phazer08

As my mom would say, "Damned if you do and damned if you don't."

That part of the new law, if it stays, doesn't kick in until 2014

EXACTLY the same problem here. I am on my husband's COBRA that expires Jan 1 (he retired and is on Medicare, I'm 53 so have quite a while to go). Called a health insurance specialist to find a new coverage (I.e., non-group). Frankly didn't mention Lap Band because there are days I forget I have one. I certainly wasn't trying to hide it as I didn't know it would be a problem!. Got all the way thru the interview with Humana, mentioned lapband and she immediately denied me! My agent said "oh, if I'd known that, I wouldn't have sent you to them!" so she called the "easiest" company to get approved from and they said it was an automatic-deny! It's considered a pre-existing condition. What she told me my options were was a simple plan that covers office visits as well as Tier 1 & 2 meds. Major medical on a negotiated fee depending on the procedure (for example $5,000 for appendicitis). Combine that with a gap coverage plan like AFLAC for any catastrophic things like a major accident, cancer or stroke. I'm still looking into that. The other option is get into the State of Texas high-risk pool. I haven't had a chance to look into this yet. I'm so peeved that I did this to become healthier and now I'm considered high-risk! Last option is to contact the group coverage I'm in now, tell them I have been denied, and they MAY extend their coverage, but it will be pricey. Of course...there's the option to get my current employer, with whom I am part-time, to let me in to their plan and I'll pay my own way. Not sure I want to go there with them. One thing my agent did tell me was if I hadn't mentioned it and IF no American doctor had it in their files,then I might have slipped through. Too late now plus didn't really want the risk of being found out...not to mention the dishonesty aspect. So, yeah, color me shocked and peeved. The agent said if Obama's health plan passes thru then in 2014, pre-existing conditions can't be a cause for denial. I'm not holding my breath. Anyone else out there?

I would wait until you really need them. Your weight span is similar to mine and while I've been very happy with my loss it has been slow and the clothing size drop has been even slower. It's weird: you would think it would be a smooth progression: 2x -> 1x -> 18...BUT here's the trick - a lot of 'regular' clothes don't have elastic waists! I never really thought about how much that affected things. Right now, 18's are really tight, but 1X's are huge. 20's are ok. It may also be that I had 2 c-sections and have always carried my weight around my waist. So YMMV. Bottom line: don't rush it... my 2 cents.

I'm down 27. Have had 2 fills.

I work at a museum, currently as the Coordinator of Volunteers, though I also do all the geeky stuff (web page, brochures, ads). It's a fun place to work. Come visit if you're ever in Waco. http://www.maybornmuseum.com Used to have my own web design business, but needed a steady paycheck.

Hello fellow December bandsters. I don't know about you, but this time in between banding and the first fill is sooo weird. My doc requires a 6 week wait and I feel like I did before the surgery - no restriction, hungry as usual, and I can eat almost anything. I go this Sunday for my first fill and it's like I'm going to have to start over with the Lap Band way of thinking. Anyone else feel this way? I think we need to come up with a name for this in-between time. "healing 'n' happy" - well, not really "healing hell" - hmmm, better but too harsh perhaps "limbo-land" And, for those of us that shared with our friends the "don't ask me yet, I'm healing!"

Surgery on Thursday...back to work on Tuesday. Take Tylenol if you need it, but the best thing is to get back in the swing of things. (I, too, have desk job).

I work at a museum (and yes I'm working today...people with a day off have to have something to do). We've got an exhibit up for the month of January about MLK and the Civil Rights movement. My office is right around the corner and I get to hear parents explaining to their children about who MLK was and the way things used to be. Today I overheard one mom say "and see this picture - it used to be that people were sent to separate schools" and the kid just being amazed at such a thing. Change can be a very, very good thing. http://www.maybornmuseum.com

Great post. I needed to be reassured and reading your post helped a lot. I was banded the 15th of December and am now in the feeling-hungry, can-eat-most-things stage while thinking that, hey, my behavior's not modified - I must be a screw-up. I knew this was coming, but for some reason the reality of it is hard. Your friends start asking how it's going and, while I've lost 14 lbs I don't feel like a true bandster yet. I've explained 'fills' and 'restriction' so much the past weeks that I feel like carrying around an Inamed brochure. And, of course, there's the fact that Fill #1 might not even help that much. Sigh. I just need to hand in there.

y'know how the boards are set up for the different states/countries? I wonder if it would be practical to have a set-up for the different bandster month groups? Obviously, ours would be the Dec. 05 bandsters (or a more creataive name if we could think of one). We could ask the moderator to do that if others think it's worthwhile.

I went to the Wyeth Labs website to read up on taking Effexor XR (time release capsules). In their FAQ it states: "The capsule can also be carefully opened and its contents sprinkled onto a spoonful of applesauce. This should be swallowed immediately and followed by drinking a glass of Water. Do not chew this mixture before swallowing." This is good as these are really big capsules. I'm very relieved I can continue to take it after my fills.

This has all the makings of an Urban Legend. "Beautiful woman lures obese man back to his hotel room in Las Vegas. He wakes up in a bath tub full of ice and strange wounds on his stomach. Written on the mirror in lipstick are the words, 'call 9-1-1. eat only liquids for a week. progress to creamy.' On a serious note: I think there's a hospital somewhere that has a theft problem. Like someone going through the trash after they clear out their expired stuff. Or it could be a dumpster diver. Actually, that's more plausible. There's a whole bunch of dumpster diving "hobbiests" out there. Check out this website: http://www.dumpsterworld.com/

The Top 5 lists have stopped showing up at the top of my page. Both in Mozilla and IE. I liked 'em.

Ah...whew. Thanks, Alex!

Don't worry duckster...I wasn't implying that you said it wasn't real. Just reminding folks that those pain meds really do help. I stopped taking them too soon and was achy and my daughter had to remind me to take them.

Sarabride, I agree with duckster...keep taking the pain meds, even if it's only Extra Strength Tylenol (pain is pain, whether it's referred or not). And take as long of a walk as you can - that'll help with the gas and improve your disposition as well. And I slept with a heating pad and that was great. Hang in there. In just a few days, you'll realize that most of your symptoms have gone and you're feeling much better.

Has anyone ever gotten the flu/throw-ups after being banded? How does the band affect it? How does throwing up affect the band? (Oddly enough, doing a search on the word 'flu' returned 0 results). Thanks

I feel better every day. Unfortunately I'm feeling hungrier every day but am keeping it in check so far. I had surprisingly little gas pain and now my only complaint is my port site gets sore. Looking forward to first fill in late January.

Was the $3,800 your portion of the $75,000? If so DEFINITELY contest it!

That 'lady in Mexico' would be me!! Glad you've made it here. How's your new fill and how's Audrey? I finally got over the hiccups and am doing great. Down 15 so far. I've set up my appointment for my first fill with Dr. Stephanie in College Station in late January. Good thing because my appetite and eating capabilities are increasing. I look forward to seeing you around the forum.

My surgeon told me that if I swallowed bubble gum and combined it with reflux that I could wake up in the middle of the night and have a bubble burst all over my face. OK...that was lame.

Wow...weird that they're all over the place. Mine is much closer to the surface than I expected. I don't know where I thought it'd be; obviously it needs to be accessible. I was overall surprised at where my scars were - I was expecting lower on my torso, nearer belly button. The good news is they seem to be healing quickly and nicely. I like to think my innards are healing similarly.

On the other hand, people who know I had the surgery want to know why there are 5 incisions (some friends couldn't wait to see the scars - weird, I know). So what...2 for instruments, 1 for light/camera thingy, ? Who can tell me their 'official' function?

I had a 2-hour wait after I was prepped. I almost pulled out my IV and ran away. They had to go get my daughter who rolled her eyes and reminded me how much I had researched and waited and even moved the date sooner. Where did I GET such a logical child? Hang in there. And remember many of the people who post are doing so for help. And read DeLarla's poll - 89% are 100% satisfied.