Ellisa

So sorry to hear about this. I can't imagine how upsetting it must be.

Ditto! I want to be skinny today! And like some of you, I lost weight pre and immediately post op, but have been just sitting at the same weight for nearly two weeks. I get my first fill next week, so maybe that will help. But I'm eating between 1000 - 1400 calories and most of that is the protein that I have to get in. I really don't know how I'm going to cut down much more and still meet my protein requirements.

Trixie, My Doctor does the first fill at 4 weeks. He uses flouro. Dr. Curry is the only one in Ohio certified (by LapBand and Realize) to teach other doctors to do the surgery. So I'm not concerned about the earlier fill. (I have the Realize band.) My sister got her first fill at 4 weeks and she lives near St. Louis. She's not having any problems. My husband (went to Barix Clinic in Columbus area) would have had his first fill at about 2 months, but it ended up being much later because his surgeon left that practice yadda yadda. He also was on Clear liquids for a week post of and didn't get to soft foods for 6 weeks. I started soft foods 2 weeks out. There seems to be a wide scope for when bansters get to do what.

Hi, I am also on soft foods. Hasn't really been a problem. I haven't gotten into the exercise groove yet. Get my first fill next week.

I won't get my first fill until the 16th. But I found out the hard way that I have a band! Last night DH fixed supper. Lasagna and Brussels sprouts, I'm on mushies. Without thinking I put half a sprout in my mouth, chewed it briefly (like pre-surgery) and swallowed. OH MY. It hurt! I didn't know if it was going down or coming up for the longest time. Finally it went down. I waited quite a while before trying eat again. Everything was fine after that. I can't imagine what it would have been like if I'd had more restriction. Oh well, lesson learned!

Just give me time ladies, just give me time. LOL

I had to pin the waist of my skirt...does that count? LOL Congrats to all of you!

Jazzy, I'm feeling very welll. Thanks for asking. I'll get my first fill on the 16th. I was at Dr. Curry's office twice this week. Once for post op on Wednesday and again today for support group. At my post op, I asked Tracy about them going out of network for Anthem BC/BS. Yes they are but it only affects NEW patients. And yes, it has to do with their new surgery center. I also overheard... (oops sorry I have big ears...) them telling someone that the self pay cost is just under $13,000. That's an awesome price. And with a surgeon who is certified to train others surgeons! Can't beat that. At the support group there was a guest speaker (Dr. Lied, plastic surgeon) who discussed reconstructive surgeries. Woo hoo, she is in network for our insurance. My husband is 2 years out and needs the tummy tuck. He has enough issues that it should be covered, the vast majority of his 140 lb. weightloss was from his stomach area. Will be scheduling appointment soon for him. The bad news (for me) was that the tummy-skin removal is about the only thing insurance will cover, sometimes breast reduction. I don't have a very large stomach but my ghetto booty and thighs are the issue. So when the booty becomes mud flaps insurance won't cover it.

I had my first post op appointment today too. Not doing nearly as well as RonKat, but not unhappy. Keep it up!!! I have all lifting restrictions removed but was told not to do any stomach crunches yet... Like I was really looking forward to THAT. LOL It's probably a no brainer that this ol' granny isn't going to be doing much heavy lifting anyway. Afterall, isn't that what DH is for? I'll have my first fill on 1/16. I'm also finding that my appetite varies from day to day. So far it's never been over the top, but many days I forget to eat all the meals and Snacks I'm supposed to be eating. Usually 3 - 4 rather than 5 - 6. I'm also having a hard time remembering my liquid Vitamins. Then there's exercise.... Well one step at a time here.

Shelly and Heavy WOO HOO!!! Keep it up. If I'd lost 44 - 50 lbs. I'd have to buy new pants. So maybe I won't be too envious... gotta pay off my deductable before buying clothes. LOL I'll be watching for more news from the two of you.

Frisky, My DH was banded 2 years ago this month. Peanuts are his favorite Snacks. About the only thing he can't eat is grilled/broiled steak, but that's probably because he won't eat it unless it's extremely well done. YUCK. I'm eating soft foods but chewing it until it's pureed. And DH keeps reminding me to chew, chew, and chew some more. Even two years out, that's what he has to do. I haven't been particularly hungry, but I enjoy eating. All the chewing gets tiresome so I'm not having portion control issues. The main issue I'm having is remembering to eat. I should be eating 5 - 6 small meals and I'm usually eating 3 or 4. I keep trying to remember to get a Protein shake in, but it's not easy. Hopefully when I get back to work it'll be easier. I'll try to take scheduled breaks and have snacks or shakes on hand.

RonKat, I forgot to mention that my DH got off to a rather slow start. He went to Barix in Columbus OH area. His surgeon Dr. Barbara left the facility several weeks after his surgery. (The docs there work on contract for the corporation and they decided not to renew his contract; we heard they rethought that decision and asked him to stay, but he'd already made other plans.) He was the only one there who did lap band at the time. So DH had to wait until another surgeon was trained long and short he was several months waiting for his first fill. But once he started losing it was all good.

I had to pay $300 program fee (Dr. Curry), that is for getting the insurance paperwork filed. My insurance doesn't cover the nutrition piece either, but I get a reduced rate due to them being in network. I've heard a rumor that as of January they are going out of network for Anthem... I don't know that for sure, but will find out when I go on the 2nd for my post op. None of my fills are covered except those that are part of the surgery.

Kaninag, I'm sorry to hear that, but don't give up. If you meet the qualifications and there's no exclusion on your policy it will be approved. Chris, Go Bucks!!! Also, my insurance BC/BS does not pay for fills. So only the ones included with my surgery are covered. I think I do get a reduced rate with in network facilities, but that's it.

Sometimes, I repeat sometimes, when insurance is provided by the employer they will negotiate with the new insurance company to keep the same benefits for at least a transitional period. It's possible, if there's no exclusion on your new policy, that they will accept the approval of your current insurance. Won't hurt to work that angle, it might fast track your approval. Government agencies and union companies seem to care more about this sort of thing, in my experience. So what I'm saying is, it's possible your approval with your current company could be part of the deal with the new one, if your HR department is willing to go to bat for you. Hugs.

RonKat, He's lost around 140 lbs. After he was able to eat regular food he would lose 2 -3 lbs per week. In the last 6 months it has slowed, but he probably needs another fill. He has an appointment in January. I don't think he's had a fill for a year. The last couple of times he went in the doctor didn't want to do it yet. He started at 369. He'd like to get to around 200. He's 6'3". Right now people are thinking he's too thin, mind you when he was at this weight when our kids were young his doctor told him he'd never see them graduate if he didn't get below 200. He has no health issues. Funny how much things change about how we perceive weight in 20+ years. He has never had PBing or sliming. When I asked him about it he had no clue what I was talking about. He does hiccup when he gets full. And he stops at the first hiccup. Only once did he think he might have to bring something up, but didn't and was okay. He's careful to eat slowly.

Hang in there! Try not to let it get to you. It got to me, big time I gained 5 lbs from the time I went in for my original consult until I had my pre op appointment! Don't do that... stay in preparation mode, if you can. I'll keep checking on you.

RonKat! Wow! My husband was banded two years ago and he also lost very quickly. His post op diet was also more restrictive. I'm thinking he was on clear liquid for a week, then full liquid for two, then pureed for two, then soft for two. The surgeon that did his had just started doing bands. And I think they may have been following the RNY diet. My dietitian allows pureed the day after surgery for 2 weeks, then soft for 2 weeks, then low fat/low carb for life. Keep it up!

I'll be here waiting for your "happily ever after" post. You'll get your prayers!

Okay ladies, Take your left hand and place it as far as you can on your right side. Now take your right hand and place it as far as you can on your left side. Squeeze hard. Hug yourself and hug your band. Repeat whenever tempted to eat wrongly. Easy for me to say, I don't have any appetite yet. My day is coming and then it's your turn to tell me something to keep my hand from reaching my mouth.

Jazzy, It's tomorrow, it's time to get really excited. You have a lot to do between now and then. I'm a firm believer that 99% of things we worry about don't happen. So keep worrying, you'll improve you odds. :biggrin1: Actually, though I wasn't nervous or having thoughts about cancelling. I did a lot of prep in case the worst should happen. I made sure my medical directive was current (a sort of living will). I also made sure my will was where my husband wouldn't have to hunt for it. In the pre-op area, I told him where it was and reminded him about my life insurance policies and retirement that would become a cash pay out at my death. I can't believe how calm I was, you know, just business. He was so sweet and told me I was in good hands and not to worry. Then it hit me that he was there alone. So I just had to live though it so he wouldn't have to be alone with that news 3 hours from home. So I thought about the 99% and figured I had the bases covered. I did some heartfelt praying too.

I understand perfectly. Even one of the ladies in my doc's office said she got her approval in 2 weeks, but that they are told to tell people it can take up to 6 weeks (which it did). Of course I wanted the two weeks. Hang in there, I know it's hard, but keep coming here to AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR... I hadn't told very many people under after I got my approval. So it was really hard going to work and being around people and not crying on their shoulders, but I could come here and AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR away! :heh:

I can eat anything my magic bullet can pulverize. But foods that are less moist, seem to satisfy me faster. It's kind of strange, I'm not really feeling hunger ever. And neither do I feel "full," I just feel satisfied. And boy do I hope this continues forever. I always have to have reasons for things like this... and of course there probably isn't one, but I still wonder if it's because pureed foods are hitting more taste buds and satisfying them? Or could it be that since my stomach is now where it is supposed to be following the repair of my diaphragm that it gets the satisfied feeling quicker? Or could it be that I'm really still tired and worn out from the surgery and just don't feel like eating? Or could it be everything is still swollen? Here's another strange thing for me. I've always had a "weak stomach," morning sickness that lasted all day for 9 months. Always nausiated over any little upset. Any surgery had my head in a bucket for hours. And so I was fully expecting the worst. And I haven't had one episode of nausia. I know that I was given some medication in my IV to prevent that, but I haven't needed to take the medication I was given for home even once. Okay, enough rambling!

Sue, Were you able to get information on why it was denied? You will want to specifically address their reason. I was denied 4 years ago by Med Mutual. They didn't give me a reason except I didn't meet the criteria, but nothing specific. I didn't appeal at that time because there was just too much going on for me to deal with it. And I was requesting approval open RNY then and couldn't have gone through a surgery at the time. At the time, very few facilities were doing lap RNY and lap band wasn't covered by my insurance, I don't know if I'd even heard of it then. So it was disappointing, but in the end I'm glad it was denied. I lost some weight, regained it, I think a couple of times during that period. But this last time was the last straw, so I decided to see if I qualified for approval for lap-band with BCBS since the place I work had switched in the meantime. You can bet this time I would have appealed and fought all the way but I was fortunately approved without that. I'm sure others who have had to appeal can help you out. At least this bumps it up.

I don't seem to have a limit on what I can hold if it's liquid or very near liquid. I'm on pureed for another week. However, I really don't have much desire for food. I can drink water/tea without any problem. I'm eating at this point because I know I'm supposed to. I can drink a full can of low carb slim fast. I don't want it really, but it doesn't hurt or feel uncomfortable to drink it. One pureed scrambled egg with a little gravy for moisture is all I can handle.