Looking for support from Family and Friends...

[Allison 2]

Hey everyone! So I had my consultation yesterday, the surgeon said that I was a great candidate for surgery, and he said that with my insurance (BCBS of MA) he has never had any problems getting coverage for people with a BMI of 40 or over, (mines about 41.) He gave me a list of the things I need to get done before I can have surgery, I already made an appointment for bloodwork and a meeting with my PCP to get a letter of medical necessity (weight loss surgery was actually her idea back in Sep.) ANYWAYS, I'm rambling, but it looks as if everything is going full speed ahead and I couldn't be more excited!!

However, getting support from the people around me isn't going as well. Back in Sep. I started to research after my doctor brought it up. I found out about lap band, and a surgeon that did the surgery near my town. I told my mom about it, and she came with me to the seminar with me. She seemed interested at first, but that faded quickly into worry. She had a never ending list of reasons it wasn't a good idea, I'm too young, I'm not "fat enough," its too drastic, I won't be able to follow the guidelines, I could do it on my own if I "really, really" tried, etc. The responces from almost all of my friends were pretty much all the same. I was so taken back by the lack of positive responce, I stopped talking about it, but that doesn't mean that I didn't stop thinking and researching it.

A couple months later, I finally feel that I am ready and that LB is really the right tool for me. As I mentioned before, everything seems to be going pretty good, but I haven't told anyone besides 2 friends who have been supportive the whole time, that I was really planning to go through with it. I know my parents will find out eventually, especially when the sleep lab and the nutritionist leave messages on the answering machine to schedual appointments, or when my dad notices "Lap Band" on his insurance (I'm still covered since I'm a student) Or when I have to ask them to borrow the $175 for the psych eval. Occasionally my mother brings up more and more reasons "lap band doesn't work." I have no idea how to get them to support me. Just wondering if anyone else has gone through anything like this?

Allison

[coolcrystal 1]

A couple months later, I finally feel that I am ready and that LB is really the right tool for me. As I mentioned before, everything seems to be going pretty good, but I haven't told anyone besides 2 friends who have been supportive the whole time, that I was really planning to go through with it. I know my parents will find out eventually, especially when the sleep lab and the nutritionist leave messages on the answering machine to schedual appointments, or when my dad notices "Lap Band" on his insurance (I'm still covered since I'm a student) Or when I have to ask them to borrow the $175 for the psych eval. Occasionally my mother brings up more and more reasons "lap band doesn't work." I have no idea how to get them to support me. Just wondering if anyone else has gone through anything like this?

Allison

I didn't have problems with my family, as my parents would have paid for it and driven me there themselves if they had the money at the time. LOL. To them, this surgery didn't get done fast enough; BUT, I had several friends who kept saying I was going to die and thinking this was the bypass surgery.

The two get confused ALL the time. Having my two best friends banded 1 and 2 years before me helped me to see that it wasnt' dangerous and that it could work for me. But, every now and again I have somebody say things to me about it that are negative or like yesterday, I went to lunch with a friend of mine and she couldn't believe that I could actually eat regular food. She said she had a friend who was banded 4 years ago who vomits all the time.. well, that's because her doctor put that small 4cc band on her and apparently he was a complete idiot because she's never been able to eat normally and so now she thinks this happens with everybody who is banded. When I showed her I could eat and wasn't sick she was amazed and actually apologized for getting onto me about it since the first day I told her about it.

Once you get it done, and they see that you are doing good and that yes, you can be normal and eat - just not a lot - they will pipe down and be more supportive. Good luck hun!

[Allison 2]

Aww thanks, yeah I'm sure once I sit down with them and have a serious talk about all this they might not support me but at least they will know whats going on in my life. I still have some time so I'm just thinking about ways I can get them to listen to what I have to say. Thanks for the support! I always know that I can find tons of support on LBT!

Allison