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I know many of you had to go through many appeals to get this done. I have been told by my insurance that my employer excluded it from coverage. My question is this: what happens if I lose some weight in the interim? My highest was 241, currently 231 but what happens if I lose, say 20-30 lbs and my BMI is no longer over 40? Do I not qualify if I win the appeal now? I am not well and cannot stay at this weight (pre-diabetic, high cholesterol, GERD, sleep apnea, multiple sclerosis) but I don't want to eliminate myself from this surgery altogether. I am at at BMI of 40.2 right now. Why is this so hard? When will people understand this is a health issue and not a "character" issue?

This is a great testimonial to the success of the Lap Band. Faith ignites strength for Lulu Roman's weight loss | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean

My mom was the worst offender growing up but now acts like she never made my weight an issue. I remember overhearing her talking to her friends about how concerned she was getting with my weight, etc...It was very damaging to my self-image. I then went thru anorexia and bulimia throughout highschool and college and then fast forward a few years and I am morbidly obese again, just like in childhood. I think parents making a huge issue of your weight when you are small only makes the problem worse. My sister received entirely different feedback from my mom b/c she was "chubby" but not fat. Even though she ate ten times more than me growing up she was never scolded for her weight/appetite. Yet now, mom talks like she was my #1 supporter growing up to have a good body image. Oh well...life goes on. I just know what I need to do when I have kids now.... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/178/160 5'7''

Good luck with your upcoming surgery Swanny. I went through a mourning of a loss of food and my old way of eating while I was going through my surgery preop diet. The nice thing however, is that now that I'm done I can eat almost everything that I did before, just in much smaller quantities. I'm hoping you'll be surprised how little you miss things. Also, the weight loss generates an enthusiasm for more loss and therefore makes it easier to stay away from "bad" food.

I'm 17 months post-op. I stopped adding food to my portion sizes at about 8 months. I eat 3 oz of dense Protein each meal. Although my weight loss slowed at 8-9 months, I will still lose if I don't eat enough calories for the day. For me, that's about 1400. I don't feel like I'm on a diet; I was a carnivore before surgery and remained so, but now each meal doesn't end with dessert and Snacks aren't filled with sugar. The "tool" part of VSG is for me the head part. I can eat loads of chips that chew down to nothing if I want. I have to choose not to do that. I can sit in the recliner all day and do nothing. I have to choose not to do that. If you make the right choices I think the later months aren't very difficult.

I'm almost 9 months out and, while the weight loss slows down on it's own, it's still really easy for me to control my hunger. Losing weight isn't as easy as it was immediately post-op, thank goodness. I can't imagine where I'd end up if I were still losing 20 pounds a month! But, staying on track and "just" eating normal is much easier than before. I do get hungry, but it's more like "Oh, it's been 4 hours since I ate". I eat a meal, which for me is about 5-6 oz of food, and then I'm satisfied and move on with my day. It's not an all-consuming hunger that says I have to eat mass quantities right this minute! I'm still losing weight, but at a reasonable pace. I'm exercising and still working through my food issues. I think the food issues will pretty much resolve themselves as I continue. One of the biggest changes for me post-op has been that I now think of food as either Protein or not protein. I still eat protein first, and I've added back in some complex carbs to my diet because of the exercise I'm doing. The carbs give me a short-term energy boost for exercise, which is great! As for the sleeve being a tool, it helps us to jump start the weight loss process, plus gives us restriction to help us not overeat. It's not magic, but sometimes it sure feels like it!

I'm a month out. I was cleared for soft and mushie foods from day 12. I'm not fond of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. I guess I'm picky. I'm not cleared for vegetables or fruit yet. I can't wait so I can make the foods a little more tasty. I've been okay with eggs, cheese, tuna, chicken/turkey. This week I tried shrimp and deli roast beef. Neither worked for me. I just couldn't chew enough to get it liquid enough, nor did I enjoy the task - so quickly gave it to my dog (who I think is gaining weight). I had some liverwurst, which was easy to eat and delicious. Although my NUT said Okay, just not to eat too much because of the high fat. I'm not a big fish eater, but I think I have to take the plunge and try some recipes since my go to shell fish isn't working. I'm bored and I'm very hungry at times. I'm meeting my protein/water goals, supplementing Premier Protein, although some days I gag at the thought of drinking another one. I do like the ricotta bake, but add a little lite tomato sauce to it. If I could do more than one yolk a day, I'd be happy, but I stick to the plan. Since 6 weeks including my 2 week pre surgery diet, I'm down 25 pounds.

Hi! I have to jump through many hoops as well for my insurance. 6 months of Dr supervised weight loss plan, numerous health scans and bloodwork. But luckily the center that is doing my surgery is willing to walk through each step with me to ensure I meet all the requirements. I wish you the best of luck as well. Sent from my LG-H634 using the BariatricPal App

FYI, I had the surgery 16 months ago and haven't thrown up once. Most people don't if you're careful not to overeat. Also, because I was trying to quit smoking, I had only lost 5 pounds during my 3 month weight loss insurance requirement. As long as they see you're making an effort, you should be okay.

I too was Nov 7th sleever. My first day after surgery made me feel like I'd made a big mistake. I have Fibro myalgia and all of the needle sights absolutely stung. I got the sleeve done hoping that the weight control would help my pain control. It's going to be an interesting ride. I am enjoying the recipes and practical advice from the "Nutrition for Weight Loss Surgery" book that my dietician recommended. Also found a nice thick and creamy Protein shake by Giant Sports called Delicious Protein powder Elite. I have no problem drinking enough Water, shaved ice goes down well as a change from sipping it and I pretend that the ice is an iced coffee, the taste isn't the same but at least I'm being creative and staying hydrated. Sent from my SM-T350 using the BariatricPal App

I have blue cross through my husbands labor union. and I have tried everything but don't have documented dr notes or anything. I went so long without having health insurance I wasn't able to see a weight loss dr in the past. and I see that some women have a start to sleeve process of like 6 months, does this mean ill probably take much much longer?

Howdy and welcome! You're asking questions of people who are in the same situation you are -- that is, most of us have had zero, one, or maybe two fills but few of us have reached the point of restriction where the weight is falling off. Some people lost a lot of weight on their pre-op diet. Some have lost a lot since being banded, too, but there are many reasons -- maybe they have more to lose, maybe they aren't hungry, maybe they're exercising, or maybe they're "dieting" until the band starts to work -- and any combination of these. As much as I'd like for the weight to be falling off, I'm not going to get caught up in comparing myself to others. There will always be someone -- usually a guy -- who is going to lose faster than me. In fact, I've always been a slow loser compared to other people so there will be lots of someones who lose faster than me! :present: I didn't get the band to go on a diet, per se. I understand that there are rules to follow but I also understand that I got the band to help me follow those rules and my band isn't doing what it's supposed to do -- yet. So I'm doing the best I can and I'm exercising and being patient. In the past, my efforts at losing weight were "short-term" but the band is a permanent condition. Being impatient now would be like giving birth to my first child and being impatient about getting my first grandchild! :thumbs_up: Congratulations on getting your band and good luck with your first fill!

:help:I have been on here as a guest for about a year now and finally got banded on the 24th of Nov. here in Kuwait..it was much cheaper and I was fortunate that the doctor from Sweden who taught my doctor was here and did it! I got a new band, I even got to keep the box, lol! It was less healing time, I was on liquids a week and lost about 10lbs. Then went to mushies and I have been on solids a couple weeks..my first fill is this saturday. I have maintained at 10-12lbs loss, but get depressed when I see all of y'all at 26-30lbs loss..what are you doing different? I do notice some of you are working out with a trainer and at gyms..don't have that here since they are soo expensive here and I work and have a 3 yr old so not alot of time. I did start walking again. My back story is I gained 60lbs with my pregnancy, he is 3 1/2 and I have been losing/gaining the same 20lbs ever since never more than that! I did nutrisystem and would lose a lil then it stopped coming off..I am sooo scared that I will not lose with the band, I have been depressed and negative since the weight gain and feel like "it will never happen to me". The before and after thread has been very inspiring for sure! Just wondering if y'all can give me any tips/advice/encouragement that this WILL work for me! I was always a "thick" 12-14 girl skinny but big butted kinda gal, lol but never "fat" til after the pregnancy and I want to be healthy! I am excited about this and I know once I get the fills and finally hit my "sweet" spot it will start flowing..but is that true does it really "fall" off? What has been your experience as far as weight loss and I am not sure how to word this I have been reading countless threads and I know but when it is you personally it is soo different, make sense? I just really want to be successful at this and I am the type that needs step by steps. I am eating healthier and smaller portions. Hubby has even commented on the smaller portions..thanks everyone and congrats on making the change in your lives! I wish you all the best and success in the world! God bless catie

If I see another shake I will hurt someone. Just discovered isopure drinks. LOVE them. 40 grams of protein per bottle. Just got a case a GNC. It's a very refreshing drink in the hot and humid weather we are having right now. Finally getting my 60 grams of protein in per day. Yea for me. This has been the emotional turning point for me. I'm exactly one week post op. But struggling with the food craving. Getting alot of quilting done. Can't eat, SEW or walk. Been walking alot also. Finally back done to my preop weight. Boy, that weight gain after surgery really is upsetting even though I knew it was temporary, Just depressing. I weight 25 pounds more post op from all the fluids and air forced into me. Today is looking brighter.

I had to put everything on hold because of the craziness going on at my studio. A little background on that... I am an animator. A color stylist to be exact and I'm currently working on the New Looney Tunes show that was supposed to air last year, but we've hit a glitch or two (or three) and now we're playing catch up. I'm really proud to be a part of this production and I''m so anxious to see it air. Because of the sudden pus to get it done, I haven't had a lot of time to focus on diet and exercise and after watching the entire month of January come and go in the blink of an eye, I've decided that February is the time to find balance. So this morning I stepped back and planned a different mode of attack. I have "re-started" my Lindora program. Meaning Yesterday was my first of four protein days and on Friday I will begin eating a low carb high protein diet. My weight hasn't gone up since my surgery, but I also haven't lost any weight so I need to kick it into high gear. Since I know it is difficult for me to work out in the mornings, as I have to get my daughter ready for school and I also know that it is difficult for me to work out after work, as I have to cook dinner and I'm exhausted I have decided to join the gym on the Warner Bros. Lot. Hours Open 6:00am to 9:00pm, Monday through Friday. Aerobics Schedule Aerobics Calendar (pdf) (Spring/Summer 2010) Membership Fees Daily$10Monthly$40Three Months$95Annual$310 Observances Breast Cancer Month Children’s Health Month Dental Hygiene Month Depression and Mental Health Month Halloween Programs & Services Individualized fitness profiles, programs and exercise prescriptions Personal training Private pilates Fitness evaluation Goal setting Nutrition counseling Equipment: “state of the art” cardiovascular, circuit and free weight training equipment Aerobics: low impact, step, strength, body sculpting, boxercise, martial arts, abs only & spinning Health Education: Classes and seminars on health related topics, a health resource library and wellness programs the hours work out perfectly so that I can go either before work or at my lunch break. It's close enough from my office to walk to the Main Lot and that counts as extra steps. Once I'm done working out we have a commissary that has an amazing salad bar. So I'm set.

@@bandedbunny, so sorry that your experience thus far has been terrible! Maybe look into another doctor just for your fills since your current doc sounds unpleasant to deal with. And i also have to wait till mid morning before i can eat anything. Dont give up! You have come so far! 15lbs is still 15lbs! Every lb is a success! And everyone is different when it comes to losing weight. I think the problem may be the doctor.....or at least thats where i would start. A friendly knowledgeable dr who can not only answer your questions but can help you work around these issues...i was banded in oct/2014 so i am not as knowledgeable as others here..but i think having a good doc matters...and then slowly experiment with your food...thats the only way i know what works for me. Trial and error. I know i have had some speed bumps, but i am sure in the end it will be worth it! There are alot of us here for support!

Once you reach restriction is it easier? Does the weight loss speed up? I have my second fill next week and am still struggling on my own sheer willpower....I just want the lapband to keep up its end of the bargain. I keep reading all these posts about hang on till u.get the sweet spot after restriction but no one ever really says what happens once u get there....

Yes , it is hard watching my family eat what ever they want to , We traveld "moved " right after my surgery and the only place to eat was fast food . Just think of the weight loss , I was so happy when I weighted and lost a pound every two days , in the begining . I have slipped back in to my snacking and eat sugar agian . I'm so tired of thinking of what to eat . Making two different meals for dinner is getting old . I think maybe I will give my self a reward to get back on track . Hard to think of the reward ;]

Wow! Great weight loss and good for u for only whining a little!

Way to go on the weight loss. Are you able to try exercise other than walking? Can you strength train a bit? Or, can you try interval training? I started out by walking for 2 minutes and running for 30 seconds. I have worked up to 1/1 walking/running. Strength training and interval training should boost your metabolism.

I think I will benefit a lot more from those meetings AFTER the surgery. Right now I am "maintaining" because if I lose weight I will go under the 35 BMI. I've learned more from these forums and my support group meetings than the nutritional meetings. But again, I know I will lean on them heavily later down the road.

To make you all feel better mine was on April. 1rst fill .5 started on May then none until July another .5 then starting in August I've been getting .5 biweekly I'm just feeling the diff where I have just lost additional 4 pounds. I do work out consistently This last was only .3 I was the lowest weight for wls. Dr was being very careful with me. Keep it up. Choose right choose protein first eat green leafy veggies and sweet potatoe who is my fav carb choice

I had my lap-band surgery 3/18/08. I have been heavy for many years, but a couple of years ago I managed to lose about 80 lbs. I gained about 25 lbs. back and so I decided to get the band. Since 3/18 I managed to lose about 32 lbs as of the 4/28. I weighed in the 28th and also got my first adjustment. I don't feel any different with or without the adjustment. I'm still hungry. I can still eat very large amounts of food if I let myself and I can chug a 20oz glass of water. It does'nt sound normal to me. If anybody has had many adjustments please tell me what it is suppose to feel like. My name is Bob and I live in N.C.. I'm 68 yrs old in June. My wife and I live in the back woods with six dogs and other critters. I'm not sure if anyone will even see this because I don't know what a thread is or a tag. I'm about 5'10". When I started the banding I weighed in at 329 March 18th.I just weighed in at 293 so I must have lost 36 lbs. I walk 2 1/2 miles a day and I just got the okay last week to do resistance training. Accept for feeling hungry a lot, I feel pretty good. I dumped my diabetes and cholestoral meds because my HG1AC is 5% and my chol. is real good. I still have HBP and I still use my C-pap. One of the main reasons I am trying real hard to get in shape is the doctor made me get heart clearence for the surgery and they found 2 blockages that were'nt big enough to stint, but he said changing my lifestyle was an absolute. So here I am like everybody else I guess trying to get healthy and real anxious to be able to go into a mens shop and buy some fashionable suits and slacks etc. I guess title means my name goes there.

Just thought I'd share a study I found in one of my medical journey subscriptions. Interesting read! Sleeve Gastrectomy Improves Testosterone Levels in Obese Men Thu, 10/08/15 - 11:39 Sleeve gastrectomy can normalize testosterone levels in men with obesity-related hypogonadism, according to a recent study. Previous research has suggested both the potential benefits of bariatric surgery to overall health and potential adverse effects of testosterone replacement therapy. For this reason, researchers aimed to investigate the effects of surgery-related weight loss on serum testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ RELATED CONTENT Bariatric Surgery Helps Relieve Asthma Symptoms Bariatric Surgery Can Lower Diabetes Risk by 80% ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In their study, they followed 24 men undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, measuring their serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and PSA levels before surgery, then again 3, 6, and 12 months after. Overall, the amount of men in the study with low serum testosterone levels dropped from 63% to 41% 12 months after surgery. “Our cohort experienced a significant increase in average serum testosterone as quickly as 3 months after sleeve gastrectomy and by 12 months, this value had increased from 295 to 423 ng/dL (p=0.003). DHEA showed a trend toward increase, from 12.8 to 39.6 ng/mL (p=0.12) and serum PSA concentration rose over 12 months from 0.62 to 0.75 ng/mL (p=0.047) with no change in PSA mass.” “The take home message is that if you are an obese man with low testosterone your therapy should be weight loss not testosterone replacement, and a successful way to achieve meaningful weight loss is through a bariatric operation,” they concluded. “This is a unique and beneficial finding for sleeve gastrectomy hasn’t been studied before, demonstrating for the first time, that testosterone levels are improved in a group of obese male patients following sleeve gastrectomy.” —Michael Potts References: Morton JM, Mokhrati T, Nair AA, et al. Male sex hormones normalize after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Paper presented at: The 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons. Chicago, IL. October 5, 2015. American College of Surgeons. Testosterone Levels Improve in Obese Men Following a Common Weight-Loss Operation [press release]. October 5, 2015. https://www.facs.org/media/press-releases/2015/morton. ‹ PREVIOUS ARTICLENEXT ARTICLE ›