RestlessMonkey

I agree, it depends on the requirements of your insurance. Insurance is the BEST place to start this journey; not all policies cover lap band surgery. Once you see if your ins. covers, and see if you need a physician referral, then your next step (after getting a referral letter if required, or skipping the PCP referral if it isn't) will be to attend a seminar. Most surgeons and/or centers advise patients attend a seminar BEFORE the meeting with the surgeon.

My first fill agitated my port a little. Where is your port? If it's on the left that's probably what it is and it will go away. HOWEVER with any pain, if it is bad enough for you to ask about it, you are safest to call your surgeon!

It IS really individual and I don't think we can give you the answers you need! :eek: I am 54, way fat, and had my surgery on Friday. By that next tuesday I was essentially back to "normal" for me (not as active as your normal, though!) You may be one of the unlucky ones that has severe pain, you may be like me and just use tylenol for a day or two and then not need it any more. May I suggest planning on 2 weeks? That way if you NEED the help it will be in place. If you don't, as you say, you can always step in and take back over. Wanting the kiddos back can truthfully aid in your recovery (part of it is mental) . Good luck to you!

I thought that "ache" was just soreness and gas. If I breathed deeply more than once or twice in a row it got better. SO I breathed deeply often (good for your lungs too) and by the end of the day it didn't hurt any more. I guess you could say the band is tight, but more importantly it is tight because you are swollen inside from the surgery. That will go down pretty fast so try to be calm, take your pain meds, breathe deep because it IS good for you. Walking will help, too. Anything you can do to get you and your body "back to normal" will help you feel better faster! :eek:

I can tell you it works because...I didn't follow my physician's diet for the 3 weeks he had me on it. I lost 15 pounds but I did a more low cal thing. I came to in recovery without the band because he couldn't place it...my liver was too thick. I 'fessed up to him, I followed his diet PERFECTLY for 2 1/2 weeks, and got the band successfully on try #2. I don't get any feeling that my doc is punitive or trying to torture me; I hope you were just exaggerating to make it funny. If you really think you're being punished you need to find a new doc or maybe rethink the band, because it will severely restrict what you can eat! And I don't know about anyone else but I don't get "used to starving". If that worked, I'd be thin as a rail, from all the diets I've been on in the past.

You need to tell your doctor what you did; he needs to be informed so he can decide if you need to be tested or if it is just lack of restriction. He's not your mommy LOL so if he fusses he can just get over it; he's your doctor and needs the truth. Odds are it'll be ok; but let him know.

Are you sure they aren't referring to bypass surgery? Either way, you can prove them wrong! Welcome!

Cobra must be the exact same coverage, at the cost (plus a small handling fee, usually aroumnd 2%) your employer paid in full for you. (so anything they used to kick in to cover you, they don't any more). It is usually horridly expensive and you may find it cheaper to just pay for the fills out of pocket (just a warning) At any rate, if insurance, while you were employed, covered the fills, then the cobra coverage you pay for will cover the fills (at least unless or until they change insurance companies, which places can do usually once a year)

Aftercare is vital for the band to work. I don't know if it's possible to have success using the band without at least a place to do fills and unfills. Without that, you just have a pricey piece of plastic inside.

If you follow this link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/surgery-day-stories-64287/ You'll find literally PAGES of people giving their "surgery day stories". Short of actually having the procedure, that should give you a good idea! :mad2:

Another vote for wait. It's not a race, and you'll be better set to succeed once you get the wedding behind you (you do have to work with the band, and that takes some time and energy to get used to!) I recovered VERY fast from my surgery (had it on friday, back to school where I'm a student on tuesday, no pain meds, no issues) and I still wouldn't have wanted to have anything big just 2 weeks post op. Give your wedding and "new life together" all your attention...then once you are married and settled into a routine (which can be quick...depending on your relationship etc) THEN get the band. Give yourself an opportunity to "enjoy" both things, if that makes sense?

I've honestly never ever heard of a vitamin to control a craving for sweets and that isn't just a "lap band" problem, either. I wish there were such a thing! However I was told I would have to take a good multi vitamin for the rest of my life (even people without a band are often advised to take a good multi...to be safe) So while vitamins don't really work for "sweet" cravings (or else diabetics and many many overweight people would be taking them already!) a good multi is a good idea.

Not ALL ulcers are caused by H. Pylorii. I suggest you go back to your doc; there are other tests they can do....you may need an unfill so they can get a scope in there, but once you're cleared you can get it back. If you have burning etc don't put it off; it's possible it's something that you can fix easily now but if left untended will become huge. :blushing:

There are so many side effects and long term ill effects with bypass. I know it's a godsend for some and I think that's great; but even though my loss has been very slow with the band I STILL would rather have it than bypass. In fact I would never have WLS if bypass were my only option. Considering that 3 years post op the average weight loss is comparable between the two surgeries, to me it's a no brainer. If my surgeon had tried to push bypass on me, I'd have gone elsewhere. (not being dramatic either, it's just the truth) Even my PCP said to get the lap band, not bypass. So I'm a band baby all the way.

I weighed 405 when I went to my 1st surgeon appt...had lost down a good bit by surgery though thanks to an extended preop diet. There doesn't seem to be a lower "limit" either...insurance won't pay unless you have a certain BMI but if you are self pay, seems like you can find a surgeon to do the surgery even if you are very close to your goal weight. (not all will do that, but you can find one who will). I had no heart or pulmonic issues (pretty healthy for a 50+ yo fat chick) so I'm sure that was part of the equation for me.

As you probably know recovery is very individual. I felt great, didn't need pain meds, had surgery friday and was back in school (as a student) that next tuesday. Yes I eat sandwiches and pasta. The nutritionist at my center said just to cook the pasta (and rice) well before eating (because it continues to absorb liquid when you ingest it, if not well well done) I have a ventral hernia my doc wouldn't repair (yet) because he said it would just come back until I lost weight... Rule of thumb is 2 weeks post op and if you have the time, I'd take it. There will be a lifting restriction as with any abdominal surgery, so if you have to get physical you may need a little longer.

The AP L band can be tightened as snugly as any of the others. It just starts out a little larger (fyi those 4ccs are less than a teaspoon...that's what a small amt. it is) so you don't need to think that because your band started larger it won't restrict you. I have 5.5 ccs in my 14 cc AP L band and while not "there" yet, definitely have restriction. Honestly you need to just be calm and trust your doctor! :tongue2: I understand your fear, but it is unfounded.

Call your surgeon tomorrow. You should still be going. If you are still taking (or took) an opiod pain killer it can constipate you. Your surgeon will tell you what to do! :rose: (and even on liquids you should still have BM's)

Maybe, but probably not. I am almost 6 months out and have essentially NO issues, etc ... but even without restriction, beer just hurts, or you have to drink it REALLY slowly and it is : Sip burp burp burp BELCH sip burp burp burp BELCH etc. I don't like soda and haven't tried it. Your safest course is to accept that they won't ever happen, then once you've healed and are rolling along, if you can, it will be a happy surprise. Even if you CAN drink it (and a few do) you won't be able to chug or drink it quickly. I love beer and miss it, but the plusses outweighed the minuses for me.

I grew up in EL Paso (Juarez is on the other side of the Rio Grande) and know that right now there is a great deal of unrest in Juarez (used to be a sleepy border town) This is NOT a comment on getting surgery in Mexico! But Juarez isn't really safe for travel right now. Here's a link to the Travel Alert issued by the Federal State Department: MIG: Mexico Travel Alert You might want to reschedule your surgery for later in the year, or find a surgeon deeper into Mexico. I don't mean to be incendiary; honestly...but the laws in Mexico are different from here and Juarez is really suffering from drug-caused violence. It's your call, of course; just wanted to make sure you're aware of it. Most people I know in El Paso just aren't traveling to Juarez for now.

I think that of course the lap band helps in weight loss...that's why manu of us got it. That, and to keep it off. I think you were right to forego the contest.

If you plan to stay in Oregon, you might be better off to wait the 3 months until you move. I know that seems odd but it's often hard to find surgeons who will take on other's patients. Having said that, prices vary by what insurance negotiates, and don't always relate to what people pay who are "self pay". However, 1k per fill is exorbitant in my opinion. My doc charges 400 and they ARE covered by my insurance.

try this... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Always call your doc if you are in doubt! I didn't have any burning pain and in fact didn't even know where my port WAS until my first fill...but regardless, you know yourself best. if it burns and seems "off" or different to you, call your doctor and ask! :thumbup: That's why we pay them the big bucks!

Ekabara may I suggest you go to a totally different surgeon/seminar? The lap band can also resolve HBP (because you lose weight) and type 2 diabetes (depending on how long you've had it and if you need insulin or not...a surgeon can help you) I had borderline high blood pressure and borderline DM II and no one...NO ONE tried to talk me into bypass. In fact my primary care doctor (the one who diagnosed me with those conditions) recommended the lap band, NOT bypass. Don't be pushed into anything. Do your homework, read up on the outcomes of both procedures, and really see a different surgeon. That 1 ounce thing is, well, nothing I've ever heard unless they just mean immediately post op (some have swelling at that time and can't drink too much too fast...but that isn't everyone, and that is just the first few days post op) I too can drink quickly. I have even chugged Water a time or two, and have not exploded or hurt anything. Liquids flow THROUGH the stoma....there's no problem there.