ldswims

What a strange range of feelings and emotions this all brings about. Who ever thought SURGERY would be exciting? Who ever thought losing weight would be terrifying? If you'd told me that I would feel what I feel and think what I think now that I've decided to seriously explore (read make up my mind to do this) this, I'd have said you were nuts! So the surgeon's office called this morning and needed to move my consult appt up. Turns out that it got moved a lot - from Oct 22 to Oct 7. So I will have some answers next week and the process will start next week. It just feels like next week will be huge for me! I think, though, the excitement is more aptly for HOPE. And the terrified is more aptly for the unknown.... I'll take both!

I have had quite the week! I have looked at this procedure before but have never been "qualified". Lately, I've become qualified - which was not something I aspired to, let me tell you. I taught swim lessons in my pool over the summer. I was teaching lessons 6 nights a week (after working a full 9-10 hour day mon-fri) and managed to lose twenty pounds or so. As SOON as the swim lessons came to an end and I was no longer in the pool as much, I gained all that weight back in the span of a week plus a little more to boot. Has anyone ever tried to maintain 6 days of activity, with a minimum of 3 hours of that activity for long? If I was training for something, I could see it. But in that time that I was teaching those lessons, so many other things around the house were not happening. But this isn't about that. That's just one example of my issues I've dealt with over the years. Suffice it to say, I've got good eating habits, a healthy balanced diet. Six nutritionists have agreed with that over the years. I am active. Always have been. Want to always stay that way! And yet here I am. Last weekend, I did too much. I cooked for and played games with some friends on Friday night. Saturday I was up and about for a mere 20 hours full of running errands and playing football in a parking lot before watching football (on my feet) in a stadium. Sunday I was swimming all day while bbq'ing and playing with friends and their kids. Doesn't sound like much. To me it sounds like an ideal weekend. Lots of love and laughter and lots of out and about - not lazing on the couch (which is nice on occasion, don't get me wrong - but only on like weeknights after a long day at work after cooking, cleaning, and working out). But I have a bad foot. When I was in the Navy my foot was injured in a freak accident and it causes problems to this day. Before I got "heavy" my foot rarely had good days. Since I've been heavy, my foot NEVER has good days - and it's now compounded by my feet having to deal with this weight. They both aren't happy. But my bad foot causes my joints to lock up. And it starts with the foot. Then if I don't chill out, it heads off for my ankle. If I still don't chill out, it heads off for my knee. If I STILL don't chill out, it goes after my hip. And then I'm laid up until my foot can relax which lately is running in the two-three day range. So last weekend, I got myself all locked up. I KNOW my weight is at the heart of this. I used to "recover" quicker. I used to be ok. So Monday and Tuesday I was home. Monday I was just me. Tuesday I got a bit sad. And then I asked myself - what can I do about this? Lose weight, obviously. But weightlifting, dieting, walking, swimming - that combination ISN'T working. And when it does work, it only works for so long before it all comes back. And then I saw a commercial of all things. And I hobbled to my computer to see what I could see. And instantaneously I had hope. By Wednesday morning at 8 am, I had an appt with my PCP to discuss this. I called my insurance company Tues night to find out if it's covered and what I need to do. By Wednesday morning at 9 am, I had an appt with a surgeon's office to discuss this even further. I initially thought I would not attend a seminar but by Wednesday afternoon realized it would be beneficial to do so. And I continued doing research. And I continued asking questions. I got myself all garbled up yesterday by thinking about just how long this might all take. My insurance company requires six months of doctor supervised weightloss and exercise. Ok. No worries there. I do that anyway. I can do that. Yesterday, though, I was still thinking "I wanted immediate gratification". I also had over three weeks to wait until the appt with the surgeon, so the six months wouldn't even start until then. But last night I got myself calmed down. That's the thing about me. I can get worked up over nothing. And I can also usually get myself back to functional without much effort. And I did. I wish I could avoid that whole process...but that's me. So here I am, calm and collected again saying "ok". Whatever. I can do this for six months. I can get my good habits in place and situated. I can start this process without the band and use the band to finish it and then maintain it. No, the band is not a magic little thing that is going to work magic on me. I'm calling it my feedback mechanism. I need to recondition myself and I need to recondition myself PERMANENTLY and that's what I see the band as - the reminder. And like I said, here I am, calm and collected. About half an hour ago a strange number called my cell phone. I rarely answer strange numbers so I let it go to voicemail. And a lot of times strange numbers don't leave messages and I say - yay, I didn't waste my time. This strange number DID leave a voicemail. I listened to it and didn't know what to think. The surgeons office called and needed to reschedule. I'm thinking, oh no, they could barely get me in in three weeks - I don't want to wait to start this process until NOVEMBER. So I went in a quiet room which is what we have in this building since each and everyone of us are in cubicles. And I called them back. And they said - do you prefer afternoon? Yes, but I really just want to get in and get this process started and I'll deal with whatever I have to. So she says...the best I can do is Oct 12th? Are you kidding? That's AWESOME! And then she looks a bit more and says, actually, I can't do that. DANGIT! And then she says, it will have to be Oct 7th! At 10:30 AM. So next week will be my starting point. I will meet with my PCP on Tues. I'm fairly certain she'll give me the letter of medical necessity for a variety of reasons. 1) she's mentioned this before. 2) I'm fat - BMI says it all (even though I don't think a BMI is really a true indicator. I am a lot of muscle - but I certainly have a lot of fat on me, too.) 3) parental histories put me at great risk for TONS of stuff all related to weight. 4) she's generally a nice, helpful doctor who wants to help make life better. And at the end of the day, that's my goal. Make life better. I don't want to pay a price for having an awesome weekend. I don't want to stop having awesome weekends because I'm scared of the pain and discomfort that follows. I want to be healthy and feel better. I want to STAY healthy! I want to not follow my parents to an early grave. Like I said, I meet with the PCP on Tues. Meet with the surgeon's RNP on Weds. And then the Lap-Band® seminar Thurs night. I hope it's a good week.

Howdy everyone. I just wanted to say hi and see if people can help me out with basic questions. I am contemplating this procedure and am wondering what to expect. Like info on timelines - how does the process go and what has been your experience? I am 34 yo, 5'7 and weigh 260. That equates to a BMI of 41. I don't have any other underlying health concerns at the moment, but I want to keep it that way! My father died from Type II Diabetes and hypertension and my mother died from colon cancer. My mother never struggled with her weight but my father did with his. I have enough to be concerned with there that I don't need to be carrying this extra weight like I am. I can generally lose weight easily but I can never keep it off. And when I gain it back, it comes back with more. So how does this process play out? Does it take months to get in for the surgery? Or can it be pretty fast in development? I have a consult with a surgeon on Oct 22 and go into see my PCP on Oct 6. I will get from her the medical necessity letter next week - I'm pretty sure she will provide that as I meet the criteria AND she's mentioned this in the past. What will the surgeon want from me? Has anyone been required to attend the seminar? Do you recommend it? Anything you can share with me would be much appreciated, that's for sure. I'm so very full of questions right now and I want to read some REAL experiences, not some sales literature. Sorry if you've read this on the introduction side, I thought it might get more reads on this line of topics. Thank you! Lori

Thank you both for responding. It seems so incredibly counterintuitive (there's that word again) to either 1) not care about gaining weight for now or 2) actually TRY to gain weight. I...urgh...I know they want to know who's serious, who's a wise investment, who really wants to change, who is likely to be successful. But all of this is also so much like a game. And I hate games. At least this kind. Love board games. Love cards. Love dominoes. But emotional tag? I'm not very into it! If I know me at all, if I TRY to gain weight...I WILL LOSE IT! Yay! And in the same caveat, right now, if I TRY to lose weight, I'll do that, too. Have to laugh about that, I must say. It is funny. I would hope that my family history of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and cancer might aid in me being on that border that I'm on. I just want answers. Like I said...I don't tolerate uncertainty very well....

Thanks, KartMan! I think no drinking with meals will take some getting used to on my part. That one just seems weird and counterintuitive and just plain wrong to me. I was always taught - by my Nutritionist mother - ok, she was a Nurse Practicioner with a minor in Nutrition - that we drink to aid in avoiding choking. I keep reading that over and over and I won't contest it. My husband and I both think it actually makes sense when you stop and think about it. But 34 years of habit has got to go - and I always thought that was a GOOD habit. HA! What things caught you off guard? And when does weightlifting become ok again? That's going to be a hard one to deal with, if this comes to pass. I love lifting weights and being restricted from that for (from what I've read) at least three months seems, again, counterintuitive. It should not take that long to heal from this, is my presumption - but what do I know, I'm not a doctor or a surgeon...

Thanks dragonflylover, I have finally started getting some beneficial information. Now I am trying to find personal stories - successful and otherwise. It's funny, I've told three people that I'm contemplating this. My boss who may or may not be turning into a friend. He was supportive and had some great suggestions and really surprised me. I told my neighbor, a great friend - someone who might possibly consider this for herself - and she judged me. And I told a friend who thinks that if this can help alleviate the pain in my foot from an old Navy injury then it's worth it's weight in gold! And that in itself is a huge part of the reason why I'm now pursuing this. My husband, who needs to lose weight, too, although not nearly as much as me, is incredibly supportive. And we both think that this can be a tool for him, too, even though I would be the one getting banded. Between the two of us, we are both excited, if you will, at the prospect. Where I am afraid I'm going to get frustrated in all this is in the waiting! I don't want the excitement to fizzle. That's my fear. But I also don't want to get excited to have them tell me I'm not really a candidate. I can't see why I wouldn't be - need to lose 120 pounds (could be more, in fact), BMI is too high...but what if? Argh! I have such skill at driving myself crazy! Scheduled to attend the seminar next week....

It does make sense. For me, just the thought of finally accepting that this is a well-suited alternative makes me excited. Does that make sense? For so long I've resisted this because "it's better to do it on your own" or so "they" claim. What "they" don't realize is that I can lose the weight but I cannot keep it off. And everytime I gain it back, I gain back more. So doing something proactive that, coupled with my desire for success, will lead to a better quality of life, it's exciting. There's no other word better suited for the feeling! I just want to know how long I have to wait, that's all. Yay for being scheduled! From where I'm sitting - that's the part that's going to drive me crazy!

Hi Kerry, Look at it this way. At least now you know what your time lines are. I don't even have my consult for three more weeks and until then I get to go crazy with is it this or is it that thoughts. How long did you have to wait for your consult? Did you attend a seminar first? Practice is good - and nothing bad should come from that, right?

Howdy everyone. I just wanted to say hi and see if people can help me out with a basic question. I am contemplating this procedure and am wondering what to expect. Like info on timelines - how does the process go and what has been your experience? I am 34 yo, 5'7 and weigh 260. That equates to a BMI of 41. I don't have any other underlying health concerns at the moment, but I want to keep it that way! My father died from Type II Diabetes and hypertension and my mother died from colon cancer. My mother never struggled with her weight but my father did with his. I have enough to be concerned with there that I don't need to be carrying this extra weight like I am. I can generally lose weight easily but I can never keep it off. And when I gain it back, it comes back with some extra. So how does this process play out? Does it take months to get in for the surgery? Or can it be quick-ish? I have a consult with a surgeon on Oct 22 and go into see my PCP on Oct 6. I will get from her the medical necessity letter next week - I'm pretty sure she will provide that as I meet the criteria AND she's mentioned this in the past. What will the surgeon want from me? Has anyone been required to attend the seminar? Do you recommend it? Anything you can share with me would be much appreciated, that's for sure. I'm so very full of questions right now and I want to read some REAL experiences, not some sales literature. Thank you! Lori

Thanks so much, Diana! Seems like everywhere I look I am finding tons of info but until I meet with my surgeon I think I'm going to have tons of questions. I found him through the lap-band website but now have found his clinic's website and that started answering tons of questions in itself. I think I will sign up for the seminar - there is one next week. I can track down a lot of weigh-in's and even visits with nutritionists over the past ten years but that will entail a friendly harrassment of the VA. This should be fun!

Congrats! Does anyone have any experience with Cigna?