RestlessMonkey

If insurance doesn't cover, it doesn't cover it. There's no appeal there. However you can finance the surgery; many surgeons have financing options available. There are also less expensive surgeons in the states, as well as outside the country. Sorry I have no info about surgeons in your area. There are quite a few people who "self-pay" in order to get the surgery.

I WISH! I'm not restricted yet (sigh) and other than the 1 beer I tried (had about 3 sips, burped like a ...well, a burper LOL, and that was that) I can eat anything. And things that DID taste good still do. I have read posts where people say certain foods just aren't worth the trouble any more and I HOPE HOPE I get there soon!

I think bypass is punitive...allowing your guts to be cut up because you're fat just seems sad to me. The band? No. Honestly, I don't think it barbaric, any more than, say, a pacemaker for the heart, or a stint. Some day medicine will come up with something better, and 100 years from now people may think it very rustic and old fashioned, but for now, I think it's pretty cutting edge medicine and I'm glad as can be I have it!

My surgeon, in the seminar, shared with us a horror story of a patient of his who ate part of a tuna sandwich day 2 and was back in the OR with his band messed up. I personally wouldn't risk it. Not for a few bites of some food that I can have safely in a week or two.

I hear you. I weighed 405 and at 5'5" and 53 years old, i was pretty miserable! Can't fix the age or height LOL but every pound that goes is not missed! I lost a bunch on my preop diet; it was like I was a new person. :thumbup: I will tell you this one very important thing I wish I'd known....DO WHAT YOUR SURGEON TELLS YOU. This is a great site and I post here a lot! BUT....the anecdotal info doesn't replace your surgeon and his team. I cheated on FIRST preop diet because I read poster after poster who did and got away with it (Didn't know why mine was 3 weeks, either, when others only had to do 2 weeks or 1 week or 3 days or none!) SO I lost 15 pounds "my" way, not following docs orders, and my liver was too thick. That is RARE! But I learned a valuable lesson I like to share (it helps make it worth it LOL) and that is...read stuff here, take it with a grain of salt, and do what your doctor tells you to do. I don't think any single soul here would intentionally mislead or misguide, we're a pretty helpful bunch...but what works for one doesn't work for the rest of us. We may all be getting "a" band, but they are different, the docs are different, and WE are different! You'll do great!

Depends on a lot of things...my surgeon only does small fills so my first one was a big non-event; I got 1.5 cc in a 14 cc band. When I started to complain he very kindly and patiently explained to me why he wanted to take it slow, and darn it, I agreed with him LOL I had a little pain the first time because my port had tilted slightly. It wasn't bad at all. I was supposed to do liquids for 24 hours, then mushies, then soft, then regular food day four. Subsequent fills 2 and 3 have been fast and easy....now that he knows my port is tilted it's fast and totally pain free.

Each surgeon is different and each patient is different so take what's posted here as "interesting" but not what will happen to you, ok? having said that... I had a 3 week (which is rather long, most are shorter) preop diet consisting of specific low carb shakes and one meal of green veggies and lean Protein. Then preop I had to drink a bowel prep starting at noon (and from then until midnite Clear liquids only, if I recall)....after midnight, NOTHING by mouth. NADA. It's fairly standard that they have you eat and drink nothing 8-12 hours before surgery, but the rest varies from surgeon to surgeon. There's also a great variance in post op diets, too.

I've had 3 fills for a total of 4.5 cc in my 14 cc band. I came to hungry in recovery and spend a lot of my time that way now! LOL (not whining though) My surgeon is not aggressive and has good reasons not to be. The literature I found supports this so I'm gritting my teeth and waiting for that next fill! I have gained back SOME weight but not nearly as much as I would've had I lost 41 pounds in 8 1/2 weeks pre band. So I'm not eating as much (DH says I'm not) but I am so ready to have that "satiety" and it last for longer than 2 hours! I COULD diet while I'm waiting but that plays games with my head...I start to get a little obsessive about food (where when how much etc) and it's best if I just cruise along, making my best healthy choices, and trying to adapt! My next fill is 2/5 and I think at 6 cc's I'll finally feel "the love" at least a little. Now every once in a while something goes down "odd"...so I'm getting there! :thumbup:

I don't give a good rip what "people" say and if I had an overweight husband dissing me, well, I won't even tell you what I'd tell THAT loser. Chin up. You did this for yourself, not everyone else.

What are your surgeon's rules? Mine will only do fills at 4 weeks or more...but they are all different.

No kidding! I think it's awesome you are so close!

Thank you so much for sharing! I think that's one thing the band saved me from. I didn't even know such a thing exists! UNTIL...the doc tried to place my band and my liver was too thick. He said it wasn't diseased YET. So the band is giving us both health! :thumbup: Good luck!

I did after 2 full weeks of liquids (no Protein shakes etc 1st week)...BUT it is VERY important to do what YOUR doc tells YOU...not anecdotal info you read here. If you are truly starved and feel bad, call your surgeon or nutritionist and see what you might be able to add in. That is WAY safer than just doing what some other doc says to do. We're all different, surgeons are different, the way he sutures your band may be different and patients who progress too fast have issues. There could be many reasons why your surgeon has that diet. It is HARD...they call it bandster hell....but you can get through it. I've read of people with 6 WEEK liquid diets! (that's just inhuman, in my book) Call your doc tomorrow and see if you can move forward sooner.

What transplant do you need, if I may ask? (Please don't feel like you have to answer) Good luck to you!

I agree, perhaps another surgeon? Because if it is that long to schedule surgery, how on earth will you get in for fills, or if you have other problems? My surgery was scheduled in under 2 weeks once insurance gave the green light. I'd look for another surgeon! :thumbup:

Froggy, did you try a complete unfill first, or did you just want the band removed? (Just curious...trying to learn and more info is better. You did what was right for you so I hope I don't sound funny)

I was so excited to finally be having the band I never even hesitated, but I know not everyone is that happy to be having surgery! I wanted it SO BAD I just could not wait and being rolled into the OR was like Christmas. Lots of people feel preop jitters though. Yours should resolve! :thumbup:

Actually there is a "Weight loss surgery" for dummies book, and several really good books on gastric banding. you can find them by searching on amazon. I did! And the rest will fall into place. Check with your insurance first to make sure the surgeon whose seminar you're attending is in your network. They'll help you from there! (If they won't, find another surgeon)

Good for you (and for her!) I think the lap band is a marvelous tool. YOU decide how much restriction you want, YOU decide what you eat...in other words, you're still in the driver's seat. It just makes it easier, is all! Welcome to lapbandtalk!

WOW...they don't charge fees for the "free" seminars down here! That's ridiculous! Good luck!

Many surgeons will require that you not be taking BC pills right before, during, right after surgery because of the increased risk for blood clots. Each surgeon is different in this regard. HOWEVER...many also do NOT want you to get pregnant during the first year. (Mine is adamant about that!) So of course once you're healed and past the "risk" stage associated with surgery, I'm sure they will encourage the pill and any other form of birth control! The pills themselves are pretty small. They won't be any problem!

Good! I've only ever heard it called "fills"...so I didn't know there were places that did not call it that!

Hopefully it will all work out for you!

It depends! Mine slipped and it is no big deal. Obviously, if it turns so that it is inaccessible, then the surgeon will have to correct it. That's why you need to ask your surgeon about it, so he can tell you all the scenarios!

Did you have it removed because it slipped? OR did you have it removed and then think it slipped? If it was giving you problems, didn't you plan to just have it replaced? I'd think that if you were having difficulty and a surgeon decided you needed it removed, time to heal, then replaced, ins would pay. But if you wanted it removed and then changed your mind (slippage or no) that's a different story. I'd think that it couldn't hurt to get in touch with your surgeon and ask.