Donna113

I know it must SUCK to go through what you are going through, but when the doctor said he wanted you to gain 5-10 lbs, that must have made you want to laugh..... how awesome is it after being overweight for so long to hear the doctor say you are underweight and need to put some lbs back on!

In my case, my employer put a WLS exclusion on the plan (I have Aetna) and my husband's employer put a WLS exclusion on their plan (he has BC/BS). So it's not necessary the insurance carrier but the employer who determines what they will/will not cover. I'm sure by having a WLS exclusion, they saved a wopping $1K annually or something stupid like that. Anyway, I had to self pay because if you have a WLS exclusion, appeals are fruitless even if you will die without the surgery. I paid $12,900 which covers all post op care, including unlimited fills for the 1st year post-surgery.

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I didn't have a pre-op diet. I used the weight the surgery center logged on the morning of my surgery. I actually weighed 215 on my consult which was 4 days before surgery so if you count that then the actual loss is 15.5 which is still very moderate compared to most July Butterflies.

I was able to leave within an hour. I guess it all depends on the surgery center and whether you've been able to "go". We had to have an empty IV, drank one bottle of Water and "go" before we left the center.

Gigem, Dr. Spivak did my first fill on 8/19 as well. 3ccs in 8 cc band, he got it the first time and barium swallow determined it was not enough but he wanted me to stick with it since it was first fill and I've scheduled to go back on 9/2 for 2nd fill. I have no restriction whatsoever, doesn't fill like I got a fill at all.

I got my first fill day before yesterday and it went fine. I could have gone earlier and had a nurse do it but I opted to wait to see my doctor and he did it quickly and painlessly. Afterwards we did a barium swallow with the fluro and he said it looked like I will need another one (3 ccs in 8 cc band) but he said since it was the first fill he wanted me to wait a couple of weeks to see how it felt before getting another fill. I have my second fill scheduled (again with the doctor) on 9/2 which will be done under fluro as well.

Can those of you who've had a slipped tell us why it slipped?

According to this thread, I've lost the least so the rest of you can at least say that you're not the slowest loser in July.

I also enjoyed sex much, much more in my 30s than in my 20s. Even though I was not as thin and hot in my 30s as I was in my 20s, I was more confident and happy with myself (my husband whom I married at 31 had a lot to do with that). I just turned 40 yesterday and have to admit my sex drive has been WAY down in the past 3 years compared to my early and mid 30s. There may have been hormonal changes but I also think it's because I started putting more weight on in the last 3 years and this year went past 200 for the first time in my life (including when I was pregnant). I didn't feel sexy, therefore I had no desire for sex. Now that I've dropped down below 200 (albeit just a few days) I've been craving sex. It could be the rush of hormones from weight loss as well.

Denise, when you say you've been falling off the bandwagon lately, do you mean you've gained weight or are you saying that you've not been careful of what you're eating?

I know. I wonder why there aren't more? I'm hoping it's because after reaching goal and feeling comfortable with it, they decide to move on and live the rest of their lives without being obsessed with weight issues.

I grew up in KY (four seasons most years) but have lived in warm climates for most of my adulthood. I don't miss winter as far as living through an entire winter, but at times I do ache to see a bit of snow and to feel that crisp cold nip at my nose.

Lulu, that's one contest I'm happy to lose. At least we are winding down August so hopefully the bills will start to go down along with the temperatures. At least we don't have the high heating bills in Houston.

Thanks Crystal. It really helps to get words of encouragement. It makes me want to try even harder.

I've always drank lots of liquids while eating so giving up drinking while eating was very difficult and weird at first. Now, after a month, it's not so difficult but I make sure I drink plenty before. My doc only requires waiting 30 minutes after meals so I always watch the clock and start drinking as soon as 30 minutes have passed.

Crystal, I needed to read your post. I have to admit that I am a bit frustrated that I'm not losing faster and it seems everyone else who got banded in July is losing WAY more than me. I guess I hoped the band would be magic. It is helping me with portion control so I know when I start to exercise more I'll be able to lose more.

In my case, it wasn't the insurance but the coverage my employer opted for. My company has Aetna and opted to exclude WLS. The same for my husband's company, they have BC/BS but had WLS exclusion. With WLS exclusions, there is no appeal. I had to self-pay and it was worth every single penny.

I think I got you all beat. My electric bill was $630 this month AND last month. After getting the bill last month, I turned up the thermostat on the A/C, unplugged all appliances not in use, cut back on the pool running from 11 hours to 7 hours a day. I'd hate to think what it would have been like if I hadn't made those changes. In Houston, with the humidity, mold and spores, if you only run the pool 3 hours a day, it would turn into pea soup.

I agree. Close all exit doors and excuses for failing.

In my support group last week alcoholism was brought up; evidently a lot of successful bandsters become heavy drinkers. This has to do with addicitive behaviors. That surprised me but it makes sense.

90 lbs in 5 1/2 months! Wow! Congrats!

It looks like most of the people that were on this thread from 2004 are no longer on the forum. I always wonder what happened? Did they get discouraged because they didn't succeed as well as they'd like and so disappeared or did they have fabulous success and just want to leave all of this behind because they are WAY too busy living their lives. I sincerely hope it's the latter.

Is the delay due to insurance issues or because your doctor is overbooked? If the delay is because of the latter, I'd be concerned about what type of post-op support/follow-up you are going to receive.

Hello Lucky # Sevens! I am a July '08 Butterfly and naturally am very interested in those that were banded one year ago. As your bandiversaries approached, did you review your journey over the past year and congratulate yourselves on your victories and forgive yourselves your transgressions? If you haven't please take the time to do that now. Look how far you have come! I'm so proud of all of you!!! Next year, I look forward to being as inspirational as you have been to me.