faithmd

This is a frequently asked question here, and it's a good one. For a diverse group of answers, scroll down to the bottom of this page and click on any of the several threads you find there. Also I'd suggest doing an advanced search for thread titles like second thoughts. I've never regretted it, not once.

Just to piggyback on Wasa's post... I am fat, I have been fat my whole life (as far back as I can remember). Being fat I have many friends who are also overweight... I cannot possibly think of TWENTY friends, let alone twenty acquiantances that I know who I could send to get the band!!!! Twenty referrals? Yep, I know who's the coordinator in this thread and it isn't Wasa...

BJean, truer words have not been written. Keeping yourself so tight you cannot eat is not only silly, it's freaking irresponsible and asking for BIG trouble. Getting a fill to the point that you "VOMIT SALIVA" and then take it down a little notch is setting yourself up for an emergency unfill a couple of days later when you swell and occlude the stoma. I agree that we should have a big part in deciding the path of our care, but to be so arrogant as to say that we (who are generally NOT bariatric surgeons) know better than our surgeon as to how to fill our band and with how mcuh and when is preposterous. Granted there are suggested fill schedules in the literature from all the band manufacturers, but they are just that, suggestions! Not set in stone fill schedules! If this could be predicted and filled the same way in everyone, then there'd be no need for fills at all, they'd just make bands in certain sizes. I'd hope that if my doc wanted to deviate drastically from what I had read in the literature we would have a conversation about why and if his reasoning was sound (which I'd expect it to be, he's the TRAINED BARIATRIC SURGEON), then I cannot imagine thinking he was trying to "pull one over on me" or "cheat me out of fills" I would not presume that I'd "know" more than him and thus fire him for having a different treatment plan than I made up in my own mind because I read some book and a couple of websites...

Wheet, you are BRILLIANT!!! Anyone ever tell you that? Luv ya!!!!!!! Love reading your posts! Oh yes, brilliant AND eloquent, a smashing combo.

I've not been on much in the past couple of weeks, but I now notice lots of Super Moderators. It is nice to see more folks doing some moderating, I'm sure that will help the mods we already had. But what are Super Moderators? Did I miss a thread calling for those interested?

They're still using the 4cc bands? Wow, I thought everyone had gone to the Advanced Platform or Realize bands. In any case, Susan makes a great point, it is soooooooo different for everyone. It depends on how thick your stomach walls are, how much of a fat pad you have on your stomach, how much you lose of that fat pad and how fast you lose it, what "sweet spot" means to you, etc. Some people are satisfied and can lose with NO fill, some folks require being almost full to be satisfied. I hope you glean some good info from this thread, I believe there are actually a few more polls asking this same question on this forum, you might want to try advanced search and see if you can find them. Also, scroll down this page and check out Paulax's thread about it, too. It is so hard to say what you will be happy with, perhaps check out Wendell's thread about how the band work, fills and unfills in the Fills forum if you haven't read it yet. It is a great thread!

Gosh I wish I knew more about how the whole group insurance thing worked (where's Alexandra...), but I don't think they can add a rider for only you. I believe it is a rider to their entire policy. Could be wrong, though. Please keep us posted, I hope it works out for you! Keep in mind the Mexican or the US surgeons that offer good prices on package deals that are less than $12K and many less than $9K, just in case this doesn't work out. Dr. Kirschenbaum in Colorado has a package for an excellent price. There's a few threads here about him, and lots of threads about Mexican surgeons.

The two stories above me underscore the absolute importance of CALLING YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY and asking them WHO THEY COVER before you marry yourself to a surgeon! Also, you need to regularly check with them to make sure they still cover with your doc. Many things change after January 1st. I got hosed on that one a couple of years ago when trying to start this process, I changed insurances because my ins at the time didn't cover banding, so I went with one I was told would. Well, you guessed it, after Jan 1st, they didn't! So I had to wait another year to find another one that would pay for it. Ins co's are ridiculous!

If it's an insurance requirement that you have a six month MD supervised diet program, there is no way around it. I had TWELVE months, it is doable, it gives you time to get things arranged, get your mind wrapped around the changes that have to happen (and even though you think you know, you really don't) and sometimes with the pre-op testing the docs want, that can take a couple of months to get scheduled. So use this time to see your PCP MONTHLY (don't miss a SINGLE visit, or you'll be starting over if that's what your ins co requires), go see a surgeon (call your ins co and see who they'll cover for you to see) and start getting your pre-op requirements out of the way. GOOD LUCK!

Totally normal, totally expected, check out Wendell's post about this it is enlightening and explains it: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-lap-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738/

I second what Wheetsin said. Not so simple as calling as saying "cover it." It involves $$. But I am keeping my fingers and toes and everything crossed for you!

Lauren, that is SSOOOOOOOO AWESOME!!!!!! And Mindy, you ROCK those jeans!!!!!!

Nope, NEVER too much support!!!!!

You are so right, we can all use all the support we can get! It is nice to share ideas for menus and have accountability as well, but isn't there already this kind of thread in the food forum? Are you aiming for this to be more of a support each other type of thread versus the other thread that I think was sort of examples of what we bandsters eat? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/share-ideas-what-did-you-eat-today-36828/

I hate that freaking Murphy, his Laws are complete CRAP, aren't they? Wheet, here's hoping it comes together and gets better, REALLY FAST for you! Dayum, that's a lot of rotten crap to have happen in a short period of time. It HAS to get better from here, doesn't it?

This is a popular topic on here, there's a few threads about it, here's some links. I hope they help you! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/medic-alert-id-not-28352/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/anyone-bought-medic-alert-bracelet-41736/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f100/anyone-getting-medic-alert-necklace-bracelet-46098/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/medic-alert-medical-id-lapband-38230/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f76/medic-alert-braclet-necklace-36853/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/medic-alert-bracelets-they-recommended-21625/

AppleSmith, and anyone else interested in opinions about Dr. Rutledge, check out these threads from here on LBT: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/about-long-term-effect-lap-banding-40962/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/mini-gastric-bypass-38557/#post524410 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f78/any-doctors-remove-band-do-revisions-36883/index2.html http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f18/lap-band-gastric-pass-31479/index2.html http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/anti-lapband-website-25351/#post327764

I wanted to add, there is no guarantees how you will react post-op. We are all different. There are many (older) threads around here about this subject. I think there is an old poll about how often folks PB. From what I recall, there are a number of people who have never done it, some who have only done it a couple of times, and yet some still who do it more frequently. Following all the rules is a good way to cut down on the number of PB's, but nothing is guaranteed, sadly. You will discover what foods are triggers for you, what foods you absolutely cannot and at what fill level this occurs. Some people have no problems with any foods, some cannot eat rice, some cannot eat bread, some have trouble with steak, others have difficulty with dry chicken, etc. No way to tell what your issue will be, or if you'll have one. I have no fill in yet and I do have trouble with deli turkey meat. I have to eat it very slowly and chew well, but I do alright with most everything else.

PBing is NOT at all (for me) like vomiting. I HATE to vomit. Though I must say, I cannot imagine not getting this life changing, or rather, life saving surgery because of a fear of vomiting.

My post-op diet said pasta was a no-no until at least three months out.

Sadly, my requirement was 12 months of an MD supervised diet. I think you give good suggestions, Marimaru! And Manatee, what a wonderful thought. I agree with someone else here who said, with the volatile markets, who knows what it would be worth soon, anyway. I know a couple years ago when the markets started to slide after the dot.com boom, I lost somewhere between 20 and 35K. I have no idea how much I've lost recently, I REFUSE to look.

Ooooo, oooooo I just GOTTA know!

I'm so glad you are happy with the surgeon and the practice. Word of caution, if it is an EXCLUSION to bariatric surgery, your chances are nil of beating it. But one of your best allies would be to get in touch with Walter Lindstrom at The Obesity Law Center: Obesity Law and Advocacy Center

That's wonderful! It is soooooo important to be confident in and comfortable with your surgeon. How fantastic that you have seen him in the OR already.

What are Samoa's? Are they the Caramel DeLites? Never mind, I went and looked, and they are one and the same. And I LOVE those little suckers, too. But none for me this year, I splurged on PB patties and Thin Mints and Lemonades.