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I just spoke to my insurance company and all I need to do as quoted by Chanell Benson, is have the specialist or the surgeon in my case fax over a letter of medical necessity to their office and I should have an answer if I have been accepted within 48 hours! Wow! This is starting to really get exciting! I just faxed over my application that Dr. Jones office needs and off I go! After all that stressing over the 5 years of medical history it turns out I didn't even need it in the first place. I can practically feel myself putting on a size 10 right now! Thank you, thank you, thank you lapbandtalk friends for being here and helping me each step of the way....I can't talk to any of my friends or family about this yet so it is nice to know I have you all in my corner:woot: .

It's usually that first BM that can take quite a while before you go. For me I went 10 days without one then after that it was probably every 3 days. I am 10 months post op and still have constipation issues. Just make sure you get your liquids in, it will definitely help. Also, my doctoral me use a dulcolax suppository which will help you go very quickly. Just make sure you talk to them first.

This is one of my all-time favorite appetizers. Fast and easy, the golden bites are always a huge hit. I make and freeze batches for dinner parties throughout the year. Your family and friends will love this recipe. ENJOY! Yield: 28 Serving Prep time: 30 min + chilling Baking time: 10 min One serving (2 Pisces ) equals 87 calories CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR MORE INFO ON THIS RECIPE AND SO MANY MORE http://life-after-lap-band.blogspot.com/

Do you have a DVR, if so, get into the habit of recording the shows you like and watch them in a little time delay. That way you can fast forward through the commercials. I absolutely love DVR for that one thing more than anything else. I may only wait 10-15 minutes into a show to start watching it, that usually makes is to I can get through without having to sit through the commercials.

:thumbup:today was my two weeks post-op checkup i have lost 19 pounds so far. my scars are well. i start soft foods tomorrow.i still don,t have much of a appetite.my starting weight since i started april of 08 was 324 during the six months before surgery i lost 40lbs.that was sept 08,now its january 09 the total is 59lbs. i feel so wonderful.the doctor say i can do any exercise i want so i start back on my stationary bike tomorrow..i cannot believe that i lost that much weight.wishing everyone well on your new journey in life. sil.:ohmy:

I finished my 6 month diet in July. I lost some weight the first two months then gained in the third went down a little in the fourth then back up again in the fifth and no change in the sixth. In the end I was down 10 pounds total. I know I could have done better but my nutritionist was more concerned with my getting healthy than losing weight. We submitted my paperwork on August 14th and I got my approval today!!! So don't fret! I got an initial denial but only because they were missing some info, so make sure they have everything required and you should be fine.

I know the feeling... I've regained a lot of weight since my post-op low weight, due to pregnancy and backsliding on my diet. I'm not yet to the point where I don't fit in some chairs or booths, but I'm getting close. My lowest I was a size 24 (on my 5'10" body, it was quite slim, especially compared to where I started) and I really miss being that "skinny". I haven't fit into my jeans since about 3 month mark of my pregnancy. My baby is 10 months old now. I'm determined to get there, and beyond!

Hi everyone! My name is Kris and I live near Cleveland, Ohio. I'm 36 years old, single with no kids. I'm still in the research phase and haven't made any decisions yet. I have a seminar to attend next week and the week after I'm meeting with my general physician to talk about all my options before I go to my first consultation. Growing up I was always the skinny kid in the neighborhood. I was a size 6 until my early 20's. Since then I've steadily gained weight. I've tried every diet out there. Some worked, some didn't. I lost weight only to gain it back plus more. I've done Weight Watchers which is really the only thing that actually worked but once I stopped paying the fee I gained all the weight back. After reading some of the threads here I have a couple of concerns and/or questions... I've been in and out of therapy since my late 20's for personal matters not directly related to my weight. About a year ago I had an appointment with my Psychiatrist for a prescription refill appointment and I broke down and told him that I had been using laxatives on and off for the past 6+ years to lose weight. (As much as they say laxatives don't work for weight loss, they lie because it has always worked for me). Since the admission to him I've also had to come "clean" with my regular doctor and my therapist. Early 2007 I had lost about 30 pounds and was up to 15 laxatives a day. I stopped taking them in July and gained all the weight back plus 10. I know laxatives are bad so I'm not looking for any lectures but its a problem that I'm trying really hard to work past. It's almost like an addiction. Every time I eat a bite of food I think about taking a pill. *sigh* anyway.... My question is... will this end up hurting my chances to be approved for the surgery? Another concern I have is the cost. I called my insurance company and they said the surgery is not covered. Has anyone fought their insurance company and won? If not, how were you able to afford the surgery??? I'm really glad I found this site. I just mentioned to my sister tonight that I was thinking about getting the lap band hoping I'd have her support but all I heard was "how stupid" the idea was! ~kris

hopefully starting this journal will give me motivation to lose weight and to stay on target. got my band on 1-19-07 i had no issues like all those that i have read maybe that's why i am having so much problems not losing weight ??? i doubt it though.... on 02-21-07 i had my first fill and to be honest i thought she said the doctor put in 2cc which is alot compared to other people ..... even now on 03-13-07 i have still only lost 5 pds if that cuz i can eat and everything w/o restriction .... i did though start a new way and that is trying dextrim h2o i only had one bottle today and man it did work but before i drank it i had a slice of cake 100 calories then a chicken sandwich with bacon for maybe about 700 calories some protein shakes 2 of them for 100 calories each went and worked out water aerobics for an hour and came home and had a bowl of rice w some pork .... it sounds bad but the thing is it was the less amount of rice i have ever ate .. and i am proud about it ... i just weighed myself and well i have gained all my weight back and then some i weigh now is 285 lord please can i get it together...:help: :cry :cry

I had my surgery at The Cleveland Clinic on October 29, 2008. Awesome experience - great Surgeon - Dr. Matthew Kroh. I received my first fill on Dec 1, 2008 - I think 3cc's. I am wondering at what level of filling the band do you really feel the restriction? So glad to find this web site with the forums!!!! Awesome to have support! Molly:tongue2:

Hello Molly. Unfortunately it's different for everyone. Some people have restriction from the band being put on, some with one fill, and others with 10 fills. My magic number was 4 fills and I am at full restriction. I have 2.75cc in a 4cc band.

I decided in April 2016, went to a seminar, then had to complete at 6 month physician supervised weight loss program. I was approved within a week of completing it and had the procedure on 10/26/2016. No problems with approval as it is covered under my insurance, I completed the 6 months. Started with a BMI of 53 and had co-morbidities (diabetes and sleep apnea). Good Luck!

October 30, 2007 Well today I am totally starting over. I need to focus on the weight issue. I have gained about 10 pounds and I need to get it off and still loose the weight I need to. I am about 207 pounds right now. I want to be about 160 so I am focusing on loosing about50 pounds. I have the lap band as a tool and I need to use it. I just had the VNS put in this month. They forgot to turn it off and I was being shocked about every two hours for about 8 days. We are seeing a laywer about that. I am suppose to go tommorow and have it activated. I am pissed off at the fact that all of the physicans know that the deivce was on and not one of them called and apoligized or even checked on how I was doing after it was shut off. I am doing the serious diet thin this week to try and shrink my stomach and then next week if my incisons feel better I am going to start to exercise. I will go when I am off and take the twins to school. I am going to try to write in the journal and update everyday that I am off. I will write later.

That's just what I wanted to hear. I thought that way... that I'd feel just like that. I love how you said "second chance at life". I want that, that feeling right their. I HATE feelings how I do about myself. I NEVER let my husband see me naked (sorry if that TMI). I have so much shame and I rarely bother to put on makeup or do my hair... what's the point. I know that's horrible to say. But it is how I feel. I never go out looking unclean or anything... but.... what's the point in putting hours into my appearance.... no one notices me. I used to be bulimic. I've been thin in my life. My teen years, I was hot. But since the birth of my daughter I've been nothing but heavy. Now I've had my son.... I'm just gone. I'm still inside this massive amount of flesh and fat... but no one sees me, not really. Guys don't notice me when I walk by, not if I spend 10 minutes or 10 hours on my looks. Not that I want guys... I love my spouse. It just would be nice not to feel like I don't exist sometimes. UGHH! I just can't wait for this surgury. I'll do whatever it takes to get it and I will be so good. I just need that little bit of help. To protect me from myself, and falling back into depending on food for everything. Pray for me! :biggrin: Thank you for being so inspiring.

So, I'm trying to figure out if today is day 3 post-op or day 4 post-op....I had my surgery on Wednesday the 17th. The surgery went really well. It was scheduled for 2pm...and about 1 they told me it would be later like 2:30---then pushed it back 30 more minutes...etc. I was really stressing from not eating and it was really rough to wait--but it sure helped me not get nervous. Somehow after/during the surgery but before I was released I developed fever--crushing pain in my chest--low oxygen levels and feeling pretty wretched. They took me down to scan my lungs for pulmenary embolism (TURNED out negative) and then told me I had fluid in my left lung (pneumonia). I had to start an antibiotic drip and breathing treatments. I was SO glad they didn't release me from the hospital I was feeling so bad. All I had in the hospital was broth and rationed out grape juice for two and a half days. I felt like that maybe why I was dying! ) Anyway--long story short---I was released last night. I am still a long way from feeling "good", but mostly it's from my chest/lungs. I'm drinking my liquids and thanking God that I'm ok. oh, by the way, when I stepped on the scale with my hospital gown on in surgery prep room, I had lost 10 whole pounds from the PREOP diet. I lost almost 2 more SINCE surgery--but still feel swollen/bloated from the IV's. I can't believe it!! Thanks for all the thoughts/prayers. I'm on the OTHER SIDE now!! Time to drink more milk! Rebekah

I've had my lab band for approximately 2 years I went from a size 1x to a size 10 and was still losing. I went in for an adjustment and was informed that my band had dilated. My band was emptied and I will be consulting with my doctor on the 25th. He mentioned gastric bypass or repairing the band. I 've gained 13 lbs since my band was emptied. I'm very distrught over this and I'm not sure which direction to take. Gastric bypass seem so extreme with the cutting and re-routing of this and that. I've observed several co-workers with the gastric bypass they lose the weight quick and look great. But again I'm concerned about drastic procedure.:tongue_smilie: Can someone share a similar experience or just their opinion on the matter. Terry.

OK, I was complaining about feeling no restriction. Finally had an episode where I felt it big time about 10 days or so. I was either not chewing well enough or something got stuck or I ate too much. Whatever it was, it felt like a heart attack in my stomach! Lasted for 45 minutes and the sweat poured off me in sheets. Can't believe how quickly the brakes are put on! I promise to be good from now on!!

(March 13, 2010) It's been a couple of weeks since my last post but I have been one very busy woman! Since my last post I turned 40 on Feb. 23rd! I danced the night away with about 10 of my good girlfriends. We took a free Salsa class and then danced, danced, danced. It felt so good. I wore a gold, mini-dress and some high heels and carried a wand! Oh yes....I acted like the Goddess that I am and I was very proud of myself. I felt it was like my first birthday all over again. There was no shame in the way I felt. I looked good and I knew it. Vain....yes but hey, you only turn 40 once. I celebrated the whole week and enjoyed life to the fullest.:glare: I have also has some difficult experiences with Lilith (my band) in the last few weeks. I experienced first-hand how anger and stress can make your band tighen with a vengence. I don't get angry much but I was upset with a lender who was not giving my client the attention she needed. This lender started to yell at me and I was NOT going to take that so I made sure I put them back in their place. Well, by the end of that episode, I was shaking, my head was pounding and Lilith (my band) was in an uproar! For the next few days I tried to stay calm but I could not get water down and I had acid reflux to levels I have never EVER had before! So off to the doctor I went. I had a full 1cc taken out. That took me to 4.0cc's. Well, I still was throwing up and experiencing bad reflux so just a few days ago I went back in and let them take out another .5cc's. SO that put me at 3.5cc's right now. I can't say it was bad either. Finally that fire in my belly calmed down and Lilith loosened her grip. But during that time I lost an additional 10lbs. I was already at goal but now I am in the 155 weight range. I don't think it looks bad on me, hubby says I still look great so maybe I will stay between 155-165 and feel ok. I am not really going for the emaciated look so I am trying to be careful! I don't know.....but I do know I don't really want to lose it like that again! Can you say.....ANGER MANAGEMENT??? My size 12 jeans are too loose now, I was getting away with wearing them without looking too baggy but not now. Hi-Ho Hi-Ho it's off to shop I go.....(giggle) Since I have reached goal, I have been trying to focus on the positive changes in my life. Things you take for granted but notice when you now blend into the "normal" world. Things like.... Using a regular sized towel to wrap around you while you are getting ready in the morning. People looking you in the eye when they talk to you. Men whistling at you. The way you feel in your clothes. Getting a good nights rest because your body does not always have body parts falling asleep to deadness. Liking the image that looks back at you in the mirror. Shopping in the regular sized stores. Feeling sexy for no reason Knowing you can fit into a airplane seat (I have a trip coming up, more later) Accepting compliments without shame. Feeling good in room full of women! Women can be so catty sometimes, but I can hold my own now! I no longer hide in the shadows! I could go on and on. This life of mine....of yes....this life of mine if finally happy and content. There are a few other things I am watching close. My periods are all out of whack. I had two, just two weeks apart! Gotta see if I can get more vitamins in. I am also just no longer intrested in food. Yes, I know that's weird. Sometimes I think I have cravings but when I get a bite it just does not taste the same or feel the same. Do you know what I am talking about? Sometimes eating was just totally emotional, it tasted good because it was a release. At this point of my progress I can really and truly say....I can take food or leave it. Well friends.....I am off to Italy! I will be gone until April 1st. A full 17 days to relax, unwind, enjoy my husband and see the world. It's my first time overseas! And....I will fit into the airplane seats! (HA):wink2: Thanks for all the wonderful comments on my photos! I truly felt beautiful for the first time in my life and now I have those photos to help me remember that feeling! I will tell you all about my wonderful adventures when I return! Love you all BUNCHES! And as always.....I AM BLESSED! Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?:smile2: Surgery Date: May 21, 2009 Starting Weight: 280lbs Dr. Michael Metz - St. Luke's Hospital Denver, CO:thumbup: Follow my progress thru photos: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/5...lbums3475

Lots of ramblings... It has been so long and I actually forgot that today was my surgiversary. This morning I received an email from another site congratulating me on being 3 years out so I thought I'd come here and check things out. Life really has changed over the past years, but that was inevitable with or without the sleeve The ugly... I am up 20 pounds from my goal weight and 30 pounds from my happy weight. About 25 of those pounds have been put on since the birth of my beautiful daughter who is now almost 16 months. I am not happy about this, but wow, being a mom really cut into my exercise and sleep time;-) I have now begun a consistent exercise routine again (after an inconsistent year), am trying to get the food choices under control (it's hard to make healthy choices on 5 hours of sleep) and hope by my birthday in October to be down at least 10 pounds. Ugly (pt. 2)-my body!!!!! I'm sitting at a size 10 and get so many compliments about how much better (healthier) I look compared to my size 4 body, and I'd have to agree to an extent, but boy do I miss my muscle-toned body:-( The bad... A big reason for having the vsg was to help our chances of getting pregnant. Unfortunately after a year out and steady for months below my goal weight, I went back to my RE and attempted to have some tests run. Long story short, it turned out that my only chance at pregnancy was to have my tubes removed, due to severe scarring, and go through IVF. I was VERY depressed for about a week. I'd figured out how we could afford (mentally and financially) IUI, but IVF??? And then I realized I could either be sad and upset or I could make a new plan, either way life was going to move forward. It's reflecting on times like this that I'm reminded how little is truly in our control, but fortunately God is at the helm and, at least in my experiences, has a more awesome plan for my life than even I could imagine. The good, great, fantastic... About a week after getting the devastating news and posting to this wonderful board about it, I read a reply from someone who opened my eyes. She probably doesn't even realize it, but after reading through all my posts she made a comment that changed my life. She said "I know that you would like to have a biological child but there are sooooo many many many children that need a loving home..." At first I was really offended, but then I reread all of my posts and realized that of course she and everyone else would assume that getting pregnant was very important to me, I mean look back at everything I'd posted about the drastic steps I was taking, BUT it wasn't about being pregnant to me, it was about being a mom and my husband being a dad. So... At that point, we half-heartedly discussed adoption, but that post really made me examine what we wanted. Shortly after that I we began the home study process and before our report was written we were matched with a wonderful young lady due in April. And the rest is history...although life wouldn't be life without a few issues, but it all worked out. Lastly... A big part of the struggle for me with food, exercise, and sleep this past year or so was the fact that I still was working outside my state about 40 miles each way. If you know anything about the Washington DC area, you know a commute like that can be horrendous AND it usually was. Well, in October 2011, I made the decision I wouldn't be coming back to this current job another school year and let my principal know. It was kind of scary with this economy and teaching jobs near my home very competitive, but I had to make a decision that was good for my health and family. In December I happened on a job fair and was offered a contract. In March I was offered a job in my own district for the remainder of the school year, but my current principal would not budge on the 30 days notice thing and they needed the position filled immediately, so I had to turn it down. That was a hard pill to swallow, but in the end, like most things, it worked out for the best. I ended up with a lot of possibilities and took one at an independent school near my house that begins at age three and goes through high school, which will be great as my baby grows up. I'm now laying in bed with a little girl curled up at my side because she thought 4 AM would be a good wake up time this morning and I was afraid she'd hurt herself jumping in her crib if I didn't get her out. So there's the good, bad, and ugly. Getting sleeved three years ago was an excellent decision for me and I know it's helped me get to where I am now. It sort of reminds me of the Robert Frost poem...and I took the road less traveled down and that has made all the difference. Who knows where the other fork (non-sleeve) would have led me, maybe somewhere just as great, but I'm happy to be where I am today!

Today has been pretty uneventful. I slept all day. Literally. I got up every 4 hours to walk a little and drink a little and do some deep breathing. Then...back to bed. I got in 32oz of fluids (and I'm sure I can get in another 10 or 15 oz). As far as I'm concerned, this is pretty amazing. I thought very seriously about going to my kids' soccer games this morning -- that's how ok I feel. I ended up staying home just because it is Africa hot here and I knew I could sleep. My tummy is still swollen - I look fatter than I was when I went in for surgery. That said, some of the fluid has started to drain off. I was 230 on DOS. I came home at 237. Today, I'm back to 230. So that is very encouraging. (I'm not concerned about the weight loss right now - but it is nice to have the swelling go down). I took a shower today - I highly recommend it. It made me feel more human. After the shower, I changed my dressings. I wasn't prepared for these big honkin' staples. They are sore and itchy. Burping remains an issue. But it is way easier to drink today as compared with yesterday. Tomorrow is my 8 yr old son's birthday. My BFF is hosting a party for him so all I have to do is show up with the little birthday boy. I'm confident I can do it. While napping today, I had a dream that I freaked out and went inside and ate all the icing off the red velvet cake. Total reminder of my "old" self. Eating in secrecy, feeling guilty, etc. Soooooo glad I don't have to do that anymore. Finally, I know it is too early to say, but I can't imagine that I won't be ready to go back to work at the end of week 1. If I absolutely had to, I think I could go back Monday (I have a desk job). Don't get me wrong....it wouldn't be easy, but it could be done. I say that just because I know there are lots of people out there wondering about work. My advice: take off as much time as you can but don't let a lack of time off prevent you from having this surgery. Okay...I'm about ready for bed again...hahaha! Tomorrow - FULL LIQUIDS HERE I COME!!! (Not a moment too soon!) Love to all, Angela

Well, so far so good. I had my last fill 4 days ago and was back on regular foods for the last two days. I think my band is perfect now. I tend to eat yogurt for breakfast and it goes down with just a little bit of slow down. Lunch is a tiny bit tight, and supper is perfect. I'm now down to about a cup of food at supper time....which is when I really need the help to stay on track. It looks like I will be able to maintain 1000-1200 calories pretty easily now. I was averageing a couple of hundred more then that before the fill. It doesn't sound like much difference, but thats almost half a pound a week difference. I have cut back to about 10 hours of excercise a week. I'm really busy at work right now, and the reduced calorie intake should make it all equal out.

I will admit that since I started this, I have also thought a lot about my brother. He had GB about 10 years ago, he died....I'm not sure but the fact I have thought about him a lot lately is probably natural since I'm going through weight loss surgery, but it may be more of the classic survivors guilt?

Can someone out there tell me that has self paid, but kept fighting the insurance and won.. how that works? do you get reimbursed? I got my 1st denial and we are now in the 1st appeal process. My DH is telling me that if in a week or two that haven't approved it he wants us to go ahead and self pay... keep fighting the insurance and get reimbursed. Is there anyone out there that has done this? How do they reimburse you? Does the insurance company pay you or the hosiptal??? Thanks :laugh First Consult: 1/3, 2007 Viewed online 'seminar' 1/3 :der: psych eval test 1/3 :confused: Appt to discuss Psych eval results 1/15 :clap2: Dr. Morton's office called to tell me they faxed my 300+ pages to BCBS 1/19 :faint: waiting.. waiting and well.. waiting some more:pout: got letter from BCBSof TN that I'm not fat enough to qualify for the procedure (summerized by myself of course) 1/30 the day before my 37th bday. Starting appeal process 1/31.. my 37th bday :high5: :peace: Insurance approval________?:dance: :laugh :banana first meeting with internist at surgeons office ____? Surgery date_______?:nervous

I've been ready to beat my head against the wall for days now, trying to maintain any semblance of willpower to stay on a 30g/day of carb diet. They say stress is the divided state of mind when your good sense overrides the overwhelming urge to choke the living crap out of someone who richly deserves it. Yeah, I feel like that right now. I want to grab up the dietician and scream, "Look, Skinny Minnie! If I had this much willpower, I wouldn't be having lap band surgery, now would I?" I saw the dietician on October 17, a little less than a month ago. I do great all week, staying on the 30g a day or less. Then the weekend comes. My DH and brother come barrelling through the door on Thursday night with the full intention of relaxing and making pigs of themselves with every kind of contraband snack food you can imagine. Now, my DH is thin. My brother Dante is as overweight as I am, I think. Believe it or not, they both have a job at the same factory. Just goes to show what a difference genetics can make. Anyway, after today, maybe things can be different. My DH has helped me install a locking hasp on the outside pantry and a bike lock on the outside refrigerator. I've removed all the contraband shelf stable foods to the locked pantry. All that's left in the kitchen pantry are foods I can have or things I won't eat willingly. Later I will do the same with the kitchen refrigerator, removing all those perishable things I'm not supposed to have. I've made a list of those things I can have if I'm to shrink my liver successfully. No, I don't have to be this meticulous right now. According to the dietician, the 30g/day becomes important 7-10 days before surgery, then I'll be on a liquid diet 2 days before surgery. (Lovely. Right around the holidays? Am I nuts?) Still, I'm going to give it the best try I can. I want this liver the size of a pea, if I can.