Taunter

Of course!

I couldn't handle the CPAP masks - even the nose one. Having something on my face obstructing my nose made me freak out. Totally claustrophobic. So I went ahead and had a dental appliance made. It's basically two molded pieces of plastic that I wear on my teeth. There's a little wedge on the bottom one and an adjustable "catch" on the upper one. It works by moving my lower jaw out so that my airway is more open. Had to have it made by an oral surgeon. Took a while to work it out with insurance because even though you wear it on your teeth and it's made by a dental professional, it's medical-related.

Okay, I will definitely have to give these a try!

Yikes! I guess I'll have to see how things go post-surgery. I do love crystal lite so crushing and mixing wouldn't be horrible. Still, I think the liquid option would be better so I'll try that first. Thank you for sharing that!

Are these the ones sold here in the bariatric store?

Genius. Why didn't I think of that?? This is soooo much better, thank you!

I'll definitely check out the liquid, thanks!

Thank you for the suggestions. The petites are actually the ones I had issue with - I know - crazy! After my revision, though, they may not be as hard to swallow. *fingers crossed* I'll have to give the creamy bites a try!

Hello! I finally have a surgery date after 2 years of diets, nutritionists, psychiatrists, insurance companies, and lawyers. My conversion from lapband to RNY is scheduled for November 20th. To say I'm excited is an understatement! For the last two years I've been taking a multi-vitamin, B12 (sub-lingual) and Vitamin D3 so I'm in the habit. My issue has been with getting my calcium in. At first I tried the Citracal (sp?) pills but they were hard to swallow with my lapband. Next I tried the Bariatric Advantage caramel chews but they were so chalky I couldn't stand them. Most recently I tried Solaray's calcium citrate which is this huge chewable tablet. I thought the orange flavor would make it bearable but I couldn't stand it. Makes me shudder. Any recommendations on other forms of calcium citrate that y'all take? I'm starting to get a little desperate.

Hello there! They have a couple of rates depending on how quickly you need something done. I can tell you what they quoted me but can't guarantee the rates will stay the same. To me it was completely worth it to get the Insurance company to pay. It was $900 for regular service (which covers going through all internal appeals with an insurance company and any external reviews) and $1200 for expedited service (which I needed because I was close to the end of my 180 day appeal period). Again, HIGHLY recommend!

I've been on the road to revision from Band to RNY since October 2015. It's a loooong story. Here are the best parts: After finally qualifying with my surgeon for revision surgery in November 2016, I was denied coverage by my insurance carrier (BCBS IL) on 11/30/2016. My surgeon did a peer-to-peer review on 2/1/2017 which was denied as well. Since I only had 180 days from the original denial to file an appeal, I knew I had to do something drastic. In April I hired Kelley & Walter Lindstrom from the LINDSTROM OBESITY ADVOCACY group. They're lawyers who have specialized in WLS appeals. From April to June we had to go through a 2nd level of appeals which was again denied. At the end of July, my case finally went to an external review board. I received my official approval on September 1st, 2017!! Throughout this whole process, Kelley has stayed in close contact - keeping me apprised of each step and calming my fears. When I first applied to them she told me they would only accept my case if they thought they could make a difference. Both her and her husband were so helpful and caring. They have a real passion for helping people get the WLS they need. If you're having issues with your insurance company, please consider them. I think you'll be very happy with the results! http://wlsappeals.com/ https://www.facebook.com/LindstromObesityAdvocacy/

It had to go to external review but I'm now APPROVED for revision from Band to RNY!!!! I can't say enough positive things about Kelley & Walter Lindstrom at Lindstrom Obesity Advocacy. If you find yourself stuck with denials from insurance companies, I highly recommend them!

Hello! I had lap-band installed in April 2009. Lost about 50 lbs total and have since gained back about 30. So net loss = 20 lbs. That's okay, though, because that weight was the difference between being mobile or not (weight at time of surgery was 382 - I'm now in the 358-363 range). The advice I got after the band was not to eat rice, bread or pasta for 6 months after surgery and to go in for periodic fills of the band. I had 3 fills before losing my job, my insurance, and eventually my home to foreclosure. Fast forward to October 2015. I'm diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I immediately look into getting a revision. While I start seeing a nutritionist and taking all the vitamins/supplements and learning to eat protein first and 3 meals a day, I'm consequently diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Approximately 6 months later, I'm diagnosed with GERD. The local surgeon in my small town was requiring that I lose 40+ lbs before he'd qualify me for surgery and was pushing the Sleeve on me (even though I knew By-Pass was the best route). After struggling to lose (I gained about 9 lbs in the 6 months under that nutritionist), I chose a different surgeon. This one the head of his department and very experienced bypass surgeon. Started seeing a new nutritionist (May 2016) and slowing started losing weight - about 1 pound a month. He only required I lose 15 lbs which was a MUCH more achievable goal in my eyes. I finally qualified in October 2016. Blue Cross Blue Shield declined my request for coverage on 11/30/2016. My surgeon did a peer-to-peer review on 2/1/2017 and I was declined after that as well. After hearing from someone in a Facebook revision support group, I decided to look into Lindstrom Obesity Advocacy. I spoke with Kelley Brown Lindstrom earlier today and just sent over my records and payment. I'm paying for the expedited service (they get my file together and submit it within 3 days). So far my impression has been very favorable. Kelley has been knowledgeable and supportive and I'm impressed with her breadth of experience with different insurance companies. For the first time in a very long time I'm hopeful that I could have this revision sometime this year! Anyway, I'll keep people posted as to how it is working with them. Wish me luck!

Latest update... I've completed my 6 month pre-op with the nutritionist and the psych eval. The only thing holding up the process is me losing weight. I started doing Meal Replacement about a month ago. The first two weeks I lost a total of 4lbs. Then started retaining Water due to TOM (Time of the Month) and gained back 3. That continued into the next week with a further gain of 4lbs and then last week with a loss of 4. So in a month I've netted 1lb lost. I need to lose 40lbs before they'll perform surgery. My diet the last month has been: 1 Premier Protein shake for Breakfast 1 can of Soup with 20g of

Thank you for this... We're so conditioned to follow our Doctor's orders no matter what that it felt very uncomfortable to insist on bypass. I'm sticking to my guns. He says he'll do either but I could tell he was pushing for sleeve. Right now they're making me lose 40lbs before they'll even do the surgery. I've completed my 6 month requirement so now it's a waiting game to get the weight off. I tried to go to a different program that wouldn't require the weight loss but because this surgeon is somehow associated with that program too they won't take me as a patient. REALLY irritating. Lesson learned on my part to "shop around" before taking what seems your only/most convenient option.

These are very helpful, thank you!! I will see if I can get samples of some of them so I can try them out - thanks again!

Hi Jane - Yes, I'm recording everything I'm eating (although not measuring so much). I've asked her about doing the medical Meal Replacement route and she said we'd look at it after my next visit with her. She wants me to keep trying on my own. And I understand why that is - they need to make sure I'm committed and will make the effort to use the tool once I have it. It's just proving more difficult now than it was when I was in my 30's (or so it seems).

Hi gowalking - I was fast-tracked through the band process (1 month from first appointment to surgery), told not to eat bread, rice or Pasta for 6 months, told to come in for a fill every couple of months and that was really it. I did very well the first 6 months... Then lost my job, lost my home to foreclosure (2009) and didn't have insurance to cover fills anymore (they were charging $175+ for a fill) and so I didn't follow-up. I ended up living out of suitcases for a couple of years and moved back to Minnesota (all of the surgery/foreclosure, etc happened in Texas). The band failing is more because *I* didn't follow than for any other reason. It's helped me maintain and kept me from gulping my food (I have to chew well if I don't want to experience that stuck feeling) but I need a more aggressive tool. That's why I'm seeking bypass as I hope it will help with my sugar cravings (I actually WANT to dump).

Hello all! A little background on me: I'm 46 years old and was recently diagnosed as diabetic with severe obstructive sleep apnea. I also quit a 20 year smoking habit in June 2014. In April 2009 at my highest weight of 382 I had a lapband installed. That helped me lose 30-40 lbs that I have essentially kept off in the last 6 years. I've been on Weight Watchers since May 2014 but have gained and lost the same 15 lbs (fluctuate between 348-360 depending on the time of month.) I've been doing nutritionist visits since Oct and will have completed my 6 months pre-op period in March. The only problem is that I haven't lost any weight. Still doing the up-and-down thing. I'm currently scheduled for an outpatient surgery on Friday, February 12th to remove some fibroids from my uterus that are causing issues. I'm hoping that will help with retaining Water. But the surgeon will not perform my WLS conversion (I'm aiming for RNY) procedure until I lose the weight I need to. I know the 2-week pre-op liquid diet should help but I need to lose at least 25 before they'll probably consider scheduling (and then I'll need to lose that last 10 in the two weeks prior). I recently purchased a treadmill and I've been doing pretty good with getting in at least 15 minutes of walking every other day (sometimes more, sometimes less). I'm saying all of this because I need ideas on Meal Replacement products to help me drop this weight. I'm an adult picky eater which means I have a small range of foods from which I'll eat - still learning to like most fruits and veggies. I can't stand yogurt (have tried all kinds/flavors etc - always makes me gag) and really REALLY don't like tuna. I'm not too worried about the cost of Meal Replacements - I make a good salary and can afford to spend on this if it will help me lose the weight I need to get the surgery. Would welcome any advice on products that folks have used either for their 2-week pre-op diet or any medical weight loss program. Thank you in advance!!

Hello... I'm 3+ months pre-op - hopefully converting a band to the bypass. I've heard recently on some online forums that people with bypass are more likely to have issues with their teeth post-op. That's even if they are taking all of their supplements. Has anyone actually encountered this as a by-product of surgery?

I am 3 months into my 6 month pre-op period. I met with the surgeon on Tuesday because I currently have a lapband I want revised. Given my diabetes (diagnosed 10/1/2015), my severe obstructive sleep apnea and being morbidly obese (361 lbs on Tuesday), I've been focused on gastric bypass (RNY). I thought for sure my doctor would recommend that as well. But I could tell from our meeting that he advocates for the sleeve. He says nearly 90% of the surgeries he'll do this year will be sleeve and that sleeve patients are less likely to have future complications and that their labs are "boring" because they don't have nutrient malabsorption issues like bypass patients. Now I'm torn. He says it's up to me - that he'll do the bypass surgery. But I'm wondering if I'm being a polyanna in thinking I won't be one of the ones that has complications. I just feel like the sleeve is a fad - it's what everyone is doing now. But there are only 5 years of available data whereas bypass has been around for 20+. Anyone else have a similar issue? I'm also concerned because I'm a revision patient. I lost about 30+ lbs with the lapband and have kept it off (which the surgeon says is actually successful!!) and I really don't want to do the sleeve and then find myself losing only a fraction of what I need to lose. Any other revision folks out there?