mama angela

I drank special k Protein Drinks , hot teat, Tomato Soup, and boost Protein, and plenty of Water oh yeah progressive broth keep pushing hot liquids. I'm down 18 lbs and I'm feeling great looking forward to next week for regular food, i get my first fill February 24th hang in there you can do it.

welcome to bandster hell. of course any red blooded human would be hungry. my only suggestion is to eat as much as you are allowed. eat all the liquids your doctor suggested. and drink a lot of fluids. hot tea or coffee. you can add Protein to hot coffee if you make a paste with the Protein using Water or milk, i use the leftover coffee from morning and than add the hot coffee to it slowly. it doesnt turn the protein into yuck. take a walk, take a shower, brush your teeth. go play with your dog. i dunno. it is a very difficult part of being banded. try and stay with healthy food. good luck.

It's been 10 days since my surgery. I have lost a total of 12.2 lbs. seems fast to me. I'm not complaining but it makes me worry that it's too fast... I don't know. I know it's easier in the beginning to lose because "heavier people lose quicker" but wow that's quick! I have it set in my head for some reason that I won't believe it's working until I lose 25 lbs... Because that would be a weight that I haven't seen for 2 years. 12.8 lbs until that small goal is reached. Hoping I make that by the end of the month! This is so wild though... I'm melting

I have been using a cpap for 10 years now. Couldn't sleep without it. Since I have lost some weight I have lowered my pressure some with the docs approval. When I think I can get off of it I will have another sleep study to be sure. Why? Because heart attacks and strokes suck.

I am on a CPAP machine now -- love/hate relationship. Sounds like you need one quick, regardless of whether it's only temporary. Could change -- or save -- your life. I hope to get off mine once banded and weight comes off but I had sleep issues as a thinner person so I don't know if that will be possible. All I know is my machine allows me to get into a deep sleep. There's nothing like it.

When everyone says it is hard work, I would like to know exactly what is so hard about this WLS......don't get me wrong, there is a phase that was very difficult for me, but after that it has been all as easy as can be!!!!
So, I hear it all the time how much hard work this takes...tell me, and others...what do you find so hard???
Like I said, there is an aspect that is difficult....but it is not the entire journey!!
Green Zone:
No Hunger, No Cravings, Head Hunger a thing of the past.......24 hrs a day.....Check!
Portion sizes under control, unable to over eat without adverse side effects...Check!
Steady and consistent weight loss till there was no weight left to loose...Check!
NO Counting Calories, NO weighing or measuring potions....Check!
Does not matter if I am at work, a party, large holiday dinner, vacation, whatever...it is always the same, the band does not change because of where I'm at or what food is available...... so there are no boobie traps or "Falling off the wagon" episodes.....
It can't get any easier than That!!! Can it?
Don't sell the band short!!!
There was a difficult period, but I wonder what everyone else is finding so difficult....then I will share what I found difficult...but I was able to work through it.....

Just to play devil's advocate (please don't flame me) but the band really does make this all possible--for me.
I'm not good at following diets, I'm rebellious, can't have a scale around or it sends me into a crazy binge state, i get obsessive, etc.... Honestly, if I could have done all this by dieting without having surgery I would have!!! So I don't quite understand all of you who are losing weight by sheer force of will and working so hard... I wish I were like you!!!
I guess I'm just thankful that the band is helping me lose weight without having to work that hard. I show up for fills and eat healthy 50-60% of the time, and I did the pre-op diet without cheating, but that's about it. I'm sure as I get closer to goal I'll have to try harder, but so far this is kinda like a dream for me...

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I've posted here but I wanted to share my one year bandiversary pictures! I can't believe I've been on this journey for a year already. No regrets, I would do it all again in a second! I still continue to lose weight, and I don't have any particular stopping point in mind. I plan on just going with the flow until my body tells me it's at it's comfort zone. I feel great and am just loving life everyday. I can't believe the difference in my confidence, I feel like I'm finally the person I was meant to be.

Before:


After:




Progress:

In my line of work (I'm an RN) we only get 30min for lunch and if you don't pack your lunch, you spend 10to 15 min standing in line just to get your food. Sometimes I eat in the cafeteria if I know they are going to have fish or I forgot to pack my own. For the longest time I had to eat alone because I couldn't behave myself and slow down or I would try to eat and talk. I felt myself slip back into my old habits of eating fast and talking and did get something stuck while sitting with a coworker. It is actual work to retrain myself and s-l-o-w down and chew my food! A fellow coworker who also had the lapband said when you do that, you can actually enjoy what your eating! I don't know how I feel about some saying they haven't told people about their surgery except that this is your journey and its your right not to tell anyone. For me, it helps with my accountability that people know; if I don't tell anyone I could sneak food, eat the wrong things and no one would say anything because they DIdnt know. I may not be as focused as I should. I could see myself doing that. But I work in a same day surgery unit where my surgeon works and does lapbands so that would be a little hard to hide from coworkers. Some people don't have supportive friends or family and look at you like "geez can't she just hop on the treadmill and lose it?" I am ready to deal with those people; I don't look at it as a failure to lose weight on my part by choosing the lapband. I look at it as me taking control of my health and realizing that what works for one person may not work for another and that's ok. I DID SOMETHING about my health, am still motivated and actually got some lab work done today as follow up from my family doctor, and I'm no longer prediabetic! My fasting blood sugar is 96! That is why I did the lapband- to improve my health. If you don't want to tell anyone that is your right to do so and nobody should judge you- if they say something about how slow your eating, just tell them you had some dental work done! Keep going and good luck! One last note....if others know you may actually inspire someone else when they see how great your doing!

I especially love this comment. I think I knew it all along but denial helped me avoid facing my addictions. Do you also find that foods that you used to love now taste bland? I once loved hamburger helper doctored up with fried onion crisps, jalapenos and extra cheese. I had it about a month ago and ugh! Not going back to that again. Back to Salmon and salad. tmf

Not sure if any of the local media outlets there has a consumer advocate, but that might be a good angle. I have seen a couple of stories on the local TV about insurance companies having a change of heart when faced with potential negative media coverage.

If the NUT is on his staff, even as a contract employee, it should be valid. It sounds like your insurance company is trying to weasel out of paying. I'd fight this tooth and nail, and the people on your doctor's billing dept. who deal with insurance claims should be stepping up to help you win this appeal. With your health problems this denial is criminal.

Thanks! The nurse here at work wants me to file and expideted (Sp?!) appeal. She said I need to get hold of the doctor and the team (nurse, nutritionist and physical therapist) and have a copy of all their files and then resubmit with the appeal. I'm going to see if I can get all that paperwork together and try that.
I'm told we have an insurance liasion - so if the appeal doesn't work I can try that. I can't believe what a hassle this is. I am WAY overweight...have been for years. I've tried Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, Diet pills, Medifast, HCG...you name it. I also have high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetics.....arthritis in my knees...etc. You would think insurance would do anything possible to help me get this weight off.

Does your company use an insurance broker? I'd find out who they are end explain the situation and see what they can do to help you. Our company uses a rocker for our health insurance. When I had a problem for something non band related I called them and explained my situation. They then called the insurance and were like an advocate for me and got their decision reversed. It's a good start and a good resource to use if it is available to you. Worth checking out before spending money on an attorney.

Have your attorney contact them. Bastards!

I agree with others about the Peer review. That being said, all the people you did see are part of the same practice as your surgeon correct? I went to a center of excellence where all the resources are under one roof. I met my Doctor once during the 6 month monitored diet. Like you I saw the Nurse, mental health counselor, and Nut. for most of that time.
This definitely sounds like a proper documentation issue that your Center needs to straighten out for you. I was denied on day 2 of submitting because they did not get all the desired docs and they had my DOB wrong. Paperwork showed I was 17. LOL Once they straightened out those details I was approved two days later.
Stick with it and don't give up and talk to your doctors and ask them to advocate on your behalf.

Don't know where you are located, but I was self-pay through True Results. They also offer financing.
My band was the best $10K I spent on myself.
Good luck to you.

I'd wait for the peer to peer and if that is denied then appeal, then a doctor to doctor review can be done, then if that fails do an appeal to the insurance commission in your state.
hope this helps

Yesterday was my 6month Surgiversary. I am proud to say that my total weight loss is 41lbs. Yes,I felt I should have lost a little more, but I'm still a work in progress. I'm excited about this journey, because it only gets better. The Lapband has given me a new lease on life. Im loving the idea of buying new clothes, especially SKINNY JEANS!!!! I started at size 18/20, now I'm in between size 12/14. My confidence has been boosted by the many complements that I have received. Thanks to you guys who always show me continued support.

Congrats!!!! You can do it!!!

I had a hernia repaird and the band put on yesterday morning. My doctor likes his patients to stay the night so I got to go home a few hours ago. I have been SO sleepy. Can only keep my eyes open 20-30mins. before I fall back asleep. Had a somewhat of a difficult time in the hospital. You don't understand how much you use your abdomnial muscles until you can't use them. As far as being at home I've been switching from the bed, to the recliner, to the couch. Trying to get comfortable. I have five incisions on my belly. They look pretty bruised and swollen but that will go away in a few days. I know it's going to be a long and difficult recovery but I CAN do it!

I would probably appeal their decision, which will force them to take a closer look at it. Did a doctor sign off on the nurse visits? Maybe submit the doctor's letter with your appeal letter. Good luck!!

You can definitely change surgeons and I think you're wise to.
Unfortunately a lot of surgeons try to steer patients away from the Lap Band because it isn't the money maker that Gastric Bypass or the Sleeve is. You need to be comfortable with your surgeon because you're going to have a long relationship with them.
As far as switching, all you have to do is sign the medical release forms to transfer your records to the new surgeon. They can't deny you this, by the way. It is your legal right to do so.
As far as weight loss with the band, how much you lose is entirely up to you. I've lost 196 pounds in 14 months and I'm still losing. That is 75% of my excess body weight. I have no doubt I'll lose the rest, too. Don't let anyone tell you can't lose all the weight you need with the band because you most certainly can.
Best wishes.

That is so true!!! I have a friend...who is thin/normal. I keep remembering from one time when we were talking. She said she didn't understand how people could eat a whole bag of chips or Cookies or.... She said it is meant to be a snack and the servicing size says ">>>"...why would people eat more? Hmmm...never dawned on me to eat the serving size. I asked her if it filled her up...she said no...but it's enough. Goes to show how my thinking has been off...