sassyfrass

Hmmm....I haven't heard of the micro procedure. Interesting. I may have to ask about that. (But I'm thinking of plication with band, not sure if that's an issue....?).

Good for you Steph! That's great! I am not banded, yet, but I'm sure in the process of getting there, as far as insurance. After Sept I can move forward with it, but I'm told I won't have any problems with my insurance (BCBS of NC) plus I have talked to BCBS myself. I have been reading up on lapband for months now, plus I know quite a bit of people that had it done and have had much success. I look forward to being a bandster too. I wish you much success.

Scuffy, that is awesome. I thought I heard their nurses/ admin assistants say it hadn't been certified for it yet with plcation. Maybe it was another hospital they were speaking of. That is fantastic. Local is better. Wow, I will have to keep up with you to see how it is going for you. It is great to connect with others that have the same doc/procedure and hospital. Thank you.

Fefe, that is pretty much what the doc said to us about plication. He said there is no actual cpt code to charge for it at this time so it is basically a free add on to the band surgery. Jan, I am in NC so I would be seeing either Dr. Bell or Dr. Johnson in Morehead City area but with plication I thought I understood them to say it has to be done at an approved hospital....like in Greenville or Wilmington. Not sure on the details.

Absolutely as far ad food goes, but you will need to sign up to get the info so you will know how many points plus you get. You will just need to be careful of how often you have those meals as the sodium content is higher. I can tell you that I have lost weight over and over by eating a lot of the frozen smart ones, lean cuisine, healthy choice meals as well as soups but I do try to get those in lower sodium. I wish you much success. WW really is a good program.

I am thinking of having it done when I'm banded. I will ask more questions at my consult, but the docs mentioned it at the seminar I attended in June. I don't really want it for faster weight loss (as that will just bring more questions from outsiders ) but they say it's less chances of band slippage and won't need as many fills, possibly. I am all about that.

I am not banded yet, but I do know a girl that is banded and she did not have to have even one fill until 8 months out. I can only hope to be like that .

Well, I am divorced so have no dh to tell, but my dear mom knows and she is actually the one who suggested I think about it as she knows how unhappy I am with my roller coaster of weight loss/gains over and over. I get so depressed about it. My sisters and brother know I'm looking into it. My brother's mother in law had it and he is very supportive in me getting it. ..and surely my dad will know eventually. I just know that at first he will be one that's not too supportive of it.... He just doesn't understand how I can't just make up my mind and lose it and keep it off. He just doesn't get that. ..and more than that....I fear he will blab it to others. That's what I don't like about him knowing, but he will have to know before hand. Other than them, just a few of my friends know that I'm planning on it, if all works out with my insurance and they are supportive, except my very best friend has some issues with it, because she has heard negative things, but she KNOWS my weight issues as we've been friends for many years. I think in the end, if I choose to tell her before hand, she will be supportive. There is one gal at my work that had it a few years ago, although she did not have the funds to continue getting fills so she hasn't done much to help herself lose anything more than the first 20 lbs or so. She knows that I'm looking into it because I have asked questions over and over, but she also knows that I'm not putting it out there for the whole office to hear. I am NOT ashamed of it, but like some others, I just don't want to hear the opinions of those who DO NOT understand the emotional eating/binge eating roller coaster of weight gain all their life. They DO NOT understand what it's like to be a thinner/healthier person inside of a fat and unhealthy body. I do not need them critiquing everything they see me eat.....as they sometimes do now . I don't do well with "food police". I would be under less stress with them not knowing. And I really do not plan on telling the manager/supervisor. I will just tell them I have a dr. appt. for each of the appts. It's none of their business why. And as for the sugery....I have vacation time to take still, so I'll plan it at least 30 days out if all possible. Also, after being banded.....you are not lying when you tell people that you are eating healthier, lesser amounts...etc. That is true. From what I understand, YOU are still the one making the food choices and how much....so even though you have a tool to help you, YOU are the one making the choices that lead to the weight loss, so I won't just automatically tell people I'm banded if my weight loss comes up. Most people I know, also know that I have been a follower of weight watchers for years. I have lost over and over to gain over and over. Now if they flat out ask if I'm banded, I cannot lie, so I will tell them...but also point out that it's all about the food choices I make, just as before. Educate them.

Well I am not banded yet but, just as a couple looks forward to the baby they are adopting, I am doing the same here. So...when I refer to my future new "baby" so to speak. I always call HER Bandelina. She is small like thumbelina and hopefully will assist me with her "fairy dust". Lol.

I am glad I came to this thread. I am going to keep all of this great info in my head for when I get banded. A funny thing....about the hot liquids.... ...me and some of my friends always laughed at another friend when she ordered a hot water at the restaurant AFTER the meal because she felt too full, but.....after reading this post (although you are not talking about being too full...) there really must be something to the hot liquid thing. Hmmmm.... I guess we do learn something new every day.

Congrats on your loss! Don't let them make you feel bad. A loss is a loss!! and at least it's not a gain. That's why I won't be telling many people. I'm so OVER people thinking they know what I can or cannot eat! Just because they know I have folllowed a weight loss plan so long...they try to point out the things they THINK I cannot have. So annoying. I'm more of a private person, for the most part, so it's my coworkers that I shall strive to keep it from when it happens.

At the seminar I attended, the Doctors I will be seeing, say that it has to be done at a center for excellence with a hospital stay that's required. At least that's what I got from what they said. It was the very first seminar that they mentioned it, so it was kind of brief since they say they will talk more about it at our consult. I have not scheduled my consult just yet. I have to wait until Sept. (insurance change). And as, the poster before me said, there is no added charge, because there is no cpt code for them to use to charge it, so basically it's a 2 for 1 if you want to look at it that way. I'm thinking about it, but not quite sure. The thing that attracts me to it, (from what they say), is that there is lesser chance of band slippage and won't have to have fills for a while/or as often. That part alone is good, since it seems that the fill process is the most annoying. (as in, not enough, too much...getting sick...stuck too often.....etc....).

I take a Zumba class once a week at my gym. I love it. It breaks the the monotony of regular exercise. It's fun and it's definitely a lot of moving. I have to agree about being careful because of some of the moves, can make you hurt yourself (knees especially). I try to do as much low impact as I can, but there is one song that I just love and cannot make myself do the low impact on it. I KNOW it's not good on my knees, though.

I like the Jillian Michaels protein powder. I have not tried the chocolate, but I got the vanilla so that I can flavor it different ways. I really like it. I add a few marachino cherries w/ a bit of the juice and it is quite tasty. Have added coconut flavoring too. I always blend ice with it. If you add some low fat yogurt instead of just milk/water, it's creamier. I hope you find something you can live with.

Hi all. I have a question. I have read many posts from those of you that have been banded, already. I LOVE the info I get from here, so thank you to all of you. My question is: Since you are supposed to be eating slower, small bites, etc...to ensure not getting stuck, etc... doesn't this alone, help with weight loss? ( If you are not eating lots of shakes and things). I have problems with sometimes just bingeing on carbs (and I truly HATE that about me) but I'm hoping that when banded, this will HELP me....because of eating slower etc... I KNOW that the right foods have to be eaten, but even if one is not always eating the right foods, it seems to me that they would get tired of eating after a while since it is taking so long to do it. Do you find that to be the case with you? Thank you for your replies.

I would be interested to know this also. I am about to have a new insurance plan through my work and I am going with the HSA plan so that after I meet the 2700.00 deductible, everything is paid at 100%. I am curious about this type of plan. I have never used this type before. Do you like having a HSA?

It may be that your body needs a little more calories than you are eating. If you have to, add a protein shake, or something like that to up your calories, even by 200 calories can make a difference. I was always afraid to eat too many calories while trying to lose weight, but when I finally listened to what was given to me for my calorie intake at my weight/height, etc...I found that it truly does make a difference. If our calorie intake is too low our body holds on to the fat thinking we are starving it. I hope you start receiving some good results.

This is a great post. I am still "looking" into getting banded, so all the info I can get, is better. Thank you for sharing, Alex, and other posters.

Okay, this is good to chat with others who have had it, or want to have it. My Doctors have done it. When I attended the orientation, one of them had already done 5 and the other had done 1 or 2. I'm sure by now they have had more. That was June. Butterfly, have you found that you eat less than what the average banded person eats?

Well, this is certainly some good handy dandy info to know for the future.

The EAS ones I have tried are good. I also got some Jillian Michaels protein powder mix at Walmart and it's quite tasty. I got the vanilla so that I could flavor it many ways. I love adding a few marachino cherries with some juice and coconut or almond flavoring, and ice in a blender. so yummy like a milkshake.

Thank you for posting this article. I am thinking about having this done when I get banded, but I am not sure until I talk with the doctors about it. The part that appeals to me is (not necessarily the quicker weight loss that may come with it), but the fact that it can reduce band slippage probability and may reduce the fills I would need. That alone, makes it appealing to me after reading how getting fills can be a problem in itself, with maybe being too full, or not full enough, etc....

Thank you for your replies. I'm anxious for the band. Very nervous but anxious now that the actual Dr. visits will start in a little over a month. I have my insurance packet right now to pick the best plan option, through my work, so I I think if I go with the HSA plan that has me paying $2700 deductible, then everything is paid 100%. Now being able to come up with the visits (presurgery) that will add to the deductible. But I have to make this happen someway somehow.

I totally agree with SumthinsGottaGive. It's the band (and possible with plication) for me. But the others are way more riskier than I'm willing to go with. I want to know it's reversible if need be. I have never had surgery either, so even getting banded is a scary thought for me because I honestly fear going under anesthesia and just dealing with the whole process, but all of the successes from those on this site truly does help me feel hopeful for the same success for my own self. I wish you well with whatever you decide to do.

I haven't been banded yet, but failing is a fear of mine also because that's what I have done over and over again my whole life. I just hope that this band (when I finally get it) will help me to REALLY do it right and have a whole new way of thinking. That along with many prayers for the Lord to help me with my food choices.