CAROL99

Hello, I started my quest for a lapband in July of 2007. I weighed 300 pounds. My GP set up an appointment for me to meet with our local hospital team. When I arrived for the first meeting in mid September I was informed our local hospital dr. would ONLY DO GASTRIC BYPASS ROEX EN Y procedure. The reason why was: lapband does not do as good of a job. Too much is reliant on the patients will to not eat fattening foods.....a RNY is more reliable because if the patient ate sweets the body would not tolerate it. This was a VERY annoying end to what I thought would be a new beginning in my life. I had to research my state to find a hospital that did do lapband. A hospital in midwest WI was an hour from my home and they did do the lapband. I made the appointment, which was again a delay. The first meeting would not be until early November! I, and my friends, went to the 3 hour orientation and we all agreed the lapband would be the way to go. I was very excited and motivated to get on with my life. I set up the required appointments with the psychologist and dietician. Although Medicare does NOT require either of these BUT this hospital DID. Again, I had to wait for these appointment until mid DECEMBER!!!! While I waited I decided to start the pre-lapband diet. Basically, protein and vegetables....no potato, flour, rice, etc....basically Atkins Diet! By the time I went to the two appt. I had lost about 20 pounds. The dietician and I talked for 20 minutes. I showed her the diet I was on in journal form. Each and every day I had recorded what I ate. She praised me for the good job and suggested I could come back to her on a monthly basis to 'touch base' until the lapband procedure. I said I really didn't see the need. I met with the phd. in the late afternoon of the same day.... After waiting for an hour in his waiting room....we talked for 15 minutes. Then he had me take a written test of about 250 questions. He said I would then have to come back in to see him for the results.!! I was not told this by the hospital...they said they only require ONE meeting with the dietician and ONE with the PHD. I was baffled as to why these people were insisting on additional appointment...? I waited two plus weeks to hear from the hospital as to the next step. The coordinator called me and said the dietician was happy with my motivation and weight loss.....but perhaps I would like to continue to see her until the surgery... I said Medicare did not require it and I was lossing weight so I saw no reason to travel to any more appointments. A week later this coordinator called and told me the results from the PHD. (psych) was in and after a few minutes of chit chat she said the results were, I was 'moderately depressed' and should mention it to my GP the next time I went to her!!! I was also encouraged to see this fellow again for the written results. I said I was stunned! I had no idea I was depressed!! The coordinator said I shouldn't get too upset, everyone on the lapband road turned out somewhat depressed so it didn't mean too much. I was so shaken by this diagnosis that I questioned my friends in the medical field. I asked two retired RNs and they said 'who wouldn't be depressed in my situation'.... I then wrote to a person I met on this site, who just happens to be in the medical field. They too re-emphisized that anyone in the lapband program would be depressed. This made me feel much better! How logical. I called the coodinator of the hospital and asked what the next step was. She said we had to wait until the PHD sent the 'written' report to her, Then we could request pre-authorization from Medicare for the Lapband. So I waited. Two weeks later, a nurse practitioner called. She said she was just looking over my chart. She felt that I should have the Roex en Y procedure NOT the Lapband for these reasons: They DO NOT do Lapband on ANYONE above the 40BMI range. I was at 49BMI at my initial weigh-in the night of orientation back in Nov.'07. Also, the Lapband wouldn't prevent me from eating food that was rich in calories...the RnY would, therefore the RnY would be the route to go. I told her I had been following their pre-op. diet and was now 24 pounds lighter. I said I had never read that a lapband was not available to people my size. I weighed 273 now. She again said she felt the RnY would be the best route and that she would set up an appointment with one of the surgeons 'if I wanted' and they could go into more detail as to why the RnY was the route to go!!! After more chit chat I asked what size lapband they usually use on patients. She replied, '4cc on most but 'my size' could be 10cc'!!! Hmmm, didn't she just tell me 'they do not do lapbands on patients over 40BMI'?!:redface: I said the ONLY procedure I was interested in was the Lapband. If they could not do it then my journey with there hospital was done. To which she now said, 'Oh well, ok, I will type up the pre-authorization request to Medicare for the Lapband.' 'Perhaps, you would like to see our dietician while we wait for the authorization.' 'NO, I said, the dietician said I was doing very well journaling my daily food and with my weight loss.' 'I see no reason why I should drive down and chit chat with her.' Two weeks later, I recieved a copy of the pre-authorization request that they mailed to my Medicare provider...this was dated JAN. 18, 2008. It is now April 9, I have not heard a word from this hospital!!! I now weight 259. I don't know what to think of this whole lapband experience. I have lost total confidence in this hospital. I feel they were trying to get as much money out of me as they could. They baltently lied to me about not doing lapbands on people over 40BMI. This morning a representative from this Lapband site emailed me and asked if I would come back to this site....I haven't been here in several months. I am totally turned off of getting a Lapband now. What do you think of my experience? Is this normal procedure by hospitals in the bariatric field? I'm confused and disappointed. Carol

Hi Bandme, I think about... should I or shouldn't I get banded EVERYDAY. There are so many pro's and con's. My weight problem is... I have a very hard time with portion control... I learned this through the way I am eating now. I had to measure my food in order to get the correct amount....I had been helping myself to servings two + larger than normal and thinking it was the right size portion!!! After months of measuring I do restrict myself to smaller portions but still have a tendency to feel I should 'eat the food before it expires'....this of course makes no sense....if it expires before I eat it, it would be thrown away...if I overeat just to use it before it expires it isn't doing me any good to add more calories and weight.....I now let it go to waste and throw it out if I don't have time to eat it. It probably has something to do with my childhood and 'starving children in asia'.....that makes no sense either but that was a popular ploy to get kids to eat their food. So back to the question....will I get banded? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. Not enough caring in the medical field....it's all about money.

Hi Jena, It's not a problem of insurance. I have Medicare not Medicaid. Medicare DOES cover the lapband procedure. I have not heard from this bariatric hospital since they sent me a copy of there request for pre-authorization from my Medicare provider. The key words here are 'have not heard from bariatric hospital'. There lack of follow through communication is appaulling! There insistance of trying to get me to opt for the RNY (which is three times more expensive than Lapband) and....there insistance that I should go in for unecessary dietician and psych visits is disturbing....money money money. I just feel if getting the lapband is all about money and not about health....I will do without! C.

Thanks for responding, I too believe everything happens for a reason. Perhaps I am just not meant to have the surgery I was SO positive lapband was the way to go....I guess there is a higher power that has other ideas. I did learn that I had no concept in portion size. I am losing weight on my own, which I truly did not believe I could, so that at least is a positive. c.

Faith and Shamrock Girl thank you for your messages. I have looked all over the state and the only recourse is to travel 4 hours to the next Bariatric Clinic. This too is a CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE hospital just as the other one was. I am too discouraged with 'the system' to persue another hospital. I have invested over $200 in travel, appt. and time....for no good result. I just do not have unlimited means to travel further and start this process again.

Hi All, I am from close to Green Bay, WI. I would like to know a good lap band dr. in the area. Thank you for your help and experience. Carol99

Hi Phyl, Thank you for the encouragement. I've never heard of therabands...but when I get over to Target I will check it out...thanks. Carol

Hi All, I have been trying to watch what I eat since Nov. 12 (the day of the 3 hour intro to banding). The doctor said if he starts the banding and can't move the liver because it is still too enlarged/rigid he will simply close and put the person back on a diet until the liver has shrunk. I took this as a GOOD message to start count/measuring my food intake. When I began this landing process I topped the scale at 300....today at my dr. appt. I weigh 285.2.....sweet!!!! I use the calculator at the Sparkpeople.com site to tell me how many calories, fat, carb, protein I eat per day...I am trying to 1200 cal. per day....because I am disabled I cannot get the exercise that most others can. The doctor said if you count one calorie per each pound you weight that's how many calories you are eating per day to stay at that weight!!! When I weighed 300 I then must have been eating 3000 calories a day to maintain that weight. So I figure if my goal weight is 150 pounds I should only eat 1500 caleries a day and eventually I will weigh 150 pounds. How simple does that sound?!!! Carol:nervous

Hello Green and Sunshine, I appreciate your suggestion of water aerobics but cannot do that either... The water pressure is too much for my back, too painful. I cannot stand the pain of any touch due to the fibromyalgia and the back screw.....so no pressure from any source...water, human touch, etc... I can only sleep (elevated hospital bed) for 3-5 hours....this is not good. I should be using a CPAP machine to help me breathe at night but thats a whole other story. So, I am a mess. I do take Lyrica for pain but at 150mg twice a day it only JUST 'masks' some of the pain. Lyrica was just passed by the FDA as a drug for fibromyalgia, it is actually for diabetics nerve pain but does have success with fibro too. I have been on every drug my drs. could think of for pain including narcotics and opiates...they didn't work. At least Lyrica is doing something. Again, thank you for thinking of me and if you think of some other exercise please mention it. Carol

Hi Sunshine, Airbike is not an option.... I have a screw through my spine resting on a major nerve to the right leg. Every move is painful for my back and the right knee is semi numb and painful....depends on the area. I walk with a cane or walker...depends on the day. I wish I were able to exercise, my once sturdy plump body has gone to Ms. Marshmallow land.... I really really want the band to work for me...I am hopeing a loss in weight will relieve some of the back pain....the lap band is my only choice as I see it so there is a lot resting on a little plastic ring. I attended the 3 hour manditory meeting for the band last week and turned in the information asked for. Now I just check my mailbox daily for a response from them as to what I do next. I am on Medicare and according to them they do not require anything other than a need to be banded. I think this clinic I attended also requires and psych eval and a dietician appt. but I think I have to wait for their letter to procede. If you can think of any other exercise I could do please suggest it. Thank You, Carol

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL !!! I've been out on the 50s site for a few days. Learned some good info. just have to knuckle down and start the work to better food choices. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving....I hope you all are too. Carol

I appreciate all your input on the lap band....I am an over- eater of good food---I love good desserts---and my thyroid tested in the bottom 5%...... I am thinking I will have to develop a LOT of WILL POWER when I get banded. I have always had great starting power on my numerous diets but I could never loose unless I walked a treatmill..In fact I killed two treadmills in my youth! I am walking disabled now so I am counting on the band to restrict my food intake so I loose the weight now.....I do walk very slowly on a treadmill at the hospital gym but it is no where close to doing any good. I hate the guilt my eating puts on me. I assume everyone here feels the same. I guess I am putting a little too much faith in the band and should probably start reading labels and planning an eating strategy. I like the idea of eggs and egg dishes! Tuna gives me indigestion...but every so often I do eat it anyway. There is sooo much to think about when trying to completely change my habits and eating amounts..... Carol

Green/Denise.... I am becoming a little disullusioned by this lap band...am I to understand any small deviation from protein/veg/water will pack on the weight? I thought with the correct amount of fill a banded person was on such a small amount of food that a little normal sliver of dessert was ok....just not to be made a daily occurance???? Now I am wondering what the purpose of banding is for if we are to police each and every mouthful and then to have the same guilt gnawing at us when we have a piece of candy or cake.......I think I need to hear the whole good and bad of banding..... I do not want to have guilt anymore. Denise, you have done a wonderful job of losing weight. How much candy etc did you eat... that put on 4 pounds??? In the whole scope of a years time on the band are you consuming sugar DAILY or perhaps your band is not filled enough and you are consuming too many calories??? As I said, you have done a marvelous job.....don't beat yourself up over 4 pounds or a piece of sugar.....aren't we supposed to be able to eat 'normally'? And with 'normal' eating the weight probably goes up and down....right? Carol

Do you have a pre-op diet??? If so what is it? Thanks...Carol

Hi all, Well I was reading the info from my initiation meeting and the pre-op diet is: 3-4 oz. protein, 1 cup cooked or raw veg. and 1 piece of fruit. Ok I had to try it....I normally don't eat until after noon....I drank water all morning....ate 3oz boneless, skinless chicken breast that was parboiled in water and a tad of olive oil and spices, 1 cup rutabaga (OK I like it).....oh also I ate a peeled apple not much bigger than an apricot!!! Aaaaah, now that was excellent....I didn't feel full until half an hour after I ate and I forgot to eat the protein alone first but all in all not bad. 5 hours later I did the same food again....only carrots this time....I remembered to eat he protein first too....oh good for me!!! Then my neighbor came over about 3 hours later baring gifts of 3 very very nice looking frosted brownies.....she knows I'm on this new me kick ....she came with me to the seminar!!! I ATE ALL THREE BROWNIES!!!! I did not eat my 3rd meal...figured I messed up so I went to bed instead. Today is a new day and so far so good! I should have thrown those brownies away....why didn't I???? I think this is what always screwed up my 'diets'......absolutely no will power.... I live alone...divorced 18 years ago.....I am very VERY happy to be on my own. I must work on this problem of eating whatever is given to me....well if it looks good....I don't have a problem throwing out some things. I can't believe I actually ate them!!! I am really not feeling good about myself today......I will throw out any sweets that are given to me from now on......yes, I WILL> Oh the question before my rant was .....was your pre-op like this one? Thanks , Carol:help:

Indio....Good to hear from you....So do you plan on YEARLY physicals from now on? Sounds like you spent a lot of time at the doctors office/hospital with those tests...and 14 vials of blood!!!! Good Grief! what could they have been looking for??? Green...I am a disorganized organizer---piles of paperwork here there and everywhere---in the end it somehow ends up all in one pile and I'm good to go---I amaze me! I will be a member of the 'Free Em Gang' ONLY until I trip and fall over them!!! Phyl...How long did it take you to go from the initial meeting to the operating room? Thank you all for your good humor and support....I think I'm going to need a lot of both!!! Carol

Good Morning All, The posts on Bra and Shoes was most interesting!!! I'm for shoes and no bra....I have a son in law that always removes his shoes at everyones home...he's born and raised in WI....I think he has the potential to pick up virus' or bacteria with this habit.....oh well just my thoughts on the subject.... I attended my 3 hour initial meeting last night. I had to stand in line to be weighed for half an hour!!!! Slllloooowwwwww. The first speaker was a gal that was banded 5 years ago and lost 230+ pounds....and has kept it off. She also has lost a few friends for various reasons as she became a normal person size....one friend thought she was loosing weight to take her husband!!!! yikes, now that's an interesting thought process! This gal has had a tummy tuck and boob lift but has not done anything yet about her upper legs which really detract from her small upper body. She will have them tightened at a later date. I guess the message she was trying to tell us was....the band will only restrict the AMOUNT of food going into your body....YOU have to restrict the KIND OF FOOD you put in....such as malts candy etc... it's a partnership to a smaller you. She was a very motivating speaker and I enjoyed her very much. This hospital is a Center of Excellence and the two doctors seemed very knowledgable and kind. I did feel the second doctor was more to my liking (as did the three friends with me)....they said they operate together so I don't know if I get a choice on which one I get to see. I turned in the 8 page questionnaire, doctor referral, info on medicare (did you know medicare DOES NOT require any waiting period for dieting like most insurances?), apnea in hospital and in home tests, and the record of my 2 year fitness record.....so now I wait until they call me. They insist all patients see a psych dr. and dietician..so I hope that is all I have to do.....well, besides the pre-op diet.....which reminds me....the info on the fatty, large liver was really scary....they said if they are doing lap. banding and the liver is toooo large and rigid they will close you up, put you back on the pre-op diet until the liver is the size they can move out of the way!!!! I will stay on the pre-op faithfully!!!! As they were talking about the 3-4 oz. of protein for the pre-op I decided I would call the local grocery store and have the market cut up the exact oz. of fish, chicken and lamb so I don't have to fuss with it. I thought that was a stroke of genius on my part.... In all, the evening was tiring but very motivating and I am anxious to get on with this journey. Sorry to take up so much space but I wanted to share and see if this is what you all went through too. Carol :phanvan

Oh Phyl, you've revved me up again!!! I do wish it was over but as you said doing all this will show my commitment. I will try to remember the cushion.... Carol

Thank You Thank You Thank You Phyl!!! I have been thinking of this flaw in my make-up since deciding to be banded. I will attend the 3 hour manditory meeting monday and feel better about proceeding. By the way, how long was your initial introduction to lap band? I tried to explain to the nurse that there is no way I can sit for 3 hours with my back disability but I don't think she believed me or just sluffed off what I was saying, she just kept saying, 'it's mandatory'.....so I said I would have to stand, sit, walk and would be miserable but I will do it. I am bringing 3 friends with me....two nurses....because I know I will not be able to concentrate and won't remember what is said. I don't know why they couldn't give me info in written form that I could simply read from my home. Oh....I'm ranting.... Thank you again...I hope the dietician is as competant as yours. Carol

HI ALL, I AM NOT BANDED YET.. DOES THE DR. TELL YOU A SPECIFIC AMOUNT YOU SHOULD EAT FOR EACH MEAL? I think I do not have any concept of how much I should eat...that's my problem. I don't seem to have a 'YOU ARE FULL' feeling. I DO NOT want to vomit....I hate it...even if it really isn't vomit I just abhor the whole process. I would like to avoid it if I can. So....any idea of how much to eat after surgery??? Thank you for your help...I find this site and the PEOPLE very very helpful. Carol

Hi Judy, As I understand it you have NO FILL??? That would mean your band is not restricting you at all? In that case you are to be commended for losing your weight all by yourself!!! If I am correct Fills start 4-6 weeks after surgery. How come you don't have any??? April was 6 months ago!

Oh my gosh, I feel terrible for you two Judy's...... Perhaps the weight is going to fall off overnight and surprise you both!!! Just hopeing.... Can you tell me what you eat in a day and the quantity? I haven't been banded yet...I'm at the beginning of the process so I'm very curious about you two. Would you encourage people to be banded? why or why not? Where did you get banded? Were you happy with the surgery? How much exercise do you get? I hope you will answer....Caool

What is the 'newest' band on the market? I was watching a banding in VA. and the dr. said the newest ones are easier to install because they are a more smooth or soft consistance and can be manipulated easier..... I hope we get to request the band we get....I NEED an easy, uncomplicated banding.... I truly thought the addiction theory was false but I can see that we must do something in place of eating.....although I can't say i spend much time in the kitchen anymore. I think my back pain is helping me in that respect...I hate to stand in one place for any length of time...so I usually slap a sandwich together and that's it...a meal!!! I really can't imagine what addiction I could or would go into....probably a lack of imagination is standing in the way of pleasurable pursuits and money stands in the way of everything else....I'm lucky that way. Carol:heh:

Hi Phyl, Oh boy I tried to get on here too....I really missed it!! A friend of mine told me that if I get banded I will tranfer my eating addiction to either alcholism or nymphomania.....good grief, I can't believe someone started that rumor!!! Have you heard it? Carol

Indio, I was just looking at your progress in your weight reduction, good job!!!! you are really running downhill!!! I'm sure you have told us what you do for exercise but would you tell me? Do you have a sedendary job or are you moving around? Do you stick to 3 meals a day or do you snack inbetween? How much food can you eat at one time....1/2 cup etc...? Thanks, Carol