Alexandra

Hi Geri, Aetna did pay for my lapband, but only after I took my appeals to a third party arbiter who overturned their denials. This was back in early 2003 and at that time Aetna was denying the band flatly, saying it was investigational. Now they've changed their tune somewhat, and if you look on their website you'll find the document that explains the circumstances under which they will approve banding. Have you done that? And do you know whether your policy covers bariatric surgery at all? I'd be more than happy to share the details of my experience, but they may not be at all relevant to you. How much do you know at this point about your plan and what it covers? Do you know if you qualify medically for surgery? Is your doctor in the network? There are many questions to be answered and my experience just may not be any help. But I'm glad to share if it will.

I am SO glad I don't have to do the cooking in this house. I agree, if you can't eat much there's very little motivation for cooking. I'm perfectly happy with something tiny for dinner and then, that's it. Cooking for other people has never been something I like to do, so I'm immensely blessed that I don't have to. It's absolutely true that this mental journey takes time. Even now, almost 18 months out, I still sometimes reflexively heap a plate full for myself. There were lots of times I found it frustrating and even saddening that my eat-till-I'm-busting days are done. But my band doesn't let me down and I simply can't eat more than a relatively small amount. And isn't that exactly, precisely what we want it to do? Can't lose weight until we EAT LESS than we were eating before.

My childhood stories aren't quite as dramatic as some others, but similar in many ways. My mother was obsessed with trying to keep me from overeating, so there were never any seconds or dessert for me. She was also a terrible cook whose idea of a kid's meal was okra and liver. GAG!!! My father, when he moved out, served great meals but also with the powdered milk. (I forgive him, though, since he really was doing it out of an effort to have milk available when his kids visited. Otherwise there never would have been any. He didn't know it was horrific.) I too like to have my cupboards stocked. It's a real sense of security. But my relationship has changed in that my vision of "enough" has truly changed; at least most of the time. I look at a plate of food and what used to be a first serving is now enough for three or four entire meals. I'm not kidding! Even when my band was loose and I had little restriction the amount I call a meal is no more than HALF of what it used to be. And that's what being banded has done for me. With no restriction it's harder to physically accept that a small amount is enough; the "full" signal takes longer to get to my brain, I guess. But even without good restriction I've been eating smaller meals long enough that it's finally sinking in. I don't EVER eat a "whole" anything, anymore. And I know that if I want more it will be there for me later. WITH good restriction it's amazing how little really is enough. I am continually surprised at how cool it is to be hearing that "full" signal so early, when pre-band it was something I almost never felt. I LOVE MY BAND.

This isn't always the case, actually. Large businesses may be able to write their own contracts with insurance carriers, but in NJ at least and possibly in others, small to mid-size businesses must buy standard contracts. Also, in many states there are mandated levels of coverage that override even standard contracts. (So, for example, a carrier may try to exclude something that is forbidden for them to exclude by law in that state.) It takes a lot of research. Start by checking with your employer to find out what kind of plan you have and where the bottom line authority is on contract provisions. One state's rules are not like the next one's, so asking here for advice will only get you so far.

Sheryl, what you're going through should probably be considered one of the phases of banding, since it's so common. I think once we get to a point where we've had the band for a long time, we think we know what we're doing and that's all there is for us. But it's not true! If you're PBing a lot that means you're eating too quickly or not chewing enough. It's very easy to lose sight of really how little room you have in your small pouch, so listen to what your band is telling you and slow down! The good news is that your esophagus is still plenty sensitive and telling you that you're overdoing it. So you are still in very good shape with regard to being able to make it work. That PBing is your signal to BE GOOD TO YOURSELF, eat slowly and only in small nibbles. This will let you lose weight, protect your band and pouch, and utilize the tool as it was meant to be used. It's not over yet! There's always a second chance with banding as long as you still have your band.

19 lbs in six weeks is a terrific start, Shrinking! You'll find as time goes on that there are lots of periods where, if you look at the short term, you could let yourself get frustrated. Learn NOW that you're doing yourself no favors by doing so. Maybe four pounds in five weeks sounds "slow," but 19 pounds in six weeks is FASTER than "average." That's more than three pounds a week!! Of course you're not going to be able to maintain that pace, and you don't want to. This is not a race and you are not trying to beat anyone else's mark. You are doing wonderfully well and if you're eating less than you were preband then you're going to continue to lose weight. I ate a whole slice of pizza last night, in fact. It took a while to chew and let each bite settle well, but I did finish it. So sure, a slice of pizza is "normal" if it's normal for you. There have been times when I couldn't think about eating a whole slice, like after my second fill when I first got really good restriction. Even now I don't like eating pizza because it generally isn't enough bang for the buck for me; less bready foods let me eat more and get more satisfaction from them as well as better nutrition. But once in a while it's fine and if I can eat the whole thing that's fine too. Don't obsess about what other people may or may not be doing. You've just begun exploring what it's like to live a banded life and your weight will continue to drop as you learn what works for you. Relax!!

I LOVE Coldwater Creek. Thanks, Harleynana!! (Well, there goes that New Year's resolution, the one about not spending money... that was fast!)

It's so funny how people keep saying I look happy in that picture. I have the WORST case of strep throat I've ever had and I'm very annoyed with my stepson who pretends he doesn't know how to use a camera when asked. But I'm a good actress, I guess! :D

Thanks everyone!! It's still so hard to internalize sometimes; I still think of myself as morbidly obese even though my BMI is now below 35. Taking it slow is the way to go when working against 40 years of fat. But my brain is catching up, slowly. Happy New Year, everyone!! :D

Of course we get hungry--we're human, and all our wiring is fully intact, so when we're low on fuel our bodies send the "hunger" signal we need to stay alive. But hunger is a whole different animal post-band. I now know what it's like to be hungry in the same way that normal people get hungry--like when they haven't eaten in four or more hours, and truly want something nutritious to fill the small space inside their stomachs. Now when I get hungry I can eat only a small amount--a half a sandwich, one small piece of chicken--and the hunger really and truly goes away. No longer does it take two or three sandwiches or a plate FULL of dinner to make the pangs go away. THAT'S the miracle of the band.

Not to rain on everyone's parade, but BCBS in Illinois is not the same company as what you have in other states. Every state's Blue Cross is an independent entity, and there are good ones and not-so-good ones. Is there anyone else from Illinois who has BCBS PPO coverage who can share their experiences?

Normal, normal, normal, normal!! Mom, your body is not supposed to be "happy" dropping 21 lbs in four weeks. It's putting the brakes on especially because you're now taking in more solid food. This is absolutely what is supposed to be happening. This is not a race! Take your time to adjust to your new smaller size, let your body adjust to its new regimen of fewer calories, and work on not letting yourself get too hungry. Don't watch the scale for signs of success, just remember that you have made an amazing start and are well on your way. What's your ultimate goal weight? You're doing great!!

You look beautiful! What a great job!!

Mine are about money this year. We've had lots of unexpected expenses recently, and I've been too lax in the past about paying down credit card bills and so forth. So we start this year with too much debt and bad habits that need to be broken. NO MORE EATING OUT except on special occasions. More home meals. That's my #1 resolution until we're past this money crunch.

Sticky just means one of those threads that stays at the top of a forum all the time, the ones with the push-pin icon on them. They stay there for reference without people having to bump them. Nothing to do with banding, at least in that context.

Kim, "DH" is not specific to banding, it's just internet shorthand for "Dear Husband." The D can also stand for other adjectives as the case may suit... (darling, danged, use your imagination.)

Great idea, Lisa! I'm going to make this sticky and when it's perfect we can revise to be a permanent reference. PB - Productive Burp: There are many versions to the PB, but it's basically when slime comes back up often followed by the food you just ate after the food refuses to go down. NSV- Non scale Victory: Something fabulous that happens as a result of weight loss that doesn't have anything to do with numbers, like getting flirted with or picking up something off the floor without falling over. ESOPHAGITIS - Irritation of the esophagus to the point of inflammation. Can be caused or exacerbated by a too-tight band keeping food from passing through the stoma and "stacking up" in the esophagus. STICKY PM - Private Message: If you want to say something privately to another member, just click on their name for an option to send them a private message. ACID REFLUX FILL - Addition of saline to the band's reservoir to tighten it and create a smaller opening from the pouch into the stomach. Usually done for the first time no less than 6 weeks after surgery when stomach has fully healed and the band is firmly seated in place. Several fills may be needed to achieve the desired restriction. UNFILL - Removal of saline from the band's reservoir to loosen it, and create a larger opening from the pouch into the stomach. May be done to relieve symptoms of reflux or ease the passage of food for other reasons.

Thanks for the support, everyone! Things do seem to be looking up; now I'm just dealing with a regular cold and the strep seems to have escaped the other members of my family. Yesterday I couldn't find my wallet, and then just as I was getting ready to call the credit card companies, there it was on the floor of the car in the back. Thank goodness! These little hassles really can take it out of us, especially when we're not 100% healthy. I'm looking forward to a long weekend at home with nothing that has to get done except keeping the kids entertained. Best wishes for a calm and happy 2005 for all!!

Wow, life sure does have a way of keeping us hopping! The last month has been a rollercoaster of family and household hassles, some small and some not so small. Here's my tale of woe: The day before Thanksgiving I hit a deer with my car, which resulted in the deer bouncing happily away but not before doing $1500 worth of damage to my car. A week in the shop, a week's rental car, and it's nice and shiny again. So two days after the body work was done, the clutch goes out completely. Naturally, this is not related to the deer collision, so won't be covered by insurance. Another week in the shop, another rental, and another $1500. :rolleyes Early in the months my husband's car has a flat, which he changes and takes to be fixed. Yesterday he's driving along with our 3-year-old, who is home sick from daycare, and hits a pothole at full speed--another flat, a bent rim. He goes to change the tire and lo and behold! The "repaired" tire is also flat! Stranded on Route 80 with a sick child, he waits over an hour for help. :rolleyes Let's see...Early last week we had no heat in our house as the temperature plummeted well below freezing outside. Two weeks ago my older daughter was diagnosed with ringworm. On Christmas Eve morning both she and I were diagnosed with strep throat. (Oh, the PAIN!!) Yesterday I and my younger daughter woke up with terrible colds. :rolleyes So it's been quite a month, though there was good news too. My band checkup on the 23rd was excellent! In spite of my worries and my doc's dire description of the possibilities, I have no slippage at all! The doctor was able to re-fill me back to a good level of restriction. Now we're all on the mend, and I am driving a beautiful NEW car after deciding my broken clutch was the last straw on that vehicle. No more manual transmission for me! And then we see the devastation caused by tsunamis on the other side of the world, and it puts all my little hassles into perspective. I am PROFOUNDLY grateful to be safe, have my children safe, and my husband healthy to take care of his poor little sick girls. I LOVE my husband!!! Here's wishing the best to all of you this New Year. Thanks for all of you being here and supporting one another; it brings my heart great joy to know this community is here!!!

Oh Ryan, what a nightmare! This is the sort of situation those futuristic imbedded chips with our medical records in them would help. Not in our lifetimes, I'm afraid. Good karma will come down on you for being so determined in caring for Patty. Between your shared love and insistence on good care, the medical establishment doesn't stand a chance! Now get some sleep. You deserve it, both of you.

Nancy, please know my thoughts are with you and your family too. What a devastating blow nature has dealt the world! I hope your brother is safe and sound.

The thread was deleted by the starter, who has the right to do so with no questions asked.

One size does not fit all, that's all there is to it. And the amount of weight someone has to lose doesn't necessarily correspond to their inner anatomy, so there's no way to predict which size will be appropriate for a given patient until the doctor is inside and looking around. I'm glad they have options, but it's no more meaningful to one's success than one's shoe size is to the ability to walk. Your doctor makes the right choice for you at the time of surgery.

Victoria, when they did your fill were you in a radiology lab with a big machine aimed at your midsection? Or were you in the doctor's office with nothing but you, him, and a big needle? It's hard not to know if you're being x-rayed. Personally I don't worry too much about the actual amount of Fluid in my band at any given time. There's too much, not enough, and just right. There may be absolutely nothing wrong with your band and your doctor is deliberately filling it very slowly to give you time to adjust. Don't go all panicky on him before you find out what your ARE supposed to be feeling.

Hi Victoria, Have you had your fills under a fluoroscope or in your doc's office with no x-ray? Many doctors doing fills without the benefit of x-ray equipment like to give tiny, incremental amounts so as to "sneak up" on the proper restriction. This can be frustrating indeed for the patient, but it's probably the safest way to go if you're not able to see the effects of a fill under an x-ray machine. Have you asked your doctor what level of restriction he expects you to be at? This may be normal for his practice and methodology. Can you find out more for us?