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Aetna is a hard nose insurance company. I hope you lose the weight by weigh in time. Correction you will lose the weight by weigh in time.

So it’s been a little over 3 months since my surgery. I haven’t lost any weight for the last two weeks. I actually think I gained a lb or two! ( if my scale is accurate lol). Despite efforts of trying to exercise more. Walking up to 4 miles a day plus riding stationary bike 20 minutes most days! Also been cutting back and only eating 500 to 650 calories a day. What is going on?!?!?

I fought with BCBS of TX for what seemed like forever. They along with DH's employer's required a 12 month supervised weight loss program with bi monthly meetings with a nutritionist. Well I live in a very rural area of New Mexico, and we have no licensed nutritionists in network. So after wrangling over that for 2 months, they agreed to let me use my PCP for nutritional consult. So I did, he mind you continued to charge me a co-pay every 2 weeks for this...so I went, I began all my other testing. It all had to be done within the same time frame. I also gathered in all my medical records so I had everything in place to show a problem with obesity for minimally 5 years. I did my sleep study. I did my psych consult. I was on my way home from a check in with my PCP---down 43pounds---and was slammed into by another car. It wedged my left knee between the dash, and the door. I ended up having to have surgery on it. So between surgery, and rehab, I missed a 2 week check up....I WAS seeing a Dr....just not THE Dr. I happened to be in the hospital recovering from the surgery---but it STOPPED everything in its place. IF I wanted BCBS of TX to pay, I had to start my 12 months over, as it HAS to be CONSECUTIVE! I called, my Dr. called...always the same...start over. 10 1/2 months wasted. My insurance will only pay for the sleep study once every 2 years....it was all wasted. I would need a new psych study, new blood work up, everything! I had really been working the extra appointments, because I only had 6 weeks left....and because of a ditzy woman on a cell phone, she was trying to find a # so she could report a suspicious driver---he was weaving---and she didn't see us stopping, so she swerved almost around me, but because of the phone in her hand she said it caused the steering wheel to jerk around and nailed me down the entire side of my car, and pushed me into the car on my right. I was then looking at another year....talk about depressed. the weight started coming back on with a vengeance. Between the depression, and the lack of mobility with my knee. I appealled, and was denied. I started with my appointments again, found out insurance would not cover the visits again for the same purpose. Frustrating does not begin to cover it! In the end----I received a settlement from the accident, and I took my money and RAN all the way to Mexico. My year anniversary from the last denial was last week. If I had continued to fight with them, I would still not be done jumping through their hoops---and that is only if nothing happened. As it was my DH had open heart surgery, then a massive GI bleed and was in ICU. If that had caused me to miss and appointment---it would have been screwed up again. Instead I am down close to 90 pounds now...and getting close to goal. I take no prescription meds...my blood pressure is normal, my blood sugar is normal, and I have energy to spare. I'm just thankful I am no longer in the boat with you guys using all my energy attempting to satisfy the stinking insurance company. Whatever you do DOCUMENT every little bitty tiny thing said to you, by who...what time....EVERYTHING!!!! I was never told the word "consecutive"---or I would have crawled out of my hospital bed....sorry it makes me angry all over again!!! I know you guys are just like I was, you work so your premiums are paid in good faith, you do all the stupid things they make you do, and they end up saving money---obesity is NOT cheap! But they do everything in their power to not pay. Part of me wished I had hired an attorney and forced the issue---the other part is just happy it is all behind me, and prefer to look to the brighter future! There are some excellent letters people have written and are willing to share if you should get denied. Stay on them---you deserve this! Kat

I set my final goal weight at a weight I was very comfortable at in the past. In my life I have seen skinny, chubby, & obese. I was a chubby child, very thin in some of my teen years, and the classic Yo-Yo dieter as an adult (skinny, fat, skinny, fat). I am 5'7" and I felt most comfortable at 150 pounds. I have a long way to go before I see that weight again, so I take it day by day. My final goal is to maintain that weight of 150 and that is so far in the future, I can not obcess over it. That is where I hope the band will be different from all the other things I have tried.

it depends on how much weight you want to lose. If you are 350 lbs, dropping 50 lbs, while amazing, still leaves you at 300 lbs. Also the pre-op diets are pretty severe. usually liquid only, and about 500-600 calories. This is not a sustainable was of eating or living your life, it's pretty miserable in fact. The surgery is also about complete life style change, and keeping the weight off once it is lost. The sleeve is a tool to assist in that. That is the biggest thing to remember, the sleeve is a tool not a cure.

It's a valid question, that I was asked prior to surgery. Losing weight has been a struggle, but I was able to do it successfully in the past. I lost over 100lbs. on Weight Watchers about 14 years ago. Though "successful" I wasn't full or satisfied when eating a calorie restricted diet. Maintaining has always been my biggest problem, couple that with I really do enjoy food and had quite a big appetite, then BAM.. 14 years later those 100 lbs, plus more came back. I started my journey in January of last year with research. By June I made my decision to go the surgical route. I got a physical and joined Weight Watchers again. At the time, my insurance required a 6 month supervised diet and I wanted a jump start. I met with my surgeon in July and by that time the insurance requirement was dropped. But I stayed on it. I wanted to be in the best shape I could be prior to surgery and if I was taking this permanent/non-compromising action, I wanted to go into it fully committed to change. I was originally scheduled for surgery in November but had to wait until Dec 11 before I was sleeved. I started in June at my heaviest of 355. The day of surgery I was 296. I do think I could have stayed on that diet and lost more, but I have been there and done that, it didn't last. I'm almost 5 monhts out from surgery and down an additional 60 lbs. My NUT says she thinking I'm losing slower because I lost so much pre-op but I'm ok with that. I'm focused on the big picture and my long term goals. The single biggest difference this time around in my pursuit of weight loss is that I'm restricted in my intake, but i'm full. Completely satisfied. I do not go through the day counting down the minutes until my next meal. I don't worry about getting to my breaking point and eating a big meal, because I can't. I'm still in control of what I put in my body and in charge of doing the work I need to do to lose the weight, but the sleeve gives me the tool to be successful going forward.

How's your blood pressure? Very low blood pressure can cause dizziness. That happened to me. I was taking two meds for it, and my BP went so low after I was banded for awhile and had lost a lot of weight, I felt like I was going to pass out. Doctor took me completely off one of them and reduced the other, and now everything is fine. Good luck! Dave

I'm in the same boat. The scale doesn't reflect much weight loss for me (sleeved 11/15 and down 30 lbs) but everyone tells me how much I have slimmed down and how much my face has changed. Hopefully things will work out

even if you aren't loosing weight that doesn't mean that you aren't shrinking.... especially if your exercising!

I had made an appointment with my cardiologist to get in to talk to him about what was going on with the heart procedure that hes sending me for and what was going on with the lap band and needless to say I discovered a few things.....My blood pressure was 150/100 which is very high for me, and that my PCP's scale is either very wrong or shes not reading it correctly when I weigh in because there was a 38 pound difference between what she had weighed me at on Friday the 6th and what the Cardiologist weighed me at on Tuesday and it wasnt to my benefit...So then the question became were they still going to be able to do the procedure since the doctor has a weight limit. I started freaking out that it was going to get cancelled and this has already been dragged out for 6 months on Cleveland Clinics end of things...so it was a huge relief when the Doctors office called me back and told me that despite the weight issue they were going to go ahead with surgery on the 16th..As for the lap band surgery I told him that I had to look for a different doctor due to not being able to afford the program fee at the office he had initially referred me to and I told him where I had found and he reassured me that they had a excellent program as well and gave me a copy of the original letter he had sent referring me for lap band surgery and I have my appointment with the new doctor on June 27th...Then a follow-up at the cardiologist on July 2nd and my last weigh in for the 6 month doctor supervised diet on July 3rd so things are finally starting to come together I hope..Due to the huge discrepency with the scales I elected to restart my ticker with the current weight from the cardiologist office and go from there..

129 pounds down!!!!!!!!!!!!! who say's we cant lose just as much weight...just as fast as a bypass patient???????? i beg to differ!!!!!!!!!!! show'em what u got my fellow bandsters!!!!!!!!!! my ticker won't update....lol

well everybody is different. I hit a stall at about 8 Weeks post op and lasted about 3 Weeks. then it picked up slowly, and now I'm 14 Weeks out. this week I lost 7 lbs. last week I lost 4 lbs. hopefully it continues. just remember that no two people loose exactly the same. it depends on your starting weight, and whether or not you are following the nutrition plan. Sweet

Hello everyone, I am a newly banded person and so far so good. I was banded on October 9th by Dr. Rumbaut in Mexico. Just from the liqiud diet alone I have already lost 30 pounds and loving it. I have a long way to go but it sure was a nice start. Getting back to the soft food was nice because that three weeks (1 pre op and two post op) of liquid diet is a killer. Next week I get to go back to all regular foods. I am vry glad for this forum so I can talk to other people who have had the same procedure because I have only told very few people what I have done. It is not that I am ashamed of getting it done but maybe more of a failier of not being able to lose weight on my own. I am not really sure how to feel actually. Anyways, maybe I am a bit confused!!!

Uh ok, I'll be the first to say it....After all, I have been married for 10 years. Renewed sex life. Fitting into airplane seats. Hugs from my daughter. Being able to run more than 50 feet. Rubbing it in my family docs face that I don't need her stupid medications that would probably make me feel worse anyway. Feet that are an entire size smaller. Finding old 'skinny clothes' in your closet that are actually to large now. Fitting in to restaurant booths. Burning old granny panties in the fireplace! Shopping in regular stores, knowing that the clothes will fit. Not worrying that they wouldn't have a wet suit large enough for me when I went to snorkle in Florida this sumer. Ohhh, the list goes on and on and on....what are some of your favorite things about your new you. And best of all, bending over to empty the dishwaher just to have your hubby come up behind you and say..."Wow!" and not out of sheer horror, for once. That was my personal cherry on top moment.

Having a small A/c company and going to repeat customers houses to do annual services and them meeting me at the door and looking past me and saying 'Where's the other half of you" Ahhhhhhh yes. Up on the roof and seeing my shadow from the sun and noticing that there is less of me.lol. Buying 36"waist pants in stead of 44" and they fit a little loose. Oh yes. Off all my meds. OK I better stop befor it gets too long. There are so many pluses it was well worth it. If you are just out of your surgery hang in there and be patient with your weight loss and don't get discouraged, everyone is different and you will find what works for you and what dosen't. I've been told all my life that a slow weight loss is better in the long run anyway.

Is this about right? I am super excited but im guessing the the process will slow down a little or my scale is just broken lol. But i went from 278 surgery day to 266 when i was hospitalized 5days post op to 259ish 9 days post op!!! WOW. I was just wondering how other people felt about their initial weight loss especially when im on this liquid diet. ONce i incorporate food will things change alot?

I went through this as well. It's so many things. I was sleeved the 17th too. Physically fine, not a problem at all with soreness. But..mentally not so good. I have had a tough week. I think of food all the time, and have crazy cravings. I have also experienced hunger which has been disappointing. Started with 1st real food today, 1/2 scambled egg...was so looking forward to it. It tasted good, but I did not feel good afterwards. I get heartburn and gassy. Hoping it gets better, but so far, I have serious "buyers remorse". Doesn't feel worth the 22 lbs down since surgery. #1, when we lose weight fast, if your a woman, it releases all the stored hormones in there. #2, what we did by having this surgery is completely change how we live our lives and for some of us there is a mourning period. I cried solid for the 7 days between week 4 and 5. That's when I learned the only way out of it...is through it. I had to feel all those emotions, the regret, the fear and loss of how I used to sooth myself with food, all of it. Most of us, 99.999% of us get over these feelings, we are relearning and with that comes letting go of the past. It's OK to feel how you feel. Just keep pushing through. 23 doesn't seem worth it but wait till you are at 50 or 100. Everything is so much better! #3, are you on a Proton pump inhibitor like Prilosec? It's helped me so much. I had 24/7 acid and the doc told me to use that. Hang in there, it does get better. I'll be honest, I told everyone to not compliment me on my weightloss for the first month or so because it just upset me so much. I said "I'm miserable, I'm upset and I regret it right now. People telling me I look good just makes me feel like they only care that I'm skinner not that I'm miserable and can't stop crying". I swear, for most of us it gets so much better!

Congrats on the wt loss! And the envy of your sister-n-law????... However, don't get discouraged w/ the plateaus. I had my surgery 5/15/13, have lost 140, and gained and lost this same 15 several times over. But this is a journery. Don't forget this is a life style change for life. No giving up and going back to old habits. Keep going to skinny girl stores, trying on their clothes, and fitting them????... that totally motivates me. Whatever your workout plan is, stick to it, but change it up. Get a personal trainer, if you can afford one or us XHIT.com... the plateaus don't last long. So far my longest was 3wks. It sucked, but I just kept working out, eating right, getting rest and stayed w/ my morning protein shake. Don't give that up. I hope my advice has encouraged you. Stay motivated... Pinterist totally motivates me...

Thank you! I'm not giving up I think I'm just impatient to get the weight off. I know it is a journey and not a race.

In Texas, if we didn't purchase the coverage for WLS (speaking for the employer) then you aren't covered. I am not unlike you, but I am much heavier. Since the surgery locally cost about 15K, we discussed it and decided my health was totally worth the cost of a small car, and we'd finance the surgery ourselves. Once we had decided that, we found out our insurance (tricare) had changed and now covered it. So I know how you feel. My doc told me in early July that unless I took action in the next 3 months I'd be diabetic. I was glad to hear him say lap band because I'd wanted one since they came out. Since that 7/3 date it's been a whirlwind, but a great ride. I'm down 32 pounds from the post op diet and looking forward to eating normally for the first time in my life (because let's face it, being able to eat 4 pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy at one meal isn't normal, at least not for a 5'5" sedentary female) Like you I tried therapy and weight loss programs aplenty. I truly deeply know this is my solution. I say research the band (I did, for years!) and probe how you feel about it. If you decide it is the right thing for you...well, you're worth the price of a Kia, don't you think?

A lot of us have tried every diet out there and lost and gained and lost and gained. I was pre-diabetic and would be diabetic soon had I not taken some steps. Im self pay. There are lots of doctors in Dallas TX that are in the under $10K and under $11K price that I know of. You can go over the border, like I did to Juarez, but Im not sure how much you save in the long run, since you will still need to pay for fills locally, cost too much to go to Mexico every time I need a fill. My first fill was a waste of $200. I dont feel like I overeat, I think my biggest problem is eating the wrong foods, I love to snack and nibble, so Im still not sure the lapband will work for me. So far its all been will power with no help from the band. My fill doctor only works every other Sat in alternating locations and had a wedding, then I have a cruise, so my 2nd fill wouldnt even be until Sept 27th. Lapbands are not overnight answers, thats for sure. My thoughts are it might or might not really help me lose, since I wasnt eating large meals before, but it might help me keep it off, I can get a really tight fill Im hoping if I start to regain the weight like I always do when I cant stand not eating candy and popcorn and Snacks, the band will make it hard to eat these foods if I feel full. Thats my hope anyway. Im not sure lapband is the answer for everyone, but it might be your answer, but its still just a tool and dieting is hard work. when I get to my sweet spot, hopefully, I will be saying wowie, this really does work. When some post say this could take up to 6 fills to get there (at $200 a pop and Im driving 5 hours to get to where I can get this price).

Hey guys I'm getting banding tomorrow morning!! Exciting, but I'm starting to have major doubts... but I think its just anxiety about having surgery.. I've never had any surgery or anasthesia before. Anyways, I'm really freaking out over eating habits. I'm worried that after this surgery I'm going to eat less, but still eat CRAP all the time. I'm a college student and I really don't know how to cook, but I am very aware of what is healthy and what is not. How do you guys get over cravings?? How do you cook at first? What do you puree thats healthy and won't sabatoge you in the mushy phase? How do you restrict your carbs?! I'm a complete carb addict and I'm worried that even if I cook my own foods, if I have carbs all the time I will yet again be a failure at weight loss. Any tips, references, or books to get my mind prepared to not sabatoge myself?

I do alot of walking and weight lifting. maybe over time it will get better. Im good either way. I didnt have this surgery to look "hot", I was 330 lbs and dying. as long as im healthy I will deal with saggy skin.

I am probably the worst example but I have started to add white wine in my weight loss process. I have had 1-2 glasses of white wine 3-4 times after my surgery and I am almost 4 months out after my RNY. But I have to tell you, it really gets me buzzed. I don't drink regularly and don't plan on it. I have bad a few sips of red wine and couldn't tolerate it. But yes I am sure I am going against the program. So talk to your NUT. And yes I count the calories also to make sure I am not over doing it.

My team said no alcohol for the first year. There were three reasons for this: 1) Liver failure. Your body burns fat very quickly during the first year releasing toxins stored in the fat into your system. Your liver is working very hard during this time to filter these out. Adding alcohol during this time period can overwork your liver, causing liver failure (resulting in at least one recent death for my program). 2) Cross addiction or transfer addiction. Many of us are addicted to various foods and need to practice and learn new coping skills while we are losing weight so we can keep the weight off for life. The statistics are pretty high for alcoholism, drug addiction, and other less common addictions (gambling, shopping, sex) for weight loss surgery patients. These statistics are equally as high for people who never indulged in these things pre op as they are for those who did. We need to learn and practice coping skills to avoid falling into the trap of new addictions. 3) Quick and easy intoxication. We get tipsy faster on less. There are plenty of reasons why this could be bad. Driving would be dangerous. You could end up in dangerous situations when quickly intoxicated. Or you could have poor judgment about what you put in your mouth while intoxicated. I tend to want to eat when tipsy. If I did that in the early stages I'd probably have had a lot more of those painful stuck food or vomiting episodes from eating too much, too fast, wrong foods, and not chewing. I have wine now at 14 months out. 4oz hits me hard and can make me slur my words and be unsteady on my feet. I only drink alcohol at home now, never in public (I like my Saturday night glass of wine - my indulgence after a long week). Mainly because I'd be embarrassed to seem so drunk in public and driving home would be very unwise. These three reasons were stressed and drilled into me over and over and over pre op and post op during support group meetings. I second all of these reasons 100% especially the addiction and quick to get tipsy, you can add it in but you just need to make sure you are monitoring it very closely to avoid these common problems.