Great2BThin

It probably is a company exclusion. I have United Healthcare and I read on here all the time how they paid for folks surgery. However, they wouldn't pay a dime for mine, and it's because my husbands company put an exclusion on any bariatric surgery. When that's the case there's not much you can do, maybe appeal through your HR dept. By the time you paid legal fees, it would probably cover the surgery. However there is a website I see mentioned a lot on here but don't know the exact address, if you search around you'll probably find it. Something like obesity law or like that.

You should be okay, unless you are flying on Southwest Airlines. they seem to have the biggest issue with making what they call POS "person of size" buy an extra seat. Recently there's been a few threads on here about folks having issues with them (there's one in the Considering Dr. Kirchshenbaum thread under Doctors and hospitals and another in the Rants and RAves section or just search Southwest Airlines on here). I do remember seeing news stories about this with Southwest as well. I used to work for United and never did we do this. Although I was humiliated once to have to ask for a seat belt extender. And I had the exit row more leg room but the arm rest generally does go up) well once the flight attendant saw I needed the extender she kicked me out of the exit row as you can't use an extender in that row. I was so humiliated as it was a full flight and she had to ask all these folks to switch seats around to accomodate me.

Oh good, glad we are okay!! :biggrin2: I think my surgeon makes us follow a low carb diet which is probably the reason for his potato ban, the high carbs in it. I am following his guidelines to the T right now (well the nuggets and fries weren't on it but he allows one cheat or 10% off plan per week and that was my cheat) so when I go in for my first fill I know just how this is going to work for me etc.

Forgot to mention in my previous post: There's been lots of chat on here about Big Medicine. I see there's an episode on tonight on Discovery Health. I think it's an old episode, but I haven't seen them all and looks like from the previews I hadn't seen this one.

Well I shouldn't have fries either, that's why it was my one cheat of the week. I only could eat 5 though as I felt that pressure in my chest that said you are full don't eat anymore. I didn't like the shakes much either. I mostly went for the Isopure clear protein drinks. But even before I didn't like milk shakes, etc. I got a Wii Fit too,haven't been on it in a week or two, should get on so it could tell me I'm losing weight! Sometimes I do that balance test and I'm older and one day it said I was 34!! That was cool. Think it depends on if the one leg test is in there as I can't stand on one leg much it hurts my knee too much. Since you said we were similar weights with similar to lose, are you tall too??? I'm 5'9 and am the shortone in the family. LOL

Since you took the time to educate me on the nutrition info on potatoes (which I didn't need), I can only assume that my post saying I couldn't have potatoes offended you. For that I am sorry. That wasn't my intent. I have discovered from reading the messages here on this website that many dr.s have many different dietary guidelines. Some make you follow a 2 week liquid preop diet some don't for example. I was just saying I didn't get to have potatoes on the nutrtion guidelines my surgeon goes by. I have never eaten that many potatoes but when my husband had one the other night I sortta missed it. But then again I also missed the huge glob of butter on it too. Sorry if I came across as food police, that wasn't my intent, I know the nutrition info on potatoes and where to find it if not.

Thanks Greyhope for the visuals of how much 40 lbs is, because right now I still have trouble seeing I've lost it. Did just have some progress pics taken though to compare, need to get those out of the camera. I am doing the bike at the gym and that seat doesn't hurt too bad. This one on my son's bike hurt more in the front and I also think it's from leaning over so far to the handle bars, when i get my bike it's gonna be one you don't have to lean so far on. They called it a comfort bike for women. Sounded good to me!

I hit 40 today!!!! YAHOO!!! Baked potato sounds so good. My dr/hospital says no potatoes, and nothing 'white'. I wasn't much of a starchy person before but just tell me I can't have something and I want 'em!! LOL I did have about 5 french fries today though. And that was all I wanted.

Good afternoon!! I am so excited, today I hit the big 4-0!!! as in pounds lost total with my pre surgery 10 added in. Today I had my 10% off plan cheat for the week. I have this fondness for chicken mcnuggets of all things. I know most people would say gross. Not me! Anyway DH has to work late tonight but said he had a little time at noon and could meet me some place quick for lunch. So I chose McD's. I got a nugget kids meal, I was so stuffed on 4 nuggets that I barely had any fries, maybe 5 of them or so. It totally satisfied me and to think I used to get a 10 pc and then large size it. They were 170 calories and I counted my fries as 1/4th of the small and it was 63 so not too bad for a 'planned cheat' and it so satisfied a craving that I am good for awhile. And actually they weren't as good as I remember so maybe I won't be craving them so much anymore. CharleneK, I only had to do liquids for 2 days pre op and then of course some post op. It's true, while doing it it's awful, but already I've begun to forget it and it's so worth it. Just keep your eye on the prize, Your BAnd!! and your new lifestyle.

Good afternoon. I am so excited to report I hit 40 lbs gone today!!!!!!!!! (now for the disclaimer, lost 10 while researching surgery before my consult but I count them cause I lost them). After all this bike reading I decided to give my sons bike another try. I backed the car out of the garage, shut the door so no one could see me, put my cell phone in my pocket in case I fell or did something stupid and gave it a whirl. I got on much easier this time by swinging my leg over the seat instead of trying to reach it over the bar. I went in 2 circles in the garage and still know how! LOL His seat kills my, um, let's say private area and it's not a bike I would ride much but just wanted to see if I could do it and if the tires would hold me. Now to convince DH I need one. I'm sure he'd be fine with it but I feel so guilty with all the money I have spent and wasted on exercise equipment and gym memberships in the past. But this time I am doing it, 40 lbs worth of doing it so far!! :smile:

Thanks Janet. I know in my pre and post op nutrition classes they said meals should be about 4 oz. and as I got to 8 I needed a fill. I'm just afraid of the 8 growing into 12 oz, etc. I am very excited to report that today I hit 40 lbs gone total! (that includes the 10 I lost before starting this whole process - always feel I have to put that disclaimer in) The execise is slow right now, I pedal a bike at the gym or walk, I just emailed my surgeon yesterday and said in another week I could do heavier stuff. I am looking forward to starting a bariatric exercise program my dr/hospital provide with a personal trainer one night a week for $15. Not sure if I will go every week, but periodically so he can show me what to do. It's a distance from my house which is why I may not go every week. I thought I could take what he shows me and do it at my clubhouse in my neighborhood that's free (well comes with my HOA's). Cathy, I always read what you post too. I guess I feel a special kinship with you since we are 'junebugs' and banded one day apart and you are also a 50+! My program comes with an exercise program too, though it is $15 a week, but is specifically for bariatric patients. I will start more exercise in a week or so after the 6 week post op is up.

Thanks for the fill info Janet. I have a large AP band as well I believe and I think that is 14cc. I had a 4cc prefill according to what the dr. told my husband right after surgery, the small band was a little too small and the large too big so he gave me a large with a prefill, maybe that makes a medium? LOL I am losing great, 29 lbs since my consult, I think 21 of that is since the actual surgery date, but am down a total of 39 since I started researching surgery. But I am getting hungry and my volumes are going up to closer to a cup instead of 1/2 cup. I am eating about 800 calories a day, some days higher. I never thought of that they might not give me a fill. Guess I will know on Monday. As long as I lose and am not too hungry I am not too concerned with how much fill. I don't think they do them under fluro. I know they make you drink and wait there for a bit to make sure it goes down okay and you don't vomit. I've seen them in the waiting room, just didn't know what went on behind the door on the other side. LOL Thanks for the info.

It's almost that time......time for my first fill!! I get it at 10am on Monday. I am getting nervous. it's more fear of the unknown. What can I expect? How do they determine how much of a fill to give me? Will it hurt bad? She told me at my post op check that the first fill can hurt as you are still swollen inside from surgery. How soon do I book an appt for the next one? And any other tidbits you can share about fills, thanks so much.

I did sortta try my son's bike, hubby got it down, tires pumped up, etc. But it's so high (son is 6'8 and hubby is 6'6) that I couldn't get my leg over it, and with the seat in the lowest position it was still high. DH leaned it way over so I could sit on it however, but I felt too wobbly and high to try riding. I did check out a women's bike at Costco I really like, it's a comfort bike or something and I fit on it good. I also went to the gym and pedaled a stationary bike to see how it affected my knee and as long as I had the seat adjusted right it didn't hurt it at all. So I am hopefuly to get one soon, but not sure the wallet is. I also looked at Walmart where they'd be cheaper, but maybe not as good of quality but they all looked rather young to me. What kind do you have??

I've seen lots of people say they have troubles with chicken. Maybe it was the chicken and not the eggs. Had you had a full 2 eggs before? I can' t eat more than one before I get that feeling in my chest that I better stop. Glad you are better now though.

6 more days til mine!! Luckily I have had not had much trouble with hunger and have lost steadily but it's changing now. Must've been the prefill I got in surgery that helped me out. But I'm not able to eat much more than 4 oz and get hungrier quicker.

Good morning. Looks like a lovely day here today. I can't believe over the holiday weekend I hit my one month 'bandversary'. Time sure flies, though while on liquids and mushies at the time it sure seemed to drag. I'm down 29 lbs since my 1st consult with the dr. + the 10 before I saw him, so am very close to the big 4-0. I hope to hit it by Monday when I go in for my first fill. Not sure I will though as my volumes of food have definitely gone up, must closer to 8 oz instead of 4 and calories are approaching 1000. But I feel great, have a very positive outlook, am beginning to exercise. In fact, just got a newsletter from the dr.'s office for July and there's a trainer near me starting a bariatric exercise program for $15 week. I am thinking of doing it, it wouldn't be one on one personal training but it would be training geared for the bariatric patient. I just emailed my surgeon for the clearance to begin since I am not 6 weeks post op yet. I haven't noticed being any more forgetful that I have been since I hit the 40's (now 50). I call them my senior moments. LOL Have a great day everyone!

I recently saw my husbands cousin, I picked her up at the airport and then she drove home to Wyoming. So I only saw her for about 30 min. But she told DH's aunt that there was something so different about me. She said I seemed happier, more confident, and just had a different 'air' about me. The aunt just told me this last night, she knew I was banded the cousin didn't yet. That was just so encouraging to me to hear. Also, bought some new smaller clothes!!

Hope everyone had a relaxing 4th of July weekend. Mine wasn't too relaxing but it was a good one. I had 20 people here on the 4th for a BBQ, went to my inlaws the next day for another one, and went out after church for lunch today. My first big weekend with challenges, etc. since surgery one month ago. And I am very please to report I am down 3 more pounds over all. I got really nervous on Sat. morning as it said I was up one but it left and took some friends with it today!! I am losing so good, I'm beginning to get afraid I won't get my first fill a week from tomorrow. However, I notice my portions growing from 4 oz to closer to 8 and feeling hunger more between meals. I average 700 - 800 cals a day. I am very anxious for the first fill. Will check back in tomorrow. Just wanted to say howdy! Thanks for accepting me into the fold. Like CathyChatts said I feel like I have a new lapband family.

I have 8 days til my fill as well. I do find myself experiencing hunger a little more, but I am still only eating about 700 calories a day, went up to 900 on the 4th, but that's about it. My volumes have gone from 4 oz closer to 8 though. I'm losing at a good clip but still hope to get a fill as I know I am getting close to needing one.

Greetings! Sign me up for the ones that are doing this to get ALL the weight off. I've gone half way too many times, but never all the way. I would get complacent when I reached about the half way mark, start feeling better, looking better, and them BOOM off I go in the wrong direction back up the scale. Not this time, I'm in this for the long haul so am afraid you will have to put up with me posting for a long time, I plan to be an oldie one day! And, Janet, I love your opinions! PJ, I sortta agree with you until you got to the sodas. I had to give them up for a couple days for a nuclear stress test to check out a blip on my EKG. I felt awful as I drank so many. I didn't want to go through that again so didn't have any since that date,which was about 2 weeks pre surgery. I am so glad I didn't get back into the soda habit up until surgery. After surgery I had so many issues to deal with, thirst, post op recovery, liquid diet, I was so glad I didn't ahve the caffeine withdrawal headaches etc. to go through on top of that. I am not a coffee or tea drinker, and mostly only drank caffeine free diet soda except when ordering out and they'd never have that. However, the cardiologist said even that had the caffeine. So I wouldn't have gotten my caffeine any other way (also don't like chocolate). I only had to do a 2 day liquid diet pre surgery and I did have many last suppers however until then. :thumbup::tt2:

I was lucky and didn't have to do a preop diet. Just the 7 days of liquids post op, then 2 weeks mushies, then solids. I've been on solids a little over a week and am averaging 700-800 calories a day. And I rarely feel hunger. I am lucky in that I think I have pretty good restriction in this phase. Yesterday I had 1000 calories due to some nibblies at a BBQ and I am up a pound (refuse to change ticker) but a lot of that was salty/processed stuff. Dang chips sitting on the counter all day. I had to go outside to remove myself from them. That is my red light danger food! Now if someone could explain this weird thought process in my head: I was anxious to see everyone at the BBQ yesterday, couldn't wait to see if anyone noticed my weight loss. One person asked if I was still losing who knew about my surgery and no one else. I was so disappointed, I had my new skinnier clothes on and everything. Okay now the weird part, when someone notices I don't want them too as I don't want to draw attention to it and feel under the magnifying glass. How dumb is this, i want them to notice but I don't????

Hope you had a good 4th!! So where do all the folks go that posted here? Do they leave once they reach goal? or once you have the hang of the new lifestyle do they tend not to post much. Personally I love the input and perspectives of 'the oldies'. thanks for sticking around!

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy 4th!!! Getting ready for my guests to arrive for a BBQ. Of course, I am wearing my new SMALLER clothes! PJ, WELCOME!!

For the first time in years I am looking so much to the future. It has gotten so much better in one month with my 37 lbs gone and I can't imagine when I lose the rest. I already have more energy, less knee pain (though that is still quite limiting) and my outlook for the future is so much brighter. Before I was seeing myself going down the same path as my mom Healthwise and now I am on no medications (other than Vitamins, Calcium and Biotin since the surgery), and I am trying on clothes I wouldn't have worn before (read that as in not black or navy). Just think next summer, we'll be at or close to goal possibly!! Heck, think of Christmas!! I know I will put clothes on my list for Santa!!