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have you had a lapse in health care at all??? maybe you should look into parts of HIPPA Preexisting Condition Exclusions The law defines a preexisting condition as one for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received during the 6-month period prior to an individual’s enrollment date (which is the earlier of the first day of health coverage or the first day of any waiting period for coverage) Group health plans and issuers may not exclude an individual’s preexisting medical condition from coverage for more than 12 months (18 months for late enrollees) after an individual’s enrollment date Under HIPAA, a new employer’s plan must give individuals credit for the length of time they had prior continuous health coverage, without a break in coverage of 63 days or more, thereby reducing or eliminating the 12-month exclusion period (18 months for late enrollees) Fact Sheet - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Hi Danny- I too was banded at B & W's hopsital and havent been to a support mtg yet bc I havent been able to be IN Boston by 6pm. I would like to at some point go and see what it all about and meet other folks Some posters here (SherryW) have started a 'local' support mtgs on in Taunton, MA. We had one mtg so far on a Saturday afternoon.

I have BCBC PPO "Blue Care Select" I think its called. I called them first to find out the policy and if they covered it before I even choose a surgeon. They mailed me the section about WLS with a few days. It was good to know ahead of time that it was covered.

this past week Ive had a problem where I have slight pain bc something wont pass thru the band. This lasts for a few hours until finally I have to throw up a pouch full of spit and slime. I both cases a tiny bit of food (once carrots, then a bit hamburger) did come up and I felt relief. Should I have just waited out the pain and avoided 'throwing'?

Hi!!! its so great to see all these new 'faces' in this forum. My name is Mel, from the South Shore banded 11/13/07 at the Brigham by Dr Vernon. Havent attended any support groups at the hospital but I did met SherryW and the gang a few weeks ago. The 22nd works for me SherryW dont know about anyone else :huh2:

update: I did go for an unfill and I do feel a lot better. Eating more and I think I have gained one pound. Now it is time for will power! :crying: Experienced reflux for the first time...I should have known better than to be eating late at night. All I could think of is poor Sherry and what she went thru.

wheetsin isvery wise...my gf lose a lot of hair 4 months after being hospitalized and she DID NOT have WLS or was losing weight. It was just the shock of being sick. It passed and her hair is back to normal

Trissie what were you doing in the first months post surg that helped you lose those the 60lbs vs what you are doing now? do you need a fill?

yeah the Miralax worked too well for me too. I found the supplements at Trader Joes but I think you can find them in just about any vit shoppe.I got the recommendation off of these boards. Do have some gas issues with them. Can you take pills? Have you tried colace? They help me way more than adding fiber

NEMC is one of the premier hospitals for WLS, that being said I knew how instense their program was. At this point would you be able to switch gears mid stream or is it better to just stick to the plan and all the appts? could you be frustrated and stressed about the choice to have WLS? We all have gone thru it. have you looked at other Boston hospitals like the BI or B & W? I wouldnt call thier programs easier, both are hard with great surgeons.

my dr didnt like me taking the chewable benefiber post surgery (too bad they were yummy). Ive taken stool softner in pill form for years but when I was a bit too tight I tried Miralax. that worked okay but I recently started with the suppliment of acidophilous and let me tell you THAT works oh so well!

while not advised I posed the same question to my dr...she said that if you MUST take advil type products then take the liquid form (children's type w.lots of water) so the tablets are not sitting in your pouch. She also mentioned that she had to hospitalize a patient who developed a bleeding ulcer from taking high dose ibuprofen for an injury. so there is your warning and please ask your dr first.

found out my port was flipped at first fill appt. Had Dr go in next day, and re-suture it back but kept the same location. This was done under local and I was back at work in a few hrs.

got the tip here on the boards to mix in sf applesauce and cinnamon..very good!

Hello and welcome I too am from MA...the south shore to be exactly. Just 4 months banded and STILL learning. there are state specific forums as well as age ones. Feel free to ask questions!

Hi Aqua I was banded 11/13/07 at B&W by Dr Vernon, I think I know who your surgeon is as they share the same office. Actually today I went to the Faulkner, just need to learn my way around JP. :thumbup: I have BCBS PPO and had NO issues with insurance or anything. If you have any questions feel free to ask me

thanks again for the suport Sherry and everyone its movtivating to me to see everyone kicking it into high gear again. I am pretty much open for weekends in Marchfor another get together. April and May are half booked. :biggrin: Finally called Dr and Im going to try to get a slight unfill. I am doing okay with soft foods but soilds are painful. I am however dropping weight like crazy so that is why I wanted to wait and see if the band would get loose. Guess I could live on softer foods but I am concerned about the (band) tightness in my chest

good to see you posting here rainbow...hope you can get back on track. Ive got some serious behavior mod to do with my eating or I will need an unfill. Thanks Sherry for hosting the meetup...I didnt realize how much I needed the support. It was nice ya all. ~Mel

just started gurgling and now have some pb's on solids..its been a week since my second fill AND I just started my TOM. This isnt too tight even if I have to stick to softer foods?

I am doing well after a course of keflex...my surgeon thinks it was a case of cellulitis than infection in the incision bc it looked like a slight sunburn. Port is back in place and I recieved my second fill with out a problem

thank you Wheetsin that was very helping. Ive had a few pb's to me it seems almost as voilent as vomiting. From the posts here it seemed as if people just the food and slime popped out by mine never does. Is the wretching as bad as true (flu) vomiting?

I struggled before surgery and still do now...wasnt sure if exactly what Activa was supposed to do.. So thank you for posting this. are Acidophilus Pearls the same thing that is added to the yogurt and cottage cheese? Where can I buy this?

for "batwings" would 2lb weights help?

awesome ide, I do need support. Will PM you now.... ..should you also start a new thread? dont want your invite to get lost ~Mel

I have a question...what is considered "throwing up" post banding. A few times when food has gotten stuck, I thought what I did was PB'd but it felt more like I wretched up the food. Nothing came up on its own. It was the only way to stop the pain.