daco525

I had lap band surgery 4 days ago. I feel really good except for one area...my left shoulder is in agony. In the recovery room I told them my collar bone and shoulder was hurting, they said this was from the gas. It has now been four days and it is still very painful in the left shoulder only. I spoke with the surgeon's office yesterday. The receptionist said they hear this complaint often, she said it is the anesthesia leaving the body. Anyone else have a similar experience? How long until it subsides? What is it from gas/anesthesia?

It sounds crazy to me also, but after the pain I am feeling in my shoulder, I bet your back pain is gas. I thought gas pains were suppose to be in your stomach. I had no pain in my stomach just my shoulders and neck. Sorry you are feeling this pain too but I am glad I am not the only one. At first I thought maybe I feel off the OR table onto my shoulder....LOL....at least now I know what it is.

Thanks for the info. I have been using the gas-X strips but they are not helping. I was given pain med which I took for the first 2 days and then stopped. Maybe I will have to take it a bit more. The funny thing is I know they go through the abdomen and I have no pain in this area, it is only in the left shoulder. I guess I should count my blessings. Overall I think I am healing well and I am overjoyed that I received my lap band. I am five days post op, not hungry at all, following the diet faithfully and already down 8lbs. Yipee!!!!! With these results it is worth some shoulder pain.

I was just banded this week. I arrived at the hospital at 8 a.m. for a 10:30 procedure. I was glad I had read some of the stories on this site prior to my surgery date. It helped prepare for what was to come. Overall everyone was very nice and the procedure went well. I think I panicked a little when I was in the OR and they administered the anesthesia. I remember thinking I can't breath....somethings wrong. I think I tried to reach for the mask on my face when a nurse who was standing beside me took my hand. This instantly calmed me and I held on tight. Next thing I know I'm in recovery. I immediately began moving my legs and deep breathing because I heard this helps recovery speed along. When I was brought back to my room I was exhausted. I asked the nurse if it was better to nap or to try and fight sleep. She suggested I take a nap. I think I slept for about an hour and I felt alot better when I woke up. I did not notice any immediate pain in the stomach area. The pain that bothered me was in my left shoulder and across the top of my back and neck. I was told this is from the gas and anesthesia. Anyway it is now 3 days post op. The shoulder pain was unbearable yesterday but is getting better. Today I went for a walk for 30 mins. and I am eating pureed. Everything is staying down and I am not having any reflux or vomiting. I am glad I took time off of work. It is an adjustment getting in food and fluids and my body is not ready for my regular daily routine.

I finally made it. It felt like I was never going to get to this point when I started this journey back in November. Everything was submitted to insurance last week and today I got the phone call from the surgeon's office that I was approved. I was worried since I have a BMI under 40 but I do have co-morbidities. I am scheduled for the lap band on June 3rd. I already feel like this is the beginning of a new me. For all of you just starting out stick with it...jump threw all the hoops that the insurance company requires...what a wonderful feeling when the approval finally comes through.

I am considering using Dr. Daniel Davis for my lap band. I have read alot of good things when searching online about credentials. But never heard of anyone's personal experience. I would appreciate any info anyone can share.

I am so EXCITED!!:rolleyes2: The surgeons office actually gave me my "tentative" surgery date, June 3rd. I am at the end of my 6 month weigh in visits and I have all my ducks in a row. They are submitting to insurance but don't foresee any problems. I feel like I am finally coming into the homestretch of a long 6 months. Lets hope that I don't hit any hurdles in the final stretch....:crying:

Thats how I would approach it, first you need to get approval for the surgery, this is the utmost priority. Maybe with weight loss there will be some relief for your feet and you will gradually be able to engage in some exercise. Right now I would focus on complying with everything the insurance wants for approval, everything else is secondary. I heard they actually look for reasons to deny. Don't give them anything. I don't think they will be too sympathetic about your feet, more likely they will say you did not comply with the exercise requirements. Keep us posted. Best of luck.

I am in a similiar situation with my feet. I also have already had 3 cortisone shots, orthotics and I have little relief. I am reporting to my primary that I am walking on my treadmill daily and he is documenting this during my 6 month weigh in appts. I won't dare say I can't exercise. I am afraid that this will give the insurance company reason to deny. My podiatrist wrote a great letter supporting lap band surgery. My last appt with the primary is in May and I will submit to insurance. I believe that with the lap band procedure and weight reduction I will see a drastic change to my feet. If not I will deal with it as I go along. I would play it safe and report some type of daily exercise. Comply with everything insurance wants don't give them reason for denial. This is all just my opinion.

I am wondering how long it takes to hear from the insurance company after everything has been submitted. My doctors office will have everything May 1st. Hopefully they will submit it right away. I am concerned because my employer is talking about making changes to our healthy ins by July. I don't know if I will have an exclusion. The surgeons office said they deal with all different insurance companies and they said that BCBS NJ-PPO does not reply before 6-8 weeks. Has anyone had a different experience. I was hoping to hear back in 2-4 weeks so I could definitely have the surgery before July. I really think I meet all the standards for approval and it is cut and dry but they said this does not matter. I should not expect to hear before 6-8 weeks. If I get an approval in 8 weeks I hope the surgery can be done immediately. I don't want to go through all this process only to find out my ins has changed and I have an exclusion. Of course this may not happen I am presenting the worst scenario but it is a possibility. :blushing:

I am so glad to hear that. I too will have everything ready. I even have two additional letters from a gastroentrologist and a podiatrist supporting the procedure for medical reasons. I know I meet the criteria for an approval so I hope I am as lucky as you and it happens quickly. My last weigh in with the primary is May 1st. I already scheduled the day off from work. I am taking the letter, office notes, etc and heading straight from his office to the surgeons office. I have worked hard for this and I feel like I am close.

I too have this insurance. I plan on bringing everything to the surgeons office May 1st. I will be done with my 6 month weigh ins at that time. I spoke with the surgeons office and they told me that this insurance takes a long time for an approval. They told me to expect a 6-8 week wait. I think if you are approved and ready to go May 1st. that would be great. Please let me know how long it takes you to get an approval. I feel like you are one step ahead of me so I am interested in seeing how the process goes. Best of luck.

I have heard that some people had to submitted documentation that they completed an exercise regimen. I have heard people say they went for three appts and this met the requirement. What kind of an appt? With a personal trainer? My ins co said to document exercise along with the 6 month weigh ins. If it would help to actually make an appt with a professional who could write a letter pertaining to an exercise regimen I would be willing to do this. Anyone familiar with this?

This is exactly what I am doing. I think I am meeting the requirements. I have completed 3 of my 6 month appts and we are documenting daily treadmill use at home. Thanks everyone.

Anyone have a sample of a letter that they wrote to the insurance company on behalf of themselves. I have heard that it can help to have your own letter sent in with all the other documentation when seeking insurance approval. Right now I think the more I have to send in the better.

I have not had the surgery yet but listening to friends that have had it done, I think you should plan 2 weeks. Just have the surgeon right a note that you are under his care. He does not need to specify the reason. Schedule it around a break and use sick days. You will just have to think of a "general" response to give to those who question why you were out.

Are there lots of policies that have exclusions? Is this the norm or rare? I have BCBS NJ Horizon/PPO/Direct Access. Right now we do not have an exclusion. My employer is moving all employees to Horizon in July, they will be eliminating the traditional plan. I am afraid that they may make some changes to our current Horizon plan, like an exclusion for weight loss surgery. I am wondering how many people have encountered exclusions on their plans. I will be ready to have everything submitted to ins May 1st. I am worried with changes around the corner that I might not get an approval in time.

Here is the story. I currently have BCBS NJ (Horizon PPO Direct Access). I had the option from my employer to choose this or the traditional plan. I am told that in July all employees will be on Horizon and there will be no traditional plan. I guess I should not be overly concerned since I never had the traditional plan, but I do fear that with the change they could put an exclusion for weight loss surgery when we all move to Horizon. I have not heard that this is fact, but I figure it is possible. This would be my worst nightmare after completing everything May 1st. I was hoping that I could have an approval and the surgery done before July. Does anyone have BCBS Horizon with an exclusion for weight loss surgery. I don't know if this is even common.

I'm curious who recommended your therapist? My therapist was referred directly by the surgeon. They work hand in hand and the therapist knows exactly what the insurance company is looking for to get an approval.

Thanks, I think I will make sure I have a supply, just in case I need it after my surgery.

Good Luck. I can't wait to be in your shoes. I still have 3 more weigh ins. Everything should be ready for submission May 1st.

Is it possible to not have her report submitted. Why can't you go to another therapist, even if you have to pay out of pocket. Tell the surgeon which report to submit. You could just say you disagree with the first therapist and had a second opinion done. This time be prepared to maybe answer the questions differently. I'm sure the surgeon will want to submit the report that has a better chance of getting an approval. Lets face it he wants to get you approved so he can get paid for the surgery. There are too many hoops to jump through to get an approval I would not want this report to cause a denial. I also would not tell the second therapist what occurred the first time. They don't even have to know you went through this. Just say you are paying out of pocket because your ins will not cover it. I wonder if you are paying the bill yourself if they are more likely to give you what you want. It's like "you" hired them not the ins company.

I don't even know you...but I am so proud of you...What a great start, you are really headed in the right direction. I hope to be in your shoes this summer. I am still completing my 6 month weigh ins. Just imagine where you will be at by the summer. Good luck.

Although I have decided to go with the band, it was also recommended that I really consider bypass. Mainly because I am diabetic. It seems that there is a higher incidence of diabetes reversing itself with gastric. This is occurring before the weight is even lost. Although this is happening it is not a guarantee for all diabetics. I have also heard if your BMI is very high (not sure how high) then gastric makes more sense. My surgeon also said if I was 50 or older he would not recommend the band but he would rather do the gastric. I assume because he figured there is less time to reverse the diabetes by then I think they believe I will have gone from type I to type II and be insulin dependent. Anyway as of now my diabetes is in full control and I have about 60 lbs to lose. I am committed to losing the weight and I think the band is the answer for me. Again, it is different for each person.

Sorry...but what is Gas-X. I assume a pill of some sort...where do you get it.