Alexandra

I had the absolute worst one the other day. A recording came on telling me that it was calling on behalf of a nonprofit organization I have supported in the past. But then it went on to say it was sorry that no one could come to the phone at the moment (!), it apologized for the inconvenience, and that it would try again later. Lovely. A recording calling me that it would try again later because THEY were too busy? HOLY CRAP!!! It didn't even give the name of the organization so I could complain.

There are now a few different versions of the Lap-Band on the market, and another is coming out next month. It doesn't matter which one you have if it's working FOR YOU. There's no point in comparing one band with another. Your doctor makes the choice for you based on your anatomy.

I don't mind at all. I lost the 125 lbs with the help of my band, in that it made me eat more slowly, thoughtfully, carefully, and with less hunger all the time. I was thrilled with my band and disappointed that it had to be removed. I don't know exactly why it "slipped" (which means it or my stomach migrated out of correct position, making it nearly impossible for me to eat) but guess it was because I had forgotten how careful I had to be even if I can't feel the restriction all the time. (It seems common for the sensation of restriction to lessen over time for bandsters, so that the "stop signal" becomes less obvious.) Lesson learned. My band was removed completely, but I'm getting a new one on 6/4. My insurance is covering the removal and the replacement; if that wasn't the case I wouldn't be having it done. There are no guarantees with this or any other medical procedure, ever. But my experience showed me that with help, I can lose weight and it can stay off. My eating habits changed considerably but I have no faith whatsoever that I will be able to maintain those eating habits over time without help from the band to alleviate my hunger. So I'm signing up again, with enthusiasm!

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a year before being banded. Once I got on the right dose (Synthroid, .125) I found a resolution of symptoms. Weight loss has not affected the function of my thyroid nor has my dosage needed to be adjusted. As long as the deficiency is controlled and you're on the right medications, it's not a problem for bandsters.

I completely agree, Loreen--if the band is making you unhappy, have it out! If you discover down the road that you still need some assistance, your body will be normal and you will still have all options available to you. If you have the original small band you might want to discuss the availability and appropriateness of the newer, larger bands. But whatever you decide, you're absolutely right to be concerned about healthful nutrition and quality of life. Good luck!!

Hmmm... that's an interesting quandary, Kristi. There may not actually be an itemized bill for self-pay patients, I guess. Those highly detailed bills are designed for insurance purposes and it might take a lot of labor to generate one. Are you saying that you got a huge discount because you work at the hospital? If that's the case, the person telling you they can't give you an itemized bill may be right. They'd have to show that they undercharged you significantly as a "professional courtesy," and while that is indeed done all the time the people on the receiving end of that courtesy typically don't file insurance claims. In fact, that courtesy is usually provided with that understanding.

Leatha, the only reason I wanted to close the poll is that it seemed TO ME that the owner had made a decision. There were only a couple of people continuing the conversation, and there didn't seem any point in continuing the voting. There have been lots of closed polls in the past, too, that have outlived their relevancy. A "hide" button for specific threads would be harder to use, I think, than the solution that has been enacted. And again, speaking PERSONALLY (not as a moderator), I have really enjoyed the increased activity in the R&R section over the last several months. My "am I crazy for staying here" moment came during the "dark time" that Carlene referred to. This current atmosphere is a balm to my soul compared to that. The "tone" of the board changes from time to time, as we all know, and it's a function of the personalities involved, not of any management decisions. This is like an ongoing cocktail party of adults, not a supervised discussion. Stick around, and it will change again. 'Tis the nature of the message-board beast. :biggrin1:

Fingers AND toes crossed!! The doctor might be thinking of "against medical guidelines" rather than against the law. Insurers aren't in the business of providing care to patients; if coverage for bariatric surgery isn't in the contract, there's no law against denying coverage. But he is right in that IF bariatric surgery is covered, and IF the patient qualifies, then legal pressure can indeed be brought to bear to force the insurer to cover it. That's how I got it done. :biggrin1:

RNY is just another name for gastric bypass surgery. It's one type; there are a couple of different bypass surgeries, I gather. And in case I hadn't mentioned it before, I AM doing it again! My band was removed due to slippage and I am getting a new, improved model on June 4th. I can't wait!!

Congratulations on your diagnosis, I guess! Seriously, I hope you get the approval for the RNY and that it is smooth and easy. Fingers crossed!!

I sure wish I COULD change my driving habits. Unfortunately I have a 30-minute drive to work (taking the train would cost $$$ and take 90 minutes, minimum). In my own town nothing is within walking distance, but we do all our errands on the way home. Still, I'd love to be able to take a bus or train to work. As a New Yorker, it still feels weird to me to commute all alone.

Hi Marcy, What do you mean you've been waiting since October of '06? Has the request been submitted and you haven't had an answer? Or has there been communication since then? That's WAY too long if they're just not responding.

I guess so! Shhhhhhhhh.... From time to time doctors enter or leave networks due to contract issues they have with the carriers. There's nothing an HMO patient can do about it except find another doctor, carrier, or pay the bills. This is the second time it's happened to me with my surgeon, and I'm just happy I have the knowledge and opportunity to find ways to deal with it. I was prepared to change carriersif necessary, again, this summer. I still might.

No, it would be hiding the fact that LBT has a lively, edgy off-topic section with active threads. How can you possibly know what people who say nothing do or do not wish to look at? If you are hearing their voices elsewhere, all that means is they have found other sites that fit them better. I'm certainly not comfortable making presumptions about the vast number of eyes that hit this site and what conclusions their owners might be drawing. How can you be? Funny, your business model makes perfect sense for a certain kind of business. YOUR business. If Alex feels his needs adjusting, he'll do it.

I think it is indeed flawed thinking. Any attempt to "offend no one" just results in a dumbing-down of content. I see this in the media all the time, and it is, in fact, the most likely thing to offend me. You've heard the phrase "insulting one's intelligence"--that's the perfect example. If the goal is to "offend no one" a whole lot more than what you're suggesting would have to be done.

Bolding mine. See, this is what I don't get. The assumption that some thread titles are "offensive" to "most" is baseless. There are more than 14,000 registered members and untold numbers of lurkers. We've only heard from a scant few who are "offended" by thread titles. Second, "offends people who do not wish to see it" is also a huge leap. There are LOTS of threads I may not wish to see, but I'm not offended by any of them. Seriously, I'm scratching my head on that one. And last, it seems more than clear that what you think "would be best" is not what everyone thinks would be best. And as we've agreed, it's ultimately up to the site owner and if he feels a change is in order, one will be made. Everyone shops around among banding sites and hopefully finds one that fits their sensibilities. It says nothing negative about any of the sites that they appeal to different audiences. And there's no reason they have to be mirror images of one another.

Hi Byron; welcome to LBT! :biggrin1:

Hi Dianne, Welcome to LBT! To anwer your question, gastric banding IS lap-banding, it's just another way of saying it. The Lap-Band is a trademark for one brand of adjustable gastric band.

I still don't see what is "huge" and "prominent" about the R&R section. From time to time it gets very active, and one thread or another will appear on the Top 5 a lot (today it's this thread, for example). But I honestly do not see how this in any way detracts from anyone's understanding or use of the rest of the site.

I've just spent a few minutes looking at the site from the front page, and trying to imagine myself as a newbie. When I click on New Posts the majority of the threads there seem to be the "clubs" of people who were banded in the same month and who come together for support and discussion. To be perfectly honest, that would kind of put me off, because it presents an atmosphere of cliquishness. On the home page the section titles are clear as day, and of course the banding areas on the top. I think the front page shows any newcomer exactly what LBT is about. The "Top 5" is way down at the bottom, and certainly is NOT the first thing any visitor sees. What exactly is the problem?

That's a wise observation and I agree with you. But the "something" that a sunrise moves in me is a profound appreciation of nature and its qualities. Spirituality is something each of us find in our own way, which is all the more reason that it shouldn't be used as a basis for law.

:heh: :heh:

Well, it will be interesting to see if the owner of LBT finds this to be true. I think it's a HUGELY open question as to whether the current configuration in any way detracts from the main focus of the site. All we have is our personal opinions, which vary widely.

Thanks, everyone! That great thing is that there's none of the second-guessing or nervousness I had the first time. I know banding is the best thing for me, and I can't wait to get back on the bandwagon.

Huh? Do you have some information about advertisers' opinions? And as far as the opinions from this thread go, that's exactly what prompted the change that was made. Bolding mine. It's also completely possible that there are just as many people who are drawn to the site by the fact of this lively debate section. Don't you think? There are lots of banding support sites, after all; perhaps the existence and personality of the R&R section is precisely one of the things that makes LBT special. Just sayin'.