VegasGrace

Well, wanted to share...complications. Anything directly related to the appliance itself I'm sure they won't cover...however, things like having something stuck in your esophogas and you have to go to GI, go under, and have it retrieved...they will pay. Become malnourished and need potassium or other suppliments...they will pay. But something like a flipped port, slipped band, leaks....nah, they won't pay. Good luck!

Welcome to Travel.State.Gov is where you can find your answer. CURRENTLY: U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (available in spring 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (:shades_smile: a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. LATER: As early as June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.

Good for you! When I decided on the Lapband, I took a week or two to interview surgeons. Once I decided on that...my surgery was in a few weeks, too. Could have been sooner but I had to make arrangements for my three children (am single parent) Congrats!

The Excalibur roundtable buffet will give you the kids price if you can show documentation of the band..... don't need a card just anything from your records. I plan to bring a copy of my discharge papers. The one w/o much info on it...just has my name and that I was banded. Yep...I won't have to pay $16.99. Only $14.99. hahahahah yeppers, 2 bucks off. So not worth it! A courtesy is a courtesy and if it's bound by red tape such as requiring documentation...then it's not a courtesy, is it?

Well, been hearing about a Vegas trip....and it doesn't seem like it's happening. Am off to Vegas this weekend, will leave Friday. Staying on the Fremont dinner Friday night will be at Arizona Charlie's off to the Excalibur then to the Stratosphere tower El Cortez for the trolly to First Friday Then Fremont Experience til I get too tired. Saturday is Breakfast at the Orleans followed by a beauty package. Then lunch at the Suncoast then to the Venetian for the Grand Canal Shops. Then a makeover at 2 then more shopping. Dinner at Margaritaville then the Masquerade show at the Rio, followed by the Bellagio for the garden, chocolate fountain, and water show. Then back to the hotel. I plan to bring straws and a 'cup' in my bag to carry with me throughout the day. Plenty of napkins...just in case. I'm sure I'll have fun at the buffets but know if I eat more than 3-5 bites I'll be sliming it up. Y'all if you are in Vegas this weekend let me know. I'd love to meet another bandster.

I'm a tad lost...but I'm with the other poster. Termination just means ended. Doesn't mean kicked out. So why can't you terminate? Seems HR was just saying you couldn't be double insured. So....don't be! But ask HR again ....they will be up front w/ you if you need a termination letter or just something showing when the coverage ended. Could be more simple than you think.

Saw my primary care for the first time since being banded...yeah, a long time ago was my last appt. Anyways, was told a study was just published showing people with diabetes even though they didn't meet ins. requirements for lapband...when they had the band their diabetes either got more manageable w/o all the heavy drugs, or stopped the progression, etc. To me that was a no brainer. Many of the illnesses an overweight person has can be cured w/ weight loss.

If you keep it up you will lose weight. For the first 2-3 weeks of this your body has gone into survivor mode and won't let you ...but after that....you will. About a pound or two a week. After about 6-8 weeks you will begin malnutriton starting with a potassium deficiency. Not to worry as drinking fruit juices...sipping on them all day...will ward that off. Once you reach goal, get an unfill. But...if you don't like this idea, get a slight unfill. Get to the point where you lose weight by dieting...as in changing your food types along with the quantity as the band will do that for you. Good luck.

No, not a bit.

protocol is if you had 2cc and you go in for a fill but only have 1 cc... bring you back to 2cc and then give you a fill of .5 or whatever. Fluid loss is common and once it reappeared on the next fill....don't have any clue how that happened.

Sorry, it came across wrong. I meant the MDs that do it in Vegas...they may can provide leads for seminar guests, freebies from drug companies, provide all sorts of things for a gathering such as this. You never know...they may be trying to get something in the works as Lapband is so popular now.

Chew the pills....even those that aren't meant to be chewed. Just grit your teeth and get it done. Hope you feel better soon. (NyQuil for me was a disaster...the gag reflex hit quickly and it tasted worse coming back up than it did going down)

Oh, just to add.... some VAMCs work in conjunction w/ university medical centers Like Durham VA w/ Duke Salt Lake City w/ USU Boston w/ ...I can't remember the name of their school...sorry. Check out VAs and the university connection.

I'm a 100% service connected...many don't know what that means but I'm sure you do. All the research I did thru the VA resulted in banding can be done if you live in a ZONE that does it. VISN...I think they are broken down into zones. Do a search thru the va.gov site, facilities, and each one lists their specialties...you will see bariatrics. If you don't see it, call and ask...they will tell you straight up. After I found this information I tried to get in... NOPE. Move program was implemented w/ the VA and it's a year long program or more. The VA doesn't mind doing spouses...but I've found it difficult to get them to do a vet. I gave up after 2 years of trying. I went to Mexico for $7,000. And let me tell you...I wish I would have done it sooner. The VA isn't all it's cracked up to be. I steer clear of them when I can as I don't feel they provide adequate or efficient treatment to vets. Good luck!

I'd check with the Vegas docs who do this procedure. The local doc here said they won't accept move-ins aka new patients banded elsewhere if they were banded in Mexico or Las Vegas. So evidently there are many docs there who do it.

I weighed daily until I went home for Christmas...forgot to pack the scale. So from Dec 21st to Jan 3rd I didn't weigh. This was the time I met goal and surpassed it. Imagine my surprise when I stepped on the scales and saw I was BELOW goal. I was a pound or 2 above goal then a pound or two below goal when weighed. So I had lost a few pounds during those weeks. Restriction is key. If you are 'maintaining' then you are on maintenance. And if you aren't at the weight you want to be...you need a fill. what you are doing now is what you are to be doing once you reach goal. Good luck.

No, there's nothing wrong with sugar.

I was where you are, but I may have been tighter as fluids would come up from time to time. Some don't want that kind of restriction. But like you, I do. The band isn't rocket science and along with my doctor, I endured months and months of sliming. Not stuck, mind you...just slime. You know, the stuff your esopogas produces to get stuff down to the stomach.... everyone has it...banded or not. But with restriction the slime is more prevelant and is helpful in the process. I don't know what to tell you. I ate normally but slimed daily. I couldn't find anything to actually go down. And I learned not to eat after 5 or 6 or else I'd be getting up to go to the sink after going to bed. Sounds weird, but when I got really hungery...I'd eat Peanut M & Ms. They went down. Right now I can't think of anything else that went down w/o incident. Good luck and stay close to your doctor during this time.

Yep...that happens. You were fortunate enough for your doc to do that...care for you. So many others kick 'em to the curb and let them tough it out at home. My doc is used to patients traveling from all over to visit him and his clinc so he plans for surgery at suppertime, stay overnight and monitor the next day. I stayed a 2nd night ...overdid it during the day w/ walking around and shopping. We played cards until after dark and the next morning I was on my way home. It's cheaper for outpatient...of course...or even 23 hrs and 59 minutes stay. But if you have insurance....plan on a stay as long as you can!

This board is a great resource. There are so many with different experiences and advice. Just remember... the lapband system isn't rocket science. It's simple in design and was meant to be simple to use. Listen to your health care professional. But if something doesn't seem right, or feel right... question it. Your body will let you know when things aren't what they should be. Good luck on your journey.

Congrats! And welcome!

I was a tad lost as do you mean they are all relative...as in losing weight will help find someone special? I feel great about being single. I feel great I've lost the weight. I'd like to find someone special but don't mind if I never do. I wouldn't mind it a bit if I dated someone who has a band. Being banded has not effected the way I interpret relationships at all....save for relationship with food. That's changed.

Sorry to burst your bubble.... no, it won't improve. The reasons why you don't have a good dating relationship will still be there after you lose weight. It's not the weight that's causing a damper on dating..it's you! (this coming from someone who has been thin, fat, plump, skinny, etc. No matter my size...I'm still me.)

Don't know what this is about but there is no discount. Must be the first passenger is taking the discount and leaving the extra person to pay the bulk....or it sounds like the entire cabin. I am interested in a cruise....but to pay a fair share...not someone else's fare.

4th grade science experiment in public school..... take bread and place a wad in the mouth. hold it... hold it... it dissolves! Same principle can be applied to sacrament. Just chew and let it dissolve. no more worries