idea of any kind of insurance plans that will cover Lapband and How do I go about getting insurance? I want it sooo BAD. Its my ONLY hope. I know I will never loose the weight on my own, Ive tried until I'm tired of trying. And there is no way I can afford lapband. So, If I cant find some insurance, then Im just gonna go back on Adipex, which according to my heart doctor will be signing my own death warrant. I dont care. I have nothing else left to live for anyway, if I have to live like this, at least Maybe Id die looking similar to a human form instead of an elephant. TIA for any info y'all can give me.
Honey, it's sounds like you are in that bad place we all had to reach before we could make a change.
I am not sure if there is a program in your state, but here you can buy into the State Ins. It doesn't cost much and though it can be a fight, they do cover WLS.
I hope you can find it in your heart to love yourself enough to wade your way through the sadness and depression that so many of us have had to struggle with and completely understand....that we had to work through to begin the WLS or any other Health-Improving process. Find a good counselor and start your weight loss journey there...for a lot of us with weight issues, counseling before surgery is very, very important. I was over weight for good reason and I know I am not alone in that. I have always advocated that everyone could benefit from seeing a professional at least for 6 months.
Good luck my friend...I and all here on this board, be it on the Weight Loss Surgery side or one of the other sides, will be here to help support you as best we can.
Angela
Last edited by missangelaks; 06-30-2008 at 02:12 AM.
You DO have things to live for besides getting thin. Even if you weigh more than 1000 lbs, you are valuable and your life and health are worth protecting and valuing, as they exist today.
Even if you weigh more than 1000 lbs, any weight loss surgeon is going to consider your health and safety in deciding whether or not you're a good candidate for the surgery. They're not going to ignore the risks to you, and you shouldn't too. This needs to be a careful decision, not a desperate one.
Even if you're approved relatively quickly, it's going t take some time to get through the process. There are things you can do today to start safely preparing for the process.
I'm not telling you not to pursue this. I am asking you to take a big ol' breath and try to get your bearings. I know what desperation feels like. I was having terrible health problems at nearly 400 lbs and had to go onto disability. I'm not the best candidate for WLS because I've got autoimmune disease and am very prone to staph infections. I'm on medicare, because of the disability, and while medicare covers wls, the redt tape can take months or a year to wade through. If I decide to have wls, it would probably be months before I would get approved. Because of the risks, I decided not to pursue it (though I haven't completely ruled it out).
Hubby and I joined TOPS (taking off pounds sensibly - weekly weigh-in and meetings, sort of like WW but less than 1/10 the cost).
Many insurances require you to show proof that you tried to lose weight in the past, sometimes for up to a year. You don't have to have failed miserably for them to approve you, but you may have to prove you tried. If you have receipts from plans like TOPS, Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers, etc hold on to them, you may need them. If you don't, I would suggest you join
TOPS or a similar weight loss support group.
TOPS is great, and I can't say enough good things about it. It's a non-profit organization and provides a lot of incentives for losing weight. Members who lose weight are given recognition annually based on their starting weight, gender and age (child or adult) and whether they've had wls. So it's a wonderful source of support both before and after wls, and it probably will help you satisfy any pre-surgery requirements.
Find a wls or wls preparation support group. Call the hospital in your area and ask where the nearest one meets and when. You can start meeting people who have had the surgery or like you are preparing to.
There are things you can do to start improving your health and losing weight before surgery. Losing weight is not usually going to prevent a surgeon or insurance from accepting you, in fact many require it to prove that you are able to make a commitment to the diet and lifechanges you will have to follow after surgery. The doctors and insurances know that for most people the problem isn't losing at least some of the weight, it's keeping it off.
Many people find that South Beach, low carb, or low GI eating help reduce that "I could eat a car" hunger. I know for me it is truly amazing how much difference there is in that uncontrollable hunger I had before. Remember though, do NOT attempt a carb-restricted diet, especially an extreme one without talking to your doctor and having your bloodwork drawn and evaluated (if you have severe kidney disease such diets can be dangerous). I would also suggest reducing carbs slowly rather than quickly, but that's my opinion.
Above all, hang out here, and if possible get to the TOPS or other weight loss support group and the wls support group. Talk to family and friends too. You need to talk to others to not only help you lose weight with whatever tools you need to do so, you need to rediscover why life is worth living, whether or not you are eligible or can get approved for the surgery.
thanks. I know Lapband is not a quick fix or an easy fix. that it still comes down to eating right and exercising. I have been off of adipex for a good 12 years or longer. and I know that it DOES work. Its a miracle drug basically. I know this. I dropped 11 pounds in 3 weeks like it was nothing. I have a friends who is over 400 pounds. she had the lapband back November, and she has gained every since. there is something about your not suppose to drink while eating. and she does. so that defeats the whole purpose. but I can do that, I can eat without drinking. Im bigger now than Ive ever been in my life. I have 2 shirts that fit me. thats it. dh is on to me to buy new clothes. umm, I think NOT. cant even find any to fit. Weight watchers worked for me before, I was at 265, and got down to 204, and went right back to 270 now. I just get sooo hungry. I can eat a chicken bisquit and hashbrown, bad, but WHY am I starving sick 2 hours later? it dont make sense. I just cant get it together this time. I have a doctor appt tomorrow. if my mind dont change, Im asking for adipex. I know he will give it to me. since I lost that much weight and gained it all back, as hard as I try to convince myself I can do it again, I cant get motivated, in the back of my mind. whats the use? why do it? Im just gonna gain it back anyway. all that work, exercising, starving for what? NOTHING, for absolutely nothing. I appreciate the support and info y'all have given me. Maybe I'll get the adipex just for a jump start, maybe If I see the weight coming back off that will motivate me to get back on the weight watcher plan. the plan itself is good and it works, IF you can stay on it. the company is nothing but a money scam of a joke. I will not attend ww meetings. its just a money rip off. thats all. Thanks for listening, I feel better, I think lol
oh honey - my heart's breaking for you! good thing you're going to see your doc - have a REAL GOOD heart to heart with him - maybe he can refer you to a dietician who can help you set up an eating plan [notice i didn't say DIET!!!] that'll keep you from getting hungry.
even with the lapband, you're still going to have to change your eating habits. WE ALL HAD TO!!! and you're seeing what can happen if you don't - with your friend gaining weight even on the lapband.
another idea here is to lose SOME weight [25 pounds? 10 pounds? you decide], and then MAINTAIN it. from what you've written, you can indeed lose it, but KEEPING it off is a problem. it's a problem for us, too.
really and truly, darlin - there are many ways to go here - and we gotta try to help you get out of this miserable, hopeless funk you're in, and help you move to some ACTION that'll work for you.
remember - ANY form of WLS requires that we follow certain RULES. and they're not all that different - eat 'right,' and exercise. so any changes you can make before the surgery are all good.
I know that I eat too much. I know I do and I do it because I get soooo hungry. why? Ive done this before, I should be able to do it again. What are some things that y'all eat for breakfast? maybe if I can at least get that straightened out the rest of my day will fall in place. Im alergic to eggs so no eggs, but Im open to suggestions on anything else. Oh and Ive decided to use you all on here..LOL.. Im gonna use you as my answer, I will report the results of my weigh in each week. maybe if I have thousands of ppl to answer to, that will work. having to answer to ppl is what helped me before so I'll try that route too. you know my weight from yesterday. lol.. I weigh in on Sun mornings
wow! we're not used to this much responsibility!!!! but if you're willing to confess - well, we'll listen!!!
here's my breakfast - and remember, i'm 6-1/2 years post-op - 20 gram protein drink, small slice of bread with 1/2 oz cheese, 1/2 c lf yogurt with 1/2 c berries and 1/4 c low-sugar granola.
and i ALWAYS fit in tea-drinking around this - never drinking within about 1/2 hour of eating. there are times that tea is far more important than food, ya know!!!
and lots of tea. the protein and bread/cheese are eaten as i run out the door [after having hiked/walked with the dog]. the yogurt/fruit/granola are eaten about 2 hours later.
Does anybody have any
