Alexandra

I hope someone will post the "news" here for those of us who are TiVo-deprived! I'm VERY curious to hear how the band is presented on the View. Oh, and yes, it's on ABC.

Eating just the topping off a pizza is a tried-and-true bandster solution to the limited pizza-place menus. But I have to say it's not as appealing without the crust; SO loaded with fat and oil and nothing to sop it up. I was very cautious about trying pizza after banding, but when I did it was absolutely amazing to see how little it took to fill me up. Like Chinese food, it's no longer one of my favorite foods, because quantity was in part why I liked it. It was cheap, "balanced," and easy to overdo. Now it just doesn't seem like a good choice, and you may find your tastes changing in a similar way over time, Paul. Once in a while a bite goes down wonderfully well, but it's not my choice for a meal.

I'm sure all kids get cranky when they're hungry. My daughter Gillian takes it to new heights, though, and I'm just wondering if this is normal or something I need to ask her doctor about. G doesn't eat much, and before meals sometimes she can turn into a BEAR of the worst order. Worse, she'll resist eating and say she isn't hungry; she'll blame her mood on being tired or something that happened at school. But we know that after even a few bites of something, her happy disposition will return. My 4 y.o. gets cranky when she's hungry too, of course, but to what I would consider a normal degree. Gillian's behavior is infantile, literally. We all know how it is to feed a baby who is so crazed with hunger s/he can't calm down enough to eat, right? We recognize that is beyond the baby's power to control, but I don't think we see the same thing in kids who are almost 7. So what I'm wondering is if perhaps there are some blood-sugar issues I should be worrying about. Maybe Gillian's blood sugar is really dropping into some super-low zone before a meal or something? It doesn't happen all the time and I'm not really aware of it having been a big issue until the last few months. I mean, it sort of seems to have gotten more extreme since her 6th birthday, but again, it's not an everyday occurrence. Sorry for the novel, but I can't see calling up our doctor just to run this by her before getting a few more opinions. There's nothing else going on with Gillian physically; she's growing quickly, of course, and could eat a better diet I'm sure. So am I overanalyzing a normal reaction to being hungry? Or could there be more going on? Any insights from parents here? Thanks!!

NSAID: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. This is the class of drugs to which ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, etc.) and naproxen sodium (Aleve and others) belong. Lots of antibiotics can also increase the risk of stomach problems, but antibiotics are much less likely to be taken long-term than painkillers, and so less frequently warned against than the over-the-counter stuff. I know some docs say it's OK to take NSAIDS once in a while, if you have some pain that won't respond to Tylenol. However, a lot of people use them frequently for back pain, menstrual cramps, or arthritis. It's that kind of frequent or chronic use that is the most likely to lead to stomach problems. I'm just steering clear and sticking with Tylenol when I need it.

Mandy, you may have your best chance with an independent reviewer. My fingers are crossed for you! That's how I won my battle with Aetna. Through all of Aetna's internal appeals the people doing the deciding were Aetna employees so the outcome was a foregone conclusion. It wasn't until a third party got involved that I got the right result. Good luck!!!

There is no one cause of erosion; obviously if we knew that it could be prevented it in all cases. The medications that we are told to avoid are those that rob the stomach of its naturally occurring protective substances (I'm not up on exactly what those are). It seems to me that such weakened stomach tissue can react by ulcerating internally OR externally at the band site. Whatever the exact mechanism, I know I'M never taking any NSAIDS again.

Is the patient going to be Starr Jones? (Or whatever her name is?) She's lost a lot of weight and as far as I can tell has been cagey about how she did/is doing it. Wouldn't surprise me if she came out of the bandster closet on the show.

Hi Shelley, One reason a fill "wears off" is that we lose weight and the tissues of and around the stomach get smaller. We have to remember that the band and stomach are a system, and restriction is not solely dependent on the amount of Fluid in the band at any given time. Restriction can come and go with changes in our bodies, so IMO it's always a good idea to let at least a couple of weeks go by after a fill or after thinking about getting one--the situation may change again!

I've had that same problem for several days and from more than one computer. There must be some big problem with the board.

There isn't any food I can't handle, but some pieces are just too large. My guideline is knowing that if I can't reduce whatever it is to paste in my mouth, I just take it out. So I can eat steak, but any gristly parts get left on the plate. I have no problem eating bread, but it only takes a couple of bites to make me very full so there's just no point.

You know, this syndrome never goes away, and it's what we have to be really on guard against. Last night I had a second chicken thigh, even though I knew perfectly well that I wasn't hungry, didn't need it, and it might lead to heartburn (which it did). So why did I eat it? Ahhhh, the $64,000 question. Sigh. Some days you beat the bear, some days the bear beats you. The good news is that it was only two chicken thighs, not FOUR, and I only had a small amount of the rice it was served with. It helps to put it into perspective like that, knowing that what is "too much" now is nowhere near the amount it used to be. And that's what it's all about.

NRS1, you can't enlarge your pouch by drinking. If you take in too much Fluid at one time it will just come back up, and you'll know it. Drink! PBs are to be avoided as much as possible, becuase their can lead to irritation and cycle of swelling and further negative effects. Once you have one, it's a very good idea to stay on liquids for at least 24 hours to let the tissues rest. Your appetite returning is a sign that you're healing up, not that your band is not working. Once you're on solid foods and know whether you have any real restriction, then you can talk to your doctor about a fill if you need one. But you're still healing and I'd suggest sticking to soft foods for another week or so. Where were you banded? Did your doctor's post-op instructions cover any of this?

Kristen, your concerns are totally understandable. It's certainly a learning curve and learning how to eat less is not easy. But it's what's needed to lose weight! I'm almost two years out and don't hesitate at all to go out for dinner. Unless I want to have lots of leftovers, though, I order off the appetizer menu. Some restaurants offer a half-portion but that's usually a total ripoff so I don't do that. And then of course there are the foods that go down easy, and if nothing on the appetizer menu seems appealing I'll go for fish or something really soft. So there are adjustments to be made indeed but they're not the sort of thing that make you feel like a spectator on the sides. They're the kind that lead to a better life!

Whether you start out with the surgeon or not, if you're hoping for insurance to cover it then at some point you're going to have to see your primary care doctor. I think it's a VERY good idea to start with your PCP and make sure you get the diagnosis of "morbid obesity" in your record. A history of discussing your weight with your primary care doc goes a long way with your insurance carrier. If you're paying cash or have a very liberal insurer, then you can go right to the surgeon. Otherwise an initial visit to a PCP is likely to be the best way to start.

T'm so sorry for your loss. What a terrible way to arrive home.

You weren't denied, you just got a flip answer from some customer service rep who probably didn't know what you were talking about. You have read the fine print. If your doctor believes you to be medically qualified for bariatric surgery (ANY kind of weight-loss surgery has the same medical qualification guidelines), then you should have your doctor go about the process of submitting a request for precertification. No one can answer you definitively until YOUR medical case is made--unless there is an exclusion on your policy, which you already know there is not. You might try calling again and asking if you can be sent a copy of the medical criteria for bariatric surgery. Don't ask if it's covered, just what they are.

Sandie, I think you're in good shape. Once you're approved for one kind of surgery, if the carrier doesn't exclude a different treatment for the same condition you'll very likely be approved for that one as well. And we know United doesn't exclude the band, so your approval should be quick. It's a good idea to call again, there's no reason it should take so long. And yes, you should have it in plenty of time for a July surgery date. Let us know how it goes!!

That six-month supervised "diet" period is really to make sure you are on board with a regimen and ready/willing to keep followup appointments with your doctor. You'd be surprised how many people find it too big a burden and give up on the whole idea of WLS! It's not really about losing weight--you can follow your doctor's instructions to the T and you'll probably only lose 20 lbs at the most. Would that be enough to keep you from qualifying? If so, maybe you're one of the borderline people that carriers are trying to screen out. While that may sound callous, look at it from their point of view--they can't simply absorb the costs for every single person who decides they want bariatric surgery. Then need to put some screening procedures in place to be sure they're paying only for the people who are a) really in need of the treatment, and who will use it to their best advantage and be successful. You're on your way, and 6 months will go by before you know it. Good luck!!

Sharona, you should call your carrier directly and ask them if what your doctor is doing is appropriate. He should, of COURSE, be able to give you a referral based simply on his judgment that you need to see a specialist. If he's unwilling ro let you explore this avenue then you should see a different PCP. And I have heard that Blue Cross of CA is now covering the band, though I don't know if it applies to both the PPO and the HMO plans. You should ask them about that when you call as well. Good luck!

Bigmom, it's a learning curve and you're learning. No one ever said this was going to be a bed of roses. But it will get better as your behaviors change to accept the reality of restriction, and you'll be losing weight!! Hope you're feeling better today. Take it slow!!

Ugh! What a terrible time to get sick! Good luck for a quick recovery, and take it easy!!

There isn't any specific period that one must wait after a fill. Some doctors will add more Fluid as soon as a week later or maybe even earlier if the patient really has no restriction. In MY opinion, waiting at least a couple of weeks is advisable. Unless he gave you a really tiny amount, it's always possible the fill will make itself felt after some time has gone by. But you and he should talk about whether waiting is necessary.

Congratulations, Sally, and welcome to the band!!

I just got cable which replaced my DSL. Wow, I thought DSL was fast but this is the bomb!! DeLarla, I have a stupid question. I've seen "LOOK" spelled the way you did it in other places online as well, with QQ instead of OO. I'm guessing it means something but I'm clueless. Can you enlighten me? (I'm embarrassed even to be asking this. I feel like a web-newbie!)

Good luck!! My fingers are crossed for you.