Victoria 1

I just read a post where the poster said the doctor told him that his pouch was a little enlarged. How does that happen and what exactly is it?

Who has had the most success with a FEHB--which plan. Same questions for plastics. Which plan has the bestcoverage? Thanks for your help

Anybody have FEHB and which plan is the best for coverage? Thanks!:clap2:

So is it true that if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, plus other co-morbidities, that you rinsurance will cover the lap band? My son has UHC, with a weightloss exclusion, but if he has sleep apnea........... Any insight would be helpful!! Happy Holidays---Vickie

Many many Christmas (( hugs)) from me to all of you. I have so enjoyed getting on the forum over the last 7 months. I have learned alot and laughed alot and even shared some scenes from my lap band experiences that I just could not tell just anyone. (Not many would understand!) That being said--here is my cyber-space Christmas card and I hope Santa is good to you and a blessed New Year to all.

No-- you'll be fine. Make good choices, after my issues, I started eating alot of seafood--leave the breads alone. Plus you will have been banded a bit longer than I have at the time of my cruise. You'll do fine!

Well now I know who was ahead of me!! You had 2 helpings and I didn't get enough! And what little I did get is now drooped to my belly button so I just start at the bottom and roll them up and stick into the bra cup!! Also, one thing I do Is powder my rolls before they get into the trap and I also powder that ever-ready inner tube that is someday I'm sure going to keep me from drowning.

Glad to see this post. Please tell me though how you came to being diagnosed with errosion? I have read posts regarding having erroison, but nobody can tell me what caused it, how did you know it ectera. Please enlighten me as this is one fear for me.

I then recruited my husbands napkin!!! LOL! Which he didn't mind--he'd rather give it up than to look at me with grool on my chin!! Those slidey ones are the grossest. You know what I collected on the plane(s)?? Yep you got it!! The BARF BAGS! Hey those suckers come in handy in a predicament. Wish I could find them by the box. There is nothing worse than leaning over a public toilet--the barf bags are at least neater. So---if ya'all fly soon and don't use them grab them for me!!

Now wait a minute!!! I TRIED to be discreet!!! LMAO!

Yeah be careful with those fills---do a couple of test runs before you go out in public and attend the holiday events. You don't want to be the story for years to come------remember the Christmas of 2005----------those kind of stories run down into generations!!

Now THAT I like! My birthday is next week and we usually go as a family, kids, grandkids, MIL, to Outback Steakhouse. I think I will forgo this visit this year and go to Red Lobster instead. Can't trust my tummy with so many people sitting withme. (they don't know) I swear they must have wondered what the heck was up on the cruise when I excuse myself to go to the little girls room so often during a meal, (just in case, not always to PB. In fact I found that just the walk to the BR sometimes hekped whatever was stuck go down) and then the very next day comment how swollen I was--look I can't even get my ring off! (what a dumb a$$ I can be!!lol)

OK--don't want to brag, but I think I have the most embarrassing puke. We just recently came off a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean. Well, I think I had a PB with every meal, no matter what I ate. it was so fast, that all my reflexes did was get the napkin (they have nice, large, linen napkins) to my mouth just in time. Now, delimma, what do you do with the napkin????? Can't throw it away, somebody with the cruiseline would be sure to notice that, they are so attentive, I didn't want to leave it at my table, ewwww gross, not to mention that the servers REMEMBER you the entire week, so the few times that I did not make it to the bathroom,Imade it into the napkin and disposed of them very discreetly. Once as we were leaving the dining room, (for breakfast) I just happened to lean against a table that had not been cleaned off yet and put it there, (I know I know--sorry) The second time at dinner, they were having the wait staff sing and dance so people were up out of there seats and I managed to non chalantly wander over to the scrap bucket that they use and put it in there, the third bad time, I had my napkin with me as I was heading as quickly as I could to the ladies room, didn't make it but it all fit nicely in the napkin and when I went to the ladies room that one went into the trash. Since I have been home, I have not had issues, so I am assuming that it was the way things were prepared. I know the meat was dry, so I tried to stick to seafood. Oh what a nightmare!! Think they knew it was me??

Actually--you will be able to get the tummy tuck, for medical reasons concerning your incontinence. The hanging skin ect., "pulls" on your bladder causing it to malfunction. Ask your PC--he'll tell ya. Your surgeon can write a letter so that it will be covered by insurance.

(I have a neice named Kelly and we called her that when she was a toddler and had that cute little belly sticking out, although you should see her now--WOW!) Anyway, I read your response to my post yesterday, and you mention that you have 9.8 in your band, my question is--when we do lose all the weight we want, our "stomachs" will be smaller, so won't the band be too large? I'm not getting this--we had to have the larger band cause our stomachs were bigger, but when our stomach shrinks due to weight loss, won't we need a smallr band? Thanks for your help!!

You guys are all right. I need to relax and go with the flow and have a good vacation (as much as you can without devouring the midnight chocolate buffet!!) I just get so frustrated--I think I am gonna have restriction and then poof----back to nothing. But it would suck to be in a foreign country and need an unfill--"uh, Captain, can we depart a little later today? I have a doctors appointment." I am sure that is gonna happen!!!! LOL Thanks so much for your replies.

I ws banded 06/22/05, to date have lost 28 lbs, have a VG band in w/8cc's and have yet to feel restriction! I can take all 4 of my meds, at the same time, and get no clogging. I just had a fill nearly 2 weeks ago--I want to get another one, I leave on vacation the 11th, my doc will do them at 2 weeks, can I do it so close to vacation? I would hate to end up in the carribean too restricted. Is 1 week long enough to know if I am too tight? I am not happy with this--I drink at least a gallon of water a day--(for real) eat small portions, today I am going toclean house with ankle weights on----my weight loss has been noticed in my tummy so I wonder if the band is too big for me----hhhhheeeeelllllllllllllllllp!

I have topost this after reading a post earlier about whether or not to get antibiotics for a dental proceedure. I say yes, most definately and the reason is, you have an "implant" in your belly, the port, in which I have read many posts that the ports have become infected even after being the belly for months. When you do a dental proceedure, the gums bleed and the bacteria in the mouth is great, and if the bacteria gets into the blood stream, it can go right to the "foreign" body and attack it. I have a knee replacement and each time I go to the dentist I need to start antibiotics for this very reason. Some orthopaedics feel that the antibiotic in unnecessary, however, I doubt you find too many dentists that feel that way. Because the lap-band is so new, there probably has not been much data reported regarding the infections and dental work. Ask your dentist how he feels about antibiotics, but you may even want to educate them on the band as I am sure they have no clue what is going on. So--this being said, if and when I ever have a dental proceedure I will take antibiotics as I am not interested in finding out whether my port will or will not get infected. If taking antibiotics is appropriate for knee/hip/joint replacements, because they are an "implant" then I consider my port to be an implant as well. JMO

Sorry--thank you for your help.

You will probably have to ask for liquid antibiotics. The kids seem to like it! I think it is regular antibiotics with flavoring.

You know--speaking of small bites, I can remember, (and not that long ago) when I had taken my grand daughters into Taco Bell for lunch. Sitting there were a couple of mom's with their skinny bodies and I remember wondering--HOW CAN 1 TACO FILL YOU UP??? Well now I know and now I also know that is how they eat and stay slim. Small portions eaten with small bites. ( cause not only could they get by only eating 1 taco--they were so dainty and did it in 15 or 20 minutes. I could down a taco in 2.3 seconds! Oh those were the days and I am glad they are gone!!

And that is the reason why--our mouths harbor so much bacteria that when it is erupted, by dental work, the bacteria floats thorugh the blood stream looking for a weak spot to hit, like implants or as in your case, heart related issues. Amazing isn't it!!

Mercedes---I see--I did not know you had to travel so far to get a fill. I see you were banded in Mexico. My doctor here in Kansas, does fills for pts banded in Mexico, is there someone closer to where you live? I just feel for you--I know how if feels not to have a fill! I am just finally getting some restriction and believe me--couldn't have happened at a better time!!

bump de bump bump

Chichiirl--thanks for your wisdom!! I am thinking of you as I type--I just heard on our morning news, (here in Kansas) that MIami is getting drowned and alot of the electrical lines are out. WILL THIS EVER END?? I would love to live in Florida, and I had my husband convinced of it sometime in the next 10 years, then last year happened and now this year he is getting nervous about getting on the ship, let alone live there. (I'll get him to move--wait and see!!) I tried to explain to him the cruiseline will not sail into any trouble, PLUS we don't leave until Nov 12th so we have a bit of time! Thanks for your reply and best wishes to you on your band journey and I hope you don't get too much of Wilma. Post when your lights come back on