MaLiyah30

I was diagnosed with type II diabetes in 1999. I have been taking Glucaphage 500mg 2 times a day for 9 and 1/2 years. My doctor thought that I had PCOS but was later confirmed that I didn't have it. I had lost about 20-30 lbs the first year I started using it. I didn't even know that was one of the side effects until about a year later when my doctor mentioned I had lost weight. He said that was one of the reasons he prescribed it to me. I did experience gas and intestional problems but they tapered off within a few weeks of taking the medication. Someone mention in an earlier post that you have to be off of the medication before having the surgery but my doctor never made me stop taking it. I still continue to take it every day. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

I would first call the insurance company to comfirm that they even cover the surgery. Some insurances will cover it but many will not. Secondly, if you sought insurance coverage on your own as opposed to going through a large employer chances are they probably won't cover this type of surgery anyway. No one really can answer your question better then the insurance company can. I also agree with Shannon that the problem will likely come from not being honest about your weight. Sending in papers asking them to pay for the surgery will likely throw up a red flag. Wishing you all the best!!!!!!!!!!

My name is MaLiyah I am 30 years old and I was banded on Dec. 26, 2007. I live in Knoxville, TN. I am a Quality Control Specialist for an automotive company. I am not married and I have no children (I'm not sure if I want children). I enjoy reading, listening to music, and skating (yeah ya girl still got it).

I strongly encourage you to think long and hard before you tell anyone. I am a very private person. The only person I told was my Mom and I only told her because I needed someone to bring me back home after the surgery. I had surgery on Dec. 26, 2007 and I told her on Christmas Eve and swore her to secrecy. She was shocked and scared and she didn't understand. She has always been thin. She told me she loved me just the way I was. But that was the problem. I knew she loved me but I needed to love myself and I didn't. Some people lose weight really fast and some don't. Some follow all of the band rules and some don't. Many people exercise and many don't. There are a lot of factors that will determine how the weight will come off. So if you don't lose weight really fast many people will want to know why haven't you lost weight. People will watch everything you put into your mouth. Many people will judge you and say you chose the "easy way out". I see on these boards time and time again how people wish they didn't tell everyone. Its your decision and only you know what is best for you. Just remember once you tell people you won't be able to take it back. Wishing you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the purpose is to get in adequate amounts of protein so it doesn't necessarily have to be in "shake" form. I too am lactose intolerent and I didn't do the shakes at all. I purchased Isopure from GNC. It comes in a bottle and each bottle has 40 grams of protein. They come in different flavors and can be a bit pricey per bottle. I think it was like 3.99 or 4.99 a bottle. They also have protein that comes in a powder form that can be added to juice or even soups. Shop around and you will find that you have a lot of options. I hope this helps. Wishing you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally understand how you feel. I have so much back flab that I get so disgusted looking at it in the mirror. I don't even know what kind of work that can be done about back flab. I have it on my stomach as well but for some reason my back grosses me out. I am going to a water park today and I put on my new bathing suit. I'm okay with the view from the front. My flab hangs over the top of the back of the suit. I am so disgusted. I just don't know what to do. I fear it will only get worse as the weigh come off. Wishing you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was banded in Dec. of 2007 and I had the same problems until around April 2008. My stomach hurt for months and I went to the doctor about 5 times before someone was able to help me. I have a spastic colon or irritable bowel syndrome. I was first diagnosed in 1998. There are many symptoms of having irritable bowel syndrome. I produce a lot of gas in my intestines and in my stomach. Since I have been banded, I am still producing a lot of gas in my stomach but now the gas is getting trapped. To make matters worse, some people who have irritable bowel syndrome are EXTREMELY sensitive to artificial sweeteners thus producing even more gas. I am one of those people. My stomach can't tolerate any type of artificial sweeteners. One doctor told me to stay from them for 1-2 weeks and see what happens. After about 3-4 days my stomach pains went away. Talk to your doctor about. I don't know if you use artificial sweeteners but stay away from them for a few days and see how your stomach responds. I know it sounds crazy but it has helped me. There is a link between excess gas and artificial sweeteners. I'm sorry to make this post so long but I understand how you feel and I hope this helps. Wishing you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hardcore to the left tree hugging liberal!!!!!!!!!!!!

Missymoo, I certainly understand how you feel. I really didn't have time to get cold feet. I had my consultation in November and I scheduled all of my pre-ops about 2 weeks before my surgery date of Dec. 26. I was working a lot of overtime to compensate for my being out for 2 weeks following the surgery. I felt fine after 1 week but since I had FMLA and couldn't lift anything I stayed out another week. As you can see it was a very quick process. I actually went to 4 seminars 2 years in a row. I went once for myself and 3 times with friends. I think it is ironic that none of my friends know that I have the band (I never expressed any interest, I just went for support) yet I know they all want the band but their insurance wont pay for it. I think a lot of people get cold feet before make a big decision such as this one.Good luck to you and I am wishing you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While a lot of people don't mind telling everyone, I personally didn't tell anyone except my mom and that is because I needed a ride to and from the surgery center. Hell I didn't want to tell her either but I had no choice. I didn't want people watching me all of the time while I eat and I didn't want everyone asking all of the annoying questions such as, how much weight have you lost so far, and how much more weight are you going to lose. I knew before the surgery that losing weight with the band would possibly be a slow process and I didn't want to explain that either. I have never been comfortable with my body or with people watching me and I knew that if I told I would regret it. Ultimately it is your decision but just remember once you decide to tell people you won't be able to take it back. Wishing you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I certainly feel your pain. I was banded in Dec. 2007 and I have only lost around 15 lbs. I started out weighing 226 lbs. I am tall approx. 5'8 and I am getting so discouraged. I have had 5 fills and I don't know that I could tolerate too much more of a fill. I have never pb'd or slimed and I can't eat much. I'm afraid if I get any tighter I may start to have problems. I knew it wouldn't be easy but I certainly didn't expect it to be this hard to shed the weight. I am following all of the band rules except for 8 glasses of water (I only drink around 40 ozs. a day) and I exercise 3 days a week for 60 minutes minimum. I don't know if my lack of weight loss is because my starting weight wasn't that high or maybe I should exercise more. I am so angry and confused. I am self pay as well making me even more upset. I just keep thinking I could have paid off my student loans and my car note!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I shouldn't think this way and I am trying to think positive thoughts. I am glad no ones knows that I had the surgery. I didn't tell anyone because deep down I had a fear that it wouldn't work for me and it seems as though my fear is coming true. As far as your co-workers goes, tell them that you appreciate them inquiring about your progress, but you do not wish to discuss your weight everyday because you don't want that to be the focus of your life. Focusing on it everyday can cause you to obsess over it and you don't want to do that. Losing weight is a tough emotional issue to deal with and you don't want the added pressure from everyone else.

I found out that I am very sensitive to artificial sweeteners. I know it sounds odd, but some of the side effects are gas, loud tummy noises, and extreme bloating. Perhaps you too are sensitive to artificial sweeteners. I didn't notice pre-banding because I only used sugar. Since being banded, I usually only drink water and 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of juice for my meds. Talk to you doc and see what he says. I hope this helps. Good luck and best wishes to you and yours!!!!!!

I didn't have one either. My surgery lasted a little less than an hour!!!!!!!!

Dr. Colquitt in Maryville TN. does the surgery. He is a good surgeon.

Yes I have in liquid. I have Promethazine syrup plain which is substituted for phenergran syrup plain. I am suppose to take 1/2 teaspoon up to 3 times a day for nausea. I hope this helps.

I'm not sure if this helps but I too suffer from IBS. Since being banded in Dec. 26,2007 I haven't been able to tolerate any type of artificial sweeteners. I know it is strange but with the band making my stomach smaller the gas that I produce is getting trapped in. It makes my stomach stick out as if I were pregnant and I have terrible cramping and bloating. Since my doctor told me to cut out the artificial sweeteners my bloating and cramping have completely went away. Apparently there is a link between gastric problems and artificial sweeteners. With my IBS, my stomach rumbles and growls a lot. My doctor prescribed me an anti-spasm meds and that has also helped. I had taken the anti-spasm medication for years until it went away. As soon as I got banded my IBS symptoms quickly returned. Good luck and best wishes to you and yours!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with kgloverii. I use to wake up very hungry. Now I wake up and I am never hungry. I use to constantly think about food and now I don't. I eat very little and I am satisfied for hours. I can usually go 5-6 hours before I am hungry again. I have had 5 fills. I don't know how many cc's I have. I have the band that holds 4 cc's. I was banded on Dec. 26, 2007 (a gift to myself). I know it is frustrating but you will get there. It has taken me 5 fills to get here. I don't weight myself because I start thinking about my weight constantly and I have allowed it to take over my thoughts in the past. I know I have lost weight because my jeans are very loose. Good luck!!!!!!

I have never heard of stevia. I am glad you posted this. I use to live off of Crystal Light. When I got banded in Dec. of 07, I couldn't understand why my stomach would constantly hurt. I went to the doctor 4 times complaining about stomach pains. My stomach would get so swollen and bloated that I couldn't even take a deep breath and hold my stomach in. I looked as if I was pregnant. Finally one day my family doc. told me that he thought my stomach was sensitive to artificial sweeteners. He told me to stay away from them for 2 weeks and report my progress. Amazingly enough my stomach pains totally went away. I have been drinking water and a 1/4 cup of juice to take my meds. I will try stevia and see how my stomach responds to it.

I soooooo feel your pain:) I was banded on 12/26/2007 and I have only lost about 15lbs. I am 5'8 and my starting weight was 224lbs. I had almost no restriction untill about 2 weeks ago. I have had 5 fills and I am just starting to notice a differece while eating. I agree it is hard not to get discouraged. I've read how everyone else is shedding the pounds really fast and I'm not. I also realize that I will probably lose weight at a slower pace due to my height and starting weight. I complained to my doctor but he says I am doing fine. He is some what conservative on his fills but he says its in my best interest. I am totally cool with that though. I have told myself that I will not stress or worry about it. I tell myself that stressing about it is not going to make the weight come off any faster. Sorry I couldn't offer any advice for I am in the same boat as you. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. It sounds as if you are doing really well though. Keep up the good work and hopefully you will see major results soon. Good luck with your band. Best wishes to your and yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Try not to worry too much:) Did your doc tell you that if your bmi dropped too low then they wouldn't do the surgery? The reason I am asking is because I went to my consult with a bmi of 35.6. I didn't have a pre-op diet because my bmi was low. On the day of surgery my bmi had dropped to 34.6 or somewhere close. I was below 35 and my doctor said it didn't matter. He told me that I had been obese all of my life and a few pounds lost before surgery is no big deal. So maybe your doctor will feel the same. Good luck with your band!!!!!!!!!

That is one of the reasons I chose not to tell anyone. I didn't want the 20/20 questions and everyone watching me as the weight came or or not. I was banded since Dec. 2007 (a gift to myself) and still no one knows. I will never tell anyone. It is my body, my life, and my journey. I am sorry your co-workers are such dorks. Stay positive and always smile and be polite. It sounds like they may be a little jealous. Good luck with your band. Best wishes to you and yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally feel your pain. I was banded on Dec. 26, 2007 and I haven't lost much weight either. I just had a fill last Thursday and I can barely eat anything. I have already lost 4 lbs in 1 week. I know its hard not to get discouraged but hang in there and eventually you will see a difference. Best wishes to you and yours!!!!!!!!!

I think it depends on how you carry your weight. Some people are "bottom heavy" and some are "top heavy". I find that most people who carry their weight on the bottom have a harder time fitting in the seats. There is a website that talks about theme parks and how they have special seating for bigger people or people with disabilities. I'm sorry I don't know the name of the site though. You are doing well so it shouldn't be too long before you will be enjoying all of the rides. Good luck!!!!!!!!! ~Best wishes to you and yours~

How much weight have you gained? I am sorry you are having a rough time but I'm sure you can get back on track. Are you unhappy with the doc who done the lapband for you? I was just curious since you said you changed your name because your doctors office sees everything you write. You really didn't give much information but are you able to tolerate all types of foods? Do you pb often? There are many factors which may explain why you have gained weight. Please find a good doctor and allow him to assist you in getting back on track. Everyone needs help from time to time and the good part is that you realize that you have slacked up a bit and now you can correct it. It sounds like you may need a fill and maybe seek out a good nutritionist for starters. I hope all goes well for you in the future!!!!!!!!!!! Best wishes to you and yours!!!!!!!!!!

My doctor gave me liquid loritab and phenergan.