VIAngel

Wow sorry…thats strange i guess each state is different…?…i know for a fact that NYC covers it…good luck!

Seek help from the state and county you live in. If you are vomiting blood, you have a very serious issue. Is there a "gold card" or medicaid program you can qualify for? If all else fails, act like you are dying and go to the ER. I know here they cannot turn you away. Please keep us posted dear.

I forgot to answer your question. My background is that I am 40 years old. I am the Executive Director for a non-profit. I am in graduate school.
Did I do everything 100% perfect? No, of course not. That is not realistic. But I did it 95% perfect. I also could not eat any fresh fruits or veggies for ten years. I threw up all the time. I mean ALL THE TIME. I took tiny itty bitty bites. I chewed and chewed. I stayed away from carbs. But the band didn't work, and it was like I didn't have a band at all after awhile. I was starving all the time, and then I started throwing up in my sleep. I threw up liquid if I was trying a liquid diet to get things to calm down. I threw up chunks of food that I ate five hours before. Again, I do not mean to scare you, but this is my story.

2005 I was banded. I loved my band. I was able to have two healthy children in 2007 and 2009. I got serious about my health and weight in 2010. I hit my goal weight early February 2011. February 12, 2011 my band "slipped" when I tried to eat and I instantly threw up. I knew instantly something was very wrong with my band as the pain was so severe I couldn't walk. I was writhing in pain. 10 out of 10 pain... I had never experienced pain like that before. Ambulance took me to the ER. Dr's ordered a plain X-ray as well as a CT scan. Same radiologist read both scans and reported that there were NO abnormalities. In the X-ray my band was at the base of my stomach.... my stomach was up in my chest, and the band was at 130 degrees NOT the typical 45 degree mark. My stomach had actually prolapsed up through the band and the band was cutting of the blood to my stomach. They tried to send me home. I refused. They transferred me to another hospital hours later, where the doctors also relied on that report of "no abnormalities". But unfortunately my scans weren't sent with me when I was transferred. The next hospital didn't do there own scan for over 24 hours. I had 2 endoscopies while I was there. The first one showed my stomach full of blood and that my tissue looked purple. Second one my tissue was black. I was there for about 37 hours when my vitals all changed. Blood started coming out from my nose and mouth. They rushed me into surgery. I had to have 4 blood transfusions and I almost died. My stomach was black when they opened me up. Dead. 98% of it. 22 staples from my belly button to my sternum. They were barely able to piece me together with a roux en y bypass. I have EXTREME dumping. EARLY AND LATE. I am constantly in the hospital with my blood sugar in the 30's and 40's after I eat. I have reactive hypoglycemia and it's only getting worse. I used to have it fairly under control with my diet.... but it's been getting harder and harder to do. My entire life has changed. I'm scared of food now. I struggle to keep my weight UP now! It's such an emotional roller coaster. I'm very thin now... I typically weigh in at only 115.... and I've been as low as 105. If I had to do it all over.... I would never have been banded. My kids suffer because mommy is too sick. I'm scared to drive because my blood sugar tanks so quickly that I have no warning signs. I'm at risk of seizures and comas when it gets that low. I can't keep a job, since I'm not reliable. I get sick constantly. I'm desperately trying to find a way to afford a service dog that can help scent when my blood sugar is tanking so I can eat sugar and prevent the awful episodes.... but they are extremely expensive and insurance doesn't cover it. I get dizzy, sweaty, my heart pounds, I can't talk or walk, I can't form complete sentences, my tongue, hands and feet go numb, my body basically starts to shut down. I can't eat too much sugar or simple carbs, as they set off these episodes. But if an episode occurs, I have to eat a lot of sugar for my body to get back to normal.... BUT not too much.... or it will send me into another episode. I was only 29 when my band slipped. I just want people to know what can happen. That they know the TRUTH of it all.... and that hopefully the doctors treating us can take it seriously. If they had diagnosed me right away, any surgeon could have removed my band instantly and my stomach wouldn't have died. PLEASE educate yourself before making your choice about weight loss surgery AND make sure you are educated if YOU ARE banded. Most doctors know very little about lap bands... so if you experience a slip, you need to be your own advocate and demand an x-ray, ct scan AND a barium swallow study in real time. THEN you should ask to see the scans yourself and have them explain what they see. Chances are that you will know more about lap bands than the doctors :-( I wish I had educated myself more about the risks, and I wish I had learned that my obesity was much more of an emotional issue for me, rather than a physical issue. If I had only figured out my emotional addiction with food and stuck to diet and exercise...........x-ray.pdf

I have medicare and had my surgery about 2 weeks ago, I know if you attend a seminar in your region then they should be able to go through all the insurance details with you. I know with me you had to have at least one morbid health condition(mine was diabetes) but the conditions can range from depression to heart disease. hope this helps

if the store takes snaps and the product is labeled nutritional facts not suppliment then you can buy it with snaps. if they say no ask for the manager because they pup it in the computer wrong. albertson's and safeway, fred meijer, meijers, kroger all accept snaps for their protien labeled nutritional information. this is a very important subject, because not everyone is able to work that have this surgery, some of us are on social securiety and rely on snap to feed our families. thank you chaotica for bring this subject up!

Hey , I am on food stamps and Buy my Protein shakes at Walmart the pure Protein tubs are able to be bought on food stamps also anything that says nutrition info or fact or whatever are all able to be bought on food stamps as long as the label says nutrition and not supplemental you will be able to purchase it with food stamps. the protein stuff in the pharmacy area is also able to be bought with food stamps as well even the pre made shakes as long as the lable says nutritional.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pure-Protein-Frosty-Chocolate-100-Whey-Protein-Powder-2-lbs/16536989
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pure-Protein-Chocolate-Deluxe-High-Protein-Bars-1.76-oz-6-count/10423029?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pure-Protein-Frosty-Chocolate-Shakes-12-fl-oz-4-pack/22066801?action=product_interest&action_type=title&placement_id=irs_middle&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=73370685003&category=0%3A976760%3A1005859%3A1006979&client_guid=9dbcf1e2-f220-45c7-b449-d79b5ed64985&customer_id_enc=5a04e4b551f75afd7307be3d09ed6f8d&config_id=0&parent_item_id=10423029&guid=fa0dfbfa-dfd9-453d-8cc2-0ee103e167fe&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&findingMethod=p13n
ive bought all of these on food stamps plus there are probly more stuff also

My sister inlaw has been on food stamps and had the surgery. She goes to kroger or Walmart and gets the pure Protein shake mix. And the sugar free Jello sf pudding sf popsickles and the broth cubes. She even gets Protein Bars with hers. She said just make sure the label says "nutrition facts" and not supplements. She said anything that has nutrition labels....are food.
Hope ger advice helps.

Hi latido!
I spent a month restricted to food stamps - and it's not easy so I feel for you. Unfortunately the inexpensive staples like Pasta and rice are not allowed for quite a long time. I'd get chicken broth - other than that you can drink Water with maybe some Crystal Light to flavor it . I feel you must get Protein powder - the tubs of whey Protein Powder seem expensive but they make a lot of shakes - In NY a 16oz tub costs about $25 but makes 22 drinks - much cheaper and better than Slimfast etc. The other thing I drank a lot of when on "full liquids" was Cream of chicken Soup (Campbells reduced fat). You'll also go through a lot of milk (skim or 1%). I was allowed sugar-free blended yoghurt and pudding (the boxes are only 50c and make 4 servings)
The next step is pureed food - scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, chicken, canned refried Beans etc. for Protein plus small amounts of mashed potatoes, oatmeal, apple sauce, canned fruit.< /p>
I really can't imagine getting through the first month without Protein Powder and milk so that's going to have to be a priority. Would somebody help you with that? Good luck - when is your surgery scheduled?

ff fat free
sf sugar free
You will learn! Good luck!

Fabulous!!! Thanks so much for doing this, I know it was very time consuming. You totally rock!