piercedqt78

My husband is in the UTU (united Transportation Union) He works for the rail road. Since they are under a collective bargaining agreement they cannot exclude a proceedure on one insurance and cover it on the other. It may not be the company excluding it but the insurance, and your husbands company/union may not be aware of the exclusion. That was the case with me. When I called the union it was as simple as them confirming that United Health Care would pay for it, that is our other option, and then they called highmark BCBS and made them pay for it. The UTU is also self insured, and now highmark BCBS must pay for the band for UTU employees and their families if they qualify. I feel like I not only helped myself but also others on this journey. It was a bit difficult since I am the first to be covered by them, and they have not made the decision to cover adjustments yet, but I will fight for that too ~Mandy

aaamom, I have an identical twin to your kitty, we adopted him the day I found out I was approved for my band (june 30th), he is 3 years old and not very social, very sweet but a bit stand-offish. His name is KoKo or as my daughter says it KoKo bunnyhead.~Mandy

I also had my husband "burp" me like a baby, it really did help. I had him patting me on the back again a few nights ago after refried beans. A heating pad would have been great if it were under 100 degrees here in the Chicagoland area. But it was waaaay to hot to even consider a heating pad. ~Mandy

My gas pain was all in my shoulders for the first 4 or 5 days, I chewed gas-x tablets and they really helped.I did take liquid regular adult tylenol for pain and to reduce swelling. My "real" pain was also minimal I took a grand total of 4 doses of Liquid Tylenol with codine and that was at bed time to help me sleep, that was when I had the most pain. (trying to lay down) I am a restless sleeper and that was a bad thing the firest few days after surgery. I discovered that a small throw pillow from the couch sort of wedged under my tummy helped with the night time discomfort. I am happy to sat that I am sleeping like normal again and I feel really good. I am 11 days out now. It does get better every day. ~Mandy

My itching is getting better. The worst place is my port incision that runs right through a stretch mark and it is driving me nuts. It is itching and still a bit sore. But everyday gets better and better, I just had loaded mashed potatos for an early lunch and they were really yummy~Mandy

I was just banded by Dr. Horgan on the 28th of July and this is what the paper work from him says: *You may return to work in 7-10 days depending on the type of work you do.Discuss this with the surgeon or Nurse BEFORE the date of your surgeryu (bring any nessary paperwork to the pre0oprative appointment for completion) The surgeon will confirm your return to work at your first post-operative clinic visit. *You may not lift anything over 15 pounds for a period of 4 four weeks, you may wish to return to work with restrictions if this is available to you. Be careful if you have small children, you will not be able to bend down and pick them up for 4 weeks. * you may drive again in 7-10 days, driving is not encouraged if you are taking narcotic pain medication. I am 10 days post op and could go back to a sit down job as long as I could wear elastic waist band pants and could stand and walk once an hour or so. And as long as I could have something to drink at my desk at all times, it is tough to get in 64 oz a day without constantly drinking. ~Mandy

I have a sister that is almost 12 years older than me and we have both struggled with out weight for a long time. When I first decided to do the band she was very negative, and came up with all of these horror stories about people slipping into comas and starving to death with the band. I let her negative attitude slid right off my back, then I got approved and she actually asked for my surgeons information, she was now considering the band herself!!! Then she called her insurance (Aetna) and they told her the requirements and she did not meet them (no supervised weightloss, no documented failed diets, etc). Well fast forward 1 month, I have my band and I am losing weight and look and feel great, she is starting the Atkins diet (again) and she calls me everyday to say that she has already lost 4 pounds and my BIL has lost 12, he also works out at a gym for 90 mins everyday and does powerlifting. I say that is great I really hope you both do well and lose all of the access weight. In the mean time she is calling my mom and talking down about the band and how unhealthy it is and how glad she is that she snapped out of the funk that made her consider doing that to herself. There is alot of strain in our relationship right now and it may be there forever, it may pass who knows? I am affraid that if it passes and she falls off the atkins diet wagon yet again she will always resent me for losing and keeping it off with my band.I know how you are feeling right now, but don't have any advice for you, just a common shoulder to cry on. ~Mandy

Boost, Ensure, Slimfast were also no no's for me. My paperwork says these are high in the fuels that we are trying to avoid. I am assuming that they are talking about carbs but I could be wrong. I did the Atkins shakes and added davinci or torani s/f syrups to them. ~Mandy

I too was nervous about the whole thing, I told the nurse this and she said we will take good care of you. The next thing I remember was my husband telling me how great everything went and how proud he was of me. He then proceeded to make fun of my gown and surgical hat. But I was fine and it was all over with before I knew it. I also had my hand numbed before they did the IV, maybe you can ask if they do that, most hospitals do and will if you ask. ~Mandy

According to the food guide that I was given you can eat almost anything that you want after you are healed. They reccomend avoiding lots of bread, rice and pasta, you should have the protein first but fruits and veggies are not out of the diet. I am also allowed cereal after 4 weeks, but it is just too hard on the stomach right now, like I said I am only 9 days out. Eggs everyday are not recomended, there are other options like oatmeal, cream of wheat and other warm cereals right now, and then cold after the healing time. I can have ground beef, but I prefer turkey or chicken, I can also have steak later on but that can be troublesome to some bandsters. I am also allowed lamb or fish, I just havent gone there yet. My family was never big on red meat or bread so this has been easy for me, it may not be for everyone and far be it from me to say that it is, really give it some time and read as much as possible before making any decision. Good luck in your quest for better health. ~Mandy

Another great book is called before and after , she had GBP but there are some really wonderful meals that are high protien and low fat/sugar in it. Here is the amazon link [ame=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060567228/103-2422029-9776602?v=glance]http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060567228/103-2422029-9776602?v=glance[/ame] I got mine at a discount book store for $8 and I love it, I have made several of the protien shakes and my mom just make the sugar free cheesecake and it was really good. ~Mandy

Well I am only 9 days out and I am having ground turkey with mashed potatos for dinner tonight. After about 3 or 4 oz I am pretty full, but I am also newly banded, and still a bit swollen. I was told that after a fill I would be able to eat 4-6 oz. After I eat I remain full for 4 or 5 hours and then I start to think about eating something else. I am not starving ever 4 hours like before I was banded and I am not snacking at all. When I finish a meal I am not already thinking about what the next meal will be, that is a big step in the right direction for me. Like I said I am only 9 days out but I feel great and I am already thrilled with my band~Mandy A sample menu for me right now is: breakfast: 1 scrambled egg with some lowfat cheese melted in lunch: 1/2 cup cream Soup or pureed chili with some crackers crushed in Dinner: ground turkey mashed potatos and instant gravy (no fat) I also have a protien shake each day just to make sure my protien is getting in there and loads of Water or diluted cranberry juice. I have also startd drinking decaf iced tea and decaf iced coffee with skim milk and splenda or stevia (a great sugar subsitute)

So glad to hear that you are doing so well. Please let us know how things progress, I am sure there are several of us that are looking into a babs crystal ball to see our futures. I hope you are feeling great and healing just as well~Mandy

Anything Disney, I love all things Disney. My mom brings me shot glasses from all over the place, they love to travel. I also have magnets from all over the country. I love the magnets, but am running out of room for the shot glasses. I am also running out of room for the magnets, my fridge and portable dishwasher are both covered. I want a magnet that says something about the lapband~Mandy

I was denied 3 times, don't give up. I contacted my husbands employer and they made the insurance company pay for it. We have the option of 2 insurance companies and one covers it and the other (ours) did not. I fought it and now they have to cover it for the people that work for my husbands union. I am happy to say that becuase of my fighting others will be able to be covered. Don't give up, fight until there are no appeals left and then ask for an outside appeal, I know it is hard to wait but my $22,000 surgery was covered 100%. Sometimes waiting is the only way~Mandy

My post-op diet says rice can be difficult for 4-6 months. Something about it not going down the same as other foods. I will wait at least 6 months to test those waters.~Mandy

I went to Trader Joe's before surgery to stock up on post-op foods. I bought this soup that is tomato and roasted red pepper, it is a pureed soup and has the best flavor. I am going to make turkey meatballs next week and use this instead of sauce. I also bought the squash soup, that is lunch toorrow. I will let you know what I think about that flavor too~Mandy

Today is day 4 for me and I had some cream of chicken lowfat soup made with milk not water today. I had about 1/4 to 1/2 cup and was full for several hours. I also had an atkins shake made with ice and some lowfat milk, I made the mistake of drinking it too cold and it was a bit uncomfortable, but better now. I have also had a V-8 and I am going to try some pureed tomato and red pepper soup from Trader Joe's tomorrow for lunch. (I also bought the yellow squash soup from there also, it is in a carton and has no pieces in it) In a few days I can have mashed potatos, cheese, pureed meat, tuna salad and scrambles eggs. I am going to try egg salad because I hate scrambled eggs and I hate tuna so I bought chicken and turkey both packed in water for the protien based salad. I see the doctor again on friday and I am going to double check on the egg salad thing, also I am allowed ground beef and refried beans so I am going to ask about pureed chili. I hope your hungar passes or you are able to eat more foods soon~Mandy

I will add you to my nightly prayers tuesday and then again on wed. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sending you a virtual butterfly now and a prayer angel later~Mandy }i{

I know that the Wish center in Chicago told me that there was a $2,000 "lifetime support" fee. I explained to them that I was far away and would never use the support group and I had one locally and they said it was not optional. I called the insurance company and was told that was not payable. That would be on top of any co-pays deducts and such. I went with a closer and I think better surgeon.~Mandy

I am doing chewable gas-x and a a heating pad and it is working like a dream. I set the heating pad for 30 mins and laydown on it. My hubby said I passed gas all night on friday night. My only pain is right around the port area, that is still sore, of course. I am off of the tylenol 3 and taking straight tylenol liquid now. Glad to hear that you are feeling better~Mandy

I am home from the hospital finally. I had to spend the night. During surgery I had a hematoma (sp?) on my stomach, it is internal so no brusing yet, but I am sure it is coming. I feel pretty good today, I walked and walked in the hospital, and I sipped, sipped,sipped on cranberry juice diluted 50% with ice chips. I am a little swollen and sore but feeling pretty good overall. I am going to get some more sleep, I will check in later~Mandy

I am a bit less sleepy today, I think the walking is helping with that. I also took a shower this morning, it has been 48 hours since surgery and my paper work said 2 days, same thing right? I feel like a new person after my quick cool shower. Hope you start to feel better too~Mandy

I was banded by Dr. Horgan on the 28th (thursday) He was great, just so you knwo it will be a fellow that does the evaluation. I live in the south burbs of Chicago and would be happy to asnwer any questions that you may have. I am 27 so we are pretty close in age and started at about the same weight. ~Mandy

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Kelly Lindstrom on several occasions. They are honest and really genuine people. I have an insurance company that they have never delt with and my ins company has a reputation for being a real stinker for the rules. Kelly was honest with me, I was already finished with my 2nd appeal and I was getting ready to send the information in for my independant evaluation. She says that it is best if they are involved as soon as you are denied the first time. They are a bit hard to get ahold of but well worth the wait. She gave me some free tips and wished me luck, I did get approved but only because I got my husbands union involved. I did call back to think Kelly and she was genuinely happy for me. If I had know about them sooner I would have had them involved, they are well worth the fees tthat they charge, and if they feel that they cannot help you they won't take your money. ~Mandy