MrsWilson1212

It has been over a year since I have visited this forum. The last time I was here all of the work I had put into getting through the long process was put on hold because my very enlarged thyroid had to be removed. I remember being in intense pain from the surgery and in a moment of extreme pain questioned my own sanity about thinking of going back under a knife for anything that wasn't required. This coupled with the fact my doctor wanted me to wait 6 weeks to heal from that surgery before considering getting banded. Since my insurance was changing at the end of the year and I wasn't sure if my new insurance would honor what I had done previously since my doctor did not work at one of their "Centers of Excellence" I just shelved the whole idea and tried (and fail) for the next year to do it the good old fashioned way with diet and exercise. I lost a couple lbs..gained em back...I tried to just chalk it all up and embrace my curves and fat (outside of the curves) saying I was fine just the way I was. But I still didnt feel fine about how I looked. I remember looking at pictures of myself after a girlfriend trip to Miami in June realizing my weight was starting to make me look old and tired. I never once pulled out my bathing suit and seriously felt like a fish out of water among all the young, slim and fit women walking the strip. But I tarried on...I had a good time, but I am sure the lack of fun was because I didnt feel "Miami confident" . A couple of months ago, I got a call from the bariatric doctor to see if I was still interested in getting the surgery because he had moved to a hospital that was now included as one of the "Centers of Excellence". I made an appointment but never went and kinda shelved the idea. Well events that happened within the last 24 - 48 hours kinda brought things home for me once again. I received a message from the doctor's office a week or so ago asking me if I wanted to reschedule, but with a myriad of other crap going on I didnt return the call. Once the dust settled around me and I was able to think clearly I realized this was something that I need to do...or at least TRY to do always believe if its God;s will it will be. When I first began this journey I did it with a vigor despite the objections of my husband who threatened to divorce me if I went along with it. His fears did not quell me but I wanted his support and continued to revisit it with him hoping he would say yes. But that never happened. So my vow to honor my husband combined with memory of the pain from my thyroid and some of the mental stuff I was going through on the visits with the process (never felt bad about my weight until I started hearing "morbidly obese" once a month) made it easier to put it in the back of my mind. But being thinner, healthier, and feeling better about myself was still something I wanted and I knew this could be the ticket. A coworker had lapband around this time last year and although her weight loss seems to be slow, her 55 lb weight loss makes her look healthier is nothing more. She admitted she wasnt exercising and doing everything she should be doing, but she also didnt look back with regret because she feels better which has always been a goal for me. Another co-worker had gastric bypass surgery and I have watched her shrink in the last 8-9 months, making me again long to be in the "club" but more than anything, I have come to realize the I have to really make this about me. I have to proceed without fear in order to get what I need to proceed to the next step in my life and if it means doing it without the support of my husband who I realize objects because of his own fears, so be it. I have lived for others for far too long and it is time for me to be true to myself. So I called them back yesterday and made an appointment for January 3rd, as well as spoke to my counselor today since her clearance was also one of the last phases of my process. When I go on the 3rd, I am hoping they will be able to review what I have done, see I truly ready and take me through those final phases and give me a date. I will keep you posted.

I have 5 large nodules on my thyroid that would have to be removed in time and it is a surgery I am opting have now instead of when I turn 70. (as my doctor posed to me) The discovery of the problem occured because the bariatric surgeon sent me to have it checked thoroughly and until it is taken care of, my surgery is on hold.

Although I am still in the process and awaiting a date I can relate to that feeling of frustration when you feel as if someone is competing with you. A coworker had gastric last year and our relationship has suffered since she found out I am trying to get lapband. While I can applaud her weight loss, she, like your friend did it without doing the "work" and if she would have done more of it, probably would have lost more and/or would not have alot of the issues I see (mentally and physically) which steered me away from wanting gastric. She has been steadfast with providing me anything negative about lap band especially pointing out how the weight loss will be slower or not as much. It took me a while before I realized her comments were coming from a place that fears I will steal her thunder. Initally I tried to make her understand my goal wasn't to lose x amount of pounds as much as it was to just feel better (mentally and physically) but despite this she just seem to get more nasty as I completed phases of the process even resorting to taking jabs at my size (as if she was never had a weight issue) and at that point, I realize she was just being a hater. Pure and simple. You are pounds away from your goals. Celebrate your success and leave the haters where they lie..sitting around worried about you. Congratulations on your achievement and I wish you continued success.

I started my process in June of this year and currently have Keystone Health Plan East. My company is dropping them and my replacement choice is Anthem Blue Cross PA. My surgeon wanted me to get clearance on her suspicion that I had an enlarged thyroid and sent me for an ultrasound. Lo and behold and do. I am in the final phases but I have to have my thyroid removed (11/11) which is going to of course cause a delay. She told me I need to recover and get my hormones at a proper level before getting the WLS (approx 6 weeeks) which is of course going to take me very close to the end of the year and it looks like getting this done before 1/1/10 when my new insurance kicks in is not going to be possible. I checked the website for Anthem and they cover lap band but my current surgeon is not listed as one of their providers. The "sister" hospital is and I wonder if I am going to have to start from scratch and/or see the new surgeon at the "sister" hospital....Has anyone experienced this? Your feedback is appreciated.

Yes I am back...didnt think I would be but since my last entry quite a bit has changed and I have once again stepped back on this path....well kinda. Like Brett Farve I have changed my mind and decided to get back in the game. For starters..I am having my thyroid removed. Yup. Time for it to go. On 11/11 I am scheduled to have surgery to remove my nodule filled thyroid. I also learned during my consult with the surgeon that it functions normally meaning basically I am fat because I am fat..not because of my thyroid. As a result, guess who reconsidered lap band? I called my bariatric surgeon's office (after almost a 2 months absence) and told them about the surgery and to see if it would be possible to get the lap band soon after since my current insurance company will be replaced 1/1/10. I also rescheduled my missed sleep study appt so I can get the 2 weeks worth of treatments I need before I really reach my final stage before seeing the nutrionist which occurs weeks before surgery. Well the bariatric doctor told me that I need at least 6 wks after my thyroid surgery to get adjusted to the medicine and to heal and she didnt want to risk rushing it just to get it covered by my current insurance company (anyone experience insurance company change while in the process?) So I decided to spend this time to try to drop some weight (it will be unavoidable when I get my thyroid removed) and to finish up all my required appointments. I am even going to try to get back to see the surgeon by the end of the year and who knows maybe come Jan 2010 I might actually get a date!! Again I am leaving it all in God's hands and have to let Mr. Wilson know I have changed my mind again (he is kinda used to that but he also seemed relieved when I told him I decided to get it during my frustrated period) Funny thing is..I cant help but think how ironic this is..having my thyroid removed is going to force me to do 2 things that I havent done and really need to do before I get lap band..1. quit smoking..yeah I cut down to about 3-4 a day but I know I have to really QUIT..and 2. lose SOME weight. Not being able to swallow and being on a liquid diet for a couple of weeks after that surgery is going to be great practice for my lap band surgery. So maybe this IS part of God's plan because maybe I really wasn't as ready as I need to be and now I have no choice but to get ready. :huh2: So here goes...Stay tuned..

Yes I am back...didnt think I would be but since my last entry quite a bit has changed and I have once again stepped back on this path....well kinda. Like Brett Farve I have changed my mind and decided to get back in the game. For starters..I am having my thyroid removed. Yup. Time for it to go. On 11/11 I am scheduled to have surgery to remove my nodule filled thyroid. I also learned during my consult with the surgeon that it functions normally meaning basically I am fat because I am fat..not because of my thyroid. As a result, guess who reconsidered lap band? I called my bariatric surgeon's office (after almost a 2 months absence) and told them about the surgery and to see if it would be possible to get the lap band soon after since my current insurance company will be replaced 1/1/10. I also rescheduled my missed sleep study appt so I can get the 2 weeks worth of treatments I need before I really reach my final stage before seeing the nutrionist which occurs weeks before surgery. Well the bariatric doctor told me that I need at least 6 wks after my thyroid surgery to get adjusted to the medicine and to heal and she didnt want to risk rushing it just to get it covered by my current insurance company (anyone experience insurance company change while in the process?) So I decided to spend this time to try to drop some weight (it will be unavoidable when I get my thyroid removed) and to finish up all my required appointments. I am even going to try to get back to see the surgeon by the end of the year and who knows maybe come Jan 2010 I might actually get a date!! Again I am leaving it all in God's hands and have to let Mr. Wilson know I have changed my mind again (he is kinda used to that but he also seemed relieved when I told him I decided to get it during my frustrated period) Funny thing is..I cant help but think how ironic this is..having my thyroid removed is going to force me to do 2 things that I havent done and really need to do before I get lap band..1. quit smoking..yeah I cut down to about 3-4 a day but I know I have to really QUIT..and 2. lose SOME weight. Not being able to swallow and being on a liquid diet for a couple of weeks after that surgery is going to be great practice for my lap band surgery. So maybe this IS part of God's plan because maybe I really wasn't as ready as I need to be and now I have no choice but to get ready. :huh2: So here goes...Stay tuned..

THank you so much for your kind words. I really really appreciate it.