mandilou

Just got approval!! June 29th surgery date for me! YAY! This has been in the works for years, so I'm SUPER EXCITED for it to finally be reality! And scared also! No pre-op diet for me. I just had to lose a percentage of my total weight (5% I think) to be ready for surgery. I think I'm there already but I will just keep eating well and get as low as I can before my date. Best wishes to all of you!!!

Some of the things I do at the gym could easily be done at home: -if you can afford it, a BOSU ball is AWESOME for working your core. Countless things to do w/ it. I stand on it and do squats. You can even stand on it with one foot when you get really good, and lift weights. You can use it right side up, or upside down, depending on how hard you want to make it. -Doing planks is fantastic exercise for your whole body, and you can start at your own pace. I have a bad lower back, and this really helps strengthen my entire core so my back is better supported. http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm -I lay on my back with my knees bent and throw a medicine ball to myself, using both hands. I push the ball up, fully extend my arms, and catch it and pull it back into my chest. GREAT arm workout. And there are countless exercises you can do w/ a medicine ball also - and they're not too spendy. -now that the weather is nice, I walk my dog for a couple miles everyday. He's the one who gets me outside. I know I wouldn't walk everyday if it weren't for knowing that I HAD to get him some exercise.

I don't know why it's taken me so long to realize I could ask YOU all about my shoe options... anywho... I am 5'8", 350 and a SUPINATOR (rolls to the outside of feet midstride), and I am having a hard time finding a good running shoe. I usually stick with Brooks, and have been really happy with them. But I thought I'd pose the question and see what you all are wearing. Most folks are Pronators (rolls to the inside of feet midstride), and heavy pronators are usually easier to fit than supinators, because while it is recommended that supinators wear cushioned shoes, cushioned aren't best for super-overweight folks (from what runner's world says). Any suggestions are welcome!

I've been reading for quite some time about the debate about who to tell, and who not to tell, about surgery. I made the decision to be open about it, since I am pretty close to my team and work, and they are a very supportive group of people. I also know I can trust them not to blab too much about it. However, I had told another coworker about it as well. Which is no problem - she's a very supportive person. But this morning while we were talking, a woman in a nearby cube, whom I just talk to in passing, ran over to the cube we were chatting in and started giving me her .02 about weight loss. :bananalama: She told me that I should do it without surgery, and that her children all lost weight from bike riding and watching their food. And she started asking me questions about if I worked out, or what I was eating, etc. Normally I'm pretty open about the surgery, and happy to discuss it. But this was the first time I've met someone so adamantly against surgery, and willing to totally give me crap about it, even though she barely knows me! It got a little uncomfortable, because at that point I'm fairly certain everyone in her department could hear us talking. So much for keeping it within my team. :cheers2: I was as polite as I could be, but told her that this is a decision I've been weighing (ha!) for three years, and I was certain I wanted to go through with it. That I was willing to take the risk, that it wasn't the easy way out... (insert pre-bandster speech here). She wasn't downright mean about it, but she just didn't understand and insisted that because I had lost some pre-surgery weight (17lbs this month), it would be no problem to lose it on my own. I neglected to tell her I had nearly 200lbs to lose... and thanks, but 17lbs is just a drop in the bucket. Anyway, I'll end my rant here... I was just kind of surprised to get such a strong reaction from a virtual stranger. Weird!

The sippy cup is a great idea! I'll have to keep that in mind.

So I received my CPAP machine on Monday... I have now tried unsuccessfully for three days to wear this thing through the night. It's getting to the point where I'm actually getting anxious and all worked up before bedtime. I even tried wearing it while watching tv for a while to get used to it before trying to sleep... But every night, by about 12:30-1:30, I wake up and I feel like I can't breathe, and I freak out and take it off. Help! I need to wear this thing, and it's got the little chip in it so they'll know if I wore it. I REALLY want this surgery, and I seriously could cry because I hate this thing so much. :tt2: Does anyone have ANY suggestions about making it easier? I'm losing sleep, and it's affecting my work. I have considered taking an over the counter sleep aid, just to get me used to using it. The ironic thing is - I never really had any problems from the apnea... I am always refreshed when I wake up, I have plenty of energy, etc. I don't ever actually STOP breathing, I just breathe shallowly. I guess a co-morbidity is great, but still. :tt2: Help! (again)

Quick follow-up (I hate when I follow a thread and the original poster never tells anyone what their results are): I took some allergy/sinus meds, along with a really nifty melatonin/valerian root/chamomile concoction last night, and slept like a log! I woke up this morning and realized that I had managed to remove my mask at some point mid-sleep... but at least I was ABLE to sleep. Hopefully I managed to wear it most of the night, anyway. Thanks again!

Wow - thank you all SO MUCH for your outpouring of advice and suggestions. It's interesting how differently it has affected people on here. I'm very happy for those of you who love it, and can't live without it. I spent the weekend at my boyfriends, and I was able to sleep a few more hours with it on. I was more relaxed having him there, and HE loves it... listening to my breathing and the white noise of the machine and he was asleep in about two minutes! LOL I do have the humidifier and warmer on mine, which I like a lot. But the comment about keeping my sinuses clear really hit home. The big reason I feel I have to take it off is because I'm so stuffed up at night. I am wondering if I got that taken care of (be it allergies or whatever), if I'd even need a cpap at all. It's getting better, and I think I will try the melatonin suggestion - I prefer the thought of a natural product like that then continued use of Advil PM or something similar (like I have been using). Thanks again - I'm also going to talk to my surgeon about it - maybe I'll be able to give it back sooner than I thought. I know a lot of surgeons don't let people use their cpap after surgery for the gas issue. God knows my ears are plugging up enough as it is.

God, this is a hard thread to read, because so much of this has happened to me, or I FEEL your pain. :sneaky: Good luck to everyone on this journey (and those who are a good way along the path!). 1) sitting in a training class for a new job, on one of those wire-type chairs that only have a plastic back and seat. I shifted in the seat, and realized the plastic seat broke from the wire. I had to try to focus my weight on my legs and sit on the edge of my seat - pretending to be interested, but mortified that I had broken my chair. 2) Going to work with coworkers to a cute cafe, and not being able to squeeze into the ornate booth because there was hardly any room between the booth sides and the table. Had to SQQUEEEEZE into the seat. Of course, was with two super skinny coworkers. 3) Taking public transit, and taking up a little more than just one seat - not being able to sit in the seat that is between the poles (if you take the bus, perhaps you know what i'm talking about). 4) Having to wear something not dressy enough for an event because I realized at the last moment that I couldn't fit into my dressy clothes. 5) Being in grade school and having a HUUUGE crush on this boy a year older. One day a friend of mine asked him if he liked me, and another girl with him said, "he'd have a lotta woman!" 6) Falling head over heels for a guy over the internet, spending an AWESOME weekend with each other, and having him eventually tell me that he didn't want to continue things because I was too fat. 7) When dating my ex-fiance, a mutual "friend" once told him that I was like riding a moped - "fun, but you don't want any of your friends to know you ride it" 8) Airplanes. Enough said. I try to take the train. 9) Knowing I've backed out of a lot of social invitations because I was self-conscious about my size affecting my ability to enjoy the activity. 10) Having to listen to my two skinny coworkers talk about how they buy everything at "Banana" (Republic) and I can never join the conversation. 11) This CPAP machine that makes me feel like I'm 80 years old and needing oxygen in a hospital bed to survive. Rediculously embarassing. I couldn't imagine taking it to a "first sleepover" with someone I was dating. 12) Having to wrestle out of control top nylons, girdles, shapers, etc. when wearing fancy clothes just so I can pee. I can't wait to just WEAR A DRESS. And that's it. (and underwear, since I'm not Britney) 13) The thought of running into an ex would mortify me right now, because I'm bigger than I ever have been (well, minus pre-op weight loss). 14) Having to use chafing cream on my thighs when wearing a skirt or dress, because if I don't they HURT and get all raised and red. Fire, anyone? 15) When my friends lament having to lose weight after having kids, and how fat they feel after childbirth, and how it will never be the same... and I'm way bigger than them, and have no kids. 16) Not fitting on some of the machines at the gym... and not realizing that until AFTER you attempt to use it. ha! 17) At my highest weight, having difficulty, um... wiping. (god that's embarassing) 18) Feeling like I have to wear makeup or have my nails done just so I can try and make up for some of the fat... like I need to convince people I'm not a LAZY, DUMPY fat girl... but a cute one. 19) watching the Biggest Loser, and thinking "my gosh, that girl is really big!" and realizing I weigh about 50 pounds more. 20) going out to a team lunch for work, and worrying about whether the chairs will be comfortable, or if we'll be in a booth, or worrying about the seating arrangement so I don't "crowd" anyone. OKAY! There's a good 20... i'm sure many of you can relate to some/all. Thanks for this thread... it's going to get me working my butt off at the gym tonight! :mad2:

lacasst - haha! While I appreciate the suggestion - don't think it hadn't occured to me! :mad2: But Eartha's right.. it can register the pressure of air going in, so it "knows" if you're wearing it. Trust me, if that wasn't the case, I wouldn't even be trying so hard to use it. Last night, I took 2 Advil PM's, thinking it'd help. Alas, I barely got any sleep, and woke at 1am (right on schedule) and pulled it off my face. :sneaky: I appreciate everyone's suggestions with masks - I tried the nose pillow one, it was harder for me to exhale than my current mask. Perhaps I can pull a Wile E. Coyote, and drop an anvil on my head?

That's awesome! I have Peaches on my iPod too... I've got Eff the Pain Away and Set it Off. My iPod looks a little like... Mindless Self Indulgence - Tight, You'll Rebel To Anything (or anything else would be great) Scissor Sisters - Filthy Gorgeous AC/DC - Thunderstruck Beastie Boys - Body Movin', Intergalactic White Zombie (a MUST for my workout) - Electric Head (parts 1 and 2), More Human Than Human, Thunderkiss 65 Eminem - Superman, shake That, Business The Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism Kanye West - Jesus Walks, Golddigger Christina Aguilara - Ain't No Other Man, Candyman Mika - Big Girls (You Are Beautiful) Gorillaz - Feel Good, Inc. Jydee - Plastic Dreams (old school club song) Green Day - American Idiot Kenna - Say Goodbye to Love, Out of Control Benny Benasi - Satisfaction Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At? Linkin Park - Breaking the Habit, I'm About to Break Others include songs from Beck, Fergie, Fall Out Boy, Outkast, The Cars, Styx, The White Stripes, A Perfect Circle, Justin Timberlake, Gnarls Barkley, Crystal Method, Rolling Stones, My Chemical Romance... Okay, okay... I'll stop. Thanks for the suggestions! I'm definitely updating the iPod tonight!

thanks for all of your input, folks! The woman from the medical equipment place called me, and talked to me for a bit. She said that taking an over the counter sleep aid is pretty typical, and said if I continued to struggle to get a prescription sleep aid for a while. She said it could take a few weeks to adjust to. My machine is adjustable, so it does ramp up as it detects my throat closing. I can breathe out of it fine, and it has the exhale holes so I don't feel like I'm breathing against a wind storm. I am a stomach/side sleeper, and the mask stays on and I can breathe. It's just... awful. haha And yes, I'm required to wear the CPAP until the surgery date, and bring it to surgery day as well. I've been losing a fair amount of pre-op weight, so I'm hoping I won't need it for very long! I do appreciate the input, sorry for sounding like a whiney baby! hehe I am determined to make this work, because there is NO WAY I'm staying unbanded because of it.

lose2- If you don't mind my asking, was your 6-month supervised diet with the surgeon's office, or through your PCP? Were they specific about what was NOT included that they wanted to see? I'm sorry you're struggling, and your case sounds like so many BCBS-IL cases I've heard about, hence my apprehension. My surgeon's office has talked about their struggles with them, and they try to send almost a rediculous amount of paperwork to insurance for approval because of that. My file is probably about two inches thick, at least.

This thread is great news to me... I kept hearing HORRIBLE things about BCBS-IL, and it's thrilling to know that some of you have been approved in days. I'm still nervous, but with all my ducks in a row, I have a lot more confidence than I did a few months ago about approval. :smile: I have two more supervised visits to go... one of which will be with my surgeon. But I can't schedule that last appt. until ALL my paperwork is in, which includes my psych eval (which I'm finishing up Monday) and some prior paperwork from another psychiatrist (who is killing me, because she's been out of the office for nearly two months on "personal leave", and her assistant won't send my files without permission from the doc).

stacy- From what my surgeon said, sometimes a PCP doesn't put all of the necessary information in your file that would help with submission. I tried to use my PCP visits (which were specifically for obesity) to count towards my six visits, and there wasn't enough information for them to use towards approval. If you're not going to use your surgeon's office for the six month appointments, make SURE your PCP has EXACTLY what the insurance company needs, so you are 100% sure you've submitted everything you can to ensure approval.

My surgeon's office is really great about finding out exactly what the insurance company requires in order to get approval. I have BCBS-IL and had to do six months supervised visits in a row. I've got two more to go. From what I'm hearing, in the past year BCBS-IL has gotten a little more forgiving in terms of approval, assuming you do follow all of their guidelines. I would find a surgeon or hospital well-versed on BCBS-IL insurance and they'll be sure you cover all of your bases.

Best wishes! You'll find an incredible amount of support on this board. I'm pre-band also (looking at April for surgery), and this site has been an invaluable resource. :bananalama:

So what does your doc's pre-op diet consist of? My surgeon doesn't require one, but would like to see some weight loss pre-surgery. I'm happy for that, since I wasn't really looking forward to two-weeks of liquid before AND after the surgery. Something you may want to consider to combat the "hungries" - my PCP prescribed Meridia to me to help me get some excess weight off pre-surgery. From what I've read, Meridia doesn't work for the real long-term, so I'd never use it to replace surgery. But it's a nice way to make me feel full on fewer calories and get me used to eating less. It helps control cravings, and is teaching me to be more mindful and realize when I'm full, and helps me make better choices. My blood pressure went up a little, so I had to stop eating Lean Cuisines at lunch (damn sodium!), but now it's under control, and I have minimal side effects.

daqui- i just completed 4th appt., 2 to go... and my BMI is also high. I've lost 17 pounds this month through calorie counting, food logs and excercising. They want me to lose another 17 or so before surgery. They'd like me to be at about 345 day of. I haven't done the pre-op diet, per se. But I am trying to make habits of not drinking while eating, and taking a half hour to eat, etc. I'm keeping a food log and keeping my calories to 1100-1500 a day or so. And I've been exercising about four times a week at the gym. It's been great - I actually have motivation to do it, and I have HOPE that I'm not just spinning my wheels, and the more I lose pre-surgery, the less I have to take off after the band!

Hey folks- I'm about three months into the 6 month supervised diet. I haven't lost a ton of weight, but at my most recent visit, I was asked to start using a food log. The plus side is, it has really whipped me into shape and kept me honest. The bad side is... well, it's really whipped me into shape and kept me honest. I'm nowhere NEAR 35-40 BMI, but I'm currently only eating about 1300 calories a day. On this pace, I could lose over 30lbs (or more!) before a May surgery. Will I get denied? My PCP also put me on Meridia, to help get some weight off before surgery. It's working, but I worry it will work TOO well. The WLS office said it's okay to be on the Meridia, and the insurance was okay with it. So what to do? I want to give myself a good headstart, but I know that if I was just losing weight alone, it won't last... I've fought that battle enough times that I know I need the band for assistance. What say you all?

Congrats, gabi! I'm happy for you - what a kick-arse birthday present! Best wishes!

Is there a decent sized mall near you? If so, listening to music and mall-walking could really get you going. Some malls even open early for "mall-walkers" before they open their stores. It's safe, indoors, warmer.. and if you go when the mall is open you even have some fun stuff to look at (and it might be motivating to see those "skinny" jeans in the window that you could be wearing in a few months). That option is nice because it's free, and it still gets you out of your house. If you can work out at home, more power to you. I personally can't. I need to be in a seperate "workout" mindset, and it requires me stepping out of my comfort space to do it. If you've got some $ to spare, you could join a gym. And start with low-impact movement like the elliptical, walking on the treadmill, or even around a track if they have one. When you're fully healed, incorporating weights or circut training will keep things fresh and challenging. If you don't mind my asking, what part of the exercise are you dreading? Boredom? Fear of failure? Being self-conscious? That might be helpful to know so people can help motivate you more. :thumbup:

For those with BCBS... what has been your experience with the 6-month diet? Were you able to get banded SHORTLY after the diet ended? Meaning, did the rest of the process continue along, making you immediately ready for surgery as soon as the diet was "done"? Or did you have to do the diet, then wait another 6 months before surgery (e.g. following up with psych evals, sleep studies, etc.)? I'm getting married at the end of November, and I'm hoping to be banded well before then so I can be on the road to recovery. Thanks for the insight!

I am also pre-band, and I can understand your hesitation. Going to the gym has never been too hard for me. I enjoy working out, and I enjoy the feeling I get from working hard at the gym. But the problem for me is food intake, controlling cravings, and wanting to be consistent. The band for me will be a tool to help me get where I feel I am most comfortable, size-wise. It will help me maintain the hard work I am putting in. In the past, I haven't had long term success. Losing 20 lbs, or even 100 lbs., is hard enough. KEEPING it off? Well, that's been impossible for me. And so that's why it's worth it to me to go through the surgery... to have a tool that will help me make this a LIFESTYLE, not just another failed diet. I've found that keeping a food log the past couple of weeks has been REALLY eye opening, showing me exactly how many calories I had been consuming, and helping me keep that under wraps now. Maybe try that, and see if your problem isn't so much being "lazy" (which I would say you're not), but rather your intake? Also, if you've been exercising the same way, the same amount, for an extended period of time, perhaps it's time to switch it up, or add some time on? I've seen a lot of people on this board who, as they lose weight, or get "used" to their exercise, need to work harder to keep losing. Good luck!!

I'm looking for new shoes for the gym, and thought I'd ask your opinion on your favorites? Because I'm bigger and I'm a supinator (I roll out, not in), sometimes I have a hard time finding a shoe that's a good fit for me. I've been really happy with Brooks in the past, and I'm thinking I'll end up with them again. But.. wanted to put it out there, and see if I've been missing out on some sort of miracle shoe!