Serena

Jessica, I am so sorry that you were diagnosed with hepatitis-C. I know something about it because my brother had it and ended up having 2 liver transplants. Have you been referred to a liver specialist? He/she could best advise you.

I'm with you, Kacee. I love my Tribest personal blender. The motor is first rate and I love the accessories that are available (like a mason jar adapter and extra-large blending cup). I grind coffee and flax seeds with it. I have a large Kitchen Aid blender but have used it only once since I bought it in May.

My surgeon changed his policy and now says that patients can eat normally before and after a fill. I have done that 3 times and had no problems.

Great! Keep up the good work and before long you can reward yourself by buying your underunders at Victoria's Secret!

I have 2 insurance carriers. The primary approved me in 6 days and the secondary denied me in 8 days (they sent the denial overnight mail). Generally the insurance company notifies the surgeon's office so if I were you I would call there after one week. Things get hectic there and they don't get back to you promptly. Good luck!!!

I have had 3 fills totalling 2.5cc's in a 4cc band and I can still swallow all my medications whole. The program directions say to use the chewable form of vitamins and calcium for life. I use Centrum chewables and Bariatric Advantage chewable calcium citrate.

I think that charging a fee for services not reimbursed by insurance (such as writing letters and completing forms) is a coming trend in medicine. Four years ago my pcp came out with a fee schedule for all extra services or you could opt for the comprehensive plan and pay $250 each year to cover them all. However, my doc's patients were advised of her policy in writing in advance, while in your situation, the fee seems like a punitive afterthought. A reasonable fee would be $30 - $40 for the letter you need. A bigger fee than that is outrageous, but if it gets your band covered by insurance, you'll still be way ahead.

For me the solution to sugar cravings is to avoid sweets. A taste of sugar re-activates sugar cravings, and I have to "white-knuckle" it for a few days until the cravings subside. This is not true for many, but trial and error has shown me that this is the only way for me. Although I never got into OA, they do have a great sentiment that describes my relationship with sugar: "one bite is too many, a thousand is never enough". I can handle sugar-free popsicles but avoid the sugar-free fudgesicles because they can set me off. I have eaten several lifetimes worth of chocolate and the pleasure was so fleeting that (I tell myself!) I am content to give it up for the long-term pleasure of being at a normal weight. I still miss sweets, but the intense cravings are dormant........

You're not crazy in my book. I may have chickened out as well except that through a twist of fate, I was prescribed a beta blocker 3 days before surgery because of abnormalities in my cardiac stress test (further testing after surgery showed that my heart was perfectly healthy). The mechanism of beta blockers also blocks anxiety. In fact, I felt elated! I had the surgery and I'm so happy that I did. My only regret is that I can't seem to tolerate salads or most vegetables. My recovery has been totally smooth. I admire you for putting the needs of your children first, but you'll be able to be a more active and contented mom if you feel better physically. As a member of this forum you have an advantage--you can check out any concern you may have and learn what's normal and what is potential trouble so you can get in to see the surgeon early. Good luck to you in your decision.

Many people are very uncomfortable for several days with gas pain because the surgeon fills the abdominal cavity with CO2 to give him/her room to work. Not everyone gets gas pain (my surgeon said no one knows why some people have it and others do not). I was one of the fortunate ones so I bounced back quickly. I had some discomfort around the port but needed nothing for pain at any time, so I was never groggy. I waited until day 2 to take a shower and had no problems. I live alone and told no one about the surgery but I was fine. I couldn't climb steps before the surgery so I can't comment on that. You really don't know what to expect until you're there. Age isn't a factor--I'm 56. Best of luck!

I had my second fill today. The surgeon said he no longer advises patients to alter the way they eat right after a fill. He has attended several bariatric surgery conferences where he heard various surgeons present research concluding that the best thing for the patient is to return to solid foods right away. He has seen no adverse reactions since he discontinued food limitations. Of course everyone should follow the directives of his or her own surgeon, but isn't it nice to know that there is a trend toward making the band less complicated (best example: the "remote-control" band that is being tested!).

Sooverit, I just now read your post of 8/21 where you praised me for being clear-headed about my disease. Thank you so much for the response. I had just about given up LBT because I would sometimes self-disclose (I'm actually a very private person) and put in a lot of effort when replying to a post and it would never be acknowledged. In fact my posts even in the June 2007 support thread are universally ignored. I have felt very foolish. Your kindness means a great deal to me!

If you itemize deductions, you are able to deduct medical expenses if they exceed 7 1/2% of your gross income. Medical expenses also include your share of health insurance premiums. This will result in a larger refund. You may want to start a new thread asking self-pays to share their tax savings. That would be helpful to many. Good luck.

I'm so glad that you can have your ESI! All the better to walk the hospital corridors after surgery (which is encouraged). My next ESI is this Friday. After the initial 3 injections in 3 months I am on a schedule of one every 3 months (that may be due to limitations of insurance reimbursement). I wish I weren't so anxious about fusion surgery. Mine would involve 2 steel rods and bone tissue taken from my pelvis, which I was told causes more pain than the surgery itself. I do prefer my bone to the alternative, which is cadaver bone. I'm going to call tomorrow to schedule physical therapy for the following week when I'll be more comfortable from the ESI. Is your user name short for Big Uncle?

I live alone and didn't tell a soul that I was banded. I had a great surgical experience-no pain, no meds, no gas. I did very well on my own. You need to get up and move around anyway and it's no trouble to prepare a clear liquid diet! I'm probably different from many people because to me it would be tedious to have to "entertain" when I feel like taking a nap or reading.

I have 2cc's in a 4cc band. I have no trouble swallowing regular-sized capsules (slightly larger than a Tylenol quick-release capsule) and most pills. I take one larger pill that I split in half although I never attempted to swallow a whole one. My Vitamins and Calcium are chewable and have a pleasant taste. Look at you already down 6 pounds!! A lot of us left the hospital 10 pounds heavier than when we arrived because of an abundance of IV hydration. It took me 7 days to lose those bad boys!

I forgot to mention that my dad was diagnosed with A-Fib this year and because he also has a faulty aortic valve , his cardiologist put in a pacemaker, which is an unusual treatment. The office staff kept telling him how wonderful he would feel with the pacemaker but instead he is more tired than ever (but then he is 82).

Physical therapy helped with pain relief? Great to know. My pain was equal in both legs until last year when I began having severe shooting nerve pains in one that made my leg give way without any warning. The type of pain varies--like the sensation d'jour--burning, throbbing, deep aching, tingling, shooting. I've tried neurontin, lyrica, the usual pain meds, and nothing helps. The ESI's have been helpful but I now only get about 5-6 weeks relief from each one. I am terrified of spinal fusion since it seems to make symptoms worse just as often as it helps. The spinal surgeon said that it may be too late for the surgery to help the pain in my legs--it would however keep the condition from deteriorating to cauda equina syndrome. Are your legs really weak? My quadriceps especially are weak so that I can't climb steps (unless I use my hands on the steps to propel myself upward). I began seeing a chiropractor for the first time in January to undergo spinal decompression treatment and that has been somewhat helpful. Have you heard of it? I sound like such a whiner! I'm just so glad to finally meet someone who understands! Let me know how Thursday's appointment goes.

Pronetus, I nominate you for BEST FOOD METAPHOR EVER USED IN AN LBT POST. If such an award actually existed you would richly deserve to win. Awesome post!!

:welcomeB: I was diagnosed in 2000 with severe spinal stenosis. I think that the worst consequence is the muscle weakness resulting from nerve damage. Is your pain mostly in your legs? I also have no remaining cartilage in my knees so between the two issues, I really have trouble exercising. I'm very fortunate to have a healthy heart. I didn't realize how healthy until I had the tests for the surgery (stress echo and nuclear scan). I wish I could do cardio but at least I have been doing resistance bands and soon will be using small hand weights. My program includes consultation with an exercise physiologist and four classes that are very basic and designed for folks with morbid obesity. One is Water exercise, which may be our salvation. I haven't taken that one yet. I know that my weight loss would be a little faster with more exercise but I am still losing. When I lose another 30 pounds or so I'm going to look into knee replacement. I know that spinal stenosis is relatively common, but I have never spoken to someone else who had it. I would love to hear about your symptoms and how you cope with it on a daily basis. Do you respond to epidural steroid injections? Are you considering spinal fusion? Are you approved by your cardiologist to have the surgery? I'm sorry to ask so many questions!

:welcome2: Fat Attack! Have you checked out the "How is Weight Loss over Fifty?" thread under General Lap Band Discussion? I'll be 57 in 3 weeks and there are others 60 and older. I had a very easy surgery and recovery, but my weight loss feels a little slow because I can't exercise much due to knee and back problems. For the first time I'm considering having knee replacement surgery after I've lost more weight. It is great to have a more positive outlook and a sense of future! My program materials state that candidates for lap-band must be under 60, but they don't enforce it. In fact, they have revised some of their guidelines as a result of published research which simplifies the process. I'm guessing that age restrictions will be eliminated because us older folks are usually all about saving our lives and are therefore very motivated. Good luck with approval. You absolutely will have no regrets!

Ugh. My scale hasn't budged in 10 days, and yesterday I was up four pounds. Today it was still there. My impulse was to overeat, but luckily there is nothing appealing in the house. There is no reason for me to have put on weight except that most exercise has been impossible due to what I think of as "structural" problems (joint and back issues). No one knows that I have the band so I really don't have anyone to whom I can vent. Thanks to all of you for listening!

I cannot detect my port at all. At first I was a little concerned but someone on this site reassured me that this is a good thing because it won't protude after significant weight loss. My first fill, however, took 9 tries because the surgeon said it was "angled". Second fill was a quick first try about 1 3/8" from the original cluster of 9 needlemarks.

I spoke to the NP about potential problems having an endoscopy while banded. She said that I would have to be completely unfilled which I probably should have anticipated (but didn't). She did question the need for the procedure because she had never heard of Zoloft or Celebrex causing damage to the esophagus or stomach nor did she think that having a much smaller stomach would result in a greater possibility of damage. So to bolster my case, I told her about taking Indocin for 2 years, which a pharmacist told me is the NSAID that is hardest on the stomach (he said that it "eats stomach lining"). She wasn't impressed so I had to confess that in 1981 I deliberately overdosed on medication including 200 aspirin and spent 2 days in ICU (I'm bipolar). I see the surgeon on the last day of August where I may have to tell all despite my shame. I never spoke this aloud to anyone, but I was bulimic for 20+ years. I lost 103 pounds in 1980 and became bulimic in an attempt to keep it off. That can't be good for the stomach............

:welcome: Jim! I have only been banded for about 10 weeks so I am hardly the voice of experience (but always willing to throw in my two cents worth). So far I feel that the best thing about being banded is the confidence you feel that you have a back-up and therefore are not doomed to regain the weight I don't even feel restriction yet but this confidence has given me the momentum to eat less purely on my own steam. I have nearly a lifetime of experience with severe, recurrent depression. I'm actually bi-polar but cannot tolerate the usual medications usually used for this disorder. With the help of my psychologist I realized that I was likely to feel worse after banding because I would be prevented from comforting myself with food. I used to binge myself into a trance every single day to keep those painful thoughts and memories at bay (very common). And I mean huge binges.... My therapist of 14 years was concerned about the consequences of this "loss" and would not give her blessing to the counselor who did the psych eval. But so far all is well. Knowing in advance that I might have a temporary return to symptoms (and why) made it easier to accept and cope with when they came. One of the worse things about depression is that if you have an especially bad day you are totally convinced that it will be that bad for the remaining days of your wretched life. Expecting and planning ahead for a bit of a downward spiral made all the difference. Good luck to you in your decision-making process. Take care.