ireallywannabthin

What did they require for conversion?? I'm beginning that next month

Hi everyone. I was banded on 2/6/13 and am in the beginning phases of converting to the sleeve. I have Aetna and would like to find out if anyone has done this through Aetna and how the process went. Thanks! Jennifer

Oh wow, how are you doing now? I don't have complications like that but according to Aetna's clinical policy it is considered medically necessary if a person hasn't lost at least 50% of their excess weight in 2 years. My BMI is 46... Hopefully it all works out. Thank you for helping

thank you for responding!! Were there any requirements for you to get approved? What were your issues, if you don't mind me asking. I get stuck endlessly and am only down about 15 pounds since my surgery almost two years ago. I'm nervous I'll be denied by I don't have a strong enough case.

Hi everyone! I am looking into have my lapband removed and have VSG instead but I am so scared of the thought of my stomach being permanently removed... Are you happy with decision to convert from the band to the sleeve? What issues were you having with your band the made you go for revision? Thanks everyone

I was based on 2/6/13 and lost 47 lbs in the first three months.. After that I found good getting stuck endlessly and was eating lots of bad foods. I went to my doctor an had an unfill and found it hard to mentally get back into eating healthy... Since then (may 2013) I have watches the scale go up and I have no gained most f my weight back. I know that I am mentally not there anymore but I also feel completely discouraged in my band... Every minute of the day my band changes with what I can and can not eat. I find myself throwing up a few times a week- even a few times a day and I'm rarely satisfied. I also have pain and soreness in my port when I wear certain pants and even when I'm laying down. I honestly feel like a bulimic more than a bariatric patient. While I feel the lapband did make me more aware of my ability to overeat, eating nutritious food, and it being a lifestyle change, I also don't think that lapband is a strong enough tool for me. I think all of the issues I've been having make it obvious that this is no way to live anymore; I am going to my surgeon tonight to talk about conversion to the sleeve (which I am very scared of)...

I'm doing the same thing. I didn't realize how much of a struggle it would still be after having the surgery, but we can't dwell on what we did wrong- let's accept it and change it! Best of luck!!

For me, I wasn't hungry at all right after surgery.. I guess I was too swollen inside to feel it. I did however have cravings for food. I think the biggest fight for me so far has been distinguishing between head hunger and physical hunger.. as well as cravings. My doctor told me that when your stomach rumbles and growls it's not hunger pains.. it's actually gases passing through your intestines as well as your intestines shrinking! I always thought that meant I was hungry. Just do what your doctor told you to do and you'll be golden. The first few weeks/months post-op were the hardest for me in terms of understanding how to properly eat and what I was feeling, etc. You'll get through this! We're all here to support you! Best of luck!

great job! It's always refreshing to see some good news posted on here! Keep up the great work! You're a great inspiration to many!

Hey everyone.. Just curious to know if when you get stuck do you notice you need to have a bowel movement afterwards? Every time I'm stuck either during or after the episode I need to have a bowel movement.. I have NO idea why or what the correlation is but am I alone? Lol

I'm happy I'm not alone!! I wonder if me being backed up causes me to get stuck sometimes?! Lol

Dang!!! Lol. I don't understand it! Lol

good for you!! It's an amazing feeling when you get back in control! (I'm right there with you) Keep up the great work!

It would be a perfect treat for me but with 14 carbs, I sadly have to say no

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and safe Memorial Day! I want to say Thank You to anyone who has served, is serving, or knows someone who has or is serving our country! What a beautifully brave bunch of men and women!

I'm curious to know approximately how many carbs everyone has on a daily basis. Also, would you mind sharing an example menu for a day? I'm tying to change mine around so I can get back on track. Thanks

I'm in the same boat as you.. For a few weeks now I have seen my old habits slowly come back! I'm having a hard time trying to get back on track but if we keep pushing we will get there!!

I am in a similar boat as you. I had my last fill weeks ago and since then I have had a hard time eating as well. Lots of stuck episodes and PBing. It's been terrible. Aside from that, I've been making poor food choices because things like that tend to slide for me somehow. What I did notice, is that without even realizing, I have lost motivation to keep up the momentum I had going for me. I completed stopped paying attention to crucial techniques such as chewing a lot before swallowing and cutting my food into smaller bites. My NP told me me that as you get more and more filled these techniques become more and more crucial. Boy was she right! These past few days I have made a conscious effort to slow my pace, chew better, and cut smaller pieces and it has helped a lot! Just take your time! Remember that when you eat with people you do not need to eat on their pace. Keep your techniques and don't give in! You can do this!

I know this is a very common topic around here, but I started losing hair a few weeks back. I've been taking Biotin (5,000 mcg) since I had my surgery as well as a multi Vitamin. I just started taking prenatal Vitamins instead of a Multivitamin to see if it makes a difference. I have a few questions for those of you who lost hair as well. 1. When did you start losing your hair? 2. Was your hair loss noticeable? 3. Were you taking any preventative measures? (biotin, etc) 4. When did your hair loss stop and/or slow down? 5. When did your hair get back to normal? Thanks so much for helping! I'm getting worried so I'm just looking for some help, guidance, and answers

Thank you Jodi for responding! What you said makes total sense. I feel very relieved knowing that our hair loss started around the same time! I sure hope my situation is like yours! Thanks again!

how amazing! I love this!! Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you everyone for all of your kind words of support! I'm still struggling lately but I know that this wont define my success. It's how I come back from this struggle that will! We can do this!!

I really just need to vent. I am starting to feel like a failure. Let me say that I am SO proud of my accomplishment so far! I'm down 47lbs in 13 weeks and I have put a lot of hard work and dedication into getting to this point. Recently, I have been completely off my diet and eating the way I used to. I'm a teacher and I am surrounded by temptations of snacks, cake, etc.. and I have given in to them unfortunately. I find myself getting to the point of uncontrollable to be honest. I try so hard to get back on track with my eating and I just can't seem to do it! Today was my weigh in day, and the scale jumped up just about 4 pounds. I'm not surprised at all because I am fully aware of how terribly I've been eating, but it was a huge wake up call. I feel so low today just because I know what the scale said and I don't even want to look at myself in the mirror. How do all of you overcome your temptations and cravings, especially when you've already been on a roll of eating badly? I'm just looking for some motivation and strategies to overcome this hurdle. I know I'll get back on track, I'm just looking for that extra push, so to speak...

I've been avoiding coming on here because I can't seem to get a grip on my diet anymore! I've had two fills since surgery and now I'm at 4.5 cc in a 10cc band. I've had a hard time getting a grip since my birthday last week. I feel hungrier than I was when I had less in my band. I feel like I'm slowly losing control and I'm trying SO hard to hang on to this last strand of motivation and control. I guess I just needed to vent and put it out there. I hope I'm not alone...because I feel like I am.

I don't think it matters of its once in a while.. It's more about taking it daily that can cause problems (from my understanding). I hope you feel better! I dealt with that for months before my surgery.. Turns out I had cavities in my wisdom teeth so I got them removed! Feel better!!