thin2bme

I just found the thread from the other AT&T (Cingular) employee that I was referring to and bumped it up so you can read it. You might post a Private Message to both of the people in that thread and see what they can tell you. You'll find this thread under the Insurance & Financing category on the website. Hope this helps.

Hi, I also work for AT&T in Kansas City and I just had lapband surgery done on March 19 through United Healthcare and mine was also paid for. I've talked to someone else on this website that works for AT&T that was formerly Cingular and I know they were having problems getting it covered also. If you do a search for AT&T you might be able to find the person who was also working for AT&T (Cingular) and find out if they have had any success. Unfortunately, until the next contract is written, your friend might be stuck without any WLS coverage, but hopefully, it will get written in and she can get the surgery. Good luck.

Glad to see you made up your mind, congratulations, I don't think you'll regret it for a minute. Everyone is different in what they go through before scheduling surgery. In my case, I had to attend a seminar which I did in November and then I had to see a physchologist 3 times, a nutritionist, and take a pshyc evaluation. After the phsychologist released me, then the surgeon's office submitted my paperwork to the insurance company and I was banded about 4 1/2 months later.

Hi, I've only been banded for 7 weeks and have lost 23 lbs since then, plus 20 lbs pre-op. I like you have lost weight in the past and always seem to put it back on and I'm hoping this new tool will help the weight stay off this time. I have a sit down desk job also and was told that I could return to work in 1 week, I took off about 2 1/2 weeks though just because I was so tired, but could have gone back in 1 week if I had to. As for the hospital stay, I went in for surgery at 9:30am and was home the same day about 6:00pm. I think some surgeons keep the patient overnight but not all of them. Good luck in your decision.

I've only been banded 7 weeks, but it sounds to me like you have experienced being stuck. I've had this sensation a handful of times myself and my doctor said that it was stuck, mine was with dry chicken. Hope this helps.

Well, I was banded on March 19 and I just got my first fill last Friday. I'm still not feeling much, if any, restriction AND my calories have not been over 750 per day. Not because I couldn't have eaten more, but because my dietician guidelines say that I should not be eating more than 2-4 oz at each meal. With such little food and staying on plan, I cannot seem to get over 750 calories in any one day and I log everything that I put into my mouth..

I had an NSV last nite, when my DH gave me hug after I got home from work, he told me "he could tell I was losing weight because he could get his arms all the way around me again". That put a smile on my face!!

Diane, I am so sorry to hear about the tumor, I'll keep you in my prayers. Please keep us posted.

Hi Queen, it was nice meeting you last nite at the group meeting too. Most of the meetings that I've been we've had time to talk among other with a question and answer period worked in. Last nite, was the first time since I've been going that we didn't have that. Come back to the next one and hopefully, you get that chance for questions and answers. Well, everyone, I just got back from getting my first fill a couple of hours ago and have to admit it wasn't has bad as I thought it would be. It hurt a little, but was over really quick. Looking forward to some restriction. Well til next time!!

Hi Needtolose, I go in Friday for my first fill and I'm also nervous about it. Let me know if it hurt and how long it took to do it, I'm more nervous about them sticking me with the needle than anything..

Ghost, thank you for the invite to the group last nite, I enjoyed myself and I will be back next month. I'm sorry I didn't take the time to formerly introduce myself last nite, but I had to hurry home after the meeting. I'll take care of that next month, lol...

Hi Queen, I attended the support group last nite for the first time and I thought it was really good. I would say there were probably 15 people there, 3 or 4 of which have not been banded yet. Apparently, this group had stopped meeting about 14 months ago and just started meeting again 3 months ago, so last nite was the 3rd time they have met since starting up. We discussed our what we thought our goals would be 6 months from now and then just basically had question and answer session and everyone discussing their journeys along the way and the problems they might be experiencing now. The next meeting is May 12 and then another will be June 16. Dr. Hoehn/Hitchcock have their support group meeting this Thursday at 6:00 at SMMC - Human Resources area if you want to attend this one. I can't remember if you were against going to their group or not, but just letting you know it's coming up. The group there is quite a bit larger, probably 50-75 people but is still a good group in my opinion. Regardless, hope to meet you soon at one of the meetings.

Hi Liza, I'm only 4 1/2 weeks out post op and I was told no heavy lifting over 10 lbs for the first 6 weeks, please be careful I'd hate to see your band slip or your port flip, don't forget this is the healing period. Congrats on your weight loss, that's fantastic!!

Thanks Ghost, I'm planning on being there. I'm looking forward to it. See ya then!!

Blyn, I wasl also banded on March 19. I find it hard to get all my liquids down during the day also, and what I have to do is start drinking when I first get up and I only stop 30 minutes before I eat, during, and 1 hour after, then start drinking again. If I don't do this I don't get all my liquids in either. I am managing to get in between 50-64 ounces daily depending on when I get started and when I finish at nite. Are you drinking more than this and if so, are you chugging your drinks instead of sipping? If so, this might be why you're puking. Try slowing down and not to drink more than 8 oz per hour, this is about 2 oz per 15 minutes, this is what my dietician has told me. If you are already doing this and still puking, I would suggest calling your surgeon because if you are puking very often you can risk having your band slip. Keep me posted and hope things get better for you.

Bill's wife, Wendy's chili, yum yum, I hadn't thought of that, but I would say it's ok for the mushy stage, as long as you've been cleared for beef and chew, chew, chew. That gives me another menu item, thanks for asking about that, lol.

Queen, yes, I had to 3 pre-op visits to the psychologist and now have to go once a month just to keep on track with things. I'm newly banded on March 19 and it really isn't too bad. Hang in there, you one step closer to banding! :sad_smile:

I was just banded March 19 and I was sleeping on my side. It didn't seem to hurt anything, however, on about day 9 or 10 I began to feel like some pulling inside so I called my surgeon's office and was told to try and not lie on my stomach, so I have tried to avoid lying on my side too just in case I was lying on my stomach some at the same time and the pulling sensation went away a few days later. As far as your cough goes, I had that too for about a week after coming home and I finally called the surgeon's office and asked about that too, they told me that I needed to call my regular doctor and tell them about the cough and to let them know I had lapband just done to get something for your cough. The nurse at the surgeon's office said it could dislodge your port. I think mine is ok and your's probably is too, but just letting you know what I was told. I'd call your doctor.

Thanks Molly, I feel much better now too!! Today is the day 23 post op for me and I'm moving onto chicken breast, beef, pork, peanut butter, tuna salad, etc beginning today and so looking forward to it. I'll be on this stage for 2 weeks then I can have pretty much whatever I want, as tolerated. My first fill is April 25 and I can't wait, I need the restriction now....

I've only been banded since March 19 and I take Zoloft and my doc said it was ok. No problems getting it down right now, but I haven't had a fill yet.

Hi I'm Teri, I live in Kansas City, KS. Been banded March 19 and feeling good now, not really any restriction now and will go for my first fill on April 25. I'm married to my 2nd husband for 16 years and I have 1 grown son in the Marines from my first husband and 2 grown step-children from my current marriage plus 1 step-granddaughter from my current marriage which I claim as my granddaughter, she's 3 years old and is spoiled rotten.

Ghost, thanks, I've got it on my calendar and plan on coming this time since I don't have to depend on DH to drive me this time. Hope to see you then.

I'm 3 week post op today and eggs were on my mushy list for Day 8-22 post op. Every doctor is different, I'd check with your doctor.

Ghost now that I'm 3 weeks out and feeling much better, I might be able to attend the other groups you told us about, when do they meet next, I'm going to try to attend, if I'm free.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience at the last support meeting. Not sure which meeting you attended, since I've only attended the meetings at SMMC, I don't think I said anything that would have offended anyone, but if I'm the one you're talking about, I apologize. So far I've had only positive things to say about the SMMC support meetings, other than the fact that group has gotten so big I don't have any problems.