Alexandra

Honestly, if we think about the liquid diet about being more for healing than anything else, it's a lot easier to stick to. Once I knew that solid food too early could compromise the rest of my life with the band, it was EASY to stick to liquids. It's a matter of health, not hunger. Just do something else. Starting on solid food too early is not worth the potential downside, please realize that.

(I just realized this thread was in the wrong forum, so I moved it.) My thinking about the permanence of the band is that it's a needed piece of medical equipment to keep me healthy. Would I ever consider removing an artificial heart valve or knee? Of course not. This is just another medical implant designed to maintain the health of the patient, and I want it to stay with me FOREVER.

Babs, your old profile is still there. If you can remember the password you should be able to sign in as your old self if you want to.

Randy Jackson had the bypass, I believe. I thought I saw him on Oprah talking about it and how he wouldn't necessarily recommend it.

I am personally convinced she had the band. Her weight hasn't DROPPED off the way it would have with RNY.

The only explanation is that you WILL lose weight, for real. It just takes time. One day you will wake up and five pounds will have dropped away. Patience, patience, patience. In the meantime, are you shrinking? That's what happens when I haven't lost weight in a while. I'll find that my sizes are getting smaller even if the scale isn't moving. Weight loss is NOT an even, weekly, regular progression of numbers dropping. It's not helpful to describe it as "1-2 pounds per week" because people then expect to see that happening, and it just does not work that way for most people. You're NORMAL, Lovebugg, and just need to find your patience and stop worrying about the numbers.

Hi Reberlan, I'm not sure what you're asking. If you have Aetna as your health insurance, your plan will dictate how you should proceed. For example, if your plan is "gated" (meaning if you need a referral) the place to start is with your primary care doctor. Get a physical and get a diagnosis of morbid obesity in your record, and get a referral to a bariatric surgeon. If your plan doesn't require you to get referrals, you can go straight to a surgeon in your area who performs the surgery and participates in the Aetna HMO network. Whichever way you get to the surgeon, it's that doctor who will tell you what the presurgery requirements are, and it will be his job to submit the request for surgery precertification. Good luck!!

I personally like it when medical people come to share their expertise. Many bandsters don't have the time or the temperament to ask ALL their questions during their limited meetings with their docs, so it's great to have access to them here. That's a long way from advertising--though of course it's completely possible for the same person to do both. So we would never ban any individual from posting here, but inappropriate posts may be moderated against if necessary.

Hi Cyndi, It's very unusual, in fact, for band operations to be done "open." The band was designed to be installed laparoscopically. What kind of complications did you have that necessitated an open procedure? Your recovery will indeed be slower, but it will progress and you'll be fine. It will take patience and caution. You may not want to go back to work when you originally planned, and that's totally understandable. Be good to yourself and give it the time you will need to recover. Welcome to bandland, however you got here!!

I've heard that medicare does indeed pay for the band, and precertification isn't even necessary. I guess they determine whether it was medically necessary when the claim is submitted. Your doctor is probably the best resource for this information. If precert is not required, there'd be absolutely no way to get an assurance that it will be paid for. If you are 100% that you qualify medically, there shouldn't be a problem, but that's where your doc's expertise is crucial.

You're right, VQ. Maybe there's a way to change the default display date in that forum alone. I'll check into it and either do that or sticky the "evergreens." One way or the other, we won't lose the good stuff.

Lynn, the time for tears is over. They've told you what they need...12 months of the infamous supervised weight loss, and proof of 5 years of morbid obesity (with comorbidities? That's a new one on me if your BMI has been over 40 during that time. But whatever...). Do you have any doctors you were seeing five years ago who may have notes on your weight? My insurer had the same requirement, and I went to my OB/GYN who had copious notes on my weight through two pregnancies. That conclusively proved my condition had been in existence five years prior. The 12-month weight loss thing is a hassle, but there's no reason at all that you should have to start again just because your doctor is moving. His notes can be provided to another doctor who can just pick up where your first doc left off. You are still on the supervised plan, just with a different doctor. Don't let them bully you. You have your list of requirements and you can indeed fulfill them. You qualify medically, that's certain, so all you have to do is jump through their hoops and you're there. Eileen, you do know that BCBS is very different from state to state, right? You won't have any problem with approval in NJ if you qualify medically for bariatric surgery. They have no barriers to approval as long as it's medically necessary.

VQ, I just want to send you some cyberhugs. You're an amazing lady and we're supremely lucky to have you with us.

Hi ladies, Those threads are still there, you just have to choose to display threads that are older than the last month (which is the default setting). We had envisioned that section as not being one for discussion, so we didn't think "sticking" the threads would be necessary. Bumping them isnt necessary, at least; just change the display date.

It's FINALLY my turn to take some time off of work and hit the road! I'm flying to the left coast today to see my bro and his family, and won't be back until Tuesday the 16th. I may be able to check in from time to time, but if you don't hear from me..that's the sound of ME having fun!! This is the very first time I'm leaving my kids for more than an overnight, so I'm a teensy bit apprehensive. But Dad is ready and I know things will all go well. Right? (Insert reassuring words here...) Be good while I'm gone, y'all!! :)

Hi Kari, Our docs do all their fills at the hopsital, under fluoroscope. It's not at all painful; the only hassle is actually finding the right room. I did have one unfill at the office, with Dr. Bertha. He's extremely good and since it was an unfill it was just a matter of taking a little out, no worries.

Yep, I'm in the same boat. As long as my meds were and are properly adjusted, no doctors involved had any reservations about my being banded.

Oh, my, Kare. That's got to be the top. Opti-fast and hypnosis were the only "weird" things I tried. What I can't understand is why we ever though Opti-fast would work long-term. Hypnosis was hopeless from the start.

I agree that you should save your money, but you don't have to lose that motivation! Use this time to practice eating like a bandster, small portions and chew chew chew. You can lose weight that way even if you don't have the band to help you. It just won't be easy, so you'll need all the motivation you can muster. Good luck!!

Well, yeah, if that's what you want. Why are you asking this in the insurance section?

Postop swelling can be a bear, indeed. If Water is going down, that's a good thing. She may just need to take two steps back and get back on Clear liquids for another few days to give it time to subside. If the swelling is really bad there may be something the doctor can do, but time is probably the best healer in cases like this. Please wish her luck from us, and tell her to TAKE IT EASY!! Baby that new tummy and don't eat anything solid at all. Not yet.

I've had several adjustments, three fills and two (I think) small unfills. It is indeed amazing that a plum can satisfy for hours, but it's true. Of course, "satisfy" has a new meaning than it used to pre-banding. I could feel the plum still in my pouch, which had the effect of rendering me not hungry. It sure didn't feel like I'd eaten a lot in the old way of thinking, but it was enough and that's what counts.

Congratulations and welcome to bandland!!

Hey Babs, great to hear from you! Here's hoping you have a totally uneventful recovery. Fingers crossed!!

I did a 12-week liquid fast back in 1990. It's really not as hard as you think it's going to be; if you really stick to it completely the hunger pangs disappear after a couple of days. I found not eating at all to be easier than trying to eat just a little bit. And it's astonishing how fast the pounds will melt away, so if you are motivated by that you may find this a task worth doing right. Good luck!!