RestlessMonkey

I weigh 100 pounds more (at least) than you and I can exercise. Respectfully that's just an excuse! I'm 53 (54 in Feb) and was as out of shape as they come. You just have to get off your self-described lazy tushie and move it! :frown: It won't make you lose weight though...you have to watch what you eat and take in less cals than you lose. So I agree with what Heather O says. The band will just help; you have to do the work. It's you who reaches for the food....whether it's "junk" or healthy.

Been there, done that! You might try, for example, the WW chat boards! Of course, they are geared toward people doing WW....

Your best bet is to start with your insurance and find out if it DOES pay. You'll need to call with the specifics of YOUR policy because some employers (purchasers of the coverage) exclude weight loss surgery, for example. Once you know if it pays or not, you'll be able to take it from there!

I agree...find a therapist with whom you can discuss your issues. I think it's a reason of lot of people regain lost weight...they don't really "believe" they lost, or they expect it to make life fantastic, and it doesn't. Therapy will help you through this.

Just a caveat...I don't know a THING about insurance in California! But unless an insurance is "nationalized" (ie tricare, medicare) then the purchaser (usually an employer) can pick and choose certain things (like different deductibles, different pay out "life time" limits, etc) and one of the things urchasers/employers can (and often DO) exclude is bariatric surgery. So unless Kaiser (or Calif law) is very different, just because one person has Kaiser and gets lap band surgery covered, doesn't mean another, with a different employer, policy and deductible, will have the same benefits. I hope it covers it and it sounds good so far, but check to make sure what YOUR policy provides!

I've wanted the band since it became available in the US so I've had a LONG time to be for/against/for/against. I figure it's a win win...it works for most everyone and if for some reason you don't adjust or find it useful, or if there's a medical need, you can remove it. I went through 11 months of behavioral therapy and finally realized that aside from behavior modification to help with MY problems like "reward" eating, I just got HUNGRY. And then, like a miracle, my insurance finally decided to cover the band! (About the time my husband and I decided we'd pay for it because I'm surely worth the cost of a Kia or other small car!) Don't let all the pre reqs wear you down. Just think of it as earning 15-20k for your health. :tongue2:

I'll be truly honest. It didn't hurt me much after the surgery. I'm not "brave"...I didn't "suffer". I just didn't hurt. I will say I made up my mind to "breeze through" before it happened. I assumed I'd have it easy, and I did. I suggest talking to your doc about your fears. They can prescribe liquid pain killers, for example (although I have been able to take pills just fine!) Not everyone has it as easy as I did but very few need a month of care, honestly. It is laparoscopic and you should feel mostly normal in a VERY short time.

Does your surgeon require one? I get one every 10 years, but then my husband is an RN and he's more alert to that type of thing...are you afraid of getting tetanus during the surgery? If so, ask your doc.

Thanks for updating that info! I don't want to be giving out wrong info to new bandsters; I'll be sure to include the "probably ok if it's really blended" caveat! But you are right; best to do exactly what our docs tell us. Even if they ARE all different! :tongue2:

Your symptoms sound normal but it is important to eat per your doc's orders in the healing phase. Food "to make myself feel better" will make the band fail! (I understand the mentality, believe me...but you have to ditch it!) Plus when you are healing it is important that the stomach be still and when you eat (even pureed ham) your stomach churns to digest it. So it's good you only ate that once...hang in there and do what your doct tells you. It gets better!

It does come off fast at first! Be glad! You've earned the loss! BUT don't be horrified and depressed if it slows down for you once you're back on "food". That time after the pre-op and "liquid" phases and when you have restriction, your weight loss may slow or even stop; you may even gain some back. IF that happens, don't despair...the band is a process. Until you get restriction your band is wide open and you will probably be able to eat as you did pre banding. It's ok when that happens. AND it may not happen for you; some are fortunate to have restriction from the start. Either way, enjoy your 35 pound loss! :tongue2:

Call your doc. It can't hurt...that's what he's there for. Don't put it off!

I have been lucky to be able to eat anything so far..but honestly the beer I tried was just more trouble than it was worth. I'd take a sip and then burp for 5 minutes, then another sip and MORE burping...not worth the bother. And drink it flat? Well, ewwww! So I've given up carbonation for the band. It's a no brainer. If someone had come along and said "never drink a beer or coke again and I'll make you thin" I'd have traded in an instant, so I guess I just don't mind the sacrifice. There are worse things to lose...like a limb to diabetes! :tongue2:

Call and ask your surgeon. Each one is a little different...find out the right info for YOU! :tongue2:

I'm sorry your experience is so negative; it sounds to me like you are too tight. I can eat anything except carbonated beverages. I have only had 3 fills and have a ways to go (because I can eat more than a cup) but it sounds to me like you need better follow up care.

It's normal. My doc says it can take up to 6 MONTHS to really start losing....but then he is pretty conservative with the fills. I gained back about half after I went off liquids post op and just now with fill 3 have started losing. However, I haven't been dieting or anything, either (some do...but I didn't get the band so I could "diet", I got the band so I could live without obsessing about food. We all have our ways to work this tool!) Anyway my point is to give it a chance. Just follow your docs rules and don't worry! You're doing fine!

Tarabell, just do what your surgeon tells you and you'll be fine. Ask HIM if you can have broth. They have their reasons for the diets and it is so important you do as they say. I hate to tell you this, but the 2 week post op diet was, for me at least, even harder. Preop I was excited about losing and getting the band. Post op I was just hungry...but you have to stick to it post op too or you can tear your stitches, cause slippage, erosion down the line, etc. I can tell you this...it is TOUGH. BUT ... it passes and then you won't ever have to "diet" again, unless you want to. I lost 5 pounds over the holidays and ate everything I wanted to. It just happened to be way less than in years past! So buck up and hang tough. It's hard but you can do it, and it will be worth it. And tell your surgeon about the broth, see what he says!

Hi and welcome! My port flipped and my doc was totally unconcerned. He did have a little trouble accessing my port the first time but after he found it, fills 2 and 3 have gone off without a hitch! So you can cross "port flipping" off your worry list, too!

Policeman116...I just reread your post. Check with your surgeon. It's possible that your 20K (or whatever surgery) will now be done for 15k. If they still accept your insurance, then they will accept that rate. You may be "borrowing trouble" as my granny used to say. If your doc/hospital accept your insurance and it is a PPO or an HMO they have to do the surgery on you for what insurance will pay. Period. You may have to pay a deductible and some out of pocket copay, but they can't legally charge you an additional 10k to "make up" the difference.

Most insurance companies pay a rate that is "reasonable and common" or some such verbiage which means the hospital can bill whatever it wants to but insurance will pay only a set amount for each procedure etc. Same with surgeons, anesthetists, x-ray docs, etc. They agree, in order to get the business, to accept that "common and reasonable" payment and write off the rest. You don't "get" that rate unless your insurance has "made the deal". No insurance, no insurance rates. For example my doc billed several thousand for the surgery, he GOT $800. Your best bet, if you have no insurance, is to find a doctor (like the one in Denver) offering a package deal.

I LOVE my band. I have almost no restriction and yet I lost 5 pounds from Dec 18 through today! I had our traditional christmas dinner (chicken and dumplings) I had our traditional christmas Breakfast (fruit turnovers) I have had candy and Cookies. We have eaten out 5 times (Mexican 4 of those) and I LOST 5 pounds. I didn't think I had, but my husband said I was eating a lot less. I guess he was right. Now isn't that just a wonderful thing? I've eaten what I wanted of this holiday abundance and lost 5 pounds. I LOVE my band! If I can answer any questions about the surgery etc I would be glad to. I've been through it twice and my DH is an RN, so am glad to share and help if I can!

If you scroll through the forums you 'll find some relating to life after lap band removal, other surgeries, complications etc and you may find your answer there. I don't have bypass but is there something about your band we could maybe help you with, to prevent another invasive surgery?

My doc gave me a prescription to phenergan to have filled and keep on hand for vomiting so call them tomorrow as my buddy Slim-n-Tn says. Hopefully it's just a 24 hour bug (real flu doesn't have vomiting and diarrhea) and will pass quickly. Try not to eat anything and once your stomach settles, just have water and see if you can keep it down (or some gatorade if you have it) you don't want to vomit if you can help it.

Katie I lived in El Paso and that's across the border from Juarez. Good luck is all I can say. Many many people are successfully banded in Mexico but you couldn't PAY me 20K to go get medical procedures done over there! I know there's a surgeon in Denver who does not take insurance but does it all for around 10K; I'd go there before I'd go to Mexico. I have been dissed for the opinion, which is all it is, an opinion. And you know the saying, we all have one. I realize many people are happily successfully banded over the border. But I grew up in El Paso and heard stories to curl your toes; there's a reason they come HERE for medical when they can afford it! Regardless of your decision, having the band is great! I didn't realize when I got it that follow up care is as important as the operation itself...fills and unfills, care for other "problems" that pop up...make sure you have that lined up. THere are places like fillcenterusa that will do your fills for you regardless of the banding surgeon, but if you don't have one of those close, many surgeons will not touch another's patient, regardless of WHERE the original surgery was done. So make sure you have someone who will do your aftercare (or plan to fly back to Juarez frequently!) Good luck. I truly don't mean to scare you...and having the band is a wonderful thing. Do what you have to, to get it, if you think it's right for you!

I was 405 and 5'5"...I just quit flying once I topped 350. I feel your pain! There's too much life that passes us by when we are very large. People say "go ahead and live"...well, yeah right, except when you can't FIT. It wasn't being shy that stopped me! LOL I LOVE my band and hope you too are as happy and satisfied. I've lost weight over the holidays and never once felt deprived or "on a diet". It's like a miracle!