faithmd

I am so sorry you have been so ill and I'm glad that you are feeling some better (and that Alli is giving you a full refund). But I am sort of lost as to how a fat blocking pill can give you an infection? I can't see how that's possible. Did the doctors say they thought you might have had a UTI brewing and they believe the Alli contributed to it? Eeek!

I can't speak for the OP, but if you have BC/BS and don't have the requirements yet, please call them right now and ask. Many people can have the SAME insurance company, and sort of the same policy and one's requirements may be different from the other because of riders their employer may or may not have purchased. That's why I always advise EVERYONE to call your own insurance company, and have them look up YOUR policy and then ask them to explain what the requirements for coverage for Adjustable Gastric Banding is, then have them send you a hard copy. And write down names.

June 21st, Dr. Wagner here. Hurley's first AP band.

CONGRATS!!!!!!! Now you need to join the March 08 bandsters and celebrate! That is soooo exciting! You'll be in bandland before you know it.

Here's a link to one really great thread about how fills work, check it out: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/how-lap-band-actually-works-fills-refills-45563/

I'm sorry you have had this disappointment. It stinks, it really does! But no, there is no way around it. I had to do TWELVE months of MD supervised diet therapy. Make an appointment today with your PCP, right now, this very instant. And then make subsequent appointments for every month as soon as you can. You'll need seven of them (at least). DO NOT MISS ONE SINGLE APPOINTMENT. If you do, it's back to square one. Make sure that not only do you see the MD at each appointment (no, a nurse visit with a weight will NOT count), but that your weight is recorded and that the MD puts in their notes what you are doing that months to lose weight. Something as simple as them saying in their note that you are walking three times a week for 30 mins, or you have cut out all refined carbs, or that you are walking the stairs at work twice daily or that you are giving up soda will help. Many insurance companies will not merely accept a letter outlining this from your PCP, they REQUIRE the actual OFFICE NOTES from your monthly visits, and those notes must contain discussion of your weight loss. Call your insurance provider yourself and ask for a copy of the specific requirements for Adjustable Gastric Banding coverage be sent to you so that you have them in hand to refer to. Many of our journeys are months or years long. If you have the resources and do not want to wait, you could always consider Mexico . Many many of us have been/are being banded there. There's loads of threads about it. We're here for you. Feel free to vent anytime.

Here's a link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/abbreviations-what-they-mean-7959/ Also, you might want to check out that forum (FAQ and References) as it gives LOADS of important info about the band and banding in general.

For me it stands for Dear Hubby/Husband, Darling Hubby/Husband, Damned Hubby/Husband, Dipshit Hubby/Husband, Dufus Hubby/Husband, Doggone Hubby/Husband, etc... In the FAQs and References forum, you will find a sticky that includes various abbreviations, it is VERY helpful!

Here's a few more links, and a couple more polls. Hope this helps you! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/when-will-i-able-return-work-post-op-47296/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/how-long-did-you-take-off-work-42551/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/poll-time-off-between-surgery-work-24060/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/how-soon-after-surgery-have-u-returned-work-31539/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/how-long-return-work-34950/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f76/how-soon-before-returning-work-24059/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/how-long-were-you-out-work-after-surgery-23996/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/how-long-after-surgery-before-returning-work-22355/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/how-long-until-you-were-able-work-19585/

Page down to the bottom of this page, you will find several thread links where this question has been answered in abundance. I'm not picking on you, but I wanted you to have responses from a large cross-section of folks. By viewing the posts below, you'll be able to read about the experience from folks that sit at a desk, folks that walk all day, folks that do physical labor, etc... The Poll thread is a good one, you get a nice idea of what the average is.

Actually, the first set of pictures is kind of telling. The band on the left is the 10cm band (the 9.75cm and the 10cm band both have a fill capacity of 4cc/mL), the band in the pic with 2cc in it is half filled. The next band (the VG) has a 10cc/mL capacity, so the pic with it at 5cc is also half filled. Looking at the pics, it actually looks like the half-filled VG might provide greater restriction than the half filled 4cc/mL band. But you said: I have the 4cc band and my surgeon told me it was kinda loose on me when he placed it, so I had to have a lot of saline in it before I experienced restriction. If they had put the 10cc band on me, I never would have had restriction--my stomach just happens to be smaller in that area than some people. I just wanted to point out that a band with a capacity of a lower number of cc's/mL's doesn't necessarily mean the band is smaller, that's all. BTW, I really liked the wording of your post, it was quite informative and I wanted to mention, you are ROCKING the weight loss, Gwen!!!!

It's the width of the band itself and the size of the baffles that make up for the increase in Fluid capacity needed. Gkeyt's post was most excellent! Surgeon's do make decisions based on a person's anatomy when they "get in" there. My surgeon told me a story similar to one of gkeyt's points about having to change out bands: I asked how many revisions he's had to do and why. He said the only one he had to do he was second on and they placed a smaller band (9.75cm) on a man that they were wondering if it was too small. And the next morning, it was evident it was by his scan and inability to swallow his own spit that it was. They took him back to the OR and placed a larger band.

The rest of gkeyt's post is spot on, the only thing I wanted to point out is that the 4cc band isn't all that different "size-wise" than the VG or the Advanced Platform small. The differences comes in the construction. The 4c band has one single ring (like a tire), the VG is a bit wider and has some baffles and the APS is wider still and has even more baffles, that's what makes the difference in how many cc's/mL's the capacity is. Here's a couple pics to show you what I mean: AP New Band Type picture.bmp

Jill, when I was on mushies, it was the Fourth of July...I pureed not only a hot dog, but baked beans and cole slaw, too! And I made a watermelon granita... I totally understand.

Suzanne, you WILL get there, it is tough and disheartening to not see the scale move, but keep doing what you are doing, log every bite and EVERY sip of whatever you take in (so you can see not only calories, but carbs/fat/protein, etc) in something. There are many sites out there if you haven't found one yet: sparkpeople.com mydailyplate.com calorieking.com fitday.com (I use this one) and many more. If you haven't started using one, it's a great thing! I'm pulling for you!

I figured out the calories, it was on page one of this same thread! :rolleyes2:

Go pick up the stuff you need and hand carry it to the Bariatrics office yourself. It may cost you a little $ for the copies, and the gas to the Dr's but it would alleviate some of this stress.

Boo, what can we do? Anything? I'm here if you need to talk or vent or anything. I no longer have close contacts with Johnny Two Fingers or Frankie Sticks, so I can't help you that way, but I'd be happy to lend an ear and try to come up with something! It sucks that life isn't fixed because we lose weight, it seems it just lifts the veil that was covering other things. Dammit! Why? Why can't it make things better????? Take Care, you!

You might also want to check out the Life After Removal Forum, too. Life After Lap-Band Removal - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support Here's the link to Complications: Lap-Band Complications - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support You can also navigate there via the home page.

Check out the complications Forum, lots of folks there have had a slip and many have had another band placed.

I know it 's frustrating (believe me, I know ), but I keep saying to myself that in my life PTB (prior to banding) I'd have gained a few pounds a month. So 8lbs is good. It's considered normal weight loss with the band (1-2lbs per week). First fills RARELY give any restriction, or any lasting restriction. Most often it's the third or fourth fill that finally sticks with you. And remember, it can take a couple of weeks for a fill to "kick in" as well. Check out Wendel's post about how the fills actually work in the FAQ and References forum here. It's very helpful.

NAME ... Start Weight ... Goal ... Current Weight ... To Go Allaboutme ...... 211...... 165 ....... 205 ......... 40 Allison925 ...... 175 ...... 145 ....... 175 ......... 30 Angie4b1g ....... 237.8 .... 205 ....... 237.8 ....... 32.8 Ariel ........... 199 ...... 169 ....... 199 ......... 30 babs0101 ........ 216 ...... 190 ....... 216 ......... 26 Bigbaby ......... 207 ...... 167 ....... 207 ......... 40.0 CQQlgirl ........ 220 ...... 195 ....... 220 ......... 25 faithmd...........308........301.2......270..........31.2 Foofy ........... 244 ...... 199 ....... 244 ......... 45 Georgia Girl .... 275 ...... 237 ....... 272 ......... 35 Hazeleyegrl1 .... 233 ...... 200 ....... 225.5 ....... 25.5 Hungryforchange . 225 ...... 190 ....... 225 ......... 35 ivyrose325 ...... 342 ...... 215 ....... 261 ......... 46 Jeni 85 ......... 214.4 .... 184 ....... 214.4 ....... 30.4 Jfran ........... 181 ...... 145 ....... 181. ........ 36 Legster ......... 216 ...... 174 ....... 216 ......... 42 Luluc ........... 166 ...... 135 ....... 166 ......... 31 MamaJava ........ 283 ...... 233 ....... 283 ......... 50 Mamato3 ......... 242 ...... 199 ....... 242 ......... 43 Mary-2b150 ...... 225 ...... 150 ....... 193 ......... 43 Nadean .......... 204.6 .... 160 ....... 204.6 ....... 44.6 Nhanson ......... 226 ...... 196 ....... 226 ......... 30 Rainer .......... 256 ...... 216 ....... 255 ......... 39 Redtulips3 ...... 245 ...... 199 ....... 245 ......... 46 Smithem1 ........ 240.6 .... 190 ....... 240.6 ....... 50.6 Stacy73 ......... 226.4 .... 194 ....... 226.4 ....... 32.4 Starryeyed ...... 280 ...... 199 ....... 237 ......... 38 Suzzzie ......... 297 ...... 243 ....... 294 ......... 51 Wombat712 ....... 152.8 .... 120 ....... 152.8 ....... 32.8 Kristin1031.........256.........199........249............49

Very well said, Green. I agree wholeheartedly. Lauren, you did a great job of summing my thoughts up as well.

This is the new skin and look to LBT, you can find New Posts under Links and the search is a lot easier! Also, the old "User CP" is now My Account. Hope this helps!!

That's the ONLY way I read this forum, where did the "New Posts" button go??