swstacey1977

first off, Congrats to you Butch for your success. I have to say that I somewhat dis agree with you about people who over eat want to die. Drunks who are told that if they don't stop, they will die don't nessacarily want to die. they have a diesease. they lack self control, some are so far gone that they have to have the acholol in their bodies just to maintain every day activities. now, do they have issues? i am sure they do just as over eaters do but that does not mean they or we want to die because we are drinking to much or eating to much. it comes from many things. what we saw or lived through as children, the type of enviroment we lived in, lack of motivation, lack of self control, we enjoy it to much, don't want to stop. just like somenoe who smokes. they know it is killing them but they love smoking, they don't want to stop or they have tried but have not quite been successful. it does not mean they want to die. I am 125 pd over weight. I have tried so many ways to lose weight and get healthier. spent so much money. my grandfather died at 600 pds, almost my whole family is obese. genetic, definetly. but even at my highest weight, i never, NEVER thought of killing myself. i knew i was out of control and that i was addicted to food and to eating but I never thought, "man, I am going to have this donut and i hope it kills me. "

my follow up visits are free but my fills are 48.00. no other fees. only problem is that my surgeon is an hour away from where i live.

Atc, don't panic. i know this is killing you but look. if your pcp won't give you a letter of medical ness then you can find another doctor, see that Dr. tell him/her your situation . ask if you have your medical records sent to them if they will give you one. i also kept a copy of the letter that my doctor gave to my surgery coordinator and let your new pcp read it and that will give them an idea of what you need. also, make sure you need one. some insurance carriers don't even require one. don't give up hope. just because you have a pcp not willing to help you does not mean another won't. i to had a hard time. if you would like me to email you a copy of my letter, just reply back and give me your email address. good luck to you and keep your head up, it will work out and you will get YOUR BAND!!!

sometimes i don't get responses to but that's okay. i am so glad i found this site. I know more about the lapband than they ever told me going into this. i am 5 weeks post op and have lost 17 pounds. (13 according to the surgeon's scale) :eek: started at 282, now i weigh 265. i walk a mile a day and really watch what i eat. i read labels like crazy. i love how i feel now that i am taking care of me!. any new banders reading this, keep your head up and keep reading the positive post on this site. (be careful reading the negative). and yes, the band will work for you but you have to take the incentive to make it work!!!!!

Congrats to you! Hello everyone!I live in Montgomery. i was banded by Dr. Vincent Gardner at Cahaba Valley surgical center in Alabaster. he is a great surgeon. couldn't stand the surgery coordinator , "let's just say she puts the ding in ding bat" but other than that, had no problems with them. i was banded the last week of November and have lost 13 pounds. hope to get my first fill next time i see him but i think he is very consertive on the fills. i have the new AP band. well, good luck to all the newbies out there and welcome to the site!.

Hi, i am 4 weeks out. of course, no fill yet. I have the new band. i think my surgeon said it can hold 10 to 12 ccs. I have been doing good. notice that alot of will power is coming into play now. i have lost 15 pounds. but yesterday and today i have noticed that i can eat a cup and a half of food. keeps me full for about 3 hrs. sometimes 4. My question is, Is this normal and did anyone experience this? thanks for the help. I LOVE MY BAND~~~!!!!!:r&r:

Transformer, I totally agree with what you said (ALL OF IT). I try very hard to teach my children morals , ethics and good values on a daily basis. It is hard when they read some of our Country's history and come home and ask mom, if this is not right then why did they do it back then? I LOVE AMERICA! I am very proud to be American but yes, I to am ashamed by what took place before i was born and even things that took place before my Great, Great grandparents were born.

i only had to pre-op the day before surgery.

<p>I had surgery exactly 2 weeks ago today and I have lost 12 pds so far. The band is amazing. I hardly feel hungry. i get full on about 8 oz of apple sauce and 1 yogurt. i am now in the pureed phase and scared that i will start gaining. need some good ideas on what would be healthy in this stage. my appetite is so different and i have so much more motivation than i had before the surgery. best thing i ever did for myself. Merry Christmas to me <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/happy.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" smilieid="60" class="inlineimg" /></p>

lol. i love this. you are truly gifted. you go girl!

Food has always been an escape route for me. i am an emotional eater. eat when i am bored, sad, happy, . i to love food. and i do over do it. i was banded two weeks ago and i feel like i have reached a turning point in my life for real. i have had more will power the last two weeks with my bad food habits than i have ever had in my life. this is the end of the road for me. I need to make this band work for me and my family. I want to live life to the fullest, not live life to be full all the time. We all have to come to terms with what got us in the situation and make the effort to turn things around for ourselves because we are worth it.

Skculpepper, have you called Aetna yet to check on the status of your paperwork? i called them 2 days after i knew it was faxed to them and that is how i found out i was approved. the lady told me over the phone. I think that Aetna is good about approving people. Good luck Melissa and welcome !!! i have had my band since 11-30-07 and i love it. lost 11 pds so far. can't wait to get that first fill and really start losing...hopefully good Luck on your journey

<p><p>has anyone mastered the correct way to measure inches? I am starting to ignore the scale and just going to focus on my waist. any suggestions on how i should start are the correct way to measure your waist(i.e. suck your stomach in or not?, put measure under belly button or above it, etc. ). I need some ideas. also, how often should i measure my waist? once a week? thanks </p> <p> </p> <p>banded 11-30-07 . </p> <p>11 pds lost. not sure how many inches...yet....<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/ranger.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Ranger" smilieid="301" class="inlineimg" /></p></p>

no doctor visit's at all? like Pri-med, ER room, Gynocologist, no place that you have been weighed? what about your weight loss attempts? has your past weight been documented at all? I have never heard of anyone that has insurance and was not asked to at least submit 3 years worth of weight documentation. also, the surgeon's office is going to ask you about earlier weight loss attempts.

yeah, i get the randome hiccups also. does this mean that something is wrong or that it may hurt the band? i go see my surgeon next Wednesday and i am going to be sure to ask him. anyone else have the random hiccups? any suggestions on what could be causing it? thanks

Okay. i thought i would start this thread for all of us to vent about our pre- experience or existing experience with getting approved for the lapband. for example. i will tell you of my journey. went to a surgeon who was covered through Aetna, my insurance carrier. paid 400.00 , plus 25 gas in my car and 25 for his nut. found out after my paperwork was submitted that he did accept Aetna but was not in his contract to do weight loss surgery with Aetna. had to find another surgeon. found one. paid 200.00 for his consult, another 25 for his nut, 25 gas in my car. (both surgeons were 100 miles from where i live). they submitted my paperwork, i was approved. set up a pre-op appt then the surgery coordinator calls me and says , the surgeon may not do your surgery cause Aetna does not pay enough. had to wait 2 days for an answer from him. she calls me and says, oh, i am sorry. it was a mistake. i got the wrong quote. he will do your surgery after all. that was the frustration i went through before i had my surgery. anyone have some nightmare stories.....can't wait to hear them. finally banded and loving IT!:clap2:

Hi Special K. Yes, i still had to do the 6 month diet and my bmi was 48. I did have the 5 year medical history but i understand that if you are missing some years that you can include pictures. it is strange to because on Aetna's website they ask for 5 year history but both surgery coordinators i dealth with only asked me and only submitted 3 years of my medical history. weird huh? i think Aetna needs to update their website.

I really do feel as though you guys will get approved. just call them a couple of days after you know your paperwork was submitted. I also want to add that my company is switching health insurance companines as of Jan 1st 2008 and Aetna knew this and they still approved me. and they were very nice to me. I know the waiting game is awful but hang in there and keep up the faith. it will all work out. I was banded 11-30-07 and have lost 12 pds so far. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I was banded on 11-30-07. last Friday. not even a week ago. yesterday i thought i was okay to drive and to go to the store. i got in the store and started having cold sweats , felt real weak and panicky. mind you i suffer from panic attacks. this morning i woke up , running around the house gettign little ones ready for school and had the same cold sweats. i don't feel as though i have a cold or anything. did any of you have this happen. thank you. by the way, so far, i have lost 10 pounds. :clap2:

Thanks guys. i was scared that something was wrong with me. i have no pain and i am doing all that the dr. recommended so i didn't know what to think. I feel better knowing that others have done the same thing. think i will not try to drive again for a few days.

Thanks again for the suggestions. i have another question for all of the folks on here that have been banded. how much weight did you guys lose before your fill if any? just curious. i get my band Nov 30th, next Friday but i don't get my first fill until 6 weeks out. just want to know how much weight can be lost before a fill and if there is any restriction before the fill. thanks.

just want to know what kind of liquids did you guys do following the diet? i have heard of protein drinks and other protien shakes, which are the best? also, is it true that i won't lose any weight until i get a fill? or is everyone different in that aspect? i am very happy about the surgery and i can't wait. feeling nervous of course but i know that this is something that will benefit my entire family. thanks for your responses. will keep everyone updated on my progress. :ranger::whoo:

Yes, i have another question. hopeing someone can help. the first two weeks we need to be on a liquid diet, can you guys give me some suggestions as to what this may include? i know that broth, sprite, 7 up, etc. what about popsicles? any help is appreciated. also, can we start using protien poweder in our liquid right after surgery like the Unjury? can we take vitimans , like chewable ones the first 2 weeks. i just know that the first month is goign to be the hardest. I need help with anything that can make it as easy as possiable. one more question, what kind of pain medicine do they give you when you go home? hopefully something strong that will knock me out so i don't have to deal to much with my hungry stomach growling. all this worrying but i am very excited to be having the surgery. looking forward to the changes......:hungry:

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. i appreciate it. yes, i am so ready for a new lifestyle and i am all about the changes. i love life and i am ready to start living like i never could before. My husband and I were discussing today about going and buying bikes for ourselves and learning how to inline skate. that would be great for weekend outdoors exercise. we are both very happy and blessed that i am able to have the surgery and my kids are happy for me to. I am doing this for myself of course, but in my heart of hearts, i really want to suceed with my weight loss for my husband and my kids. Nov 30th, come on, i am ready for you!! :clap2: :amen:

anyone have plastic surgery after losing alot of weight? i have BCBS of Texas and was wondering what it takes to have them cover a tummy tuck or breast lift after i lose my excess weight. any suggestions or comments would greatly be appreciated. thanks