Alexandra

Happy Birthday! Isn't it fun when the birthday falls on Turkey day? Hope you had a good one!

Michelle, did you have an ongoing case of gastritis, or are you still talking about the one you had a while back? Did you really have discomfort that you were aware of, or are you just seeing things in hindsight that you now believe are related to your erosion? I'm totally with you in wanting it out NOW. I fail to see how any doctor could feel it's OK to leave it as is if it's actually damaging the stomach wall. I'm thinking of you and will send strong vibes for good news on the 28th. I'm positive you and your family will pull through this even stronger; you've proven your fortitude before. Please try to put it out of your mind and enjoy the HELL out of Thanksgiving!

Dimples, I don't know about Florida but in New Jersey if you have or are eligible for insurance through your employer you're NOT eligible for Medicaid. But maybe things are different in FL. As far as how long you have to wait for the insurance stuff to be done, it's largely in your hands. Stay on top of your doctors, make sure you get copies of all test results so you know when they've been delivered to the surgeon, and then CALL the insurer to be sure it has received everything. Once all the paperwork is in their hands and the file is complete, the carrier really should be able to deliver a decision (approval or denial) quite quickly. 30 days is the statutory maximum here in NJ, and your state probably has one also. But if all the paperwork is complete it shouldn't take that long. By FAR the most time-consuming thing is getting all the information into the right hands.

Thanks again, everyone! We didn't do much--school night and all--but Dh came home with an AMAZING cake from Cold Stone Creamery. Yum.Yum.Yum!!

I think about it like this. My lap band is a prosthetic device I obtained in order to help my body work better. If it fails, causes a problem, or needs adjustment, I just plan to have it taken care of in the same way I'd prioritize having a replacement joint maintained, or an artificial heart valve. There's no point worrying about the possibility that something will go wrong. A substantial portion of the medical community has placed its faith in this product and the inference I make is that I can too. But there are no certainties in medicine, so I have to allow for the possibility that further work of some sort may be needed some day. I'm certainly not going to worry about it every day. For now, the band is in place, doing what it's supposed to do, and I will do my best to take care of it so it will continue to be secure for as long as possible.

I think it's more accurate to say that not ALL of the bands used in Mexico are FDA approved. Some people banded in Mexico do get the Inamed band with the 4cc capacity, which until fairly recently was the ONLY type approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. Whether any Mexico docs are using the Vanguard band or not, I don't know, but that one is now approved as well. As for whether there have been U.S. erosions, of course there have. My doctors' practice has had two, I believe (out of several hundred bands placed in the last four+ years). It does seem as though the proportions are skewed, Michelle, you're right. I wish I knew the answer.

Hi Dimples, Again, Medicaid differs from state to state. My guess, though, is that if bariatric surgery were medically necessary, AND one were able to find a bariatric surgeon who accepts Medicaid patients (very difficult, I'd think), it would be covered. But that's just a guess.

Yum, yum!!

I do think many of us experience, at least temporarily, a loss of interest in food that can really come as a surprise. But it doesn't mean it's OK not to eat. I sure hope you're taking your Vitamins and getting in enough fluid! And that meal doesn't sound like you're getting enough Protein in, either. It's wonderful to be focused on other things besides eating for a change; I know how liberating that can be. But remember, this is all about your HEALTH, not just lessening numbers on a scale. And staying healthy means getting sufficient amounts of protein, vitamins, and liquid. So do try to space out your calories a little more and get in more variety... (lecture over)

Hi Diane, welcome to LBT!! Where were you banded (if you don't want to be specific, the state will do). Nice to meet you!

Aetna was no picnic to deal with when I went through the process in 2002/3, but I hope they've changed their tune by now. You will have to fill in all the forms, answer all the questions, get all the tests and have your doctor write all the letters, but if your plan covers bariatric surgery you should be able to make the case that banding is preferred for you. One thing Aetna did well, I thought, was make its requirements very clear. Make sure you read it ALL before you get started; they make their list available on their website so you shouldn't get stuck with any surprises if you are prepared. Your doctor, if he's done any of this before, will also know a lot about what he needs to provide. Good luck, and try to be patient! I know it's hard, but it's SO worth it in the end.

Wow, Michelle. I'm so sorry to hear this! I will say you have an amazing attitude, and I'm inspired. But even if you are completely at ease I'm with Kare, it's rotten luck and you didn't deserve it. Thanks for being here and promising to stick around. You mean a lot to us and I know we are ALL thinking of you. And I for one am PROUD to know you.

Dimples, as with any other insurer it's impossible to generalize. What does your contract say? Is it a large employer group that writes its own benefits? Or are you in a standard sort of small-group plan? What are the mandates in your state for coverage? All of those questions have more bearing on whether you will be covered than Aetna's corporate philosophy.

Oh, Jonathan, I'm so sorry! Here's hoping the best for you, and that you find some way through the insurance hurdles. Fingers crossed an answer appears.

Gee, peeps, THANKS!! I'm older, wiser, and a WHOLE LOT LIGHTER than I was when I entered my 40s.

Wow, lady, you look amazing!! Can you finally see a difference?

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with so much at once! It doesn't seem fair. You're totally right about the importance of good aftercare. I think banding more than anything is about what happens AFTER surgery, both in the doctor's office and in the patient's head. We place so much importance on the act of surgery itself, but that little band of silicone doesn't do anything by itself. It has to be managed, and managed well. Finding someone who really knows how to do fills, and how to speak to us about managing fill level, is crucial to our success as bandsters. It's a whole lot more than just being banded and walking away.

YEP!! So the important thing is knowing how YOU respond to that information. I hate studies like this that attempt to quantify human behavior. There's more to this equation than just whether daily weighing helps us lose weight. We have to know ourselves!! Obviously, how we react to that information is crucial. Sigh.

Hair loss is TEMPORARY, people!! Many, many bandsters and anyone else who has had surgery will notice some thinning of hair, but I promise it is temporary and it will all come back. I used it as an excuse for a different haircut, but now my hair is back to its own self and I'm letting it grow out again. Really, in the long run this temporary hair loss is nothing!!

Your share of any costs would be dictated by what your contract says. There's no way to compare your out-of-pocket with anyone else's, unless they work for the same employer. What's your surgical cost? Hospitalization? If you have a per-day copay then you'll likely be hit for two days (if you stay overnight). Check your plan design, and see what it says next to hospital/surgical benefits.

Hi Joyce, Basically, a fluoroscope is an x-ray machine that takes moving pictures. You lie on a table under a big machine, and (at least in my experience), the doctor locates your port by touch as well as visually on the screen. Then they use a small needle for local anaesthetic, after which the area is numb. A large needle is inserted and the doctor then proceeds to adjust your band by adding or taking away Fluid. He might have you drink barium once or twice so he can watch the movement of your esophagus and the action of the band on the fluid moving through your stoma. He may have you drink Water and ask you how that feels. Every doctor has his own technique, but I think you get the idea. As for how much it costs, that varies WIDELY by area. Where I am in NJ the cost for the surgeon, the radiologist, and facility/hospital charges taken together comes to about $1000 (thankfully, so far covered by insurance). That's the big downside of fills under fluoroscopy, but I'm sure they're a lot less expensive in other parts of the country. The upside of this kind of fill is that the doctor gets a visual check on your band placement and esophageal movement, possibly letting him get closer to your perfect restriction in one shot. Many doctors do it by "feel" in their offices, but that would by necessity be a less exact method.

Hi Agatha, There's nothing to worry about. These surgeons do all their fills under fluoro, so they'll be able to see exactly what's going on with your band. They use local anaesthetic so you don't feel anything, and you don't have to look at the screen unless you want to. Afterwards you'll be told to stay on liquids for at least 24 hours, maybe mushies for another day. After my first fill it wasn't a huge change, but there was definitely some restriction. I got full a lot faster and really had to chew slowly and wait between bites to let food settle. But it's not the sort of thing where you'll wake up and simply be unable to eat. Tell the fill doctor (who might be Dr. Bertha) that you're nervous about getting too restricted right off the bat and he will adjust you accordingly. But don't be scared--the band isn't designed to work without proper adjustment so this is a necessary part of the process. Good luck, and relax!!

Kathy is exactly right, Moonietunes. Lots of us have had initial denials overturned on appeal, so don't give up! Your insurance carrier CANNOT make your medical decisions for you, so stick to your guns. You can prevail!!

Trish, this may be a hassle but imagine how much worse it could be. This is small beans! You'll be fixed up, better than new, and with no more hernia pain to boot. Keep on truckin'!!!

Have you bought new bras? I noticed that my breasts hurt at the end of a day when I'm wearing an ill-fitting bra. They might be aching with Water retention, hormone release, or just with a change of size, but you're not imagining it. I definitely had the same thing. Go invest in a couple of new bras, with the right band size. I went from a 44 F (when I'd admit it) to a 38DD; even if your cup size doesn't change much the band size makes a big different in how it fits.