Xena

Hi John, I'm glad that you are going to be okay and that something is being done about the "BEAST" BOTH of them!!! It is such a tragedy that people can take man's best friend and make them so mean that the poor animals have to be destroyed after they have hurt so many people. And the owner, what a horrid person he is - sounds like he and the dog may be related! LOL Anyway, take care and let us know how you are doing. :confused:

:faint: Hi ttray! I have been having side pains too. I was banded May 11, 2006 and almost daily I have had a pain in both sides (like above my hipbones). The pain feels like, when you were a kid and would eat a lot and then go exercise or run and you get those pains in your side. Is that how yours is? :clap2: Hi Elissa! Please hang in there and a couple months down the road you are going to be so happy that you had the surgery. I've only lost 20 lbs, I've had 1 fill and will probably go back for another fill in a couple weeks, but I can see how much this "tool" (banding) helps. Keep your chin up and don't let the turkeys get you down! This is the start of a new life for you! Once you see the pounds start coming off, you will know that you did the right thing!!

Hi Stacey! You mentioned that you have not been back for a fill because Dr. Spiegel is charging $100.00 for it. Supposedly, he is back with UHC so if that is who you have, you should only have to pay $20.00 for the fill. I've got to go back for another fill and I consider myself a "slow" loser too. I was banded 5/11/6 and have lost 20 lbs but I keep going up and down a pound. I haven't lost anything in the last 2 weeks. :cry Well, Good Luck to us all!!!!

Hi Scribby, I was verbally told too that I was approved back in March and got a letter in the mail that said I was denied - that I did not fit into their description of morbid obesity. Also, I was saying in my last message that you need 2 other things wrong with you and some of the things are high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and diabetes. There are a few others, I just can't remember what all of them were. Good Luck!! Hang in there!

:angry I am so sorry to hear about the denial. I was denied in March and the surgeon's office does not do appeals so I appealed. Someone told me that you have to have a couple of other things wrong with you. My BMI was 35. But, my blood pressure was elevated and I have sleep apnea. I went to my regular doctor and she documented (on letterhead stationary) that my blood pressure was high (and told what it was) and that I suffer from sleep apnea. I even made copies of the prescription for Ambien that I had. I sent the appeal letter and the letter from my doctor and within a month I was approved and I had the surgery May 11, 2006. I was really happy. Good luck to you and let us know what you find out.

I'm thinking about calling UHC to ask them about a refund -- thing about it is that it would have to come from Spiegel's office because he is the one that I had to pay. I'll let you know if I hear anything. Also, from what Spiegel's office says, he got out of network and it had to only be for 1 1/2 months. :grouphug:

Hi Cookster! Oh my gosh! You've lost 15.4 lbs!! and maybe more since the 23rd! Good for you! Glad to hear you are feeling better. I am 2 months along since I've been banded and have had one fill. I've only lost 20 lbs. But, I'm not worried about it, I'll concentrate on losing around 8 lbs a month. I've got about 60 to go now. I still burp ALOT!!! Sometimes just out of nowhere, up it comes!! I just hope I'm not in a meeting sometime when it happens!! ha!ha!ha! My boss thinks it is really funny! She laughed until she cried one day because I burped like a man in a burping contest -- and believe me, I have never been one of those people that had long burps! ha! So, the gas is normal and like the others have told you, walking is the best way to help it come up. I'm walking about 1 hour a day now, after work. Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing!!

Hello Houston! (I posted this also under "Doctors") Yes, I'm really glad to hear that Spiegel is back In-Network but for the one month that he decided to go out-of-network is the month that I got banded so I had to pay out-of-network costs which amounts to $2,500.00 more. I don't think that doctors should be allowed to jump in and out of network during the year. Normally, as an insurance client (or whatever you want to call me -- I have UHC insurance) I could not make a change until the first of the year. I think doctors should have to remain on the type of insurance they chose at the beginning of the year and then at the end of the year, change if they want. This is ridiculous. I wonder if Spiegel plans to re-imburse the people that got stuck in his one month period of uncertainty. Whew! Okay, I'm through venting now. Thanks for listening!!

Yes, let's keep in touch and let each other know if either of us get some kind of re-imbursement. It'll be interesting!

Hello Houston! Yes, I'm really glad to hear that Spiegel is back In-Network but for the one month that he decided to go out-of-network is the month that I got banded so I had to pay out-of-network costs which amounts to $2,500.00 more. I don't think that doctors should be allowed to jump in and out of network during the year. Normally, as an insurance client (or whatever you want to call me -- I have UHC insurance) I could not make a change until the first of the year. I think doctors should have to remain on the type of insurance they chose at the beginning of the year and then at the end of the year, change if they want. This is ridiculous. I wonder if Spiegel plans to re-imburse the people that got stuck in his one month period of uncertainty. Whew! Okay, I'm through venting now. Thanks for listening!! :eek:

Thanks! I was thinking that it was just that the carbonation would put air into the stomach, making it uncomfortable - as long as no one has heard that it damages the lapband -- I guess I'm okay. I just sip on a diet drink every once in a while, just need a little treat! ha!!

Hi Cookster! Good for you!! Well, since it is 6/22/6, you've had your surgery and are probably in a little pain right about now. You did the right thing and as I found out a couple months ago when I was banded, it wasn't so bad. It seemed like everyday I was 100% better than the day before. Good luck and let us know how you are doing. Dr. Spiegel did my surgery and I had my first fill about 10 days ago. Since he is out-of-network now, he is charging $100.00 a fill - which I thought was outrageous until I'm seeing that there are doctors out there doing it for $150.00 - $300.00. Good luck to you both!!

I only heard, from the seminar that I attended before being banded, that alcohol is fine but do not drink it with a carbonated drink. Wine should be fine and other alcohol - probably not beer -- all in moderation though. Which brings me to the subject of carbonated drinks... Has anyone heard why we cannot have carbonated drinks (diet soda) - is it because of the air that gets into the stomach and is hard to get rid of? Or, can it do damage to the lapband? Please advise, anyone that knows!