BeautyLocs

I have eaten sushi a few times since surgery. I get it served sashimi style (just fish; no rice, no seaweed) and have had no problems. With current restriction, I can eat about 5 pieces. BeautyLocs

Hi-- I was banded in February. In addition to high blood pressure, depression, and acid reflux, I have spinal stenosis, spondiolythesis and a large disk herniation that compresses nerves on my left side. My internist noted this in his support letter to the insurance company. I don't know if it helped, but he felt that weight loss would significantly improve these conditions and that it was important to let the insurance company know. I had no problems getting approved. Something else I'd like to share--after three unsuccessful rounds of physical therapy and painful and upsetting steroid injections, I started having acupuncture treatments to control my back pain. It has worked wonders! While you're going through the insurance application process, this might be something to consider to bring you some relief. Good luck to you! BeautyLocs

Hi February 16 Bandsters-- It's been a while since I checked in, but I'm doing well (down 30 pounds). I had my first fill on April 1 and I get my second on May 15. I got 3 ccs and don't feel much restriction. The only think that I have had some difficulty swallowing is banana. I haven't tried loaf bread; I have no problem with lavash or tortilla, though. I also haven't tried pasta. Overall I find that I'm rather finicky. I consume a lot of legumes, protein shakes, carrot juice, pita chips, hummus, veggie burgers, and falafel. I get very specific cravings (corned beef or lamb) though most days I have no idea what I want to eat. Are the rest of you experiencing that? What are some of your more satisfying meals? BeautyLocs

Hi-- I live in Detroit and was banded on February 16 of this year at Harper Hospital. I've lost 30 pounds, feel really good and am convinced this is the best decision I've ever made. Good luck to everyone! BeautyLocs

Thanks Restless Monkey. It wasn't until I read your post that I realized that I have no idea how much sodium I'm supposed to have in a day. I'll have to find that out and pay close attention. I find the puffy, stiff, hot fingers more and more uncomfortable every day. Take good care! BeautyLocs

Hi All-- I was banded February 16 and have lost 22 pounds. Surprisingly, I'm still retaining a lot of Fluid, which causes swelling in my fingers and ankles. I drink between 64-80 oz of clear liquid daily, am not eating a diet high in sodium and take a diuretic every day. I admit I don't have a regular exercise routine. One of the reasons I had the surgery was to relieve some of the pressure off of my severly damaged back. Is anyone else experiencing this? I tend to retain Water, but I thought with a bit of weight loss the problem would lessen. If anything I'm more aware of it. Thanks for any insights, BeautyLocs

Hi-- I drink an Acai Berry juice by a company called Bolthouse. I get it at costco in the refrigerated section. Two 32-oz bottles costs about $10. I was drinking it before my surgery and never thought to ask my nutritiionist about it. I incorporated it into my full-liquid diet and plan to continue using it now that I'm in the puree stage. I find it to be rather sweet, and don't drink more than a couple oz or so on any given day. Bolthouse makes wonderful products. If you want to try it at a lower price, this might be something to consider. If Costco isn't an option, I've also found it at Meijer. Best, Beautylocs

Hello February 16 Bandsters-- I came home yesterday afternoon following a successful surgery in Detroit with Dr. Wood. Leading up to the surgery, I felt a bit disoriented and had some difficulty articulating my emotions, but I never felt nervous or unsure. I was excited the day of surgery and remain that way. My surgical and post-op team were professional attentive and encouraging. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I even got to meet and talk with one of my neighbors on the floor who was having her second gastric bypass. It was nice to talk with someone sharing a similar experience. Today is the worse of it. I feel a bit out of sorts, quite sore and I am very bloated. Emotionally, however, I still feel positive and optimistic. I'm having no problem with the liquids and am feeling quite satisfied. I just wish the bloat would pass. I'm so glad to be part of this exclusive club and have every confidence that each one of us is going to do well. Good luck and let's keep in touch. Beautylocs

I completed the six-month supervised diet, the support group meetings, the pre-surgery testing, the letters of support from my PCP and others and, like a good girl, submitted it to my surgeon's office. I was approved by my insurance company on December 30, but have yet to get a date. When will I get a date?! My insurance coordinator told me all my paperwork was in and that she'd passed my information along to the scheduler. I followed up and left a phone message with the scheduler and still no date. I want a date! Is this normal? Why no date? Losing it in the Motor City:confused:

Thanks to all for the advice. I called the scheduler again today, got her on the phone and got a date. February 16 I join the world of the banded and I'm very excited. I look forward to sharing my successes and challenges Best to all!

Hi Sweettea-- My circumstances don't exactly match yours, but when I saw you were from Detroit I couldn't help but respond. I considered surgery at Henry Ford because it's where my PCP and other doctors are based. I decided against it, however, because I thought that it was strange that I was required to go through a day-long course before I could even meet the surgical team and get a sense as to whether or not the overall program was something I'd be interested in. I opted, instead, to work with Dr. Wood at ABMI. I have BCN and while I've been approved, I don't have a date yet because I need an EGD. I did start my journey in May of last year, so 8 months isn't outrageous. Have you checked in with HAP to get a written statement about what you need in order to get approved? If not, you might want to. It'll help you understand whether or not you're on track and put your mind at ease that you're doing the right things. Good luck to you! Beautylocs

Itschoice--thank you so much for compiling all the comments for those of us about to have surgery. I got my approval, but have to complete an EGD before I get a date, so I have time to do some shopping and think about what I need for pre- and post-op. Thanks again and good luck to you, Beautylocs

Hello-- I, too, gained weight during my six-month supervised diet (12 pounds), but learned today that I was approved by my insurance company (Blue Care Network, Michigan). I think that it's true that they're looking for participation and documentation from the program. I would check, however, to make sure that they are not requiring you to lose or maintain. I've read some posts from people who said their insurers do have those specifications. I also sent in a letter from my Jenny Craig counselor, copies of Weight Watchers weigh in booklets, and a letter from a hypnotherapist I worked with on weight issues. Best of luck to you, Beautylocs

Congratulations on your approval! Do you have your surgery date yet? My information was submitted to my insurance company (Blue Care Network of Michigan) on December 11. I was told it would take two weeks to get a decision. Do you know why you were denied the first two times? What was your appeals process?

The support group I attend at my surgeon's office is filled with RNY grads and potentials. One of the members has no problem challenging people who have chosen the band about their choice. She regularly says that banders can lose only 50% of their excess weight and she can't understand why anyone would choose that over bypass. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I complained that people who chose or were choosing the band may not feel welcome in the group and that it was reprehensible that the facilitator allowed members to ask other members to defend themselves. I told her that I was sick of defending myself and wasn't about to do it with a bunch of people dealing with the same thing I was. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> It was obvious to me that many people in the group gravitated toward RNY because they thought it was an "easy" way for them to kick their sugar addictions. Apparently, many of them appreciate getting sick when they eat something sweet. It was bizarre to me, but it seems to work for them.<o:p></o:p>

Hi Breanne-- Have you talked with your insurance company yet? The documentation from your 6-month plan has to be pretty specific, so it would be a good idea for you to get a written statement from your carrier about what they need documented during your medically supervised program. I opted to enroll in a weight loss program that was designed for my insurance company. I met one or more times a month with a nutritionist and an exercise physiologist. I also met with a wellness counselor (social worker), but not monthly. They documented my weight, my exercise, my calorie intake, my challenges and behavioral changes. According to the policy I received from my insurance company about bariatric surgery, this should satisfy them. Now, I did gain weight on my supervised program so I don't know yet whether or not I'll be approved. You should definitely ask if losing is a requirement and if so how much. I hope that helps. Good luck to you!

Hi-- I don't have your insurance, but there are a few things that you might do in order to find out if it covers the surgery. I called my carrier and asked them to send me the policy regarding bariatric surgery. If you're not comfortable calling your insurance company, you could talk to the HR rep at your job or whoever coordinates your health benefits. They can find out whether or not lap band is a covered benefit. Another option is to find the surgeon that you want to do the surgery and work with the insurance coordinator in the office. They're responsible for verifying your coverage and making sure you fulfill all the requirements. In any case, you'll eventually need to contact your insurance company. Good luck to you!

My paperwork was submitted to my insurance company today. It feels like I've been suspended in time immediately before this moment for years. I was certain that I’d feel anxiety, but I don’t. No apprehension, stress, worry, fear – nothing but calm. It's just done. I can expect an answer sometime in the next month or so and that, too, will be what it is. This is a milestone on the journey toward surgery and I feel like I should acknowledge it in some way. I jumped through the hoops and it wasn't so bad. The worst part really was the medically supervised program. I still feel bad about failing so spectacularly. My therapist reminded me that effort and active participation count for something. I showed up a minimum of once a month, sometimes more. I did my one-on-one workouts with the trainer, as well as group sessions. I believe the trainer took good notes about the physical challenges I'm having and that she understood the limitations they caused. So, I release and I let go and await my response. It feels good to be at this place. No matter what, I'm closer to my goal than I've ever been.

Today was my last weigh in for the six-month medically supervised diet program. The final word is a 12 pound weight GAIN! Yep! So, as a form of punishment I ate three double cheese burgers from White Castle, potato chips, cake and ice cream. I was so sad and humiliated by performing so badly and possibly jeopardizing my chance for insurance approval for my surgery that I just had to make myself pay. I keep asking myself why I can't master this. Why can't I simply get my weight and eating under control? I say that it's all I want so why can't I make that one thing happen? I ask and ask and ask and I can't come up with an answer. A friend of mine reminded me that in spite of all of her success and the fact that she has access to anything in the world she wants, Oprah can't get it right either. That's an excellent point, but it still doesn't help. I keep beating myself with every weapon I can find because I can't get a handle on this. My question for the day is if one cannot see a future for oneself does that mean that it's time to die. I haven't been able to see a future for myself in decades, but now it frightens and worries me. I don't see more than a few hours in front of me and maybe I don't need to. I remember someone saying that when you're driving on the open highway at night, your headlights only illuminate so many feet in front of you and that's all you need to see in order to complete your journey. I know that I want lap band surgery. I know that I want to release my "Kick Ass" self and get over all the bullshit that I hold on to as beliefs. I know that I want to live. So, I trudge forward boldly sending my record from the program to my surgeon for submittal to the insurance company. I'll have to see what happens. More to come!

I love this as a strategy! Let's start with Heidi Klum?!

Hi Lilith-- This posting has worried me because I thought that it might have been too personal, too raw--and was perhaps inappropriate for the forum. Your response helps to ease my mind and I greatly appreciate your thoughts. Thank you for reminding me of the value of life and the value of me. I don't believe that I'm worth a happy fulfilling life, which is possibly why I didn't make the necessary effort to be successful on my program. I want something different for my life and I'm not giving up. Thanks again for your response and sharing. I wish you well! Beautylocs

Hi-- I see this thread is a couple months old, so you may have gotten your answer. I have BCN and they require a six-month supervised diet program, a psych eval, participation in at least one support group, a letter of medical necessity from your PCP and an EGD. Other tests might be required depending on your medical history. You also have to meet the NIH requirements (e.g. a BMI of 40 or 100 pounds overweight, comorbidities if BMI less than 40 etc.). If you call the insurance company they can send you their written policy. I know people who have been approved for both gastric bypass and lap band under BCN. I've completed all the steps, but am waiting on the chart from my six-month program to be sent to my surgeon. I'm hoping to have a response from BCN by the end of the year. Best of luck to both of you, Beautylocs

All this talk makes me a bit sad that I don't have a partner. In the words of the late, great Marvin Gaye--"Keep gettin' it on!"