sweetplowgirl35

The gas X strips worked great for me and worked fast.

I have bcbs of al. I called bcbs and talked to them to see if it would cover my lapband and they told me if I met all the qualifications that they had listed on the website they would pay for it 100 percent and all I would have to pay was for the Hospital fee of $100.00. I went through the weight loss program for 7months without skipping a month and my surgery had to be within a year from my weight loss appointments. I had to prove that I have had a BMI over 40 for the past 3 years or 35 with medical related issues that required medications. I could only prove 2 of the 3 years so I had to send in a picture of myself for the year that I didn't go to the doctor to prove my weight. I think that is all I had to do and they approved me the first try. I used Dr. Dewitt at Princeton Baptist Hospital in Birmingham. Do you know why you was denied?

That is wonderful. Best wishes with the rest of your journey. Your almost there for sure.

I think I am healthier now than I have ever been. I have always just ate one meal a day and didn't take any vitamins or anything and now I feel great. I have so much energy and just feel alive.The vitamins make a huge difference I know after my surgery I was supposed to take it easy for about 6 weeks but man I just couldn't. It was like 3 1/2 weeks and I was outside tilling making me a garden. I guess I didn't do any damage because so far so good. The only liquid I drink is water but I only drink like 1 or 2 16.9 oz. bottles a day. (trying to drink more) Before I had lapband surgery, I always had a pepsi. No matter what I was doing I always had to have a pepsi or coke in my hand. When I stopped drinking pepsi and coke before my pre-op, I have not had the desire to drink anything but water. I can't believe it because I was so addicted to drinks. (Thank Goodness). I think I would loose weight a little faster if I would drink more water but I am stil happy with how my weight loss is going right now. Good Luck to Everyone, I wish you all the best weight loss!

Yes this is what my Dr. puts all his patients on.

Lap Band Surgery Date - Feb. 24, 2012 I was just wondering if we all take the same Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements since we all have had the same surgery. I would like to compare and just see if we all are taking the same ones. This is a list of what I take everyday. 1. Multi Vitamins - chewable 1 a day adults or 2 a day childrens. 2. Calcium Supplement - 1 Tums 2x a day for total of at least 1000mg a day for 8 weeks then 1 a day. 3. Prenatal Vitamins - 1 chewable a day 4. Biotin - 2000 - 2400 mcg per day (crushed and take with applesauce) 5. Vitamin B-12 - 1000 mcg sublingual tabs 2 times a day 6. Replesta - I tablet a week for 8 weeks then 1 tablet a month (Medical Food Vitamin D3) 7. B-12 - Nasal spray one dose once a week. 8. Calcium Citrate - 2 times a day total of 1500 mg (starting April 13) 9. Protein - High protein diet and supplement at least 20 grams daily I also have to drink at least 64 oz. of water daily. ( I'm not getting enough water but trying hard) This is everything I take on a daily and weekly basis. Please respond and let me know what you all have to take. Thanks.

I had my lapband surgery on Feb. 24, 2012. My Dr. didn't put anything in my band during surgery. I had my 1st fill of 3cc's on March 14, 2012. Counting my pre-op, I have lost a total of 25 pounds so far. My next Dr's appointment is scheduled for April 18th. I am sure I will get my 2nd fill then. How are you doing with the band so far?

Mine is located about 2 inches directly above my belly button and about 1/4 inch to the right if that far.

I am 40 years old and have always been overweight. I have big bones and a large frame. I weighed about 160 when I got married back in 1989. After I had my second child, I had an allergic reaction in 1994 and the Dr's couldn't figure out what I was allergic to. I had to be put on steroids for 3 months and I gained 50 pounds from that. I was never able to loose that weight. So from there it pretty much started from 160 to 210 in 3 months. I tried and tried to loose that weight but no matter what I done the weight would not go away. I smoked from the time I got married in 1989 until Jan. 30, 2010. After I stopped smoking on Jan. 30, 2010, I gained another 40 pounds that I have not been able to loose which put me from 210 to 250 pounds. After I stopped smoking, I had to be put on blood pressure and cholesterol medication. I was diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver disease. I knew then I had to do something so I decided to go to a Bariatric Lap band Seminar at Princeton Baptist Hospital in Birmingham, AL. by Dr. Andrew Dewitt. I went to the seminar and decided that I wanted to pursue the Lap Band Surgery. I have Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama insurance and found out I had to do a 6 month diet with my family Doctor before insurance would cover my surgery. I started my 6 months diet in June and was done with it by December. I had to go through a series of different test and when those was completed and I was able to schedule a date for my surgery. I weighed 250 pounds when I started my 7 day pre-op. On Feb. 22, 2012 I went for pre-admission and weighed 242 pounds. Feb. 24, 2012 I had my lap band surgery. I went in surgery at 9:15 am and was done at 9:45 am according to my husband and mother. They was able to watch my progress on the TV monitor in the weighting room. Dr. Andrew Dewitt took my mom and husband in a room and told them how my surgery went. At 10:45 am I was in my private room and waking up. My mom and husband was already in my room when they brought me to the room. The nurse told me in 1 hour he was going to come in and get me ready to start walking. I had to walk the 4 hallways 8 times to equal 1 mile before they would let me go home. We was checking out and getting in the car by 3:00 PM. I couldn't believe how well I was doing. My throat was a little dry and I was a little sore but nothing at all like I had thought I would have been. I went to the Doctor for my 1st fill on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 and the Doctor said he put in 3 cc's. I weighed 231.5 at the doctors office Wednesday and today March 17, 2012 I weigh 229 pounds. I don't get hungry but I know I must eat protein and drink plenty of water. I think I am doing good since my surgery and I would recommend this surgery to anyone who really needs to loose weight. It is much easier than I could have ever imagined and I am well on my way to get to the weight I have always wanted to be. The only thing I must try harder doing is eating slower when I do eat. If you have any questions about the Lap band Surgery I will be happy to help in anyway that I can. My next Doctor appointment is on April 18, 2012.

Mine is doing the exact same thing and I don't know why either.

I had the Lapband Surgery on Feb. 24, 2012 and I was very nervous as well but it was nothing like I had pictured it to be. It was really easy. I went in to surgery at 9:15am and it was over at 9:45am. I was in my room at 10:45am and up walking at 11:45am. My doctor required me to walk a mile before he would release me from the Hospital. I was on my way home at 3:00pm. I was a little sore but not bad at all. I would do it again tomorrow. I wish you the best and I am sure you will do great.