elle

Hi, I was banded on Jan 31. I am so happy. I already lost 17 lbs including the 2 weeks on liquid before the op. I am getting my first fill on Monday - only 4 1/2 weeks from surgery. I am nervous about it. Does it hurt? I am worried about feeling sick and food not going down. Do you choke? Can you drink then to help it. How much do they put in the fill? Should I ask them to go slow? Need some advice. Thanks for any info:scared2:

Congradulations fellow bandsters. At my one year anniversary, I am down 75 lbs and am elated. I have a lot of problems eating lately, although I haven't been tightened in a long time. I have been loosened a month ago. I particulaily have problems drinking. I am worried that my band might have slipped. I am going to request an esophogram next week at my next appt. Good luck on continued success.

Relief is on the way for left shoulder pain. I originally had left shoulder pain, after surgury from the anesthesia. I believe it is air trying to escape. Then that went away and I got left shoulder pain a month later that was quite painful and I was told by my doctor that it is from a nerve near the diaphram and it just feels like it is in the shoulder area. I would get it after eating something doughy or too quickly. Anyway, I learned to slow up and after more time the shoulder pain has gone away. I assume that I lost weight and whatever was pressing on the nerve has been relieved.

I just had an unfill from 8.125 cc to 7.8cc in my 10cc band. I decided that I rather be a little hungry than vomiting/PBing so much. I think my esophagus had a hard time. My question is that do I have to stay on liquids then mushing for 3-4 days after an unfill.

I think you might need a slight unfill. I have been struggling with sometimes pain, pbing, vomiting and then not having problems other days. I often have problems with dinner. I was trying to have a hot beverage before meals. I just had a slight unfill. I think I would rather be a little hungry than to have these issues. My doctor told me from day to day, your esphogus can be different. Once you start PBing, it gets irritated. He told me stress, excitement, your period, PBing can make your esophagus swollen. Also I was told, when your band is too tight, your weight loss is not as good. i guess you might eat the wrong things (easy to eat food) and not enough satisfying protein. Good Luck.

I understand your feelings completely. I think weight loss is a personal journey. Not That many people have noticed my weight loss( or they haven't commented) because they see me every day. When people do notice and they ask me how long, how much. I tell them that I have been trying for over a year (actually I have been trying most of my life). How much? I also say a lot. If they push me, I try to avoid it. For people closer to me, I will say around 50lbs and I intend to keep to that number when I reach my goal of losing 120 lbs. Noone has to know how much in reality. Do they tell you how much they weigh. What are they going to do, call you a liar?. My doctor also told me not to tell people about the band. I don't need opinions/comments etc from anyone. Only my immediate family know. Good Luck and congradulations on your loss.

I agree with Bacitracin. Your incision looks a little infected to me. I would try it for a couple of days and if it doesn't look better and If you cant get thru to your surgeon, go to your regular doctor. Your regular doctor should be able to perscribe some oral antibiotic. Also ask for an antibiotic that is liquid or can be cut so you don't have problem swallowning

I have 8cc in my 10cc band and I have found restriction to the point that I am not hungry within 2 hrs after a meal. I am curious as to how much ccs in my fellow Jan 08 bandsters and when and if you got to this point where you are not so hungry.

Hi Everybody, thanks for the info. Isn't it amazing that we are coming up on our 6 month anniversary. I am much happier and healthier than I was 6 months ago. I cleaned out my closet last night and am not keeping my "fat clothes" around anymore. I don't intend to go back up.

My latest NSVs. I bought 2 skirts last night size 18w down from 24/22. I am wearing 1x tops down from 2x. And although it may sound silly, it made me happy. I had to tighten my watch strap 2 notches up from the last one on the end and its loose.

My husband cuts his horse pills with a pill splitter and also now gets liquid potassium. I think you shouldn't skip your meds. You can call your doctor's office and maybe a nurse can speak to you.

I feel bad for you. I guess this is why my doctor told me not to tell anyone about my band. Its a private thing and I don't want any comments from people. My husband told everyone he is dieting (because he can't eat the same way) with his band and his friends are policing his food when he eats with them. It makes me so aggravated, that i would eat to spite anyone who tells me not to. If I were in your situation either I would try to eat privately or tell your father in a nice way that this is what your doctor is requiring you to eat and you must follow his instructions.

My doctor puts you on a 2 week thin liquid diet and you can have slim fast mixed with milk or water. Then a two week mushie diet. He recently changed it to 10 days of each. You have to drink everything very slowly. He didn't want you to vomit for 4 weeks. Wanted to make sure that the band gets set up properly. I don't know if your doctor is more strict than others. You have to follow your doctors advice and get thru this month. Sorry that you don't fell well. You will have the most weight loss during this period. Good Luck.

I have 8ccs and finally I have restriction that keeps me from being hungry after a meal for 4 hrs. I had some restriction before but 2 hrs later I was prowling around looking for something.

It isn't uncommon to gain weight before your first fill. Don't beat yourself up. Your doctor will not get angry. Hes there to help you. Remember that you are still down and lower than before. Get the fills started. Everytime I had a weight gain or stayed the same, my doctor told me that in my situration, who wouldn't have gained and gave me a fill. My doctor is not judgemental. If you have a weight gain or maintain your weight, thats the signal to get another fill. If it was so easy to lose weight and keep it off, there wouldn't be a need for Lap-Bands, gastric bypass, diet pills, WW, Jenny Craigs, etc.

I would think so. In general for my FSA, I submit receipts or EOBs from my doctors, I don't have to tell the govt or company adminstering the FSA what service was performed. The Explanation of Benefits or check receipt has the doctors name, address, id and copay or amount paid.

NSV - I don't cringe when I see my self in the mirror. I actually smile. By the way, if they had to record your weight on or license in NY, I wouldn't be driving anymore. (& probably most women I know would agree.)

Both my husband and I were banded by Dr. Fielding at NYU. My husband has Empire BCBS. He was approved in 1 day by Empire. He didn't need a 6 mth wait period but his BMI was over 40 and he had 2 comorbidities. I have Aetna and my BMI was over 40 BUT I didn't have 2 comorbidities. My insurance required a ton of documentation with a 5 yr weight history. Empire was soooo much easier to get approved. The insurance coordinator at NYU is relatively new. The prior one Joanna knew all the insurance plans in her sleep. So it was good that you brought your policy in. The more info you provide, the better for you. Good luck with your process, I know they will try to help as much as possible. By the way, I never waited more than an 1 hr for anyone. There must have been a problem that day.

Hi, Just to put you at ease, my husband had the lap band put in and he weighed in the mid 400 range. Our doctor feels strongly that the lap band is effective for those who have high BMIs (over 60). My husband who is so motivated has already lost over 60 lbs in 2 1/2 months. Much more than me and I have been banded 5 months. Although I'm told that weight loss is faster for men, we both recomend the band. We feel that it is safer and there are less complications and the band will help us maintain our weight loss forever. By the way, my husband's internist has removed 4 diabetic type pills, a water pill and will be reducing his blood pressure medicine after one more check-up. Good Luck to you.

My doctors office warned me that flying can cause the band to tighten from swelling. Like your feet can get swollen on a plane, the same effect can cause your band to feel tighter. They gave me less of a fill because they new I was flying a few days later.

Did you get a letter from the ins company saying you are approved or you spoke to someone. Maybe they meant that the surgery is covered if you are approved. I would think that the doctor would know if they submitted your records. Call your insurance company again and ask what policy do they have to approve the surgery. The code for Lap Gastric Banding: 43770. Let them look up the policy and they might direct you to a website or a document with their policy. Good Luck

These seems to be something wrong with what your doctor says and what the insurance says. The doctor must have the documentation. I agree that he wouldn't perform the surgery unless he knows that he will get paid. I think you need to get an attorney anyway. Either to fight the insurance company or the doctor.

You just have to jump through the hoops that the insurance company asks you to. You go to your primary care provider once a month. Your PCP keeps a record of your monthly visits, weight checks, blood pressure, your diet attempts like following WW or low carb program and exercise in a log like format. You don't have to lose a lot of weight( I ended up losing and gaining it back). You just have to follow the 6 months of doctor supervised weight loss attempts. The doctor has to copy his log or documentation and that gets sent to the insurance company. The insurance company figures that some people will give up trying before the 6 months are finished and they won't have to pay for the surgery. I had to wait 7 months because my doctor didn't record my weight on my physical so she wouldn't write in what I told her. Do NOT miss a month. Good Luck.

I took a week off. My doctor also wont let you drive for 7 days. My surgery was on a Thursday and I went back to work on the following Wednesday.

My NSV are 1) My 2x shirts are too big. 2) My shoe size shrunk 1/2 size. 3) I can actually look at myself in the mirror and not avoid it. I used to think who is that person. 4) I was able to climb the double staircase at work and felt good. In the past, I couldn't catch my breath for at least 5 minutes. Hurrah!