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First of all, if insurance is paying, it is not elective. Insurance doesn't pay for elective. Obesity is a recognized disease. Even if insurance doesn't pay because there's an exclusion, it's a recognized disease. The state only needs the paperwork. They don't deal with diagnosis. Your doctor is who you need. And also be aware that disability only pays up to half of your salary and in most places, won't kick in until day 8.

enigma- you are hilarious. Pocketknife cuts.......ROFLMAO!

We ALL have bad days. I was so together after the surgery and now, nearly 6 weeks later.....I'm having a tough time. Too much gas, and what feels like gas pain but who knows, around the port area. My port area is still very tender, and I can't eat much at a time. I've heard that if I'm still swollen and not eating much, they may not do the first fill as scheduled on Wed. So, that's my complaints. I've been told it takes a while for all the issues and emotions to work through. I can't wait to find out nothing is wrong with my port etc and that I'm ready for a fill. So hold on and yup....have a good laugh.

I feel like I do nothing but whine lately. I think I'm having a delayed reaction to banding. I did so well, physically and mentally the first couple of weeks and suddenly, I'm having a bunch of small physical issues that are really throwing me. I was banded 4/30. It's June 2- almost six weeks, and I'm gasier than ever. Really gassy. I'm experiementing with removing foods and trying to make certain to add lactaid when I eat dairy. The gas feels like pain so sometimes I'm not sure if I'm still healing or if it's gas. But even with Gas-X, I'm gurgling and giving it off all day. Nice, huh? Having been taken off my regular med for reflux, the new soluable Previcid (I took Prontonix) give me the runs. Surgeon doesn't want me to take pills but I know some people do. So, I stopped taking anything to see if I could do iwithout any meds now that I'm banded, and I'm having pain in the esophagus. Just went back on the Previcid to give it one more try. BUti n the meantime it hurts to eat. And I used to take Metamusil everyday for a small stomach issue and I'm told not to use it. Benefiber is okay but doesn't do quite the same so that's a battle as well. Third issue- I'm still tender and I believe swollen around the port area. Maybe age has something to do with it, I don't know. I can't eat much and I can't eat many things. Experimenting is painful, but needs to be done. I'm mostly on fish and chicken, and I can't eat more than a few oz at a time. The good news is I've lost 31 pounds since surgery. But, I may not be given my first fill this week. I'm told that if you're losing and feel tight they don't ususually do it. I tell you, it's hard to believe I haven't had a fill yet. I eat very slowly and chew (what there is to chew) well. I have to force myself to 4-5 small meals a day in order to get the Protein in. Anyway, no huge issues, but to me they are enormous. Of course, every pain I have I think I've done something to the band or port but that I'm sure if normal angst at the beginning.

As I had a generous amount of sick days available, I decided to take a month or so off to heal and get my head wrapped around this. My surg make it 5 weeks. In California, once you've been out 7 days you're automatically on disability-short term. My company still pays minus the amount the state pays. This also means that I lose less sick days as the time the state pays (rather than the company) are state "sick days" not my companies. It's good because it comes out to about a third of the sick days are not deducted. Still it's a big drop in sick time, but it was important to me. I haven't had time off in quite a while. Gwenn

That's great. Congratulations! Gwenn

I was banded end of April and today I feel like I moved the wrong way did something to annoy the area or something because I'm having some discomfort in the area above the port. May just be gas (I'm VERY gassy) and it could be that I did a bit too much and my body is still not fully healed. Are little aches and twinges around and above the port normal after 5 or 6 weeks. Can I still be healing? My first fill is scheduled for next week. Thanks_Gwenn

Hi- I've had gas all along. My belly fills up and sounds like a concert or a tornado- especially at night. I've been told it can be because chewing slowly brings more air into the stomach. Also, just today I'm having some discomfort along the band tubing- you know the spot- above above the port by a few inches on the left side. It's a bit of a sticking pain. Not awful and not all the time. I don't know if it's gas or if it's still part of healing and scar tissue, or if I moved the wrong way and hurt myself a bit. After almost 6 weeks I should be okay. Of course I'm concerned that something has gone amiss and the band has gone wrong or something. I have been told that if that happens, and it is unusual, the pain is intense or one vomits, etc. So, make me feel better. Someone tell me I'm having a bad gas day, or that they've had similar discomfort along the way. Thanks, Gwenn

The surgery gas went away fairly soon, but I find I am very gassy overall. At times my stomach makes so much noise inside that I feel like there's a tornado in there. I will ask my doctor. I have read that you are forever more gassy after the surgery. Partly because of chewing moer. You take in more air. Gwenn

I'm six weeks Wed and scheduled for a fill and I'm concerned because I do think I'm still swollen as I am full very quickly. Gwenn

DON'T LET IT GET YOU DOWN!!! You won't be far behind anyone and you're ahead of the millions of people who haven't had the courage or foresight yet to take this journey. You're doing great and carry that scar like a badge of honor, baby! I have one 2.5 inch at the port and four others. If you ad them all up.....it's close to 7 inches :laugh: Gwenn

Do you know where Cedars-Sinai hospital is? I live less than an mile south of the hospital. If you don't, figure mid-city. We're just below the Beverly Hills line. I always think I should get a handicap because I'm not tall. People think I'm taller than I am because I have longer legs than torso. And hey....I STAND TALL. I LOVE loss envy. We have to remember that one. The stats I read were 50-60% on average- and we're not average. Remember that! I was told that gastric bypass is like 70% or more, but I know more people who have gained it all back on GB than lost. That's why I chose LB. My brother-in-law has lost almost 120 on lapband and is sooo happy. I just have to get my stomach back in order and get back on my regular meds- the surgeon didn't want me taking full pills but mine are very small- Protonix for GERD. I tried Previcid because of hte soluable tabs but it gives me the runs. And I have been taking metamucil for a specific need for a while now, and Benefiber just isn't the same. So, I'm going to talk to him about it when I go for my first fill on Wed. You must be close to a fill too, as we were banded the same day. Gwenn

What is this.......lapband sibling rivalry? LOL Maybe the easiest explanation is that I started fatter- I started at 315 and I think the BMI was like 50 something. I don't remember. I have been walking since the awakening from the surgery. Stopped two days ago because my bad knee was acting up . I'm going to use the recumbent bike (if my husband would kindly take his clothes off it) now that I'm more healed. Nurse said not to use it for a while. Just want to burn a few calories. And of course, my scale didn't move for days and the moment I stopped exercising - it moved. That happens sometimes. Wanna race to goal??????

I think that's exactly what it is, Lizalee. Like a bit of glue. I have it covered with a little bandaid under the breast and the one on the port scar isn't in as bad a spot, so I'm ignoring it. I'll ask the surgeon about it when I go for my fill on Wednesday. I'd rather he clip them, than I. I keep hoping the skin under the breast will just grow over it as it's in a little opening (another reason not to touch it). But I'll deal with it on Wed. Thanks- you make good sense. Gwenn

You're doing great. I'm nearly 6 weeks and I guess it's my age but I'm still sore inside it I move certain ways, still have alot of gas and not eating much at a time. I stopped exercising for a couple of days because my knee started to act up. And bang.....down almost 3 pounds. YAY. I'm switching to recumbent bike for a while to give my knee some rest. Treadmill is all weight bearing and I don't want to push my knee too much. The surgeon said no bike right after surgery, but I think if the tension is light it will be okay now. Going on Wed for my first fill and to ask a bunch of questions. Gwenn

My scale finally moved - down to 31 pounds gone forever! My stomach is still not a happy place....anyone else have a lot of gas? Can't eat much at a time and it's hard to get the protein in, but I'm working it. First fill is June 4. I just wish I felt well and that I could each a broader range of foods, but I guess that will come. Gwenn

Thank you Thank you numbgirl! I love this site. I come with the stuff that I don't understand, or that make me feel like "what is this", and puff, the fears are gone because other people have the same thing. It's so important. I don't even think the surgeons get some of this stuff. The other day someone wrote the the left shoulder pain got worse after walking. Well, I'd had the same. Even recently. When I'd told the surgeon, he looked like I'd said I'd just come from Mars. So I thought maybe something else was wrong with my shoulder but reading the post alerted me that the surg just hadnt hear that. And it made sense. Because when you're active, the gas moves. Anyway, I am not eating much and my food seems to get stuck in the spot between my breasts- even when I chew alot and eat very slowly. I can't imaging eating less after the fill. Right now, to get the Protein in they want. I'm eating 5 times a day. Just the protein. And the good news.......I've down another few pounds....THE scale MOVED! Down 31 total. Gwenn:thumbup:

I'm 5 weeks and having the same. It seems to be a theme here. It's tough. I'm older and weight loss is suddenly slow, although I'm not complaining about the 28.5 I've lost. I just want to see 30 so much! Then of course, I'll want to see 35 and on and on. I eat between 4-5 oz of protein a meal and also have a snack sometime during the day. If I can I also eat some veggies at dinner, and have couple of whole wheat crackers with lunch. Calories are probably about 700-800. Varies of course. I eat mostly fish and some chicken. So, I've been freaked out about the loss stop, but I gather it's normal and so I'll go with the flow here and hope for the best after my first fill next week. Gwenn

I'm wondering if I have a small bit of same. On one of my incisions there's like a little-----almost a skin tag. Its hard and round like a piece of Kosher salt. I wouldn't care but when my bra hits it, it makes it pull. I noticed same thing on my port scar. I was thinking it was a bit of glue left over.....but does this sound like what you're discussing? I'm going for first fill on the 4th so I'll show it to Dr. then. Gwenn

Gillian, Have you been losing steadily or did you have dives and plateaus since banding. I ask because I started with BMI of 55, lost 28 ish since, but last week has been up and down with same 2 pounds. I didn't think I'd hit a stop this soon. Seems too soon. Any thoughts? Gwenn

My brother-in-law had to do a three week pre op diet and the reason was to flatten the liver. My surgeon doesn't do it. I was told that I had fat around my liver- I knew it from past tests and from the abdominal pictures they took pre band. Then the surgeon told my husband as well. Supposedly, that will go away, at least to some extent, by the weight loss. I hope so. What he said was, this is curable.....but if she went on as she has been, it could be scirhosis (sp) of the liver. So, that was just another reason to be happy I did this. Gwenn

I think you're right on about the freedom we have here. I never thought of support groups, but when I was on South Beach Diet, I went on theirs and there was an amazing group of women on that one. And boy did everyone let their hair down- because food is not just the program, it was all the stuff that led to eating. And we posted our weight! That was a first for me. Unfortunately, some things went wrong on it and a ton of people left (being weight it was very emotional). But I made three friends that I email with everyday and the four of us are very tight- I'm the lapband guinea pig at the moment. And it's so apart from the rest of our lives that we spill everything. I mean stuff we'd never tell anyone! Very safe. So, I love support boards. And like you, I love that I can whine. And on top of that, we can't call the doctor's office every 5 minutes about everything. I came here constantly after the surgery to see if others had the same stuff happening as I did. It's very reassuring when we're not alone. Who better to understand what we're going through than us? Anyway, I've got my own whining. My stomach is out of whack again, hemmoroid is bothering me, and diahrea again. I am breaking my docs rule and went back to my stomach meds- I can't crush, but I cut into very small pieces. And I've got to find a way to go back to Metamucil. I tried his preferred Benefiber, but it's not as good. Just have to figure it out. It's my only real issue. Keeps me from feeling GOOD. See, my whining. Gwenn

I'll tell you something I find interesting. I haven't had a fill- first is next week, but I simply can't eat beyond a certain point. And I'm not that hungry. When I become hungry, just a little takes the edge off and very full happens very quickly. I can't even take in too much Water at a time. This is amazing to me. I had a normal dinner tonight and could not finish.......now, if the scale would just cooperate. I am so happy to hear that you're beginning to feel it and that all appears to be okay with you. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Gwenn

Honey, you can whine to me anytime. All I seem to do on here is whining. It's my whining site. So, I'm here for you anytime. Gwenn

I hope it doesn't mean they're gaining weight!! LOL Must be about the band. It does stretch out. I was reading about it today. Now I understand why one needs sometimes several fills before feeling restricted for a time. I hope this works.. www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-the-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738 Gwenn