jessejames9999

I was banded 6 mos. ago. Had no port area pain after the initial few days post surgery were over. Then about 5 or 6 weeks ago my port area was sensitive to mildly painfull for a few days. There was no redness or swelling. My surgeons nurse, as well as a couple of other long term bandsters I know, said this happens occassionally. But as long as there is no redness and/or swelling then don't worry about it. I did worry me and then after 2 or 3 days the sensitivity in my port area disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.

I was banded 12/13/10 and in just 2-1/2 months, I'm finding inspiration when I witness obese or normal weight people eating huge portions. It helps me to remember that I used to eat that way and how much I paid for the overeating heath wise, activity wise, emotionally, etc. At a college baseball game yesterday I brought in from home a turkey sandwich on light wheat bread and could only eat half of it before feeling full. Sitting right next to me, my buddy consumed a giant hamburger, french fries, and a 32 oz soda drink from stadium concessions in less time than it took me to eat my half of a turkey sandwich. He was amazed that I wrapped up and put away the other half of my sandwhich, while I was amazed at my not being interested in eating the amount and types of food he had just finished eating! My buddy knows that I had WLS and I have told him that he doesn't need to restrain himself eating wise around me, since it's not really bothering me (I haven't told him his large portion eating is actually having an inspiration type of effect on me). I think he sees my commitment to working with my band and getting healthier. I am hoping that by the end of baseball season, without me pushing WLS as an option he should be considering, he gravitates to that consideration after observing my contentment with so much less food and more weight loss. He could benefit from WLS, but he needs to want it for himself and I will not push my choice on him. I plan to remain friends regardless of our paths in life.

I was banded 12/13/10. Thanks for the link. I'm enjoying reading the archive of newsletters and listening to some of the podcasts, also. James

I've had that problem also. Lived on Gas X all day and still had problems. When I got off the Protein drinks it improved some. I have now been able to very reasonably control the gas problems by using 4 Benefiber chewable tabs a day. The added Fiber really controls my gas problem plus it improved my bowel movements. The Benefiber tabs are sugar free and minisule calories. Get the fiber you need without the carbs. If you try this, start with 1 or 2 tabs a day and then increase till you reach a good balance for you. Since I began using Benefiber I average needing Gas X once or twice a month, usually after eating something like chilli. Good luck! James

You appear to have the most liberal 2 week pre op diet I've seen. Mine is Clear Liquids, full liquids, SF Jello, SF puddings, SF popscicles. smoothie King Gladiator Protein Meal Replacement full liquids (using skim milk) shakes are my main food source. I just competed Day 11! No hunger or headaches, Losing tons of Water weight (15.6 lbs after Day 9). Haven't weighed since. Even my shoes are beginning to feel loose! I'm really wish I could chew a small piece of protein meat, or fruits, or vegatables. But I'm not hungry and have plenty energy. Hang in there. It's for your own good. Keep busy. Good Luck. I'll be banded Monday!

I've completed 7 days of pre-op dieting and have lost 13 lbs. It will be nice to sleep through a night again some day without getting up all night to go to the bathroom!

You've done well. I also had to go through a 6 month physician supervised diet. I lost 30 lbs. during mine. After a life time of weight loss/ re-gaining, I was surprised in the super obese condition I'm in now at age 63, that I had any degree of self will power left. I've heard that most insurance companies are looking for at least a 5 % weight loss to qualify the patient for bariatric surgery. It appears you will be on track as far as that goes. I am choosing to go forward with surgery because of my lifetime history of regaining past losses. I'm only 15 months away from being on Medicare coverage and it doesn't cover bariatric surgeries now. It will be very unlikely to cover such surgeries after the current reforms get modified, reversed, whatever. I'm having surgery on Dec. 13th. I'm in the middle of the 2 week pre-op diet now - all Clear liquids, SF Jello, Protein Meal Replacement shakes made with low fat milk, SF puddings and yogurt type stuff. Not as bad as expected. No headaches, hunger. Just wishing I had something to chew. Good luck in whatever you choose.

I'm surprised to find another Cigna worry wort on my first time scanning the postings here. My coverage is through Cigna also. My application for surgery was sent out about 10 days ago, It took a week to get a response, It was denied for a very minor bit of missing criteria which was really covered by implication in the reports from my surgeon and primary care doctors, My primary care doctor was so upset at this minor lack of understanding taken by the Cigna review board that he called the Medical Director for Cigna and after that conversation faxed over a more precise "medically politically correct wording" of his recommendation for my surgery and the next day received a phone call from that Cigna Director that my surgery was now approved. It took another day for the Cigna computer systems to be updated from rejection to approved state and today my surgeon's office was able to verify the approval with Cigna and my surgery is scheduled for Dec. 13th. My long BS journey to get qualified via Cigna is over! Their critteria is very specific and not based on comparison to another applicant's. If you get rejected your doctor and you will get a letter specifically stating what their criteria was and exactly where your application is lacking/rejected. This rejection letter took nearly a week to get to me. My surgeon got notice electronically the day after the decision was made by the review board amd called me with the news right away. In this 2nd pass, since my primary care doctor went directly to the Cigna Medical Director I ended up getting approval notice from my primary care doctor's call to me and I ended up notifying my surgeon's office of the approval. Might have been the first time the surgeon found out about an approval from the patient, but that was my experience today. Because of my age, 63-1/2, and that I'll be on Medicare at 65 I feared Cigna would do everything they could to deny me, but it worked out! Don't give up. If denied carefully address the reason given for the rejection even if it seems trival as mine was. If needed you and your physicians should do appeals respectfully and promptly and you might have a similar outcome to mine. Good Luck!