BobbieDoll

I also had a fill yesterday and today I am having trouble keeping even liquids down. Last night I could eat a little so I am thinking it must be swelling. I only had a 1/2 cc fill. This was my 3rd fill and now I am up 5cc in a 10cc band. I am going to have to wait a couple of days because I live out of town and the weekend is coming up. Guess I will just have to slime my way through the weekend.

Long2bt: I have not gone to the 3 month out seminar mainly because all of the classes are at night. Wish they would schedule some during the day. I do need to go though. How are you doing?

Well I am not lying when I say I had very little pain. I was able to sleep on my tummy the first night. Tired for a few days? Yes. Pain? No. There was a little discomfort (probably gas) for about an hour after the surgery but the nurse walked me around a little and it went away. I did not stay overnight in the hospital. The surgery only took about 30 minutes. Then I was in recover for a few hours.

Wow! This is crazy! I am in SLC with my granddaughter. The auditions are Tuesday but we had to be here two days early for registration so we flew in Saturday. We got in line at 5 am Sunday morning at the Energy Solutions Arena. There were about 2,000 in front of us. (Many who slept in their cars.) Thousands more lined up behind us. This is the line to get a wristband which gets you in for the first audition. The doors were going to open at 8:30 am so that was a long time to stand in line. At least it was dark part of the time so we were only in the sun a couple of hours. After an hour of standing, this wild herd of iPod wearing hopefuls all eventually plopped down on the hard cement to wait for their chance at stardom. (There were few of us who were over the age of 28 and not too many bigger than a size 6.) No way I was going to be able to stand there for 2 1/2 more hours so I made the decision to claim my space on the cement and worry about how to get up later. We were not really in a line, but in a mob. I was somewhere in the middle of the swarm. As the time went on, the little space I claimed seemed to get smaller. Maybe I took up more than my fair share? Everyone kept getting closer and closer as if that was going to get them nearer to the front. You can only imagine what happened when the sun came up and the camera wagon rolled by! It was a stampede to get into camera view! I just sat in a fetal position and protected my head. Made it through that near death experience and finally the doors opened. I could see movement way up yonder as the crowd stood up. We were a human wave! Had to get up and fast! OK everyone, make way! Here I come! To my surprise, I was able to stand up all by myself! I couldn't believe it! And I didn't wobble or bounce off everyone like a giant pinball. My NSV! Well, she got her wristband! (One dream come true. Second one pending.) Tuesday she auditions. We have to be there by 5 am but the seats are assigned this time so I just have to dodge the camera stampedes and one more obstacle: We are in row 28 so I have to be able to climb up with this wild crazy mob! I have a feeling they won't be moving slow! Wish me luck! And oh yes, wish my granddaughter luck too. Her name is Kaleigh.

She did not get to see them. She only saw Ryan Seacrest. Maybe next time.

Congratulations on your approval. If you haven't yet, give up coffee and soda. And find a protein shake you like while you wait for your surgery. I wish you all the best!

I live out in the country, an hour east of Denver, so have only gone to the food meeting groups to learn what to eat. So far I have attended the pre-op, soft foods, and solid food classes. There is one for 3 month banders. Anyone know what the name of that class is so I can sign up?

Thanks for all the good wishes! Kaleigh didn't make it to Hollywood but did get to audition early on. We had a great time. I was able to stand longer and walk so much farther than I expected. Even in the hot weather. I lost 2 pounds during the trip. Here are some pictures of our adventure. Click on the link: www.dbkeefer.com

I am not sure what would happen if you went below the 35 BMI during your six months supervised weight loss program. My PCP visits were through Thanksgiving and the Xmas holidays so I just maintained. (That was like losing to me for that time of the year.) I believe that if I had dropped below 35, I would not have been approved.

My doctor told me to measure by size, not weight. You know portion size is important...but weighing and measuring food can be so inconvenient! Here's how to visualize common portion sizes. <TABLE class=output><TBODY><TR><TH> </TH><TH></TH><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px">1 Fist = 1 Cup One cup of cereal, spaghetti, vegetables, or cut fruit is about the size of your closed fist. </TD></TR><TR><TH> </TH><TH></TH><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px">1 Palm = 3 Ounces A three ounce serving of meat, fish, or poultry is about the size of your palm (minus fingers and thumb) or a deck of cards. 2/3 of your palm is about 2 ounces of meat, fish, or poultry. </TD></TR><TR><TH> </TH><TH></TH><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px">1 Thumb = 1 Ounce of Cheese A chunk of cheese the size of your thumb is about one ounce. </TD></TR><TR><TH> </TH><TH></TH><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px">1 Thumb Tip = 1 Teaspoon One teaspoon of peanut butter, mayonnaise, butter or sugar is about the size of the tip of your thumb. Three thumb size portions make up about one tablespoon. </TD></TR><TR><TH> </TH><TH></TH><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px">1 or 2 Handfuls = One Ounce of Snack Food For small foods such as nuts and small candies, one handful equals about one ounce. For chips or pretzels, two handfuls is about one ounce. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Sorry to hear that you have to have gall bladder surgery but you're in good hands. Looks like you Dr. Snyder gals are doing great. I think I have good restriction and don't need a fill again yet.

No one really seems to notice how little I eat in social situations because I eat so slow, it takes me just as long to finish. My port does not show at all. Just the scar is visible.

I think most of Dr. Snyder's staff are lapbanders. Successful lapbanders at that. I don't have any of the complications I read about on this board. I am not hungry. Not in any pain. I know what to do, what to eat, am losing weight, and feel great. The other thing I like is the ongoing support and classes.

Seems just a short time ago that I went to Dr. Snyder's seminar. Now I am banded and I am so happy that I made the decision to have him do my surgery. My experience with him has been all good. And I really like Amanda, the person who does the fills.

My PCP sent me in to do the Pulmonary exam during the 6th month because the exam needed to be up-to-date. You can do the psych exam earlier. I saw the nutritionist the first month. Didn't meet with the surgeon other than the seminar until after I had completed all of Cigna's requirements. Good luck with your journey!

My doctor's instructions are that I can drink apple juice if diluted with 3 parts water. Must be real juice, no sugar added. I mostly drink water and Crystal Light.

I really like my Magic Bullet. It is so easy to use and easy to clean. Works great for me. I use it every day. I got it at Linen N Things and used one of their discount coupons.

We sure do get a variety of advice.....creamy peanut butter is on my list from my doctor of what to eat. It is one of my sources of protein.

Wendy, Is Rebiff a once a day injection? I hope your hubby is doing well. Sorry about all that he went through and is going through. MS is bad enough. Having a doctor make a mistake is unthinkable. My MS doctor recently sent a letter out to all of his patients that he is no longer accepting insurance. Cash only. Guess that tells me how this doc feels about his patients. How many are going to pay cash and then send the bill to their insurance themselves? That means he will be out of network. $140 for an office visit. I have to find a new doc. Bobbie

Hi Everyone, I was diagnosed with MS 1 1/2 years ago. I am on Copaxone which is like getting a bee sting every morning. My MS doctor helped me get the approval for the surgery from my insurance. I am so glad I got this lapband. I feel better already. More energy. More mobility. Can't wait until the next 20 pounds comes off! It is nice to know there are others out there who share some of the same emotions. It will be great to have someone to go through this journey with me. Bobbie

Kimberly, The letter said I was denied because I did not meet the medical necessity requirement: I did not have "type 2 diabetes, serious cardiopulmonary problem, coronary artery disease or pulmonary hyper-tension that have failed to respond to appropriate medical management". My BMI was 37. I completed all of their requirements. My doctor documented in detail the six month weight loss attempt. Actually I went 7 months just to be sure. I sent in documentation to prove I had been obese for more than one year. (They have changed it since and I think it is 2 years now). Went to the psych doc and have several pulmonary exams. Also went to a registered nutritionist, and 2 lapband nutrition classes, attended 2 lapband seminars and joined a support group so I was very prepared for this. My PCP wrote a very detailed letter of medical necessity. My co-morbs that were submitted included, joint pain, GERD, hyperlipidemia, migrane headaches, sleep apnea, fatigue, shortness of breath, Vitamin D deficiency. I was still denied. From the time I submitted the paperwork and got the denial and then the approval, it was about 3 weeks total. Not bad. Just some disappointment when I was denied. (It was actually a lot of disappointment.) Let us know how it goes with you. I send you good wishes that it all will work out! Bobbie

I was denied by Cigna and then approved one week later when my PCP's PA requested a peer-to-peer with the Cigna doctor. Sooo glad I didn't have to go through an appeal. I love my band! Life is good!

Hi Katie, I had my first fill a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't bad at all. Just a little prick. I had 3.5cc's put in my 10cc band. I could definately tell the difference even when drinking Water for the first time. Just be sure to eat very slow, take small bites, and chew well. It only takes a small amount of food to satisfy my hunger. I have MS so don't get the exercise that I need but hopefully I will become more mobile as the weight comes off. Good luck to you, Bobbie