losin'it

Hi! I got my second fill last Thursday and was wondering if anyone else has experienced pain every time food passes through their band. At first even liquid hurt, now liquids are ok, but anything solid isn't. I'm trying to hold out and hope that things will improve so that I dont have to go back and have an unfill. Occasionally after the 3rd or 4th bite it improves, other times I have to stop eating all together. Has anyone had this, heard of this or have any advice?? I'd really appreciate any help you can give me! Thanks! Cara

Hi! I have my fills done under fluoroscopy and at my first fill I got 8.5ccs and had pretty good restriction for about 2 1/2 weeks and then it loosened up to the point where I had little or no restriction. I went this past Thursday and he added 3ccs and I'm on the verge of being too tight. When I asked him how much exactly was in my band he said he didn't know and that it didn't matter because he uses the fluoroscopy to see exactly how tight it is. I'm not sure if that means he withdrew some before he added the 3ccs or if that is in addition to the 8ccs. At any rate, I'm giving it another few days and if things don't loosen up a little bit I'm going to give him a call. Cara

Hi! I have a Van Guard 10cc band and I was just reading the thread about how it's taking sometimes 7 fills before people feel the right restriction. I was wondering if theres anyone who has the 10cc band and gets their fills done under fluroscopy. Does the fluroscopy help to be more aggressive with fills so that you dont need so many? I dont go back to see my surgeon until the first week of July and I'm constantly starving and can eat just as much as I did before the band so it was really depressing to read about so many people having such a difficult time getting restriction. I'm losing weight under sheer willpower at this point. My surgeon does all of his fills under fluroscopy so I am hoping that I wont need so many. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!

AZGal~ I just saw you're post now- I wish I had seen it earlier so that I could have told you that I had NO problems with the anesthesia at all so maybe you wont either!!! I just made sure to tell the anesthesiologist about the problems I had had in the past and he said that he would do his very best to avoid it all and he did!! I was SO happy! You just got banded today- I hope you're doing well!!! I was banded on the 15th and I'm finally feeling great, it took me almost exactly 2 weeks to get there but it went fast. Please let me know how you're doing when you can- I'll be routin' for ya! Feel good and take care of yourself!! Cara

My doctor said that a hiatal hernia is not a problem and that if I had one he would take care of it during surgery. He said that the only difference is that normally they have to make a little tunnel around the back of the stomach to pass the band thru and when you have a hiatal hernia that opening is a little bit larger so you have to be a little more careful to follow your diet when you're healing so that it heals thoroughly in place. I would definitely look for another doctor! Good Luck with everything!

I get banded on the 15th, it's getting so close now and I'm getting really nervous and excited all at once. If I ever had any doubts about this surgery they were all pushed out of my mind in the last 2 weekends! Last weekend I had a family reunion where I saw people that I havent seen since I was 20 and weighed 128 pounds and now I KNOW I have to have the surgery because I NEVER want to hear another person whisper "Wow! Cara's gotten so heavy !" or see another shocked expression!:think This Friday I was my neices sponsor for her confirmation and had to get up in front of the whole church. As I sat waiting for the service to start I sat desperately looking for someone else who was just as fat as me but only saw pretty, thin girls with short dresses on. :tired I was the ONLY heavy person in the whole church! Then I went to a Rod Stewart concert :biggrin1: and had to squish myself into those stadium seats with my arms barely fitting between the people sitting next to me.:paranoid How uncomfortable and embarassing! (It was worth it though) I am now SO ready for this surgery and can't wait to be on my way to a healthier, skinnier me. I NEVER want to have to feel the way I have these past 2 weekends again- EVER so I know that I'm going to do my best and succeed! It's so nice to be able to come here and read everyone's posts and know that I'm not alone!! I'm so excited to be a part of the A-May-zing group! I still get scared when I look at my 3 little girls and worry that you just never know what can happen but I'm trying to just think that everything will go fine and I'll be home again Tuesday afternoon with my girls and my husband! Has anyone heard of someone being banded having problems with the anesthesia?? Thats my biggest fear! Thanks for listening and good luck to everyone!

The office called and left a message on my cell phone that said "Please call us regarding your insurance." Of course I was just SURE that it was going to be bad news or that they were going to tell me that I needed more tests or a letter of medical necessity (the ins. co. said i needed one and the Dr.s office said I didnt and submitted it with out the letter.) BUT to my surprise she said that my husband has wonderful insurance (glad she thinks so cause noone else seems to:)) and that I had approval and I would be receiving a letter in the next day or two. I was shocked, it only took 3 days for approval once it was finally submitted. So my official date is May 15th!!!! :clap2: I'm nervous and excited all at the same time!! By the way, my insurance is Oxford Freedom Municipality in case you were wondering.

Thanks everyone for your support and well wishes!! I'm really getting nervous now, only 10 days to go!!! I can't wait to be a May bandster!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2:

Thanks! :fish: I'm so excited, anxious and nervous but I can't wait for it to be all done. drekagirl1976- I'm so glad you're doing well and the surgery is all over for you. Thanks for your prayers! Keluliana- Thank you! Are you already banded or are you waiting?

Hi! I just went to my 3 hour pre-op class today and the nurse told me that I have to have another blood test because my iron levels are low. She said that I am anemic and that you have to be at a 10 or above to have surgery and I am at 11. Does anyone have any idea what the number actually means and how likely it would be that my levels would drop by 2 in a matter of about 2 weeks? My surgery is scheduled for May 15th so I dont have much time to take iron supplements and let them start working and take ANOTHER test so I'm just hoping that the likelihood of dropping by 2 is UNlikely! If anyone has any ideas or thoughts about this I'd love to hear them. I'm really nervous with only 13 days to go! Thanks for your help!

Thanks for responding! The LPN at the pre-op class yesterday sent a prescription in for iron supplements yesterday but unfortunatly I had to have the blood taken today. I dont have enough time to take them and then have another test taken before surgery so I'm HOPING that my levels havent dropped. I'm hoping that the 2 weeks that I can take the supplements leading up to surgery will help me with my energy and healing after surgery.

I have one for the list of 100 reasons that drives me nuts! I don't want to have to scope out the room to figure out which way I can go so that I fit between chairs and tables and not knock anyone over! :faint:

Wow, the May calendar is great! My surgery date is on May 15th and I can't wait!!!!!!!! :clap2: I'm really excited but getting nervous too! Tomorrow my best friend and I (JennyC724-5/15 also) go for our 3 hour pre-op class, so we're excited about that. We're hoping it's really helpful and not boring! After the class we thought we'd go get some of our shopping done so that we're all setfor after the surgery. Hope we don't forget anything! Well, good luck to everyone!!

MY NON-SCALE VICTORY LIST 1- WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH MY GIRLS 2- WANT TO WANT TO EXERCISE 3-WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO ON RIDES 4- DONT WANT TO BLOW THE THIGHS ON MY JEANS OUT 5- DONT WANT TO TAKE THE LONG WAY AROUND BECAUSE I CANT FIT BETWEEN TABLES AND CHAIRS 6-WANT TO BE ABLE TO TIE MY SHOES WITH OUT KILLING MYSELF 7-DONT WANT TO HAVE TO PULL OUT THE WHOLE LENGTH OF SEATBELT TO GET IT ON 8-WANT TO FIT INTO NORMAL CLOTHES 9-DONT WANT TO KEEP PULLING THE LEGS OF MY SHORTS DOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE CREEPING 10-DONT WANT TO BE EXHAUSTED ALL THE TIME 11-

MY NON-SCALE VICTORY LIST 1- WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH MY GIRLS 2- WANT TO WANT TO EXERCISE 3-WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO ON RIDES 4- DONT WANT TO BLOW THE THIGHS ON MY JEANS OUT 5- DONT WANT TO TAKE THE LONG WAY AROUND BECAUSE I CANT FIT BETWEEN TABLES AND CHAIRS 6-WANT TO BE ABLE TO TIE MY SHOES WITH OUT KILLING MYSELF 7-DONT WANT TO HAVE TO PULL OUT THE WHOLE LENGTH OF SEATBELT TO GET IT ON 8-WANT TO FIT INTO NORMAL CLOTHES 9-DONT WANT TO KEEP PULLING THE LEGS OF MY SHORTS DOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE CREEPING 10-DONT WANT TO BE EXHAUSTED ALL THE TIME 11-

Hi! I've only posted a few times but I'm so excited I HAVE to post this! My best friend and I are doing this together. We've both had weight problems most of our lives and when we researched the lapband we thought it was just the tool we needed to get us started on the way to a healthier life. We just had our consultation appointment yesterday with Dr. Nicholas Bertha in Florham Park, NJ. He answered all of our questions, was very imformative, was great to talk to and funny so we were relieved that we felt we had chosen the right doctor for us. We assumed that he would sit down and talk with us about our options and prepare us for what we would go thru etc., then he would tell us that we would come back for another appointment to discuss the insurance and set up a date for surgery etc. WRONG! We finished talking to him and he promptly said that we were perfect candidates for the procedure and if we were sure that this was what we wanted to do we should go out and schedule our surgery!!! We were completely shocked and totally excited, we kind of felt like idiots because we couldn't stop smiling!:cool: We kind of left the office in a daze and needed some time to let it all sink in. So our surgery is scheduled together for May 15th first thing in the morning, we have to be at Morristown Hospital by 5:30 AM :confused: but we dont mind! We have a 3 hour pre-op class to attend 2 weeks before the surgery. We don't have to follow a pre-op diet, just liquids 24 hours before. Now we have to start gathering together everything we'll need. We found some great lists on here too. So anyway, we are totally thrilled and can't wait to become bandsters and start losing this weight!! Everyones posts are so informative and encouraging, I love reading what everyone has to say.

Hi~ I have Oxford Freedom Municipality and I called them to be sure that I have no exclusions on my policy and THANKFULLY I don't. They said that all I need is a letter of medical necessity. My question is which doctor writes this letter? Does the letter come from my lap band surgeon or do I have to have my PCP write it. If it has to be a doctor other then the surgeon would I be able to have my gynecologist, who has worked with me on my weight for years write it instead of PCP? Any info anyone can give me would be really appreciated! Thanks!

Thanks~ I do have an appointment with a surgeon on April 18th. Was just hoping that I could get as much done and out of the way as possible ahead of time and since it sometimes takes a while to get an appointment with one of my doctors I thought if I knew which one needed to write the letter of medical necessity I could set up an appointment now for shortly after my consultation. I guess I'll just wait until I see my surgeon and go from there.

Hi! Although I have been lurking for quite a few weeks this the first time I've posted. My best friend Jennifer and I have our consultation with Dr. Bertha in NJ on April 18th so we are trying to get all of the preliminary things taken care of and out of the way. Our problem is that Dr. Bertha's office can't schedule us until AFTER our consultation. I also tried to make appointments at Saint Clare's Hospital and they are losing their nutritionist so although they are trying to juggle appointments to fit us in it looks like we may not get in. We are so ready to get this done!!!! My questions are- - Does anyone know of any other Dr.s in NJ who do the psych evals and Nutrionist appointments? - Has anyone ever gone to these and had it covered by insurance (Oxford & Empire Blue Shield) from the beginning or did you have to submit it yourself? Any help that you can give would be really appreciated!! Thank You! Cara :welldoneclap:

Hi Matthew~ Thanks so much for responding. I've heard wonderful things about Dr. Nusbaum. I actually had a consultation set up with Dr. Nusbaum that I canceled because they said that they didnt accept Oxford insurance and I didnt want to have to pay the 20% copay for going out of network. I was really disappointed that I couldn't go to him but I've heard great things about Dr. Bertha as well and he takes both of our insurances. It seems that they are losing people in both places that they use for the nutrition and psych eval. so no one is sure when they will have someone to replace them. I called Morristown Memorial where we will go for the procedure and we managed to get appointments with the nurtritionist this coming week and I have to call for the psych evaluation on Monday so hopefully everything will go well. Are they accepting your Oxford Insurance at Dr. Nusbaum's?? I'll be REALLY bummed if I canceled our appointments for no reason because I happened to get someone on the phone that was clueless!:phanvan If you get a chance please let me know. Thanks! Cara