ReneBean

Hey Candle - if your EMPLOYER has an exclusion it is the EMPLOYER you have to appeal, to. The insurance company can only cover what their contract with the employer says they can cover. Sorry, I am sure that isn't news you want to hear - but check with your HR dept to be sure that your company REALLY has that exclusion. When I was doing my insurance thing - I got a different answer from everybody I talked to when I asked that question. Your HR dept will be able to tell you FOR SURE whether the company has an exclusion. I wouldn't trust the answer from BCBS without a double check. Go to HR first, then confirm with Blue Cross. If HR and Blue Cross conflict in their answers - then get them talking on your behalf. Good luck!

Well - I am coming up on only 1 yr - so I am no expert... but, frequently there have been posts by people who had the same worries. Those long-term banded people come out of the woodwork to tell us all about how they are doing great and have no complications. It's true that the complications forum is full of the various things that can happen - but please keep in mind that there are thousands and thousands of members on this board. I am pretty sure that if it were possible to do the math, the percentage of complications would seem much less scary if you calculated against the whole population of this board. Take your time. Think about your history of dieting. Don't let us push you into anything - but don't let your fear talk you out of it either. I just keep in mind that every minute I have my band is another minute for my brain to be trained to accept less food on my plate and my body to accept less food in my system. The longer I have it, the better my chance of long-term maintenance becomes. I am hoping to have my band for a long, long time.

Hi Bananamoon, and Welcome to LBT. I just wanted to let you know that I love my band. For the first time in my entire life I weighed less on January 1 than I did on Thanksgiving Day. How cool is that? Hugs!

Hi Jina! I have no personal experience with Dr. Kuri - but I haven't ever seen a post saying anything but good stuff about him, so I am sure you and your daughter are in good hands. Maybe some of the NUMEROUS Dr. Kuri patients will chime in. Welcome to LBT and congrats on your surgery date. I know of at least one other mother/daughter pair that is doing great with the band. I know it helps to have someone to buddy up with. What a great way to get closer with your teenaged daughter! Congrats and good luck with your surgeries!

I have had 6 in the prior 8 mos or so. No need to wait for mos to have another... Remember, as you lose weight, the fat around your stomach and under your band shrinks - which means your restriction loosens up. That's why adjustments are necessary. Some of that 48 lbs came out from under the band. Get another fill. :]

Hey All Another boring day... I guess boring is good, right? DH and I went to the gym last night... no doubt inspired by Darcy - and I am trying something new in my eating plan. We will see how it goes (and how long it lasts) but I am trying to eat my "big" meal of the day for Breakfast - eat a normal lunch, and then have a Protein shake for dinner. As far as calorie burn - eating the max calories in the morning makes sense, plus, I have heard that this type of eating can help to even out your restriction. I am really hoping for success in both of those areas. I'll let y'all know if I make it thru Day 2 of this plan sucessfully! LOL. My body is a little sore, but it doesn't seem that I have lost much (if any) ground in my cardio vascular health from lazing around on my butt for the last 2-3 mos... I was able to do 25 minutes on the eliptical without two much gasping and panting. (Just say NO to bike butt) Otherwise, there isn't a darned thing going on in my life. No Drama, Low Stress, Boring as Hell. Cindy - Girl, I would HAVE to retire to pack as much into my days as you seem to do... Don't forget to breathe! And don't make me call you the Evil Spawn of the Cookie Brigade... *hiss* I am trying to do BETTER. Cookies are sooooo 2006. :] Darcy - I probably wouldn't notice my own Mom, either - but because I am pretty much oblivious to my surroundings unless they directly impact me. For me, it's narcisism - not fear. :] Good luck with the Thyroid thing. They say that getting those levels correct will help with weightloss. I haven't actually seen any evidence of that - but my thyroid meds started around the same time I started exercising and fighting the insurance battle - so it could have contributed to losing 9 lbs before I even went in for my consult. Mary - Hugs!! Hope you and the boys are doing well. Anne - Give that DD a hug from me! Kat - I can so totally relate to the taco thing. I did the same thing on Sunday. Not my best plan... Hugs! Hope you feel better. Mandy - Sorry about your foot surgery! Hugs!!! I wish I had more helpful advise to give on Abi and her continued struggles. Has new person come into her life? Is she reacting to some kind of change? I am thinking good thoughts for communication and patience. Hugs!! Well, it's back to the excitement of work.... I guess it's good that work is so boring right now... it makes me yearn for 6:30 pm so I can leave and go to the gym! (ACK!) Hugs and Love to All.

It works. It really does. Once you get restriction - hunger is pretty much a thing of the past - and sometimes you forget to eat. Hugs!

Well - I don't have a support group or anything - but I am in Allen and I work out at Express Fitness on Greenville & East Main after work. I don't know how far off the flight path that is for you - but you are welcome to join me any night around 8pm Welcome to LBT!

Hi All as far as not being able to eat your favorite foods - well, you might be able to. I have the big Vanguard Band and I was able to eat ANYTHING until about fill number 5. I can still eat anything - just lots less of it. You PROBABLY will be able to eat a little of anything after you heal up - so don't worry too much. Hugs!

Well the good news is - that at least for me, I lose just fine if I keep my calories under 1500-2000. It isn't FAST - but it's good and steady - and you get to live a normal life. Good luck!

Simmy Sorry you are having so much trouble! If your band does have to come out - could you have them replace it with the big Vanguard model? I am here to tell you that when I have no fill, it's like I have no band at all. that way you could work your way back to a good level of restriction that would allow you to eat solid foods. Just a thought. Hugs and get better, soon.

Hmmm.... I have never heard of nutritionist recommending such a low number of calories... in fact most of them indicate anything less than 1000 over a long period of time is bad for you. Is this just for the liquid diet phase? or is he talking about forever? Cause that just aint happening forever, if you know what I mean. Good luck!

Hormones are stored in fat cells... as the fat cells break down - you get flooded with whatever happens to be stored in there... Just like being a teenager again, huh? Have fun with it!

No question is dumb. I have to say that a program like weight watchers is good because of the accountability and personal/face-to-face support.... But once you get past the healing phase and get a fill or two in your band, it probably won't be NECESSARY. Restriction is a wonderful thing... If forces you to eat VERY slowly and you get that full signal a lot sooner because your stomach thinks you are full to the brim after only a little bit of food. Of course, if you are the kind of person who responds particularly well to that support and accountability thing - then you may want to stay with WW forever. It's sort of whatever works for you. The only rules are that you have to eat Protein first, then veggies and you have to drink your Water (but not during meals) and you have to CHEW and then Chew some more. After that - you get to make all the decisions for yourself. :]

Hi Kat. There are two schools when it comes to bread... those that don't because they SHOULDN'T - and those that don't because they CAN'T. Truly - Even with the very good restriction I have right now, I CAN eat bread - but I don't do it very much, because that fluffy white bread is more difficult to eat and it has no nutritional value. Toast, no problem - but I eat the eggs and ham, first... by the time I get to the toast, I don't have any room, so I just don't make it anymore. I do occassionally eat a sandwich - but not very frequently. The beauty of the band is that it is individual to YOU. You will find out quickly what your band will and will not tolerate. Otherwise, the food choices will be up to you. It's a blessing and a curse. It all comes back to the same old thing... diet and exercise. It's a lot easier to keep the diet under control with the band - but the band doesn't do it for you... you still have to be the one to put the correct foods into your mouth. Good Luck!

Hi Maureen. Welcome to LBT! Hope you are doing well!

Hey Pink Yeah - I kinda ate everything for the first month or so after I healed up. I still lost a few pounds - but I really didn't worry too much about what I was eating, only how much and how fast. The best thing about the band is that it just sits quietly waiting for you to get it all together and get with the program. If you have no restriction - get a fill. Don't wait. Even a fill won't make you eat the right stuff - so that part you have to do yourself. Think veggies. Think low carb. Every day is a new chance to do it right. Take care!

Yeah - the Size 10 tragedy. What Ever. I had a little double take on the one that said she was doing it a second time... but she had a baby - so that was her reason to be doing it again. But again - she went from a 12 to a 4. Woe is me. Size 12. How will I survive the shame and trauma.... Uh. yeah. sure.

Maries makes a lovely Caesar dressing with 1 gram of carbs per serving. I like it on most everything - fish, salads, as a dip for veggies... it's a good thing. I have had some success at low-carbing before - but I honestly didn't worry at all about the fat content. meat & eggs were cooked in butter, and sauces were all full fat - but very low carb. ***For those of you that note BLURRED VISION when you eat carbs - please go to your Primary Care Physician and have your blood sugar levels tested. Blurry vision is a side effect of diabetes. If you also find that you are constantly thirsty and you have to pee all the time - PLEASE get checked. Low carb might not be optional for you... Diabetes is completely controllable and not so hard to live with - but if you don't keep your sugar levels under control, you can cause irreparable nerve damage in your eyes and extremities. Get checked. It's one of those things you shouldn't try to pretend about. Hugs!

Hmmm. That is weird. Maybe when he placed the band he hit those gastric nerves spot on. I know that the placement of the band causes food to linger at the top of your stomach where the nerves that give the "full" signal are. Maybe yours are just in a slightly different place than most peoples and he actually put the band on top of them? I don't know. Hope you and your doc get it figured out. Hugs!

I think at two weeks out (starting in on the third week) I was eating mushies... just starting them. I had a week of Clear liquids a week of full liquids a week of Mushies and finally a week of soft food. One month of weird eating - and then back to "normal". Protein and veggies first - then carbs if there is room. The beginning of week three was mushies - refried Beans, tuna thru the food processor to a lovely paste - basically anything that doesn't require a lot of chewing. (then you chew it anyway). Good Luck!!

Well - I don't think it's a GIVEN that there will be complications. The one where the stomach absorbs the band is called Erosion. It may be more frequent after 5-10 yrs - But I don't think its automatic or anything. It's really hard to say, since the surgery is fairly new in terms of long-term studies, and since the methods of placing the bands has changed over time to help avoid these issues. If you want to look into some of the research - here are a couple of links to the scientific journals. Your doc may or may not be up on the latest info - but these journals should have what there is to know. Just be sure to put Gastric Band in your search parameters. You don't have to pay for the full article - that would get expensive, really fast. All you need to see is the Abstract. (Sorry, if you already know this) An abstract is just a summary of the whole study. Abstracts are usually available at no charge. Surgical Endoscopy Journal (top left - click advanced search) http://www.springerlink.com/(z4pevg45anqvji55qg1wm2mf)/app/home/main.asp?referrer=default Obesity Surgery Journal http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/09608923 Misc. Medical Journals: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/searchall/ Hugs!!

Yep. I count that moment of Horror as an NSV (Non-Scale-Victory for you Newbies). Who would have thought a moment of horror could be a good thing?!?

Hi MandyKay! Bubbles - nope. Probaly not. Alcohol? In moderation. I could have sat at my desk job on day 4. By day 7, I was almost perky. You ought to be just fine after a month. A full month would be best - because by then most docs will have you back to real food - but if it's only 3 weeks, you will still be ok. Aside from the lounge, there are several other forums in LapBandTalk.com where you might get useful information. You can either go to the "Forum Jump" bar at the bottom of this page - or you can go to the top and hit "new posts". That will bring up everything new since the last time you were on LBT. Welcome and good luck.

Hugs and Welcome, Hopeful. Congrats on your surgery date. **And I think it will be a lot less obvious than you think that you aren't eating very much.