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I had to stop my BC 6 weeks before my surgery (so a few days ago). I haven't had my period in over a decade because I take my BC continuous cycling since my period gives me so many problems. I'm so scared of getting my period again and I don't know when it will come. I travel a lot so I'm going to have to start packing tampons. And I throw up a lot with my period... that is not going to be fun while traveling... I hate being female....

I have a question... I have had my band since June 2010, and have done great so far. About 3 months ago I had to get a slight unfill due to heartburn. I went to the dr 3 days ago and got a fill. The first fill he put way too much in, and it hurt so bad to swallow the Water. He drained the band completely so that the water could pass, and then he filled it up again giving me a .2cc fill. Which is the perfect amount. HOWEVER, now every time i eat... i dont get "stuck" but i get full... my upper back aches so bad. Its kinda where the bra line would go... or the lungs. Until the food passes, then my back will feel better. Of course this will happen on a Friday... when i can finally eat solids again and cant contact my dr till monday. Has any one had this happen to them, or know what it could be?? Also, i find when i drink liquids it hurts. As if it isnt going down. But i can eat food just fine. I heard some people say to drink the liquid at room temp bc I can still be iritated from such a dramatic fill... so i will give that time. But my back... i am concerned. Help? Thank you for your time..

I hope you have no problems! I have BC/BS. I had United Healthcare for my band, but my work changed insurance after. BC/BS said my band was successful. I wrote an appeal letter listing out every reason why it wasn't and the decision was reversed.

i am excited and nervous all in one. Going so far for the procedure terrifies me but I have heard so much good about smart shape Toronto, anyone had their procedure their? Anything I should expect with this procedure that the doctors don't tell you?

I did something similar with a piece of Beef Smoked Sausage hubby had grilled. I picked one up and sucked the juice out of the cut end of it...oh YEAH! it was so yummy. And you know it was nothing but grease! But so tasty. It satisfied the urge. So then I cut off the end I sucked on and fed the rest to one of my kids. ??? I guess THAT'S the crazy part...ewww.

I am preparing to be banded next Thursday the 29th. A little nervous...not about the decision, mostly about keeping myself fed afterward and what I should be stocking up on at home. Best wishes to you!!!!

It started about 3 years ago, My sister, then, a 21 year old young woman was living her life normally when she was overtaken by a horrible pain in her abdomen, followed by throwing up and not even being able to keep water down for days we decided it's time to take her to the emergency room, the doctors wrote it off as a stomach virus and said it would pass. Months go by without a trace of another "attack" when again same scenario, back to the E.R- again told it was a stomach virus, not one doctor did a test, MRI, CAT anything.. this happened more times than I can really count in the years to follow, when finally she had the worse "attack" ever which lasted for weeks, no one had a clue what was going on "could this really be a virus?" It got to the point where, her face had sunken in at her cheek bones, she looked sick, I thought I was going to lose my sister and I was terrified. After the last episode we met with our family doctor yet once again, he sat and brainstormed with us for what seemed like forever, then finally he thought "it's a long shot but let's check your pancreas" – A long shot because not only was she a 22 year old otherwise healthy young woman, but she wasn't an alcoholic. He performed the necessary testing and made the astounding discoveries, not only were her triglycerides at alarming numbers, (normal triglycerides levels should be 130 or under) hers were at 5000, but my sister, my best friend, was suffering from pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) causing the "attacks "of dehydration, excruciatingly painful episodes and constant vomiting. Now you can imagine how angry we were with the hospitals and previous doctors that not one of them thought to check her levels, not one of them cared enough to get to the bottom of why my sister was withering away slowly and in such pain. Once we knew this info we thought "ok, give her some medication and let her get back to her life" They experimented on her as if she was the poster child for narcotic exploration, she tried it all from high doses of Niacin, Omega 3 fats (which spiked her triglycerides even more) to Trilipix, Nothing helped, Now it was starting to become an issue of just when her body was going to give up the fight because she was tired, fed up and sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I had been researching the Lap-Band®®® procedure for myself and brought it to her attention, "Well it's known for helping with diabetes.. maybe it will help with this too". She searched for a surgeon right away, we didn't need any surgeon, what we needed was someone experienced and had a "clue" about this monster inside her. She came across Dr. George Fielding at NYU Langone Medical Center, when reading his bio we thought maybe this is the guy to help, we hoped that finally our prayers would be answered and within the month had an appointment to meet with him. Now let me get into why I wrote this, This isn't one of those writings of mumbo jumbo or blah blah hear my story blah.. No, this is for you, the reader to understand the extent of the situation before any action was taken, and for you all to know that without Dr. Fielding, my best friend would not be here with me today. During the consult he was what some would call brutally honest, but coming from all the flakey sugar coating doctors we came from, this brutality was utterly refreshing. He told her that while the band would help lower her triglycerides, at her severity, it wouldn't have made much of a difference and she was a ticking time bomb. So here we thought "back to square one" When Dr. Fielding mentioned there was another option called the Biliopancreatic Diversion where he would by-pass the pancreas so that she would only be using a small percentage of it, It was a dangerous procedure but considering that by the time she'd be 30 we were looking at heart attacks, strokes or even worse, this was our best bet. I must mention that both my sister and I have medical backgrounds, both went to medical institutes and both have an above "average" knowledge of medical terminology and physiology but this, was foreign to us. We had no idea what it would entail, was it going to work? So the researching data started. This was it! Why hasn't anyone thought of this before? Why didn't any of the doctors we saw in the past even mention the option? The answer, we shall never know but one did, and for that, and I speak for my entire family, are eternally grateful. Dr. Fielding performed the procedure within 2 months of her initial consult, The procedure itself took less than 2 hours and here I am writing this over 2 months later and she is doing fantastic. Her triglycerides are down to numbers I am even to scared to mention because they are so good and she is finally able to eat normally, just live. Without him, I don't know what Id be writing about today, but chances are, nothing good. I'd like to express my gratitude, my appreciation to him and his staff for letting me keep my sister, We could never express it accurately or enough but, know, that he saved my sister's life and I can never repay him for the gift of a normal life he gave her. Thank You so much for everything, we are forever grateful from the bottom of our hearts. -Jasmine (scheduled for the band with Dr. Fielding 6/14)

I am very new to this whole process-I live in KC, MO and so far had gone to Dr. Malley's orientation and had a consult with him. Now.....onto the insurance stage. I have BC/BS Federal insurance and wondering if I need a letter of all failed past attempts at weight loss and if so, can anyone giveme an example of that letter. Like any of us who have been trying to lose weight for the last 20 years-have it documented somewhere. I don'T. I did get a letter from my primary care stating medical necessity-but the surgical center seems to want more-HELP

I have had teachers like this before, and I remember some sort of explination a while ago. I'm always a straight A student until I'm in these classes, where the teacher doesn't "Believe In" giving A's. Bunch of BS IMO, especially since we're paying for a degree, going through all their BS of college--yeah, you know it is-- and for some stupid reason they feel the need to mess with GPA's. Anyway, I have stopped caring since I'm finally about done on my 2nd degree, but another student is really distraught about not getting an A. This teacher has given me a B across the board, and apparently everyone else. The more I think about it, the more it pisses me off. I deserved an A on everything I've done in there, but for 'whatever reason' no one gets an A. What's the point? Anyone remember why some teachers do this?

Hi there, very similar experience to mine, minus the pain + some nausea and dry-heaving. LOL. I also wanted to BUST OUTTA THERE like two days before they finally let me. I never had a catheter, which is fine bc I hate them. Why are the night nurses always the cranky ones?? Most of them here speak English...but will opt to suddenly refuse to in the middle of the night when my German is the most sucky. HMPH! Glad you are doing so well!!

Yes and no. Yes bc I got my surgery for free and had an amazing team who I can contact for ANYTHING I need. No bc the criteria was very intense. If you messed up one time you had to start all over. I complied with everything exactly, but I watched some people who didn't and it was sad.

Hiii. I'm almost filled to the max in a 5 cc band..I'm at 4.45..but haven't really been losing..not gaining either. I'm actually goin to the doc friday to see if I can get a lil more for a top off since I haven't had any adjustments since 2009. Maybe some leaked out or doc said when weight is loss u may need to get adjustments. So anyway..everyones different. Maybe chew more thoroughly so avoid stuck situations. Or I would ask for a flouro..where they can see what ur band looks like, maybe its slipped a lil hence not bein able to keep anything down..I heard that's a symptom. I would def go back tho and demand them to figure this out. Bc its not adding up that u can't keep anything down but ur also not losing. Good luck!

Kevin, call the customer service number of your insurance. let them know what you have done and ask them to tell you what they require. once you submit everything to the bariatric center, ask them who to contact in their office for an update as to when they send in your paperwork and what their experience is. Follow up with the insurance and learn their process. I took my waiting time form 3-4 weeks to one week processing time. I have BC/BS of CA though. Please continue to do your research. Know that hunger is sometimes felt with the band until you obtain your "sweet spot" . Hope this helps you and I wish the best in this journey you have just begun.

I'm going to Mexico! Surgery is April 28th with Dr. Alvarez. I liked the idea of being able to drive from Dallas rather than fly to San Diego (and it would actually take less time). Not that it was a primary consideration, but a nice benefit. Now I need to get going on the Protein samples, finding out what to bring to hospital, what to have ready at home, etc. I think I may need to get some meals cooked for the fam before i go, too. Keeping a family of ten fed is a challenge on the best of days...may be Herculean for the first few days, weeks (months?) after surgery! Glad to have decided on a sleeve vs. RNY, though, and to have found this forum. Great info! Sooooo hoping for a decent weight loss in the first couple of months, as i am going to a high elevation in both late June and early August. Don't want to be huffing and puffing like last year. Soooooo happy to think those days may soon be behind me for good! Now to figure out how to tell my parents I'm going to Mexico for surgery....wish my dad would come with me and get it done, too...even at 68 I think he would be great! Grinding to a halt from all this rambling....Jill

I have CALpers BC/BS and it covers the fills.

Hey Cheri, Thank you so much for the reply. I've seen that there are quite a few people here who have been able to lose big with the band, which is very inspirational. I'm so glad to hear that the band has been working for you! I've been invited to attend a local lap band meeting group, which unfortunetly this month I couldn't make, but I'm for sure going next. I've talked to a few people on here, but I think perhaps in person it'll be a more profound things to hear and see. In the felsh so to speak. The next step I suppose, is to find people who've had gastric and talk to them about it. In BC where I'm from, MSP doesn't cover lap band surgery, but they do cover gastric by-pass and gastric sleeve. It certainly would be easier just to say, forget the lapband, I can't afford that.. but I dont want to make this choice just based on the money, it's my future right! Need to make the right choice for me. I think it's silly they cover the other surgeries and not this one. THanks again for the message!

I've had trouble getting a practitioner to insert an IUD. I think it's because of my age (I won't need bBC for 10 more years). First I went to the NP and she didn't want to insert it because I wasn't menstruating also she would only insert the mirena and I was looking for a the non-hormonal paragard. So I made an appointment at PP and specifically asked if I needed to be menstruating. I'm told no,make an appointment, wait in their waiting room for 2 hors, pay a $30 copay, only to be told that she wants me to either take cytotec and come back or come back when I'm on my period. Argh. So I let myself be talked into the nuvaring but it didn't agree with me (see earlier post). And the copay for that was $25, so I paid $55 for no viable BC! Truly, I think I'm going to wing it. At my age there is less that a 1% chance of me getting pregnant and an even lower chance of me having a viable pregnancy. Maybe I should leave it in God's hands. Doubt I'll do that but I am frustrated Thanks for listening ladies.

Thanks jmarshall for the advice and tolerating that awful stint of typos. Woke up early this morning could sleep and decided to let my feelings out in the forum. Was typing in the dark. No excuses Anyway what you've Said makes complete sense and the issue of head hunger has come up in my local support group meetings. I have experienced diets where I was never hungry and it was an awesome feeling. I remember doing really well with it bc I didnt have time energy nor focus to spend on being Consumed with food. But like all else that wears off or the emotions get too intense and failure happens. I do know from experience its more about being prepared and have a positive attitude about the approach than anything else. It's having the extra pep in your step because you know you are doing well... Doing the right thing making small changes that while others can't see you can feel. But of course it's also about consistency. Hmmm consistency. Good news is spoke to my manager today and he is absolutely supportive of me taking the time off at the end of the month to schedule surgery if it can be done so soon. I'm ecstatic. I am a planner but planning feels more fun with a deadline. Or at least that's what I've convinced myself. Your right about finding a new outlet or a coping method for my emotional eating bc it would be a crying shame to invest the time and research and compare to blow it. For years I've said if only I could have weightless surgery I know I'd do the right thing and here I am ... Time to put my money where mouth is once and for all. This is feeling more like a blog entry than a post so ill stop here and get to blogging. Thanks J! Congrats on 220 down that is friggin awesome

I was wondering , if I am the only one here who got wls done at a young age .Im 19 and almost 7 months ago I got a gastric plications done. So far I have lost 42kg ( my biggest weight was 127kg, and now im 86kg) If there are people here my age , how do you deal with various situations infront of your friend,relatives,co workers. Cause i feel like my friends dont want to hang with me anymore bc I dont eat junk food or (as I say) I am on a strickt diet. Sent from my SM-J730F using BariatricPal mobile app

I had RNY about three months ago. Normally I am on the BC pill continuously, which means I never get a period. However, I started my period, despite being on the pill, and I'm now on day 13. Holy hell. I've never had this happen. I've called my RNY doc who said to go to my ob-gyn. Ob-gyn booked me for my annual exam -- in January! I know irregular menstrual cycles are normal after losing a fair amount of weight, but I'd love to hear from others who have had to deal with crazy long periods after losing a lot of weight after RNY.

Wow reading this breaks me heart. I had gastric bypass 2 weeks ago and had to stay 8 days in the hospital because my hemoglobin was low and jp bag was draining to fast. Was sent home with jp bag. On the 4th of July I decided to eat a hard boiled egg but make it watery just so I can get some protein in me since I can not swallow the liquid protein they give you . Well- 5 minutes after the egg I started having sever pains in the upper center of my belly. 6 hours of crying and screaming praying for it to go away. Had to come back to hospital where I have been since then:( so far they tell me my intestines are swollen. So giving me steroids. Yesterday I tried drinking water and same pain came back . So they put me on a nothing by mouth diet. Today I wet for upper GI and they made me drink contrast .it killed me. Dr then says it could be a bacteria or an ulcer along with the swelling of my intestine. They don't know what I have. Tomorrow I guess I will get results but now ive developed horrible diarreah that smells like death and looks like it has worms. Sorry TMI... On antibiotics ,steroids,anti- inflammatory , pain meds, etc. I have 5 kids and the smallest is 4 months. My hubby has been awesome but theirs so much he can do. I did this bc I was so disgusted with myself and didn't know what else to do. Now I'm wondering if I made a mistake- and theirs no turning back now:( I pray for your honey and that he will regain his health back. ????

I had my EGD at Victory and my surgery at FP Dallas and I prefer FP Dallas. Beautiful rooms. The nurses and aids were all fabulous. And the cool thing about FP Dallas is Daugherty's pharmacy. Thy have a lot of the stuff bariatrics patients need and some things that are hard to find. Also you can sign up for them to bring your prescription meds to your room before you leave he hospital. It is a free and awesome service bc trust me, you do not want to have to fill prescriptions on the way home. I don't know if Victory has this service. Great overall experience there. The only hiccup I had there was that a staff member in the OR that sets it up was out sick that day, so they took longer than they should have to set up the OR so I did not go into surgery on time. Dr Nick was probably mad about that lol

Kalipso - I read your post and it was the closest one that came to possibly answering my questions about my situation. Ok its been since Sunday (its now Thursday evening) and I still cant eat, even small bites. Sunday afternoon I started vomiting. The sliming comes every time i eat 2 bites of anything. I have even vomited pumpkin Soup. Ive been drinking soy milk and Water since Sunday. Im just about at 5 months so your post was interesting to me. I feel Ive got a lump in my throat. When I ingest anything I notice a burning in my throat but its more like pressure than a burn. Right now I am trying to get a Protein shake down but ive taken 3 sips and it just not happening. The slime is starting. I started a new job and didnt want to ask off of work and have been trying to wait until Saturday to go see the dr. It has been fun to at least see the scale go down each morning. But this is a little troubling. Im not dehydrated bc i drink all day in tiny sips. So im drinking all day but its taking me hours to drink 12 oz. I cant possibly have something blocking, right? All these days and after vomiting so many times?! Thanks if you see this and respond.

I was just banded yesterday morning. I didn't have much pain at all yesterday just discomfort. I did however have a heck of a time with the anesthethia . So I'm home now afraid to take the pain meds bc they usually (always) make me sick. I've been uncomfortably laying in my bed for 12 hrs. I'm debating walking on the treadmill vs continuing my semi vegetable state on the couch. I have no gas but it can't be good to just lay around??? Do any of you have a recovery plan for me? I'm not sure what to do today. Also I have a big cut on my lip?!? Thanks in advance

I am having my surgery tomorrow. It has been exactly 4 weeks since my first visit with my PCP. I have Anthem BC/BS. My employer required 5 years of weight history with a BMI over 40. Thats it... I went to the Psych, NUT, etc. BC/BS approved me within 20 minutes after the surgeon's office submitted for insurance. On top of that, only 1360.00 out of pocket. I feel very blessed.