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Hello, Jenny. I was very interested in your allergic reaction, and that you had seen warnings about this in the manufacturer's brochures. I was not aware of any such possible complications, and had planned to keep my band in for the rest of my life. This past May, I started having severe pain and feeling generally rotten. One doctor (who obviously knew nothing about reading CT scans and x-rays, but who does install lapbands!) said my band was "upside down and out of place, and had to come out). He tried to take the saline out of my band and only succeeded in hurting me. I elected to go all the way back to NJ to the surgeon who had put the band in before we moved. The band was not "upside down," nor out of place, but my esophogus was badly swollen, part of my pouch was above the band, and I needed to have my gall bladder out, plus I was full of infections and had to be on antibiotics before and after surgery. He said he'd try to keep my band in, but had to remove it because of the swelling of my esophogus. I gained 27 pounds quickly and have been filled with panic. However, in one week, I managed to lose 5 pounds, and have been going twice a week to a cardiac rehab class working out on machines. I still attend a bariatric support group which also helps. The one thing that has really helped me food-wise is making homemade Soups, and having a mug of hot Soup to start the day. Somehow, this seems to keep my hunger level down! Plus, making the soupos myself, I know what's in them, and can keep the sodium level way down. I cook a whole bunch of veggies (some frozen, some fresh, depending on my mood) and 3-5 chickn thighs. Then I use a slotted spoon to take out all the solids and dump them with a little of the liquid into the blender. Blend, then dump back into the liquid still in the pot. After it all cools down, I pour some into about 5 containers to put in the freezer, leaving just one out for immediate use. Sometimes, I add a jar of baby food (like chicken,rice and veggy meal) too. It tastes better than the store soup, has almost no salt at all, and I know I have a constant supply in the freezer in 2-day amounts. After hearing what some others have gone through, I am thinking twice about having another band put in after 6 months of healing. Now I think I should use that one year I had (lost 100 pounds) as a wonderful jumpstart, and have lots of soups and drink lots of ice Water, plus several small meals daily. My hope is that I can lose another 75 pounds and learn to live this better way. My NJ surgeon had wondered if I wanted to consider gastric bypass, but I have heard too many horror stories about that to think about doing such a drastic thing and possibly dying in the effort to lose the weight! I too have a lot of allergies but not as many as you have. It has taken me about 2 months to recover from the surgery when my band was removed and at the same time, my gall bladder. I'm starting to feel human again & am determined to do the few exercises I can do (I'm in a wheelchair some of the time, and use crutches to walk the rest of the time, so I can not work out the same way as most people can, but there are some good exercises I can do.) Also, I'm training myself to use commercials on TV as an exercise time -- when the ads come on, I can do all sorts of arm exercises and even rotate my feet back and forth until the program comes back on. Stretching a few minutes upon waking up in the morning seems to calm my hunger too; I have always awakened RAVENOUS! I do hope you will gain strength back soon and maybe find a bariatric support group where you live. Being with people who have experienced this is so helpful. Doctors may have lots of knowledge, but few of them understand at a gut level what this Life Battle is really about for us. Try the soup routine? Take care. "C.J." (user name CJBD)

If you know you have tried everything you could to lose and have not been successful then I would say move forward with bariactric surgery. First find out with your health plan what is required for approval. Find a experienced bariatric surgeon and read as much as you can about your surgery options. Bariatric surgery will change your life in ways you would not even think of. It has been the best decision I made for my health. I do not regret it and wished I would have done it 10 years ago but my doctors would not recommend. There are many misconceptions of who qualifies for surgery yet this is specific to each individual and what your health plan will cover. Dont get discouraged by negative comments or opinions even if it from a doctor. If you feel this is right for you then go for it. Best of luck... I would recommend reading the book a pound of cure. Great information for pre-op and post-op patients.

In addition to using the band the way it is intended to be succesful there has to be a good bariatrics program too. If you are in a program where the surgeon just does the surgery but there isn't any regular follow up then that too can make a patient fail. Many centers orphan the patient after the surgery thank God that isn't my center...going on 6 years in Aug. and still can do weekly follow-up without cost if I choose to do so....and I choose to do so.

@@Amanda Harris Hi there and welcome! Congratulations on taking steps to get healthy. It is an exciting time as you get closer to surgery dates. As James said most of the testing you go through is just to make sure that a safe surgery can be performed. Bariatric surgery has become fairly routine but being obese comes with potential complications if you don't dot all your i's and cross your t's. As you know getting through the process requires great patience. Every step is really worth it in the end. Having bypass surgery was the very best thing I have ever done for myself. I thank god everyday that we have such an incredible medical community. They literally saved my life! If you have any questions feel free to either post or reach out. I would be happy to help.

Welcome. You might also find a Bariatric Surgery Support Group Meeting in your area. Generally they happen monthly and are free. It seems like you are in the middle of the process. You will undergo a series of pre-op testing which takes almost a day. If they find anything of concern, they will schedule you for follow-on specialized tests with a specialist in the field of expertise. They are just trying to be extra careful to avoid problems during surgery. They will set a surgery date. Towards the end, there is a half day class that provides great detail about the surgery and post-op requirements. A lot of information is provided during this class.

I'd go to urgent care. I've never heard of people reacting to the surgery like that, but some people are allergic to certain meds or to the surgical glue or tape they use. Are you taking ursodiol? (the med some surgeons put their patients on for a few weeks to help prevent gallstones). Hives can be a side effect of that (not a common one, but I know it's a side effect because I was one of those people who got hives from it). Or it could be some other med you're reacting to. Just check with your PCP or go to urgent care. I reacted to either the surgical tape or glue when I had plastic surgery (although I didn't react to it with my RNY, oddly - but maybe it was different brand of tape/glue) - they put me on prednisone for a few days so I'd quit reacting to it. With the ursodiol I was taking after my RNY, the PA at my bariatric clinic just had me quit taking it. anyway, I doubt it was the surgery per se - but it could be some med or something that you're reacting to. They'll know what to do.

i am in nj. medicare covers bariatric procedures but what you have is medicaid...and yes they cover them too. i have horizon nj health as well and i had my surgery on november 17th with Dr. Jordan Garrison. awesome doctor and awesome experience. you have to choose a doctor on the health plan that covers bariatric surgeries and go from there. if you are in northern nj i seriously suggest my doctor, Dr. Garrison. i wish you luck in your journey--you can do it!

I think it all depends on your insurance and the bariatric center and what they both require. Im 1 week out. My BMI was around 40 as well. I did not have to do a liquid diet either, just the 1200 cal diet. BUT I did do a 3 day liquid diet right before the surgery anyway just becuase I wanted to be safe and also start shrinking my liver which supposedly makes sugery eaiser.

Here is a list of common used abbreviations on this board #/#/# in signatures: weight pre-surgery/current weight/goal weigh AF: "Aunt Flo" -- menstrual period BC: Birth control (or BCP: birth-control pills) BIA: Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. BMI: Body Mass Index BMR: Basal Metabolic Rate. This is the minimum number of calories you need to sustain your current weight. This includes resting and sleeping. BP: Blood pressure DS: Duodenal switch (another type of bariatric surgery) EPGSHFLYADV: Excruciatingly Painful Gagging Sliming Heaving Feels Like You're About to Die Vomitation FAT MASS: This is how many pounds of your body is fat. FAT%: The percentage of your body that is fat. FFM: Fat Free Mass. This is how many pounds of your body is not fat. GBP: Gastric bypass surgery GERD: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease GP: General practitioner LPD: Liquid Protein Diet MO: Morbid Obesity (or morbidly obese) NP: Nurse practitioner NSAIDS: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (a class of painkillers--which includes ibuprofen--bandsters should try to avoid because they can add to ulcer risk). NSV: Non-scale victory -- a weight-loss achievement that has little to do with numbers OTC: Over the counter (i.e., non-prescription medications) PA: Physician's assistant PB: Productive Burp -- what happens when something eaten can't go down due to restriction has to come back up PCP: Primary care physician RNY: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (the most popular type of bariatric surgery) TBW: Total Body Water. This may be expressed in pounds or as a percentage. The average % for a healthy adult male is 50-65% and for female 45-60%. WLS: Weight-loss surgery

I am over 3 years out (March 2008) & while Dr. Brown wasn't my primary bariatric doctor when I had my surgery (That role went to Dr. Metz as he was at P/SL at the time), he was on the surgery team & took the time to visit me in my room the next morning (I had to spend a couple of days in the hospital due to other medical issues I have). I too highly recommend him Shavona, don't forget there's also the support group as well. We meet on the third Wednesday of the month usually at the hospital (Though on occasion we also meet at area grocery stores too) & there's the online group as well (Just give Jodi your email address so she can add you to the list). The online group is a 24/7 thing (Though staff do have dedicated hours in which they'll be on). I imagine by now, you're just now beginning to wonder what you've done to yourself by going from not puking at all when you eat to puking at least once a day. That's normal. The dumping is something you're gonna have to get used to but it's well worth it Best of luck See ya at the meetings sometime Shav..... Cheers

Ok thanks! i have checked the Health Plus website and can't find any providers for bariatric surgery...so I've got to call them which I will be doing TODAY!! lol thanks for the advice and when r u getting your surgery done?! congrats! :bolt:

GIRL!!! I'm waiting for my insurance card too. I have HIP medicaid as far as providers you have to go onto the Health Plus website and look up participating hospitals and providers for bariatric surgery. I am getting my surgery dome by Dr.Nishamura South Nassau Hospital (LI).

I don't know when I'm having the surgery I am going through all the pre surgical testing but i hopr before the end of the year. I had a set back because i lost my job and insurance so I have to start all over again with the new insurance medicaid. I don't know If you close Health Plus when you applied for medicaid but it's better to pick United Health Care or HIP ad managed care because they have many bariatric surgeons who accept them.

As newme0617 pointed out, this coverage decision is so new that it has not yet made it's way into the system Medicare phone reps work out of. Don't bother calling them, instead contact your hospital's Bariatric Coordinator. Additionally, coverage for VSG will be determined "case by case" at a local level. So VSG is covered, but not for everyone at a national level like the RNY or Lapband is. I Spoke directly with my Bariatric Director this afternoon about Medicare's VSG decision. She reviewed the CMS memo decision and agreed with my interpretation that this decision was a good one and coverage appears imminent. While the "fine" details for Medicare contractors (ie hospitals) have not yet been released (billing code, guidelines for submitting, etc) she did say everything looks like a go and I will be the first patient she submits for Medicare approval next month! For those of you who have not yet had the opportunity to get a personalized nod of approval from your hospital, read this and you should feel better. This is a summarized analysis and decoding of CMS's VSG memo from The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). A true authority in all matters concerning Bariatric's. http://asmbs.org/2012/06/access-to-care-alert-the-cms-final-decision/ At long last the wait is over! If you have state (MA) Medical Assistance (Medicade) this is good news for you as well. With very few exceptions, coverage and requirements for Medicade mirror that of Medicare. I suspect that state MA will recognize the VSG no later than October when coverages for all states go through their annual update. If you have not already begun taking the necessary steps to complete the requirements to be submitted for Insurance approval, NOW is the time to get started!

I woke up about 2am with a bit of pain in lower left ab area. I took some maalox and tried to get back to sleep. By 4 am I was vomiting and the pain was radiating around my back and across the whole abdominal area. I had it in my mind I was food poisoned because I took a chance on Chinese food that I normally won't eat. But I ate about 530pm and woke at 2 am so that seemed strange. By 5 am, in one of the lulls in the pain spasms I woke my son up to take me to the emergency room. I had another bad spasm and couldn't get dressed, so we left about 45 minutes later. By the time we get there, I can barely walk and continuously dry heaving. They get me in pretty fast - the pain med made me high, but didn't touch the pain. The zophram reduced the naseau. By the time I got back from the ct scan I was in screaming pain, dry heaving again and the shift had changed. New nurse guessed my diagnosis and switched me to a strong anti inflammatory pain med and treated the vomiting symptom.. I felt better within about 10 minutes! Thank God. My pain was like a 9 if unmedicated childbirth is like a 12 (on a scale of 1-10). Really I felt as though I might die, or worse yet that I wouldn't and have to suffer so. So anyhoo..you guessed it, really big kidney stone, way up high. Follow up with urologist since they don't think this baby will pass unassisted. Great. Current problem is that an NSAID is needed but not good for us. Called my lovely bariatric practice and have a plan of attack on how to protect my tummy for short term use of NSAID. My luck has not been 100 percent good in 2016 so far.... Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for your comments. I have another post op appointment this week and I'm going to discuss some things with them. My daily goal is 80g of Protein and 60oz of h2o. I have a hard time hitting both goals on a daily basis. I need to be better about logging my food to monitor my intake. I am always very conscious of what I eat. Limit carbs to a minimum, Proteins first, and add veggies. The sleeve forces you to be a meal planner and some days it's tough to get it all in. My gym does offer sessions with a personal trainer but all I hear it eat, eat, eat. Although eating is the key, it's hard because 8 hours a day I am on the go in a fast paced work environment. I usually grab a snack mid morning and mid afternoon and it's usually in the form of a Protein Bar. It's quick and easy. I will definitely ask my Bariatric team if they know of trainers in the area that works or has worked with WLS patients. Someone a little more familiar with the procedure may help. Kyle

Hi Ladidi and welcome! It is not uncommon at all for 60+ folks to have bariatric surgery! I was sleeved last year at age 67. No adverse events, and I had a successful recovery. Go for it!

Welcome welcome. We hope you'll hang around and get to know us better. There are people at all levels of the weight loss journey, newbies like yourself, pre surg like me who have or are in the process of finishing up requirements, ones whose surgery dates are shortly coming up, people who have just had their surgeries and are in the process of recovering and many seasoned veterans who are still active. We[emoji173] them especially as they mentor the rest of us. We treasure their advice for they have walked the walk ahead of us. Ask any questions you like,if I don't have an answer somebody else on Bariatric Pal will. We all may be having different approaches and viewpoints but we are unified in wishing you well and hope we can ease things for you. Welcome again, we think you'll find yourself at home here. [emoji14] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone, My name is Anna and have just started the process of getting banded. I have so many questions, many of which I have found answers to in this wonderful forum. The more I read the more questions I develope though. I would love to hear from Wendy in IL. I too, am looking at having Dr. Van Wagner do my surgery. I hope to hear from you soon. Questions: - Unitedhealthcare Ins (coverage if bariatric surg is non-contracted) - Regrets? - Complications? Etc., Additionally, I eat for so many reasons other than hunger. I have given up on dieting. I can't even develope the motivation to do it anymore. Looking better and fitting into a smaller size is desirable but I just want to be healthy now. I wonder how/if the band will give me a sensation of fullness to the point that I will not want to overeat anymore. I understand the machanics of it but how does the band motivate you to change a lifetime of bad behavior with food. Help,:help: Anna

Have you found your insurance company's bariatric policy yet? It should list what their criteria is for revisions. Some policies are kind of buttheads about it -- won't pay if your weight is below 35 BMI, for example. But most of them will pay if the revision is medically necessary. With your band problems, you should easily qualify on that score.

One way is to have documentation from your PCP. I have Aetna as well and am finishing up my 3 month requirement. My bariatric surgeon states you don't necessarily need to try weight watchers or jenny craig type programs, but even simple documentation from you PCP stating that you and them have discussed weight loss goals, any recommendations they've given you, your weight history throughout the years, even documentation from you gyno will help. My doc also asked if i've tried certain diets on my own like south beach/atkins and i told her i have and she put that into my list of things i've tried. i also included my visit history of the gym i have been attending for the past 4 years. hope this helps

My doctors have advised that the sleeve does not encounter the dumping syndrome. They of course want you to stay away from sugars and carbs but it's that's in order to lose weight. I already have other stomach problems and that's one of the reasons I picked the sleeve over the band or the original gastric bypass. Another form of vitamins if you're interested, minor called bariatric Fusion You can look online for those as well. From what my nutritionist said, you can't just take a regular multivitamin. There's other vitamins that you need as well.

Panther, at the bariatric center where I'm going, there are some docs who do the liquids diet and some don't. I'm doing a clear liquid prep today for surgery tomorrow. Apparently my surgeon is the only one who requires that. (Lucky me).

I'm very happy with my band, and my surgeon did all procedures, but based on my age and other factors he strongly suggested having the band, My insurance would have any of the weight loss procedures. There are three surgeons, and several APRNs handle the follow up visits. My wife had the sleeve, same surgeon,and she is expected to have follow visits and yearly blood work. My surgeon still does lap bands, based on the needs of that patient. If you go for low price, you may get what you pay for. There are Bariatric Centers of Excellence for a reason. I seldom bother checking in or posting is because the forum has largely turned into a band bashing melee, and I suspect most other long time regulars have left for the reason. This was a great place when it catered only to lap banders. Now anyone with a lap band issue is assailed by VSG cultists.

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