ladybug97

I just had a fluro on monday and my doc discovered a small slip too. No liguid diet but he took all of my fill out (10cc. in my 14cc. band). I will go back in three weeks and they will do an x-ray. If the band has readjusted itself, they will put the fill back in.

I have been experiencing almost the same thing! Does anyone know if stress can effect the band? I have been under a huge amount of pressure at work for the last few weeks and wonder if that is the problem.

I have BCBS of Illinois too! I simply had my PCP fax my weight record dating back 24 months to BCBS. Then, I had to be on a weight loss plan for six months, which the Weight Loss Center Supervised and documented for me. I was initially bummed about having to wait six whole months, but the time really did fly by.

Hang in there Sandy, you are doing great! I am a year and a half past surgery and still sometimes see myself at 298lbs. It is a head game, one that still beats me, sometimes. Keep up the great work. Trust me, it is worth it!

Are you reffering to Deaconess WLS?

I have heard that if you freeze those yogurt whips, they taste amazing. I haven't tried it yet but it sounds like a great way to get an ice cream fix AND protein at the same time.

I was banded at the end of March and have been doing great. Just this week I have noticed that after eating I have a really dull ache in my upper back. It is bad enough that I have to sit down on a heating pad for awhile. Now I am wondering if it is due to the band. I am planning to call my doc on Monday but thought that I would post here too. Is it possible that I am eating too much? Too fast? Has this happened to anyone else.

BCBS counted mine as June =1, July = 1, ect. After the six months, everything went through really quick. They have paid what they said that they would too. THe six month issue was my only snag.

My situation was really similar. I had eight months of WW and BCBS of IL wouldn't let me count any of it. I had to start over because I wasn't seeing a doctor for weight loss each month in addition to the WW.

I am in Illinois (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) and was approved the first time that my surgeon submitted the claim. I agree with the first poster...it really depends on the insurance plan.

I am in the same boat, but my first fill isn't until the 8th of May! I haven't gained but haven't lost either.

GNC sells them. They really do the trick if you can't stand the taste of most protein supplements.

My little sis is a surgical nurse and told me that the shoulder pain is common in laproscopic procedures. I am almost two weeks out and still have the shoulder tightening every once in a while.

My meltdown occured over a whelchair. My witch of a nurse actually wheeled in an extra small wheelchair and tried to fit my big ass in it. Turns out it was a "child" sized wheelchair that should not have even been on that floor!

I feel like I am losing my mind! I am currently on day five of a fourteen day liquid pre-op diet. I have had nothing but Optifast shakes, sugar-free Jello and broth. Well, I did "cheat" last night at my mom's house. I sneaked one chunk of tomato out of a salad when no one was looking. Anyway, I find myself thinking of food alot, especially cheese! eggs with cheese, popcorn with cheese, mashed potaoes with cheese! I think that I could be convinced to eat my own hand if it had a slice of colby-jack melted on it!!!! Is this a bad sign, that I won't be able to break the hold that food has on me, or just a natural process that we all go through?:thumbup:

Thanks. My pre-op food list only contains optifast, sugar free jello and broth. Sugar free popsicles are on my post-op list but not pre-op. I will definatly ask why at my appointment with the surgeon before surgery this friday.

I have BC/BS too. My policy states that the six months of supervised diet can be WW, jenny Craig, etc. Well, once doc submitted the letter of medical necessity along with my six months of WW documentation BC/BS said that the six months of supervised diet with WW HAD to be accompanied with six months of dr. visists regarding my weight loss efforts too. So basically, I would have had to pay for six months of WW and pay to see the doc at the same time. Luckily they submitted the letter soon enough that I didn't have to re-do the entire six month process. I chose not to do the WW at all, just stick with the dr visists. They submitted again after six months and I was approved. Now I am just waiting for a date. THe only advice that I can give you is to keep your head up. The six months seemed like a lifetime for me too, but it is worth it.

Can those of you who have already been banded tolerate oatmeal? I have seen a lot of lists that include cream of wheat but nothing about oatmeal. Is it too "sticky"? :hungry:

Gastric Sleeve Operation (link) The gastric sleeve operation is available as a gastric restrictive procedure and has all the disadvantages of such procedures, in that it only restricts solid foods to some extent and not liquids. The stomach remaining will gradually stretch and permit larger meals. In addition there is no band or other permanently restrictive device. For these reasons it should probably be reserved for the treatment of truly massive individuals (500 to 600 lbs. or more) as a first stage of a BPD (bilio-pancreatic diversion) or its modification, the duodenal switch, or possibly a gastric by-pass, in cases where it would be too dangerous or difficult to perform the secondary or main operation in one stage. For experienced bariatric surgeons it should rarely be necessary to perform a gastric bypass in 2 stages.

I had a really good visit today with my doc. Insurance has been approved, I recieved my pre-op testing orders and a price list for Optifast (2 week liquid diet required). I just have to lose five more pounds before I can be scheduled to see the surgeon. I cannot wait! Anyone else here from Deaconess Weight Loss Solutions in Evansville, IN?

Thanks for the reply. I am THRILLED! I could live on oatmeal if I had too. Do you have to thin it down or can you tolerate it at a pretty thick consistency? :bounce:

I know that this is going to sound weird but trust me IT WORKS. Get down on your hands and knees and put your butt up in the air. The gas will pass and you will fee SO much better. I am still waiting for my band date but years ago after I delevered my twins I had terrible gas pains....they were almost worse than the contractions. The butt in the air was the only thing that worked.

Hey Liz I am in the same situation right now. I have done everything and my insurance company, BlueCross/BlueShield of IL, requested a five year weight history. Now I wait. It is really hard to keep up the motivation becasue I really have been working hard and am worrying that the process may have come to a screeching hault. I am trying to stay motivated becasue WHEN they call and tell me that I have been approved I want to be on track. Hang in there, I know EXACTLY how you feel. LeAnn:rain:

Whisk together one package of fat free/sugar free instant vanilla pudding mix and one can of evaporated skimmed milk. Place in the fridge for five minutes to soft set. Then, beat in one 15 oz. can of pure pumpkin and one tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice. Spoon into bowls or ramkins, top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of fat frr cool whip and refridgerate for at least 10 more minutes. makes six 1/2 cup servings (each serving is 1.5 weight watcher points). It tastes WONDERFUL!:hungry:

<p>I just posted one similar to this. I use evaporated skimme4d milk instead of the regular milk. 1.5 weight watcher points per 1/2 cup serving.</p>