It's_Christine

I ordered Pro-Stat through CVS on-line. I am sure if I needed it on a regular basis my store would stock it for me. It saved me immediately after my banding when I could only tolerate a small volume of fluid at a time. It has 15gms of protein in 30ml (a shot glass) and I took it 4 times a day with some clears and it brought me to my protein goal. I keep it now waiting for my fills when I am sure I am going to need it again. I am not someone who will drink a protein shake (if I have a shake I want a burger!) so I used this instead. I have the unflavored and it has a sweet taste like juice but the consistency is thicker.

Unfortunately the MD may say things that they think are accurate but it's the office staff who deals with the insurance on a regular basis may actually "know more". You need to know if the "exclusion" is 100% or if they evaluate it on a case by case...which is not really an exclusion. Good luck

I would check with your surgeon but I was told I could use it for maintenance. I only gave you the concentration so you could compare it to what you are taking now. You may be taking less than 15gms of fiber with the metamucil and not need the full 2 tablespoon dose. I never kept track of fiber either but it happens automatically on www.thedailyplate.com where i keep track of my intake and I was able to see how much fiber I need to stay comfortable.

I use a product called FiberStat. It's liquid and 2 tablespoons contain 15mg of fiber. I got it from CVS and it's available on-line. A container with 30 doses costs about 22.00 (I am not sure how that compares to metamucil). I needed a concentrated form of fiber right after surgery and I used this with success. Currently I take a dose any day I do not get at least 20gms of fiber in my diet. I would recommend this.

My insurance company required the 6 month supervised diet and I had to show "signifigant" weight loss.

Marisol I would be very wary of a surgeon who supports GBP over banding unless you are 100% sure you want the bypass. I have known more people who have done very well with GBP but when it came time for me to make a decision I chose the band. I did not want the riskier surgery and I did not want the malabsorbtion that is part of the GBP. I am not sorry about my decision and hope you feel the same after you have made yours!

Hi Band sister Shelley! I have had no fills but still fill like there is "something" restricting me so I am riding the wave. I see the surgeon next week and am ambivalent about a fill but will follow his advice. I have lost 30lbs (hope to lose at least 120 more at least) since surgery but the last week I am up and down the same two pounds so it may be time for a fill but I am also willing to wait it out. I got the band for weight loss maintenance so the slow weight loss is OK with me as long as once I lose the weight it does not come back. I am working on learning to tolerate the hunger as I think the majority of it is in my head. How are you?

My band is a private issue to me. When I scheduled surgery I took vacation time and like someone else said I simply said I did things around the house while I was off. If people comment about my eating I simply say I am trying a new way to lose some weight and leave it at that. GB is not easy for people to understand and I just don't want to explain it over and over. Even though I am almost giggy with hope for weight loss maintenance it's still a very personal thing for me.

vomiting almost nightly is not normal. you need to be seen by your surgeon ASAP. do not assume what you have or what he/she may suggest.

What a doctor estimates is not fact. Research is as close to fact as we have and research supports risk of death due to GBS is about .9-1%. It is essential, IMO, if you chose any kind of surgery that you find the most experienced, compentent surgeon you can find. Look for numbers, how many of these surgeries has the surgeon done and what are the results he/she may have acheived. When I went to see my surgeon he knew how many WLS procedures he had done and his complication rate. I could see very clearly from what he told me that in his hands my greatest risk was embolism (a risk common in the obese even tho I do not have a personal history of clots) and I very happily took the necessary measures to decrease this risk. My GBS surgery went off without a hitch and I am now almost 4 weeks out and healing well. Ask and ask again until you are comfortable.

George, I am hoping to have the same results as you. I am only 3 weeks out so I have not had a fill but I am eating small amounts (<1cup) 3 times a day and feel minimal hunger. I have always been able to lose weight (a true blessing) and really got the band for long term weight maintenance. I am not anxious to get a fill and plan to ride my unrestricted band for as long as I can. Someone in the support group I attend is 8 months out and is still losing weight and he has not had a fill. Same band, different ways to use it?

My insurance clearly stated on it's web site that the initial weight (before the 6 months supervised diet) would be one that was used to approve the WLS. Check with your insurance and hopefully it will ease your mind. Congrats on the weight loss and good luck!

I have read that the people who have the best success with the band are those who eat three meals a day and limit snacking. Based on that I have decided no more movie snacks (sob).

Wait for the letter and move forward from there. I was "denied" also and when I got the letter they said it was due to lack of signifigant weight loss on the 6 month required supervised diet. Well I lost 9% of my body weight but the reviewer missed that page. I got verbal approval in 24 hours and a letter in a week. So wait and see what the letter says, they may have missed your sleep apnea.

I agree with LunaB, you need to talk to a dietician so you can fully understand what the post-band diet is. When I saw the dietician she showed me "plastic" food in the amounts I would be eating and it was a shock. I needed to deal with that as part of my decision to have the band. I am 2 weeks post-op and already feel happy with my choice and hopeful for my future. Good luck with your decision.

It's all about calories in and activity out. If you count the calories or use the band to restrict your intake it is the same as far as the basics are concerned. IMO, if you have no idea about what are calorie dense foods you can eat a small amount and not lose weight. I am glad I know how to count calories as I feel it helps me make good choices and my band keeps my portions in control. I found that getting all artificial sugar out of my diet helped me a lot so I don't indulge but I think each of us needs to be sure for outselves. My insurance clearly stated that the detemination for surgery would be made on my pre-supervised-diet weight. If I did not show a signifigant weight loss (for my insurance 5-10% of body weight) they would not have approved me. Check with your insurance and see if your deal is the same. Good luck!

Gilta, I mean no disrespect but what your hubby is doing is putting undue pressure on you. I don't think you should have anything but personal goals as far as weight loss is concerned. I would suggest you tell hubby he plan on buying you Christmas presents in places other than VS and when you reach size 14 you will let him know and he can buy you something from VS.

I would take it NOW. At least for me it took almost 4 hours to start to work and then I had multiple episodes over the next 4 hours. You will have enough tummy rumbles going to surgery make sure the MgCitrate is all the way through! Good luck

Someone is listening PG. You have done amazing! If you would have had the band placed already would you be more pleased with your success? Seriously, weight loss is weight loss....embrace it and celebrate it. Good luck and stick with it.

That long test is a pretty standard psych evaluation tool. It's really no big deal. They just need to weed out people with true psychiatric diseases.It's impossible to "cheat" this test so just relax and answer honestly and you will be fine. Mine came out that I was totally average...LOL....I guess that is good!

Gone 3 ever I am right there with you...I am in mourning over what I won't be able to do anymore. Gulping and stuffing won't work anymore and even tho I know they were wrong I miss them. I think it's healthier just to admit the feeling than to deny it, even tho it seems ridiculous. These eating habits were our "friends" and comfort for years so to be in mourning over the loss seems reasonable to me! Today I miss chomping down a big Chicago hot dog the most. But I want to be healthy and fit more than I want that experience. :-)

Congrats! thanks for sharing your results

gapeach76 Both banding and bypass take a life long committement to obtain and maintain weight loss. Studies show that us banded folks lose weight less rapidly initially but at 2 years post surgery have nearly the same weight loss. A recent study that looked at >1700 banded patients showed that they maintained weight loss with follow-up as long as 12 years after surgery. The "head work" has more to do with weight loss and changing eating patterns than what method a person choses to lose weight, IMO. I have >100 lbs to lose and have been morbidly obese since childhood. When the time came to chose surgery I "knew" the banding was best for me. I have only been banded for 2 weeks but I know it will give me the tool I have needed for a long time. Be patient with yourself and take your time to make this decision. Good luck!

As far as I know if the provider of your insurance has excluded wls they will continue to have the right to refuse payment. I don't see how a lawyer can change that contract. Are you sure your consultation with the physician will be covered? I would not take the word of the receptionist since she does not know your policy limits. The good news is not every policy is the same so this does not exclude covered wls from your future.

They found I had a PFO when I did my preop testing and I did great with my surgery on 5/28/2008. Looking forward to your post-op update :-)