ParrotheadCathy

How very odd that the only supporting emails are from people who have made exactly ONE post on this site....to support a hinkey product. How the heck did they find the website and this thread in the first place???? Because they went looking for a place to support the product. Next question? Just how much were they paid for those posts? we get paid posters on here supporting Mexican surgeons, etc. The bottom line is if you use some supplement diet aid, the only thing that will get slim (and stay that way) is YOUR WALLET.

Relax, that's no rant. Just stating facts. I have a BCBS HMO and, as I said, mine specifically says it will not cover any weight loss surgery. My best friend, who had surgery exactly 2 weeks after me has a BCBS HMO as well and hers says it will cover weight loss surgeries BUT you have to have had a BMI of 37 or higher for three years; hers was that high for only 18 months so they denied her. That's employer negotiations that are based on cost control .... what can be provided for a specific cost. I would hate for someone to see you say HMOs pay for it and everything else....only the have their hopes dashed when they are denied. This isn't the place for a debate of the healthcare plan, but something has to change because a huge number of people have no insurance whatsoever, are not eligible for assistance as far as medical care, and just pray daily that nothing disastrous happens to them.

ThinAli, Let me point out that you made a sweeping statement that is incorrect. All HMOS do not pay for lap band surgery. I know, because MY HMO contains a written exclusion for any and all weight loss surgeries. I've said it many times here. EVERY POLICY is different. Your employer negotiates the coverage for which is it willing to pay. Just because Jane Doe's BCBS HMO paid for her LBS does not mean that John Smith has the same coverage under a BCBS HMO from a different employer. MountainGal, even if the President's health plan is approved, it won't be in this session (they are now off for August). And it will take some period of time to ramp up and get it operational. Certainly not overnight. In the meantime, how long would it be before you know what kind of coverage it might end up providing? Or even if it will apply to you. I mean, I even see the possibility of it being gutted down to guaranteeing coverage only for those who have no insurance, like say all the unemployed or workers whose employers don't provide any insurance (like fast food and retail, etc. because they make sure to not give them employees enough hours to qualify for such things). One of the things that is a tiny part of the health plan is to eliminate exclusions for pre-existing conditions. That would keep thousands, if not millions, of Americans from being underinsured ... that is, no coverage for a condition covered under a previous policy but excluded from a new plan because it existed prior to enrollment. The plan has good and bad but somewhere in the middle a hell of a lot of people would benefit.... We'll have to wait and see.

I can't answer the Medicare question but as far as meds go.... In the first couple of weeks after surgery, there is a good bit of swelling and it can be tough to swallow much of anything .... part of the reason for the post-op liquid diet. Most meds can be crushed but your pharmacist can tell you which ones can't. A good many meds are available in liquid form. Most of us discovered that once we were back to solid foods we could swallow pills but just 1 at a time. Starting the day of surgery, I am off all my medications. I was Type II diabetic, had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was taking an anti-depressant because my doctor felt that an anti-depressant was an important part of treating Type II Diabetes. But if you've ever taken a Calcium supplement you know they have a good size to them and I can swallow those with no problem.

The pounds really won't help you much. I'm 5'10" and 214 pounds looks a lot different on me than it would on somebody 5'2". And then there's the whole distribution issue....one person who weight 175 could carry all their weight in their hips (pear shaped) and another one could have the weight more evenly distributed.

Immediately post-op you may have to crush them. After you're healed and the swelling has gone down you may find that you can either take them whole one at a time or at most cut them in half. Let me also point out that in the case of Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and even depression meds, after you lose weight (not even all the way to goal) you may not even need the meds at all. I haven't take any meds since the day of surgery and pre-op, I was take 3 diabetes meds, 3 blood pressure meds, lipitor and an antidepressant. None now.

First, it won't be painful. What a crock. You can request that the numb the port area before they put the needle in and then there's nothing to feel. Just the little sting from the lidocaine needle. Removing any saline shouldn't hurt because it will be an immediate and noticeable relief. I've been too tight once and it was like a giant ball of ice in my chest melting at warp speed. Yes, it will lessen with time, but how long? Nobody can predict. A lot of your tightness is post-op swelling and no two people heal at the same rate. So you have to decide can you get in enough hydration (I can't stress how important this is) AND enough Protein (which I am assuming you are getting from protein shakes) on a daily basis. If not, go get a bit of an unfill.

In the beginning, I was told that the goal was that I would feel full on about 3/4 cup of food and that I would feel full for about 4 hours. Anything less than that meant that I needed another fill. It's held true for me.

Hey, it's medical. If you are a self-pay, you have most likely exceeded the minimum medical expenses to have it included as part of itemized deductions (it's a percentage of income and we don't make the same amount). I know I have! This will reduce your taxable income. If, on the other hand, your insurance paid for it, your co-pay may not be enough to exceed the minimum but by all means do the worksheet when you do your 2009 taxes next spring. And, remember to keep track of your donations of clothing that no longer fits because that is a charitable donation and reduces your taxable income dollar for dollar. But you get a few wonderful benefits whether it affects your taxes or not. Healthier, happier, thinner, can wear "regular" clothes.....need I say more! All that is better than a tax credit. I always do my taxes with TurboTax (I work in a law firm and the originator of that product was a client so I was one of the first to test it out) and that and similar tax preparation programs will take all the numbers and determine if you've met threshholds, help you get the charitable donations stuff entered, etc. And, AirKuhl, they are talking about funding health care with a "sin-ful" tax on fattening foods....if they do that, at least we will be avoiding that one, LOL!

Okay, FIRST take a deep breath. It's really not going to be that bad. Believe it. "I was told that I could not lift more than 10 pounds after surgery. How long does that restriction last? I hear law school books are pretty heavy and I have purchased a rolling back pack so I will not worry about carrying them for awhile, but I would like to be able to eventually carry them." The restriction is just for a couple of weeks. You don't want to put any pulling stress on your incisions at first, that's all. "Also I was told that after surgery it is best to avoid steak and chicken......any opinions on that???" Don't let anybody tell you now that there are foods you won't be able to eat. We're all different. For example, I have had a problem with soft bread pretty much from the start, but many, many people eat sandwiches and dinner rolls and buns with no problem whatsoever. The truth is that DRY Protein of any kind can be a little difficult to swallow. Steak cooked rare to medium rare is easier than well done. If you cook chicken yourself, don't buy those expensive boneless skinless chicken breasts (styrofoam in disguise). Buy regular chicken breasts with bones and skin, cook, don't eat the skin (or the bones, LOL) and that chicken will be moister and tastier. Marinades and lo cal sauces can take care of the dryness too. Crock pot cooking produces moister Proteins too. Getting a band is not a life sentence of not being able to eat delicious foods that you like. It is learning not to eat so much of them! If I had read all the posts here about how people can't eat this, that, or the other when I was just getting ready to have surgery or just recovering, I would probably have thought I made a HUGE mistake. The truth is, I can eat just about anything. Do I miss the soft bread? Not really. I'm not a sandwich person to start with so no great loss. pizza....lots of people say they can't eat pizza anymore. But I can eat the thin & crispy crust (which is what I like the best anyway) without any problem at all. Just try foods. The only real restrictions are (1) cut your food into bites about the size of a nickel. (2) chew really well, swallow and then pick up your fork and take another bite.

Eating too much a couple of times won't cause a slip. For those that consistently overeat, it becomes more of a risk. I think if you were to really assess those who have come on here who have actually had a slippage versus how many posters there truly are you would see that it is a very, very small percentage.

You just had a fill ... only the second one. Did you talk to your doctor (or physician's assistant) at all? That's the best time to express questions. Second best .... get on the phone. You certainly aren't the only patient they have who has questions so relax and ask away. A few comments. "Full" without a lap band and "full" after being banded are two different feelings. You shouldn't ever eat until you have that Thanksgiving dinner Full feeling. That's over-full. "Full" now should be that you eat a meal within your eating plan and you are no longer hungry. And you should not feel hungry again for 4 hours. If that's not what's happening you, need to schedule another fill. Getting stuck happens. Maybe the bite was too big. Maybe you didn't chew it quite enough. I've gagged myself a couple of times to just get a stuck bite to move. Slips do happen but they aren't so common. Like I said, you need to call your doctor, ask your questions and answer any they may have for you. IF (and that's an all-capital IF) you were to have a slip confirmed (probably with fluoroscopy or a barium swallow), the first line of treatment is an unfill with liquid diet for a couple of weeks. But don't worry about that yet. Talk to the doctor first.

dbinnc, email me and I promise to help with meal suggestions. I think I can offer up some simple, tasty meals once I know a little more about what you like, etc. parr0thd51@aol.com

dbinnc, I'm actually glad I didn't know about this website until a while after I had my surgery. I would have thought the same thing as you .... that I can't eat anything. Luckily, I just forged ahead and found out that I can eat all that stuff, except for soft bread. But LOTS of people can eat soft bread. I can eat pizza, but I prefer the thin crust so maybe that's why I don't have any problems with it. DRY meats can be a problem, so re-evaluate your cooking process. Crock pot cooking, marinating, "mopping" with liquids when grilling, lo-cal sauces like mustards, etc. I found something interesting in the store, too .... Arnold's Bread makes a "bun" that is very thin, 100 calories, whole grain and I love the taste. Now, I have burgers instead of a piece of meat. As for your meds, the first week or two weeks, you will have swelling which will make you tighter than you will be later on. I don't take any meds on a regular basis anymore except for Calcium supplements and I can swallow those horsepills whole with no problem NOW but not at the very first. At first I was very aware of all the changes but now, 5-1/2 months later, it's no biggie. The thing is to NOT ASSUME anything. Try your favorite foods. Always remember to take bites about the size of a nickel and chew it well. Don't take big gulps of any liquids and you should be fine. REALLY. And, if you want to talk to me back channel, my email is parr0thd51@aol.com

Call your insurance company and ask them if they have a requirement that your BMI be a certain amount for a specifical period of time. Some do, some don't.

I subscribe to the South Beach daily emails....I get good recipes there mainly. However, today's email included these suggestiongs to control cheating. They are somewhat basic, but I think we all need reminding now and then! Skip the chip and cookie aisle at the grocery store and focus on the fresh foods around the perimeter. Empty your cupboards and refrigerator of all the unhealthy foods that trigger your cravings. When going out to eat, don't tease yourself by looking at the dessert menu. Instead, eat a serving of sugar-free Jell-O or a sugar-free Popsicle when you get home. Always carry a healthy snack with you, like a low-fat cheese stick or a handful of plain nuts. If someone gives you an indulgent present, like a box of chocolates or your favorite cookies, share it with your coworkers, give it to a neighbor or friend, or donate it to a local shelter.

I wish I knew where to post is on here, but someone compared chronic obesity to being forced to sit at a slot machine and put in quarter after quarter and never, ever hitting the jackpot even once. But we all did it and wished the whole time that we weren't. We dieted and regained many times, suffered the health complications and mental suffering. Restless Monkey's right -- ask the next naysayer why on earth they would criticize your choice when it has been the one thing to help you allay your years and years of suffering!?!?

YEAHHHHHHHH JASON!!!!! The waiting won't be so terrible, really .... I mean these 13 weeks have flown by in many ways. You've worked hard and you're finally ready for surgery. Three weeks more. We'll all be counting the days with you!!

It's amazing how just a tiny amount can make a difference! Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

My doc says that once you reach good restriction and aren't coming into the office so often you should make a point of coming once every six months. They will draw all the saline out of your band and verify that it's still the amount it's supposed to be and top off if necessary. Apparently, small amounts of fluid can "evaporate". I say make an appointment and just get checked.

It never hurts to ask you PCP if they personally know a bariatric surgeon with a good reputation. My PCP only knew one BUT he had his office check for complaints against anybody I was interested in.

There's another PPI. Been around a couple of years at least because I took it for a year as part of ulcer treatment. Aciphex. Talk to your doc. You can probably take something else along with a PPI for those couple of days, say Pepcid or Zantac until the PPI gets up to speed. IF your doc hasn't prescribed a PPI for you, then shame on him. Tell him you need DRUGS.

I keep a glass of ice water on my desk or near at hand when I'm not at work at all times. I've never "chugged" a glass of water in my life, but I would say that once past the immediate post-op period, I drink water the same way I always have.

As part of my pre-op testing, I was required to have a standard metabolic panel done ... which are the items you named ..... liver enzymes, thyroid levels, cholesterol, etc. I did not have my surgeon actually do any of the pre-op stuff because my surgery was not covered by my insurance and he was not a listed provider. I went back to my PCP and had everything either done by him or by doctors he referred me to who were covered by my insurance. But the test you had is actually VERY common. That you didn't get a call back with the results probably means that every thing was okay, but I would call and just ask for the results of the blood work. I saw my surgeon two weeks before surgery and on the day of surgery. That's it. As long as I have no problems, his physician's assistant and another doctor on his staff have taken care of me.

Karen, you're not a failure....you're still working at being able to plan. The tag sale situation....I will say that it was poor planning on your part. Invest in a small cooler. Keep some ready-to-drink Protein shakes on hand. Got to go out and don't know for certain what will be available to you? Stick an RTD in with a couple of bottles of Water. A healthy snack, such as low fat cheese. That junk food in the house? I know it's for your husband BUT he's gonna need to be supportive of you an not leave all those temptations there for you. My 20 year old granddaugher lives with me and she's 5'7" and weight 105 .... snack away, LOL. But I make her keep her Snacks in her room rather than in my kitchen where I have to look at them when I am at my weakest (when I'm hungry). Believe me, I've done what you did and, yeah, I regretted it but you have to put it behind you. If you eat something "bad", don't let it ruin your whole day. Jump back on the wagon and do right for the rest of the day. And, we're all here for you with ideas and SUPPORT.