wantitband

What was the date of your surgery? October 20 '09 How healthy did you/do you eat? for the first 8 months very healthy but have been throwing in some other foods lately to see how my body will react. haven't gained any weight so i'm happy. just limit the amount of food i eat. still try to do low-carb How much do you exercise? walk at least 3 miles a day and WII fit/EAS active 4-5 times a week for 30 minutes How much have you lost? actually started diet since seminar and lost 150 but 131 since surgery date Are you happy with your results? very happy!!! wish i would have done sooner __________________

I know first hand how difficult bipolar is on a family. I have bipolar disorder and I know that it has been really rough on my husband and two kids for the last 7 years. I have many regrets ( that I will have till I die) of things that I have said and done to all 3 of them. I love my family with all my heart. But some days, I feel like leaving them...for their own good. I have been on medicine for the past 5 years but have only been really stable for a year now. I still have my days though. Medicine isn't a miracle cure but it sure helps. My kids are 10 and 12 now and we sat them down a couple years ago and explained my condition to them. They have gone to my therapy appts with me so they have a better understanding of why I behave the way I do some days. They have pretty much adjusted to me and now they can predict which mood is coming next and when to let me have alone time. I love my children more than anything and it kills me to know that I haven't really "been" there for them most of their lives. But they tell me all of the time that they understand and still love me regardless. My husband, God bless him. He must be a saint because he has put up with more than his share. We have been married for 15 years and I can't tell you how many times I have screamed at him and threw things. It gets annoying when he asks me everyday if I have taken my medicine, but I know why he does it. He should have taken the kids and left me years ago but he didn't. I am thankful for that because I don't know what I would do without my family. My husband always tells me that he loves me and if he didn't believe in me and know the real me then he would have left a long time ago. I guess that I have always had symptoms of bipolar since I was around 10. My parents were alcoholics and very abusive. Being abused sexually, mentally, physically.....I just thought that I was normal. I didn't know any differently until my husband kept telling me that I changed and begged me to get help. All I can say is thank God for a family that is understanding and loves me now matter how I am and for my therapist.

I have fepblue. They don't require a 6 month diet but like to see that you have attempted in the past to lose weight. They have paid for all of my testing with the exception of $20 co-pays. The billing insurance specialist from the hospital called and told me that she had submitted the papers right before she called. Two hours later I called blue cross to check on something else and they told me that I was approved for surgery. That was really quick. They said they were going to pay 85%. I am scheduled for surgery Oct 20.

:thumbup:Good Luck everyone!!!! Oct 20 is going to be the first day of my new life!!! I'm so excited.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I was really starting to worry that was normal. So glad to hear that it isn't. I am definitely getting banded as soon as the insurance approves. I know that I can do this since so many other wonderful people have. I will keep reading the forums for inspiration. I know that the band will be my tool along with healthy eating and exercise.

Just wondering if this is normal. One of the men at work said that his wife had lap band surgery 1 1/2 years ago with a 25 lb weight loss up to this point. He was telling me that when she eats, she always takes 5 bites then has to vomit. Then comes back to the table and finishes off her entire meal, dessert and all. (example he gave me was a good size steak, large baked potato, 2 veggie sides and piece of cake) I am just starting the paperwork to be banded and I guess my question is, is this really normal? If this is the case, I don't think that I want to go through the pain. I thought the whole idea of being banded was to help limit your food intake. Any comments on this one? Thanks!