katschai

I would not necessarily call them diet but Newman's Own light are not sweet at all. I "water down" the lite vinegrette with plain good quality balsamic to lighten up the calories. Good Luck.

Hi - if there are exclusions as Alexandra said it is the employer who sets those conditions. if you have not read it, below is the link to the Aetna Policy Bulletin on obesity surgery. http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0157.html But your employer can negotiate to exclude certain things. I guess your state does not have a state law about this. In Maryland obesity surgery cannot be denied maybe we are a unique state. Good Luck

Hi Starbuck - i was supervised by my PCP. Good luck

Hi - if you have suffered shoulder pain after your band procedure and wondering "what in the world?" Lots of people have addressed this but this website gives one of the nicest explanations I have read. It's an endometrosis center but abdominal surgery via lap has the basic things in common with any other lap ab surg. http://www.centerforendo.com/articles/afterthelap.htm

Hi - if you have not read it, below is the link to the Aetna Policy Bulletin on obesity surgery. http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0157.html It is the corporate Aetna policy bulletin and not unique to any plan. I guess you already had the surgeon's office call with the diagnosis and procedures codes to make sure you are covered. So here is my two cents. See policy statement for details-The 3 month is a multidisciplinary regimen and you have to diet, exercise (duh) see a nutritionist AND be in a behavior modification program by a qualified professional. The 6 month is doctor supervised and you have to diet, exercise and be "supervised" so you will need to have a lot of doctor visits to document in med record. So you need to decide which is going to be more time and $$ intensive for you. I did the 6 month. I had a print out from my workout place of everytime I was there since they scan my membership card and I gave it to my doc and it was then part of my medical record. I had food logs. She kept track of my weight. My doc was supportive and submitted required paperwork. I was approved in 48 hrs. It's not because I did the 6 month but it is because I had everything they could ever want and more. So which ever way you go just make sure everything is documented and in medical records. GOOD LUCK

Good Luck tomorrow! I was banded on Friday. Everyone's pain threshold is so different. I have a very high one so I am not a good judge. But the folks on these threads are right, drag yourself out of that hospital bed as soon as they say it is ok to do so. Move around, walk, etc. I feel good today and going to work on Thursday. I almost did not get the gasX and tums and I am glad I listened to the "wise banded ones". Best wishes!

Good Luck! I was banded on Friday and feeling pretty good. If you have read the post op threads you are probably aware of the myriad of things people experience, some universal, some unique. My only cautionary tale is, I thought my incisions would bust open watching Talk Soup on E and the Colbert Report on comedy central. Then when my husband started roaring it made me laugh even more- so- ban the laughter. Kidding of course laughter is great medicine, just have a pillow handy to hold your belly.

Hi - Thanks so much for replying to the post, the support is great. It has been a couple of days and feeling ok. I had my appendix out in Sept but this was a bit rougher. At least I knew to expect having this big bloated belly, it really freeeked me out after my appendix surgery. I hope this belly goes down quickly. Since I got home Sat. I have only needed 1 pain pill each night to help with sleeping. I can actually feel my port under my skin, i had no idea it would be so palpable and close to the skin, weird. Like everyone else belly rumbling, jumping etc, but not bad just annoying and the gasx strips do help. I have to keep reminding myself to dring slowly because like everyone else if I drink too fast it's no party. Ok is this TMI? Thanks again my new friends.

Hi - banded on Fri. 2/20 The adventure begins!

Hi - Banded on Friday at St Ag in Baltimore. Well I have considerably more soreness than with my appendectomy in Sept. I was under the delusion it would be just as easy. I actually wanted to stay overnight and heck Aetna had approved an overnight so why not. Feeling good just the usual stuff everyone mentions on this site. Kathy

Hi - wow I can hear your frustration and stress. My son had a lot of difficulties with potty training. We think he had IBS and even when he was about 12 he had a colonoscopy (everything fine.). So you need to rule out medical issues a peds gastroenterologist. And you do want to make sure everything is ok so problems do not persist. I know someone who tried an unusual technique but it worked. She was able to devote a week at home and no diaper no pants no nothing for the week, he ran around with nothing on. She said it worked. And find a mom support group for you! Good luck.

Hi - I will be banded tomorrow 4/20 in Baltimore MD. Luckily insurance will cover it. Good Luck to you!

Hi - from a Maryland Newbie -surgery April 20. Wow how exciting a baby. Sounds like you are doing well. Good Luck

Yes those Morningstar farms buffalo wings are great. I am a vegetarian (weird but true...a fat vegetarian, go figure) and eat lots of fake meat the benefit is soy high in protein. If you can tolerate the sausage, (I can't) then you will probably like this stuff its great- in the produce section is Smart Chili in pouches, wonderful.

Hello from the land of women's health care teaching - Discharge, thick, white or yellow. It's yeast. If you can eat yogurt that is great or acidophilus from health food store, they have chewable my son needed it when he was little. OTC monostat, etc. Burning on urination, frequency, urgency, weird smell. Thats a UTI and you need antibiotics and cranberry juice unsweetened. Either way, a pain in the u know where!

Hi Pansy - I would love to talk with you. If you email me at kasepva@aol.com I will email you back with my phone numbers. Singh is doing mine. I am so lucky insurance will cover it! Thanks Kathy

Hi - getting banded 4/20. I have been exercising 30-40 min 4-6 days a week since may and nothing, down a little then back up. But after reading everything I am a bit worried about not losing a significant amount of weight, since the exercise has not made any significant impact on my weight, hope the restriction does the trick. :nervousKathy

I am on tap for surgery April 20 in Baltimore MD. Starting to get the jitters..

Hi Liz - this might be a partial duplicate reply my lap top is nuts. I have Aetna QPOS point of service plan which is usually more restrictive than a PPO. I had no problems. Aetna approved me once all the paperwork was submitted, in 2 days! I had to submit all the required paperwork and if you go on the Aetna Navigator website and do a search for lapband, it will give you the link for the company info regarding policy and procedure. Primarily it was the 6 month MD supervised diet and they are very rigid about that. Good Luck!

Hi - my surgery date is 4/20/07 at St Agnes in Baltimore. Surprisingly Aetna did not even bat an eye. I fulfilled my 6 month MD supervised diet and exercise and they approved the surgery within 3-4 days of submission of records. I was scheduled for the 3rd week of March but had to change it. My docs office said they are very rigid about the MD supervised 6 months but if you do that you should be ok. good luck

Hi - eggplant is wonderful, I hope you become a fan. You should remove the skins it's really tough and although I have not had surgery yet (1 month away) I can imagine the skin would be difficult to digest. Try to buy small ones, they are not bitter. Also once you slice it sprinkle it with salt and then put in a strainer in a sink and you will see it will drain its excess water and help get bitter taste out. then rinse and dry really well before you cook it. Hum...good luck with the chips not sure how that works but I would be interested in hearing it it works.

Hi - I am having surgery on april 20. My doc is not putting me on preop liquids. Is this really odd? I might try it anyway since I am very nervous about the post op liquids, how in the world will I be able to do it. Do you have suggestions about the best protein shakes, what brands etc. I have been so fortunate my process has been so easy, its been my follow through (slow on the paperwork) that delayed anything and it was almost no delay at all. Feeling optimistic about recovery I had lap surgery for appendectomy in Sept and recovery was fast and easy, hope this goes as well. Glad to be with you!