janeg1568

I was banded 01/31/07 at Ridgewood Valley Hospital and I am looking to chat with other people locally who have used the same hospital. I would like to see how other doctor's take care of the patient. Jayne from NJ

Julie, Can we get an update on your surgery? Very interested in what has happened. Jayne from NJ

Nancy, What did you mean about your last post? You aren't loosing weight? When did you have your surgery? Tell me some more details let me see if I can help you. Jayne

OMG I had the same problem! I had surgery on 01/31/07 and my insurance said I had to wait 3 months before they would pay for my 1st fill. OK I dealt with that but when I scheduled my appt for the 1st fill they said sorry. I was persistant and called the insurance company everyday and they finally approved my 1st fill on 05/23/07. 4 months after surgery. Makes no sense that insruance would cover surgery @ $27K plus and then say sorry we aren't paying for fills.

Gloria, I think most of us are afraid of the unknown when we have our 1st fill. I had mine the other day (4 months after surgery) and my doctor uses the fluoro (sp) along with baruim (sp) and it was a little discomfort but NO WAY DOD IT HURT. It was done in less than 10 min. I was able to get 3.5 on my VG 10 band. Getting fills is just something we have to get used to for the band to be able to do it's job. Good luck. Jayne from NJ 260/230/150

Hi berry, My name is Jayne from NJ and I had my 1st fill on Wednesday, 4 months after my surgery!!! My insurance gave me a hard time about getting a fill. Anyway, after my fill my stomach was making lots of noises (like when you are really hungry). That went away after I had some tea. Nothing hurts or is bothering me. I can feel the restiction because I had two pretzel nuggets and they got stuck and I ended up throwing up to get it out. For some reason they just wouldn't go down. For dinner I have been eating Soup. The warm broth takes good and it seems to be very filling (for me). I have a VG band and my first fill was 3.5. I hope this will hold for a while. I have managed to loose 30 pds. without any fills. Good luck in the future. Jayne from NJ 260/230/150

I have PCOS and was banded in Feb 2007. I have lost 30 pds. and hgot my period last month with no medication! Wow that is a first for me.

I live in NJ and my fills are $550 plus what ever the hospital charges me

I sware by my unjury Protein. Has great taste. 20 grams of protein in each scoop. Check out the web site unjury.com Good luck, Jane

Hi Big Trouble, I am from New Jersey and was banded on 01/31/07. How confusing when you read everyone's threads...some Dr's require this and some require that. From my own personal experience is you do the best you can to get ready for surgery. Keep reading and posting as many questions as you can on this site. Most of the people on this site have had surgery. My Dr. hasn't and does listen to my questions but he doesn't always have the best answers. Try to do your best. Prepare your body the best you can for surgery. THe more Protein you have the less hungry you will feel. I sware by unjury Protein shakes. THey have been a real life saver for me. I mix them with fat free milk. Once in a while I make a smoothie. Remember...having LapBand is a life change. You can still eat normal foods you are just learning to eat smaller portions. You can have ice-cream when you have that craving. Don't beat yourself up if you slip just get back on the program and move forward. I know I am new to being banded but I am doing ok. Surgery was very easy for me. I had no problems. I just came back from the Dr.'s and I am down 23 pounds from surgery. No bad. I am losing slowly and that is ok. I really wish you the best of luck!!!! Jane from NJ

I would like to know if anyone was told by United Health Care that they had to wait 3 months after surgery for 1st fill??? They paid 90% of surgery (after me threatning them). Jane

I was banded on 01/31/07. I have the same band and I am getting upset because I am working out and not loosing much. Because of my insurance I can't get my 1st fill until May 1. I think that is BS. I am really pissed. I hope that my Dr. will be aggressive and give me a good 1st fill. Jane

I everyone, Love this site! I can't believe how much information is available. I was banded on 01/31/07 and life has been very good. I had a very easy surgery and recovery was easy. I was doing wash the very next day :think. I love reading everyone posts and I would like to know how people get the pretty scale (i think that is what u call it) at the bottom of the posts showing weight loss???? Looking forward to chatting with everyone. Jane

You have to get up a walk aound. The gas pain in from the gas they put u to sleep with. That was the worst part about surgery for me. I went back to work 2 days later...very tired for the first 3 days back but did ok. If you sit at a desk all day like me make sure you get up and walk around every 1/2 I found this helped with the pain in the shoulder. Good luck, Jane

Do you still have your gallbladder?

Goodluck with surgery. I had no problems. Get moving as soon as possible. I want to loose 110 pds total. I have lost 20 and have a long way to go. I found the tickler @ thetickerfactory.com but I am not sure how to put at the bottom of my posts/name. Good luck. Jane

I have to wait 3 months because of my insurance (that sucks). Jayne from NJ

Hi, I am new to this group and I had surgery on 01/31/07. I feel the same way. I can eat anything I want but I am being really good. I have lost 20 pds before & after surgery. I should be happy but not happy. I have been working out 5-6 days a wk and getting in over 80 grams of Protein a day. I can't have my forst fill until May 1. That sucks. My insurance won't allow before 3 months. I know I have lost inches but lets face it that the # on the scale is what would do it for me. Jayne from NJ