Nemesis

WOW you look super!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*HUGS* Salsa. I'm so glad to hear that your pain is less. I'm sorry eating is so difficult though, keep trying! Thinking of you! N

Thinking of you!

I bet this is wound related... your wound may have tissue that needs to be removed. Are you on an antibiotic? Did you get the wound vac through a wound care specialist or nurse - what do they say?? There is a cream your can get for wounds that have a foul odor, it's called MetroGel. It's actually a cream made for rosacea - but has been found to control the smell of wounds. Perhaps you can ask your doctor about this if it continues. Hugs, I hope your wound heals soon.

It's stories like yours that really drill home to me that the band is merely a tool... and the actual work comes from within. From our hearts, minds, souls - not the band. We can use our new tool, or we can find ways not to... the choice remains ours to make. I hope you can find your way You CAN do this! Good Luck.

Hi there My experience is limited being a nurse... this is what I read; 5) would check TSH to rule out hypothyroidism if not already performed. *Hypothyroidism is an under active thyroid which can sometimes cause people to become overweight and in some studies can be responsible for sleep disturbances. TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone, and would be checked by drawing blood. 6) if there is evidence of nasopharyngeal crowding, consider surgical evaluation. *Since you snore and snoring disrupts sleep - they are suggesting you have a doctor rule out the possibility of there being a structural defect in your nose/throat area, such as crowding. If there is evidence of such crowding, a surgical consult to correct the issue is rec. 7) suggest improvements in sleep hygiene. *Sleep habits are called "hygiene"... for example going to bed too early or too late, watching TV before bed, using drugs or alcohol to help us sleep... etc. They suggest improving your sleep habits so your sleep disturbances will diminish. I hope this helps.

At my info session the three surgeons were going on and on about how their patients go home without pain medication - they say they don't have any pain when they go home. They have patients stay in the hospital overnight for the band and 2 nights for bypass - could this by why? I'm asking because I have been reading a lot of stories here and most people needing pain medication! I'm confident if I need it they will give it, but I'm curious as to why so many people here say the pain is bad and to be sure to fill your script on the way home - but this place I'm going says there isn't any pain involved after the first day?? Thanks in advance!

You are absolutely right, thank you

Does everyone that loses a significant amount of weight, get left with loose hanging skin? I have about 150lbs to lose, I'm 32. I'm terrified of having skin hanging everywhere on my body after I lose weight. Is there anyway to avoid it, or decrease it? Thanks.

Aww big hugs, don't get down on yourself! You're doing so great. 3lbs isn't a lot, and that really could be Fluid... sometimes when we eat high salt things (perhaps the beans) we tend to retain some Water, especially when are bodies aren't use to such things. Also, perhaps you are a touch dehydrated, with all your busy-ness! Sometimes when this happens, the cells in our tissues tend to hang on to more water then the should - again giving us extra water weight. Stay constant with you H2O intake, and stay well hydrated. Lastly, are you close to your period? Perhaps you are boated from that. Chin up, you are doing really great. You aren't going to gain and gain. Sometimes it's a few steps forward and then one back. No worries, keep focusing on your goal! :smile2:

Estrogen is stored in adipose tissue - if you've lost a large amount of weight already, this could have something to do with a whacky cycle. I'd definitely use a different form of BC (like condoms perhaps), and contact your doctor just to be sure things are ok.

Any pharmacist could answer the crushing question :thumbup: Good Luck.

Hi, it's me here with more questions... After you're banded but not filled, when you swallowing your liquids - do you ever feel like you're going to choke? How bout when you're filled? I've read about PBs, does this feel like vomiting, or is it more like whatever you swallow, slides back up into your mouth? In general, I avoid vomiting at all costs, like I know most people do not like to vomit - but I HATE vomiting. I vomit with such force, I hurt for days after. I pop little capillaries in my face and eyes - it's so horrid. I'm talking like a tummy bug or morning sickness, whatever. I hope there isn't any vomiting like that?? Is there? There are going to be lots of questions from me, ones that only people that have had this done will know - so I apologize in advance.

Yellow/green can be the last stage coloring of a bruise - as the bruise heals it usually goes from purple/blue, violet, greenish, dark yellow, light yellow and then is gone. It usually takes approx 6-7 days for a bruise to heal. If by "imprints" you means the yellow skin turns white - much like if you press your fingers firmly into your forearm, it is white-ish, and then returns to normal... this is normal. If by "imprints" you mean, your fingers dent in the skin - as if there is swelling there and your fingers sink in some, leaving dents that take a a while to disappear, that may or may not be "normal" and you should speak with your doctor about what is normal for you. I'm a "better safe than sorry" gal... I think if there is any question in your mind about whether or not your site looks normal, you should give your doctor a call. HTH some, good luck.

Why and how do these things occur? If these things happen, is that it - you're done with the band? How often do these things happen? Thanks

:thumbup: I'm sorry. I'm thinking if you have feelings this strong about your doctor being horrible, you really - really shouldn't have surgery done with him. If someone is going to be doing surgery on you, you really should have complete trust and confidence in them. If the people in the office aren't helping you now, they probably won't help you after - and you need all the support and help you can get after your band is placed. Just saying, think this through - perhaps the trouble with your INS is for a reason, helping you slow down a bit and take a look at things. Good Luck

Hello! I posted about a month ago, asking questions about banding. From there I prayed, and researched (more) and decided the band is exactly to tool I need to succeed with my weight loss goals. I've so confused about all the insurance stuff. I called member services and they said the surgery is coverage and gave me a link to the clinical policy bulletin which reads... Aetna considers open or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), open or laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with or without duodenal switch (DS), or laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) medically necessary when the selection criteria listed below are met. Selection criteria: A. Presence of severe obesity that has persisted for at least the last 2 years, defined as any of the following: Body mass index (BMI)* exceeding 40 My BMI is 53 (good lord), and I have high BP. It also says naturally that you have to over 18 and done growing, attempted weight loss in the past without success in long term reduction, and meet either criterion 1 (physician-supervised nutritional and exercise program) or criterion 2 ( multidisciplinary surgical preparatory regimen). I am working with a weight management and bariatric surgery center near me. I have to complete consults, and tests with all sorts of different people on the team including attending support groups, and lose 5% of my body weight before surgery - it's a 3m process. So I'm assuming this meets criterion 2. Aetna words it like this: Criterion 2. Multidisciplinary surgical preparatory regimen: Proximate to the time of surgery, member must participate in organized multidisciplinary surgical preparatory regimen of at least three months duration meeting all of the following criteria, in order to improve surgical outcomes, reduce the potential for surgical complications, and establish the member's ability to comply with post-operative medical care and dietary restrictions: Consultation with a dietician or nutritionist; and Reduced-calorie diet program supervised by dietician or nutritionist; and Exercise regimen (unless contraindicated) to improve pulmonary reserve prior to surgery, supervised by exercise therapist or other qualified professional; and Behavior modification program supervised by qualified professional; and Documentation in the medical record of the member's participation in the multidisciplinary surgical preparatory regimen at each visit. (A physician's summary letter, without evidence of contemporaneous oversight, is not sufficient documentation. Documentation should include medical records of the physician's initial assessment of the member, and the physician's assessment of the member's progress at the completion of the multidisciplinary surgical preparatory regimen.) Sounds like my program right? I called my Aetna AGAIN to be sure they cover this surgery and she again assured me that it is covered so long as I meet the criteria and to bring the criteria to my NP consult. I know I have to wait to be approved after all my testing etc, but I'll (like anyone else) be so gutted if I'm denied. Anyhow, I'm waiting for June 30th for my NP consult and I'm so excited!! I've been reading everyone's stories and looking at before and after photos and I'm so impressed with the lot of you!! So inspirational. :confused:

NDwife, thank you for your reply. That is brilliant advice, and I thank you. Did you just call the offices and tell them your plan and request a letter of medical need? CKelly37, thank you for your reply as well. Maybe we will be banded around the same time! Does your plan require the same as what I pasted into my post? Good luck to you both, I look forward to seeing your progress!!

Hi everyone! I am 32 and the proud Mumma of a very active two year old! I've been overweight all of my life but got really big during my pregnancy and haven't really been able to move past the point I am at now. I am in touch with a gal in my area that had the surgery and she has inspired me so much. I researched the LapBand last year, but wasn't really motivated. I'm a little confused about the process with insurance. I go to my first seminar May 6th, and I'm am assuming I'll get a lot of info there. Today I spoke with someone at the Weight loss center I want to go through and she explained to me that I must have a BMI above 40 - mine is 53.8. I have Aetna - I called them today and they said I had to have BMI above 40 or under 38 plus two co-morbidities. She also told me to go to the webpage and there is a print out about other criteria. On there it says something about being on a supervised diet for 6m. In Jan I saw a nutritionist (again) and then spoke in detail with my doctor at my physical about my weight. I went on a modified Zone diet, and got a membership at the YMCA. I lost about 15lbs and now am at a stand still - and getting so frustrated and hopeless about my situation. Do these 4m count in the 6m diet thing? I was seen by my doctor once and I'm due to see her again in 2 weeks. I haven't told her about my choice to get the LapBand - but she did suggest it as an option in January when we spoke. I'm going to look through the site, but it said to stop here first! Any info/advice/help/hugs anyone can offer would be appreciated :cool2: Nemesis