NWgirl

I have Anthem BCBS. If you have not met your out of pocket max for the year (or don't have one) then you will be required to pay whatever perecentage the insurance requires.

Good luck on your journey

lapband has a low profile port too. Are you getting a fill from the surgeon? Usually a surgeon places the port in the same local for everyone, so they will know the general location.

you should be on liquids the first 24 hr after a fill due to swelling.

I run a restaurant. I had my surgery on a Tue, went to work for a few hours Thursday, worked a full shift Friday, and then had a conference that I flew to Vegas for Sun-Mon and a partial day again on Tue before going back full time. I healed very rapidly and felt 100% after a few days. It seems like the most common time frame that people take off is 1-2 weeks. I did not have the option.

I also exercise multiple times a week. I have started jogging again and do that 3-4 times a week for 1hr or so. I have also intermittently attended aqua classes, but have found lately that home exercise is easiest due to my schedule.

I was saying that most who experience "withdrawal" symptoms do so from things like caffeine or sugar. I was told not to drink any caffeinated beverages (coffees) for 2 to 3 weeks post op, and to refrain from soda as much as possible. It really depends on who your surgeon is. Some are pretty strict in a low carb diet and others are not. I think the main focus is that you are getting proper nutrition, and due to the small amount you can eat, you need to eat right from the start. I always focus on Protein first and then have other things if I have room.

Unlike 2muchfun, I am a sweets kinda gal. I usually try to satisfy my sweet tooth with fresh fruit, but I do occasionally indulge. I did not have any physical symptoms (headache, etc) from any type of withdrawals. I think the most common one is sugar/caffeine.

Amazing results. I cannot believe how many clothing sizes you've dropped! Can't wait for the comparison shots

I try to stay away from processed crap, but everything is a go. Today I had a Greek yogurt and an Atkins cafe caramel for breakfast, two chicken legs and some tuna for lunch, mixed fruit, hummus, and pita chips for snack/dinner. I will probably have another protein item before bed, but I am pretty much done for the day.

I have an open to the public restaurant supply store in my area, so I buy the Torini sugar free syrups. You could also order online. I would recommend going to a supplement store and buying the sample packs of flavors so you can find one you like without having to buy a whole container.

It is normal I spent the week before mindlessly occupying myself so I could not worry over every little (far fetched) possibility or scenario that ran through my mind. The morning of, I focused on my wonderful support system that woke up at such an unholy hour to take me to the hospital at 5am.

Slim fast is usually not acceptable because of the high sugar/fat/carb ratio to a small amount of Protein. If you use slim fast, you need to use the low carb high protein version. Just make sure that you can get all of your recommended protein each day (70g+ usually) with whatever shake you use. Premier Protein chocolate shakes are good (somewhat bland) and have 30g protein per shake. I like to add sugar free syrups to them to change the flavor. I recently got PB2 powder, but have yet to use it in shakes as I'd rather eat my food and not drink it

Awesome! I finally had to buy a belt yesterday after procrastinating on it for a month. Last month I had walked by a clothing store that was having a major clearance sale on plus pants, so I bought a couple 14's and a couple 16's but apparently missed the 18's. I guess I'll just belt up my 20's til I get to those 16's... Maybe

There will always be something better and more shiny than you have. Don't get caught up on the idea and just be grateful you atleast got the band.

I have an Anthem BCBS national plan with no supervised diet requirements. From first appointment to surgery was two months. I received approval right after one month, but my surgeon was booked so I had to wait three more weeks for surgery.

follow whatever the Dr gave you as a transition plan. I was on liquids two weeks, purees one week, mushies one week, and then slow reintroduction of real food as per my nutritionist. my insurance covers WLS but not the dietician, but I pay the price anyways because it is invaluable. I would recommend writing up a list of questions about the food stages and what you should eat in the future. The nutritionist will be the one to give you food plans, not the Dr.

another interesting fact is that WLS can cause problems with absorption of traditional birth control, meaning it may not work properly after surgery. I recommend talking to a gynecologist to look at options. Mine said the best bets are the Nuva ring or an IUD.

The only time I have gotten a stuck feeling is when I have tried bread products or if I do not chew well enough. I have experienced the feeling that if I take another bite I will regret it, but only twice in the first few days since my last fill. Honestly I find if I focus 100% on my food and eat slowly, I do not need to eat large portions to be satisfied. Of course, there are days when the fatty in me just wants to throw a hissy because there's food left on the plate. It's all a learning game, and so we will all learn in our own time. I think tonight you are feeling a positive feedback from your band telling you that you overdid it.

I would say you've probably irritated your band. I would not purposely try to throw up, but instead try to wait it out. In the future, you should keep an eye on portion sizes because if you are eating til full, you are probably eating too much. Realistically, the band should hold about 1 cup of food. By starting good habits now and measuring food, you will prevent some possible hardship down the road (trust me, having a stuck episode is very unpleasant). If you need to, eat more often throughout the day but try to keep the portions small.

Log on to your insurance website and look at the bariatric policy. Better yet, call the insurance customer service line and ask them the specific requirements for bariatric surgery and if your specific plan covers it or not. If you did not find out this info in the beginning and relied on the Dr's office to tell you, it is very possible that the Dr's office got it wrong. There are so many variations of plans, and even if the initial plan covers it, employers can choose to cover or not cover certain aspects of a plan. When I was originally looking at the band in mid 2011, I was told by the insurance coordinator of a very reputable surgery center that my insurance did cover WLS. I came to find out that it did not, and what had happened is that there were three separate insurance plans to choose from through the employer and the insurance coordinator ASSUMED I was on the plan that covered WLS without actually bothering to call and check. It was a big disappointment to me. Needless to say, I also chose a different practice when I knew it was covered this time around.

Also, peppermint tea and a small pillow to hold against your tummy. AS for the now, just relax and try not to worry about your approval process everyday. I literally forced it out of my mind while I was waiting so I did not stress about it.

I would keep all of your WW records, including the actual food log journals. I have heard of Dr's offices literally faxing the whole 6 months of journals. To be on the safe side, I would also schedule a monthly appointment with your PC Dr to discuss your weight loss efforts and get a monthly weigh in. Sometimes these insurance companies can be super tricky and if you miss one thing, you get to do it all over again. I have Anthem BCBS as well, but I have a national plan that did not require a formal weight program. Good luck to you!

The people who lose massive amounts of weight so soon are either 1) very heavy or 2) eat a very small amount of calories (800) and exercise 5 or 6 days a week. If you want to lose the weight QUICK, you need to eat very little (and eat the right things!) and exercise a lot. If you aren't willing to be so restrictive, then you won't lose as fast. I would recommend tracking calories for a few days to see if you are eating too many. You also did not mention if you actively exercised? The band is not going to force you to lose weight, it is only a tool and you need to utilize it and not rely solely on it.

Like you said, we all vary so much. I can drink large quantities of water. I do have slight restriction, but I am still able to drink a lot of water. I actually use a Camelbak water bottle with the bite straw everyday and have not had any extra air problems. You will really have to test it out yourself.