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That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! OF COURSE IT IS PRE-EXISTING, no one becomes obese overnight!!! I understand your frustration. Perhaps you should contact the benefits department at your job. Whenever the insurance company says crazy things to me that's what I do. I let them fight with the insurance co for me. Don't give up. The person you spoke with at the insurance co doesn't seem very well informed. Good luck to you. ~Fran

Hang in there Tan_ya, the lapband will probably make your diabetes a "thing of the past" in no time. Try to remember that you are 24 ... that makes you an adult. Don't worry about how your family members are going to react. You don't actually HAVE to tell them if it makes you anxious. But I will say this -- I am older and have kids close to your age -- no one is going to treat you like an adult until you accept that you ARE an adult. You are about to have lapband surgery and YOU made that decision for your life. That's an adult decision, remember that. Good luck to you. We are here to support you. It's going to be a great journey! ~Fran

I have been shopping like a crazy woman! I try to stop but, to no avail. LOL ... nothing expensive, I like to buy cute exercise clothes ... yoga pants, pretty tops ... good bargains from Old Navy. I try not to buy new work clothes ... but , when I see something -- on sale, well ... can't stop myself. I absolutely LOVE buying pretty bras and panties! OMG! Okay ... my breast are still big ... "G" cup, some "F's". But I can wear a 38 or 40. I have so many pretty colors, blue, hot pink, red, purple, lime green, tan, caramel, black, white, yellow, etc. I love it! And I have panties to match all of them! So much funnnn!! Yes, I need to stop shopping because I still have quite a bit more weight to lose, but I like feeling "pretty" in the meantime. Tell you what, hopetolose ... I'll stop shopping if you will. LOLLLL! Enjoy! ~Fran

Good for you, making the decision that is right for you. From all that you have said, I would agree, you are not ready. I would also venture a guess that the fear that keeps you from having the surgery is identical to the fear that keeps you obese. A real "catch 22". Someone above mentioned that the band cannot help the emotional eater. I beg to differ. I am totally an emotional eater, I rarely feel physically hungry, but the band has changed my life in the best possible way. For the emotional part I see an obesity specialist therapist. The band strongly reminds me when I absentmindedly try to eat my fears/emotions away. During this next year you might consider seeing a therapist about your weight issues. You may find that you don't need the surgery at all and that you can lose the weight on your own. That was not the case for me, the therapy gives me tools to manage my emotional eating but my head still goes crazy sometimes -- so glad I have my band. Also, it appears that I may have Hoshimoto's thyroiditis -- I will find out for sure on Friday. It is an autoimmune disease. It is not curable but it is treatable. Still, I am so glad I have my band, imagine the anxiety I am feeling not knowing for sure whether I have this disease ... having the band helps me not to overeat (try as I might while I await the blood test and biopsy on Friday. Not fitting Hollywood's image of what a woman should look like (i.e., size 2, or even 0) is not a bad thing, in fact it is good because the vast majority of women are a "normal" size. Heck, my bones are bigger than a size 2. LOL But to be obese is neither normal or healthy; and there's a reason why we overeat. For some it helps to find out why and work to change it. I hope you can find the best solution for you. I wish you the best. ~Fran

3 bites per meal? ROTFLMAO!!!! Imagine me rolling on the floor laughing hysterically cuz that's what I'm doing at the thought of eating 3, 4, 5, or even 6 bites per meal. It never happened -- not for me at least. I also never expected it to happen. I could not possibly walk 3+ miles every morning before work on a 3 bite B, L and D. I, like betheboo, eat a LOT less than I did before banding (though I think that I could eating even less if I didn't overthink the idea of malnutrition. LOL) And, I don't think that having the band actually makes me feel "full" unless I overeat -- at which point I not only feel stuffed, but I also feel like the food is coming up through my esophagus -- and it does. This thing, being banded, is really so much more about "the mind" than is advertised. It's about changing your thinking about food and what it really means to your life. I have never been a person that suffered from physical hunger, I am a head hungry person. So, my journey takes me down the path of learning not to eat over emotion (good or bad). The band helps because when I am so stressed that I can't think rationally it helps me to stop eating and realize that food is not going take my stress away (or any other emotion for that matter). I see an obesity specialist therapist. She helps me understand the role food plays in my life and gives me tools to change my thinking. It the way you think that makes the difference. I don't diet - I make better food choices because I want to lose the weight and that, plus exercise is the only way to get there -- for me. Keep getting fills and stop being so hard on yourself for not being satisfied with 3 bites. (That still makes me laugh.) Give yourself credit for getting this far. You're doing a great job! ~Fran

BTW, the surgeon I ended up with not only did not charge a "program fee", but he didn't even charge a co-pay when I went in for fills. AND, he wasn't the most experienced lap band surgeon ... he was a general surgeon. I have not had a problem and I haven't been back since I hit my sweet spot over a year ago!

I also have Anthem Blue Cross and I live in L.A. I TOTALLY am against the outrageous "program fee", but many docs do it because BC pays VERY little to them for doing lap band surgery. I had to go to FOUR surgeons before I found one that would do it for what BC pays. But, the issue here is that the doc gets the money from the patient, not the insurance company ... and he doesn't care. I echo what the others have said FIND A NEW SURGEON. People are all jazzed about having a lapband surgeon that is "one of the best". Ask around, lap band surgery is just NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL. There are hundreds of LB surgeons that have done this surgery THOUSANDS of times and, unless you can find evidence that they have killed even a small percentage of their patients I think that would probably make them "one of the best". Don't get the idea that I think it's not important to have a good/excellent surgeon. I had back surgery in 2004 and my orthopedic surgeon asked for a neuro spinal specialist do the surgery while he assisted. A friend who had family in "the business" checked him out for me -- he was GREAT. So, it's not that having "one of the best" to do your surgery isn't important, it's just that IMHO, there are so many surgeons that qualify (for lapband) that you can find a surgeon that does NOT gouge you with a $4,000 program fee. I wish you the best and I hope you can find another excellent surgeon. I believe you can, after all, we live in So Cal where there are a zillion doctors. LOL ~Fran

Thank you, Cindy. You are an inspiration to me! ~Fran

"Sometimes I can eat anything and the next day, I can hardly eat a thing without feeling stuck." Yes, I am a little over 2 years out and this happens to me. Usually it is because I am dehydrated, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. I recently learned from my neurologist that Crystal Light can cause dehydration (among other things -- I can no longer drink it due to negative side effects). I used to drink it ALL the time! No more artificial sweetners for me! I have discovered Stevia ... it's okay. "I am a food addict and food is on my mind most of the time. I thought I would be at goal by now!" While I would not say that I am a food addict, I am an emotional eater ... any emotion, good or bad. Something that has helped me tremendously is seeing a therapist, an obesity specialist. She gives me tools to deal with using food as the answer to everything. You might consider seeing a therapist to help with your "food addiction". It can also help you to stop snacking when you are "not really hungry". I am a slow loser as well. I frequently fight with the same 3 lbs up and down for 2-3 months. But once they are gone, THEY ARE GONE. Fortunately, I am not in a hurry to lose the weight, though I would like to lose a little faster. In order to lose faster I know that I have to make a BIG commitment to doing different and more exercise as well as being more consistent with my "healthy" food plan. I walk 3+ miles each morning before work and 1 or 2 on the weekend. This is actually not enough. I am seeing a physical therapist 1-2 times a week and after a 40 min workout and 20 min massage, I am exhausted AND I feel it in my muscles so much more than I do power walking 3 miles. Who knew? So, it is encumbent upon me to do exercises that will help me build muscle so that I can lose weight faster and more efficiently. This journey is no walk in the park, but I am okay with it. I suggest that you take some time to think about what you can do differently to speed up your weight loss. You are sooo close to goal. (Lucky you! I still have about 60 lbs to go. ) They say those last 30 or so pounds are the hardest. We, on this forum, are all rooting for you! You can do this! All the best to you on your journey. ~Fran

You may be really close, but you should at least feel something, I would think. I suggest that you not wait until you get to the docs office next month, but that you call now and ask to have your fill done under flouroscope (sp?) at your next appointment. I say to call now instead of waiting because if you get there and they are not prepared to do it, you may have to wait yet another month to find out if there is a problem with your band. Just a suggestion. Good luck to you. ~Fran

Here's a few good questions to ask of your surgeon: "How often do you give fills?" "How much do you put in at each fill?" and "What determines the amount of the fill you give?" As you read this forum you will see that some people have surgeons that make them wait forever for a fill and when they finally get a fill it's .5 cc's -- which is like an olive in the Grand Canyon when you are first starting, but can make all the difference in the world when you are near your sweet spot. This forum has a TON of info. You can read about experiences from A-Z. Good luck to you!

Ok Val, you asked, and I am so tickled by your post that I have to answer. LOL First, no ... I have never thought of "banded" being close to "branded" and therefore I am being labeled. And, I DID have to resort to some intervention to lose weight AND get healthy ... I got the lap band. As for being labeled, PLZZZZ label me. I can't wait to be labeled: "Thin", "Healthy", "Active" and all the other good stuff that comes from getting this weight off -- by any means necessary. I happen to be one of those people that doesn't take much stock in the negative opinions of others. The people outside of the bandster world that think WLS is for ... hmmmm ... "losers" well, I really could care less. My life, my choices, my happiness, my health. If others have time to label me, perhaps they need to "get a life". But, in the meantime, if I give them something to do with their small minds, so be it. Trust me, I won't be giving them a thought. I think that you will be less "weirded out" by it as time goes by -- you'll be too busy shopping for new clothes in smaller sizes, like I am. All the best to you on your journey. Proudly "Banded" Fran

Yes, but mine was very short ... about 10 days. It depends on your doctor. Keep us posted. I can say that this forum is one place where EVERYONE is rooting everyone's success. I like that. ~Fran

While everything that has been said previously is true and, I too have had a fairly smooth journey. I think it is important that you look at this from all sides. Plain and simple, the band requires a certain level of maturity. You say that you do not want to feel a lot of pain. Many of us suffer very little pain - myself included. But pain is subjective, my pain threshold may be higher than yours. This is surgery and there will be incisions that will require time to heal. Hence, there will be some pain. The good news is, the doc will give you meds for the pain. More good news, many people do not suffer shoulder pain, although almost everyone has gas to one degree or another. My shoulder pain was quite painful ... I didn't know it was gas, I just thought they had laid me on my side during surgery for too long. LOL I used moist heat for a few days and started walking and voila! the pain subsided. Taking Biotin should help with the hair loss, but mostly, if you get the proper Vitamins and minerals, Protein, etc., you should be okay. And yes, there are exceptions, you can read about it on this forum. The most important thing to remember about the pain/gas is that it is TEMPORARY. Can you go through a little physical pain after surgery to stop the neverending emotional/psychological pain of living "fat" in a society that discriminates against the "overweight"? But more importantly, can't you get through a little pain to ensure that you have a healthy future? A future without diabetes meds, high blood pressure med, cholesterol meds, sleep apena machines, etc.? The band is not a miracle cure. It is not a cure at all. It will require hard work and committment to reach your goal. Some, but not many, go through this jouney with relative ease. At 18 you are the BEST candidate PHYSICALLY. Your skin still has a lot of elasticity. What I wouldn't give for your youthful skin elasticity. (sigh) But, some, at 18, 19, 20 are not ready mentally. Some cannot/will not give up bad eating habits long enough to reach goal. You sound like a very smart person because you are honest about your fears; and you question whether or not you will be able to make the changes necessary to be successful with the band. Keep reading this forum and do your research. You are 18, and if you are not ready, you are not ready. This is for you to decide. There are other 18, 19, 20 year olds here, you should chat with them about their band experience. As to the answer to your initial question: "Is it worth it?" YOU BET! I have never worked harder to lose weight -- but I love every minute of it. I love the exercise (this was NEVER me), I love not overeating anymore (you KNOW this was not me or else I would not have become obese), I love ME and the way I look in my "new" size clothes. I love the confidence I have in myself. I understand that thin or fat life is not a bowl of cherries, but at least being obese is not one of my problems anymore. I wish you the best, and if you decide to take this journey, remember we are here for you with support, suggestions, and even a reality check when you need it. Make the choice that is right for YOU. ~Fran

I actually am not familiar with the company, but I am curious about the idea of going to Belgium to have lap band surgery. Is it going to be that much cheaper or, do you get to vacation before/after surgery so you are getting two things for the price of one? Just curious. All the best to you on your journey. ~Fran

So glad you posted this, I was about to post a similar one. It is 3 a.m. and I have been up for an hour -- didn't go to sleep until 11 p.m. and I have to be up at 5 a.m. to go to the park for my 3 mile power walk. It will not be pretty when the alarm goes off at 5. For most of June and all of July I have been working 14-16 hour work days and 5-6 hours a day on Sat and Sun. I needed the money because my precious child (yes, I am being sarcastic) decided that instead of going to a college an hour's drive away, he informed he signed a letter of intent for a full ride football scholarship to a school 2 1/2 hours away -- by plane. So instead of packing everything into the car and/or truck and driving, I had to find a few thousand extra dollars to get him to school early and set up his apartment a month early! He doesn't get his financial aid until September. Hence, the crazy overtime. The OT started an avalanche that has yet to stop. He is finally away at school (as of 8-1-11), but I still have to ship his "toys" and some (more) clothing -- stress. I have been experiencing severe speech and cognitive problems due to exhaustion and problems using my CPAP. I am going back to the neurologist on Thursday for the last of 3 tests. The neurologist is looking for evidence of mini stroke or seizure. I have cut back on the OT and I am feeling better and I am trying to use my CPAP more (the side effects are so bad that I take it off in my sleep, ughhh). I didn't think I was stressed about the test tomorrow. I am optimistic about the test results on Thursday ... or so I thought. I started having trouble eating about a week ago, then on Monday night I couldn't eat my dinner. It was more than just feeling as though my band had slammed shut ... I also could not stand the taste of the food ... which is crazy since I have eaten that meal many times before. Tuesday I had my usual Protein drink for Breakfast -- took longer to get it down, weird. Ate lunch late because I could feel the anxiety rising. I finally heated up a roasted chicken breast but couldn't get it down. Dinner was better, I had 2 chicken wings ... that was the best I could do. I am working hard to stay hydrated, but my band is still "stress tight". Things are ramping up at work and will be crazy on and off until October, possibly November. My brother's poor health has recently gotten worse. I haven't visited my mom at the convalescent home in 2 months (feeling incredibly guilty). Oh and my recently "happy" son called me today to say he has a cold and is miserable at his new school. And I can't use food to soothe my anxiety because my band is "stress tight". OMG!!! Unfortunately, getting over stress isn't as simple as telling myself that everything is going to be fine. I actually thought I was okay, but my band says differently. But, I do have faith that "this too shall pass". Hang in there Renee, we will both get better soon. It is almost 4 a.m., I am going to try to sleep for an hour before the alarm. ~Fran

You're right ... being hungry can certainly make you irritable, and not having a lot of food choices can be frustrating. This is a good place to vent, but if you want to stop experiencing "A, F, H" I'd like to give you a few things to think about. Use what you can and throw the rest away (or all if you so desire). I'm not telling you what to do, just trying to help you through a place I have already been. The thing is, this is all temporary -- the post-op diet. None of us escapes it, we all have to heal. You get to choose what your experience is going to be, one that is frustrating and irritating, or one that is spent learning how to change your life and your thinking so that your journey to your weightloss goal is smooth and successful. Life is all about choices, and it is obvious by our need for weightloss surgery that we have all spent some portion of our lives doing/eating whatever our heart's desired. With the band you will have the opportunity to change that, but since the band is not around the head/brain it will require you to be willing to change your thinking in order to work with your band. The first step in changing your thinking might be to find ways to become satiated by getting enough protein to stop the "hungries" and by finding new and different things to eat -- stepping out of the comfort zone, so to speak. The only thing you have to lose is being angry, frustrated and hungry. Your choice. Keep reading this forum, it is full of information and suggestions. There is even a topic area called "fitness and nutrition" (that may not be the exact title, but close enough for you to find it), with loads of info on things to eat and how to stay satisfied. You may be more comfortable with taking the "kicking and screaming" journey all the way to goal, but I doubt that is what you have in mind. For some of us the first few weeks are difficult (read this forum, you'll see lots of stories), but people get through it and there is plenty of support here for you. You are not alone. It will get easier, one day at a time. All the best to you on your journey. ~Fran

There are a lot of good surgeons out there, and they don't all charge an extra $3500 on top of what the insurance pays them. Find another good surgeon that doesn't require the "extras". I went to 4 surgeons before I found one that would accept "only" what my insurance would pay. Some people may actually need the extra info that they will get for $3500. On my own I went into therapy with an obesity specialist 8 months before my surgery (I still see her now -- I am an emotional eater, but getting better every day). I researched the band and listened to the many successful people on this forum. Ultimately it is your decision, but you should not feel tied to a surgeon, there are a lot of good ones out there. Good luck to you. ~Fran

You said "I know that I cannot let others bring me down or dictate how i feel about me. I just do not want to leave my house and deal with the looks or comments from friends and family or even strangers." Though the sentences are contradictory, I believe you mean it when you say "... I cannot let others bring me down ...". You are doing an amazing job losing weight, but, as it is with many of us here, we are hesitant to acknowledge our progress when we feel we have such a long way to go. I don't think you're as concerned about what others think as your are about what you think others think. Know what I mean? It's time you learn to give yourself a pat on the back -- EVERY DAY! You ARE working hard and it doesn't matter whether others realize it or not. The truth is, people are so busy with their own lives, your life is of little consequence to them. Do you really think that they do not question something about themselves, be it their weight, hair, skin, etc? Of course they do. If they criticize you it is only in the hope that they minimize their own flaws. Don't give them a thought ... I mean that, don't think about them OR what you think they are thinking. LOL! As my best friend says "Go where you are celebrated!" And for you, that would be right there with your family. Get out and exercise as if you have lost 100 lbs already! You are FABULOUS! CLAIM IT!!! We all let people "get in our heads" every now and again, just don't let them move in and stay! YOU are the "master of your fate", and you are doing a damn good job so far! All the best to you on your journey! ~F

I had surgery when I was 53 (55 now). Though the numbers on the scale are not moving as fast as some of the younger people; I was wearing a size 26 when I started this journey and am wearing a size 14 jeans with room to spare at this very moment! I discovered that I had to be consistent with my exercise - I power walk (no running due to back surgery +) 3 miles M-F before work and 2 miles on Saturday and Sunday. I am currently in physical therapy to get my back in shape so that I can walk morning and evening. I look forward to it. It is true that I wish I would have had lap band sooner, but I am soooooo glad I did it no matter how old I am! Best thing I EVER did for myself. As for losing slower than others, I look at it this way: with the help of the band I lost weight, got off medications, feel better about myself, and spend money on myself instead of my adult children ... without the band I couldn't keep the weight off even if I COULD get it off (tried many times), my self-esteem was in the toillette and all my money went to my kids because I didn't feel well enough to do anything or go anywhere. I'd say that slow loss or not this has been a WIN-WIN situation for me. All the best to you. ~Fran

I was off diabetes medication within 3 months of getting my band. I continue to check my bgs levels and so far, so good. I've been banded a little over 2 years. It worked for me! Good luck to you. ~Fran

Yes, you are right, the office was dark, poor lighting. And, since I ended up going to 4 different surgeons before I found one that fulfilled BOTH criteria for my insurance: 1) That the doctor was in-network; and 2) the doc was affiliated with a hospital that was in-network - I had a chance to see the good, bad and the not so pretty. LOL I also agree that Dr. Korman was worth the wait. ~Fran

I agree with vlp, you should go back to your surgeon for a tiny unfill. That said, I have a question ... how is your Water intake? Are you getting your 64 oz? A while back I thought I was too tight, but I have found that when I am properly hydrated my band works like a charm. Just a thought. Best of luck to you. ~Fran

YAY! Cindy! Isn't that one of the best feelings in the world?!?! Congratulations! ~Fran

I had a consultation with him in 2009. He was great and I liked his staff too. Unfortunately it turned out that he was no longer on my insurance. I was really bummed. Dr. Korman made me feel very comfortable during the consultation. What did you think of him?