TQUAD64

Yes, I realize that, nor did I imply he was in the service. But it doesn't mean he is not in danger in his home country working as a contractor. It is still volitale in Iraq. Thus he is taking chance to earn money to support his wife, daughter and his daughter's children. I'm just saying if he gets hurt the family will be in a world of hurt. Unless, the daughter is om welfare.

Wow! What a thread this turned out to be. Interesting information when you are able to read through the back and fourth arguments. Delrio, I suggest utilizing the private message feature associated to your LBT membership. In that way you can convey your points directly to the individual you are taking exception too, thus allowing other posters not to get lost in the argument of who said what. Best regards!

Hello al9mc2 and welcome to LBT! Before I did anything, I would contact my insurance company personally and find out if they cover WLS. If they do, then I would ask them to provide me in writing the coverage details and requirements to gain surgery approval. There are so many variations to insurances, that what applied in my case will more likely not apply to you, because we have different insurances. Thus start there with the insurance company and then you will know what to do next. Best regards!

Hello Barbara: Welcome to LBT! You will find plenty of resources and information on this web-site. I guess the first place to start is with insurance. Does your insurance, presuming you have insurance cover WLS? If yes, then is Dr. Virginia part of the insurance network? If you don't have insurance, do you have the funding necessary to pay for the expense of the WLS with Dr. Virginia? Any type of WLS requires life-style changes, which do not occur over night. Rather it evolves over time with the help of medical technology, whether it be banding or by-pass. In that regards, you have to ask yourself are you ready for that??? I have to wonder if you are ready for a change via WLS, because you sound somewhat hesitant about giving up some of your favorite foods. The Band is a tool that requires a lot of discipline and work. I personally have never found anything easy about Banding. I work it every day by the food choices I make, the daily calories I consume and the exercise I partake in 5X a week. However, I find it to be an effective tool if I am willing to work it. Are you ready for that? If you are, then the results will amaze you. If you are not ready for that, then keep doing your research and talk to other people who have had WLS. Best of luck with your journey!

I have not heard of a grant either. But I thought Medicare covered WLS. Make an inquiry with Medicare to see if it is a covered benefit. Perhaps you might be able to participate in a research study??? Not sure if being part of a research study would include a free WLS, however it is worth some preliminary research. I bet a GOOGLE search might yield some information.

Today: I love Friday nights and the weekend! 3.33 miles @4% incline a mix of jogging and power walking for 60 minutes. One day it will be all jogging. I just know it will!:redface:

This was one of my biggest worries. Did I lose enough on the pre-op diet. When I woke up for surgery, I could barely talk, because my mouth and throat were dry and the first thing I asked is am I banded. The nurse said, What did you say? Am I banded? Yes dear you are banded was her reply and I was good after that.

OMG, I thought the same thing too Kat. It was the first thing that popped into my head when I heard this story.

Well everyone has to start some where. I was 253 pounds at 5'5" at pre-band. I had knee pain, ankle, pain, back, neck, and shoulder pain. Not to mention the pain in my right foot. Which were being treated by my PC. I was getting muscle relaxer shots, pain killers, and Ibuprofen all the time. I hurt all over. I knew that the weight I gained was related to my health issues and the pain I was enduring. So Although it was hard to do any exercise activity at first, I forced myself to walk. I would walk to my mail box and get winded and be in pain. I was hoping an oxygen mask would fall from the heavens so I could open up my lungs with it. But know such luck, so I would keep going on very slow walks. And when I was walking I was not thinking of my LapBand buddies and what they were accomplishing with their exercise. I was thinking of how far could I slowly push myself without causing an injury to this big old body of mine. And I would keep walking and I would go further and go for longer periods of time. The weight came off slowly pre-band. I lost 10-pounds pre-band. Then I had surgery. And I started walking slowly again, never giving up, but remembering I had to start somewhere. And it was amazing that the weight started to come off. Nothing drastic, about 1 to 2 pounds a week, but it made all the difference. It helped increase my energy, so I could increase my walking. It was a very slow gradual process. About 3-weeks ago, I thought, wow there are people bigger than me and they are running and jogging. Can I do that? I am a big girl, but can I do what they are doing without hurting myself. So I gave it a try, very slowly I tried to jog and I am jogging. Now I am not jogging for miles. I am no were near that yet, but I am jogging for short periods of time trying to build up my strength. All I can say is I am a big girl, with lots of medical issues that cause me pain and make it hard to exercise. But I had to start somewhere. I do not compete with anyone else on this forum. I only worry about how I can compete against myself without injury. All I can say when your ready you will know it. Just start off slow. And I know you will do great!:redface:

This is wrong on so many levels. It is hard fathom what the medical doctors were thinking of when they did this medical procedure on this woman. Six children already and 8 more. Not that having a lot of children is wrong. Not being able to support the children you already have and then adding 8 more is wrong. If you cannot afford 6 how will you afford 8. :redface: Let's hope that the grandfather come back from Iraq unijured, because this family will be screwed if they don't have him for their support system.

Yes, the gas is bad. Not sure when it will ever end or why it is happening.

Check out the threads where there are success stories. Lap-Band Success Stories (NEW!) - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum Check out the before and after picture threads. Those are always inspirational. I have been banded for 2.5 month and have lost over 30 pounds. I am doing well. I don't regret getting the band. Good luck!

Here, Here! I agree with Lulu. That is what the doctor is there for.

I am 5'5", 44, and weighed 253 when I started. I was on the fence with both procedures. I gave a lot of thought to both WLS that I was interested in. After careful research, reviewing medical journal studies pertaining to WLS, and after discussion with my doctor, I decided to proceed with banding. Perhaps, when you meet with Dr. Davis and hear his feedback and you present your concerns, together you will decide what is best for you. It is a difficult decision I know. You only want to have one WLS in your life time, so you want to make the appropriate choice for you. I know that Dr. Davis has his patients best interest at heart, so I know that both of you together will decide what is best. But don't forget you are in control of your health. If you believe one procedure is better suited for you and your doctor does not, then ask for his reasons. If those reasons are unclear or leave you with unresolved questions or uncertainty, then get a second opinion. You have the Power to make the decision. Best regards with your journey!

Ceradad, I was wondering where you have been. What a great son you are. You could teach my teenage son a thing or two about being a good kid to his mom. Glad your back!

WOW!! Is right. I am going to presume the coordinator is not a doctor and thus cannot really articulate the pros and cons of the band in relation to other WLS as a surgeon could. I would ask my surgeon for their perspective. Yes, there are pros and cons associated to the various WLS. There are risks with each type of WLS as well. All you can do is equip yourself with as much knowledge as you can to make an informed decision. I can share with you my personal story that I have not slimed, vomitted, pbing, or been stuck. I am 2.5 months post op and have the New Generatio AP Band, which is 10cc and now how 5.5cc in it. Good luck with your decision.

psalm 20, I recommend you call your doctor as soon as possible. I would not continue to look for home remedies at this point, especially inlight of your night time wake up calls will the acid-reflux. Don't take the chance of self-treating or seeking this forum for a diagnosis. Please just call your doctor so that you both can determine together what is really occurring. Best regards!

I hear you loud and clear. Not putting myself first created the medical issues that resulted in my banding. Had I placed myself first at the very start, I would not be in the predicment I find myself currently. But lessoned learned and moving forward. I put myself first and although it is a daily challenge of change, I so believe it is worth my effort, not only for me but for those around me. Could luck to all who put themselves first!

Ouch!!!! It hurts just thinking about that.

I believe in this situation, baring no complications, you are being very realistic. You have no commute. And you can work from bed. How cool is that. Congrats and good luck!

I was scared too! I started off with home-made turkey chilli Beans with cheese. I ate slowly and chewed my food like crazy. I watched for any signs of food and band issues and thus far I have had none. I can eat small quanitities of the food I ate pre-band. Just take it slow and chew your food really well. Good luck!

I wore a hospital gown with nothing on underneath it, except some booties for my feet. I was also covered up by the surgery drapes. I was a sleep also. After having two kids, I lost all sense of modesty and have no problem exposing myself to hospital personnal.

Puddin, perhaps a slight unfill will do the trick. If you feel that you are consuming to many calories then you can always adjust. Congrats on all the weight loss! You are awesome!

Did your nurse state how much she placed back in the Band? You know your body better than anyone else. You might want to call the nurse back and tell her your not feeling any restriction, but I would wait until Monday. And should you be eating bread right after a fill? Just curious, because my doctor has me do liquids to two days and the two days of mushies. Anyway, I had a fill on January 14 of 1cc. I could tell no difference. Really nada! So on January 28, I called to see if they had an open spot to give me another fill. They did and I went. When the nurse came in she thought it was doubtful the doctor would give me another fill, especially since I just had one just 2-weeks ago. We discussed my diet and food intake, but I knew something was not right. The doctor came in and took all the fill out and she and the nurse were surprised that I lost 1cc. Yep, in two weeks time I some how lost 1cc. We are not sure where it went, and we will monitor the situation, but the point is I knew there was something wrong. Anyway, the doctor gave me an additional 1.5cc and I now have 5.5cc and great restriction. Talk to your doctor and see what they say.