NoMoBand

Do you suffer from seasonal allergies (hayfever)? When pollen counts are high this is exactly the way I feel. I take a 12 hour sudafed, which was approved by my lapband doc and really helps. Warm liquids also help, for me anyway.

Many primary doctors are not well versed in the lapband system and will not support it or will dwell on the negative, while others just discriminate against the patient and feel that the patient doesn't have the will power to lose the weight. As all of us know that we can lose weight, however, to keep it off permanently is another story. All my life I dieted and lost weight and my most success was being on Weight Watchers program for a couple of years and I managed to lose over 120 lbs. When I went off the weight watchers program and ended up working a third shift at my job, I gained it all back and then some. Unfortunately, many, but not all, insurance companies put a high importance on whether your primary supports the lapband via the letter of medically necessity and approval. I was really lucky that my primary has 10 lapband patients and is all for it and was extremely supportive. My advice to you? If this is what you really want, I would look for a primary that will support you. In the meantime, I would attend a seminar which gets the ball rolling. The bariatric program will contact your insurance company to find out what their requirements are. Your letter of necessity comes later and the lapband doctor may recommend a doctor on your plan. Your BMI and HB pressure may be all you need without your primary on board. Keep us posted. Jake

BCBS of New Mexico here. 3 month nutritional consult, psych evaluation. Paperwork submitted and was approved in 3 days. Strange how all BCBS insurance have different requirements from state to state.

I try to get my proteins from meat sources. I'll use liquid proteins after a Stuck episode just to let the swelling go down for a day or so.

You are correct, but as long as I have a choice, I'll continue making my appointments on Wednesday's.

Each time (at least 5 times) when I was filled or unfilled by a PA the insertion of the needle hurt like hell. I even thought that she was doing it on purpose at one time and left the appointment cursing her. Probably isolated, however, each time my doc has done it I don't even know when the needle is in.

Lovelace Westside Bariatrics. Dr. Lilibeth Sanchez will do fills, but, she's only there at clinic on Wednesdays. All her fills are done under floro and for me they have always been painless and successful. If you make an appointment make sure you let them know that you want the fill done by Dr. Sanchez. The number there is (505) 727-2300. I feel the same way about PA's. SouthWest endocrinology in Albuquerque also does fills, however, I don't know much about them.

Here is the web site for instruction, http://www.5daypouch...an/theplan.html Basically, it is just like the prep diet before surgery or after a fill. Here a clip of it from the site. "This is the 5-day plan that I have developed and used to determine if my pouch is working and return to that tight newbie feeling. And a bonus to this plan, it helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet and it triggers weight loss. Also, it is not difficult to follow and if you are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern. Sounds pretty good, right?" My modified version of it is done in 3-4 days. Day 1 - nothing but Clear liquids all day. Tough to do but well worth it. Day 2 - 1 liquid Protein shake for Breakfast, 1 liquid Protein Shake for lunch, 1 can of Soup for supper. Day 3 - Mushies eg. cream of wheat for breakfast, scrambled eggs for lunch, 1 can of soup for supper. Day 4 - Soft Proteins like tuna fish, any kind of fish, Spam. eg. scrambled eggs for breakfast, tuna salad for lunch, soup or other soft protein for supper. Day 5 - Start adding harder proteins - by this day, I get my restriction back and usually return to my regular bandster diet. You can follow the sites instruction but they ask that you eat much more proteins. I can tell you that if you follow the test, you will get your good restriction back if your pouch/band is working correctly. If not, it's time to visit your doc. jake

Have you tried the 5 day pouch test? This will get you back on track and will also give you an indication if your pouch/band is functioning properly. I will go on this 5 day test every so often just to give the band a break. It works.

You're doing great!!! As long as we are following the bandster way and rules of eating we need to remind ourselves that weight loss with the band is much slower than other WL surgeries. Slower weight loss is much healthier for us and with exercise you will speed things up. Keep it up! jake

I had issues with my port and I had my port relocated. The only thing that I have that not all band patient's have is 3 additional scars, but, no big deal to me. Important thing is that my port is functional and have had no other problems with it.

Please keep us posted on what your doctor's response is to the lapband. I highly encourage you to pursue the lapband or weight loss surgery. With the agonizing pain associated with being too heavy is a very difficult way of life, especially when you can't be as active with the kiddos as you wish you could be. With all the dieting and yo yo weight loss all my life, I had to do something not only too lose the weight but to keep it off. The band has and is doing this for me. Man, it has changed my life and outlook! Feel free to ask any questions. I'm there for you. Jake

Well, I had a 2nd surgery done. This was 6 weeks after my initial surgery and my port and tubing were re-located to the other side of my stomach. The surgery took 2 hours because they had to disinfect the tubing and was a slow process. Why the seroma, we don't know. This is where "things just happen" and my band surgeon had no explanation and was very surprised. I was the first this had happened to. In my opinion, I started working out too soon. My workouts consisted of very light walking on a treadmill and short distance biking. My doctor did not think this did it, but, I say surgery is surgery and the body needs time to heal and we should take it easy at least the first month after just to be on the safe side, but, we're all so different. Would I do it again, heck yes, I love my band and hope I never lose it!

Ok, just saw the news video, well surprise, I had my lapband here in the US and the same thing happened to me. Mine was not due to an infection, but, due to a seroma. Bottom line is, "things happen" and yes you should consider staying in the US for this surgery, but, sometimes you just can't afford it. Do your homework.

Heck even if you've had lapband surgery in the US some Bariatric doctors will not accept band patients if they did not perform the surgery themselves, which is crap! I initially checked into Mexico and knew a few people that successfully had it done there. I then discovered that my insurance changed their exclusion on WL surgery and I qualified. I am so glad they did!!!!

Looks like you may qualify on the BMI alone and you also have Hyper Tension. Most insurances will cover lower BMI's (35 or below) if you have a least 1 co-morbidity, however, all insurance companies have different requirements. I can share that at 325 lbs, before the band I had severe sweating and shortness of breath for any little activity. I was often embarrassed by this. Mild back pain, but, had excruciating knee and leg pain. I would walk to exercise but there was a price to pay each time. After the band and 120 lbs. lighter I sweat very little, no more knee pain. I jog 2.5 miles a day and feel great!!! With my insurance company (BCBS of NM) my primary doctor's letter of necessity made all the difference. I was approved 3 days after it was submitted and of course after I had completed the 3 months nutritionist's requirements. Hope your primary is on board. Good luck. Jake

Awesome!!! I knew there were more longer term successful bandsters out there. Dang going from a 54" to 32" waist is incredible. You are truly an inspiration to the guys!!! Thanks for posting!!! Jake

Can't thank you enough for posting! It's good to know that there are people beyond 5-8 years that have not had their band removed. I'm sure you've had your ups and downs, but for now, you are our hero!! Mine anyway. Thanks again for sharing this. What advice can you give us to be as successful as yourself with keeping the band this long?

I've always had issues with my digestive track and Colace made things worse. I had this under control with Metamucil before the band, but, my band doc recommended that I stop the metamucil after being banded. Reason for not using metacucil is because the psyllium expands in the pouch. I found a product that my band doctor approved and has been working for me. The product is called Nopalina and has several types of fiber that will does not swell and has been working well for me. In addition I recently started using a probiotic that has also helped with gas build up. That probiotic is Ultimate Flora brand. I tried several probiotics before but am lactose intolerant and was miserable. Both these products are sold at Walgreens. You might ask your doc about these. Google these and show the ingredients to your doc.

Medically speaking, I was a mess before the lapband. I was on many prescribed meds for obese related illnesses. One year and a half later I am medication free, my blood work is all normal, no more diabetes, gout, cholesterol issues etc. I'm a completely new person and feel awesome!!!! Don't let all the negative feedback rob you of a new life. Things can happen, but, illnesses steming from being over weight is even more negative than something that may and will help you. It's a gamble and I guess I'm a gambler and hit the jackpot with the lapband. Hope this helps. jake

I agree with Miss Meow. You've done extraordinary well and 14 lbs. to goal is nothing. As long as you eat the proper foods and rely on what you've learned and alittle bit of exercise, you'll do fine. In my case, I must keep a lose band due to severe allergies and drainage, otherwise I wake up from my sleep chocking, so, I must rely more on my eating knowlege and proper diet. In my opinion and only my opinion I feel that initially we should keep a tight band while we lose the bulk of our weight. I sometimes wonder if keeping a tight band for a longer period of time is one of the reasons why some have stomach/band erosions. Who knows. As I said, just my opinion. Now, you can really use the band as a tool that keeps you from eating large volumes, but the rest is up to you. Good luck to you, you can do it. Jake

For me the biggest mistake I made pre-op was not attending any of the support groups that were provided by the program. It is very different when you meet people face to face and hear their stories and experiences and can ask them questions. These forums are great and I learned alot from these forums by asking lots of questions. The only issue I have with these forums is at times some people can be a little insenstive to questions, especially if they are the lucky ones that are extremely successful with their weight loss and feel that they are models and that we must be doing something wrong. Well, I beg to differ because all our journeys are all different and we know when we've been bad! We're in this boat together and must encourage each other. You will also find others that have their mind set on Gastric bypass or vertical sleeve and will dwell on the lapband negatives. I respect those that choose that type of surgery, but, me personally I like the idea that the lapband is reversible and I have a major problem with getting my intestines altered or stomach cut off. But thats just me. Last, I've had a few minor set backs (complications) and am still fully convinced that this is the best thing I've done for myself and feel very fortunate to have been given a second chance in life. If I join the percentile that have complications leading to band removal in 5 years, so be it. I know that thus far I've been in compliance with the rules and am extremely pleased with the lapband system and have zero regrets. Jake

If anyone visiting in my hometown of Albuquerque New Mexico, Lovelace Westside hospital is completely equipped with a bariatric's program and excellent doctors and floroscopy. Presbyterian Hospital/health plan does not have anyone local! They will send you out to El Paso Texas. Other towns in New Mexcio with lapband doctors and hospitals are Santa Fe and Silver City. You just never know.

Just something as simple as an unfill in the event of a medical test/procedure while in the hospital is a perfect example. In the event that no bariatric consult is available do they know what procedure(s) require an unfill? Are they trained and equipped with the correct needle used for this? I do realize that lapband complications occur over a period of time, however, things do happen. I guess I'm a little surprised with how little the doctors knew about the lapband while I was in the hospital, or shall I say gave me that impression.

About 1 cup of Doles Pineapple juice does it for me everytime. Start out with small sips of the stuff until you are comfortable with taking swallows. The acids losen whatever is stuck and trust me you'll feel when its gone. Jake