MamaCandy

I'm curious if anyone can tell me what it feels like to have your band slip. I'm 15 months post surgery and have had about half a dozen sliming to the point of gagging episodes, but about a week ago I got nauseated and actually threw up. Now the day after that I started coughing and my throat/chest felt weird. Today I found out I have acute bronchitis, but since I've had that before and it never felt like this, I'm worried. Is it possible that my band came up so far as to cause problems in my airway? I'm hoping I'm paranoid, but if anybody can shed some light I'd appreciate it! Thanks, Candy

Hi Denise, thanks for replying. The No way was because they don't cover any bariatric surgeries. They just throw the request letters away. Don't even read them (they told me that.) I had hoped to do both surgeries at once to save money, but I guess they have a contracted charge with the hospital, no matter what. It wouldn't save us any money. Plus the Dr. recommends waiting on the hernia surgery until I can lose a bunch of my weight. She'd rather I lose all of it first, but if i do it at the end of the year my deductible is already met. The surgery is "only" costing me $15,500 with all pre-tests and post fills included. Not bad since other hospitals in the area charge $25,000. It just so happens that is exactly what I have in my retirement account. So this way I get to actually REACH retirement and I'll still be able to go back to work in a couple of years to put more towards my retirement. :frown:

I'm not really new, as I've been a lurker for a year or so. I had been trying to get my insurance to pay for it, but after getting a definitive "NO WAY" from them, have decided to bite the bullet and withdraw my retirement to go the self-pay route. I've already attended the info meeting, submitted my paperwork and have my first appt. with the surgeon on March 22nd. I met with her already because I need a hernia repaired, and she told me that based on my info I don't have to have a lot of the pre-op tests like the EKG, stress test, etc. Mainly only the sleep study and lab work. My BMI is 41.5 and I have 115 lbs or so to reach my "perfect weight" (not really aiming for that-just a "normal weight"). I'll only have to lose 13 lbs (5%) before my surgery, so I'm really hoping to have the surgery as soon as April 22nd. They said it's possible as long as I have no sleep issues (which I'm about 95% sure I don't based on my hubby and other family members opinions), get all my tests done, and can lose the 13 lbs. I've actually started on the weight loss now, but will pull a "Biggest Loser" trick the day of my appt. with her. (drink a 1/2 gallon of Water before I go in! :frown:) After all, we all know the first 5 lbs or so are the easiest! I don't want to lose 5 lbs then still have 12-13 more to lose-as they take the weight the day you see the surgeon as your start weight. Has anybody heard of getting the surgery done that quickly? Oh, more of a bio. I'm 38 yrs old, have diabetes. I'm married and have 2 little boys-2 & 4 yrs. I've tried every diet under the sun and have been overweight since I was my oldest son's age. My whole family is morbidly obese and I want to stop the cycle NOW. I'm excited to have this done (but scared too) so I can do the things I don't have the energy to do now. I look forward to getting to know all of you!

Oops, it's not "invernal" hernia. (I think that has something to do with that latin word for spring, LOL!) :eek: I meant ventral hernia (known also as an incisional hernia). Thanks for the info on IBS. I spoke to a gastrointerologist about the lap-band and diverticulosis, and he said it wouldn't bother (or particularly help) my diverticulosis. After my surgery I only have like 1 diverticulae left and it's very high up in my intestine. I was just hoping maybe somebody had experience with it and how the lap-band affected it. :eek: Thanks for responding! Candy

Hello everybody! My name is Candy and I'm looking into the lap-band for the 3rd time. (1st time found out I was pregnant before even taking the class, 2nd time just couldn't afford it). A quick bio: I'm 36, I'm a mom of a 1 yr old and a 3 yr old, I've been overweight my whole life yet was "healthy" until 7 years ago. I have type 2 diabetes, diverticulosis (had surgery to remove part of my colon), IBS, and I'm on my 3rd Invernal hernia. My bmi is just around 40. At this point, WLS is my last chance to be a good mom and live to see my boys grow up. I have an insurance company (lifewise of Oregon) that up front says absolutely no bariatric procedures, but the insurance agent says with the proper recommendations from doctors they will do the LB. I'm now looking for any angle I can get to get it done. If not, I'm going to look into it in Mexico, so if anybody can recommend a good surgeon there, I'd appreciate it! I have a few questions for all of you. First off, I've seen posts relating to Hiatal hernias, but not invernal. Does anybody have any experience dealing with these in connection with the Lap-band? Has it helped them from reoccuring? This is my 3rd since December! I'm hoping my surgeon (who does NOT do bariatrics) will give me a letter of support for the LB to my insurance co. Does anybody know if they can do the invernal repair at the same time as the LB? Also, has anybody seen a benefit of doing the LB in the area of diverticulosis/IBS? I look forward to getting to know all of you. Thanks for any help you can offer.