lml32937

I am going to be sleeved in 1 month. But when I had my lap band I had the same concerns- All I can say is that my "energy"/obsession was guided into another one.. and that was exercise- I became obsessed with it- until I hurt my back and couldnt go at it like before. It wasnt until I hurt my back and couldnt exercise that I realized I needed to internally deal with things and I started to really look inward into what made me do what I had done to myself?? Once I realized I couldnt blame anyone anymore and spoke to many people from my past that had either caused me pain or hurt both mental and emotional- I felt like a huge weight was lifted. I started to realize and actually soak in healthy eating and eating for 1 and usint my band a as a tool etc... I discovered a whole new world of foods, exercise I could do with a bad back etc.. IN the process I developed new relatiohships and have made friends for life with the new me if that makes sense- I am at a much better place personally and know that moving forward things can only get better but the fear of going back still looms... I think we just all need to figure out the trigger and try to deal with it...good luck!

Considering I too have over 100lbs to loose you are such an encouragement and confirmation that I am heading in the right direction-- Nov 18th is my date and I'm SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!! Thanks for sharing your information and continued success!

How'd it go?? Any after effects??

I wouldnt have waited this long- Obviously that's not normal... Hopefully it's nothing serious. Good luck!

Advanced liquid Protein Shot 45g Protein 0g Sugar 0g Fat Liquid Protein with an Incredible Taste Saw this over the weekend... lots of protein- Claims great taste... curious...

Thanks for sharing.. good to know!

In 2007 I had Thyroid cancer- had both glands and 4 parathyroids removed- went through ablation and more radiation x1 year afterwards.. Have suffered with auto immune problems FOREVER and have lost a half of head of hair between the thyroidectomy and lapband in 2009- 3 months after lap band I started Biotin 1000mg twice a day for 6 months then once a day- I noticed a gradual difference- I used to clean the shower drain daily and now it is only a few times a month (of hair) My hair is not back to pre-cancer but it is back to fuller, healthier and I feel better about it too... I know the anesthesia is one of the biggest issues that help cause it not to mention the vtamin deficiencies etc.... I can only speak for myself and my experience but I SWEAR by Biotin... I know it will happen again with the sleeve in November but mentally I am better prepared for it as well as having the Biotin in me and on hand....

After joining this group and reading all of the problems with the band that many have had I am now a beleiver that the band is not a permenant thing. Having said that only you and your body and your doctor will be able to determine when enough is enough. I think you have to outweigh the benefits of the band if it is still truely working for you or not- If you are unfilled and doing most of the work then perhaps you can loose the remainder on your own. But if you need that extra push and have not been able to in the past then obviously the sleeve is the answer BUT if it were just 25-30 lbs- the sleeve to me seems quite drastic... As with the lapband- I would only reccomend it if someone had 40-75lbs to loose after that It would be the sleeve- I cannot wait to have my band out and get sleeved but then again I have a LOT more to loose. Good luck!

Mine did not but I don't know if my extenuating circumstances of worsening auto immune problems helped with that decision or not.. BUT do make sure they get both the removal and sleeve authorized as 2 seperate things... I've heard horror stories on people preparing to do both and are only authorized for the band removal... do double check.. I am lucky to have such good coverage.

Although i'm not sleeved yet, I agree with everyone else.. AND if I were you this early on I would DEFINITELY get a 2nd opinion.... Obviously there is a lot more information that you need to allow yourself to absorb.... Good luck!

My opinion is that if you have never been in a therapists office before it can be very intimidating especially when you are going through what we go through. you want to appear perfect so as not to disrupt the "system" of getting approval... Yet they are trained to see right through us and determine what is nerves and dysfunciton. I think (again my opinion only) that they really need to make sure that you personally understand what you are doing- you are not suicidal or homicidal if you fail- you have a support system and you are able to handle the post op care and success. Remember not only your life is changed; if you are married or have kids they can develop envy, jealousy etc. and you yourself could find a new sense of freedom so to speak with things you may have never been able to do- the divorce rate with WLS is pretty high- Personally i havnt seen anyone in my area "fail" the psych test and buleeve me when I met some at a previous support group it made me wonder HOW they got through the gate.. (lol) but try to relax i'm sure if it was fine and it is just pre jitter worry... If you have a good repore wtih your surgeons office call just to "make sure they got the report" in a few days- obviously if there is any negative connotation like they want to see you ASAP or something they will tell you... GOod luck!!

I had my band unfilled last week. For about 2 days I still had a bit of either restriction or worry (cant tell) when I was eating.. Now I have absolutely NO restriction and feel like I can eat anything in the house including the house!!! I feel like I have reverted back to old habits in a matter of 7 days and am so miserable!!!! My doctor said don't worry about it I wlll loose it pre op and post op definitely but Is it normal to be so hungry after getting the band unfilled?? Not only am I feeling hunger worse than before I am still eating smaller portions so I feel like I am eating more often.. Should I eat bigger portions less often??

congrats! and I totally agree

I am scheduled for surg on Nov 18 so while family and friends are eating turkey I will be drinking broth and I'm ok with that. I have not had any food funerals so to speak but I am in my pre-pre op mode and making wiser decisions etc.. When I had my lap band that surgery was in April and by that November for thanksgiving I couldnt hardly eat anything due to restriction- it was bitter sweet- it was nice because this is what I wanted but it was sad because it made me realize the assocation the holidays had for me with food eating, prepearation, overeating etc.. it caused me to do a lof of inward reflecting that I previoulsy hadnt done and I realized how much obsessing on food I did... It was an eye opening experience because NO holiday since then has revolved around the food anymore... so hopefully after this surgery that new tradition can continue... Good luck! looks like we will be sleeved around the same time!

Thank you so much- I appreciate it!

I have UHC also but as you know they have many different plans. I can offer this advice- Have EVERY physician you saw, Dermatologist, Primary care, Foot doctor, Endocrinologist, Pulmonologist etc.. write your surgeon a letter stating the medical necessity and also that failure to do something drastic may cause other life threatening issues which may possible incur more cost to them in the long run. They have to be strong in their verbage. The more they have the more ammunition you have to get it covered. It helps also if your surgeon has someone willing to work with you getting all of this stuff done- If you havent seen all these specialist for your- co-morbidities GO SEE THEM!!! Most likely (excuse the assumption) if you are overweight you have stresst to your heart- see a cardiologist- Diabetes or pre-diabetes- possible polycystic ovaries etc.. Thyroid-- see a endocrinologist- EVERY RASH or skin discoloration that may be due to overlapping/hanging skin see your PCP etc... It may take leg work on your part but it may help. NOW if the sleeve is an excluded benefit on your plan than unfortunately you are probably SOL.... and that sux.. There are some insurances that only pay for band or bypass.... good luck-

Most offices make you pay up front so that surprises me that your surgeon's office was not clear. I'm sorry you are having to go through this but seeing everything you have done trying to rob peter to pay paul I dont know what else to suggest.. I beleive everything happens for a reason and perhaps this is a sign that right now is not the right time..... Your after care is as important if not more important than your pre op care- the hard part (financially) wtih the testing and pre requisites are hard I know but unless they are willing to work with you and make payment plans and take into consideration your situation I dont know what else to advice... keep praying... I'm rooting for you!

Living in Fla and being in the Medical field I can tell you that Florida Medicaid does not cover it because it is NOT covered by Medicare- Florida Medicaid. Having said that there are some things that Medicare covers and Medicaid doesnt for example some types of medical equipment, supplies, proecdures, tests etc... Unfortunately every patient I know on Medicaid has had to go out of the country to be able to afford it because a) if you are able to save and have it here in the US you run the risk of losing your benefits because obviously you can cover the cost of your care and b)it is less expensive and follow up is hard to get done because very few specialists accept the plan which is why most medicaid recipients utilize the ER for their care. It's a catch 22.

to add.. Not being able to bend over to shave your legs comfortably Not wanting to go to a friends house for a BBQ without your own chair for fear they have those flimsey plastic ones Not wanting to be a passenger in someones car for fear that you cant get in and out or wear the seat belt Fear of going to a new place to eat that MIGHT have chairs with arms Going to a physician's office and NOT being able to weigh because they don't have a digital scale OR chairs that fit obese people Not being able to enjoy the beach because once you lay down it is a process to get back up without a small group of people helping you Not being able to go deep sea fishing becuse a) there is no bathroom and nto enough "room" on the boat Not being able to go to the bathroom on a plane (this might not be a bad thing for some lol) Worrying about going to a bathroom where the tank is attached to the wall and you sit and you hear a "CREAK" in the wall.. (seriously- happened to a friend of mine in an airport in Colorado) The list goes on and on and on.... Sad but true:(

If your plan "excludes" it then your employer elected to not have coverage for that service. It is not the insurance- it is the particular plan you have. Normally though if you have a doctor willing to fight and there is enough medical justification you may be able to fight that. otherwise for "excluded" benefits you are SOL... sorry... Now as to why they didn't tell you earlier- perhaps someone called to verify your benefits and was told that records would need to be received before they made a decision because perhaps Lap Band or RNY is (a lot of plans cover these) and your doctor thinking of what is normally pre-requisites so to speak went ahead and did all of them and when all is said and done once they saw revision it was not covered. Will they pay for the band to be removed?? Have you had problems with your band??

I lost about 85 lbs and at least 78 inches (maybe more) with my lapband so I already have saggy skin going into my revision- I'm hopeful that when I loose some more and feel better I can get better situated in a gym and actually tone easier but right now it is even hard where i'm at... Surgery for me is inevitable but I will just wait until I'v plateaued at last 1 year...

In following multiple posts.. I see people talking about different sizes of sleeves. I didnt know there were different "sizes" to be had?? I thought that a % of your stomach was removed- I know with the band there were multiple sizes but I would think all surgeons remove the same amount. My doctor said he would remove 80-85% of my stomach so what "size" would that sleeve be?

YAY- Got date 11/22 AND Authorization # and all today... SOOOOOOOOOO excited...

Well during my pre- op today I found out he does a 40. He explained that less was just in millimeters and his experience is anything less than a 38 puts you at a greater risk of problem including mal-absorption and ultimately leading to a bypass. I have to trust that he knows this to be true and am content with his explanation- worst case scenario in 10-20 years I need a revision. to my revision.. lol...

it is unfortunate that we need to be our own advocates.. I learned this the hard way many years ago.. I went into my surgeons office with letters of support from all of my physicians. That way they couldnt say we never got the fax, they never sent it etc... I know it is a lot of work but so is living with the band (as i have) and now soon to be with the sleeve. The people employed are only going to be as ambitious as they are paid to be and although it is sad it is true. I work in the medical field and it bother's me to admit but from a management perspective it is true... sort of like the rude person at the drive thru- if they were any smarter they would not be working flipping burgers.. ya know?? All I can say is a) be comfortable with your physician and his staff- if you have to take matters into your own hands legally they are YOUR medical records.. request them and go to another doctor OR contact your other physicians for letters of support so your surgeon doesnt have to... Good luck!