Linda Lu

I had Harvard Pilgrim in 07 and they approved the same day my surgeon's office submitted it! They (surgeon's office) said that HPHC was one of the best insurances to deal with...in fact my employer was changing plans for 08 and I tried very hard to loose the requisite amount of weight to get a surgery date before the end of the year...and did...had my surgery 12/26 in Concord, MA and had no troubles with the insurance. One thing you do have to check though is to make sure that your particular plan doesn't contain and exclusion for bariatric surgery. Just call member benefits and they'll be able to put your mind at ease. Good luck to you...and you're right, you've got to stick with the program to have success with the band!

I think you should speak to her about this and not let it go unchecked. Perhaps you could gently say something like "look you stupid bit...h" oops, my evil twin took over for a minute! Perhaps you could really say something like "While I appreciate your trying to make sure I'm aware of potential complications, rest assured that I did my research before making my decision to have surgery so you needn't keep pointing out all of the horror stories to me...keep in mind that the healthy success stories are not likely to make an appointment to come in here for medical care."

I'm only about 6 weeks post surgery and had my 2nd fill today, and I've been fairly hungry so far. I've had to use a lot of will power with my eating plan to be successful to date.

too much fat, and too many calories for my liking and my surgeon's office eating plan...but if it works for you all, more power to you...good luck everyone!

I enjoyed having my IPod with me, and also lip balm for the dryness since you won't be able to drink until the following day.

I understand your concerns...my port is under my incision, though I don't think the center of the port (the spot they try to access) is directly under the incision line. I've had one fill so far and it was no sweat at all. Your surrounding skin is still a little numb from the surgery itself and it's just a tiny pinch of the needle going in. What was strange was the sensation of the needle going into the "rubber stopper" part of the port. My NP couldn't find the exact center initially, so she kept taking the needle out of the port and sticking it in a new spot without removing the needle altogether...so she didn't keep sticking my skin, just the rubber port under the skin. Strange sensation but not painful. So, relax and know that it won't be entirely pain free but it's more than tolerable; you've been through worse already!

My surgeon's office has the same rules except they do have us replace one meal a day with a protein shake. Jfran you look awesome...have you tried shaking up your routine a bit with different types of exercise or a difference in your diet? Sometimes that helps get things moving.

If you suspect that you won't get the support or that your family has biases agains surgical weight loss, then I wouldn't tell them...in fact, I didn't! I have heard my parents speak ill of a distant cousin who had gastric bypass and just "knew" that they would pass judgement on me as well. I also have a sister that is a workout fiend who believes strongly in dietary moderation and exercise (if it were only that simple, I wouldn't be fat!). So I chose not to tell them...except for my mom...turns out we were having a "heart to heart" one day and got talking about my diet and exercise efforts and I ended up confiding in her. I do have to say that my mom has surprised me with her acceptance of it all, but she did need to be educated first...her initial perception was that it was the easy way out and that the magic band makes the pounds melt away (again if it were only that simple, I wouldn't be fat!). She now realizes that the weight I've lost so far is really because of my dieting and exercising (OK, mostly dieting) and has an entirely different view knowing the effort I've had to put forth.

I think you should be sure to weigh and measure your foods, exercise, push the water and continue to get fills (and be checked for a leak)...if you're doing the right things time will be your friend and you will eventually reap the rewards. Good luck

Nothing yet....only about 6 weeks post op though!

Good luck Happy...I think it's a great idea to weigh an dmeasure your food again; also increase you water intake...most of all be patient! It will happen!

Congrats!! I recently joined the leg crossing clulb, and it does feel wonderful to be able to do that! (Now the varicose veins will get worse probably)...but moderation is the key!

Congrats to everyone on this thread...we've all had a very hard time with hunger and not feeling full...yet everyone has stuck very diligently to their prescribed eating plans...go Bandsters!!:smile2:

Wow, 2 surgeries...not fun! Do they know why you were obstructed? I've been trying very hard to get some exercise in but I have had little energy and just don't feel like it. I did do the treadmill and elliptical over the weekend though!

...so you have to get on the treadmill or elliptical? :thumbdown:

Great job with your weight loss jaylow! When I went for my follow up at 4 weeks, I too had lost the required weight and they went ahead and booked me for the surgery (which was almost a month later). Yes there are a lot of bypass people and I've questioned whether maybe I should have gone that route, but for me it was just too invasive with the rerouting, the malabsorption, etc. I can be a really good dieter when I want to be, so I'm hopeful that I can work with the band as a tool to get results. Let me rephrase that...I KNOW I can work with the band and get results!! :thumbdown:

This is about you...but your mother has a role in this as well since she knows and you live at home etc. You must make your own decision...but communicate with your mom so that she knows that you respect her wishes even though you disagree with them and have made your choice to tell someone (if that's what you choose). Having said that, I agree with the others who caution you about telling a lot of people. It can be hard to keep it to yourself, but it really allows you to go on this journey at your own pace and not under scrutiny. It is true that people really don't understand and do consider weight loss surgery "the easy way out" despite the fact that we're all dieting and exercising (NOT EASY!). Do what you need to do; but think it through and be aware of the consequences of your choice. That is what it means to be an adult. Good luck!

Agreed: 1) Not seeing you and explaining things to you directly is unacceptable 2) One chance is all she gets even though we can all make mistakes 3) Can she refer you to another surgeon in the practice so that your surgery can be expedited with all of your current testing/preops? How did your meeting go yesterday afternoon? Was she apologetic or did she offer additional options?

Congrats on sticking to the diet rules even though you are hungry. I had my surgery 12/26 and had my first fill a week ago...I was starving prior to the fill but just like you stuck to it and was watching the clock until it was time for the next "meal." The fill helped a little, but I'm still hungry...I go for my 2nd fill next Fri and I suspect it will get better little by little. In the mean time I don't want to sabotage myself by allowing myself to eat so I'm staying strong! I truly feel that I haven't lost any weight because of the band...I've lost weight because I'm dieting and have had excellent willpower...I'll be grateful the band is there if I should ever waver or faulter...but I feel that so far it's been all me (and that's kind of empowering!). Keep up the willpower and try to use distraction, fluids, or an extra protein snack if you really have to, but don't turn to foods not on your diet...it's not worth it!

Very helpful, thank you! I've not had a PB yet!

I'm with you Grammy, haven't figured out what PBing stands for (although it seems to refer to regurgitation).

What does PB stand for?

I had mine done @ Emerson by Dr. Jiser. I had a very good experience with the whole team there and agree with you that their strict program is really the best way to get the results we're all looking for. I lost 25lbs before surgery and have lost another 20lbs since my surgery on 12/26. Perhaps I'll see you at the monthly support group meeting!

Good for you...an inspiration to the rest of us. Keep up the great work!

My 44 pounds includes about 25 lbs preop weight loss. I am substituting one meal a day with a protein shake, and am eating 4 oz of chicken, turkey, ham, beef, or pork with 1/2 cup to 1 cup low starch vegetables each meal (the diet from my surgeon's office). I feel a little more satisfied when I eat now that I've had my first fill and seem to be staying full longer (slightly), so it's helping take the edge off. I truly believe that I have lost weight because of my dedication to the diet and that the band hasn't been responsible for anything yet!