sbarham

Hi everyone.... I've been fighting with UHC but I've really gotten nowhere. Seems that when my husband's company changed ownership in January they still kept United Healthcare but they are under a different plan. UHC just isn't gonna cover any of my fills or follow-ups But...hopefully within the next couple of weeks I will be able to go in as a self-pay patient. I've managed to not gain any weight this week. Even though I was really hoping for a loss, I am satisfied. I don't have any restriction right now, so its been a struggle. I feel hungry alot - but I've still stuck with a 1000 calorie diet. Hopefully will be able to get things going again soon. Looking forward to getting a fill! Thanks for all your help and support. It really means alot!

Hi guys...it's been a while since I've been on this forum. I've been completely frustrated. I had surgery on December 3, 2010. I was doing really good but I've hit a road block. My insurance changed for the new year. Though my husband's insurance company remained United Healthcare, the policy has changed. It no longer covers anything that has to do with my lapband. I can't go for any fills or anything. My doctor's office has offered me a self-pay option, to pay $1000 for a year of maintance and follow-up. However, we cannot afford it right now, and frankly don't know when we will be able to. I have just about stopped losing weight. In the past 5 weeks I have only lost about 6 pounds, four of those were lost the week after I had my first and only fill in February. It didn't take long to figure out that my insurane no longer covers the fill - got a nice bill for the fill in February. I feel like I can eat more and more. I just don't have any restriction. I only have 3.5 cc's in a 10 cc band. I can't believe that I've went through surgery to now have it not be beneficial. I don't know when we will be able to afford to pay $1000 out of pocket, all of which has to be paid upfront before I can go back to the doctor. SOOOOOOO very discouraging. I hope you all have great success. I pray that I will be able to get things worked out soon.

Hi everyone. I was banded Dec 3, 2010. Yesterday I got my first fill - but only 1/2 cc. I now have 3.5 cc in a 10cc band. I am losing >2 pounds per week, which my doc says is great. But I am having problems with feeling really hungry every 2 hours. Does 1/2 a cc really make a difference? I am on a liquid diet today so I really can't tell if it's gonna help yet. I am down about 60 pounds since starting my six month supervised diet before surgery. Since surgery I have lost 28 pounds. Is anyone else feeling hungry often?

Hi FLORIDAYS... I was banded on 12/3 and went in for my first fill this past Wednesday. On my pre-op visit on 11/20 I weighed 269. By 12/3 on Surgery day I was 258. When I went in for my fill I was 243. 2 days later I weighed in today at 241. My doctor was very pleased with my progress so far. I was a little disheartened that he didn't want to give me a fill because I am losing at a good pace. But he was very encouraging and really made me feel like I am doing well without the fill. So far I haven't gotten sick at all and am having no problems with any foods. I am not having any heartburn or nausea. The doctor said that if he acts too aggresively and gives me a fill he is afraid that I will start having some of those problems. He said that he felt that I would just be back next week asking him to take it out. But he did say that when I return next month he thought I would be ready for a fill. But even still...only a little. I had alot of mixed feelings at first. I was kinda excited about getting the fill...I guess just ready to move on to the next phase and possibly loose more. But by the time I left the Doctor's office I felt good about it. The doctor was so very encouraging and really acted enthusiatic about my achievement so far. The recommended weight loss by Allergan - the makers of the band - is 2.0 - 2.5 pounds per week. Since 11/20 I have lost a total of 28 pounds. I had lost 10 pounds in the previous month. For a total of 38 pounds lost since October. I am estatic! I had a great NSV victory this week. All of my clothes are getting pretty baggy. I went to get just one outfit to reward myself. I had to go down 2 sizes in both my jeans and sweater. After I got home and tried it on for my husband and kids their remarks nearly brought me to happy tears. My daughter said that it was hard to tell just how much I had lost because my clothes were so big. My sons were like "Wow mom - you look so much smaller". And my husband was VERY encouraging! I hope and pray that I can continue on this well. And I wish the best of luck everyone else too. We are all on this journey together!

Thanks for the encouragement Dave. I know that this is a long journey and not gonna happen overnight. I guess I just expected better results from the liquid diet. But I do understand that my body is still healing from surgery. Don't mean to sound like I'm whining or complaining. I'm just getting on this rollercoater journey! I am determined to make this work! Hopefully the hard work will pay off! Again, thank you so much for the reply!

Ok....so I'm trying not to get discouraged!!! I weighed for my one week post-op today and I've lost only 4 pounds. I know that is a loss, and I should be happy. But I was expecting more for the first week, especially after being on Clear liquids. I've walked atleast 30 minutes everyday since 1 day post-op. I've seen others, like gardengal, that has reported 13 total lost. So my 4 pounds seems like it's not enough. The tightness in my chest is gradually getting better. The nurse told me to take gas-x and I have found that it does help. I am still not sleeping well, finding it difficult to find a comforatble position. I have almost no soreness anymore! (Yay) My husband has already said that it looks like my face is slimming down. Even though I only lost 4 pounds this week, I have lost a total of 42 lbs from my highest weight, back in January 2010 when I first began the journey towards having the lapband. My clothes are starting to feel really loose! So there's the good and the bad....Any thoughts?

I was banded on 12/3. I am having the pressure/tightness in my chest. I am also wondering if this is normal. I haven't had any burning though. I also have to sleep with my head/back elevated too. I can't seem to get in a comfortable posistion otherwise. I can feel my port. And when sleeping on the side where my port is, it is very uncomfortable. When I try to sleep on the opposite side it feels like it's pulling on the port. Hope this gets better because I don't sleep well on my back.

Hi all...I was banded on 12/3/2010. I am not really having much pain anymore. Just having some pressure/tightness in my chest that comes and goes. Is anyone else experiencing this? I am hoping that it's normal. I also have a rash on my stomach - which the nurse at my Doctor's office thought was probably a reaction to the iodine used in surgery. I can feel my port - which causes me some discomfort especially at night when trying to sleep. I have 100 pounds to lose. I am 5'2" and weighed in at 258 before surgery. I would love to lose a little more than 100 lbs when it's all said and done. I need to get to around 140 to be at a normal BMI. But I am a large build and I don't want to look too skinny. Just healthy. I am walking about 30 minutes per day already, but know that I am going to need to step that up in the next few weeks. Looking for a good gym and to purchase a treadmill for home. I am finding myself a bit anxious. Worried that I will be one of those people who aren't successful at losing weight even after being banded. I haven't had much instruction as to what the dietary suggestions are for solid foods. Of course I'm lookin ahead, since I'm still on liquids. But just wondering - has anyone had any good instruction on what to expect after moving to solids. Any calorie guidelines? Or portion guidelines? I would like to research this beforehand so that I know I'm on the right track getting started. Good luck to everyone! I would love to keep a support group of people who were banded in December 2010. Maybe we could help each other along!

I started this journey in January and hit a road block with the insurance company. I had to go through a six-month diet/nutrition program with my primary care doctor. I finally got my approval! I scheduled surgery today for December 3rd. I can't wait! Sooooo looking forward to a new me! I expect that the journey won't be easy but that it will be well worth it!

I've already completed all the testing. I thought surgery was about two or three weeks awayn the UHC denied saying the six month is requiured. Thus the disappointment. But it is very encouraging to hear someone was approved after having weight loss on the six month diet. Thanks for the reply!

My doctors office did check me benefits and UHC neglected to tell them about the 6 month requirement too. Thanks for the advice. I did schedule a visit with my PCP next week. I'm just afraid that if I loose any weight during the six months they will rule that I don't need the lapband. Have you lost any while on the diet?

I have completed all my pre-op testing and found out this week that I was denied because UHC is requiring that I submit documentation of a six-month supervised diet. When I called prior to beginning this process UHC told me the only requirement is a five year weight history and eligible BMI. I submitted more than five years history and my current BMI is 50. I am soooo very discouraged. I have yoyo dieted all my life and I'm truly ready to make the commitment. But I feel the lapband is they key to loosing and maintaining weight loss. Has anyone else been required by UHC to do the six-month diet? Any suggestions? I feel like this is just a way for UHC to prolong my agony!! Thanks for listening. I'm open for suggestions!