Cocoabean

2 more years have gone by...status still the same at 7 1/2 years out!

Hello everyone! I've not been here in a while. Today is my 6th Bandiversary! I am down 70 lbs. and living at my goal weight for the last 3 1/2 years. My weight is pretty stable and I don't have to work very hard to maintain. I do get stuck from time-to-time, mostly when I take a bite that is too big, or don't chew well enough. You'd think I'd have learned by now. Last November I got my first tattoo to Celebrate my battle. Denise Highest 220, Current 145-150

It might also be the tubing. I am not sure, but I think I can feel where mine comes out and goes to the port.

Have you checked your policy? Give them a call yourself to be certain it is covered. Or look up your plan brochure online.

Is there a way you can see another doctor? It sounds as though your band may be too tight. But without seeing someone, you cannot get it taken care of. When a band is too tight and we cannot eat solids, we go to sliders like ice cream out of desperation to get something down. As to the insurance thing? Do you mean that they have to start a new request for you to be seen? That is how it is for me. I need a referral from my primary doc to see my surgeon each and every stinking time. It is a pain, but it is their job. To not help you deal with it seems somehow negligent.

And then there are the migraines I get from out of nowhere, the sinus headaches, and the beer triggered headaches. (I am maintaining, so I allow myself beer). I'd get less headaches if I didn't tho.

Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. I do a lot of "deconstruction" of things with bread and tortillas. I use them as a handle and tear away to get to the filling. I can usually consume one piece of bread. But if I take a bite that is too big, it will get stuck at my new fill level of a few weeks ago. My best bet now is to eat with a knife and fork to make the bites even smaller.

For me, coming off caffeine causes killer headaches. I call them "loose brain" headaches because it feels as though my brain has broken loose and is sloshing in my head. They last about 3 days and the withdrawls are over. Hope you feel better soon.

Bandit is mine, because he steals meals from me!

Cash price and insurance price are two totally different things. My insurance company was billed over $43k. I doubt this was the amount that changed hands. I also doubt that if I had written a check that it would have been the amount I'd have been charged.

Why can you not go out? Choose band friendly foods. Happy birthday!!!

The worst for me was in the front row of the jury box in a high profile double murder trial. Ugh. Nearly had to ask the judge to stop, but we got a break and I was able to dash out! The slime isn't dangerous, retching can be.

I am a little late replying to this, and I see you heard from the hospital. But you should be able to check online for what your hospital benefits are. Check your insurance card for the website. I know we don't have the same company, but you should be able to look it up, just to verify what the hospital told you was true. I didn't know I had a hospital co-pay (oops, my research was flawed), but when I looked at my plan..yes I sure did. You might also be able to find your plan brochure online.

I had the H M O of BCBS Access Plus in California, is that the same one? Mine was just co-pays all the way through. the biggest being the hospital co-pay of $150 per day (one day). This was 5 years ago. And I stayed within my H M O network. That can make a HUGE difference.