tntbelt

It sounds like you are still on board with significant weight loss and changing a lot of behaviors already in such a short amount of time. Like someone else suggested just continue moving forward and tackling some of the behaviors a little at a time and slowly start adding in some exercise. 27 lbs is awesome and you should be proud of success and it is at a great rate. Just think how much you would lose if you lost that every 2.5 months OVER 100 lbs in a year!!

Very inspirational... I am on day 2 of my pre op diet and will be banded on Dec 17th. I just keep trying to think all this be worth it in the end and reading this is a great motivation. Thank you so much for sharing.

I do agree that there is nothing wrong with counseling and I am continuing to go even though I have met my requirements. But basically I had an additional 40 minute session, took another nearly 600 question exam, and another 20 minute appt to go over the exam. That was it, nothing was really even discussed about my eating habits just asked general questions about childhood etc and was basically just a 6 wk delay. If my insurance hadn't had such a quick turn around it would have been about a 6 month delay because I would have had to wait til my deductibles were met again. I almost gave up after that first appt because I was reaching out for help which is HARD for me and I felt like I had been kicked in the gut by the time I had left and I cried the entire way home. I had to jump through hoops to even make that appt, I had to rent a car because one of the vehicles were down that week, come up with a $500 program fee, get someone to put my son on the bus, husband had to take off work to take my son for his spinal chemo, I had to miss being there for my 5 year old during his spinal chemo, and miss my first ever appt with him during his treatment, I went with no sleep(because of sleep issues waiting on results from sleep study), and vomiting from what I know now is a hiatal hernia, and try to keep it together and not vomit during all my appts that day. My blood work from that day showed I had low potassium probably from being so sick from the hiatal hernia and I had to take potassium for 2 weeks to get my levels back up. His only reason for denying me was depression and putting my kids first. To me... doubling in size since my twin pregnancy resulting in a multitude of health problems, a child diagnosed with leukemia at 2.5 years old, and a strained 19 year marriage due to all of these changes... a little depression is to be expected I think. No counseling will ever make me put myself before my kids, I can put myself at a close second which is what I was trying to do by jumping through hoops to make my appt that morning.

Hello December Bandsters... I found out today that my surgery date will be Dec. 17th and I am to start my pre-op diet tomorrow!! I am so excited and so freaked out.. Not exactly ready for my pre-op diet but happy to have a December date!! I am so ready to kick off the new year with a great start to a healthier me!

So sorry you are going through this but it doesn't really benefit the kids to stay. You are the heart and soul of the family and you deserve to be happy and your kids deserve to have a happy momma. You made a mistake, but physical abuse is never an appropriate punishment. Do you think its okay for your kids to be physically abused for their mistakes? You are just as deserving as they are. It sounds like you have given your all to trying to make it work and now you need to do what's best for yourself and your kids.

I am fortunate that nobody has been against the lapband and nobody has tried to get me to change it. The bariatric center fully supports the lapband and the first psychologist is with the center and does all the exams. I just feel he wasn't taking into account all of medical issues and that morning was pretty severe with the vomiting and lack of sleep. I really didn't say too much in our 45 minute session he just really went off of my questionnaire. I felt he was a little unfair and wrong about me and I did leave the office in tears because I need this surgery so bad in order to start feeling better. I never thought I would have had any issues passing the exam. I almost gave up that day so glad I was persistent and decided The new psychologist has cleared me thankfully and I have been approved for surgery and just waiting on my surgery date. The new psychologist also wants to take a dive into the past which is fine but my past is in the past. I have dealt with my my past is what has made me into the strong person I am today. I have no emotional hangups over it.

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter, it's a tough club to be a part of. She is a beautiful little girl and I'm sorry to hear that's she's had to go through so much. My son was diagnosed with Leukemia in Feb 2008 at 2 years old and his treatment will end in May of next year. We will keep your family in our thoughts. Congratulations on your weight loss... You look amazing.

Congratulations on your approval!! I'm sorry you have to wait til January but it will be here before you know it. What a great start to a new year. I wish you lots of success on your journey!!

I am so nervous and anxious...I am trying to decide when I should start bugging the insurance company about my claim.. I think I am going to give them a call Monday just to make sure they have it.... I started the process in August when my twins started school. My clinic says that can't promise anything about having the surgery by the end of the year but I think it's really going to be how quickly the insurance approves my claim. I am hoping it all works out or I am going to have wait a few months next year until I have the money for my deductibles I am 35, I have 4 kids ages 19,17, and 5 year old twins. I have been overweight since the twins.. Basically doubled in size and it has taken a horrible toll on my body. High blood pressure, hiatal hernia, acid reflux, ovarian cysts, probably sleep apnea (have sleep study tonight), and just tired and body aches all the time. I have tried on my own to lose weight and have failed miserably. The scale keeps going up and never down. I haven't devoted a lot of time to myself and taking care of myself the way I should have either. It's been a lot with the twins and one of them was diagnosed with Leukemia at 2.5. He is doing great but my energy has been spent on them and I have neglected myself a bit. Now that the boys are in school, I have some much needed me time and I am ready to take control of my life again. So how about you??

I just wanted to say congratulations and I am trying by the end of the year also. I have anthem insurance and mine was submitted yesterday. I am hoping they don't take the full 30 days and leave a little chance of having my surgery by the end of the year.

I had my eval on the october 15th and it was terrible. It was an intake appt with the bariatric center and we did everything that day.I saw the nutritionist, nurse practitioner,had blood work done, met with the insurance coordinator, took a 350+ questionnaire for the psych eval and the met with the psychologist. Everything went well until the psychologist :rolleyes2: I had been heaving and vomiting since july without a diagnosis and had a bad night and that morning on the way there. I had to pull over on my way there vomiting and it just comes without warning but I couldn't miss my appt but trying so hard not to vomit while talking to him. Anyways...I have been overweight for 6 years and basically doubling in size within a year (twin pregnancy) has been hard on my body. I have so many medical issues and haven't taken very good care of myself but I am trying to now. My twin boys started school and I now have some time for myself and I am trying. Also one of my twins was diagnosed with Leukemia 2.5 years ago and is still in treatment. So he says I'm depressed and may be an emotional eater and I put my kids first. He said I would throw myself in front of a bus to save my kids. Of course I would!!!! He referred me for further counseling. I think its crap and was hoping to have my surgery by end of year which probably won't happen now but doing the further counseling with a different counselor. I am still moving ahead and hopefully can get my surgery next year after my deductibles are met again but seriously disappointed. Unless the psychologist can wave a magic wand and make my weight disappear and my son's cancer poof gone never happened.. I don't see the point. My kids will always come first and that way of thinking will never change. I don't deny being depressed to a point, I mean carrying around an extra me for the past 6 years has made me tired, my feet hurt, knees hurt, trouble sleeping, etc. Nor am I happy that my baby has to have chemo and all that he has been through. And its so frustrating that every problem I have the doc says lose weight... I have since been diagnosed with hiatal hernia, acid reflux, had a nodule biopsied, had low potassium, and hypoglycemic. All of which they say lose some weight or the surgery (if i get it) should make it all better. They told me to lose weight too when I had an ovarian cyst rupture and over my high blood pressure, and the pain in my heels. So yeah I almost gave up after my eval. I cried the whole way home and most all that weekend and felt like I was doomed to just live this way. I decided not to give up and I probably wont have my surgery as soon as I had hoped but I will get it!! So hang in there and no matter what we are doing this because we want change in our lives and don't let anyone make you feel bad for wanting to better yourself and make that change.

Good luck with your surgery and your weight loss journey!

I conceived twins without assistance at age 29, I too caution the "wanting multiples". I had two older children that were 12 and 14 at the time. I had a rough pregnancy gained a lot of weight and had pre-eclampsia and they were delivered early at 35 wks. They were healthy and fine but have had many medical issues since. One of my twin boys has leukemia and the other has had some stomach issues and has chronic constipation and is on regular medicines for that. With my first two they rarely went to the doctor other than routine checkups and I have been to the doctor more in the last 5 years than I have ever been in my life. I have a cabinet full of medicines for all 3 of us now. Before you would be lucky to find tylenol in my home. I am extremely fortunate that I have these wonderful boys and that we are all still here. I absolutely love my kids and have no regrets but life with multiples is a challenge mentally and physically.

I am not banded yet, but just wanted to share a thought because I have twin 5 year olds who will need dinner before dad gets home. Plus he works a lot of hours and I wouldn't want him to come in and have to cook everyday too. But I was thinking that the smell and standing over the food would kill me. Even if I wasn't hungry I would be by the time I was done cooking. So what about lunch meat, wraps, tuna, and quick easy to prepare foods that you don't have to stand over especially on the days you are struggling. I would avoid crockpot meals because of the all day smells tempting you and any other foods that have strong smells while cooking that linger. Good Luck to you on your new journey!! Terri

I have to pay a $500 program fee which is not billable to insurance. All my out of pocket is met for the year so it wouldn't cost me anything if it wasn't for this fee. I really like the program (what I know so far) and the doctor I met at the seminar but I really hate to pay the fee. I feel like its a surgery and billable to my insurance why ask me for more out of pocket. But it's nearby and my other choices I would have quite a drive for appts etc and they may have program fees too. My first appt is next week and its an all day appt where I will meet with nutritionist, psychologist, nurse practioner, have blood drawn, insurance biller, etc. I have to pay half at that appt.

I am not banded yet... I am hoping to be really soon but my son has a port in his chest for chemo. He had it put in when he was 2.5 and he is now 5. I know its not the exact same as being in your abdomen but it has never bothered him. You can see it when he raises his arms or in a certain position but other than that you would never even know he has it. He has had it accessed a lot in the beginning of treatment but now its only once a month. He doesn't cry when he gets it accessed, we use emla cream ( a numbing cream) before hand. I even forgot his cream once and they used a freeze spray and he was fine with that too. Good luck to you and wish you lots of success with your journey!! Terri

Congratulations on your date! Looks like you have been working hard for it. I can't wait to get a date for mine!

Hi.. I am in the approval process and a lurker too I hope you get your approval soon!! Good luck to you!!

I have no experience in this area but why did it cost 100K? I am still in the approval process but I was told my surgery would be 17-18K. I know 10 was for the hospital and 5 for the surgeon. I am guessing it was denied because it exceeded the amount that they would cover for the surgery. Do you have an EOB from the insurance it should say on it.