Alexandra

Thanks for asking, Paula! I'm sleeping much, much better and have had no reflux at all. Ahhhhh... The downside is I'm hungrier. Oh well! Knew that would happen...

That's a charming story, Sue. Now nothing that happens to me this afternoon will be traumatic. Thanks!

Congratulations!! :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

Hi Gigi, There are a lot of variables in an appeal. Why was coverage denied? Was it because you are not medically qualified? Or did Aetna fall back on the "investigational" gambit? I was able to fight Aetna and eventually won because my state has a third-party appeal process. In my case Aetna was denying solely because they considered the band investigational, and that's the ruling that was overturned on appeal. How you proceed depends on why you were denied. Your denial letter should have provided information on the next step you can take--which is probably just appealing within Aetna. Whether you need legal help also depends on why you were denied. So what did your denial letter say?

Becky, I'm sorry if I sounded abrupt. It's just that speculation is what leads to drama. As for when all the moderators were removed, Alex stated that he'd done it temporarily. I'm not up on all the technical issues involved, but if he said he did it I'd assume he did. Please feel free to express your opinions. Opinions are not speculation about what did and did not happen that only others know for sure.

Thanks, Donali! This will also be posted as an announcement that will remain visible to members even after they've registered.

Gee, thanks, ladies. Now I'm scared! :rolleyes I'm sure I'm fine. The dizzyness was, I'm sure, due to being too tight and not being able to drink enough. It seems to have disappeared since my unfill.

Nancy, it's premature to jump to conclusions about anything. Please don't speculate. If the people involved care to comment, they will. If not, we have to respect their decision(s). If you recall, Alex removed all the moderators for a time. It may just be that not everyone has expressed a desire to return. Can't we respect people's independence? Or at any rate, let's respect the fact that none of this is worth rehashing publicly. If you have comments or a POV to share, you might want to write Alex privately. Thanks.

I'm going for an echocardiogram this afternoon, and it suddenly dawned on me that my being banded might matter somehow. It's an ultrasound of the chest, I gather, which I presume will be able to see my band. Has anyone had this done? Anything I should know? (And no, there's nothing wrong. I had told my PCP about some episodes of dizzyness I was having and she's one of those better-safe-than-sorry doctors. I'm fine!)

You're very welcome. Good luck!

What's to be confused about? At the moment, there are three moderators. There may be more soon, or not. No explanations are necessary, IMO, and people should be allowed to step back if they want to.

You can find a broker in the yellow pages easily enough, I'd think. I know in NJ a two-person business is qualified for a group plan even if one person has insurance elsewhere. I honestly don't know what the situation is in Florida. And having the band would definitely NOT be an issue here, but again, in Florida all the laws may be different. (It's the MOST infuriating thing about insurance, the fact that it's governed by the states and there's no uniformity.)

Estela, you need to contact a broker who is licensed in your state. Individual insurance is widely variable depending on where you live, and you need to get LOCAL advice. I'm a broker in New Jersey, where invidual insurance is guaranteed-issue (that is, you can't be turned down for health reasons). I don't know if that's the case where you live, and your being banded just might be an issue. Good luck!! Edited to add that if your job has a group plan for its employees, THAT'S the plan to get on. There are protections applied to groups that do not apply to individuals and you want to be part of that if you can.

Tanya, Baltimore sounds great but plans are underway for NYC for this fall. I'd love to go to Baltimore, though--maybe we can do it there next time!

Happy as I am to welcome Kelly to the ranks of moderators, I think it's easy to get overblown about this. Moderating is not a special privilege or anything; it's not like we get paid or have private parties. It's just a favor people do for the board because Alex has asked for assistance with, well, whatever. It's not like we've won a contest or something. And when people step down it's not because they necessarily did anything wrong. I am not speaking for Betty or Marie, since I know as little about this as any of you, but we shouldn't be reading anything into it. Moderators come and go, for all sorts of reasons, and it's up to them to discuss it or not.

Glad to hear you're on the mend, Shamrock. Rest up!

Bright, the Madison Hotel your hubby is familiar with is a VERY nice hotel. It's actually in Madison, NJ which is very close to Morristown. Man, if he could get us a corporate rate I'd even spring for that and make it a honeymoon weekend. Donali, you're amazing! I haven't had time to do any research. Check out the Meadowlands area for hotels within an easy commute. I know there's a Sheraton there and probably lots of others. But the Clifton HoJo's is just as close! That sounds like a great location, actually, and a really good price. Do they have a pool, do you know?

You're doing great, Princess!! One day you'll wake up and that headache will be gone, which will make things much easier. One day at a time and you're there!!!

Dover DE is way south from NJ. I don't think we're going to have a conflict.

Pretty much the same for me too.

Hi Gcravener, I just responded to your post on another thread. As you'll see, my thinking is that you're too tight and falling victim to the syndrome of not getting in enough calories. Getting a little unfill could really make a big difference for you. Good luck and please keep posting! I know other people can benefit from your experience.

Gcravener, I have to say that if you're having reflux and PBing all the time you probably are too tight. It's accepted wisdom that being too tight can lead to weight gain just as easily as weight loss, because the patient stays away from the healthier (harder to eat) foods and gravitates toward softer foods. Finding the right spot with the band is not necessarily an easy thing. You've only been banded for three months and many, many people don't get to the "sweet spot" right off the bat. I'd suggest an unfill immediately and that you then take a careful look at what you are eating. Fitday.com is a great tool to help you track your actual calories in and out, which might be enlightening all by itself. Being too tight is NOT the way to banding success. Please consider having an unfill and getting a fresh start. Banding can't possibly work if you're fighting with it all the time, and you may even do yourself some damage along the way. You may want to start a new thread with your experience and see what other bandsters have to offer. I'm sure there are other people in your shoes who can benefit from a discussion about it. Welcome to LBT!!

1) I am worried about the gas and noises that bandsters talk about. At least once a week I present to a staff of 40 people. I can't imagine having my stomach making noises during my presentations. How loud are the noises? Is it easy for people around you to hear them? Over time, will the noises ever stop? Only once have I had a noise situation that was anything but ordinary. And that was in a quite room full of bandsters! It may be tricky during the first few weeks and possibly right after a fill, but the rest of the time you're not going to be noisier than anyone else. 2) Do you always feel the device in your body? No. I'm only aware of it by its effects--by what happens if I eat too much or too fast. 3) Is it a probelm to do rigorous exercise (not that I do any of it)? If you jump up and down can you damage something? It is not a problem at all. I've asked my doctor this on several occasions and he assures me I can not damage my band by exercising. (I think he thinks I'm nuts for worrying about it. He has a pro football player as a banded patient.) 4) Does it hurt when food passes from the small pouch to the larger part of the stomach? Not normally. That process isn't what causes pain, when we have pain. It's the food that doesn't pass that causes the pain. 5) Do you regret having had the surgery? If so, why? No regrets whatsoever.

HarleyNana, are you OK with paying $250+ a night? If that's the budget people are thinking about, you can stay in midtown Manhattan. Any Manhattan hotel in the fall is going to be outrageously priced. I hope no one will have serious objections to staying on this side of the river.

Congratulations on your new addition!! Here's wishing your whole family joy and sleep in the days and weeks to come.