Veggestyle

Hello Arcael! Congratulations on your lapband surgery!!! I am just in the beginning stages of preparing for the surgery. What made you decide to do it? :tea:

Yesterday I called my general doctor of whom I have been seeing for about 10 years now. She was kind enough to speak with me over the phone about me considering the lapband. Unfortunately, she has not had ONE patient that has had the procedure. The receptionist that I left the message with had never even heard of it before! Must be nice not to have to worry about WLS and be oblivious to what it is...:mad: My doctor understood my feelings about being overweight at my age and getting ready to have babies in a few years and wanting to be at a healthy weight. However, I found it very interesting what she said to me..."I would hate to see someone so young go through something so drastic." Aren't doctors usually all about you losing weight and being at that right height/weight that their little charts show? She actually wants me to see an endocronologist before further considering the lapband. My sister just won a battle with thyroid cancer :clap2: and she is only 29! The doctor wants to make sure that everything there is ok and that nothing with my glands is causing this weight problem...i kind of doubt that, but we will see...:straight

I think it would be interesting to add to the weight loss numbers, the day of their surgery so we could see those statistics as well. Awesome job everyone!!! :clap2: Also...what does it mean for a post to be a sticky?

Yesterday I called my general doctor of whom I have been seeing for about 10 years now. She was kind enough to speak with me over the phone about me considering the lapband. Unfortunately, she has not had ONE patient that has had the procedure. The receptionist that I left the message with had never even heard of it before! Must be nice not to have to worry about WLS and be oblivious to what it is...:mad: My doctor understood my feelings about being overweight at my age and getting ready to have babies in a few years and wanting to be at a healthy weight. However, I found it very interesting what she said to me..."I would hate to see someone so young go through something so drastic." Aren't doctors usually all about you losing weight and being at that right height/weight that their little charts show? She actually wants me to see an endocronologist before further considering the lapband. My sister just won a battle with thyroid cancer :clap2: and she is only 29! The doctor wants to make sure that everything there is ok and that nothing with my glands is causing this weight problem...i kind of doubt that, but we will see...:straight

I finally got up the courage...and the patience to call my insurance company and see if they cover the lapband surgery. After waiting on hold for about fifteen minutes, surprisingly, a very friendly voice answered...I get very discouraged when I am calling about such personal information and the person on the other line sounds like they cannot be bothered. However, unfortunately, the insurance representative said that my insurance company shows that it neither includes or excludes the procedure. After all that I have read and researched (mostly on this board, thank you!) I am assuming that means that it depends on my medical history, current stats. and weight loss attempts. So that answer is in limbo, which I guess is better than just a "no" it does not. :mad: As soon as I got off the phone with the insurance company, I called up my doctor who I have been seeing for about seven years now. The hang up there is that I recently moved about 1 hour and a half away from her location...I left a message with the receptionist, hoping that the doc. would consider discussing this with me over the phone....Well, we'll see. ...It is therapeutic for me to write about it in this journal and I hope that detailing my journey is helping someone out there

Do the doctors suggest that you chew everything 30 times before swallowing? If you dont mind me asking, do you use baby utensils, as I have heard suggested...?

Thank you for the advice! I can have drinks at my desk too, and even a snack if the kids are working on something. I teach 8th graders and always need to have an eagle eye on them no matter what! Oh dear...those teacher's lounge Snacks...they truly have not helped me out at all! Worst of all, we have a "snack table" that is located in the office were my desk is!!! And of coarse it is always loaded with chocolate, krispy kreme, and other devilish delights...:evil:

I was sharing old photos with my boyfriend today...We sat down to look at pictures from when I lived in Germany from about seven years ago. I was about 15/16 at that time. When I sat with him to share the photos I simply thought that I was sharing with him the sights that I saw while I was in Germany, I got more than that....I saw how I looked back then and it hurt...it hurt because I thought that I was so FAT :mad: back then. I was so hard on myself, and thought that I was so f***n ugly and fat...at about 150 pounds...I also suffered from bulemia. I would be so exstatic to be that weight again...now at 270m lbs. I really wish that I had realized...

I was sharing old photos with my boyfriend today...We sat down to look at pictures from when I lived in Germany from about seven years ago. I was about 15/16 at that time. When I sat with him to share the photos I simply thought that I was sharing with him the sights that I saw while I was in Germany, I got more than that....I saw how I looked back then and it hurt...it hurt because I thought that I was so FAT :mad: back then. I was so hard on myself, and thought that I was so f***n ugly and fat...at about 150 pounds...I also suffered from bulemia. I would be so exstatic to be that weight again...now at 270m lbs. I really wish that I had realized...

I finally admitted to myself that I need to take a drastic measure...dieting, pills, exercising, even...vomiting, restricting eating...does not work for me. :faint: I am not sure how I have managed this...but I have been lying to myself about my health, my weight, my looks. I would think to myself...it isnt that bad...but I knew deep down what was really going on... I need help. I need help to overcome my weight physically and emotionally. I have seen the commercials for lapband, even talked to a few friends about it, and sigh* even have had a coworker suggest it for me... I am teacher and so I have the summer off...the summer off to better myself? exercise? Or sit around and think...mostly negative thoughts and then one day I had a good though, why dont I call up L.A. weightloss? Yeah...that didnt work for me either...I did give it an honest try, but to no avail. :phanvan I am scared. I am scared of my negative thoughts, of failing, of people not being supportive, of surgery, of failing... I need to make a change, I need to be healthy, and happier. And so I began my weightloss journy through surgery a few weeks ago. I signed up to receive a packet of info. about WLS, specifically the lapband, and then entered all of my "patient" info. on their internet database. Some of the questions they wanted answers too...such as why do you eat? have you been in an abusive relationship? what are you worried about? are too difficult to answer in a text box. I strugged through it, even shed a few tears, but I made it. I have now signed up for the mandatory seminar about the lapband that is given by the surgeon, and will begin to make the numerous appointments with the numerous specialists. I hope that me detailing my journey helps those who read it as much as you all here have helped me, without even knowing me...Thank you.

I finally admitted to myself that I need to take a drastic measure...dieting, pills, exercising, even...vomiting, restricting eating...does not work for me. :faint: I am not sure how I have managed this...but I have been lying to myself about my health, my weight, my looks. I would think to myself...it isnt that bad...but I knew deep down what was really going on... I need help. I need help to overcome my weight physically and emotionally. I have seen the commercials for lapband, even talked to a few friends about it, and sigh* even have had a coworker suggest it for me... I am teacher and so I have the summer off...the summer off to better myself? exercise? Or sit around and think...mostly negative thoughts and then one day I had a good though, why dont I call up L.A. weightloss? Yeah...that didnt work for me either...I did give it an honest try, but to no avail. :phanvan I am scared. I am scared of my negative thoughts, of failing, of people not being supportive, of surgery, of failing... I need to make a change, I need to be healthy, and happier. And so I began my weightloss journy through surgery a few weeks ago. I signed up to receive a packet of info. about WLS, specifically the lapband, and then entered all of my "patient" info. on their internet database. Some of the questions they wanted answers too...such as why do you eat? have you been in an abusive relationship? what are you worried about? are too difficult to answer in a text box. I strugged through it, even shed a few tears, but I made it. I have now signed up for the mandatory seminar about the lapband that is given by the surgeon, and will begin to make the numerous appointments with the numerous specialists. I hope that me detailing my journey helps those who read it as much as you all here have helped me, without even knowing me...Thank you.

I have private medical insurance through the school district that I teach in. The name of the insurance company is BSSI. I still have yet to call them and see if they cover the lapband procedure, I am anxious about what they will have to say.

Welcome Ark, I think that is wonderful that you and your wife are going through this together. Good luck with everything!

You are very right Ariel, people often can be surprising in their reactions. I feel that I may be surprised by my Dad and he may be rather supportive, but my mom will just be really scared. I dont feel it would be fair to them to not tell them what is going on especially since you never know what may happen while you are in surgery.

Hello, I am 23 and am very serioulsy considering to be banded. I've actually begun my journey at a hospital nearby, and will begin pre-op tests soon. Honestly, I am concerned about telling my parents, they wont understand...

I have not been banded yet, but I am beginning my journey. I am very nevous about telling my family. So far only my sister and my boyfriend know. They are supportive, but more worried about me going through the procedure than really supportive of making a life changing decision. My parents are pretty conservative and traditional and I am afraid they will not understand my decision and will make me feel guilty for it...:phanvan

I really appreciate everyone having the courage and will to post their pictures. Your pictures have eased my mind and empowered me with information. Thank you! :clap2:

I totally understand that one of the reasons I am the position that I am in of having a BMI of 48 at the age of 23 is because I enjoy food... I am more than willing to make life changes, but I am wondering if you are still able to "enjoy" food after being banded? I guess I mean enjoy in a variety of sense, enjoy the taste/texture, eating with family, eating out...I would appreciate anyone to share their experiences! :hungry:

Hello, my name is Cassandra! I am seriously considering the lapband surgery, and have been viewing posts over the past few days. I really appreciate all of the information that everyone posts, thank you. I am trying to gain as much info. about the surgery before I truly commit myself to it, but I feel that in my heart I already have. I just wanted to introduce myself and say thank you! :eek:

Thank you! I love my puppy too, he makes me so happy. His name is Pete and he is a mini dachshund!!! Thank you for the support! I think that is so brave of you to be banded at the age of 18. What made you make the decision for WL surgery...if you dont mind me asking...

I definitely agree with you that overeating or any unhealthy eating habits/behaviors have come from somewhere within. I truly believe that for myself. Honestly, I am still soul searching to figure out and try to heal what has caused me to reach this weight and feel unhealthy. I personally feel that the surgery does not "fix" those inner problems, but may provide a healthier path to follow and the tools we need. I have noticed that a lot of hospitals that to WL surgery also offer counseling and support.

Thanks for the reply, gives me hope. I am hoping that since I am a vegetarian that will make things a little bit easier for me b/c I wont have to worry about digesting meat!

Thank you for your advice and support. I totally understand that the lapband is not a quick fix, but I am looking for something that will actually work and make me a healthier person.