umystifyme

I totally feel your pain!! I would only eat yogurt, pudding, and ice cream and then they stopped staying down. Then I went to Gatorade and Water only and I started throwing that up too. My surgery was done as an emergency. I would definitely call your surgeon.

I would like to stress that my band was completely unfilled. I was hungry all the time but could not keep food down. Finally, it got to the point that I could not even tolerate liquids and this was with a band that had been completely unfilled. I did not have pain, discomfort, or nausea. I hope this helps! If you think your band has slipped, call your surgeon and get an x-ray ASAP! Good luck!

No, unfortunately he did not. He just did band revision surgery.

I've been banded for almost 4 years. I have experienced being too tight. It is not a great feeling. I had my last fill in Jan 2013 and since then, I had 3 unfills. I still could not eat or drink anything. X-rays on July 31st 2013 showed that my band had slipped 3 inches. My doctor said it was from being too tight for too long. I had to have emergency revision surgery. I don't wish this on anyone. Please take it easy and go for small fills.

After a lot of complications, my doctor discovered that my band had slipped on July 31st. I had band revision surgery on August 2nd. I feel a lot better. I feel really tight and can't eat very much. I've lost a few pounds since the revision.

I am 5'4" and weighed 190.5 lbs at the time of my surgery. My insurance covered my surgery but at the beginning of the journey I had weighed 284.5 lbs. I also had several other serious health issues related to my weight. The Lap Band is a Life Style not a diet.

Hey...I was banded March 4, 2009...I am going January 3rd for a fill....I started out at 217 and now bounce between 153-156..hope the fill gets me going to loose a little more...love my band!

Skeetersmom,

I am sure that another fill will help give you a bit more restriction and will help the numbers on the scale to start dropping down!! That always helps and gives me more motivation to workout and keep my weight stable. Good luck!!

I am 5'4" and just got banded on 12/27. I started at 215 with a bmi of 37. I also have sleep apnea (which is a co-morbidity). Since my bmi was not too high, I felt like my sleep apnea was my golden ticket to have insurance cover my lap-band surgery. I only lost 4 pounds prior to surgery bc i was afraid of losing too much and not getting it covered. That is SO awesome that you lost so much on your own!! If I were you . .. I would keep going with that and if for some reason you stall and gain it back you could try to get approved again. Good luck!!

Thank you Sillymama for your support. I actually went through with the surgery on December 23, 2009. The morning of surgery, I weighed 197.2 lbs. I now weigh 144 lbs, which is about 4 lbs above my goal weight. My weight has been stable for over 8 months now and I feel great. In my case, it was the best decision I made.

It's been over a year since I posted on this thread and I wanted to update everyone. I celebrated my 2 yrs of being banded on Dec 23rd!! I'm at my goal weight and am maintaining it. I feel great!! To be completely honest, my stomach is flabby and my upper thighs are still thick. And I have cellulite and stretch marks. Things I never had when I lost weight before, but then again I had never weighed 285 lbs before. I just started dating and am having trouble telling guys that I have had wls.

I just wanted everyone to know that 2 1/2 years after starting this thread, I am banded and 150 lbs lighter. The band is a wonderful TOOL....I'm soo happy that I made the decision to change my life and my lifestyle!! I hope everyone that has read this thread and participated in it is doing well.

Amy

I was having horrible acid reflux in April 2011. It was going on for weeks and it took my awhile to realize that I must be too tight. I hadn't had a fill since 2010. So I met my surgeon at the hospital and he took out most of my Fluid. He said he would rather see me gain 10-15 lbs then be suffering from acid reflux and having bouts of throwing up from being too tight. He said after my body recovered and I started feeling better, he would start with small fills. Well between April-Oct 2011, I gained 12 lbs. But also during this time, I was being treated medically for another medical problem. That medical treatment also causes weight gain, which was out of my control. So I got a fill in early Nov and I am back to my goal weight and am maintaining even with the holidays. Do not let having an unfill worry you. Your body needs to rest and recover from the constant vomiting. After a few weeks, you can start with fills and you will lose whatever you MAY gain. If you watch yourself carefully, you might not gain anything. Good luck to you!!

After you are banded, you have little to no restriction until you get a fill. It may still take a couple of fills to reach your peak restriction. My surgeon and nutritionist said BEFORE surgery that "you" would probably not lose any weight right after surgery and not to be surprised if "you" gained weight. Their goal for us patients were for us to maintain our weight though. If we lost weight that was awesome. I was banded a little over 2 yrs ago and I remember bandster hell. I had complications and I could not have a fill for over 5 months after surgery! But with dedication, eating right, and working out, I did lose weight.... just very slowly. After my first fill, I dropped weight very quickly. That restriction is wonderful!! It really helps with the dedication! You should be getting your first fill within the next week or two..... and you will feel much better.

Pen~

Yes, it does feel great to be at goal, fit, and healthy. You have done AWESOME in 2 years.... you lost waay over 100 lbs!!! That's GREAT!! We all fall off the wagon, we are human.

I'm sorry to hear about your dilated esophagus. I pray that you stick to the doctor's orders and get to keep your band. Remember, you got banded for a reason and I know you can do this!!

I had lapband surgery on Dec 23, 2009. I can't believe that it has been 2 years since my surgery!! All I can say is that I LOVE my band and my new active life!! According to my profile, I am 5 lbs away from my "goal" weight, but I am very comfortable at the weight I am and have been for the past 8 months. My surgeon doesn't think I should lose any more weight. He said I would be too thin in the face if I did. But he does think I need to tone up my stomach and thighs. lol And I agree.

Merry Christmas!! Hope to hear from all you Bandsters!!

Just a quick update: I'm doing AWESOME!! I had my 3rd fill on September 29th. I lost 42.2 lbs in 9 months. I'm 15 lbs from my goal weight.

Hope everyone is doing great!!

AWESOME!!! You should be very proud!!

I have been banded for almost 9 months and I have lost 40 lbs. And I have had only two fills!! Drinking the Protein definitely makes a difference. The band has been a life-saver for me.

Congrats on your weight loss!!!

umystifyme, my bariatric dr told me that since i was a few pds under 100 need to lose, to NOT LOSE ANOTHER POUND until surgery. I too have BCBS and they go by your present weight and if, even with co-morbidities, i lose even a pound before surgery, they would not approve me. I really could not lose a pd before the band and am grateful for the guidance of my dr in vegas. Good luck and keep the faith, everybody has a different outlook on things.

Hi Sparkplug,

Every plan is different. I have BCBS PPO of Michigan. My plan goes by your starting weight. I know this as a fact because that is what they did with me. At the beginning of my journey, I weighed 285 lbs. I lost over 80 lbs when my doctor's office submitted my paperwork to BCBS of Michigan and I was approved. I did have some co-morbidities. On the day of surgery (12/23/2009), I weighed 197.2 lbs.

My advice to everyone is to talk with your insurance company and listen to your doctor. That is what I did and it worked for me in the end.... even though I was a nervous wreck... which is normal for me.... lol. Also get a preauthorization letter from your insurance company. I got one and it "pre-approved" me for this procedure and then outlined what was required in order to be approved. My doctor's office followed that letter to T and I was approved.

On a side note, I had a lot of problems post-op and was unable to have my first fill until May 25th. That was a long time without restriction. I had a second fill (very small) on June 30th. I now weigh 169.2 lbs. I'm feeling awesome!!!

Good luck to you on your journey!! Best of luck to all of you!!

Thanks again for all the support and comments. I wouldn't be here today without them!

Amy

I saw my surgeon on Wednesday, June 30th. In 5 weeks, since my first fill, I lost a total of 15 lbs!!!! I was and still am over the moon about this. Even though he resisted at first, he did give me a small fill. He did tell me to continue with my current diet and exercise program and to see him when I started to GAIN weight. He will only give me fills in the future after I have gained weight.

I was sick this past week and was unable to meet with my personal trainer. I am looking forward to doing that sometime this coming week.

I am open to suggestions regarding any types of exercises that will help tone up my triceps and my abs.

Open to comments and suggestions!!!

Anyone else having (or had) problems toning up their arms and their abs?? I'm working out consistently and am losing weight and inches but my stomach is not going down and my arms are flabby.

Any suggestions? I am having a session with a personal trainer on Wednesday. I hope she can help me. But any advice on here would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Amy

I'm down another 2 lbs and I will have my 2nd fill on Tuesday. I'm working out 6 times a week and watching what I eat.

Hoping that I can tone up my stomach and my arms.

I have little restriction. I am working out on a regular basis and watching what I eat. I am down over 13 lbs. I go in for my 2nd fill next week. I'm really excited to finally see the scale moving downwards and to be pain free at the port site!!

Hey Everyone!

Just a quick note. It's been a bit over 3 weeks since my first fill and I have lost 12 lbs!! I feel AWESOME!! I go in for my second fill on June 30th. It's been a long and bumpy road, but I feel great physically and emotionally.

Hope everyone is doing well!!

Amy

Hi Everyone!!! :Dancing_biggrin:

UPDATE!! UPDATE!! UPDATE!!

I finally got my first fill on Tuesday, May 25th!! Yes, a little over 5 months after my surgery.... but I got it!! I'm doing awesome!!

I had a lot of complications after surgery that prevented me from getting a fill sooner. I am doing great physically and emotionally.

Thanks for all your support!!

umystifyme, Your surgeon may not know what you do at your job, but they do know about healing from surgery, esp when there were problems ( like your falls). For those of you ready to complain about waiting 6-8 weeks- chill. the band is only a tool. any weight loss while not filled is a reflectionof your eforts, not the band. 9 i lost 12 # ,and the surgeon said it had nothing to do withthe band, just the surgery and my efforts) Some friends never lost during this time- so don't get discouraged. i 've plateaued for almost 6 months , due to healthissues . Anyone who fusses about not eating regular food post op is s fool.. You are having major surgery to place the band. There is a lot of swelling involved; and you will not be able to have much get through your stomach. Your surgeon, may go slow but they must consider all your health problems , and any surgery combined with the LAP-BAND®®, ie, hernia. This is not who can lose the most in 1 year. The maximum wt loss can take . on average, 3 years. I didn't get it to lose weight over night; it sure didn't come on overnight. i got it to change my health. :sad:

WOW!! You nailed it... all the weight I have lost post-op has been by sheer will power and exercise. My surgeon does not feel comfortable sticking a needle in me when he cannot touch the port area with his hand b/c it hurts too much. I totally agree and don't want him to come near me with a needle at this point in time. I'm in no rush right now. I'm healing. Yes, it's taking a lot longer than I expected. But it will be worth it in the end.

Sue, you couldn't have said it better. The band is a tool and I did not go into this thinking I would lose the weight overnight. I knew I had a lot of hard work ahead of me and knew that it would take time for it to come off. I'm just taking it one day at a time.

Thank you for being soo understanding of my situation and supportive. I truly appreciate it.

Amy

no, they do not go by starting weight.. my doctor said that even though my surgery has been okeyed, if i go before a 40 bmi they will not do my surgery.. and your bmi has to be a 35 if you have diabetes, sleep apnea, high b.p. and so on.. ive worked in doctors offices that specialize in this, and most doctors and insurances will go by the guidelines..

In the case of BCBS of Michigan and Illinois, they DO go by the STARTING weight. Here's my story.

In March 2009, I weighed 285 lbs. My BMI was 48.5 and I had several co-morbidities. I met with my pcp, a nutritionist, and a psychologist that month and began the lap-band process. I began to eat healthy and to work out. I started to lose weight rather quickly. Each month I saw my pcp and I attended my weight loss program sponsored by my bariatric program which was approved by my insurance company. I lost over 80 lbs during my 6 month supervised weight loss program. A lot of my co-morbidities disappeared once I dropped that large amount of weight and started to eat healthy and work out daily.

I want you to know that BCBS of Michigan (PPO) DOES go by your STARTING weight. I have my contract in front of me and that is what is stated in it.

I was terrified that I would not be approved for surgery because I had lost too much weight during the six month waiting period. That is why I started this thread. That was in August 2009. I had surgery on Dec 23, 2009.

At the time my paperwork was submitted to BCBS for insurance approval (Sept 2009), my BMI was close to 35. Here I was, barely 200 lbs with a BMI of 35 and no life threatening illnesses. No high blood pressure. No diabetes. No sleep apnea. Honestly, I really thought that I would be rejected. My surgeon's program coordinator kept reassuring me that my contract stated that they go by the starting weight and not your current weight. But in all honesty, I was scared that I had lost too much weight and resolved too many health problems in such a short amount of time that the insurance company could say, "Hell, she can do this on her own. She doesn't need the surgery." Well, in all honesty, I WAS the perfect candidate for this procedure. I was living proof that I could change my lifestyle for over 6 months and lose weight. I wanted this. I was not looking for a quick fix. I knew that this was a life altering decision that would change me forever and I was already embracing the next chapter in my life.

Six weeks later and a few pounds lighter, I was approved!! (Oct 2009) I continued to work out and eat healthy and lost several more pounds over the next 2 months). My BMI was a 33 when I had surgery on Dec 23, 2009.

I know all insurance companies are different but BCBS of Michigan and BCBS of Illinois STATE that they go with your STARTING BMI!! Talk with your surgeon and your program coordinators. They know what your insurance company wants and if they don't than think about changing doctors.

And my surgeon stated my medical history as outlined by my pcp and all my tests. And my insurance company went by the guidelines as set out in my contract.

Thanks,

Amy

I'm almost 11 weeks out and the pain is getting better. It is not as intense. I'm able to work and go to the gym. I still have not had a fill yet and that is by my own choice. I have lost another 1.6 lbs though. Hopefully, I will continue to feel better and will be able to get a fill soon.

Thank you for all your continued support!!