crecia1975

I have my last supervised diet visit on 8/12. I hope Cigna doesn't take to long to approve my surgery. I'm hoping and praying to be banded in September. This has been the longest 6 months of my life!!!!!!

I totally agree with you on this KimmyTx. You don't really care when you are groggy and out of it. I remember looking at myself in the mirror, after I got home from one surgery I had in the past. I looked like I must have been wrestling someone while I was in a wind tunnel. My hair was everywhere and looked frightening. It looked like it hadn't been brushed at all, but I didn't give a damn. I just wanted to crawl into bed. I would have been mortified under any other circumstances. I had also started my period the day before and I didn't care about that either. I was concerned when I got to the hospital that morning, but the anesthesia wiped that all away.

This is a very interesting and informative thread. I have to say that I laughed out loud when I read the coochie carwash line. I'll have to start using that instead of saying bidet. I'm still laughing............:cursing:

All I can say is...that letter is a hot mess!

That sucks really bad! You might want to talk to the Dr. about this and maybe have a pad on just in case. I wish I had more to say, buy all I keep thinking is " That really, really sucks!!" I hope everything works out with for you.

I had a breast reduction years ago and I was on my period when the surgery date rolled around. I had to take off my panties, but they let me keep in my tampon. They also have the HUGE pads if you need them. Some doctors also have the big granny disposable panties to wear with the big pads. I'm sure your doctor has seen this before, but you may want to speak to him or her before your surgery. I don't know about you, but I know that would make me feel more prepared. I hope your Ob/Gyn can get your uterine problems fixed for you. Good luck to you. :cursing:

Good Luck!!!!!!!! Please let us know how everything went.

The process is long but well worth it. I have to do 6 months of the diet and exercise plan. :wub: I started it all in March and my last appointment is next month. I'm praying that I can a surgery date in September. I wish I only had to do 3 months! As you are going through the next 3 months, it will all fly by and you'll be happy you got started. I am and I'm not even banded yet. Let us know how everything goes for you. :cursing:

If your Dr. told you to follow a diet like Atkins and you found bread that is 1 net carb, go for it! Just make sure you are aware of how many things have carbs in them. Things you would never think of may have carbs in them and more than you might guess. Be sure to read the labels on EVERYTHING! The Atkins diet also has you watching your fruit intake because of the sugars in them. Remember that Atkins also has you eating a lot of sugar free and low sugar items so watch out for that. Be sure you keep track of the carbs in everything so you don't accidently go overboard. Be sure to get your Protein in with some chicken, tuna, eggs, etc. I was on Atkins for a year so let me know if you have any questions. It's been a while since I was on it, but maybe I can help. :wub: Good luck! :cursing:

I haven't been banded yet, but I have been reading everything I can on this forum.....I never once thought about the band affecting my periods. I already have painful cramps, bloating and very heavy bleeding. Now you all say the first one after surgery can be even worse!!! OH MYLANTA! I don't know how I'll get through that! I guess I better just be prepared and get ready to power through the pain. Oh what we women go through! And they call us the "weaker" sex.....WHATEVER!

I don't see anything wrong with not telling everyone in your family. Only a few people know what I plan to do...my husband, my immediate supervisor and her boss. I didn't have to tell my boss what I was doing, but I thought her reaction would be good and it was. My husband just wants me to be happy and healthy so he is all for it. As for the rest of my family, I don't plan to ever tell them unless they ask me after I have the surgery. I don't plan to volunteer any info, but I won't lie to them if they ask. My family is great, but I don't want to hear "Why don't you just go to the gym more often? Why can't you just do this on your own?" I don't really know if they would say that or just be supportive so I don't even want to bring it up. I'm too focused on getting this done and I don't want to hear any stories about a friend of a friend of a friend that had a bad experience. Just focus on what you need to do for YOU and don't worry about who you tell or don't tell. Just live your life and get skinny and then you can tell them only if you chose to.

I've followed a low carb/high protein diet on my own (one of the many times I lost a bunch of weight and then gained it back!) It was easy for me at first. You can try things like canned tuna with a little light mayo (I love tuna sandwiches, but I had it without the bread) and salad for lunch or dinner. I had lots of eggs for Breakfast and maybe a piece of bacon or ham. I also had a lot of grilled and baked chicken breast. It's very lean and I actually love grilled chicken. Sometimes I would make myself a burger w/out the bun and have a salad on the side. That was very yummy. sugar free Jello is a great snack and helped me when I wanted a sweet snack. I also drank a lot of Water and Crystal Light. I did it for a year and lost about 70 lbs, but then I couldn't take it and had to have some bread and Pasta. Then the weight came back like gangbusters! It shouldn't be that hard for you to follow since they make a lot of low carb products now. I did this back in the day when no one was into low carb so the stores didn't have anything. I had to get creative. I don't have my band, yet, but my surgeon requires a 2 week liquid diet. I'm not looking forward to that. I think a low carb/high protein diet would be much easier, but we have to follow the doctor's orders! :scared2: Oh and I almost forgot! Make sure you get in your veggies! I know I got tired of so much meat, meat, meat all of the time. I liked steamed brocolli because that is so easy to make, or just a little side salad, or green Beans...... I hope I helped and didn't ramble too much!!

There is a risk of complications when you have any kind of surgery. No matter how big or small. You just have to remember to let your Dr. know about any help problems you may have. You can also think about the risk you are taking every day by being overweight. We take risks all the time in life...i.e, getting married, having kids. We can never know the outcome of anything we do. I could leave my job today and get hit by a bus, but that won't stop me from taking the risk of crossing the street. I know it's hard to think about this when you have kids (I have 2), but just tell yourself you are doing this to live longer for your little girl......and for yourself as well! Good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

Rascette1 Your boss sounds CRAZY! Why would you need documentation to take vacation? I could see if you were going on short term disability or taking a leave, but vacation is different. I am very lucky that I have a supervisor who understands. She has been supportive and the only thing she said was to be careful and research. My supervisor's boss has been supportive as well. Her sister and brother had the LAP-BAND® so she told me to go for it if that's what i want to do. She even suggested I take vacation days (if I wanted to) so I don't have to fill out so much paperwork for HR. I hope everything works out for you. Just be happy you are getting this done and don't worry about the "haters" from work.

You shouldn't feel guilty about this. Why is it a bad thing to make yourself happy and healthy? I wish I was getting my surgery now. I would be on cloud nine and no one would be able to bring me down. Be proud of yourself for taking control of your own destiny. Good luck and please keep us posted.

babyk it sounds like you have a very smart aunt!

I don't know how having your picture on the wall has anything to do with being rude. A person's weight, or how they look, has nothing to do with how they should communicate with others.

To Beccatatqueen btrieger is ALWAYS rude. :thumbup: I'm with you in saying that everyone is different and what is right for me may not be right for you. I agree that we need support in this forum. We don't come here to be belittled. To Tracie Just take it one day at a time. Don't stress about the one mess up. Take a deep breath and just START OVER. You can do it!!:thumbup:

You really need to go to another Dr. Some Dr's have a very negative attitude when you bring up WLS. My primary Dr. gave me a huge lecture when I mentioned LAP-BAND®®. She tried her best to talk me out of it, but all she did was make me mad as she tried to belittle me. She just didn't understand why I didn't just stop eating so much. WTF!!! If I knew how to do that, I wouldn't be fat in the first place!! She made me jump through hoops just to get a medical release letter from her. I did it just because she's been my Dr for years and had all of my info for the insurance. After I get approved for the LAP-BAND®®, I plan to get a new Dr. I hope you have better luck with the next Dr. Keep us posted!

This is one of the reasons I didn't tell very many people my plans on getting the LAP-BAND®. This sounds like a bunch of ladies who are too scared to do what you are doing. They are lashing out at you becuse they are angry with themselves. This is making them look at themselves and they don't like that. Just ignore them and focus on yourself. Do what's right for you and don't be surprised if a few of these "ladies" follow your lead. Good luck to you!

Hello there! I also hope to be banded in early September. You are lucky to only have 3 months of a required weight loss program. I have 6 and it seems like a lifetime. I started in March and will have my last class in August. If everything goes as planned, I hope to be banded in September. I also live in TX. We should try to keep in touch so we can compare our experiences and we can also be a sounding board for each other.

I think you described EXACTLY how I feel. I've felt like a horrible person for the last 3 months. I've probably gained 10 lbs just like you. I have 3 more months to get myself in line before my paperwork is even submitted. I know I just need to put my mind to it, but it's easier said than done. If I had great willpower I wouldn't be this fat in the first place!!

Good morning/afternoon everyone! I have been on the insurance trail for 3 months. I have Cigna so I have 3 more months of supervised weight loss education/attemps. I don't know why, but I am getting nervous about approval . I keep thinking I will get denied for some reason, but the surgeon's office thinks I will be approved. They say my BMI alone will suffice. I just keep thinking everything is going so smoothly so the end won't be as I planned. Has anyone else dealt with Cigna? Do you know if they are prone to deny or approve my first submission of paperwork?

Cigna is making me go 6 months in a row.

I'm a little younger than you (35), and I wish I had started this process years ago. I'm not banded yet, but I hope to be by early September. It's normal to be nervous about any major lifestyle change, but that doesn't mean the change is a bad thing. I was nervous and scared about getting married and having children, but those are the best things in my life! Just think about how your life will change for the better. Not just in terms of wearing a smaller size, but also feeling better health wise. The ultimate decision is yours, but just think about next year. Do you want to be in the same boat thinking I shoulda, woulda, coulda?