New Hope

Oh, Cindy, don't eat anything for a couple of hours before your fill. It's O.K. to drink right up to that time.

Cindy, it really is! My dr. doesn't deaden, just tilts you back, finds your port, and a little pressure - it's in. Then he injects the saline, has you drink some water, checks how you feel, and you're out of there. (It hurts worse to get blood drawn.) You'll do fine!.

Gosh, I just don't want you to have to go through something if there's is another realistic option! Just please research all your different avenues. Hopefully, you'll be one of those that can get a game plan that works for you and not have to have any surgery. Best of luck to you!

Blossom, my insurance hospital co-pay is $250 for each hospital stay. If I'd had to do each of these separately, that's $1,000. Plus if I would have used this surgeon, I'd had to pay the assist. surgeon $500 each time ($2,000). I didn't even know I had the esophagus tumor. But my wonderful surgeon found it, removed it, and put dissolvable stitches on the esoph. I was so shocked about that little find, that I didn't truly appreciate my band for a few days. He said this tumor would not have shown up on any tests, would have certainly become cancerous, and started causing breathing problems. Wow, one more reason to love my band!

Bright, I love your "diet tips for friends"! I really think those women now feel threatened by you. You are drop-dead gorgeous! Just don't change the way you are inside.

RE: Drinking water -- there are various drinks available. Try Crystal Lite, Propel Flavored Water, water w/ lemon juice added, and my all-time favorite Ocean-Spray Cranberry-Lite mixed 50/50 w/water. I keep a big chilled jug of that in the frig. all the time.

Best of luck to you. I'm 50 and feel better emotionally and physically than I have in years! Please keep us posted.

I don't think there are any guarantees if a company is legit or not on the internet. I'd be very leary about sending $120 for something I couldn't see, feel, and try on. I'm bet they wouldn't accept a return on something like that. Is there any place local that you can go to? Check with some Cancer Hospitals. They usually know who to recommend because their patients use them a lot.

Yeah, Ryan, you have a surgery date!!!! Start drinking that water and walking as much as you can. It will be here just in time for Thanksgiving. (Hmm, was that planned?)

Audrey, what an amazing success story! I'm so proud of you! And what a great job of hitting all those different things and emotions that we've all been through! Keep up the great job!

Lisa, ports are optional!

LISA, LISA, LISA......50 Pounds!!!!! You rock, girl!!!!:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

Are you willing to give up fast foods, junk food, pastries, colas, rice, potatoes, Pasta? Are you willing to drink more Water than you ever thought you could hold - all day long (but not with your meal or an hour after you eat)? Are you willing to faithfully do some form of exercise? Are you willing to focus on eating healthy all the time? These are all drastic changes that we've had to make and commit to. You can eat around your band by eating soft foods -- puddings, custard pies, cakes, etc. This will defeat the purpose of the band because it won't fill you up and you'll be hungry sooner and looking for something to eat AGAIN. It is a shame that the medical field doesn't help people at a lower BMI. But this isn't an "easy way out". It requires dedication and hard work for LIFE. Please research carefully before making any decisions!

Best of luck to you Janie!! Please be careful going up and down those steep ladders. Why don't you post some of your work in pics here? I'd love to see your murals. I, too, am hopelessly addicted to this site. I turn the computer on first thing a.m., check it out, numerous times through out the day, and last thing at night. My husband (skin-flint) says he's going to get a band and a computer so that I'll talk to him:rolleyes: Take care of yourself!

Day Three (Week Two) Breakfast - tuna salad, 2 low-fat ritz crackers Lunch - 1/3 hamburger patty w/mushroom sauce, sugar-free ice cream bar Dinner - 1/2 meatloaf slice, steamed broccoli/cauliflower, sugar-free chocolate pudding Snack - tuna salad, 2 low-fat ritz crackers 8 oz. fat-free skim milk, 1 peanut butter cracker Exercise - cleaned out 2 closets. My son asked if those were all new clothes lying on the bed. Nope - donations, and some nice stuff. cleaned house from top to bottom. Good Deed - returned some items to a remodeling store (that I'm never going to use). Gave stockers "job security", a feeling of being needed. Also, made DH very happy to get $$ back! Water - o.k., need to do better

Teresa, hang in there and finish your education for YOU! Then you will be your own master. I wonder who'll be making more $$ once you start teaching! I don't think it will take an Einstein to figure that one out. It will be you. Now, will you stoop to his level and tell him that he's worthless or rise above it w/dignity and continue your regal life journey. You're too smart to get drawn into those "games". No one really wins. It just keeps something stirred up all the time. Hey, get in there and study that Chem, young lady! Best of luck! :)

Well, I don't think that my husband has anything to worry about for a very long time!

My port doesn't hurt, but I'm always aware of it when I'm standing up. I have a habit of rubbing over the circumferance of it. No reason, just being weird.

Wow, Sue, that's a tough one. I hope you will take your time and research whatever (if any) weight loss procedure you decide on. It takes more than just wanting it. It's not an "easy fix". It takes mental and physical work on your part. It would really help you emotionally if you and your husband could agree on this before you do something. Have you tried showing him any info. (literature, internet, these message boards, etc.)? If he's in your corner, it will be so much easier for you to succeed. Best of luck to you on your journey!

Teresa, I'm so sorry! Do you think the room mate "guest" is fueling the fire? It's o.k. to have "company" for a little bit, but it sounds like you've been more than generous. What is that saying, "Fish and guests stink in three days"? If you want this guy to move out, will your husband support you in that decision? Please don't get discouraged and quit school. That is something that you can fall back on years from now. You've worked too hard to give that up. Who makes the most $$ isn't important. It's what you do with that $$. It sounds like you've been very frugal and very productive w/your $$. You've done so amazingly well (in just the short amount of time that I've got to know you). You've been a super weight loser! I can tell that you are a very kind-hearted person by your posts. I hope your husband will "wake up" and realise he needs to be more responsible - $$ wise and marriage-wise. Good luck on your Chemistry exam!

Rica, you are absolutely beautiful! I know your husband is so proud of you! I can see the glimmer of your eyes.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to faze me. I have a sugar-free chocolate pudding or ice cream bar about every day. However, I haven't tried regular chocolate yet. I was tempted by a Milky Way 2.05 oz. bar the other day in the grocery check out -- until I saw it had 260 calories! Wow! The pre-banded me wouldn't have even looked at that label.

No, we already knew the gallbladder was bad. So that was approved w/the initial banding. But the tumor and the adhesions weren't known until he did the actual surgery. I would think if you're wanting the tubalization, that would need to be preauthorized -- since that's a "planned" procedure. Do you know if your banding surgeon does that type of procedure? I was very fortunate in having a laproscopic specialist surgeon, so he knew his stuff. I'm so thankful that he literally tunnelled all across my abdomen to fix all four things - laproscopically! I was sent home w/ an abdominal drain (for a week), but again, that's not the normal situation. If you can get both approved and done at the same time - go for it! It sure beat having to go through 4 surgeries!

Are you talking "mushy foods" like mashed potatoes, refried beans or "solid foods" like grilled chicken breast, steamed vegetables? If solid foods, just about anything. Just chew, chew, chew. Proteins first (tender, juicy meats, then vegetables. Eat things that taste good and will satisfy you. Best of luck to you!

Blossom, here's my experience w/United POS. Oct., 2003, I was denied. Appealed. May, 2004, had Lapband. The day of preregistration, the hospital called ins. to determine my cost. I had to pay $250 co-pay (total expenses). But I also had to pay $500 to the assistant surgeon. (That is supposed to be filed w/ins. co. But I honestly don't expect to see it again. Haven't heard anything about it.) I ended up having 4 surgeries done during that one procedure -- removal of gallbladder, removal of numerous abdominal adhesions (caused from previous open-method kidney removal), removal of unknown benign tumor on esophagus, and installation of band). (This is certainly not the norm for a Lapband patient!) I ended up having to stay an extra day and on i.v. antibiotics an extra day because of the "extras" done. I was very thankful to know that $250 had me covered. I bet that assist. surgeon wished he'd gotten more $$ from me! My total bill was over $48,000. Be sure that your insurance definitely covers the Lapband procedure (not just gastric bypass - RNY). Be sure the surgeon and hospital you are using is in the insurance network. Check if your aftercare (fills) will be covered by ins. plan. Be sure the dr. has any preop tests, surgery, hospitalization preauthorized. Hospitals and ins. co. negotiate the amt. to be paid. Ins. co. don't pay the full amt. a self-pay would have to. Yea, I'm so happy! You're moving in the right direction! Now, don't get impatient if it still takes some time to see any specialists, pretests, etc. done. Start drinking that Water and walking!