LadyTrisha

Boopie, If they're running the lapband like they did gastric bypass they're going to refer you to the different programs. As I've posted earlier in this thread - I jumped thru all the hoops and saw their psych (they only had one and she was in Brentwood - wasn't impressive), did their Eating classes, did the 8 weeks of classes at UCLA, did the cattle call. I'm totally surprised they are now doing the lapband - just 6 months ago I was told that they'd never do it. Of course Kaiser was also doing "open" gastric bypasses when everyone when laproscopic so its just a case of them catching up and getting in the game plan. My inclination is to call myself and see if they'll pick up any of my lapband cost that I paid because they didn't cover it - ha ha!

oh what a great website - thank you! Its in my favorites too! There's a couple of recipes that made my mouth water and definitely will be tried this weekend!:cursing:

Kaiser So. Cal has always only approved Gastric Bypass - that's why I ended up in Mexico. I do know that a lot of their membership has gone outside of the Kaiser plan and had lapbands because I know of a doctor who is trying to become an approved provider for lapband maintenance. So, I think there may be aftercare eventually available, but you're right, Kaiser So. Cal refuses to see beyond gastric bypass (despite the well documented problems). I was told by one RPN in Urgent Care one night that all Kaiser would do for my lapband is REMOVE IT - she then further told me that I should have lost the weight on my own like she did, instead of choosing the most dangerous surgery out there - this was all said while I was in the middle of a panic attack. I went thru the entire hoopla with Kaiser (took 8 weeks of classes at UCLA - in a room too hot, too small, and in chairs not designed for the overweight - when you could find one). I came out of it and didn't have the surgery! I ended up with my lapband and even though I've just had to have my port replaced (local doctor paid for the surgery himself) I'm SO HAPPY I chose this surgery and I'd do it again with Dr. Aceves in a heartbeat.

Hi all, I went to a new doctor (instead of driving to Mexico) to get my 3rd adjustment. I have a VG band and had 5.8 put in the last time. With that fill, I had restriction, could feel it, but it just wasn't "there" yet. The local doc told me he was putting more in, I watched him take my old fill out, add more to it and then put it back in (okay so I didn't watch the needle part) Since then, I've stayed on liquid/mushy food for 2 days. Today was the first day of real food which I gingerly approached. No restriction. NONE. :mad2: I mean like before surgery NONE! I'm going to call on Monday, but my question is, where did it all go? I assume I shouldn't be worried, as its just saline, but I'm really bummed. Has this happened to anyone else out there?

I was also banded by Dr. Aceves on 12/29. It went fantastically well - he and his team are incredibly kind and I could not have asked for anything better from his team, or the hospital. Even the hotel the night before was great.

I've had to take liq. motrin (children's) because of bad varicose veins in one leg since surgery and the subsequent swelling. I did check with my surgeon first and he okay'ed it, but I have to say I've used it sparingly and only when the swelling in my leg was very uncomfortable because I knew it wasn't good for my stomach. Unfortunately, the liquid motrin is only sold in a children's version that I've been able to find - and the flavors are icky!

I was banded on 12/29 and all went very well. Came home an afternoon early on Sunday (wasn't resting well since I couldn't sleep in the bed). Well, yesterday was my no good, very bad, horrible day. I ended up being tested for DVT - the blood test was positive, but the resulting ultrasound was negative. Then had an EKG cuz my doctor (not my surgeon) didn't like the sound of me still having shoulder pain. After 4 attempts, they got a reading which was okay. I was either at my doctors, or traveling to and from the hospital for tests, and then back to my doctor until 4pm last night. All I had available to me was a bottle of Protein Water I had taken with me. I was an emotional mess and physically just done. Tonight, finally feeling the cloud of "why the heck did I do this" slightly lift off me, I noticed my port is a little red so I'm going to urgent care tonight just as soon as my hubby gets home. Our threatened rain storm has begun and I just feel safer on the road with him driving. As someone has previously said, I just want the feeling of being un-normal to go away so I can move forward with this thing.

Do you have an aftercare doctor who is closer than Mexico? Unfortunately no. My Kaiser primary care doctor is great, but is unfamiliar with lapband recovery. I had a HORRIBLE visit at Kaiser Urgent Care with an RNP who basically told me that Kaiser (So. Cal) won't do a thing to support my lapband in any way except to remove it. There was more (questioned why I had it done, etc. - after all SHE lost her weight the old fashioned way, etc.). My primary care doctor never told me that Kaiser was THAT against the lapband to the point of not supporting it (they will only support the gastric bypass which they provide). Now I'd like to find a local lapband doctor who would be open to being there for me (willing to pay out of pocket) if I need it, but I'm not sure where to look or how to even ask.

today is my first day back too - my surgery was the 29th. Good luck to us In the old days, we'd still be recuperating from surgery. I'm still on liquids though so I'm envious of your creamy soups! I get those tomorrow I've been getting panic attacks the last couple of days which have thrown me a great deal, plus I have a varicose vein in my leg which is just painful as can be (blood clots have been ruled out). If I could get over those two hurdles, I'd really be thrilled with tired and weak. Hope you have a good day today.

I was banded on 12/29 by Dr Aceves and it went very well. Unfortunately, I've had a hard time since I've been home - some of it caused because I wasn't getting enough protein, but that is better since I now have the unjury powder in just about everything I'm consuming. My port site started weeping Friday afternoon, but according to everyone I've spoken with from my doctor's office its normal. Thankfully they were much more reassuring than my Kaiser Urgent Care who basically told me to get back to my surgeon ASAP. I encountered the worst RNP there on Friday night who questioned my intelligence in having the riskiest procedure of them all (the lapband), and further adding to it by having it in Mexico. It was just an awful visit. The day before I was also at my doctor's office - this time getting tests for DVT (positive) and the subsequent ultrasound on my leg (negative), then an EKG, - oh it just went on and on - all told I was in and out of my doctor's office and Kaiser's Hospital from 9:30 am to finally walking thru my home at 4pm. I only had a special k protein water the entire day so I was a mess as well. I'm actually going to try and go to work tomorrow. I am still worrying whether I've done the right thing or not for myself and obviously that stress isn't helping much to recovery. I just hope it gets better - soon.

this should be under "biggest weight loss myth ever bought" ... I'm dating myself but does anyone else remember the Schick Diet Centers? Here's the deal - you bring in a food you adore and love (and quite co-inky-dinky the Center was next door to McD's!) and then you sit WITH A COUNSELOR in front of a MIRROR. Chew it up, spit it out ... repeat! Oh what a joyful period of my life. I was getting ready for my upcoming wedding and had to go do this once a week. ACK! As for WW - I think the more they've tampered with the plan, the less successful people have become. In the old days, they used to have a menu pre-printed for the week - it was SO easy and effective. Now its a free for all. Ack! I can't wait for surgery this Saturday - finally a real honest-to-goodness tool that will help

And really there are some great kids out there, don't you think? Yes there are. Some of my son's friends from Scouts know I'm going in for the lapband and they're already encouraging me. I didn't realize my son was so proud of me for making this decision to have surgery - and I'm just so amazed that these teenage boys can move me so much by just saying "good for you". Pretty darn cool.

My insurance company will only pay for GB, but my primary care physician was THRILLED I was having lapband instead. He is hoping my insurance company will eventually cover it, but told me not to wait for that "one day". He's even running my bloodwork to just give me peace of mind.

oh the scrapbooker in me is going "oh what a cool idea" (sorta like when the Secret Service showed up to interview me at work). But the chicken in me knows I'd never have the guts to ask my doctor! That is wicked cool - what a fun thing to show your grandkids and say "back in the day" LOL

Hi, My insurance company won't pay for the lapband either so I know its a HUGE step to take when you're paying that bill yourself. My friend and I are going to Dr. Aceves at the end of this month - $7800 for each of us. There's no way, even with our equity line, I could pay out over $16,000 that it is here. Good luck,

from someone who is emotionally all over the map right now, THANK YOU for posting these great messages - what a treat to read. I have 24 more days till BAND DAY! Its the first time in a LONG LONG time I've had hope to where I'm looking forward to a new year ... thanks

I just turned 48 and will be getting banding on the 29th of this month. My doctor was the one who told me that I was still young and to go for it (even though I've had to be a self-pay because Kaiser in So. Cal will only pay for gastric bypass). Sometimes I wonder "what if" I had gastric bypass 5 years ago when I first started my journey; but I'm sure that this is the place I'm meant to be, and that the gastric bypass didn't happen for a reason, KWIM? Looking forward is a good view to have

to tag onto this, a question ... my husband is driving my friend and I to our surgery and back a few days later. We drove my Ford Expedition down for the consult and planned to do the same for the surgery - but I'm wondering if it will be hard for both of us to get into the SUV (its standard height, but still a grab and step up (I'm used to it, but can't fathom trying to do it with stitches). If anyone has any experience, can you let me know? My friend has a Sienna minivan and I'm wondering if that wouldn't be a better choice. Thanks

I should have told less people, but my "secret" is pretty much out there that I go for surgery on 12/29. I will see some of my husband's family on Christmas Eve who don't know right now, but I'm pretty realistic in that someone is gonna let it out that night LOL. I really don't want to have the "OMG you're going to Mexico?" discussion with my MIL - we have had a twisted co-existence for 34 years (with 27 as my MIL) and this will just be something else to disapprove of. Today, my boss asked me how much weight I'm going to lose so in essence the pressure is on already. Not like there isn't already a ton on myself from me - my biggest fear thru all of this is failing. And then I slap myself and say no more, get over it, and that this is the start to a brand new me :scared:

Just me again - well, my meeting with Dr. Aceves went wonderfully and my friend and I are now scheduled for Dec. 29th! I'm SO excited, nervous, stressed, excited - I'm quite sure those of you who have "been there, done that" understand the emotional roller coaster. My husband will be our chaffeur that weekend - I like knowing he will be there for me - and that he'll also be there to support my friend as well. We are set to come home on New Year's Eve (oh won't that be a fun border crossing!), and I am finally looking forward to a new year of hope and a lighter me. After 5 years of trying to figure out my weight loss road, I love the lapband road I'm on ... I believe it will be the one that finally gets me to a Nascar race with my boyz!

I've been considering surgery of some sort for 5 years and am now booked solid for Dec. 29th and feel so good about it. There are some at work I wish didn't know because the claws have come out along with the "taking the easy way out" comments. Suddenly there are diet comments all over work ... I'm way beyond "diet" thank you very much! LOL! My idiotic sister knows since my Mom told her (could have lived without that) and her first comment was "are ya gonna die" (not that I've planned thanks though). I have become so stressed out because I expected support, not a kick in the shins, but weight is a really easy thing to be judgmental about. But I'm on my way for ME and that's what counts. I plan to sit at my son's high school graduation next year in a folding chair and not worry that its going to collapse under me. At that point, the person sitting at work pointing fingers will be a distant memory

Tom, I met with my surgeon this past weekend and although he is willing to do the surgery even with my high BMI, I'm taking it upon myself to lose some weight before I go in - I figure the recovery will be easier too. My goal is to lose 20 or more lbs - I keep telling myself that I can eat smart thru the holidays! Hang in there and good luck

I was on Optifast - I know if you just have it straight you'll be hungry so you need to spice it up a bit This is what I did - try a spoonfool of SF Jello pudding mix (chocolate in the choc mix) blended with ice till its thick is fab! try Diet orange soda blended with vanilla shake mix - blend with ice till its thick and foamy - viola -a 50/50 bar shake! You can also do the same thing with Diet Rootbeer or Diet Coke. Optifast also makes a really GOOD tomato soup and that helped at lunch time especially. If you do a search online for Optifast add ins, you'll find a bunch (there was a site in Australia that had a ton of ideas). I have a sheet of them I got from a friend - if I find that I'll share here too.

It didn't take long once you got approval. I can't remember how many weeks the freedom from fat classes were (6 or 8 I think), meeting with the doctor at UCLA for approval (that was basically a cattle call as they set all the appointments for the day at 8am). UCLA never had enough chairs - either for their waiting room or for their classes - it was weird. You then set the meeting with a psychologist and then take the classes at UCLA. You'll also have a set of medical tests to take as well. I didn't lose the required 20lbs prior to surgery (for whatever reason I seemed to go thru the motions, but didn't see myself having gastric bypass surgery, KWIM?) but if I had lost the weight my surgery would have been scheduled by the last meeting of the UCLA classes. You do chug along once you're in the system and have approval - then its just a case of completing things off the list. HTH

When I was first approved by Kaiser, I had my choice of either Pacific Bariatric Center or UCLA - I actually flipflopped because UCLA was in a mess at the time and PCB had good feedback. Then UCLA revamped its system so I switched back to them (I'm in Ventura County and going to classes in San Diego just wasn't going to work). Additionally, I had to complete Kaiser's freedom from fat program and then had to complete UCLA's 8 weeks of classes. The nutritionist at Kaiser didn't believe in the surgery so each week I was treated to a few of her comments and was even told that I couldn't take the 2nd half of the freedom from fat classes "since I was taking the easy way out, it was a waste of time". UCLA will also have you interviewed by a psychologist - there was only one to go to and she was in Brentwood. I tell ya, it was an interesting experience to say the least! LOL! Kaiser will cover you provided you do the work - they're really good about it and trust me, I have ZERO complaints about them. I really believe that in a few years, they will cover the lapband in their So. California plan as they now do in the No. California plan.