want2lose

Welcome! I agree that LBT has been an amazing resource. I've tried to follow OH, but without a search feature, it is very frustrating. I feel so prepared because of LBT. There are 3 of us so far with 9/12. It'll be a great date!

I am at Fair Oaks hospital in VA. Are you having your surgery as out patient or staying overnight? My surgeon usually has patients stay overnight, but said if all goes well in recovery I can go home the same day. Unfortunately my suregery ended up being scheduled for 2:00, so I don't know if that will give me enough time to "recover" and get discharged before he leaves for the night. I have my pre-op appt this Thursday, so I'm hoping to talk to him about it then. You have to be so excited to finally have a date.

You should run spy sweeper or some sort of anti spy software. That should help with your problem.

We have the same date! 3 weeks from today. It's gonna go fast. Where are you having your surgery?

I think this is something most of us have gone through. It usually takes a photo for us to realize how large we have gotten. It will also take a photo to see how much we have lost. Ten years ago I lost about 80lbs, and for the first 50, I swore my Dr (it was a medically supervised program) played games with the scale to keep us motivated. I was convinced that he kept artificially lowering it. At the time (leggings were still in style) all my clothes were stretchy, so I didn't realize that I had dropped so many sizes. It took a photo for me to "see" it. Even 80lbs lighter, I really didn't see a difference in the mirror.

When I starting researching WLS, I was frustrated with my weight (again), and was contemplating calling my Dr. to start back on phentermine(again). I finally decided that taking weight loss drugs for another couple years has to be doing more harm to my body then surgery would do. Although using meds has been the only way I have ever lost weight in the past, it has always come back on. The constant yo-yo dieting is not good for my health. I am the mirror image of my mother, who at 65 (and overweight her entire adult life) has had 2 knee replacements, breast cancer, and now is an insulin dependant diabetic. Watching her have to test her blood sugar 4 times/day, and take insulin injections 5 times/day has sent me over the edge. If I don't fix this now, I know where I am headed. This is my chance to alter my path. I know it is a scary choice. Dig deep and write down why you want it, what other options you have, what you haven't tried, and what you are afraid of. Hopefully that will help you make your decision.

I spent all of July reading every negative post I could find. I practically lived on the complications board :mad: . Because of that I feel really comfortable with my choice, and very prepared (although still scared) for any PB / sliming / golf ball episodes that may come my way. The negatives that I am really trying to avoid reading are those that have figured out how to "eat around the band" and thus are not losing weight. I need to think positively that this tool will work for me, and have confidence that I can deal with any complications that might come my way. If we all stick together we will reach our goals!

How frustrating! I gave up soda for lent this year, and did pretty good. I must admit though, since I know it is about to leave my life permanantly, I am drinking 4-6 cans of diet coke a day right now. I don't even like it that much, but I just can't stop. I'll keep you on our Sept list for now. I hope you get a date soon.

Every Dr. is different, and it also seams to have to do with you BMI. Some Dr's don't do a pre-op diet, some do liquids for 2 weeks, some for 2 days. I have also read that some are no carbs for a period of time. I am a very picky eater, and am scared of the liquid diet too. I meet with the nutritionist on Thursday, and am hoping for some creative solutions then.

I have CareFirst, Blue Choice. When I 1st called the insurance co, they told me my policy only covered bypass, not lapband. I was completely depressed, but thanks to LBT, I was encouraged to schedule a consultation and see what happens. I already had pysician supervised weight loss programs, since I have been on & off phentermine forever. I also have been attending WW since November. I went to my 1st appointment with records in hand, and a very detailed 10 year weight loss history. While I HATE journaling what I eat, I have always journaled my weight and measurements. At the start of every diet I would log my stats, and update it every few weeks, until I quit that diet and started gaining. This made it real easy for me to re-create my history. 4 days later I had my insurance approval. I hope all my pre-op goes smoothly this week. I've got it all crammed into 2 days, so I am going to be one tired puppy come friday.

Good luck to everyone still waiting on insurance. I was so stressed out about the insurance, but fortunately mine went through without a bump. I really feel for you guys! I'll keep my finger crossed for you.:gluck:

I have spent the last week eating everything I can get my hands on. I'm pretty sure when I go for my pre-op appt on Thurs, I will be put on a liquid diet, so I keep telling myself this is my last chance to enjoy ______. I truly am my own worst enemy.

Bibytiz, Did you lose the 31lbs since the liquid/bar diet in July? That is amazing to lose that in a month pre - banding. You must be so psyched!

Dimples, Congratulations on your amazing band success! It sounds to me like you need to take a minute and look at your signature. It has been 16 weeks since you were banded. Everything that I have read says to expect a 1-2 lb loss/week. You are averaging almost 3lbs/week. Coming from someone about to be banded, I think you are a great role model. I hear your frustration, but don't look at this the same way we all have looked at every diet in the past. In the past you had really no chance to keep off the weight. With your band, you have a tool for life. Keep working with your surgeon to maximize your band's potential. Keep using these boards for your "extended family" support system. Keep being a role model to us newbies, because you are doing great and we believe in you. Good Luck!

:help: Can everyone please tell me the name of who you saw in NOVA / MD for your Psyc eval??? No one on my surgeon's list participates with my insurance, CareFirst, BlueChoice. I need to find another therapist quickly. Thanks!

Thats great. Insurance never ceases to amaze me. Can I ask you one more personal question...I am looking for a new PCP on the blue cares network. We switched insurance to CF, BC in March, and my old PCP is not in their network. I would love to get the name of a PCP that is not anti band/WLS. Thanks!

Loving-It, I see you were banded by Dr. Pinnar. Do you mind me asking how much he ran since he is out of network with Blue Choice. Thanks!

Is this a statistic from their office or did you find a ranking list on the web somewhere? I would love to see how surgeon's in my area rank. Thanks!

Good luck! I will be a few weeks behind you. I'll be looking for your words of wisdom!

Great job. I hope I will be as successful when I am banded next month. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I have been wearing spanx for about 3 years and love them. Especially the capri lenght that I wear with pants. Although I must say I can't wait to be banded and to lose this weight and not need them anymore!!!

Did anyone get their psych eval paid for by insurance? I found a Dr. on my insurance list, but they just told me they won't bill insurance for WLS evals. Has anyone else had problems like this? I am insurance approved for surgery. Thanks!

I need the names of Dr's people in VA & MD used for their psych consult. None on the list my surgeon gave me participate in my insurance, and random calls to other Psychiatrists are not proving successful in finding one that does WLS evals. I just need names and cities, so I can check them against my insurance list. Thanks!

Thanks for that suggestion. I wasn't planning on even trying to submit the nutritionist, but I will try that too. Thanks!

I got copies of my records from my PCP and brought them to my consultation. These records are where I had documentation of my medically supervised weight loss program. I did not tell my PCP why I needed the records. I turned them in at my consultation, and they took care of everything with my insurance company, and 3 days later I was approved.