Jason Can Do it!

I was banded 2 months ago and am feeling great, just wanted to update everyone. I've had two "episodes" where I ate too quickly and/or too much and I threw up. Not pretty, but seriously, it was a major lesson learned. It's all about re-learning how to eat and I was just stupid... I knew I was being stupid, but did it anyway... and I paid the price. When I eat slowly, when I'm aware of what and how much I'm eating, I've been fine! I think you need to have 1 or 2 of these "episodes" to learn a lesson the "hard way" I had my first fill yesterday. Was easy to do, no problem! The weight is coming off slowly now, just like they said... about 1-2lbs per week. I'm already down 30-something pounds since my heaviest and feeling better than I've felt in 15+ years!!! I love my band, but am still learning how to make it work for me. The weight loss and good feelings are so motivating to keep it all up and to keep complying with all the do's and don'ts. Be well, everyone! Jason

Thanks so much everyone! The support is an incredible part of the healing process and should never be underestimated! Just went for a long long walk on hte boardwalk. Daydreamed about my new life ahead. Feeling much better!

I was banded 10 days ago. I'm down nearly 30 pounds from my heaviest weight ever, most of which came off with pre-op diet and about 12-14 since surgery. My clothes are falling off. That's all the great part. I'm getting less than 400-500 calories a day. I have such little energy. I'm tired. I'm so sick of these damn Protein shakes!!! Only a few days of liquid left then mushies start. I can't wait. I'm dying to chew something!! But I'm wondering why the heck I did this sometimes. I need to get through these next few weeks!! Ugh!!!

Thanks Bee! Just venting... I'm so ready to move on already!! Good luck to you as well... Most people say it gets better and better so let's just hang on to that hope!

Hi guys! Was banded 6 hours ago and sitting in a hospital room overnight. Everything went great!!!! I'm surprised actually how little pain I feel. No pain meds so far. The only thing I have is major discomfort from gas but that's discomfort, not pain. I just got up and walked for 5 minutes. That felt good although I was moving in major slow motion. Sipping Water. Working up to 4 oz and hour by tomorrow. So excited for this new journey. It's day one of the REST OF MY LIFE!!!! Thank you for the great posts and support here!!!!

I'm feeling much better today, 2 days out. Amazing how I'm not feeling full at all. Been walking tons and that's helped with gas. Biggest challenge has been sipping 4oz each hour. I'm going to fast... Have to make it last. Congrats again to everyone!!! Jason

I'm drinking a lot of diet iced tea, jello and just had protein shake this morning. I loaded up on pain pills yesterday and woke up today feeling so much better. I've been walking a lot too. Jello and ice pops are also great. Surprised how little hunger I feel. How are you doing?

Hi! I was banded 8/23 too. How'd it go for you? Mine was great, spent night in hospital and home today. Lots of discomfort from gas pains but overall feeling good. Took a few Vicodin today and that helped me relax a bit. Keep in touch and good luck! Jason

Just banded gang. All went great!!! In hospiral overnight and only have some discomfort from gas. Just walked a bit and felt good. No pain meds. Feeling good!!! Congratulations to my 8/23 band buddies and all the August bandsters!!!

I'm so excited I could cry. After a week of bad insurance news and stress this week, I was just approved by Aetna! Here's the story and I hope others can benefit from the lessons I learned this week. I am 37 BMI with Hypertension. 35+ and one comorbidity qualifies me for Aetna under my specific plan. I've been worried about Aetna approving me all along since I'm so borderline but I've gone through the process by the book, checked all my facts and was really hopeful I get approval. On Monday I got an email from Surgeon's office that insurance DENIED me. The reason is still somewhat unclear, but it had something to do with the length of time I've been on HBP medication and some uncertainties about my weight fluctuations the last few years. I was shocked because all this was well documented in what was submitted and neither aetna nor surgeon could give me specifics on why exactly I was denied. VERY frustrating. The Surgeon's office wanted to cancel my 8/23 surgery date until I went through a 30-60 day appeals process. I was like, "NO WAY"!! I've got this date, have been working on this for 6 months--thinking about it for YEARS--and I've made arrangements to take off the week after to recover, etc. I cannot find another week off for the next 4-5 months so I was pissed off! I called the Surgeon... of course, Murphy's Law, he is on vaca all week and unable to help. So I enlisted the help of my primary care physician of the last 15 years--who I love and knows my history better than anyone--and he did a "peer to peer" review with an Aetna doctor today and reviewed my case and advocated on my behalf. After a short call and review of all the facts, I WAS APPROVED and I'm able to keep my 8/23 date. I was prepared to self pay anyway but that's not ideal... not only because of the cost involved but because down the road, God forbid something serious happens, insurance wouldn't cover that either. So I wasn't psyched about that hanging over my head. The most important lesson for me here was don't let others get in your way and be persistent... advocate for yourself and enlist the help of others who care and are prepared to help... like my PCP did for me today. I'm so looking forward to 8/23 and thank you all for the great posts here. It's been very helpful to follow along the last few months and hear your stories. Will keep you posted! Jason

Thanks guys! Good luck to you all too!

Good Luck Maddysgram!

August 23! Good luck gang!

August 23! Locked and loaded! But everything is still in aetna's hands, they tell me I should know by this upcoming wednesday. My dr. Gives my approval "good odds" based on his experience but I had to tell him I wouldn't hold him to it Had all of my pre-op tests yesterday... Blood, urine, intake with anasthesiologist, 3 hour class on nutrition right after surgery, pre-op diet detail... The works! I only have a 2 day liquid diet but I'm going to do at least 5-7 days. My liver is apparently a fatty one so I'm going to shrink it up as much as I can. I'm not religious, but finding myself praying for insurance approval! I want this so badly. I need this. These boards have been so wonderful and inspirational... Will keep you all posted! And good luck to you all. Oh, any other band buddies for 8/23??? Jason

Thank u Lucie! Your comments are so helpful and inspiring!!!

I just wrote this another thread and thought it worth sharing here too... I just started seeing someone, and I really like this girl, and told her I'm getting banded in a few weeks (8/23!!!!). She is trying to talk me out of it saying I look great, just diet, just excercise, we'll start biking together.... Blah blah blah! I've been doing that for 20 years and am still in the same, or even worse, place! I finally told her: "I'm doing this, I've wanted this for 5 years, I've researched this and talked to many bandsters, I've been under surgeons care and going through process officially for 6 months.... So Either support me or BACK THE &$/! OFF!!!" I was much more charming and diplomatic than that And she got it and now she's awesome about it! Totally supportive. Only you make this decision. Only you have been there with yourself for whatever many years with however many ups and downs. No one can tell you otherwise. Good luck to all! Jason

I just started seeing someone, and I really like this girl, and told her I'm getting banded in a few weeks (8/23!!!!). She is trying to talk me out of it saying I look great, just diet, just excercise, we'll start biking together.... Blah blah blah! I've been doing that for 20 years and am still in the same, or even worse, place! I finally told her: "I'm doing this, I've wanted this for 5 years, I've researched this and talked to many bandsters, I've been under surgeons care and going through process officially for 6 months.... So Either support me or BACK THE &$/! OFF!!!" I was much more charming and diplomatic than that And she got it and now she's awesome about it! Totally supportive. Only you make this decision. Only you have been there with yourself for whatever many years with however many ups and downs. No one can tell you otherwise. Good luck to all! Jason

I'm 8/23 guys!! Good luck to you all!

Congratulations!!!! Don't sweat the diet. How many times in your life have you dieted successfully for a few weeks, it's nuthin! This is the rest of your life now and you own it! Be well. Let us know how it goes.

Congratulations!!!! Let us know how it goes!

Hi guys! I have my next consult with doc on 7/25 and expect all of my tests and file to be submitted to insurance then. I have Aetna Open Access. 3-month supervised weigh ins, letter of support from GP, all lab work etc is all done. My concern is I'm 36-37 BMI (have been for 2+ years) and also have high blood pressure. Everyone in docs office thinks I should be ok with insurance approval but I'm nervous about it because I'm so borderline with BMI and the one co-morbidity. Anyone in a similar sitch that has experience with Aetna or advice to share? Anything else I can be doing now to make Aetna say YES YES YES!? Thanks, and congratulations to the many of you who have had such great success as a bandster! Jason

Dude- If your friends or anyone else for that matter aren't showing the support you want, need or expect, find new friends that do! You've made a major lifestyle change to better yourself, they're probably just hopeless and jealous! Good luck and congratulations to you! Jason

Thanks dreamydaria... appreciate it, and good luck to you next week and beyond!

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to say hi and introduce myself to share my story. I've been thinking about Lap Band surgery for 8 years since a friend did it in 2004 (with awesome success to this day). I have always struggled with being overweight, but the last few years in particular it's been harder and harder to take off. My weight has gone from 220's to 230's to 240's and suddenly I'm in the 250's and it's all snuck up on me. Both of my parents are severely overweight with many medical problems (diabetes, HBP, clotting issues, joint issues, etc) and I see my future right in front of my eyes every time I see them. I'm going to be 39, have HBP, a BMI of 36.5 and I don't want what clearly lies ahead of me. So I'm finally taking this step after 20+ years of struggling with the same 50-75 pounds that I don't need, and very seriously considering Lap Band for the last year. My GP of 15 years is also a gastro doc and has watched my up's and down's, knows my family history and is highly supportive which is very motivating. I've gone so far for my initial consult, blood work, ultrasound, psych eval, nutrition consults. This week I'm doing a stress test and UGI. I have my support groups scheduled and future weigh ins on the books. For Aetna, I'm told I can do a 3-month medically supervised weight loss and with my borderline-but-above-35 BMI combined with HBP, the doctor thinks I should get approved. Does anyone have similar stats and Aetna... any tips or experiences to share? I'm excited, nervous, impatient and can't stop thinking about it now. I need to take control now before it's too late and look forward to spending time here with you all. I've been on the site for months and finally just registered to start posting and chiming in. Your stories are all so interesting and inspiring, nice to meet you all! Jason

Congratulations on even being here and asking questions. I spent a lot of time on these boards before registering. Definitely go to a free seminar in your area... I did that and it was a great first step. You ask all the questions you want and more importantly there are (typically) people there who have previously been banded or had bypass. They were more resourceful than the doctors and I found they loved answering questions and offering encouragement. I'm not sure if insurance will cover me but I'm prepared to self-pay by financing over time. That's another option for you to look into. Good luck to you!