Laura W

P.S. Information about the Lapband is getting around and more people are out looking up info on it so that would be the reason for more newbies! I'd rather have the band than my innards rearranged!

Hello from one of the Newbies! Gotta defend myself and the others... sometimes reading the old posts are daunting and after reading 1038463 posts, things tend to blur and you realize there is a hole in the back of your head that let everything leak out!! :eek: Then there is the 'old' information that is no longer valid, but we newbies don't know about that? An example is that I don't buy used car seats for my grandson because I don't know if it's one that is suppose to be on a recall list or not. Better to get the New and Improved model .But most of all We Are Excited To Actually Be Talking To Wonderful People That Have Already Been There, Done That And Can Help Us Newbies Out! :D As for me I've been on this one board for over 2 years and we get newbies asking for information that I've learned a long while back. Guess who doesn't answer very often?? Yep, ME. The one and only. I reckon we are excited about the new change in our life and when things calm down and it becomes a normal part of life we tend to go on to new things and don't visit as much as we use to. After all we are only humans!

P-38, it's not investigational, it's APPROVED already by the FDA and has been for nearly 4 years, I think since 2000. You can go to the Inamed website and look on how to contact them. They will help you go to bat against your insurance company on this. Hope this helps!

http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/hw6227.asp

I'd check to see if you are losing inches, or maybe you aren't eating enough calories. The body will hold on to the fat if it thinks it's in a time of famine and is starving <which it is>. I've read that it's not good for your to stay below 1000 calories. And I'm like the others when it comes to exercise, it's good to watch while eating a bowl of popcorn with lots of butter

I'd put the money that you normally use to buy cigarettes with into a jar and then go splurge when you hit whatever goal you set up, i.e. 2 weeks, 1 month, etc.

I read where someone has her doc to bill this as a doctor's visit, not a fill visit and all she pays is her co-pay.

I haven't been banded yet, I'm still in the research stage but from all of my readings so far is that just because your insurance says it covers WLS doesn't mean it's an easy road to approval. Some insurance companies are worse than others on this. So far I haven't read anything about your company though. All you can do is remit your paperwork and see what happens!

I just wanna know WHO filmed me that day?? I'm soooooo embarrassed!! :D That was cute, sounds like something Erma Bombeck would have written.

Also maybe you aren't getting enough calories in. Too little will cause the body to go into a saving mode and stop the weightloss. Another thing is vary your caloric intake every few days to shock the body into losing. Usually not going below 1000 calories is the best and safest way from what I've read. On Monday-Wed you can take in 1000 cals. and then Thursday 1400 cals. This is just an example but I think it'll help you out. Keep a journal and it will help you find out where you are needing help. Good luck!

The other day I took my mom out on "Nanny's Day Out", the grandkids call her Nanny. The trips are usually me, my daughter & her son and my mom. Well I had a plate of main course <not overloaded> and a plate with tablespoon size samples of different deserts, about 4 in all. Then she gives me this critical smile and says 'you are going to get another plate?'. I was pissed but I didn't say much other than no, I'm full. She was thinking that I'd "pig out" and she could go outside to smoke a cigarette. I don't talk about her 2-3 pack a day habit any longer, won't do any good. So the least she can do is to not talk about my weight? I spent over 7 weeks last summer with her out of town while she had cancer treatments and while on chemo, she was outside the building SMOKING. Still, she's a grown woman and knows it's a problem but she doesn't want to stop. I didn't press her because she was already under a lot of stress. Recently I mentioned getting the lapband and she turned her head while rolling her eyes and just shook her head in a 'I don't believe it' way. I haven't talked to her about weighloss since. Our relationship is a good one but we stay off of certain topics. OH, and btw, when I was 17 I was 5'2" and weighed 105lbs and all I got from everyone was how big my butt was. I look back now and it wasn't any bigger than J'Lo's!!

Congratulations!! I hope that I'll soon be in Bandland myself! Can't wait to see everyone over 'there'!

Hello there! I'm not banded YET but I have been reading alot about the lapband for nearly 4 weeks now. The few things that I've read over and over about plateau is: 1. Write down what you are eating to see if you are overeating. 2. If your calorie intake is too low then add a little bit more. The body will shut down if it feels it's being starved. This way it's saving itself or so it thinks. 3. If not overeating, then throw in a little bit more of exercise. 4. Plateau's aren't so bad as long as they don't last for several weeks. It's your body's way of catching up, shrinking the inches to catch up with the fat loss. 5. Varying your calorie count daily seems to keep the plateaus away or keeps them short. One day 1000 cals, next 1300. This shocks the body into NOT getting settled and in some cases actually make you lose more weight faster. I hope these tips help! Good luck on your weightloss

How did things go? Are you okay?

Hello, I'm glad to hear you are doing better! I wanted to ask what is C-fill? Don't believe I've ever heard of it! As for the 4400 calories <wow!> I bet they put sugar water in the bag??

I'd be thrilled to lose 15lbs in eight weeks! I've never lost that much on any diet that quickly!! Hope you do that good until you get to your goal weight!

Mexicanbandsters in yahoo groups is a good place to find out about doctors in Mexico. I've been looking into it also since my insurance might not pay for this and the fact that the mexican doctors along with the European doctors are more experienced and have less post-op problems. The main thing is to be sure the band and the port are sewn into place. From reading older messages on about 4 forums the main thing everyone is worried about is the port and band slipping. I hear that for someone that will be alone, Dr. Kuri is a good one although not the cheapest but he sends someone to get you and take you back to the airport. Good luck!

I've been reading up alot on Mexican lapband doctors and hear that several of them are sewing the port into place. They have more experience because Inamed, the maker of one lapband, used several of them in the trials. They know to sew the lapband around the stoma to help keep it from slipping and are sewing the port also. If my insurance doesn't cover this surgery I'm going to Mexico for it. So far I've read that people that go to Mexico have had great surgeries and the entire thing, including hospital costs run from $6000 to $10,000. That also includes airfare, motel room, surgery, tests, some of the fills, hospital costs. Of course what the fee covers varies by doctors but they are more experienced and cheaper. Might be able to get your port repaired down there for $1000 or less. Mexicanbandsters on yahoo groups is the place to find out about this.

Debra, I think what hurt the most was my mom rolling her eyes when I started telling her about the lapband. Yesterday we went out for 'Nanny's day out' <what we call my mom> and I had one plate with meat/veggies and it wasn't loaded then I took a plate and got about 1 spoon full of 4 desserts, which I didn't finish off. Then she looked at me and said 'you going to get another plate?' with a look that said 'I know you are'. Well, I didn't eat any more than her skinny behind. She's skinny because she had 60% of her stomach removed years back because of ulcers. No matter what we do, we MO people are perceived to be fat pigs that can't control themselves. But alcoholics are 'sick' and get all the help they can. Anorexics are 'sick' and get help. Insurance helps them and employers have programs set up for their 'illness'. Well, they have the same choices that we do: to drink that alcohol or not eat same as we have a choice to eat more. Ok, my soapbox is getting a good workout!! Sorry.

I'm just starting on my journey to weightloss for GOOD. I've dieted the same 10 pounds off about a million times the past 10 years. Once I even lost 37lbs but gained it back in 3 years. No surprise there, huh? I need something that will be with me 24/7 and remind me to keep it short and simple, in other words no elaborate meals or snacking. I have a heart problem so that's something I want to take care of. I feel that if I lose enough weight that my heart will last me a longer time before surgery. Well, here I go.........!

Hello! I'm new here too and pre-band. I opened my mouth about WLS and got rolled eyes from my skinny mom, whom is skinny because 20 years ago she had over 60% of her stomach removed for ulcers and everyone else is doing that 'eat less, drink more water, do dis and do dat' stuff. Well, if I COULD do dis and dat, then I wouldn't be fat, would I?? I go to Obesityhelp.com also and there is a forum for lapbanders. Go to main page and click on the link on the top left for forums. A list will drop down that has different WLS, click on the lapband. Good luck with your WLS journey!

I read from another post that children's Milicon <sp?> for gas is good and chewing up a GasX pill until it's just nothing but liquid is another option. BUT ask your doctor first! Ground ginger is suppose to relieve gas, you can drink it in ginger ale if you aren't banded that is. Get some ginger, it's a spice that you can get from the store in the spice area beside the pepper, salt,etc. Common spice. Sprinkle it into your protein drink. Again ask your doctor first!

Thank you! Members of my family are sceptical right now and the more I know the more I can tell them. I want their support but can and will go on without it if need be. Thank you for welcoming me!

A question was asked on another board about the lapband and insurance. If you have the lapband and end up changing jobs or insurance, will you be insurable? Some say that insurance companies won't cover you if you've had the band. Anyone know?