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This happened several years ago. My grandson had just turned 3. His great grandpaw was in the hospital with cardiac problems. My daughter would normally visited him daily at the hospital but he was doing real good so she did not go that day and instead went to see her brother, his wife and my grandson. When she arrived they told her my grandson was taking an unusually long nap. Eventually he woke up and when he saw my daughter he told her to not go to the hospital because his grandpaw was not there anymore, that he was at God's house and God wanted him to stay there. He said his grandpaw had just told him that in his room. My daughter immediately called the hospital and was told they were trying to reach the family because his condition was now critical. He expired the next day.

I've had my lap band for 7.5 months and have lost 91 lbs. It has literally changed my life for the better. My cholesterol was over 300 and now is normal. I was taking three different blood pressure meds daily and now not needing any meds. Once adequate restriction was obtained, my appetite and amt. that I was eating drastically decreased. I feel soooooooo much better and my energy level has gone way up. I truly feel the lap band saved my life. I hope you have good results with it like I have. Just remember, it is a tool and you have to work with it...

Erin, don't get discouraged. Sometimes it takes a little time to adjust to life with the lapband but you can do it. Since your surgery, you have already made much improvement. Take one day at a time. I know you can do it...

I had the left shoulder pain for about 2 weeks..I found that a heating pad helped the best.

Its good to hear everyone is feeling better. I'm having minimal pain mostly at port site and under left ribs but I just feel sooooooooooo tired all the time. I'm following the diet well but having no appetite at all makes that easy to do. I think I've drunk more water in the last few weeks than I have in the past 2 years. I'm not sure I can keep up with 64 oz of fluids daily forever...

Wow, Wildfire, you really are doing great. The first few days post-op I had trouble getting between the bedroom and bathroom much less travel like you did to get home. Will you have trouble getting fills in Canada because of having surgery done in Mexico? I know in the states, sometimes people have trouble getting them.

Madison, I like your idea of increasing diet to pureeds and I'll do the same today. I feel absolutely no hunger but I know I'm not getting near enough calories to sustain life so maybe the extra food will help me feel better in general. The 6 lbs I gained while in hospital are gone now..I'm sure they were due to the IV fluids and hopefully the real wt loss can start now...I'm having trouble sleeping also.. I get 3-4 hrs of sleep then awaken mostly due to shoulder pain. I hope your improvement continues...sounds like your on the right path...

I'm 4 days post op and each day the shoulder and abdominal pain were a little less. Today I feel almost human again. Thank God for pain medication though..I doubt I could have made it without them.

I frequently have problems accessing the site also. Wish I knew what the problem is........

Hello, Feb 23 bandsters..I'd love to compare notes with everyone..How much pain are you having, what stage of the diet are you on now, have you lost weight post op? I still have a mod. amt of pain at the puncture sites and shoulder, I'm on full liquids but I've not been able to get the daily required amt. of fluids in, and to my shock, my 24 hr stay in hospital resulted in 6 lbs weight gain....Luckily I have NO appetite and have to force every oz of fluids down. Hope to hear from ya'll soon............

I think you only need to have it documented once each year. Don't forget to check hospital records if you had an ER visit or hospitalization during that time..they would have your weights documented also.

Geez, if giving up just one food makes you wonder if having lap band is right for you, then I doubt if the surgery is right for you either.

Emmage and Wildfire, its good knowing others starting their new life with me on the same day...I'm so afraid something will happen causing my surgery to not happen. I know this thought is not reasonable but its still there. Today I plan on clearing the freezer and pantry of my greatest temptations. I hope we all have great success with the lap band.

My surgeon's office informed me that BCBS and this surgery (Lap band) carries a global charge meaning that there is a $50.00 charge for exams and $100.00 charge for adjustments. Customer service with BCBS "thinks" this is associated with the basic plan not standard. I could not get a real answer from them. Anyone ever hear of this? Initially the bariatric center said exams and adjustments were free for a year but due to this global charge I'll have to pay for them.

I'm very excited about having the procedure done. I've started getting all my post-op supplies and liquids on hand so I won't have to worry about that later. The thought of being on liquids for several weeks is scary but I'll do my best. My pre-op diet begins 2/9. Just think, our new life will be starting soon...

I'm also scheduled for the lapband on 2/23. I've been working toward this for about 8 months and can't believe I finally have a date for surgery. I'll be having it done in Waco, Tx.

My surgeon's office just called and said I got insurance approval for the lap band. It will be done in February but date is not set yet. I'm sooooooooooo excited and happy. I thought this day would never come...

Does anyone know how long it takes BCBSTX-FEP to determine approval/not approved once paperwork is submitted and is there a way to check the status online?

Hopefully I'll have my lapband done in Feb also. My paperwork is being submitted to BCBSTx fep today. Does anyone know how long the approval/denial takes once submitted?

I've noticed people saying they check their insurance approval status for bariatric surgery online. Can anyone tell me how to do it? I have BCBS FEP.....

I'm just starting my 6 mon physician supervised diet with my PCP. Exactly what does he need to document with each visit? He is not familiar with LB surgery and says he's not sure of what is needed either.

Sounds like a wonderful NSV. Keep up the good work....

Creed, when I talked to the bariatric center they said they wanted it in writing from BCBS fep that the 6 mon supervised diet was not required. I called BCBS fep back asking for this and they said I was given the wrong information by them when I had previously called. That I had to follow BCBS TX criteria and that it was required. It seems you can't even rely on info given by your ins carrier. I'll continue with the supervised diet and hope for approval when completed..

Kathy, thank you sooooooooooooo much for the info you provided. I called my BCBS today. At first her answers were very vague then I told her what you said on here and she then she admitted the 6 mon supervised diet was not required. I'm still having a problem with the bariatric center. They still think it is required. I don't think they know what they are doing..anyway, tomorrow I'm going to the office and talk with them in person and I'm going to ask them to submit my paperwork to BCBS. I have the 5 yr wt documentation, Bmi 44 plus two co morbidities, and I listed several wt loss attempts in the past which covers the failed conservative treatments. Hopefully I will be approved...thank you again for your help

I have BCBS fed basic also. The bariatric center I went to said it does not require 6 mon supervised diet but since I reside in Tx and having surgery in Tx then I had to follow BCBS Tx plan and it requires the 6 mon diet. I've since started the 6 mon diet with my PCP. I'd love to know if this is incorrect. I'd much rather have my surgery now than wait 3 more months completing the diet.