Lap_dancer

Congrats Sherri, well done. I can tell you one thing, insurance has changed incredibly since I began my weight loss journey. I had a reduction and lift 10 mos. ago for breasts. Process was to find a plastic surgeon in my network, make an appt. go see, I know your problems are the same that most all of us have had. My surgeon had a form to check off everything, and it really was just about everything we have going on which I call 'the issue with the extra tissue'. Next step was my primary sent one page from two years ago that showed I had gone to see him and in that visit had X problem and he had noted 'plastic surgeon?' Sent that to the plastic surgeon who submitted photos, my form I filled out. They were so confident it was covered, they booked the surgery date my first visit. So they submitted the paperwork, images and surgery date for authorization, approved in I want to say less than 2 weeks. I have Humana.

I have had two fills and was banded in 2007. My first adjustment was three months after banding after the swelling had gone down. My doctor at the time was very conservative with fills. After the second fill I had a good stride of green zone. Once I had lost so much volume in my stomach, the fat, I had dropped about 75 lbs. I noticed a change in appetite. I went in for a fluorscope visual of my band, it was good, and measurements were taken. A year and a half later I went back in and had lost about 11 inches in arms, legs, etc. The scale indcated an additional loss of 64 lbs. Again, the Nurse-Pract. at the new location was very conservative. She removed the fill Fluid to check for clarity, and replaced it with new and increased it only slightly. I wanted to share and ask you all if you have been excercising and notcied a change in hunger from workouts. I began belly dancing for my choice of excercise, much work in the stomach and I found it was very tight. Over the past two years, I have only dropped 40 lbs. It has now stalled and for the past 8 months I have stayed spot on the same weight. I have found over time that things do impact my intake of food. Cold liquid is an absolute no do with food. Food will pop out like a golf ball and I can almost predict it with the slime increasing in the back of my throat. I stop eating at that point and wait. The volume of food intake I am able to handle is over a cup instead of the 3 oz. in the green. I go through phases and am not hungry at all and suddenly, the crave begins. I was surprised I ate two boxes of Girl Scout cookies! Time for a check up. While I do agree there is addiction/psychological influence, I do believe the band is a tool and consider it that.. The tool allows and does not allow specific things. I have heard with too tight of a band, some experience reflux, heartburn, etc. I have not experineced that. I am gauging my progress by the sensation of feeling full. Right now I get hungry again within a few hours unlike in the beginning. Time for a fill. Appt scheduled.

Julie great to read you are home. so glad the surgery is behind you. Good journey friend. Am looking at Feb to come to Colorado if all works out. Just love it there and eager to get away. Keep well.

I've been banded for several years now. There is no science to my experience at all but I've come to think that in the beginning, the stomach pouch is so stretched it takes time to shrink it. I use to eat enormous amounts of food but those days are gone. I can tell you I target protein on any buffet or plate. I want that in me first ( had this paranoia about losing my hair and heard protein..protein..protein). Over time, the body does change if you are persistant in what you put in it. I like to call it 'SELECTIVE'.

Hi Dan, I'm Patty in Florida. Hope to meet you some day soon. I think it's a common fear to have a slip. I would not know what slippage feels like other than they say you can eat larger amounts. I think the forums here have that as a topic. You can research it and find out what other symptoms there are. LUCK.

Hi Dan, I'm Patty in Florida. Hope to meet you some day soon. I think it's a common fear to have a slip. I would not know what slippage feels like other than they say you can eat larger amounts. I think the forums here have that as a topic. You can research it and find out what other symptoms there are. LUCK.

I would amp up your protein intake. EAS makes a drink, multiple flavors, that will get you to your 40 plus grams of protein a day.

The first page, home page, of this website has many of the questions/answers there. Having said that, you'll typically see a presentation on what the procedure entails, a little history, post op life and a question and answer.

Hey Julie, how are you mama, hope life is good for you! Best in recovery, I hope the surgery is a breeze!

Hey friends: Got the email notice about the retirement gathering...in the meeting room? I guess I really love a good party..but I'm here in Florida and only a few days from the party flying to Seattle. ..Hmmm, about that layover in Denver.

Old post here but for anyone comparing driving to flying....uh, fly. You call the airline after reservations through something like Cheapoair or Kayak or Priceline... Then you tell them you need wheelchair assistance to the gate and if connecting...gate to gate for connecting. They will input that on your ticket and the folks should be waiting when you arrive. If not. Remind them.

@JonJon I flew from Florida to Denver after careful research. Cannot say enough positive about this doctor. LUCK!

@WATCHNWH8 this ..." The reason why I'm beyond fat, but obese is because I don't exercise." Hits me where I live. I was banded in 2007 and watched the scale go down, down, down. Wow, that was so nice. Then one morning I woke up with horrid pain. That journey lasted two years, my weight loss slowed down then stalled because of the drugs I went on. Turns up I had Fibromyalgia. I also had gallbladder surgery. Loads of time in bed sleeping. I just was awarded disability. I am fat because I do not excercise. I am fat because of the morphine I was on that sludged my body's ability to digest properly. I am fat because my metabolic rate is SNAIL. @Kimalicious That meal plan looks like what I use to eat typically. Volumous amounts of food and DRINK to slosh it down. Large tall glasses of milk....I could go on and on. @NJGIRL32 foodies in the house!! My mother definately showed love with food. So did the rest of my extended family but go figure. My sister is bulimic and a waif. There is huge addiction issues in my family history. SADLY, those addictions are now in my two kids who are obese and my son is now morbidly obese. I am wretched with sadness and worry as he is only 25 and weighs 366 lbs. He complains of his knees hurting and he has weeks where he slows down consumption but eats constantly. I have banned pizza from the house. He has no control over that food. I am so thankful for the band. I simply cannot eat the way I use to by wolfing down food. I would be bedridden all of the time and surely fatter than I was when I was banded had I not done something to stop the insanity in 2007.

Hey Miss Dee, Hit REPLY, you'll get a box like WORD, you'll see the tabs for Bold, Italic, underline, slash through, keep going until you see emoticon, link and then a photo, that's the insert photo tab. You are in my heart. HUGS. Wish I was going with you.

I put on weight with Lyrica. I switched to Cymbalta 60 mgs. x 1 daily. I would try switching meds. I had no side effects as in pain returning. I do have break through pain anyway so I add Aleve liquid gel caps to my routine for no pain. I also take Skelaxin for muscular pain and twitches that I get. You may or may not get any of those as FM is different in all. I also get the sciatica pain down the one leg. Today as a matter of fact. I got a T.E.N.S. unit from the physical therapist a few years back. It just happens to help with that pain down the leg. Wearing it right this moment as I type this. You know that part of your day should be about getting the pain in order. Maybe on that day it might not go away but one can hope that it will atleast get somewhat under control. Use as many options as you can to do so meaning aromatherapy, meditation, music, medication, stretching, warmth, whatever..try them all. My goal is to keep my body in check. There are days when all I can tolerate are soft things. It's very strange. I try to avoid anything that will set my stomach off in a not so good way. Taking meds is hard on the stomach so try to eat Breakfast first and then do the meds in the middle of breakfast..like SANDWICH them with food. It's easier on you that way. My heart is with all FM sufferers. I understand your pain because I know it daily.

Hello Lacey. I was diagnosed after losing 85 pounds and suddenly having horrid pain. I was banded in 2007 and thank stars and all that I did have it done. I cannot imagine carrying that weight and having the FM. I have SHRUNK in body size which I never thought possible. But I still have 100 to lose and it's coming off soooo slow because I do not excercise. Hydro therapy is the only thing I can tolerate. I do meditation in bed and when I can at a studio. I too cannot afford the cost but there are so many things available for free and online YOUTUBE it's a start. Also your local PBS station will air yoga stretching and other such things for free. Tune in and try those. LUCK.

I don't know about that but try looking for a generic equivalent. Walgreens has their brand. If you don't find what you are looking for, I'd be making myself a cocktail of something to kill the cherry sweetness by countering it with lemon tea.

Congratulations on keeping up with the exercise! Be proud of that accomplishment, that's a positive step in the right direction. I'm going to take a different approach with you because I discovered something about my own body. I am very sensative to chemicals in foods. Specifically foods that are fast food or packaged in a box similar to Suddenly salad. What I found out was that something went haywire in me when I ate these foods that triggered hunger and also because I have chronic pain, a flair up. I began moving into fresh everything. Another thing I am spotting is your sodium intake. Pepsi and other similar drinks can actually make me hungry. I also hold Water more readily than most people. Losing weight has been slower for me. Try supplementing your diet with Protein shakes to get some protein in your system. Yogurt is a great choice and if water is hard for you to drink, try flavored bottle water like Propel. Cutting back on sodium may open the dam and move the scales. Also, acknowledging what you ate daily helps. I have a tracker on MEDHELP.COM which does all the math for me on foods. You can see how much of what you are getting, protein, carbs, sodium, etc., Best of luck

Hi AmyRainbow: Love your name selection. Cute. I think it's wonderful you pay attention to details. So many people do not do that in their daily lives and just let things slide by. If you keep up that same energy post your band you will do fabulous. I can tell you like to see things by the book and following the instructions as told you will see your goal and new body! To answer your questions, I'm sure, though he hasn't told me this, Dr. K is trying to keep things affordable for his patients while still providing quality care in a good surgical facility. I flew from Florida to have him do my procedure. Google his name and surgeon and you should get a lengthy, non-Lap Band report he did for a professional publication. These are the things I look for. Is the person skilled at what they do. Hands down YES. If he know anything, he knows about that scope and surgery on the human body. Back to what I was going to say; I have Fibromyalgia and several spinal conditions. I have been to the Cleveland Clinic and atleast three other doctors for pain and neuro muscular dysfunction. I have been given a steady dose of drugs to keep my pain at bay by these doctors but none of them has gotten me to a point where I could pick up where I left off with my life before being stricken with FM. Finally, a neurologist told me that there was an arthritis doctor in a town north of me that is rather rural. I was told this doctor has taken it upon himself to study Fibromyalgia and treat it. Lucky me. So I go to the office and it's located near a medical facility but his office is in 'the back forty' or the last office before a vacant field, parking next to the dumster. (don't judge) I told myself. I go into the office, sparce is not the word. VERY small sitting area, maybe 8 chairs, I sign in and sit down. Next thing I know here comes the doctor. He had no medical assistant coming to get me. We walk into the one room he uses. He has his black bag open and I can see vials of medicine and so forth. For the next 30 minutes he methodically went through my history. NO RUSH. Then he noticed a spot on my elbow, psorisis which he tells me is common for arthritis. Finally, he injected me and I could only feel needles, several, all around my lower back, in my shoulder. He apologized for my discomfort. When I stood up, instantly my back was better. He decreased my pain by 30% right then and there. Hands down better than the Cleveland Clinic. Since that time, I put away any thoughts on what the office looks like and wait for the proof in the pudding. Here's my soap box, I appoint myself to represent the fattys of the world because I am one, soon to not be one as my BMI goes lower and lower. I have long been sick and tired of people preying on the obese who, like myself, cling to the hope that finally finally, pleeez, finally this will work. I've seen so many infomercials on the bells and whistles with magical cards and 24 hour support, and it doesn't. Failure becomes part of the weight loss effort for some of us. It did for me. So when you say "I want this to work" I feel you. Really. You can click my pictures to see my progress but just tonight, an old employee of ours came to the house, he has been gone for 36 months and just got back here. I walked into the room and he swooned back and said, "WOW! LOOK AT YOU!" followed by "You look fantastic". That felt awesome. The band works but you have to work the plan the follows. Trust me when I tell you that binge eating will become a thing of the past. When you 'try it' and end up hacking up what you ate your body trains itself to not even go there. As for your tests, I came with, faxed him and mailed tests my insurance covers. My PCP ordered sleep study, heart stress test, full blood panel, and I went and got my own psyche eval. Other insurance companies require it but I am a self pay. I figure if they wanted it might be a good idea to have it done. Dr. K actually thanked me for having all that because he said "It helps me." Not required, just a benefit to help him perhaps understand my body better. Best of luck Amy. It's your own journey friend. Whatever you feel confident with and comfortable with you should do. As for me, I love this man who changed my life. Calm, methodically explaining to me what he was going to do until I fully understood the procedure. PR

I'm sorry for your discomfort. I'm sure you will be feeling much better once this is behind you. I was surprised Dec. 17 this past, when I went to the ER with horrid pain. It was my Gall Bladder and stones had blocked the duct and backed up, infection. They removed it the next day after pumping me with antibiotics and I did just fine.

Hi Amy Welcome! What Mary said. Great advice and I've nothing to add.:blushing: Best of luck on your journey.