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My surgeon charges $450 program fee for nutrition counseling and it includes the protein shakes i think. I meet with her next week, I do not know what all it entails or how may visits, I just know it is for 3 months , The fee also includes the phych eval

I had my surgical consult on Aug 24, and am looking at a December date for banding ( yeah!!!). All went well, my surgeon was very positive, patient and answered all of my questions. I then went to the insurance /financial counelor. I already knew the procedure is covered and i am pre-qualified, but was surprised to find out my coverage requires 3 months of supervised diet. She then suggested I not loose very much weight because I may end up being rejected by the insurance company.. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield New Mexico PPO. My BMI is 36. with comorbidities of sleep apnea and reflux.Has anyone else been in this position and how did you handle it? I meet with the nutritionist on Sept 9, and have been trying not to loose witght ever sence I want to the seminar July 8. I was underthe impression that the insurance companies go by the first consult weight....Thank you all...I love this site!!!!

Thank you all!!!

What other porblems can happen with PPI's? I was just put on Nexium because my reflux is affecting my asthma. I have tried all f the otc ones with minimal result. The Nexium has really helped, I am not waking up at night coughing and wheezong any more. I ma hoping the reflus will go away after I am banded and cah loose te belly fat.

I have read on several posts that people get shoulder pain. What causes that and how long does it last?

What is panniculectomy, Panniculus is a medical term describing a dense layer of fatty tissue growth, consisting of subcutaneous fat in the lower abdominal area. It can be a result of obesity and can be mistaken for a tumor or hernia. Abdominal panniculus can be removed during abdominal panniculectomy, a type of abdominoplasty I did not knwo what that was either so I looked it up. I love this site, there is so much information here!!!!!

Ok, just for background, I do not have my band yet. But as a person who has been overweight for about 25 years I have been on and off diets for all of my adult life. My best success was with Weight Watchers, I lost 75 lbs, got to goal and lifetime. HOWEVER I did gain it all back and then some. MY question is that on WW you count points , track food,weigh and measure, and exercise to earn more food, plan the next meal etc.. You sort of trade one obsession ( over eating ) for another: counting, recording and obsessing about the next meal ( do I have enough points for THAT?) From reading the boards it appears to me you still have to count calories. track food intake and exercise and therefore obsess about food. I mean I think about what I am going to eat, how much I ate and blame myself for not stopping from the time I wake up until I go to bed. I have even dreamed about it! So my question out there is : Is there any hope to just become a person who eats when hungry , stops when satisfied ( not full ) and does not think about the next meal? My desire ( hope, dream , expectation) is that when I get banded, and have a few fills and find the "sweet spot" will the habits gained convert to a normal relationship with food? I do not expect this overnight, but in a couple of years maybe? Or if not any suggestions on how to live with it and not play the blame game? Thank you in advance. I know there is some good insight out there. Ann

Thank you so much . I do like th insanity analogy. It is so trure. I am going to follow your advice, and just take one day at a time and work the band! Thank you again I feel so much better!!!

Man . so many great thoughts here.I have opted to tell only my hubbie of 28 years and my adult daughter who lives with us. If she did not live with us I probably would not have told her until after as well.I have one co worker who had bypass last February and i did discuss it with her.She was pivotal in my decision to do this. She is closed mouthed as she understands not wanting to put up with "well meaning buttinskies who will tell you all of the horror stories they know" . I may tell after my surgery date is set and all is a done deal. But probably not. At least not until they start to ask how I lost weight and how great I look....I think there is so much judgment out there. Also I am borderline BMI 36.5 with sleep apnea. I am also tall and do not look as heavy as I am, so I think many will think I " do not need this just loose weight the regulat way". Most of my weight is in my midsection where it does the most harm to your heart, one of the main reason I am going to do this. I am not telling others in my family until they see results. My sister will freak, as she will worry about complications. I was in the medical field for 30 years so I am well versed in complications. Howerer I also am sure they can be minimized by following your surgeon's directions EXACTLY. I meet with my surgon next week and cannot wait to get further down this path.

I like a good Chocolate Cake Shot....but I sip it...Make sure it is a good one ..a bad one tasts like burnt cake. Also VO makes a vodka Cake...It is reallyb yummy. Sweet, not diabetic frendly but again I sip it. I also like bloody Mary

I have such issues with the My Lap Band Journey site. I have signed in numerous times and get the wrong username and password message. When I put in forgot it takes at least 30 min to get a new one emailed to me...or i get the too many tries and cannot try again for 15 min. It is very frustrating. I work on a computer all day and know how to enter a %#*# password and user name. Thanks, I feel better now!

Good luck Jim. I am also at the beginning of all this, and 100% agree with you that you have to pick a good surgon with a good support pracitce. Even you have not attended a seminar yet, my surgon's practice encourages every one to go to the support group. pre band as well. I am not able to do it because of my work schedule but I would if I could. You can probable go the their website ans fing out when the support groups are. I meet with my surgon next week ( finally, it took 6 weeks to get the appt,) . ...Again good luck!!!!

Thanks for the replies. The second question is does it affect you being able to use your arm? I work in a call center and am at a desk In the phone and am on a computer typing and such. I am hoping to not have to take more than a few days off, or i have to wait until the new year or December..

Hello I am waiting for my surgical consult Aug 24. I have a BMI of 36.5 but have sleep apnea co morbidity. My insurance has approved the surgery ( yeah!!! ) . I am in the very ironic dilemma for the first time in my adult life of trying NOT to loose weight before I have my "official " weigh in. This is a very strange place to be, as I find that having made my decision I want to move on th practicing healthy habits etc. I have always liked healthy food, and am finding myself eating more junk to not loose. I had had a second sleep study and diagnosed with restless leg syndrome and with the medication and new CPAP settings I have energy and am more active. I actually did loose weight the first 2 weeks without any effort, just more activity. So I started to eat more. Weird. Anyone else in this place?

I understand about the pictures. It was not until my Mom passed away that I realized no matter how big I was i needed to allow my picture to be taken, My Mom hated to have her picture taken so there are very few of them. I am wondering ( perhaps little personal here but ) how are things in the bedroom ? I am hopeful that a better body image will help that for me.

Not crazy, Just determined.

I think it does, because the obstruction part is often caused by excess weight. I also beleive that your sleep Dr will know how to word the report and letter of recomendation to make it count. I am in the same boat as you are, I meet with my surgeon in 2 weeks to find out what all I have to do. Good luck!

I went to a seminar in July and have my surgical consult Aug, 24. I have already received insurance approval for the surger, and I do not have to do the 6 months of monitored diet. I am curious what sorts of other testing did others require? And should I go see my primary Dr. in the meantime to get started? I know it can take months to get in to some of the specialists. I know I need nutrition and psych. I have a current sleep study for my sleep apnea. Any Advce? I just want to get "the show on th road" as they say. Thank you

Hi. I am a respiratory therapist and use a CPAP . I have 2 issues 1. Upper airway resistance syndrome and 2. Hypopnea. Upper airway resistance is having areas in your upper airway like the nasal cavities, tonsils etc collapse and obstruct your airway causing you to wake up or have arousals. My first study I had 6 arousals per minute !!!! No wonder I was so tired. I did not actually have apnea either but the CPAP really helped by keeping the airway open. I had a new study ( the first was 12 years ago) and have developed hypopnea which is a breathing pattern with shallower and shallower breaths until you pause the take in a big breath. Which of course also wakes you up. Ask questions of your sleep Dr until you fully understand your condition.! Good luck l

Amen to sweetpea . Find another Doctor!!!!!

I take Pramipexole. It comes in a low dose 0.125 mg that my sleep dr allowed me to increase until I found the correct one.I take 3 at bedtime. I can also take one if we are on a car trip or am going to be sitting for a long time as this can get very uncomfortable for me. I do not know the brand name, It has changed my life. !!! As well as my husband's. If he had kicked and thrashed around like I did I would have moved into the guest room. I now am able to just lay still and sleep like a normal person. You are a very sweet man to inquire for your wife. Good luck and I will be thinking about her.

I too am a Respiratory Therapist with sleep apnea. I recently went in for a second study ( my first was 12 years ago) because I was getting very forgetful, tired all the time, muscle aches, and having difficulty concentrating. I had to increase my pressure from 9 to 13 and am now classified as "severe". I also was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome and take medication for that now. I feel great!!!!! My work quality has improved as has my memory and ability to concentrate. I am cheerful and not in the fog. I strongly encourage Tycos mom to pursue a solution. Sleep apnea is a very serious condition, the daily drowsiness can cause you to fall asleep driving and result in a car accident. Also the tiredness affects EVERY aspect of your daily life and your families. Worse case it can be fatal as your oxygen levels can drop so low to cause cardiac arrest. When you find a solution you will be kicking yourself because of all the years you spent in a fog. I would suggest you may do better with a bi pap, it is similar to cpap but has a high and low pressure, Makes it easier to exhale. My husband has vary severe sleep apnea with 2 minute and longer apnea spells with very low oxygen. He could not tolerate the cpcp either as he could not breathe and felt claustrophobic as well. He had to go in for a second study for the bi pap, That was definitely the ticket for him. I also like the suggestion of trying it while watching TV just to get used to it. Again I do understand that there are people out there that have a lot of difficulty adjusting to the machine but the results are worth the effort to find a solution that will work. I do not even nap without it because I not like to fee like I have a hangover and headache that comes with sleeping without it. Again, please persue this, work with your sleep doctor to find a solution you can live with. Yur quality of life will be so much improved. Good Luck!!!!