Elisabethsew

My surgeon decides on what size band to use based on 2 factors; (1) how much weight the patient needs to lose and (2) the anatomy of the patient which he sees on the OR table.

Shoulder pain is usually from the anesthesia and the surgery. Walk, walk, walk and drink water throughout the day. If you're hungry, call the surgeon's office and ask to speak with the PA or NP. They will usually give you one or two foods to take the edge off.

You're paying to be covered by this insurance company as of 3/1 so you're entitled to benefits. I would call them and ask for a written list of what they require to pay for the surgery. It's better to know before hand so you can check them off as they get done. Welcome and congratulations!

Call your insurance carrier and ask for the written requirements for them to pay for weight loss surgery. The band is an aid but it requires you to do your part. That means getting to the right level of restriction, not eating foods that are high fat and easily slip through the band (candy, chips, ice-cream, etc.), not drinking with meals, and beginning to exercise (even walking). Talk to your MD, go to informational sessions, read posts here, and ask lots of questions.

Welcome and congratulations on deciding to have the surgery. To make sure you do everyhthing the insurance carrier wants, call and ask them for a written list of their requirements. May you have continued smooth sailing....

Welcome! You should be assessed based on your maturity and not age. I know many people a lot older than you who have the emotional maturity of a 12 year old. At 18, you're an adult and have the right to make your own decisions. Find a supportive MD and move forward with your plans.

Welcome to the both of you and congratulations on your upcoming surgery. Read lots of posts and ask questions.

Congratulations! You'll find a wealth of info here so read a lot and ask questions.

Welcome! From reading your intro, it seems like you've well thought out the different aspects of deciding on a surgical approach to aid in weight loss. I take MANY Vitamins (including a huge calcium/magnesium capsule) as well as Rx medications and have no difficulty swallowing them ONE at a time with sips of Water inbetween and a glass of water at the end to make sure they all go down into my stomach. As far as food goes, I can eat nearly everything I could before but in smaller amounts and slower. The key to feeling full is the proper level of restriction AND not drinking WITH meals. I work full-time as an RN and am a full-time PhD student completing my dissertation. You'll need about 7-10 days recovery time and then life should be back to normal so I don't think your job would suffer. I would give a lot of thought to your relationship with your hubby. I've been where he is now and that life is merely existing. It takes so much energy to do the smallest task that you go from bed to chair and eat... a viscious cycle. Why not have a heart to heart with your hubby and entertain the idea of doing this as a couple. You could even just ask him to come to the informational meeting with you for support. Once he sees others and hears for himself how the surgery can add quality and quantity to his life, he might be open to it. Keep us posted.

And to write more than once about an ignore feature... I don't personally agree with that. While I'm quite sure it was not intended as such, it might come off as looking like encouragement to have everyone put a single person on ignore if a few disagree with him. One of the options people have on this forum is to report posts that they feel are inappropriate. Responses to those reports are commonly addressed in the thread. For that reason, it is sometimes necessary to remind members of their option to exercise the "ignore" button. Thank you for your comments.

And Elisabeth... not giving out details of schools and other personal information is the right thing to do. Many tend to give out wayyyy too much information on line. I'd like to see more people giving out less information. I don't have photos posted for a reason, I don't wanna. I respect people's right to privacy. However, this poster OFFERED information and presented him/herself as a medical student with a strong knowledge base in surgical sales tactics, etc. He/she also OFFERED an account of talking to several surgeons who felt the new band was substandard. When you put PRIVATE information out there and state "facts", it's natural for people to ask questions to confirm these "facts." It's suspect when a poster only responds to threads on the new band for the purpose of telling people not to get it. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

As with anything new, intelligent people are eager to learn. Learning includes researching, listening to the pros and cons from all available sources, determining if the pros outweigh the cons, and making a decision. In assessing the content of this thread I find: 1. The majority of the participants are banded. 2. Many of the participants have the new band and were drawn to this thread for continued learning and support. 3. Those participants who have the new band are from different areas of the country. 4. The new bands were surgically applied via a host of different surgeons. 5. People with the new bands are not experiencing any adverse effects. 6. Regardless of the type of band, you're successful if you follow the post-op diet and instructions. Additionally, Isuzu/Redstarr... 1. Is not banded. 2. Has chosen not to respond to questions asking what medical school he/she attends, who his/her surgeon is, and when he/she is being banded. 3. Favors the newest available AP Inamed band and can find nothing positive about the new band. 4. Believes he/she is providing valuable/vital information because surgeons have no time to keep abreast of current research and rely on medical/surgical sales people. 5. Believes the new band is being used/promoted by surgeons because they get a $5,000.00 kick-back from J&J for each placement. 6. References research studies from both reliable and questionable sources. Objectively, those are the facts. The choice of what band to get involves independent research and discussions with your surgeon. Once banded, people come to forums such as this to share, ask questions, and feel supported for the purpose of being successful. While I do not have the new band (I'm an old bandster with an old band - lol), I am interested in hearing the experiences of those who have the new band and learning from them. This is a valuable thread and I would encourage the participants in it to use the "ignore" button if they desire to not read what one or more people post and continue to share their successes with ALL the bands.

You're not the first one of his patients to gain back weight and you won't be the last. Just go in, be honest, and start over. You were a success once and you will be again.

Welcome and congratulations on getting a date!

Welcome and congratulations on deciding to have the surgery. You'll find a lot of good info here.

It's a great idea to start the six month medically supervised diet while you're waiting for the open enrollment with your employer. I lost 235 pounds via diet and exercise and then regained half of it. Losing weight with the band has been slow but steady and I don't regain. The operation is fairly safe and anesthesia time is usually under an hour. Don't take one refusal as the final word. Read lots of the posts and ask questions. There's a wealth of info here.

If you never had pain and suddenly have it, call your MD. A simple exam and/or x-ray will answer the question and ease your fears. If something is wrong, it's best to catch it early.

Thank you for the illustration. It stresses the importance of following the post-op rules.

I have lost inches in my calves but it didn't happen fast. I noticed it first when my slacks fit loosely over the calves and THEN measured to make sure I really was shrinking in that area too.

Everyday you're eating healthy and exercising, you're adding to your life... days and quality. Try focusing on the good things about yourself. A positive attitude really does go a long way in keeping you motivated. One day soon you'll see your reflection in the mirror by mistake and have to do a double take to make sure it's really you.

Congratulations on taking the first step. The time passes quickly because you have a list of requirements to fulfill. Read a lot of the posts and ask questions. You'll learn a lot here.

Welcome and congratulations on the upcoming surgery. You'll be on clear liquids post-op but won't feel much like eating so don't worry. The staff will supply you with an info packet of post-op instructions. Make sure you walk, walk, walk post-op to help ease the effects of the anesthesia. I had no problems with the gas people complain about because I followed the post-op rules and kept moving. Let us know how the surgery goes for the both of you.

Slips are NOT very common and every surgeon keeps records on complications. Ask yours what his is. It sounds like you're in good hands.

Most of the surgeons have sample letters that show what the insurance companies are looking for. Call and ask the office people if they have one to share with you. I got mine when I went for the required meeting with the dietician.

I really wasn't hungry until about the second half of the second week of post-op clear liquids. By the end of the second week I called the dietician and she allowed me to have 1/4 cup of low fat ricotta cheese. That really satisfied me. Week 3, I was allowed to have tomato soup which was a real treat. Hang in there... you get through it.