggestion. I will try ANYTHING to cure this insomnia. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. ~Fran

I can give that a try. I can probably play with my calories and have a small protein shak mid afternoon. Thanks!