DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Complications are covered but I don't think they cover plication at all. Maybe it's changed in the last couple months but they were saying it was "too investigational" to cover. They only just started covering the Sleeve very recently even. Medicare is extremely picky.

I was never told I couldn't drink from a straw. It's another example of how drastically different doctors' rules can be.

You'd have to check with your insurance. Even if they cover it in general, different employers have different exclusions and requirements to their policies, too.

When I had it done, they would pay if your BMI was over 35 with at least 2 co-morbidities or over 40 with no co-morbidities. Unfortunately, I doubt very much they'd pay for it for a BMI of 27, especially considering that's not even in the obese BMI range. Sorry.

I don't think it sounds silly at all. I say do what works!

I measure all my food so I don't go over one cup, however I rarely eat the whole cup because I don't need that much. But...if I wanted to? I'm sure I could eat much more. I don't know how much though because I've never tested it (nor will I). If it's slider food I'm sure I could eat tons.

I also would do it again in a heartbeat. It's been work and change on my part, but I'm positive I wouldn't have lived to see my kids have their own families someday if I hadn't gotten the band and lost 200 pounds. My advice to anyone considering the band is to do your homework. The biggest problem I see is people going into surgery completely clueless what to expect and what will be expected of them. They come out expecting the band to perform miracles or are simply ignorant to what the band is (and isn't) supposed to do. Education is your best friend making such a life changing decision. I would 100% do it again. Definitely.

I would do two things- go see your bariatric surgeon to have your Lap Band checked and have a CT scan with contrast to have your gallbladder checked. I just got out of the hospital on Wednesday. I went into the ER Sunday night in horrible pain and had my gallbladder removed on Tuesday. My pain wasn't isolated to my right side, either. It was more in the middle of my upper stomach and came in waves. Gallbladder problems are very common after weight loss, btw. Definitely get it checked out. Best wishes.

Oh I agree, a lot of us are overeaters. I know I used to be a downright binge eater. I didn't have a piece of pizza, I ate the whole dang pizza then finished it off with a side of fries. Believe me, I understand completely. I would have a talk with your doctor and tell him exactly what you just described- that you're still hungry far too often. He may see the band under fluro and think it's fine, but what he sees isn't necessarily reflective of how you are feeling. Even a tiny fill as small as .1cc can make a huge a difference. It can truly be the difference between too hungry and just right. So, talk to him. As you said, give him a shot to make this right. But...if he isn't willing to work with you? Then you really might want to start shopping for a new doctor. Hang in there.

I use AdBlocker too!

First off, doing a fill yourself is not only downright foolish it's dangerous. If you think you have problems now, just wait until you poke a hole in your tubing or cause an infection in your port resulting in having to have the whole thing removed. Seriously, calm down, be rational, and don't do it. Going forward, insist on your surgeon only, no one else there. This way you can be sure you're not getting jerked around by his obviously incompetent staff. (I hope he fires the one responsible, btw) You say your doctor says you're tight but you don't feel restriction. You also talk about being an overeater. You have to realize the band's job isn't to physically stop you from eating anything. That's why it's so important to stick to band sized portions because the majority of us can still easily overeat if we really want to. The band is there to keep you satisfied on less food for longer periods of time, not control how much you can physically eat. Have a look at this link by Dr. Simpson, I really think it will help you a lot: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Don't give up, you can do this, but don't do anything foolish either. You've already come this far and sabotaging yourself isn't what you need. Best wishes.

Well you still haven't responded how many calories you eat in a day so I assume you don't track them. The only way you can be positive you're not eating too much or too little is track your calories. Otherwise, you're just guessing. Some people do great without tracking calories but the fact you're not losing is a sign you're not one of those people. If I were you, I would start tracking your calories. You say you can't the right stuff because you have no taste for it. What do you eat then? Really, whether or not you lose the weight is a choice. You can choose to eat healthy and do what's necessary to lose or you can keep doing what you're doing and stay where you are. But, the truth is you very much can lose weight, you just haven't made the decision to make the life changes to make that possible. Best wishes.

You need to realize the band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating anything. While some people do a reach a point they can't eat most people can "eat and eat". This is why it will always be your job to control your food intake, not your band. If you're expecting your band to stop you from eating too much then you're at risk of ending up too tight again. This is why it's so important to stick to band sized portions, too. The band is meant to allow you to be satisfied on less food for longer periods of time- not stop you from eating. Have a look at this link by Dr. Simpson, I think it will help you considerably: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Best wishes

Coco butter is good for scars, too.

That is what I was always told, too. In fact I have always drank a ton of green tea. But while in the hospital this past couple days, I was told that while tea and crystal light type stuff are a good for hydration they still can't replace plain old water for cleansing and kidney function. So, I guess it depends on what you're trying to accomplish. For hydration, yes. For cleansing, apparently we still need water.

First, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I would go on liquids for 24 hours to let your stomach calm from the stuck episode. Once it's irritated, it often needs a food break so you can eat and feel normal again. If you are still having problems, you may want to talk to your doctor about a slight unfill. Stress can cause the band to feel tighter for some people, so perhaps you might need a little removed temporarily until you get through this rough patch in your life. Hang in there.

The average weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week, but there will be times you won't lose. It's very normal. As for decaf tea, unfortunately while it has Water in it it's not water. You really need to drink actual water to get the full benefits. Unless you have signs of a band too tight I wouldn't worry about it. Talk to your doctor on your next visit and let him reassure you. Best wishes.

No, cream Soups aren't ok then. Just clear liquids as directed. I have had an umbilical hernia. Keep a pillow nearby to hug when coughing or sneezing. This will sound crazy but you would likely find sleeping on your stomach comfortable because it holds the hernia repair site in- kind of like a girdle. The trick is to crawl up your bed on all fours and gently lower yourself onto your tummy, don't roll onto your stomach because it will hurt to be on your side when rolling. When getting back do it the same way in reverse- push up onto all fours and crawl off the bed. I learned this trick years ago and have slept this way after multiple abdominal surgeries ever since. Call your doctor and get a med for the nausea ASAP. Not only is vomiting dangerous for your band but you're going to be in a world of pain if you vomit so soon after hernia surgery. The hunger sucks but is sadly unavoidable. Stick to your doctors instructions and try to remember soon you'll progress on the post op diet and it will get easier. Best wishes.

Did they fix the hernia, or is it still there?

Well, on Sunday I did hit my March goal of 221, which hit my milestone goal of losing 200 pounds. However that same night ended up in the ER and was in the hospital until Wednesday. I had my gallbladder removed on Tuesday. During that time, I was pumped full of IV fluid and my kidney function was decreased. I am still very swollen with fluid retention today and no idea what I actually weigh right now. So... I'm just using the weight before I went into the hospital. Starting weight: 228 Current: 221 Goal: 221

Only you can answer your question. Can you? Can you lose all the weight you need to and keep it off? If you could, then why haven't you already? I don't ask that in a harsh way but rather to make you think- if you honestly believed you could do it on your own, you would've long before now. No one gets to the point of considering WLS without trying absolutely everything else first. I have lost 200 pounds so far and couldn't be happier. Could I have lost it without the band? Yes, I could've. Could I do it without being starving and miserable? Nope. Could I keep it off without the band? No way. I need my band.

If you can't eat enough healthy food to sustain, then yes it would be too tight. Sometimes when people say they "can't" eat more than a couple bites they don't always mean it's physically impossible to eat more but rather they simply don't need or want more. They're satisfied on very little food.

How many calories a day are you eating?

Just because you can eat more doesn't mean you should. The band's job is not to physically stop you from eating anything. Portion control and good food choices will always be your job. Have a look at this link, it will help: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

It sounds like you're still too tight. Have a look at this article, it will give you a lot of insight: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/post-op-support/tighter-isnt-always-better-r118