katskradle22

Thank you! I will have to search a little harder to find it.

I have PCOS, and all it's symptoms (all the 'normal' symptoms, minus the High BP, and plus some other symptoms),being diagnosed in 1997. My current dr recommended me the Lap-Band as a potential solution. I have yet to get my band--on the road to it, though!--so I may be talking out of my 'bahookie' (as my kids call it), but most people I speak to who have lost a lot of weight while having PCOS (not necessarily from LB though) have said how their symptoms have lessened. Many of those are doing low-carb diets with it, and rave how their symptoms have nearly subsided. I'm a carb-o-holic, but it's my understanding when you do the LB you should be going low-carb anyhow, so I am excited about shedding some of these damned symptoms, and possibly getting pregnant soon :crying: Living with PCOS can be very difficult for some of us. I wish you luck with your journey.

WASabubblebutt, Is that from the sliming/vomiting? and Nanook, why? I am curious because I am starting the process to getting one. I am very excited, I'm reading all I can, and trying to get a little of everyones opinions and experiences. This site has been a great help with that. It seems like I read a lot of blogs where people are upset with their (lack of) weight loss or with the vomiting/PBing and don't seem happy. But most people I talk to are very excited and grateful for theirs. Thank you everyone for explaining why you love (or don't) your LB, and thank you manatee for the link!

This lapband has become an obsession of sorts. I'm starting to tweak my diet and introduce more liquids, in prep for my 2 week pre-op, which hasn't even been scheduled yet. I haven't even had my first official consultation. (I'm hoping about 2 weeks from now). Until then I've been on various forums and going through other blogs. I keep reading about everyone's frustration, and I wonder, will that be me? Will that be me doing a 20,000$ surgery to only lose 20lbs? Will that be me who is complaining of all the pain and how I can barely get liquids down or the opposite, how I don't have any restriction? Will that be me, going through all of this, only to be disappointed and scarred? (literally and figuratively) I'm going to give it my best. I'm going to follow Dr's orders, as well as keep working out and striving for a healthier me. I want nothing more than to be blogging about all my success---hardships, yes, but success--and not someone who is blogging about their frustrations, pain, confusion, and loss of hope. :thumbup:

This lapband has become an obsession of sorts. I'm starting to tweak my diet and introduce more liquids, in prep for my 2 week pre-op, which hasn't even been scheduled yet. I haven't even had my first official consultation. (I'm hoping about 2 weeks from now). Until then I've been on various forums and going through other blogs. I keep reading about everyone's frustration, and I wonder, will that be me? Will that be me doing a 20,000$ surgery to only lose 20lbs? Will that be me who is complaining of all the pain and how I can barely get liquids down or the opposite, how I don't have any restriction? Will that be me, going through all of this, only to be disappointed and scarred? (literally and figuratively):sneaky: I'm going to give it my best. I'm going to follow Dr's orders, as well as keep working out and striving for a healthier me. I want nothing more than to be blogging about all my success---hardships, yes, but success--and not someone who is blogging about their frustrations, pain, confusion, and loss of hope. :w00t:

Something easy I like to make I saw on a morning show which I guess is called a "Hobo dinner". (Not an appealing name, I know) You take about 1ft of foil (one per person) and you add in ground beef (crumbled or a patty), fresh veggies (we love mushrooms, onions, zucchini and carrots but you can do virtually anything), you can add cut up potatos, and then top it off with some garlic and/or seasoning salt and a small bit of butter. Then you pull up the 4 corners of the foil and wrap it up so that it's 'sealed' best it can be, pop it in the oven at 350 for about an hour. It's easy to prepare, easy to clean up, and delicious. I usually make one or two more than we need for lunch the next day or even dinner the next night again. I also love crock pots. You can buy cheap, tough meats at the store and freeze them. Divy it up to the portions you and your daughter need and place them in individual freezer bags. When you are ready, thaw some out and cook it in your crockpot on low for 8 hours while you are at work, and when you get home your place will smell awesome, and the meat comes out tender and delicious.

I totally can't relate because I have yet to get my band...(just starting the process; Hoping to have it sometime in May!) I may be speaking out of my butt, but I was told that you'll lose a little more off the bat, mostly because of your liquid diet(s) pre and post op and the swelling of your stomach, so that you don't lose quite as much a few weeks after once things get back 'normal'. I don't know if that stands for anything, since I have yet to experience it. However, I do know if you keep on losing 25lbs every 3 months, that is 100lbs in a year! I think you are doing great. 25lbs is so tough to lose! I can't remember the last time I lost more than 5 on my own. Great job so far!

Well, this week has been full of ups and downs. Aside from the ups and downs in my personal life (my dog died ), I called my medical insurance early (pre-seminar) to see if I even qualify, because looking on their website, it stated that weight-loss programs, even if deemed purely for medical reasons--are not covered. Great. :mad2: So I called our insurance early yesterday, and my phone tech wasn't very nice nor helpful. She told me to call back with diagnosis or billing codes because she didn't think it was covered. At first I felt a bit of relief. Surgery isn't something I am looking forward to. Nor is being out of control; Not being able to move around like I do, even if just for a few weeks. Having to ask for help...But then it began to sink in, and I realized just how accustomed I was getting to the thought of getting the surgery, and getting healthier...I was actually disappointed and quite sad...:thumbup: So I decided to go to the seminar, see how much the process is in cash, and see if I could scratch up some money and work out a payment plan. The seminar was interesting. (I was the 'thinnest' there at 261lbs. (I actually lost the 5lbs I've gained since I began working out in January. FINALLY) In a strange way, it actually made me feel good to not be the largest in a room, like I normally am. I hate that feeling and those looks. I met with 3 doctors there who do the lap-band surgery. I was comfortable with pretty much everyone--but nervous, none-the-less. One thing that I am confused on, is everyone seems to have conflicting processes. On one site, people recommend low-carb eating. One of the ppl at the seminar who have done the lap band, says she eats like she has always done, but much less now. She said she doesn't eat salads, or much bread, though, because of the way it sits in the stomach pouch. One thing I've gathered, is that you eat your meat/protein first. Filling out the packet of information they require, I called my insurance today with the diagnosis codes for me, and Jackie, my new phone tech, was MUCH more helpful. Turns out, insurance WILL cover me! And all I'll have to pay for the entire procedure is $1200. More than that, ALL of the doctors I met yesterday are in my network. So I can see any of them. Now I am really excited!:tt2: So now I am waiting on my 3 day food diary to be completed, which I started today, and get the last 5 years of my medical records, and the process will officially begin. One thing I am NOT looking forward to, is the 2 weeks liquid diet pre-op. :huh2: I mean, I get *why* it needs to be done...to get fatty tissue off the liver and make the procedure easier on everyone...I just know that is going to be tough for me. But I'm sure six months down the road, that will seem like nothing. They mentioned at the seminar that they have 'a product' that helps with that process...is it a product to fight the hunger pains, or a product that we're going to drink? And I'm not all that excited about taking a multi-vitamin daily. I know I need to, and in the grand scheme of things, is *nothing*, but I have a bad memory and I hate taking pills. :ohmy: Damn you, health enforcers! So my next journal will probably be when I either drop off the paperwork, or have my first official consultation, or if I am just nervous and want to blabber on to the information hole that is the internet. Tonight I'll be informing my parents what I will be doing. I've decided to tell my parents, my sister, and three of my closest friends. Everyone else knows I have PCOS and ovarian issues, so my plan is to tell them I am having surgery to take out cysts. I don't know why I want to keep it hush. I guess it's just none of their business. Game is still on!:thumbup:

Well, this week has been full of ups and downs. Aside from the ups and downs in my personal life (my dog died ), I called my medical insurance early (pre-seminar) to see if I even qualify, because looking on their website, it stated that weight-loss programs, even if deemed purely for medical reasons--are not covered. Great. :mad2: So I called our insurance early yesterday, and my phone tech wasn't very nice nor helpful. She told me to call back with diagnosis or billing codes because she didn't think it was covered. At first I felt a bit of relief. Surgery isn't something I am looking forward to. Nor is being out of control; Not being able to move around like I do, even if just for a few weeks. Having to ask for help...But then it began to sink in, and I realized just how accustomed I was getting to the thought of getting the surgery, and getting healthier...I was actually disappointed and quite sad... So I decided to go to the seminar, see how much the process is in cash, and see if I could scratch up some money and work out a payment plan. The seminar was interesting. (I was the 'thinnest' there at 261lbs. (I actually lost the 5lbs I've gained since I began working out in January. FINALLY) In a strange way, it actually made me feel good to not be the largest in a room, like I normally am. I hate that feeling and those looks. I met with 3 doctors there who do the lap-band surgery. I was comfortable with pretty much everyone--but nervous, none-the-less. One thing that I am confused on, is everyone seems to have conflicting processes. On one site, people recommend low-carb eating. One of the ppl at the seminar who have done the lap band, says she eats like she has always done, but much less now. She said she doesn't eat salads, or much bread, though, because of the way it sits in the stomach pouch. One thing I've gathered, is that you eat your meat/protein first. Filling out the packet of information they require, I called my insurance today with the diagnosis codes for me, and Jackie, my new phone tech, was MUCH more helpful. Turns out, insurance WILL cover me! And all I'll have to pay for the entire procedure is $1200. More than that, ALL of the doctors I met yesterday are in my network. So I can see any of them. Now I am really excited!:tt2: So now I am waiting on my 3 day food diary to be completed, which I started today, and get the last 5 years of my medical records, and the process will officially begin. One thing I am NOT looking forward to, is the 2 weeks liquid diet pre-op. :huh2: I mean, I get *why* it needs to be done...to get fatty tissue off the liver and make the procedure easier on everyone...I just know that is going to be tough for me. But I'm sure six months down the road, that will seem like nothing. They mentioned at the seminar that they have 'a product' that helps with that process...is it a product to fight the hunger pains, or a product that we're going to drink? And I'm not all that excited about taking a multi-vitamin daily. I know I need to, and in the grand scheme of things, is *nothing*, but I have a bad memory and I hate taking pills. :ohmy: Damn you, health enforcers! So my next journal will probably be when I either drop off the paperwork, or have my first official consultation, or if I am just nervous and want to blabber on to the information hole that is the internet. Tonight I'll be informing my parents what I will be doing. I've decided to tell my parents, my sister, and three of my closest friends. Everyone else knows I have PCOS and ovarian issues, so my plan is to tell them I am having surgery to take out cysts. I don't know why I want to keep it hush. I guess it's just none of their business. Game is still on!:thumbup:

Well, I am here. I don't exactly know what to put, but hi, I'm me, and I weigh 266lbs. I've been on a fairly strict diet and work out regimine now for 3 months (diet for longer), and somehow, I've managed to gain 5lbs. As far as being fat, I'm pretty well proportioned and get around well. I never really have seen myself as morbidly obese but the reality is that I am. Though my cholesterol and bp's are all good, truth is I have 100lbs more on my heart than I should and a knee that is starting to give me problems at the age of 26. For other health reasons, my doctor finally threw his hands up in the air and ran all my blood tests, and then suggested the lap-band. So in a few days I have my first consultation/meeting on it. I've been reading all I can; I first am going to the meeting, then I'll be calling our insurance to see how much they'll cover on it...and that will ultimately decide if I do it or not. Depending on that, I'll be waiting to set up the psych evals and be getting mentally ready for surgery. I've never had a single surgery in my life. Never a broken bone, a stitch, I didn't even have wisdom teeth, so I've never been knocked out for anything. The thought of it is definitely foreign, as well as a little frightening. I've been on the site going through blogs and posts. I'm nervous about the procedure. I'm nervous about failing. I'm nervous about having to mush up my foods or eat liquid diets for a while post-op (I'm not a big drinker and the texture of mushy stuff freaks me out...) but...nothing is easy and there are always going to be sacrifices. If I can't find a way to do it for me...then I have to do it for my kids. Don't get me wrong--I *want* to do it. I *want* to be healthier. I *want* to have more energy. :mad2: My husband is as supportive as he can be. He doesn't like change much, and he's nervous that if I lose a ton of weight, that I'll become a different person. I'd hate to think that the personality I have today is dependent greatly on my weight. But I can't say that I am not worried about that, as well. I don't even want to be at 145 or 160; I've be very happy to be 200lbs. Though the reason for the lap-band would not be cosmetic, my apprehension about it is. I'm very happy in my skin as I am now; I'm worried if I lose too much, too fast, that I'll have folds of skin hanging off of me. :ohmy: Well, I guess that is all I can say for now. I'm anxiously awaiting that first meeting this tuesday, and I'm sure I'll have more to write about, then.

Well, I am here. I don't exactly know what to put, but hi, I'm me, and I weigh 266lbs. I've been on a fairly strict diet and work out regimine now for 3 months (diet for longer), and somehow, I've managed to gain 5lbs. As far as being fat, I'm pretty well proportioned and get around well. I never really have seen myself as morbidly obese but the reality is that I am. Though my cholesterol and bp's are all good, truth is I have 100lbs more on my heart than I should and a knee that is starting to give me problems at the age of 26. For other health reasons, my doctor finally threw his hands up in the air and ran all my blood tests, and then suggested the lap-band. So in a few days I have my first consultation/meeting on it. I've been reading all I can; I first am going to the meeting, then I'll be calling our insurance to see how much they'll cover on it...and that will ultimately decide if I do it or not. Depending on that, I'll be waiting to set up the psych evals and be getting mentally ready for surgery. I've never had a single surgery in my life. Never a broken bone, a stitch, I didn't even have wisdom teeth, so I've never been knocked out for anything. The thought of it is definitely foreign, as well as a little frightening. I've been on the site going through blogs and posts. I'm nervous about the procedure. I'm nervous about failing. I'm nervous about having to mush up my foods or eat liquid diets for a while post-op (I'm not a big drinker and the texture of mushy stuff freaks me out...) but...nothing is easy and there are always going to be sacrifices. If I can't find a way to do it for me...then I have to do it for my kids. Don't get me wrong--I *want* to do it. I *want* to be healthier. I *want* to have more energy. :thumbup: My husband is as supportive as he can be. He doesn't like change much, and he's nervous that if I lose a ton of weight, that I'll become a different person. I'd hate to think that the personality I have today is dependent greatly on my weight. But I can't say that I am not worried about that, as well. I don't even want to be at 145 or 160; I've be very happy to be 200lbs. Though the reason for the lap-band would not be cosmetic, my apprehension about it is. I'm very happy in my skin as I am now; I'm worried if I lose too much, too fast, that I'll have folds of skin hanging off of me. :wink_smile: Well, I guess that is all I can say for now. I'm anxiously awaiting that first meeting this tuesday, and I'm sure I'll have more to write about, then.