ILKrista

I'm in the same boat. I knew i had to quit smoking if I wanted to have the surgery. I quit on Thursday, using Chantix. So far it hasn't been too bad... lots of vivid dreams and a little nausea if I dont' eat enough when I take it. But, I don't feel like I'm going to lose it if I don't have a cigarette NOW. In the past, that was my biggest prob with quitting. You do have to take it for a week before it is effective. Good luck.

Best of luck to you. Don't beat yourself up too bad. Stress or sabatage, many of us do it. I had quit smoking months before I started looking into the surgery. I start the process and they tell me I can't smoke for 2 month before the surgery and I need to lose weight on the pre-op diet to qualify for the surgery. Suddenly, I'm smoking like mad again and my eating is out-of-control. Well, I can't take back what I've done. I've just got to move on from here and try to make the next month a better one. I hope we both find the strength to do it.

Good luck, Erin. I'm in a similar position where the insurance company claims to cover the surgery... provided you can meet all their requirements. I suggest checking their website or calling to see just what they require for coverage. I initially thought I was going to have to do a 6 month diet, but they now only require 3. I have to complete that and several other steps and then see if they really will pay for it. I'm hoping they'll come through for me.

I'm doing the same thing. I'm supposed to be following my 3 month diet, but I've been eating like its going out of style. I also started smoking (which I quit months ago) because I know I won't be able to do it for at least 2 months prior to the surgery. I'm putting it down to stress and a serious fear of succeeding. Tomorrow is my date to quit smoking again:blink:. Also my date to start eating better. I'm thinking I'll be crabby doing one or the other, so I might as well do them both together. Best of luck to everyone else!

Hi Tracy, I had a similar experience when I approached my PCP two years ago. He very clearly explained to me that I was fat because 1) I ate like a pig (yes, his exact words) and 2) I was lazy. He told me he would never refer any overweight person for the surgery because those were the only possible reasons for a person to be overweight. I felt humiliated and decided to try to do it on my own and avoid doctors for the rest of my life . Two years later and the same size as before, I have a new doctor who actually agreed that this surgery might be the best thing for me. I actually cried in relief... I had geared myself to be a total witch to get the referral, but thankfully I didn't have to be. I just started a 3 month supervised diet, but hopefully I'll be banded in November. Best of luck to you on your journey!

I am actually almost exactly where you are in the process. I just had my first psych meeting and nutritionist meeting last week. I'm also pretty borderline when it comes to the 40 BMI. When I checked with my insurance company, they said that it is your starting BMI (before you start the supervised diet), not your ending one. I would check the details of your insurance policy. Hope that helps.

A few weeks ago I met with my PCP about having the band. She agreed and said I should start seeing a nutritionist and psychologist, as this, along with a 6 month supervised diet would be required. I guess I'm confused because she makes it sound like I do all of this for 6 months and then after that I find a surgeon to do the band. But from what I've read in other posts, it sounds like others have met with the surgeon before ever doing the 6 month diet, psych eval, etc. When did everyone else meet with their surgeon? Just trying to figure this whole thing out... Thanks!

The seminars were a great suggestion. Thanks! Hopefully that will help me feel more comfortable with everything.

I'm curious if anyone else reverted back to other destructive habits like smoking before they had their surgery? I quit smoking several months ago and 2 days before my doctor's visit to ask about getting the lap-band, I started again. I know it is just me reacting in the wrong way to stress. Did anyone else have this experience? And how did you deal with it? Thanks!

My goal: 1) To be confident enough to start dating after a 10 year hiatus! 2) To not get the eye roll from whoever sits next to me on an airplane. 3) To wear a dress and actually look good... the last dress I looked good in was my 2nd grade communion dress. Here's to the future!

Hello, I've just started this process. I went to see a PCP for the first time in years just yesterday to see about getting the lap-band. (I went 2 years ago to a different doctor who told me fat people were just lazy and he would never recommend anyone for the surgery ). Anyway, the new doctor is much better and is going to check with my insurance. What I'm wondering is how long did it take you to get banded from the time you first visited your PCP?