malinda1229

I'm my group therapy pre-op sessions we were told about this. People losing friends over the surgery, its so sad. They can not understand what we have gine thru to get to this point!! I guess she was never a true friend!!

The first thing they had me do was drink a mouthfull of something like alka-seltzer and told me not to burp the gas. then while standing take a sip of the thick barium hold it in your mouth then swallow when I tell you. did this a few times then while standing on the small platform and my side to the table they reclined the table. once in a laying positon I had to trun over and over to coat the baruim in my esophogus and stomach. now while laying down on my stomach they gave me more barium to swallow this was a bit thinner took more pics. then the table moves again to an upright position more picts. Then I go to work I lasted 1/2 hour I was back and forth to the bathroom 3 times last time I did not quite make it (i know TMI) I went home and stuffed myself with the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples and toast) to bind my self up. Wish someone warned me!! It seems to go one way or the other. The barium binds some...I was not that lucky!

If you wait until July you can pay 10% extra to tan, so wait untill then we need to get the govt out of debt. Thank you president obama for placing an additonal 10% tax on indoor tanners! This was part of the health care reform that just passed an it is the 1st thing to go into effect from that law!

I had an April 9th date Joined the Bandster Bunnies...insurance rejected...got everything worked out with insurance now have a date of July 15th and can't find a group. I dont want to start one if it has already been started!

July 15th for me and I can;t wait!

I've been making my own greek yogurt..its easy and less expensive!! I just add fresh fruit..no sugar, no additives, nothing but fresh milk and fruity goodness. You can find the method on our blog www.thereddragoncafe.blogspot.com I'm also finding that it is more filling eating whole or cut up fruit rather than the sugary processed fruit they put in yogurt.

I work for a company that sells health insurance so I knhow a little about this. United Health does cover the surgery...your PLAN does not. ALL health insurers have different plans with in them. For example I had United Health in 2009 and started this process, called and I WAS covered. I switched employers at the end of 2009 stayed with United Health but was now under a different plan that DOES not cover it. Got married went on my husbands Blue Cross they would cover the surgery but not with my out of state dr I had to find a Dr in RI. Blue Cross has 24 major health plans in RI then MANY other health plans for large employers. Bottom line its not the insurer but rather the plan you pick that can dictate if costs are covered. So before you go and switch see if your employer offers different plans within United (some large employers offer many options for the same carrier) before you head off and purchase individual coverage. BTW i may be less expensive for you to pay out right for the surgey than by an individual plan AND you may not even qualify as you will need to apply and they MAY want to see your med records.

We were told to stay away from the gummie bear ones as they dont provide the same nutrition and can get stuck.

My surgeon also recommended chewable flinstone vitamins!!

I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders! I have been approved for surgery! I started my journey at Lahey Clinic in Burlington Ma while under United Health Care coverage, everything was going along fine they paid for everything. On 01.01.10 I got married and went on my husband’s RI Blue Cross ChiP plan that’s when all the problems began. I kept going to Lahey, following the program giving them my new blue cross card as they were submitting bills Blue Cross is not paying, no one is notifying me! I’m not getting rejection notices from Blue Cross and I’m not getting bills from Lahey. I’m given a surgery date of April 9th…I get a call from Lahey Blue Cross denied your surgery. I call Blue Cross the 1st person tells me I need to have a PCP in the state of RI not in MA. But my PCP and all my other Dr’s are at Lahey in MA. So I call a personal friend who is a DR here in RI make an appt with her she recommends I have the surgery at Lahey in MA, submits the paperwork to Blue Cross Denied AGAIN. WHY because the surgery can be preformed her e in RI! It seems that my husbands Blue Cross will only cover out of state claims of you have an emergency out of state or you can not find the service you need locally. I have been at Lahey Clinic since 1976 and now I can’t go! L So my Dr friend recommends a new Dr here in the local area, from my research on the internet he gets high marks his staff not so much. It took over six weeks to get an appt with the Dr because his assistant would not listen to me that I had been thru a program and was scheduled for surgery and this was just a Blue Cross mess up. She refused to schedule an appointment until my 33 page lapband medical history was reviewed. I did finally see the doc and I don’t have to go thru his program since I have done all the preop work at Lahey. When he told the assistant that I did not need to go thru their program she gave him push back right in front of me!!! I just found out yesterday that Blue Cross approved my surgery I need to have a few more tests (upper gi, chest x-ray and blood work) and then I can get a date. Moral of the story don’t give up when your insurance provider says no. BTW we are switching to United Health care in January 2011, and I’m going back to Lahey for my fills and everything else.

If you are in a small group plan (i.e your employer has less tha 50 employee's) it can be excluded. Also you need to be aware that many carriers have MANY different plans so Blue Cross Coast to Coast may cover it but Blue Cross CHP may not. EVERY plan is different. You need to get on the phone with someone at the insurance company and say I want this surgery how do I go about getting it and if I can't why not. I'm willing to bet it is because you are in a small group!

Has anyone used Dr Roye...I was seeing another Dr but my insurance wont cover the operation with that dr...so all my per op was done out of state and I'm seeking another DR. Help please

Lap band has 2 port sizes 14.7 mm and 11.9 mm Realize 11.6mm not much of a diffrence between 11.9mm and 11.6mm. I think it also has something to do with how close the dr puts it under your skin??? IDK??

I am awaiting surgery - April 9th I chose the Lap band Took this off the Lab band site LAB BAND Patented 360° OMNIFORM® technology is the most advanced technology available today and provides soft pillow-like sections for evenly distributed pressure Seven pre-curved, pillow-like sections embrace the stomach with a natural shape for evenly distributed pressure, to provide band stability, reliable restriction, and the ability to personalize adjustments to control food portion sizes for optimal weight loss REALIZE C Band is one long tube-shaped balloon The single-tube balloon has the ability to kink like a rubber hose when filled with higher levels of saline (see photo below). Often referred to as a "crease-fold", over time it may cause the band to leak saline, which may require an operation to replace the band CUSTOMIZE Two band sizes and two port sizes available — giving your surgeon four different combinations of options to customize your LAP-BAND® System to best fit your anatomy better and optimize your weight loss Both Realize™ bands, including the latest Realize™-C Band, are available in one size only — with no options for customizing fit PORT SIZES The LAP-BAND® port is quickly and easily placed beneath your abdomen and secured with stitches. LAP-BAND® surgeons may also use surgical mesh material in which the port is sutured to the mesh and placed in the abdomen to secure the port.14 One report of 191 patients has shown that port fixation using surgical mesh may prevent rotation of the port after surgery, as well as providing better access for post-surgery adjustments. Realize Available in one size, with no options for customizing fit The other factor was the NP told me that if her mother was having this surgey she would tell her Lap band was the way to go Hope this helps

I would check with your state Medical Board...they MAY be able to tell you where he is OR if he still has a valid license to pratice. Seems a bit odd that someone would leave a pratice suddenly without a very good reason.

Lahey Clinic in Burlington MA has been givien the Bariatic Center of Excellence Designation from the American College of Surgeons...only 5% of hospitals have this. They also have a 0% mortality rate. My Dr there is Demitri Neponashy.

Anyone Having/had Lap Band at Lahey Clinic - Burlington MA Just would like to know what your experience was like at this hospital and who your doctor was.

We make our Greek yogurt own and add frozen berries to it no sugar, or ginger and orange zest, or even honey!! I can't stand regular yogurt. I guess its all a matter of taste..that is why there is variety!!

Good for you...great job both in the peice and your weight loss!!

We were told in our pre-op classes that cereal w/milk and soups were NOT good foods for us to eat. It goes back to the rule no drinking with meals because the liquid pushes the food down and you will feel less full.

During my pre op classes they told us to get a kitchen scale to weigh our food like the 3-4 oz of protein we need to eat per meal. IMHO this is the most accurate way to measure solids - cups are for liquids.

you can qualify with a BMI of under 40 if you have 2 comorbidiy factors. I had a BMI of 38 with Diabetes and sleep apnea. My current BMI is 35... My surgery date is April 9.

Target has Pure protein as well I think I pay 6.99 or 5.99 for 4 cans. I get the cookies and cream and love it. I also buy EMS advantEDGE (17 gms of Protein) in the silver boxes, that is 4.99 for 4 boxes at target as well. I like the pure protein better for taste but I like the price of EMS

Good Luck...I'm on my final countdown 29 more days!

April 9th....can't wait!!!