bluetigereyes

Call your surgeon and call your insurance carrier. I work for a large hospital (In the billing dept) and there are times when, based on your employers policy, that your insurance will still be accepted. It all has to do with the contracting network. The insurance itself can remain the same, but the contracting network can change. Work closely with your insurance company, employer, and provider to make sure you have everything in writing that they are still going to pay contracted rates.

I have not had any problems with reflux or heartburn since getting my band. Is yours filled a little too tight?

what is the 5 day pouch test? How does it work and what is it supposed to do?

Congrats! My first mini goal is to be 225, then I will readjust it. Going in for my 2nd fill today, I hope this one gets me closer to that elusive 'green zone'

at 3-4 weeks is when my hunger came back so fierce I felt like I could eat everything in the house. This is normal! My doctor told me its because the swelling is going down.

I have been doing a regular Zumba class, its fun! I thought about getting it for the Wii, but I have too many people living in my house and never get a chance to even watch TV, much less use the Wii. When my friend and her family move out (hopefully soon) there will be 5 less people in my house and I can get back to my normal routines again!

I work for the hospital where I had my band done, I happen to also work in the Insurance billing dept. I, too, chose not to tell everyone in my office (there are about 100 people in this office). I did tell 2 people, one is a close friend, the other is the lead for someone I was worried about finding out. Well, the person that I was worried about, did find out (she looked at my medical records) and then had teh nerve to confront me about it, then tell me about another person that had it done, and talk loud enough that people around my desk could hear the conversation. I told her several times that I did not want the whole office to know. I went to her lead and told her what happened and said she needed to discuss this with her as it is a HIPPA violation. When she confronted me again, i went to management. At that point I had to tell my manager about the surgery (which I did not want to do) and he took care of it. If she says another word she will lose her job!

I have been banded since 12/22, and I burp like theres no tomorrow! I also get the loudest growling in my stomach...its pretty funny. I gained 5lbs from the time of my surgery to my first fill....my doctor says that is totally normal. although since I got my first fill this past monday, i have lost 2lbs and feeling great. My prot flipped, so I had to get my port repositioned before my fill, but I feel so good now. I am having some pain at the new port site (my poor stomach has SO many scars on it now, but I know that these are good scars in the long run), but I'm only a few days out from having that incision.

Go ahead, let those burps out....remember, theres more room outside than there is inside!

I am scheduled to have my port flipped back over on Monday the 13th, The doctor is going to do it in his office, and hopefully do my fill at the same time. the end of this speed bump is in sight, thank goodness

Thanks everyone. I am feeling better today, still disappointed but I know that its just temporary. I guess everything happens for a reason. I am heading out to Sun Valley Idaho for the weekend and on Tuesday my friend is coming to visit for a week, so maybe it was just meant that I have no restriction while she is here. I dont know why things happen most of the time, but I do know everything happens for a reason.

Thanks! I put my head down earlier, had a little cry and got it out, that helped alot. I got a little pick-me-up when I checked my bank account and my tax return was deposited today...I wasnt expecting it until at least next week. So, that gave me a little bright spot to my day....Words of encouragement help and I'm feeling a little better. I guess I just needed my own little pity party for a bit and now the party's over

I went to the doctor on Wednesday Feb 1st to get my first fill. I was SO excited and ready to feel the restriction and see the scale start moving int he right direction. I get to my appointment and give the doctor my food chart for the 3 days prior (like I was instructed to do so he knows how much to fill), he gets everything ready to add 4cc's to my band. The doctor starts the procedure of filling my band, but its really painful. He is pushing, poking, having me do crunchies, all while fishing the needle around. I could feel him hitting the port, but felt more like a scratching feeling inside me (Very odd feeling, I must say), He continues this for a good 5-7 minutes. He tried from every angle to get into my port, all with no success. So, after the doctor is frustrated, I'm frustrated and sore, he tells me that he thinks my port flipped. He was obviously upset and told me that he started using a new port and this is the 2nd one in less than a month that has totally flipped and has had at least 3 that have partially flipped. Now, my doctor has done literally 1000's of Lap bands, so I totally trust that he did things correctly, but this new port is obviously flawed. So, I went in yesterday (Thursday) to get an x-ray to verify that the port has flipped. I am now waiting to hear back to when I can go in, have the doctor open me back up and flip the port over, give my fill, and sew me up again.

I was totally devastated and upset that this would happen to me. I know its not the doctors fault, but its so disheartening to have this happen, especially for my first fill.

Other than this little hiccup, I am feeling absolutely wonderful. I do still get a little burpy after I eat and my appetite is completely back to normal, but I know once i get some restriction I will be on the road to my weight loss journey once again. This hiccup will set me back a little in my exercise program, but I'm sure I can still do my walking and eliptical without too much worries. I just cant start my water Zumba class like I wanted to...yet.

Congrats! Its a fantastic feeling isn't it! Since you havent exercised in a couple months, start slowly, since the surgery you will get tired faster, listen to your body and work up to where you were before.

Congrats! I have had my band for 2 weeks now, and I can say that it took about 10 days from surgery for my appetite to return. I find that if I have a protein shake in the morning, it really does help me not be ravenous all day long. The nurse told me at my post of check on Wednesday to add a little oatmeal to my protein shake, it would hele me feel full longer. Well, I tried that this morning, and I will NOT do that again. I'm nauseated and feel like I have a brick in the pit of my stomach. Oh well, I guess if nothing else, that will keep me full the rest of the day!!!

I cant wait until I get my first fill. I was banded on Dec 22nd, and I feel absolutely NO restriction. My hunger has come back and for whatever odd reason, I find myself craving chocolate. The strange part about that is, I NEVER want chocolate. I have never been a big chocolate person, but since I got the band, I crave it. Good thing I get my protein shakes in Chocolate, but I have been wanting M & M's like there is no tomorrow.

I think I need to feel some restriction, I see my dr for my post op today, so I am going to get my first fill scheduled at that time. Hopefully I wont have to wait 4 more weeks for the fill!!!

What a terrible thing to happen. Just be there for your friend. He is going to need your love and support when he gets back.

I just got banded on Dec 22nd. I started the process in 2008 and gave up. Then Oct 2011, I decided I wanted to go for it. Everything fell into place and went SO smooth. I lost 24 lbs before my band was placed (between Oct 23rd and Dec 22nd), and I feel great. I am now almost 2 weeks post op and feel amazing. I am now looking forward to my first fill so I can feel some restriction. Good Luck Tiffany You can do this!!!

Everyone reacts differently to Anesthesia. The surgery itself only lasts for about 45 mins, so you are no tout very long.

I too was banded on the 22nd. I havent had any depression or crying, but I so have a little tightness in my chest. I know I've had ALOT of gas (mostly burping) since the surgery. I have progressed to having thick liquids (anything I can suck up a straw) and depending on what I have it settles well. Last night, had a bowl of soup. Ate about 6 bites and I was stuffed. My biggest challenge seems to be drinking enough. I have a hard time drinking while I'm at work. I have lost 5 lbs since surgery, according to my scale this morning. When I started preparing for surgery I was 274 (I'm 5'3"), for the first time in a VERY long time, I'm under 250! I was 249 this morning. I feel great.

My only question is, I still have the bandage over my port site, should I leave it on longer? There is quite a bit of dried blood on the gauze and I just worry about leaving that against the incision for so long. It is covered in Tegaderm so no water is getting to it.

I didnt have a problem overeating over Christmas, which was a true blessing! I had 1 packet of Cream of Wheat (made thin) and I did eat 1 bite of a sugar free chocolate pudding pie (without the crust). I was more than satisfied. I am now 5 days post-op and really feeling great. I was not hungry last night, so I didnt eat dinner, well, that kind of backfired on me, I woke up at 2 am starving! I did wait until I got up at 5:15 to have a little breakfast, but I know better not to skip a meal again. I plan on having a vanilla yogurt for lunch and if I'm still hungry, I have a protein shake with my name on it as well

I stepped on the scale this morning, I'm down 4lbs since surgery. I am so happy!

Jen, I am right there with you. I, too am getting banded on the 22nd and I feel the exact same way. My only issue is I have not told anyone at work that I am having it done. I work at the hospital where the surgery is being performed, so I am a little timid about letting everyone know.