Well with Medicare himhawing  over the VSG approval, I started thinking about the LapBand possiblity again.  I guess the fear of having something "attached" to me scared me, but after re-reading the info I am not sure.   I guess there are complications with both and I really just need to sit down and see what I feel comfortable with.    /sigh 

Well after a very, VERY long search.  We have finally found a house and will be moving in the next couple of months.  GOOD-BYE APARTMENTS!!!   Other things have finally started to fall into place in my life that are definitely helping with the stress relief.   Weight-loss?  None to report :(    I began tryingt to lose using the BMR info and such, but after the last house contract fell through, depression set in and so did my ambition for weight loss.   SO back to the starting line, which is okay.  This wouldn't be the first time I have tried to lose weight and had to start over.  

Have had a few more medical issues pop up recently.   HORRIBLE (went to E.R.) ovarian cyst issue that I thought I was losing my mind because it hurt so bad.   Talked to my doc about possiblity of P.C.O.S (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome), and he said unless there is some other symptoms ovairian cycts alone are not a definite indicator.   So had some blood work done checking for "Metabolic Syndrome" and cholestrol.   My cholesterol was a little high on the "bad" and a little "low" on the good, but nothing severe enough to warrant medication.   I do have, however, significant insulin resistance.   WELL, wonder how long I have had that???    So treating wth Metformin.   After researching Metformin, it appears that many with the insulin resistance have lost weight after being treated with Metformin.   MAYBE????   Who knows maybe this is a blessing in disguise.   Only time will tell.    

Hopefully, new house, new energy, new life, new body.   One can dream right??  :)   

Ok so It has been over a month since my last post.   After realizing that the sleeve was what I wanted, but that it was still "just" out of reach (ins. not covering it yet), I went through some pretty intense depression about my weight.   I guess you could say I "gave up".  I stopped caring and started eating bad foods again, sugary soda, and snacking at all hours of the day.  I wasn't sleeping right and that didn't help either.  

FINALLY, I got myself out of it.  Still not sure what brought me out of it, but I started doing my "research" again.  Not only on surgery but all the other stuff out there.   The medications for weight loss, new diet trends....all of it!    I began to realize that all of this "info." was part of the problem.   While it looks legitimate and may even have "case study" results, much of it is still all glitzed and glamoured to make you want to buy into the idea. 

So I stripped it all down.  Got down the the facts.   I wasn't sleeping well during this time anyway so why not put my "wake time" to use.   I felt like I was researching information for a thesis!!   I was checking and double checking facts left and right.   And while some of it out there looked "great on paper" the results where not as promising.

One thing I have started to give a little more thought to is the BMR (basal metabolic rate).  

All my life I have heard, "cut the calories and you will lose weight".   True statement but missing out on a VERY VERY important link.

Who would have thought that all these years of me "cutting calories" only to gain it back and more, might have been avoided if someone would have explained this to me!!!

Your basal metabolic rate is the amt. of calories you need to take in for your body to function.  If you go too far below this number your body will actually start turning muscle into glucose for energy and your metabolism will get slower!!!  This is the "starvation mode" we have all heard about.  So while a "crash' diet of extrememly low caloric intake will work for a short time and you will lose some weight.  The long term weight loss will never be accomplished.  Now the rule of thumb from what I have found is that a 3500 calories approximately equals 1 lbs. of fat.   So by eating 500 cal. less a day would result in a pound a week weight loss, and 1000 a day less would result in 2 lbs a week ( the recommended amt. for long term benefits.) 
But then there is that BMR thing.   Now for example, for me my BMR (for a 5'11", 355lbs, 34 year old female) is approximately 2500 calories a day.   HUH????WHAT???   Well ok.  I guess I see that?

NOW again.  This doesn't mean you can go out and have fast food everyday or eat an entire pizza for a meal.   We are talking about eating healthy foods that give us the the "good stuff" and calories that we need to survive.   

So here it goes.   I am going to see how well this will work. Granted, I have health conditions that may be altering my BMR from what the calculators are giving me so this might be trial and error for a bit.  But this is what I am going to do.   Because it is saying I only need the 2500 cal a day to survive.  That is what I am going to strive for.  Within 2 weeks or so, I should either see some weight loss or gain (barring any sickness or anything ouf of the ordinary).   I will also be making sure I am still getting my vitamins and minerals in for the day and pushing to try to get the 8 glasses of water a day.  Wish me luck on that one!!

So because the sleeve is the only surgery I will have but cannot.  I am becoming a home scientist!!! hmmm I wonder if a lab coat would help???

Well I guess I will know more after I see the sleep doc on the 11th, but looks like I have decided to just put things on hold.  I don't want to choose Lap just because it will be covered by ins.   SOOOOOO  I am going to do some research into doing a postop diet "lite" and see how that goes.   Then hopefully medicare will finally come on board with the sleeve soon.   I have kept my weight pretty constant the last two years (give or take 5 lbs).  So maybe if I start doing the "lite diet" i might get lucky enough to lose a little more.  Maybe I will get realllllly lucky and lose a lot ;)

Well the journey continues......never give up never surrender :)

Well today was my sleep study and I DO have severe sleep apnea.  So starting on the CPAP tonight and seeing sleep doc on the 11th.  Had to cancel class with Dr. Scott until I figure out what to do.  Can't do RNY because of my meds for narcolepsy and cataplexy.  But according to Dr. Scott's office again today medicare does not cover the  Sleeve under any circumstances, and my self-pay costs $25,000.  AHHHHh no.  Can't do that under any circumstances unless missouri lottery come through (which I hardly ever play so that isn't an option).   SOOOOOO NOW what?????   I really do not feel comfortable with the LapBand idea, so what DO I DO NOW??   I guess I can wait and hope that the sleeve soon gets covered by original medicare.  But probably not.  I guess my next choice is do I get the LapBand even though I am really against the idea, do I wait for original medicare to cover it, or look for a medicare advantage plan that does and switch at the end of the year.  /sigh  

This is SOOOOO discouraging.   I was finally completely ready for this mentally and physically and now this.