LuckyGirl

Hey Va- I think I may call and try and get a fill for next week. Except I push on my port site and it's still a little sore deep down in there so i worry that I should let it heal a little more... I also noticed I'm eating more at one sitting. I felt like I ate more than usual yesterday but this morning the scale was lighter than yesterday... I also notice - even though the scales not dropping much - the jeans are so something is happening. I took a pic with my son yesterday on my digital camera and when i got home i looked at it and said, "wow, my face is skinnier!" so things are happening - slowly but surely! I think once i get the fill it'll start coming off quicker.

Hey Kay - I was banded on the 19th in College Station, TX - 235 day of surgery. starting to feel hungry for the first time today. I have been able to eat whatever I want since a few days after surgery but have kept it pretty mushy and have done great. Today is the first day I've wanted to snack... Saw the dr. on tues. and they scheduled my first fill for the 16th of Jan but said if i start feeling hungry before then to call and they can try and get me in. I think I may call monday! Glad to hear I'm not alone!

Teach at a university and getting my PhD in Education

Happy New Year All - staying in tonight too. Went out to lunch for the first time and had a cup of soup and a few bites of chicken - felt like i overdid it and then had shrimp and potatoes tonight and felt like i overdid it again. I haven't gotten sick or anything but just feel tight in my pouch. I have been taking Viactiv Multi Vitamins. Bought them at Wal-mart and they are a chocolate cherry chew - delicious. I just let it melt in my mouth - usually have it for dessert. Will probably by more of just the calcuim ones next time I go - for extra calcium!

thanks BK - the baked pot. went down really smooth but I'll admit we got home late yesterday from traveling and because I had been doing so well I ate about 1/2 a piece of pizza that my fam was eating - thinking that i could chew it well and drink it down with water and feel fine - noway - i hurt for an hour - so I am sticking to soft stuff! Thought that might help your pizza craving! Plus it wasn't that good anyway! You know what does go down good - spaghettios! I know it's probably horrible for me but having kids we always have ravioli and stuff in the house so i heated up some and it was delicious! To each it's own!

Hey All- Banded on the 19th and finally feeling really good! That first week really sucked - just pain and then tried to travel in the car for 6 hours xmas eve and had to hold back the nausea like 4 or 5 times. I have my first appt. next tuesday but as of today have lost 15lbs! I'm starting to really like my band because it's pretty cool to feel full after only a little bit. I've been on mushies after only 3 days - doctors orders so I don't understand liquid diet for 3 weeks... On our trip home after xmas we stopped at a Wendy's and I ordered a sour cream and chive potato off the dollar menu - ate a few tablespoons out the middle and was perfectly satisfied and happy. For the new year weekend I am going to make an easy shrimp chowder recipe that I got from Southern Living - i'll pick out the shrimp or chew really well, a pot of white/navy Beans, chicken with baked potatos, and probably a soup or chili too. I'm so glad to be coming out of the fog even though being out of work until after new year's I am enjoying taking it easy and taking afternoon naps - for some reason I am sleeping better than before surgery and my heartburn has totally disappeared! My workout routine starts next week! This will be the first year that I actually lose weight for my new year's resolution!

hey bk i had my surgery on the 19th and am itchy like crazy too! i took my bandaids off but are leaving the steristrips on until they fall off - as per my doctor. Today am finally starting to feel a little normal.

Hey Kay, I'll be right behind you - tuesday morning. Pave the way girl. I'm a little nervous but only because it's real surgery and there is always a risk. Can't wait to start a new life!

That's awesome that you are losing weight! But... if your insurance says a certain BMI to get the lapband you may need to slow down a bit. I gained and lost during my supervised visits but my intention was never to lose too much and kick myself out of the ballgame. I know it's a game we play but remember the insurance is playing a game too - insisting on the visits hoping you will lose so they don't have to pay - craziness!

hey taz, my surgery is on the 19th and i am extremely excited and a little nervous too. all of my family lives in another state but my mom and aunt or going to drive in to help with the kids. my husband will be with me most of the time. He's pretty excited about it but scared i might change - i don't think i will. Don't feed off of anyone's anxiety - think about how wonderful this will be for us later! i have met so many people who have had it and they all look soooo good! take care,

I don't know if the weight loss is specifically what they are looking for. I went for many months and would lose and gain a couple of pounds. They still approved me based on my visits - not my weight gain/loss. Make sure your doctor writes or dictates everything down. Make sure you talk about weight related stuff - can't sleep, knees hurt, feel shaky if I don't eat... all things they can document to put in your chart. Good luck - and the time goes by fast!

Hello! I finally got my approval today - it came through at 1:17pm. I have been calling and calling everyday for 2 weeks and finally today!! I started this process a year ago and after several denials - I have made it. I get a month and a half off from work - teach at a college - so I told my dr.'s office i wanted to do it soon - they are trying to schedule it around xmas. Yikes - nervous but can't wait to get started on this journey! I have been reading this website for a few weeks and it has been so wonderful - thanks to all of you!

For me, I am like many of you - afraid to fail - and until I know that the band works for me and I'm doing okay - I want to keep it private. My DH knows and 3 friends from work. I told my mom who told my skinny sister and that really pissed me off. They don't understand why i want to keep it hush, hush for now but I'm like, "until I know it's a success I want to keep quiet." Later, if I've lost the weight and i'm proud then I will share it but for now it's my secret. Plus, not yet banded - I am still trying to get used to this whole idea - it's blowing my mind!! I worked so hard to get approved and ready for surgery and I am SOOO excited but it doesn't seem real - that I might actually lose this weight!

I start mine tuesday and it is basically Bkfst - 1 oz. Protein and 1 slice bread snack - unjury Protein shake lunch - protein and veggie Snack - Unjury dinner - protein and veggie Snack - Unjury between 600-800 calories a day. I'm kinda worried about it but at least some real food is involved and not all shakes which i was afraid of...

I just got approved after the six month waiting period and I think what they want is really 6 months of doctors visits. That means once a month for every month. At first i had a year long wait and thought i would go every 2 or 3 months. Later they switched it to a 6 month period and they only counted the month that I started having appts. every month afterward. So I went in Dec then march and june and august - then found out that people who were getting approved went every month. So i started in August, went every month after that and got approved in Nov. also, make sure your doctor documents everything and as neatly as possible. some doctors dictate - mine handwrote and she wasn't that "wordy" but luckily they took it... good luck!

Hang in there! Maybe he feels insecure cause deep inside he knows that once you're thin - he won't be so attractive... Luckily my husband is all for it - i think he thinks the weight loss will result in more hanky panky and a boob job later - sure whatever:nervous no, he really is great - but he does think this and i'm all for a boob lift later to go with my new body!! oh, and a tummy tuck sounds good to me - babies are hard on the body!!

Hey KayDot, Sounds like you and i are in a similar situation - same age, my band date is the 19th, and i have had to tell my daughter who will be 10 in Jan. My son is only 5 so he doesn't have a clue yet. I told her I was having surgery and that I wouldn't be able to eat that much. She took it really good. I am worried about telling others but other than my close friends and husband and mom i don't think i want people to know. my mom wants me to tell my sister but i don't feel comfortable doing that right now. she's always been the skinny one - and this is my deal - my day... I think that it's not that i'm ashamed - it's just i want to make sure i'm successful before i share this - i've failed many times before at other diets... oh well, wanted to say hi cause when i read your posts they sounded familiar!!

That's so good to hear. You wonder if something happens to your band what you will do. My mom is very supportive but really worried. She said that maybe after a few years with the band and after getting the weight off and learning to eat less and have better habits that I could have it removed. I was thinking, "no way," because I have heard that the weight will come back on. I have no intention of EVER removing my band as long as it's working and in good shape but now after your post I feel better knowing that in the event something did go wrong I could have it removed and still keep the weight off - if i work hard! But, by then i'm sure they will have invented that magic pill that helps you lose weight while you sleep!!

i too have BCBS TX and i started a year ago and was denied and told that i had to go on the 1 year of a doctor supervised diet. I went to an internist in december and then for some reason - i think she cancelled - i didn't go again util June. I went in June and had blood work in july, i went again in august and sept. and then i found out that BCBS had switched to 6 months. So i went in October and then i had my bariatric surgeons office submit again. I was denied because my bmi was around 37 and my doctor had not specifically diagnosed me with 2 conditions. So, i went back and said, "look, you have me on diabetes medicine and my cholestrol has been continously high - I need you to write a formal letter telling them I have 2 conditions - your notes are not specific enough for them. She did and we appealed again. This time they said i had proved the 2 conditions so that was good but now i had to show continous 6 months and they had it starting in June - So, i went back to the dr. in november and made an appt. for dec. just in case i had to go back. We sent in another appeal after that last appt. and after 2 weeks of waiting and calling every day - morning and afternoon - got an approval yesterday! Yikes, it has been a pain but well worth it now that I know I can have the surgery and have it paid for!!!!!!!!!!! So, MS MOm, i was told that ww counted if you could prove it somehow. and I would find a general practitioner - i have an internist who i've been going to who sees me regularly and faxes my info upstairs to the surgeon's office who sends in the letters to the insurance co. i don't know about where you are but this is becoming a Big Business. There are several doctors doing it in my town and tv commercials all the time. It's easy here to find someone to do it and if it's a bariatric clinic or office specializing in lap band they should have an insurance coordinator who is very proactive!

Hey Gang, I too will be part of the December club. I will have it done on the 19th. Things are moving so fast. I just got approved yesterday and have to start fasting next tuesday the 5th! The fasting is not as bad as i thought. Lean meat, veggies, fruits and Protein shakes. Only 600-800 calories a day but at least it will be small amounts of real food and not straight shakes for 2 weeks which is what I thought "fasting" meant... I don't know what I'm going to tell people. Do all of you tell everyone that asks or do you just tell some and not others? I kind of wanted to wait to make sure everything goes well before I tell co-workers and other non family/close friends what is going on. Some guy I worked with said he stays trim by taking the stairs and being disciplined. I thought if he asked I would tell him that I had started taking the stairs - and its working:)! Is there somewhere on this site that people have shared their experiences in the hospital. I've heard bits and pieces but I am curious as to each step... is that TMI?

I just got approved today and may schedule my surgery really fast to do it over the holidays while i have a bunch of time off. I too am a little nervous but being in the same boat that you are - mid 30's and needing to loose about 100 lbs. is there any conceivable way that you or I could do it on our own - no way!! So, here we are - given this incredible gift - which will be paid for by our insurance - we better grab the bull by the horns and do this so we will have a long, productive, healthy life! So let's do it and let's learn to eat healthier and less! I'm dreading the pre-op fast and the pain of the post-op but I will do it with a smile because I finally see a light at the end of this tunnel! Hang in there!!

You're welcome! It was a great day on Friday - I was in Dallas with other Longhorn fans - as i said it was a great day! I can't say "good luck" to you - you know - vows and all - that would be going against them for sure - but I'll be sad when football season is over - it's been a fun fall! Imagine next fall though - football and skinny pants - great!!

Hi and Congrats on setting the date. I just got my approval today from the insurance co. but it should be pretty quick! I am not your age but my good friends dad - who's in his late 60's is also getting it done soon. Better late than never!! Good luck and let us know how things are going!

Thanks for the welcome! Okay OU - get ready - I'm from College Station... the Sooners can thank us for going to the big 12 - however, if my husband knew I was talking to a sooner I'd be in BIG trouble - he thinks Stoops is the devil.... yes, i'm an Ag...

Finally, I have been approved through my insurance! It has been a long journey but I have wanted it so bad it feels good to finally be on my way to a new and better me! I should have my day long tests done next week, also the fasting must begin - yuck! yeah!