kgloverii

We are no longer big fast food eaters since I've become a foodie and love to cook... BUT, there are times when I'm at work and need to grab something at lunch or decide the last thing I want to do is go home and even look at the stove... The following are my 'go-tos' and I do enjoy them... McD's- Fruit and Yogurt Parfait, Ice Cream Cones, coffee Burger King- Whopper Jr. No Bun. YUM! Wendy's- Chili, Spicy chicken Wrap (without most of the wrap) Taco Bell- Cruncy Taco Supreme, Refried Beans Sonic- Fritos Wrap, $1 burger

An out of pocket maximum is the HIGHEST amount you could be responsible for. If the surgery were to come in at less than $20K, you'd only be responsible for 10% of that. I'd count on the $2K as your out of pocket.

Brenda, Typically, if there is an exclusion on the policy, they do not cover weight loss surgery for any reason. I'd call and make sure that is what they mean when they said there is an exclusion. Good luck.

Pete, You're approaching the band the right way. Don't EVER approach it like some diet or meal plan. You have to do what works for you in your life. If oatmeal works for you, and you don't gorge yourself on it, then do it. You have to make the band work for you, don't you work for your band! I think that is why a lot of people fall short on their weight loss journey, they make a lot of decisions to work FOR the band vs. work with the band. Big difference. Mixing your meals up is always a good thing, but if you are getting nutrients throughout the day, it doesn't really matter the order you do it in. Try the steel cut outs. You'll have to look for them at the store. Most grocery stores have them, you just have to look. They are often NOT by the oatmeal, but in a 'healthy' section, or section where they have the organic foods, or gluten free foods. It takes 30 mins to make a batch and follow the instructions to a 't'.' I stand at the stove constantly stirring, cause they can easily burn. Once you make them, divide them up into rubbermaid containers and freeze them. I take them out of the freezer the night before and put them in the fridge. Stick them in the microwave with some milk on top, and your 'dressing' (I like nuts, raisins, some brown sugar) and you're good to go. Anyone I know agrees that steel cut oats have a much better flavor than regular instant oatmeal. I know you'll love it.

How about steel cut oats? I make a big batch at a time and freeze portions... Works well for me... And that is not empty carbs... How about some sausage? That is good protein. Or perhaps have a big of steel cut oats with a sausage link??

Exercise will help keep things more toned than if you didn't exercise. But, you will have excess skin as you lose weight. A lot of people who have lost 50 pounds will rejoice about how they don't have any, but the truth is, the more you have to lose, and the closer you get to goal, the more excess you will have. I didn't notice any major excess until I was about 70 pounds down. I definitely have a saggy tummy... No bikini for me. But, I look way better clothed... I wouldn't trade my size 6 jeans in for unsaggy skin... You can plan on plastics, if you have the money. DH and I planned on that, but have decided to divert that money to a sleeve fund. We just don't think the band will last forever...

My doc decided when he got in there. My friend and I went in on the same day, at the same weight and height. She got the 4 cc, I got the 10 cc. And the funny thing is, I was smaller waisted than her.. Go figure.

I'll give you my personal experience... I lost weight before my fill by carefully counting calories and sticking to about 1200 cals/day. I practiced small bites and Bandster portions and did well. Some people eat as usual and maintain or may gain a bit of weight, which can be expected. I just figured I'd stay ahead of the curve if I dieted till I got the restriction. It worked well for me.

My doc numbs, and for the last two fills/unfills he's done them blind and gotten me on the first try, but that is probably because I am pretty small. Prior to that, he'd do a sono to make sure the port was where he thought it was. Every fill and unfill has been a one stick deal. Love my doc for that.

You can call a local radiology clinic for an upper GI. You'll need to have a doctor order it, but if you have a follow-up doc they can easily order it. I was severely inflamed and I was told to take liquid motrin, 1/2 regular adult dose WITH your beverage (your protein shake) every 6 hours. Within a couple days I noticed an improvement. If it is inflammation, this will make a difference. GL.

The band can be totally random. My last fill was in August and it got progressively tighter since Christmas. My doc had no explanation whatsoever. Sometimes the band is just VERY VERY fickle. I tried to wait it out, but it was no use and ended up getting in real trouble cause i waited... i.e. dehydration, nutrient deprived etc. PLEASE call your doc ASAP.

It sounds all band related. You sound WAY too tight. Your back pain is related to eating, and when you get stuck, it can radiate through your back. You may not need to treat the bone spurs, it may be pain from the band. I'd schedule an upper GI, to check for any type of slip, but it sounds to me like a partial unfil will do the trick. I went through the EXACT same thing as you and a .5cc unfill made all of the difference in the world.

Hey guys, Well, I am a worried mess right now, and am trying not to be a basket case. I have been experiencing random tightness for a few weeks... it goes away, and then comes back. I attributed it to the band, being a fickle thing. And then last week, I got ridiculously tight. Couldn't eat hardly anything, but then, random things would go down like bologna, so I tried not to panic. I am now tight enough that only warm liquids are going down for the most part... It is a terrible feeling, and I am HIGHLY concerned that my band has slipped. I am scheduled for an upper GI tomorrow morning, at which point I will see my surgeon and hopefully all I'll need is an unfill... optimistically. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE say a short prayer for me. I am just sick about this. Worried as ever. As self-pay, my options are not as open as people who have regular insurance coverage for bariatric surgery, so there are a lot of considerations...

All plans include weight loss surgery. However, riders are often added to the plans to EXCLUDE WLS. It depends on your employers preferences. Every employer my husband and I have ever had, have had exclusions for WLS. :thumbdown: You can always call BCBS and have them look up your plan and find out if it is included.

Merced, You need to go for an upper GI to make sure your band is placed correctly. It may be because you are too tight. If so, a slight unfill will fix you right up. DO NOT WAIT. Call your doc to order that upper GI ASAP.

My weight loss itself was not dramatic. Slow and steady wins the race with the Band. People didn't notice till I dropped a dress size, about 20 pounds...

I agree with LauriGee.The band is a VERY finicky thing. When I notice super tightness like you, I switch to hot drinks for the remainder of the day until my band isn't super tight anymore. I also watch what I eat, and pick 'easier' foods till it goes away. Odd, huh? You'll be dealing with it for the rest of your life. Embrace the craziness of the band. LOL.

I am in COMPLETE agreement with Kat. I love my band and would rather live it, rather than without it. I have been highly successful with my band and am thankful for it. But, my band is super moody and it can be overwhelming and emotionally draining when I am having an 'episode.' If I would have known of the sleeve when I was considering my options, I would have given the sleeve more attention. But, what is done is done, and I still love my Band.

I take Ferrex for my Iron. It is better absorbed than so-fe or the iron supplements out there. You may have to ask the pharmacist for it, but you do not need an RX. Amazon also has good pricing on it. I take it with Orange Juice daily and no longer have anemia.

You have a great attitude. Embrace that, and you will have great success! Congrats on getting back on the 'band'wagon.

Yes on both fronts. You may be a tiny bit too tight. Sometimes a super tiny unfill will resolve both. Talk to your doc. I know I gurgle less after my tiny unfill, but I do have a tad of gurgling.

You will have things come up. I was at my sweet spot, and for no reason, my band got ridiculously tight. There was worry that it had slipped. My doc had to order an upper GI, and then I had to go for an unfill. I will have to go back for followup after my stomach is healed from the irritation. You may get sick and need an unfill, etc. You will have to see your doc forever, or find a new one. This is a lifetime commitment.