PandorasBox92264

I used to live in Levittown, PA right up the street from you. But I am back in California now... hope you are doing well. I had my surgery at Jeanes Hospital in Philly Dr Kowalski who is no longer there but practicing in Kansas.

If you already have a band, then most likely IF there is an emergency or something needs to happen with it your insurance should cover it. Do you have a plan now? Keep up insurance if you do and make sure that it doesn't lapse, I think generally if you have been covered on a constant basis then the pre exisiting thing is waved. Worst case if you do not have insurance and have a major issue you can go into a county facility or.. if you go to the ER then they need to stabilize you... but like was mentioned.. don't think negative your profile says you just had it put in and your on an adjustment period.

You need to be able to get your nutrition in which is why they say usually take 20-30 minutes to eat. You want to be able to chew, chew, chew so you do not have large chunks going down. If you eat fast or not chew well, you can get stuck, end up with the PB's (productive burps), throw up, and the one I think I hate the most is where your mouth feels like you have a hose filling it up with fluid until you get unstuck (sliming). Getting things stuck is not pleasant, it is a fact of the band when your not paying attention. You want to take it slow with foods as well, because something might agree with you one day then it might not another. It can also vary with each fill that you get and it can cause you to have the above symptoms. Things like weather, stress, water retention etc can also affect the tightness of the band. Honestly it will most likely be trial and error when you first start. At hardly any restriction it might not cause you any problems but when you get filled and start to feel a restriction then is where most of this stuff can happen.

We are nuts for bison meat and get the Organic ground bison. You can make burgers/tacos/chili and it is very good and lower fat. Here is a link to nutritional value. http://jlbison.com/recipes.html

Hi Polly, Sorry about your loss too! It is very difficult at times but one has to move on! My last fill was I think late June 09 and I ended up having some backed out late July because I had some issues, I was actually over 7cc in the band, they removed a little over 1cc in the band to bring me down to 6cc. This fill was first since June of 09 and they put me up to right at 7cc, it was a but of a shock to say the least and I had to re-learn quickly some of the things that I forgot. I would have a bit of restriction at times with some things, prior to the fill but for the most part none. It seemed to hit when I was stressed or early am etc. So, I am happy that I got a new fill and have another appointment July 12th for a check up, to see where I am at, check my Water level etc.. see how it goes... I started to feel so much better within two days and I can feel and see the difference!

Well... What makes you think the lube was for her? It might be for use on him, the ole girl might have a strapon hanging around in the closet, a toy, some surgical gloves! He/she could use it to masterbate! Alot of lubes will state it is for anal use but it can be used vaginally too! She might have a problem with lubrication etc.. so it can have alot of uses. It is also good for use IF she had kinky clothing like latex/rubber.. I was in a store with a friend of mine that wanted to try on a rubber dress. They actually gave us a bottle of lube and I had to help her lubricate herself to slip into the outfit. Kinda like squeezing meat into a sausage casing, but we got her into the dress which looked like it was going to rupture at any moment... sigh Just some thoughts.. grin

It is never too late to get back on the wagon! I was banded 9.08 and lost about 53 lbs after surgery. I had to go through losing my job at the end of September, went back to school fulltime, lost my Mom to Cancer, got a divorce then decided to move back to California where I am from. I had in the few years before my surgery had lost my Father to a Cardiac Arrest, went through my sisters suicide attempt (caused by death of our father and she was told she couldn't have babies) She got pregnant less than 2 months after the attempt, then I had to deal with Mom's surgery for cancer and (complications for Mom and and emergency c-section for sis on the same day) FUN stuff!! I opted to have some fluid removed from band due to losing insurance and not having doctors in CA that I could see. I gained 48 of the 53 lbs back in the three years I have not been seeing a band doc. I got my new fill finally two and a half weeks ago. I had to learn fast how to eat again! Keep going and just jump on the wagon... see the doc.. get a fill.. forgive yourself! I started to notice a difference in a couple days after the refill... Keep a good protein shake on hand! I would try to get into the doctor and check into a fill... I believe they have seen it all!!! They didn't even bat the eyes when I told them where I was for 3 years... the main thing is I'm back!!

I was banded Sept 08 lost about 53 lbs then had fluid removed due to divorce/losing insurance and moving across country. i was in the restriction zone, but didn't want to have issues driving across country and having my band empty by ER on some small town somewhere. I have gained about 48 lobs of it back over 3 years. I went and got another fill two weeks ago and on the losing side of it now, I had to forgive myself and relearn how to eat again. It is likely that what you were ok with initially has settled, you could have a minor leak, and probably need a fill again. My suggestion is to try to get in asap and see them about doing a fill. Have your primary care Doctor do a referral to a bariatric doc to check the band and make sure it is in place and for a fill. My insurance covered this, and hopefully ours will too. They did make me have an upper GI to verify placement etc. Try to do it as soon as you can so that you can nip it in the bud. Good luck!

My Father died suddenly of Cardiac Arrest while sleeping Dec 22nd 2005, then My Mother was diagnosed with Colon Cancer Sept 2007. I had to do some flying in between and frankly was just thankful I didn't have to use a seatbelt extender. Heart, High BP, Diabetes, Arthritis all run in my family and I decided to do it for health reasons. i did a backslide when I left the ex husband and decided to move back to California. I had a partial unfill becuse I was at a pretty tight restriction and didn't want to run the risk of needed and ER visit to get fluid backed out while traveling cross country. I gained weight back but finally got in for a refull a little over two weeks ago. I am back on the track again and not planning on moving out of state, and not planning on letting this go the wayside. I feel so much better in the short weeks and weight is coming off. If you backslide, get right back up and head in the right direction. Forgive yourself and move forward because. I know I am!

I just pack up things and take them home! Went to a restaurant last week and ordered 10oz filet mignon vs the 5 oz one. I only ate a bit off the meat, little bit of potato and had a bit of salad then packed it all up and took it home. Hubby and I split a full 5oz one and half of the potato left over, and then we split the balance meat/potato the next day at lunch. So we actually got 4 meals out of 10oz steak and potato meal. We usually don't really hit up buffets or anything like that unless we absolutely have to because of who we are with. I have found that we both get gastric issues if we go and he is not even banded nor does he need to be. So we figure we really don't know who sneezes on things or fondles the food etc..lol.. and frankly alot of the stuff isn't that good for you anyway. We decided if we are going to eat things that are not so great for us make it something that we REALLY want vs just stuff that is there. He is doing the more small meals a day and splits a burger/sandwich/chicken breast with me so he feels better about eating lesser portions. It keeps me from overdoing it and he feels better too! One thing is interesting when the waitresses see you only eat a small portion I have been asked if everything is ok! I just reply that everything was good and I am taking the rest home. I only felt I think on one or two occassions that I said I have a band so I don't eat alot. It is interesting how you view your plate now vs pre band... how large the portions really are.

I have health net COBRA currently and had my band placed by BCBC in PA in 08. For Health Net I got a referral from my primary care provider to a local doctor that I had chosen here in Palm Springs which Health net denied, BUT they referred me to Dr Peter Leport's office in Fountain Valley, CA so that I could have the band checked and get fills. We had to make a two hour drive for the appt each way, but all I had to pay was a 35.00 co-payment! The approval for them to do this only took a couple of days. I even had to have a upper GI to make sure the placement I have Desert Oasis here in Palm Springs and I had no idea that they would have a central doctor all the way up there that would be in the Network. I think but not sure if it is just that office for Desert Oasis Network or for all of Health Net's patients in Southern California. My suggestion is to call up their office 866-731-1235 and ask the person who handles Insurance if there are specific plans that cover it vs not covering it. I am on a 5SQ plan that covered the fills and it is an ***. It is called one of the Silver plans. If you have a Doctor in Mind you can also call them up and see what they say about Health Net and what plans cover. I know this practice is very large with alot of Doctor's in it and PA's. I saw Dr. Kelly Francis and she was very nice and so was everyone in the office. You might be able to also call Health Net to ask when you get your paperwork for joining as well or look up the Provider list. Hope that helps some!

Your not alone, I was banded 9/08 lost my job a few weeks later. I then went back to school full time, lost my Mother to Cancer, followed by leaving my ex husband and filing for divorce that all happened in the 6 months post op. I chose to have a partial unfill because I decided to move back to calif and I was borderline (not sure if I had too much restriction) and didn't want a ER doc if I encountered trouble on the drive cross country to unfill me all the way. I gained some back, however not quite all of it and had another fill just over 2 weeks ago. My new insurance covered it, and I also had to have an Upper GI to make sure the place. I am now at 7cc in my band which is a 10cc band. I had to learn fast how to get back into the proper eating mode of chewing and taking things slow. I would venture to say that there are alot of people out there watching and wondering about what to do. It is good that you posted and I am sure more will come out of the woodwork. So I am starting up again and it is going good, it is scary to go back into that thought process of having to cut the ties with food. I had the dreaded thought of 'what did I do" mourning about the death of my friend food. I shook that off and already feel MUCH better and started to notice a difference in my clothes within two days. I am back on a roll! We are not perfect, this is a tool, we will make some bad choices here and there. Forgive yourself and move forward is the best advice that I can give.

I have told and haven't told friends or people that I have gone out with. My hubbyish/domestic partner boyfriend and love of my life now, I just asked him about it. I did tell him when we were getting to know each other, but he actually didn't give it much thought. I had had Fluid backed out to 6cc so I didn't have major restriction when we moved in together. I finally had a refill to 7cc a couple weeks ago and he went with me to the appt and actually went into the room with me when I had it done. It was freaky for me initially because I never had anyone go in with me, and he was sweet and stood away while the nurse weighed me. However they did blurt it out, and deep down that old feelings like in school of them weighing you in gym class kinda freaked me out a bit. He is very supportive, and said really it is not something that really matters or that needs to be disclosed. You might want to if things get serious or if you are having stuck issues or PBing times. Everyone I have ever disclosed it to it has not mattered one bit. One of the questions that I did ask the surgeon and he laughed was can the port area be damaged during sex or will it cause me to spring a leak. He started to grin and said No.. it is very stable and you can get crazy and it will be fine! The scars I have found heal up and are not noticeable... Mike also says that he doesn't notice the scars and cannot feel the port... he said you have to really really look for it and feel around like your looking for a spleen or something! So relax..and have a good time!

I had BCBS when I had the surgery done. I was told by my Dr Office that with the numbers I had that my plan did not deny lap bands and were one of the easiest to get approved. It seemed like it took forever for me to get an answer! Ask the person in the office who handles insurance and they can tell you if they are having problems with approvals or not. Just call and ask, if you get someone that doesn't seem to know where to look then ask for a supervisor. I was in the PA/NJ area when I had that insurance plan.

I had surgery 9/08 and every once in awhile I get a twinge here and there in the area around the port. I think it could be related to how the port was secured and nerves etc. I also sometimes get what feels like a charlie horse in the area of my port, the same type of cramp you get in calves when one is dehydrated. Of all things it can come on during sex or if I stretch a certain way lol...go figure (so I try to keep hydrated) But I have found that I lay back, make sure to drink alot of fluid and maybe even eat a banana, it will go away. I had one about a month ago that lasted off and on about an hour!!! I drank, and put a heating pad on it to relax the area. I know my band is fine, i just had an upper GI and a new fill two weeks ago.

I know that feeling and as we lose weight sometimes the bra styles we liked no longer do what we need them to do. I even went with Wacoal bras for awhile then POOF they didn't seem to do much for me but they last for AGES>EVERYTHING was flattening me and smooching my boobs!!!! I would take a look at Macy's if you have one near you, they usually have someone on staff that can measure you properly and they almost always have a sale on bras! I switched over to a Vanity Fair bra that my sister turned me onto... she had gastric bypass and swore by them! Vanity Fair model 75243, it is nylon spandex bra with underwire and they have some cool smoother fabrics too. It also has cush on it so you cannot see through and you don't poke out through your shirts, they are really comfy too even with underwire. You can get them at Kohl's and Macy's or usually anywhere they have Vanity Fair. We are about the same bra size and it just might work for you. I usually find them on sale for 18.00 and sometimes less! They also wash well, and do not lose their shape easily.

I was banded 9/08 back east and was going great for awhile. I lost the job right after the band, went back to school fulltime, lost Mom to cancer then left my now ex husband in 8 months post surgery. I still lost some after the fact but got down to a 16 close to a 14 from a 22/24. I then decided to move back to California and had a little over 1cc removed from my band because i was losing insurance (and my plan covered PA/NJ and was on the edge figuring out if I was too tight. I didn't want to end up in the ER on my cross country drive to move here and have everything taken out due to lack of knowledge. My cobra plan I have now after losing a job in December again due to the economy, did cover me to get an Upper GI and go see a bariatric doctor who is 2 hours away. That is fine, I will do the drive and I got my new fill so i am up to 7cc in my 10cc band and I have good restriction again. I started to notice the difference in a couple of days and seeing the pounds drop on the scale. I did backslide due to having fluid removed, but went up to a 18 or 20 in some things, however not fully into what I was at or weight. I figured it is what it is, I did what I had to or felt was right at the time. Now I am back!!! My boyfriend/domestic partner is extremely supportive and tries to figure out ways to help and loves to cook! But he tries to follow my diet and we split chicken or meat dishes. He knows the cup of food idea and when he cooks keeps my food amount at what I am supposed to have. So I am really lucky with the support I have. He has seen me thrust into learning how to eat AGAIN after the fill and the chew, chew chew, and had to go through a couple of PB episodes in the week following my fill when I took a large vitamin and it got stuck. So it is a journey and I am back!!! I have been coming here almost on a daily basis or if I need to work through a thought process or way of thinking and it helps. I am not thinking I was a failure at it but I had a Life detour. Now I am back on the path!

Also when you get to a point you can eat beef, I would suggest sticking to the better cuts of meat. I have found that if I do eat steak I have to keep it to a filet mignon or Rib Eye. I even had issues pre band with NY, T bones etc.. I rarely eat ground beef, but we use Orgainic ground Bison instead which is a good way to make a burger or chili etc.

We are able to feel our ports when we touch our tummy. You possibly might be able to notice it more because maybe the swelling has gone down and you probably have taken off some around the midsection. I would check your temperature to see if you have a fever, were you able to eat without any problems? Are you drinking enough fluid? You also might be putting yourself into a panic attack or hyper ventalating because of nerves. i am healed up but if I do not get enough water i will get like a charlie horse around the left side near my port area. I have had it last awhile but I drink, drink, drink! Check your skin press down and see if it stays light colored that you might be dehydrated a bit. I cannot feel my tubing, but Like I said I can feel the port, you also might be feeling scar tissue forming vs the tubing. It was an odd feeling when I felt what it was like having a foreign object inside. Hopefully it helps some!

It will get better you guys!! Hang in there and as it heals it will start to feel better. You will swell up inside and also have gas pains due to the surgery. The feeling of 'oh no what did I do' will go away also and keep thinking positive. I was banded in 9/08 and had the same feelings, thoughts etc.. I went through a divorce and had fluid backed out still some restriction but not full 7/09 due to losing my divorce/losing insurance and was moving back to california. I gained some back but not all and finally got my first fill 2 weeks ago since then so I am on the process of new restriction after all this time. I had to go through the process of learning how to eat, chew chew chew and had a few issues with the PBing and getting a bit stuck, because of the fill you swell a bit inside. I found that when you get filled try to relax your tummy muscles, warm tea or drink helps me loosen up in the morning so I don't have issues. Many of us have bands that will not quite wake up first thing in the morning! For me I have always had to do some things to warm up before I grab food. Drink that fluid, keep hydrated and the negative feelings will pass as you start to notice changes in your clothes. Within days I found my body reacting differently, and can see changes in body parts. I found a warm bottle/pad seemed to help me to move excess gassy spots or when you get pain from them.. maybe lean against it to relax..

The Doctors names did not appear on your post! So, that will limit who will respond..just a fyi

I think the majority of us, maybe not all of us.. I am not going to assume here have felt that way. I remember waking of thinking 'what the heck have I done.' For many when we are sad, happy, as a reward etc we have gone to food to satisfy or make us comfy and happy. You probably have some residual air and bloating from the surgery, so when you start to notice the difference in your clothing it will go away. You will notice you have more energy, more active, not so tired, skin looks better and the list goes on. It is your inner sabatoge system that is working on you at the moment so just realize it for what it is and post if your scared or nervous. It is a tool as I am sure you have read before, it is not a quick fix and we are all in the same boat because of our love affair with food. Just get the protein down, drink your fluids, read through these posts to help you toss off the Buyers Remorse!

Your overthinking things, all the what if etc. Sounds like your on the bootie call backburner. Date with who you want, do what you want and don't worry about the what IF's. If he calls, he calls then go from there! However my suggestion is next time get his number and if you want it, when I was single ANY bootie call I had would have to be available for my call as well, not just wait for theirs. Be proactive if that is what your seeking! Good possibility he is attached to someone else (to what degree I don't know) if he didn't give you his number. Don't worry people do not get bothered by you telling them "they rocked your world"!!!!

I am going to put my quarter in this vs just two cents. I have been into BDSM all my life to various degrees and also have worked as a Professional/Lifestyle Dominatrix back east in the Tri-State area. I moved back to Southern California from the Philadelphia area because this is where I am from. I can tell you stories of both Men and Women who will not own up to their own sexuality/desires/fetishes etc. I have not read the book 50 shades of Gray, however one of my girlfriends just got it last night. I also write erotica and do not have any problem expressing my desires or wants to my husband. The lifestyle is accepting to all sizes and shapes of men or women. If you go to any of the bondage clubs that are around in the tri-state area you can find others that have the same interest as you do. There are websites for meeting others interested as well. I cannot tell you how many people I have counseled on ways to speak of their desires to their mates. Both men and women have these desires but due to family backgrounds, religious backgrounds, past experiences etc they will not speak of it. Many people hide their feelings in shame vs talking about it. I will also state that not all women are submissive and there are people who also have the ability or desire to switch and be either Dominant or submissive and it can be situational due to many reasons. What I have found to be the primary reason for most women to hide their inner freak is fear of judgment. I have in the past been open about my sexuality and desires and I do not have a problem owning them! I have dated men that wanted to get their freak on, purchase the items, actually suggest scenarios etc.. Later to be told that I was basically a (insert W term for Hooker) for even doing that to them, when they are the one that wanted it. Luckily I kept my sanity, know where I am, what I am about and moved on. I will tell you that there are TONS of men and women all over that are living that life on a daily basis. You just are not looking in the right places... the fruit is ripe for the picking for both men and women. Go to a BDSM club, a munch, one of the online sites, there are events all the time in the tri-state area.

Your on your pre op diet, please try try try to NOT eat that taco. The basis is to get the size of your liver down, and if you keep with the diet you should be fine for them to do the surgery. Think of how you will feel if they open you up/ then close you right up because your liver did not shrink in size! Think of those feelings vs what the couple minutes of the taco heaven is like! After your banded and on regular food, then give the taco a whirl if you really want it. That is my suggestion.