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Because now your body is in the 'lower' weight percentile you will lose slow. This seems to be very normal reading through the threads with people who are in the same boat as you are. I honestly think you are doing marvelous! Besides your calories, have you been tracking your fat grams? Remember fat burns fuel. I just had to pump mine up because I was eating less than 15 grams and for someone my size I should be eating anywhere between 25-30 daily. Yes, I believe you should go higher with your calories, maybe alternate the calories as a test, sometimes we have to trick our bodies in order to see any results. Maybe one day 1500 calories, then reduce it, etc..Can't hurt to try....

well, whats happening to me is also rare, according to my doc, and in his opinion i shouldv gotten the bypass, my surgery was 4 years ago, for the 1st 2 years it was all good, i lost 85 ponds, and then problems began to develop, with my esophogus, every night before i went to sleep i would throw up, and it didnt matter if i ate late or not, drank late or not, i always had the feeling that somehin is stuck in my chest, and i had to throw up, to atleast sleep at night, this went on for a while, close to a year. I understood that it wasnt normal, and i had to tell my doc. Doctor said that i have a lazy esophogus,and its tired of pushing, the only solution was to empty out the band and let my esophogus rest. it rested for about 3 months, ive gained 20 pounds,and since then in the span of maybe 8 months, i have regular monthly fills, very little ones, cause im scared to go back to the throwing up state, so instead of loosing, i just keep gaining, i gained 40 pounds now. very scary, dont know what to do

Wow . . . I have lost the same amount of weight as you and I am feeling EXACTLY the same way. I can't get motivated. I'm tired even though I'm getting enough sleep. My body just feels lethargic and sluggish. Interesting.

My husband was very against this at first but now He thinks it was such a great thing for me to do. The more he learns about the surgery the more supportive he is. He is so proud and excited that I am losing weight. Achieving my dreams really. I never had any hope that I could live a healthy vibrante life until my doc mentioned the lapband too me. Now I can actually envision my self smaller, healthier and with more energy. I am 12 days post op and already feel the transformation happening. I have lost 20 pounds, 8 since surgery. It is so much easier for me to get up in the morning. I am not falling asleep all the time. It has gotten easier for me to take care of myself. I have more motivation. This surgery has already changed my life. I never want to go back to the way I was a few months ago. I was so sleepy and tired and just couldn't get my studying done. Couldn't think clearly. Don't give up on all these possabilities. Tell your husband it is not just a matter of what size you are but a matter of how you feel. He doesn't know what it is like for us to walk into a room full of people or meet a new person. Being fat is more than just on your body it's in your head. Can I fit in this seat? Is my deodorant still working? Am I the fattest person here? Do they think I am a pig? lazy? I think I have fat brain. Which makes me uncomfortable everywhere I go for some reason or another. Now, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. One day I will be just like anyone else and won't stand out because I am fat but because I am beautiful and brilliant. It is alot of hard work but now I can see myself reaching my goal. Prelapband I never even dreamed of it. Good luck to you.

I also go back and forth but I'm just tired of the up and down, diets, losing the same 20lbs to gain hem back I just need this push I'm also scared but from what I've seen & read most people do go back to a basically normal life & diet after some time just in smaller portions Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello Every. I am new to this forum so please bare with me. I recently called my insurance co. (care first blue cross blue shield) and they informed me that they dont cover weight loss surgery. I then called my local dept of health and mental hygiene, they informed me that medicaid will cover both the lap band and gastric bypass "if Medically necessary ." I dont have medicaid yet, but I am sure I'll qualify. I truly want to know how to go about it through medicaid? I will apply for medicaid, but once that's approved, where do I go from there. I honestly need this surgery, I am a female age 20 5'4 and 240pounds. Since 2008 i have had this respiratory problem, my general doctor never officially diagnosed it as asthma but I do take an over the counter inhaller daily, I am thinking it may have something to do with my weight. I have been on diets since I was 12 years old, only to gain more weight. My doctor has even given me a form of phentermane and that still did not work. I would have no other way to pay for this surgery, although I really need it. Can anyone please provide me with the steps I need to take to go the medicaid way? I have no credit so I cant just take out a loan and pay that way (im a full time college student, no job but I have the support of my parents) Thank you so much

Hi Everyone! I am just starting my research on the band procedure and a friend recommended this site. I know many of you have asked these questions and have the answers so I figured this was a good place to start. I have done some reading on the procedures, how they are done. Some post op etc. Anyway, I have Highmark and don’t know where to begin with them so if any of you have Highmark (PPO BLUE) and can offer suggestions, I really appreciate it. Okay so a little about myself. I live in Pgh, Pa and I’m pretty confident that I will use Dr. Quinlin. I am 29 (about to be 30 next week) I weight 225 and I’m 5’2. That puts my BMI around 41.1 I have tried many diets, lost some but seem to gain even more back. I’ve tried weight watchers, calorie counting, and curves. and so on. They all work for a while but then I just gain twice as much back. So, where should I begin? Any suggestions? Thanks

Ok. I am sitting:sick propped up in my bed at home several hours post op. Things went well, though he had to switch out all of the needles for the port site because my adominal wall was thick and the needles he had out to stitch it in place were to thin. *I* would like to think that this is because I am so MUSCULAR...:cry R I G H T.:nervous I"ll have to ask him in three weeks when I go in for my fill. ANYwho... this is how my day went. As you may already now, Auntie Flow decided to visit yesterday:mad: VEHEEERRRRy convineant:tired . I slept pretty well last night suprisingly (thanks to the two tylenol p.m.) :notagree and woke up about 6. I got up and showered with the monkey blood soap stuff they gave me that kind of dried my skin out, got out of the shower and laid down with my heating pad until my sweetie :kiss2: got up and got ready. I put on my best/favorite pair of tie dyed socks and undies and threw my favorite denim dress over my head, grapped my little stuffed moose and away to Baptist we went. Got there about 8:20 checked in and hung out in w. room. The called me back about 8:40 and got me changed. The anesethia guy came in and did my IV then two or three more anesthia people came in asking me the same quesitons over and over.. who are you,, what are you having done.. WHAT... is your favorite color... etc. I'm like.. hmmmm The do know what they are doing and where they are right?? :paranoid They let my hubby back about 9:30. OH>>> and those of you who might be wondering, they let me wear a tampon.. :clap2: it probably depends on the surgeon. Anywho.. 10:39 comes around and they wheel me back to the surgery room, scoot me on to a different table and put on this DREAMY warm blanket:p ... Next think I know, I'm awake and my 'port site' was hurting like a mo-fo:cry .:faint: they give me something for pain in my IV...30 minutes later some more of that then 30 minutes later the finally gave up and gave me some morphine. After that they wheeled me back to xray, had me drink some barium... which folks.. I'll tell you here and now... WAS DELICIOUS:hungry: . I was "lips sticking to my teeth" parched. And you know.. after not eating real food for awhile.. it's amazing what taste great. The table they had me scootch up on this time was a beeeeatch :omg: for me to scoot on because of the discomfort of the port site. Anywho... it was like a frigging 6 flags ride:phanvan . My feet were against a metal thing at the foot of the bed and it was the only thing between me and me sliding off in the floor:juggle:... ALL 331 lbs of me.:eek: Wasn't a real comfortable experience and lasted a little long for my taste.. but.. the things we do for beauty:rolleyes: . All that took what seemed to be about 40 minutes or so then they wheeled me into my room where I got to hang out and watch Oprah, the news, then Hank Hill. Had to wait :bored around until someone looked at my rays to make sure things could go down. I had lots of ice in the meantime. The 1st thing I remember when I woke up was... YES IT"s over Finanly it's over. To ,me it's the worst part.. all the waiting:bored . waiting for all of the paper work to get filled in... :pout:waiting for Dr.'s appointments, :bored waiting to hear all of your paper work was faxed in. getting denied and :pout:waiting for paper work to be faxed again. finding out your approved, then:bored waiting to schedule, :pout:waiting for your preop testing, :bored waiting for you surgery date, the THE WORST waiting of all for me, is:pout: waiting in your pre op room for the procedure.. then all of the sudden.. the waiting is over... well... unless you count waiting to go home. I 1st tried to do this 4 yrs ago with diff. insurance and was crushed when I got denied, now, Im sitting here, typing up my experience.. and it's DONE!:clap2: Now all the work begins, but that is ok... because now I have a Tool,,, finally a tool that will work for me and help me to become the healthy me that I was meant to be. I'll be healthier at 40 that I have ever been in my life. I just had my 37th bday and I can't wait to be 40! :humble: I didn't really have trouble with nausea :speechles until the ride home and it wasn't overwhealming. Todd turned up the air and drove real slow. When I got home he got me set up in my bed with tons of pillows and stuff so i'm not laying down flat. I'm keeping my liquied antibiotic and liquid Loritab in a cooler filled with ice right here along with some sugar free popcicles. My throat is fairly sore from the breathing tube stuff and my chest is kind of tight and breathing deep isn't the best experience. I kind of dread Thursday slighly 'cause for me, the 2nd or third day after something is usually pain wise the worst.. but maybe not this time. I'm on liquids until Friday then I start stuff like soft scrambled eggs and soups and oatmeal. Don't know that I'll be ready for that yet but we'll see. I would be nice if I could work a 1/2 day on FRiday even though I have it off. So far.. knock on wood, no gas pains however I did buy some rolaids gas chewables just in case. When I do get up and walk around some I burp a couple of times and i feel a little better. I have had to cough a few times and I've been holding a pillow on my tummy for that and it's not so bad. It keeps going through my head over and over.. now I have a chance..... now I have a chance. I am so excited about this new opportunity I've been given and can't wait to become more active and do the outdoor things I love. Oh.. also.. if you haven't had it done yet.. I got a reach/grabber thing from bed bath and beyound called the gopher and IT"S GREAT. I can grap stuff with out bending over. I can't wait to take a hot bath. He did say that I chould shower tomorrow. YOu should see my insicion bandages.. they cut the gauze into heart shapes.... Well it's about time for pain med dose 2 so more later.:biggrin1: :grouphug: :hug: __________________ Started Process 1/3/07 Insurance of BCBS if TN Have exclusion policy for WLS Date of approval 2/13 Date of surgery 2/27 BMI 54 Weight 336 Height 5'6 1/2" age 37 Surgeon Dr Charles Morton Baptist Hospital Nashville, TN Goal: Not sure yet. Somewhere under 200 "Always leave get well cards on your mantel, that way when guests come over, they'll think you've been sick:sick and unable to clean." :hippie:Blessings & Fae Kisses :kiss2:

I have severe hypothyroidism as well. Every time I go on a diet it is like my body goes into to shock and won't lose anything for a couple of weeks-of course this why most have failed because I become unmotivated knowing I followed everything to a T! Fortunately, my pre-op is 2 days after I start my 2 week program and I don't have to see the nutritionist again. I don't have time for the negativity. I bet even though you haven't lost weight that your liver has shrunk because you have reduced your fat!!

Hello I am right with you I was banded March 2013 and as of today ( went for a full) I gained 22 pounds. I was nervous and embarrassed however my doctor was great gave me a list of no no foods and wants me to do today and tomorrow liquid only and Thursday/Friday mush foods. He wants me back on 4 weeks and said I should make progress, you can do better yet we can do it

Good job! That's a nice chunk of weight

Well as I see it yesterday was the beginning of my 2nd life. I've struggled all my life with weight. Until about 25, I was just big-boned and then I didn't hear that anymore and knew I was just plain fat. I have an awesome husband, 2 great kids and a super career. I believe that the time was right for me to have the band. At 36, I want to enjoy my life. I just couldn't do it on my own and sadly enough I think I was becoming depressed. I was going about life as normal but lots of the time their was this cloud over my head. With yesterday's surgery, I felt for the first time since I was in 5th grade I was on my way to being healthy and maybe even shapely:). Day 2 has been a little rougher than I expected however. Even though they said I wouldn't be hungry, I think I am. But who knows because being hungry was a feeling I never let myself feel before. My greatest fear is how to get over my addiction to food. I never knew I how much I ate until I can't eat anymore. It's amazing how much I snacked whenever I wanted and for whatever reason. Anybody else out there know what I mean about the food addiction?

Lynda, We have all been there, struggling with weight etc and we know how you feel. Best of luck to you on Tuesday. I just got banded last Wed, July 2 and am starting to feel good. Very happy with my decision and you will be too! Keep us posted.

Just back from the doctor for this month and low and behold I lost for the first time in almost a year. I lost a total of 8.2 lbs. I really do feel as if I have restriction for the first time. I hope this continues for sometime to come. I didn't get a fill this time, I will go back in 4 weeks and see how I'm doing. If I feel I need a fill (I'm eating more, or gaining weight) I can go back sooner. I have spent so much time with no restriction. I can't believe it took this long to get restriction. I'm sitting at 4.3 cc's in my 4.0 cc band. I just wonder if the miss the port when they were filling it last year, if not where did it go and why is it holding now. Oh well, no use in worrying about it, I'm just enjoying the restriction that I now have. I'm really still shooting for the 30lb weight lost before Hawaii on Sept 30th. I now have 22 lbs to go before then, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will make that goal. I must remember to eat my protien and then veggies, then carbs. I have to drink more water and less Crytal light. I must excersise more often and regularly also. I can walk anytime is summer. Feeling pretty good about myself right now. Now need to work on toning up the legs and arms and stomach. They are flabby and hanging and the drive me crazy with the way the look. I don't know if has anything to do with age or not. Great month for me!!! :tt1::cool:

Quick drastic weight loss is a strange experience. Don't get me wrong, I was fully prepared, after all it took over 10 years to finally break down and undergo surgery. After all the research, doctor's visits, and support groups/forums, I was prepared buuuuttt. I'm having trouble moving into the "skinny mindset". I eat like a skinny person, I don't have a choice since 95% of my stomach is gone. I'm becoming active like a skinny person with Fibromyalgia [there's only so much you can do with Fibro]. The problem is clothing. I still see myself as fat and think I should wear larger clothing. That's where having lots of children [young adults] in one's life helps. After being teased for wearing clothing that is too big [even though it is smaller than what I use to wear], I broke down and purchased items for stores I would have never dreamed I could patronize, Express, Old Navy, J C Penny, Victoria's Secret. Everyone thinks I look great but I feel they are too small. Oh well, I guess my self-perception will catch up with the physical as time goes by.

You can always appeal based on your co-morbidities... Write out a detailed history of your work with weight watchers and those other supervised programs - find any old documentation - a canceled check, or anything. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are dangerous stuff. You can just tell them that if you croak before the 12 mos is up, your relatives will sue the *&*p out of them and win. I hate BC/BS too. We know what BS stands for, right? Anyway, If you really do HAVE a history of supervised weight loss attempts and a history of being morbidly obese, you can fight them. Check out the sticky thread in the insurance section - there are some research studies there that you can quote in your appeal.

I want to thank all of you for your replies to my post. I am amazed at how all over the board your replies are. Seems some you got approved w/o any documentation or trouble at all, while others almost had to sign away their first born just to get a hello from the insurance company. Obviously depends on your doc’s efforts to help you and the state you live in. I am almost certain BCBS of Mich., just recently started covering WLS, so I guess they are going to make anyone who tries to get approval jump though all the hoops. GET THIS. When I called my insurance company and the customer service rep started telling me EVERYTHING I was going to have to need and do I immediately started to get a sinking feeling that I was going to be on my own with this one. After listening to the very nice, but not very generous CSR basically tell me it was going to take a miracle for BCBS to cover this for me I decided to ask her a question. I asked her if I paid for this on my own would they cover any treatment necessary if there were a complication with the surgery? I was stunned when she quickly told me "of course we will cover any treatment necessary related to any complications from the surgery. COME ON….BCBS has willingly covered and will continue to cover YEARS of medical treatment necessary due to my obesity: prescriptions, tests, arthritis medications, knee surgeries, and even treatment necessary if there are complications with the band surgery, but they do whatever they have to do to not cover the band surgery itself. Looks more and more like I am going to be paying for this on my own. I am a stress eater and the very thought of battling the insurance company makes me want to order an extra large round pepperoni pizza and eat the whole thing by myself. I just can not handle the thought of doing everything BCBS asks me to do, it taking months to get all their ducks in a row, then having them ask me over and over again for something more. I have done years of weight loss programs, but I really do not have any documentation to give other than the last medically supervised program that I left six months ago. After four months of nothing but liquids, minimal weight loss, and hundreds of dollars I was done. You all know how though this battle is already. I have been fighting and losing my battle with weight for so long I really do not think I have it in me to fight the insurance company and my weight at the same time. I figure why wait months just to still not be approved. Every day I wait is a day I don’t lose any weight. Again, thank you all for your replies. Regardless of how my band gets paid for it helps to know there are others out there just like me who I can talk to and turn to for support.

Your doctor may be disappointed, but you shouldn't be. If you are eating the right things, that's the majority of the battle - I had been eating the right things, too - I had evolved into a good healthy diet over the years before surgery, but couldn't get the volume down enough to lose any more, which is why I needed the surgery. It's good to start the good postop habits early and experiment with new compliant foods - what Protein drinks do you like best, etc. Some docs claim that they use the preop diet to shrink or prepare the liver for the procedure. My doc is a liver specialist outside of his bariatrics and he doesn't have a specific preop diet, so that should say something about the validity of that claim. I gained a bit in the month before surgery from the serial last suppers (we won't be able to eat here for a while, and as long as we're out for this preop medical appointment, why not...) and it hasn't effected my weight loss postop - I'm 2/3 to goal weight in three months. Don't add any more stress to your life at an already stressful time (and hopefully your doctor won't, either) Good luck with it all,

October the 13th, a Friday no less. Good thing I am not superstitious! I decided yesterday to go ahed with the Lap-Band surgery. In the end, I felt that the risks involved with having the surgery, and hopefully escaping obesity, outweighed the risks of not having the surgery and remaining miserably obese and of deteriorating health. I decided on Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, Mexico. Dec 19th is the date! If my insurance would pay for it, I probably would have stayed with a local doctor in Texas. However, as I am a self pay, I might as well go with the best as the costs are about the same. Rumbaut is $10,600 and I will need to pay my own travel expenses, now and for followup care. Self-pay in Austin comes in at $12K minimum. Even though Rumbaut is less, I am sure it will end up more by the time I consider travel and other expenses. However, the difference in cost, when considering the overall expense, is negligible. For me, it came down to what I thought would provide the best odds for a successful surgery with minimal complications and best overall opportunity for reaching the desired outcome. Rumbaut seems to be undisputed as the best. So, given the opportunity to have him perform my surgery, I almost feel like I have a responsibility to myself and my family to use him. It cracks me up, about the people who jeer about going to Mexico for surgery. Their opinion is based on ignorance at best, racisim at worst. My goals for te journey are clear and simple. 1. Lose weight. 100 pounds would be great. 140, while unimaginable today, would be beyond my wildest dreams. 2. Get off the CPAP machine! I estimate I will need to get down to about 240 to meet that goal. 3. Feel Great. I feel like shit now, so any improvement would be welcome. My knees hurt, my back hurts, amy ankles hurt, my hips hurt. I get winded walking up a single flight of stairs. Well. That is enough for today.

Unlike what they stated in the seminar they wrote me documentation about what they found out from medical mutual! I am glad I have it in writing. " Documentation of supervised weight loss experience for six months. (includes my weight watchers experience) A complete diet history form. Please list hte various diets you have used over the years. Please not if you were overweight as a child or in your teen years.. ALso focus on your dieting efforts for the past five years. Documentation of your medical concerns related to your obesity. To begin the process, please take the enclosed forms. Also need outside psych exam. I am very pleased to have the go ahead that they have a file for me there. Really, the only thing I need to do is have all my doctors fax this information over to them. I am extremely P.Oed that the endocrinologist has not yet had acknowledged my patient information request. I might have to have my mother go on over there to get it done. The speed of getting my information for my PreD packet is based on the speed of all the doctors coming together. Monday the results of my labs will be ready to fax over to JH. Now the ball is rolling

I always made myself evaluate the amount of food I was eating, compared to what I used to eat. Then logic kicks in, there is no way I could be eating as little as I was and not be losing weight. The stall is just a period of time to let your body catch up.

Please consider contacting your PCP immediately, being evaluated by An emergent crisis center or go to an Emergency Room. I'm preop so I can't offer advice on much but a swing in moods is normal. If you have previous diagnosis of depression and cutting, were you taking meds? They may need adjustment. Hormones fluctuate with rapid weight loss and trauma. Even without weight loss surgery, your symptoms are serious and you need to seek help immediately. Please, please, please get some help. It's a dark and scary place. It feels hopeless but it's not. Sending thoughts and positive energy to you.

Honey you need some help. I know what it's like to turn to food to help comfort your soul. But it's short lived and no u don't need it. You said you go to school, they should have resources to help you or point you in the right direction. The important thing is you need to take care of you. Now. Find a state funded program, call a friend, check with your church if you go. Harming yourself isn't the way to let go of what's eating away at your spirit. You need to find a healthy outlet. You are worth more than you are giving yourself credit for. Things are rough now, I get that. But you are going to school to better your life, you are losing weight to become healthy. You have these things going for you. Don't give up. Before you know it you will see the pride and beauty in your accomplishments. And please stick around here. This group is a wonderful support team. Hang in there, find someone to talk to like now... And keep coming back here too.

I know that my victories have come in other forms not necessarily the number on the scale. I feel better, that's #1. My breathing, my mobility, my sleeping, all have improved. Seeing it in my clothes and shoes. Yes I'm down a half size. I wouldn't get down on yourself because in my eyes, I have fought my weight my whole life. It didn't just come up and I said I'm going to have surgery. I have never lost 2lbs in the same week with the exception of giving birth. The most weight prior to surgery I was able to lose was 31 lbs in 6 months. This journey of learning how to eat, changing my activity and seeing the difference is worth it to me. I have stopped focusing on the number and just focusing on how happy I am with my changes. If I was counting and placing and planning everything I put in my mouth I would be crazy. I know what's right from wrong and I work with it. I'm still working hard. Continue the hard work you will see the results!

I'm almost three weeks post op and lost about 15 pounds. In fact in the first two weeks I lost only 9. I was frustrated too but thought, I didn't do this because I can't LOSE weight, I did it because I can't keep it off. So it was still worth it. And the last few times I lost weight by dieting, it took a while for it to kick in and then it started coming off regularly. I'm hoping that'll happen again!!