BABY-LYN

I am very frustrated. I went to the doctor at the end of the last month to have a un- fill due to be too filled and not being able to get anything down - not even Water. So we took 1 cc out of the band. I am still having problems getting food down. I can eat a few bites and then I need to throw up. I went to the hospital on Sunday to get un filled and they could not even get the needle in the port and that was with a fluoroscope. So I am still having issues. I am leaving on vacation on Friday and can not get in to see the doctor before I leave. So I guess I will just continue eating very little and throwing up. I feel like I'm a bulimic person. The only good thing is that I am losing weight. But I would like to be able to keep some solid food down. I just want to get back to the fill where I can eat but it's limited. I just can't seem to get to that place. I have less in my band than I have had in the past and didn't have a problem with getting some food down. I don't know if my band has slipped or what. I just want to be able to eat and not throw it up. I keep trying different things to eat to see if that will help but I even got sick on Soup yesterday. any advice ?

The Doctor put the band back into the correct position. I have some questions for him when I see him next - such as to why the band slipped and what I need to do to prevent it from happening again. he gave me the option of removing the band or fixing it. I choose to fix the problem. I didn't want to give up my band. But I did want a local doctor to take care of me. so I told him if he would take care of me then to leave it in and fix it. with out the band I would end up back at the weight that I started at. and I so didn't want that. So I will go get a fill in about 2 weeks and continue my weight loss journey.

Sorry I haven't posted an update. things went from bad to worst. Went on Vacation and by the end of the trip I was absolutely miserable- not able to keep anything down including Water. Was having major stomach pain. I can back from vacation a day early and drove the hour and a half to see my doctor. He did a complete un-fill and I thought that had solved the problem. But it continued. I ended up in the emergency room the next afternoon - extremely dehydrated. Ended up having a CT scan and discovered that my band had slide down my stomach and was round the base of the stomach and nothing was getting through. The ER contacted my doctor and he advised the ER doctor that he didn't have time to see me in the next 2 days to handle the problem. really nice care - right. Luckily there is a Doctor now in my town that does lap band so he agreed to see me the next morning and to do the needed surgery. So I went in to see him the next morning, was admitted into the hospital and had surgery the next. this Doctor was really great and he agreed to continue to take care of me from here on out. So long story short - I am now able to eat and drink - did gain a few pounds back but it was really my body getting rehydrated. I feeling great. I will go in and see the doctor for my first fill with my new doctor in a few weeks. Going to be nice not to have to drive 2 hours to see the doctor and he is close by if I do end up having problems.

I was banded back in 2009 and have done well with it. had lost a total of 70 lbs at one point. I had a problem with my band about 2 years ago and had to have all the Fluid removed. which then I gain about 50 lbs back. I was eating everything and anything - not good. I have been in the process of getting back to my sweet spot but keep having problems. I get a fill - eat my liquids and then my softs and then on to solids and everything is fine ... then about 2 weeks in I get to were I can't keep any thing down but a little bit of liquids so I have to get a un-fill. I am so tired of having this sudden problem of not being able to keep food down. I need to get back serious about my eating - can any body give me some great ideas for lunches and Snacks that will be good to take to work and snack on. I have to get serious about my eating and losing.

You want to find your sweet spot - where you can eat but it limits the amount of what you eat. you will get to that spot and then you will find that you don't get hungry as often and when you do it - it's smaller portions. it's a great thing when you are at that spot. you will be losing weight but it will be a slow and steady weight loss. just take your time getting to the spot. if you get filled to much or too fast then you get to the spot that you can't keep anything down - not even liquids. and that is a terrible way to loss weight. you don't keep it off that way and you are miserable as well. Slow and steady is what I say - for losing the weight and for when I eat. lol

Different med's have have different effects on weight loss or weight gain. And they also effect every one differently too. Just talk with your doctor about your concerns about gaining weight from the change in meds. be sure to weight yourself when you start taking the new drug so you will have a true idea if you have gained anything. Just don't worry if your weight gains by a pound or two.

Hey everybody - Haven't posted in a LONGGGGGGG time . Here's the update on my journey. Have moved back to my home town to take care of the parents. Changed careers and had a huge pay cut. But I'm able to take care of the parents and see the rest of my family so I guess it will all work out. Have lost a total of 56 pounds in the 2 1/2 years. Had hit a wall for a good while but am now losing again. So its all good. I have had a few issues with food getting stuck, vomitting, having heartburn and all. But I haven't regretted having the surgery one bit. Still haven't told my mother about the "band" and don't plan to. Makes things a little difficult when I have isues with things get stuck. She has finally realized that I don't eat as much I use to. She now let's me fix my own plate when I eat at her house. All of my clothes are big on me and I haven't taken the time to buy anything new. I am really enjoying not wearing things that are tight for once. Dont' plan to go shopping anytime soon since I plan to keep losing. Have gotten down to "onederland" and am loving it. Dont' ever plan to get above it again! So evreybody keep at it - we can reach our goal weight and maintain it I have reached one of my weight goals and are now looking to the next one ! Baby-Lyn

I have my fingers crossed on the approval from your insurance. I was denied the first time - the doctor's office submitted my paperwork for approval. So if you are denied you need to call the insurance compay and find out why. My denial was due to the doctor's office leaving out my high blood pressure issue. I have not gotten a doctor here in ga yet. I had my surgery in Chicago and have not been to see a doctor here since i moved back to ga. I'm going to call around this week and talk with some this week. I have not regretted having the surgery once since I did it. I think the only thing I miss is my cokes- especially when i'm really stressed. Be sure to start getting a list of foods that you like that a good sources for Protein. It will be the most important food it you will eat once you have the surgery. Keep us posted on what's happening. :-)

I won't hit my 6 month anniversary till the end of the month but it's coming up fast. I haven't lost has much as I would have liked by now (around 38 lbs). But I guess with being laid off from work and going through that stress my eating has been off - doing alot me stress eating and confort food eating. I am going to be moving to GA at the end of the month and will have to find a new doctor very quickly since I think I need to get another fill and I can't see my current doctor before I leave. Since I have all the time off from working I have to get my self in the rountine of working out every day. I don't have an excuse any longer. Does any body have any advice on how to get motived and to start losing again? Thanks

80sBaby, I'm doing really pretty good. I have lost amost 36 lbs now and haven't gotten into the swing of exercising daily. But since I am no longer working the high stress job that is my new focus, which should help with the weight lost. I do still have to deal with the head hunger but when I realize what I'm doing I pull it back under control. there are times when i will totally forget to eat. I think one of the toughest thing I'm dealing with is trying to retrain my family that I don't eat the way I use to. Most of them don't know that I had surgery. My mother is constantly trying to feed me when I visit. I don't have any regrets about having the surgery. My insurance denied me the first time. Did you ask as to why your insurance won't cover it? Is it something that they don't cover the procedure? If they do cover the procedure but haven't approved it for you, please push to find out why. Sometimes they just want to see who is going to just except the first rejection.

Hello fellow Maconites! I'm a former Maconite who is going to be relocating back in Macon in the next few months. I was banded the end of September in Chicago. I really like my doctor and his team here but since I'm moving back to where there is warmth; I am going to need to find a doctor there. Is there not a doctor in Macon that can do fills and any followup that would be needed? I guess I'm will need to be sure to see my doctor here right before I leave Chicago. Thanks

I had to take a shot once a day for 7 days. It really wasn't a big deal. Just don't give your self the shot in the same spot every day, alternate the side of you tummy each day. And don't rub the spot after you give yourself the shot that will cause bruising. You won't have any problems so don't worrry about it.

:thumbup:To day I'm getting my band in about 2 1/2 hours. and i'm getting very nervous. i really think some of what i'm feeling is from not eating or drinking anythin this morning. I can't believe the day is here. i'm only taking 4 days off from work but i think i can go back on thursday. we'll see. I haven't told any of my family about this and hopefully there won't be a need to tell them for several months. i'll post tomorrow and let you know how it goes. babylyn :thumbup:

It's day 2 post op and everything is going really well. i'm home relaxing between walking around the house. not a lot of pain except for where the port is placed. Having a tough time getting on a schedule for eating vs. drinking. but I think that will be easier to do when i'm not just on true liquids. and i'm no sure that what i'm feeling is being full or not but i am stopping when i do start to feel the pressure for fear that i will over eat. and i don't want to throw up. have to give my self my shot this am so we'll see how that goes. but i have already lost 10 lbs. and i'm happy with that.

I was denied by Empire - BCBS yesterday because my BMI is only 38.5 with no UNCONTROLED comorbitites. But BCBS never said that that was there requirements to meet when i called the to see if they would cover it. the Insurance person that I could call for reconsideration, have a peer reivew or appeal. I don't know what the reconsideration or a peer review involves. do i need to call the insurance company to handle this or what? I called the doctor's office to talk with the person who handles the insurance but they haven't been alot of help. she talks forever to return calls and then we just play phone tag. she said that she would talk with the doctor but didn't know what he would say. and that it wouldn't be until tuesday. since it's the holiday weekend. i don't know if i should just go and start a appeal process? is BCBS just trying to get out of having to cover this? What do i do next? oh, the insurance person said i only had 10 business days to take action? what's that deal ??? Do i just gain the 10 to 15 lbs needed to have the surgery? will the insurance then cover it then or will they give my another hoop to jump through? I hate the thought of having to put on even more weight. i feel so big and uncomfortable already. Any advice ?:biggrin:

Update on my status ... Denial reversed - I'm APPROVED! I called my insurance company last Friday and was able to talk with a very helpful employee. He very clearly explained why I was denied. My paperwork did not include any of the info on my high blood pressure. I got it sent over to the surgeon's office and they faxed it over to BCBS. And today I was approved! i'm so happy! i went to see the pulmonolgist yesterday. i have my breathing test done this Saturday. Then i need to attend my 3 hour class, have an ultrasound on my stomach and attend a support season. Not to much to do, LOL. I hope to possibly get my surgery date soon. i would love to have surgery the first of October since i don't have to travel then for work. :tt2:

i'm really thinking about trying to gain the little amount of weight needed. i have an appt on wed. of next week with the pulimanogist(forgive the spelling)? hopefully they will weight me then. i'll be sure to eat and drink alot over the holiday. i may even wear my heaviest clothes. maybe that will work. i'll keep you all posted. i just really wanted to get started towards my healther life.

what did you do to finally get approved? i was denied because i have a bmi of 38.5 and no uncontrolled comorbilities. i don't know what i should do for the nest step.

i just really feel like BCBS is trying to get out of having to pay for it. what have others done to get an approval from a denial?

Help! My paperwork was faxed to Empire-BCBS on the 20th. I called on the 26th to check on the status and was told that its was on the medical review desk. this morning i get a call from them that i was denied. because my BMI is 38.5 and i have no uncontrolled comorbilities. I have high blood pressure which is curently being controlled by medicine and relaxation technics ( this month that is). she said that i could - call to have it recinsdidered, have a peer reivew or appeal. I don't know what the reconsideration or peer reiview intells? can anybody give me any info?? i have called my surgeon's office but they are not always good about returning phone calls and BCBS said i had 10 business days to take action. My doctor's office also said that we only had 3 appeals and i would hate use them with not knowing what i needed to do. any advice??? My family history has strokes, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure for both of my parents. i don't want to end up like they have. or do i just try to gain the 10 to 15 lbs that i would have to have to met the BMI of 40? and if i do that would that flag something with BCBS? or are they just trying to see if i'll give up? they didn't say anything about having to have a BMI of 40 when i called to see what the requirements were. I'm not giving up if that's what they think saying no will do!!

I am a newbie looking into being banded and how banding will effect my med's is a big concern of mine. I am bipolar - have been stable for several years. i take my med's twice daily and it scares me that banding could really effect my chemical balance. Does anybody have any experience with this? thanks