asherje

Lol true, I know it would be best to help lose some of the weight before surgery. Just thinking of everyone who was to encounter me lol, already grouchy from quitting smoking & the stress of surgery, don't wanna bite anyone's head off from being on liquids only, was gonna save that for after surgery ;p

I've had those fears, have been over weight for as long as I can remember. It's hard to envision you're self as thin, and the emotional changes that take place. But 4 years ago I hit my lowest weight ever, 149lbs, don't think I'd weighted that since elementary school (was always big girl) was only at that weight for like 2 months before I gained back 50lbs in 4months the joys of lapband complications. But ill tell you, it was an amazing feeling. I looked normal (was always afraid of what it would look like, giant head tiny body, size 20 hips still with a medium top, was afraid of looking like a science experiment gone wrong) no one believed I weighted 230lbs at the start unless I Showed them pictures. But even though I was there for 2 months, and last year got back down to 165lb until this summer and gained another 20lbs. I still have that nagging paranoia of will I look normal after losing with the sleeve. Ill tell you this, I went from lose fitting close to wanting to wear items that showed off my new figure... They've been collecting dust for 4yrs in my closet so can't wait to fit those clothes I only wore like once or twice lol

That's wonderful! It nice to hear a positive recovery, I'm waiting to find out my surgery date and have had extreme anxiety about it

So I know it's only been 2 days since I got my approval but I'm dying to hear from my nurse for a surgery date lol! I keep having anxiety attacks over thinking surgery, recovery and fear of failing like i did with the band. Then find my left almost laughing at myself for being silly.

Why oh why didn't I decide to do this in jan? Ugh lol! So been going through the long process of jumping hoops and finally the patient advocate for my doctors office "says" the sent in my paper work to Aetna Friday Oct 26th. The wait to find out if I'm approved or denied is making me crazy. To top it off, I can't contact Aetna directly. My company has it were you have to contact a company called accolade for all insurance questions. They can't even tell me whether or not aetna has even received the paperwork and if its in process to be approved/denied. Anyone else go through this? I understand it can take up to 30days to get the verdict, but don't want that day to hit and they say they never received the paperwork. Help, advice, venting. Anything would be appreciated lol!

I can't wait for the date to be scheduled. I'm nervous and excited lol. I've gained another 20lbs back since April and have been so miserable. Did 3 months since its a revision from the lap band.

Just got the call, I'm approved!!! My nurse is out with a family emergency but they say she Should be calling tomorrow or this week to set my surgery date! I'm so happy

Sweetyne01, try emailing aetna on their website requesting confirmation that they did in fact receive the paperwork from your doctor and that you are just verifying its under review so that you don't have to wait 30days to find out that they never received them. That's what I did, 3 time lol. Before that was just asking if they got a fax from my dr and was told that faxes can take 3-4 days to go into the system. So frustrating lol

Got an email back from Aetna, they did receive my paperwork and it is under review. Praying for approval

Thanks I appreciate it

Hey guys, so the 25th should be the last day of jumping threw hoops for my doctor and he will be submitting my case to Aenta. So was wondering who has Aetna and what was the waiting like? It's taken 3 months to complete everything doctors needed me to do and so I'm praying to get approval on the first try. So questions are how long did it take for your approval, if you were denied, how many attempts did it take to get everything done? Thanks for any feed back, I'm having band removal to sleeve

Hello everyone, I am looking into the Lap Band. My friends ex-girlfriend was recently Banded here in Houston by Felix Spiegel and she has had great results and this was my finally bit of motivation to look into this, especially when I found out that some insurance will cover it. Did any of y’all get banded by him? Any advice or suggestions on what I need to know? I am attending his seminar this Saturday and consultation. I have Cigna HMO, for those that have them as well did you have any issues getting approved? I’m hoping that I can, being that I’m 5’4” and 220lbs and according to my height should be 124-138. Any and all advice would be more than fabulous!!!

I guys, any thoughts on Lapband removal and going to sleeve? I was banded April 2008 and have many complications over the last few years from GI issues to slippage causing weight gain. Spoke to my doctor today originally thinking of going to gastric bypass, but after much discussion of how I am dedicated to working out, counting calories and portion control, that he feels the sleeve would be a better option for me to lose the weight Ive gained and help me obtain my goal weight with out dealing with the complications of re routing intestines and malobsobtion. Any thoughts?

My original posting was on the LB talk site but have never liked it because so many people talk to you like you're a freak of nature when you say the band hasn't worked for you or you've had complications, you get the whole "you're doing it wrong" "what do you eat" responses. I guys, any thoughts on Lapband removal and going to sleeve? I was banded April 2008 and have many complications over the last few years from GI issues to slippage causing weight gain. Spoke to my doctor today originally thinking of going to gastric bypass, but after much discussion of how I am dedicated to working out, counting calories and portion control, that he feels the sleeve would be a better option for me to lose the weight Ive gained and help me obtain my goal weight with out dealing with the complications of re routing intestines and malobsobtion. Here's the break down: I had never really considered the sleeve only because I had read that those who failed with the band would fail with the sleeve. And with my track record lol... Let see banded April 2008, lost about 30lbs in 10months Bad break up on Feb 2009 prompted the run/drink water/smoke diet and lost 40lbs or so in 2months. April 2009 got life back on track and was less depressed so was able to eat and hold down food and gained 60lbs in 6months Aug 2010 went back to nutritionist and was put on phentramine (yet have lb but still needed diet pills) and lost 30lbs in 6months. July 2011 delt with slight weight gain and possible ulcer Nov/Dec 2011 nearly hospitalized from GI issues and had ever test they could think of to figure out what was wrong with me and scoped from WMD to end. Off phentramine March 2012 learned my band had slipped which wa cause of a lot of the issues my GI doctor was trying to figure out. And band unfilled and began discussions on revision to gastric bypass May 2012 band looked better had partial fill and more talks about revision, up 7lbs, back to other doctor an put back on phentramine weightloss program July 2012 gained another 13lbs and another fill, stated to start researching revison options. Got personal trainer at gym for 2xs a month work out for extra support. Still on phentramine Aug 2012 down 3lbs, still having issues with band, can't lay on stomach because port site hurts, can't do certain work outs because it hurts to twist. Still not much restriction but fear tha because my band is tighter when I stress that any fill can cause issues. Discussed my fears of gastric and my doctors/my fears that of band is completely removed I will gain even more back and then some. Doctor recommended sleeve over bypass. So yes I've been looking into it for awhile, I'm doing everything that has been asked of me and then some to lose the weight and keep gaining the min I'm off diet pills and sometimes even when on them. Doctor expressed that believes its my intolerance to certain healthy foods (the good Fiber ones) is a big problem, cant have a salad or fresh veggies with out getting stuck, sliming or PBing. So that's why I'm torn, hadn't given much thought to the sleeve before it scared me more than bypass until I read all the horror stories of it and heard stories from friends who knew people who died from gastric complications months after surgery. I've spent 4hours yesterday just reading and researching and so far the sleeve really does seem like the best option. The idea to continue to have a tool to help me control my weight gain and the ability to eat a salad at the same time with out being in pain or throwing up sounds heavenly lol So that's where I am at lol

What ever you do DO NOT use Dr Spiegel. Biggest mistake my mother and I made in our lives! I'm I'm divorced and would still feel the doctor was biggest mistake lol. I was self pay too. I am now using UT physicians on bellaire. Seeing Dr Mehta, both Wilson's are great too!

So have done 1 of the 3 nutritionist visits (another one tomorrow), the seminar, and saw the therapist today. So getting closer to finding out if Aetna will cover the revision. Only having second thoughts on band to sleeve or band to gastric. Was gun ho for sleeve but therapist today was recommending the bypass. Thoughts?

So depressed, waiting for revision final approval from aetna and my doctors office. I have 2 more months of waiting if they are going to allow me to have the revision. During this waiting I've gained 20lbs since June. I went in for adjustment in July and I feel like I'm gaining faster. Keep changing up my diet and workouts (well 4 wks I was sick and couldn't workout) just frustrated and wanted to vent and cry lol. Any tips for helping me get this insanity under control, what's helped you when everything snowballed?

Good news is Aetna covers revisions but they have criteria to meet, which according to my doctor I have met. •2yr weight history • medical problems from band • blood pannel • 90 day weight management Catch, the doctor (not my original surgeon who did band) will only do revision after I meet with their nutritionist for 3 months (I've been going to different ones for 2yrs) with a $50 fee each time since she doesn't take insurance, see their psychologist (again doesn't take insurance $300) then go before their board for review then based on all this would be scheduled for surgery. I know their not asking anything insane, but with being so sick for so long it's made work hard and my finances depleted. So the thought of $450 just to get to the surgery and then my cost to cover my portion is frustrating, not to mention the thought of having to wait at minimum another 3-4months to get this nightmare out of me, I'm so sick an tired of being sick and in pain. Anyone have Aetna and also a doctor with something like this? How did it work out for you?

I've noticed that back 9yrs ago I got to a size 14 jean from Express... 3 yrs ago I got down to 149lbs (did last but 6mo & I was back to 190, I still have lap band, waiting for a revision currently lol) at one point I was wearing at size 10 from (got down as small as a 6/8) but the 14's didn't fit me till I could squeeze into a 10. So looks like because Americans have gotten bigger they have adjusted the sizes with some companies so what we now call a 14 would have been a 16 or 18 few years ago lol. Gotta love it. Currently back around 180lbs and wear a 12 some day, 14 the next, 17 if I shop at target lol

I'm nervous and excited. Doctor has extra steps he makes his client take than just the insurance requirements for the revision, which is frustrating because I'd like it out last week lol. I'm miserable and in so much pain. But I'm happy to be gettin it removed. Looks like it'll take another 3-4mos. Wish I would have made my decision back in march so I would have it done already lol

Oh don't get me wrong I am happy they are willing to cover most the surgery. When I had the band done 4 1/2yrs ago my insurance wouldn't cover it and I had to take a 13,000 loan out. Still paying it back. Just frustrated that the doctor is requiring me to spend the $450 with his people before he will allow me to have the surgery, then at that point will have to pay 10% of the surgery. Also I was hoping to be able to have it removed sooner, I'm just so sick of throwing up, the GI issues and pain.

I'm 5'3"

I had never really considered the sleeve only because I had read that those who failed with the band would fail with the sleeve. And with my track record lol... Let see banded April 2008, lost about 30lbs in 10months Bad break up on Feb 2009 prompted the run/drink water/smoke diet and lost 40lbs or so in 2months. April 2009 got life back on track and was less depressed so was able to eat and hold down food and gained 60lbs in 6months Aug 2010 went back to nutritionist and was put on phentramine (yet have lb but still needed diet pills) and lost 30lbs in 6months. July 2011 delt with slight weight gain and possible ulcer Nov/Dec 2011 nearly hospitalized from GI issues and had ever test they could think of to figure out what was wrong with me and scoped from WMD to end. Off phentramine March 2012 learned my band had slipped which wa cause of a lot of the issues my GI doctor was trying to figure out. And band unfilled and began discussions on revision to gastric bypass May 2012 band looked better had partial fill and more talks about revision, up 7lbs, back to other doctor an put back on phentramine weightloss program July 2012 gained another 13lbs and another fill, stated to start researching revison options. Got personal trainer at gym for 2xs a month work out for extra support. Still on phentramine Aug 2012 down 3lbs, still having issues with band, can't lay on stomach because port site hurts, can't do certain work outs because it hurts to twist. Still not much restriction but fear tha because my band is tighter when I stress that any fill can cause issues. Discussed my fears of gastric and my doctors/my fears that of band is completely removed I will gain even more back and then some. Doctor recommended sleeve over bypass. So yes I've been looking into it for awhile, I'm doing everything that has been asked of me and then some to lose the weight and keep gaining the min I'm off diet pills and sometimes even when on them. Doctor expressed that believes its my intolerance to certain healthy foods (the good Fiber ones) is a big problem, cant have a salad or fresh veggies with out getting stuck, sliming or PBing. So that's why I'm torn, hadn't given much thought to the sleeve before it scared me more than bypass until I read all the horror stories of it and heard stories from friends who knew people who died from gastric complications months after surgery. I've spent 4hour today just reading and researching and so far the sleeve really does seem like the best option. The idea to continue to have a tool to help me control my weight gain and the ability to eat a salad at the same time with out being in pain or throwing up sounds heavenly lol

Lol right. I think becoming a mom, this surgery & hitting 30 next month. I've lost my shame of speaking these things. We joke between my girl friends, how our conversations 10yrs ago was men, sex & work has since turned in to kids, medical issues and work hahaha. I hope it helps and you can start feeling better today.

I was banded 4yrs ago, recently had a slip but it's all good now. I also get those pains, at first I thought I had eaten too much. But turns out I was blocked up. How regular do you have a bm? My regular doctor told me it was my Bowl pushing up into that area from lack of being able to go. Id get checked to see if that is the issue or a band complication