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Hi, I am a new member to the site and would like to see if anyone can help me out on some questions I have. I have considered having wls for over 2 years now and have finally made up my mind to do it! I went to the seminar to start that the surgeon requires. I know I was told there would be some pre-qualifications my insurance would require before approving the surgery. The insurance dept at the drs office sent me the paperwork saying I had to have 5 years of weight history with my bmi over 40 or my bmi greater than 35 w/co-morbidities. My situation is that my bmi has only been over 40 for 2 years and greater than 35 with NO co-morbidities for the first 10 years. Is there anyone out there who was/is in this kind of situation? And also with BCBS TRS activecare thru the school district, is there anyway to get around these "pre-qualifications? Thanks for any help you can provide.

I can't wait to have my tummy tuck but I have to get closer to my goal weight first. It's entirely possible that having all that skin removed will actually put you at goal. As for the scars I was told if you do a full TT it will take care of any scars and marks that are below the belly button.

It seems to me you have issues going on and you need one doctor address them. Right now you've got your band doctor worrying about your band and your GI doc worrying about the bowel issues, but still no one is giving you solid answers what's wrong. So your band is ok- but then why do you have reflux and heartburn? Was your band too tight? It bothers me greatly your band doc isn't concerned about this because if you have reflux you're at high risk for band erosion. The fact you have esophageal ulcers is a warning you're already heading in that direction. You then go from diarrhea to constipation and a lot of other pain. And your GI doc is writing it off as IBS? Even with a fever? Again, you have some serious warning signs of bigger things going on and IBS definitely isn't the cause. I understand the last thing you want to is gain weight but right now that should be your last concern. You need to get to the bottom of all these troubling symptoms and treat the cause not the random symptoms. Best wishes.

So how many of you are going to be focused on losing over the holiday? How many of you are just going to pray that you dont gain anything? how many are just going to do their best, but may cheat a little? As a lifestyle change, which is what the band is right? I am not planning on gaining, hope i will lose, but still plan to enjoy some of our holiday traditions. such as...we eat rubens for christmas dinner, i plan on having some corned beef with a little cheese maybe a cookie for desert. I am not going to deny myself everything and be miserable that icant enjoy holiday traditions in my family. Will i be more careful aboutthe amounts of what i am eating and avoid most of the sweets? yes for sure! Whats your plan for sucess over the holiday?

When you lose the weight fast like we do you will get the "don't lose anymore weight" alot. Sometimes they can't imagine you being smaller or sometimes they are jealous or sometimes they are just trying to say you look great and that is how they express it. Either way keep going girl!! You are going to love it!

pooh, I used your idea and padded my pants with some weight since I had to take my shoes off and low and behold I have a BMI of 41. We are now resubmitting. I cant believe I didnt think of that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!you are a genius.

Yeah, I've had several obese friends get mad at me for going this route to lose weight. I definetly think there is a jealousy that is making them act this way.

Last October I had a slight unfill as I felt I was too tight and it was the best decision as I could lose weight and keep food down. All has been going well until the last couple of weeks I have started to feel slightly hungry and looking for snacks. I have booked another appointment but Im wondering if I was too tight last time will I be the same this time, I dont want to be so tight I rarely eat. Does the band change or loosen over time? my husband is telling me I shouldnt have anymore but my head thinks its time for a fill. What do you all think?

Pictures of People at different heights and weights. I like looking at this site. I too can only guess at what my goal should be. At 53, my goal is probably different than a 23 y/o of the same height.

If you had your surgery on 9/2 you're only about 5.5 weeks out, right? So you have only lost a total of 6 lbs since your surgery? If thats the case something is definitely not right, you should have lost more than that before you even left the hospital. What diet have you been on, are you walking/exercising? Are you getting enough Protein & calories (if not your body will go into starvation mode & it will be nearly impossible to lose weight)?

Wow! That's great! From what I've been told, the weight history, nutrition, and 3 month diet is an insurance requirement. The stress test, sleep study, and endoscopy are required by this particular surgeon. Currently my BMI is 36.6 but I'm on about 8 medications a day!!

Hello everyone, I'm getting worried and I could use some advice. I attempted to begin the process to get the sleeve during the summer, but was told that my 2 year weight history did not show a BMI of 35 in 2011. About a month ago, a friend referred me to another surgeon who agreed to start the process. I've completed the Nutrition appt, sleep study, psych eval, stress test, and endoscopy all in the last 2 weeks! Whew! I have 2 more groups to go, one in November and the other in December. I'm so hoping that I can submit in January and get approved, but I'm so worried that my medical records will not reflect that I have a full 2 years of a 35BMI!!!! I have chronic high blood pressure that requires two medications to control along with a host of other medical issues related to a thyroidectomy in 2012. Has anyone else had this problem/concern and if so, what did you do?! I so want to get this done at the first of the year! My surgeon's office actually wants to submit in December, but it was my idea to wait until January, hoping it will allow me to get medical records from 2013-2014, instead of 2012-2013!! I'm kinda freaking out!

I would like to find a support group. The mental side of lap band is huge for me. I am a food addict. I still overeat and cannot wrap my head around the fact that I am full at times. I call myself the turtle of lap band. I'm losing weight, very slowly. I exercise and take my Vitamins, and eat healthy food. I think I need brain band surgery, ha. Guess until then I will just keep working on myself.

I am so glad I found this topic! I refuse to get discouraged. I have educated myself enough on this forum to know that if you eat right and implement excerise when possible that you will lose weight. I must say, I could easilyget quite down about it, if I did not know better. I was sleeved 2/04. Counting pre op diet I went down as much as 28 lbs. This entire last week which would mean a 1 1/2 weeks out, I been up and down the same 3 lbs. I got as low as 202 and now sit today at 204. It is a bummer. I am done weighing myself daily, to much anxiety about it. I will start with once a week and if that does not work then once a month.

For about three months in the mid 1990s, my doctor put me on Fen-Phen, the miracle weight loss drug. For me, the drugs curbed my appetite and helped me rapidly lose weight. My guess is, the pills were 50% appetite supressant and 50% speed. The only reason I mention Fen-Phen is, I was losing weight without trying. I continued to eat fast food and buffets several times a week and I still lost weight. Then a bunch of people reported heart problems and the drug was pulled off the market. Bye bye, Fen-Phen. Bye bye, weight loss. For the first month after I had lapband surgery, I lost weight like crazy. 50 pounds, in fact. Sure, most of that was due to the crazy liquid/soft diets, but still, weight lost is weight lost, right? I did minimal exercise, stayed full, and continued to lose weight. Since moving to regular food, my weight loss has tapered off and, over the past week, it has all but stopped. Food wise, I am almost back to my old eating habits. Well, that's not true -- I'm eating better, but I'm still eating a lot of food. Tonight I'm setting my old treadmill back up to get back on track. I want to lose a few more pounds before my band fill next week. Although I haven't gained any weight, I guess this is just a reminder that the weight's not going to lose itself; I'm going to have to work to get it off.

For about three months in the mid 1990s, my doctor put me on Fen-Phen, the miracle weight loss drug. For me, the drugs curbed my appetite and helped me rapidly lose weight. My guess is, the pills were 50% appetite supressant and 50% speed. The only reason I mention Fen-Phen is, I was losing weight without trying. I continued to eat fast food and buffets several times a week and I still lost weight. Then a bunch of people reported heart problems and the drug was pulled off the market. Bye bye, Fen-Phen. Bye bye, weight loss. For the first month after I had lapband surgery, I lost weight like crazy. 50 pounds, in fact. Sure, most of that was due to the crazy liquid/soft diets, but still, weight lost is weight lost, right? I did minimal exercise, stayed full, and continued to lose weight. Since moving to regular food, my weight loss has tapered off and, over the past week, it has all but stopped. Food wise, I am almost back to my old eating habits. Well, that's not true -- I'm eating better, but I'm still eating a lot of food. Tonight I'm setting my old treadmill back up to get back on track. I want to lose a few more pounds before my band fill next week. Although I haven't gained any weight, I guess this is just a reminder that the weight's not going to lose itself; I'm going to have to work to get it off.

Glad to find these posts - thanks for the information. I was having problems with keeping food down a few weeks ago and my doctor did a complete unfill and wants me to have an upper GI (being scheduled) to make sure I didn't have a slip. I am now feeling better but have gained 7 lbs. I do not feel any pain now - does that mean my band did not slip? My surgeon never mentioned a liquid diet though. I will try that just in case - plus it may help with the weight gain. Good luck.

Hello - I have had my band for over 5 1/2 years. After about 18 mths my band slipped. I think it was from Throwing up. (not confirmed by My Dr) but I know my body and I was getting sick alot when I ate. But I was willing to go thru this to loose the weight. Bad idea. My Dr took some of the fluid out to see if the pouch would reduce/ the swelling to go down on its own. ( it didnt) One thing that can happen when the band slips is your pouch becomes enlarged, and in my case even part of the old stomach made its way up thru the band, thererfore creating a new pouch from my old stomach. So now I had 2 smal pouches, not a good thing, I was able to hold more food, explaining the reason I was not loosing any weight. So I had surgery to replace the band. Well, just a month ago same thing, but this time I have not been throwing up. However I noticed I was and could eat more then I normmaly use to which also explained some weight gain, I thought maybe I need a fill, I went to the Dr and Bam enlarged pouch, then 2 weeks later band slippage. My band now has to be removed for a 2nd time. Things to learn from my post: You must always remember your band is a "TOOL" never take it for granted. If something doesnt feel right it probably isnt. Check it out...Use common sense, most of the time your Dr. does want what is best for you, seek their advice or call the nurse, they are very knowledgable and have probably heard your worry from many others. Do not over-eat and you should not be throwing-up more then the occasional burp-up. Stay in a support group. Band slippage most of the time can be prevented, sometimes not. For me personally I think the first time might have been preventable, I use to beat myself up over it but now that I have had a 2nd slip, I am not so sure, I didnt throw up. Sometimes it just happens....I will be having a revision surgery this July..not another band, not becuase I do not have faith in the band - I do - it took me down 85 lbs, but My Dr says its time for something else. I will either have the Sleeve or the RYN...5 years ago the RYN was a dirty word to me, now I am prepared, it too is still a tool and I am sure it will get me to goal. Would I do it all over again, YOU BETCHA. Love your band!!

I did drink soda before my lap band procedure but after the surgery I stopped drinking it. I think I lost the desire for it (among many other things). It just didn't taste the same as it did before the surgery. I had the lap band procedure in May 2008. I had numerous fills and unfills. On a recent trip to Kauai, our kayak tipped over and when I climbed back in (with help with our guide and my husband pushing me back in from behind), I thought I broke a rib. I later learned in emergency after a catscan and x-ray that it wasn't my rib or spleen, but that my lap band slipped! It was a freak accident. I had it removed several days later when I got home by my bariatric surgeon who put it in. He says I can wait 5 weeks and have it put back in. I am still debating with myself whether or not I want to put it back in. I was in the hospital for three days taking it out because I had to have numerous tests to see if my stomach was damaged from the band slippage. I have thousands of dollars of out-pocket costs. The insurance pays for most of it but I have to pay a portion too. Having my band slipped, meant that I could not swallow liquid or food and even my saliva came up! I feel much better since it was taken out. The slippage was something that I thought would NEVER happen to me. I am fearful that I will gain my weight back that took so much effort to lose and I will gain more. I am eating the same as I was before my band slipped and exercising even more. One of my bariatric surgeons is confident that I can do this. If not, I am having it put back in. For now, I am taking care of myself and recovering from my surgery. If there is anyone out there who is recoving from having the band taken out, I would appreciate hearing from you. My band was taken out not out of choice but out of an emergency. My band was so traumatized that they could not put a new band in after they took the old one out. Is there life after having your lap band taken out? If so, what kind of life? I've been changed on so many levels just having the procedure and living with the band for over a year. Can I keep my weight off? Can I lose more?

My PCP didn't want me to get the band either. I think he didn't want to lose me as such a good patient. I have so many health problems that he has been treating for yrs. Ha. I know that was not the reason. I was gaining weigh every month also and needed something done. He finally agreed and helped me by sending my entire medical file to the insurance co. I am not sure that was a good ideal, but a few days later they agreed to pay for the surgery. WHatever it takes. Go for it.

hi, i have surgery in 2 weeks. i changed my pcp to one that works with bariatric specialist. my bmi was high enough to qualify at 43 but insurance required that i visit dr each month and talk about weight and fill out form with doctor for 6 months min. our hospital has a class each month and then you find out who does the surgery and what insurance company needs or requirements are. it will be 11 months since i started process. i explained to pcp doctor what i wanted to do and why. laying out a logical explanation to him. i think he understood my need and after visiting each month i felt very comfortable to ask for referral..i see him in morning for final visit before surgery with pcp. july 6 i see the surgeon for preop. sell it! sell the idea that this is for you. good luck. i am not sure but they want you to make the big commitment for health.

I am going to be sleeved on Feb 8th and the worry that keeps going through my head is will I be able to eat enough to work out and not feel crappy or weak. I am an advid exerciser (have been for years despite my weight) and I will definately have a difficult time if I can't eat OR exercise. Has anyone had a problem with this? I know for the first few weeks before I can get enought protein it might be a problem but I am talking about long term...

So today i have decided to get back to what i know works. After not going to the gym for the past 10 weeks after the tummy tuck i have really gotten lazy. To top it off, my plastic surgeon removes all the fill and for 8 weeks i had nothing. Talk about getting knocked off my high-horse. For the past two years i had it in my head that should anything happen to my band that i could do it on my own.... boy was i wrong. My hunger came back with a vengeance. I'm hungry all the time and i can eat ANYTHING... since my TT i have gained back 5lbs.... and i'm not happy about that. Now i have 5cc in my band and i'm still hungry. So this week i'm going back for 5 more. I need help with keeping me on track. Two weeks ago i started back at zumba, but i need more. So today i'm going to strap my boobs down and attempt the c25k. I have NEVER ran before. Anyone interested in helping me keep accountable... we can keep each other accountable. Report back either here or via messages on our day. How we did with food and exercise... I don't know about you all.... but i sure could use the help. Let me know..... Thanks everyone and have a wonderful day.

It's time to do this. You gotta start somewhere, right? Right. Where to start so as not to bore any unsuspecting reader into a seizure? My signature really tells the beginning story, not much else to tell about that part. It's everything that came afterward and the sheer frustration and disappointment in my band that led me to this point, five years later. Five years later I am still struggling with my weight. Five years later I haven't lost but a little over 60lbs. I had wanted to lose 100. I still remember standing in my surgeon's office at my consultation and telling him my goal was to lose at least 100 pounds. He smiled and laughed and said I would lose that in 6 months, EASY! OoOoOoOoh!! Sign me up, I'm sold! Actually, WLS was something I had been contemplating for several months, but at the time LB wasn't covered by Tricare. I have struggled with my weight my ENTIRE life. I was a relatively normal-size baby, then a fat kid, then a fat teen, then a fat young adult. Fat, fat, fat. I weighed about 220lbs in high school. Needless to say I was never asked out to a dance or even on a date. My mother also struggled with her weight and I learned everything I needed to know about gaining and losing from her. I learned that food equaled happiness, a reward for a job well done, something to pass the time when you're bored, and an excellent TV companion. She used to buy junkfood by the bagful and we'd lay in bed all day on a Sunday and just eat and nap, eat and nap. Cheetos, candy bars, candy, ice cream, Fritos, Banana Flips...we ate these like it was going out of style and when the food ran out, we just walked down to PDQ and bought more. When she finally decided she had had enough of being obese, she crash dieted through starvation and anorexia. I watched her melt away into a skinny, sexy, bombshell and suddenly she started getting the attention I so desperately craved. I started starving myself during my senior year of high school and I lost about 50lbs or so. I started getting noticed. I had my first boyfriend...and then my second...and then I got pregnant at 18. By the time I was 29 weeks I had gained 40lbs and I ended up delivering my son then. Who knows how much I would have gained had I not delivered? Between the stress of a failing, abusive relationship, being a young mother, and moving across the country, I didn't care about my appearance as much anymore, and the weight sort of clung. Then I got pregnant again at 20. This time I put on a whopping 80 pounds! I really, REALLY enjoyed using pregnancy as an excuse to gorge myself silly. Fast forward a year and my relationship with my abusive partner finally ended, and I found myself the FAT, single mother of two young babies. Feeling desperate and scared of being alone forever, I again became anorexic and starved myself. I lost about 90lbs in 9 months and WOW did I get the attention! I think that's when I really started equating being thin with being worthy of love...how terrible is that? It makes me sick now, but back then I really thought that way, and to some degree, it has stuck with me. I met my husband when I was this skinny, non-eating person. He couldn't figure out why I never ate in front of him...or at all, really. I would subsist on nothing but a few crackers and juice for about 3 days, and then on the 4th day I would eat one large meal of whatever I wanted. Real healthy, eh? Anyway, my husband was the one who eventually pulled me out of that disorder, and gradually I began eating again...which meant back came the weight. Grrrrr! I got pregnant in 2006 and with this baby I gained 70lbs. Sigh. Back on the dieting wagon. I did WW for a while and I excercised like a crazy person. I lost most of the baby weight I guess but by now my body was just never going to be the same. For the next couple years my weight just slowly crept up. I battled severe postpartum depression with my third baby and I struggled with the medications I was on and the intense feeling of hunger they produced 24/7. I continued to pack on the pounds and I entered a stage of self-loathing. Ultimately it almost cost me my marriage...I had absolutely no sexual desire nor did I feel sexy, I felt my husband was not attracted to me anymore, and I felt incredibly sad and powerless against my weight. I started having weight-related health issues like horrible arthritis in my hip joints and worsening asthma. I was tired all the time and had no stamina. I was resentful that everyone (it seemed) could eat whatever they wanted and not gain an ounce, but that I had to starve myself in order to lose or maintain my weight. By this time my weight was creeping toward 240lbs and I started contemplating WLS. After much research I decided on the LB. Only problem was that Tricare was not yet approving this surgery for weightloss. About four months after my decision to pursue the LB, Tricare finally approved the LB and I jumped at the opportunity. I was banded on April 23rd, 2007 in Louisville, KY. (to be continued)

Talk to a nutritionist. If your only consuming 600 calories a day, and you've stopped losing, your body is in starvation mode. When our calories go too low the body responds by hoarding what it has. I've been there. Good weight loss happens when you hit about 1,200 calories a day. Less than a 1,000 routinely will slow things down. I'm not a dietician or nutrionist but have experienced this for myself. Hope this helps.