NeenBand

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is also a cause of this. Many women have it and don't even realize it.

Bumping to find out what happened to the left shoulder pain peoples, as mine is really bad.

Bumping because I am getting this on and off since surgery and it's REALLY bad today.

Hi Missie, I'm glad you finally found some answers. I am also having stomach pain in the lower part of my stomach. Everything feels swollen in there too. It's pretty bad and it radiates to my left shoulder and left side of my neck. I've been taking ant acids and aloe, sipping on ginger tea right now and it helps a little, but not totally. I had a scope and xrays about a month ago and everything showed up fine. Wish we all had answers.

Update to say I'm still calling around (doctors, Medicare, Hospitals) and basically everyone has no answers fo me.

Not a lot I'm afraid. In fact, I just called the only one closest to me that accepts Medicare and he won't do fills on other doctor's patients. I'm really at a loss as to what to do.

That's true. And I can't wait months for a fill. I'll have to call another doctor I found for the fill. I wish my doctor would take a reduced fee.

AN update for you, I called someone else at the office and they told me the "Medicare Stamp of Poop" will take a few months. So it would be worth waiting out to stay with my preferred doctors.

Hi Aimee, I just might have to do that. I like my current surgeon. This stinks. Randi, I am headed there now with my comments. This surgery requires after care, it's amazing they would pull the availablity of doctors and hospitals out from under people. I HEREBY DUBB THIS NEW CENTER OF EXCELLENCE THINGIE THE "Medicare Stamp of Poop"

heh, your so right jack. I wonder if chosing this pirate avatar was the smart move? I really appreciate the support everyone is giving me here. It's pretty upsetting. I literally don't know what to do now. Just to clarify to everyone, I can still see my doctor in his office etc, but fills and other procedures will not be covered by Medicare. So, if something were to happen, from needing an unfill to something more serious, I'm out of luck. Thanks drewslou, I'm glad I can make you smile. :-)

Hi Dody, I'm glad it worked out for you. Only three hospitals in my state qualify for this. None near me. But to tell you the truth, this one doctor I was talking about who is in the CENTER OF EXCELLENCE had only done 100 bands, which is why I did not go with him in the first place. SO I really have to wonder at this "seal of approval" In any case, i'm so upset. I went and had SURGERY, an implant put inside me, went through a rough recovery and now nothing. I have no aftercare paid for by Medicare. And I'm not working, so I can't pay out of pocket. This is not only frusterating me to the point of tears, but has me so worried now too.

Hi Pat and thanks. I had it done at Morristown Memorial in NJ. Morristown is not one of them. And my surgeons office doesn't include fills with their surgery price. I have Medicare and Medicare won't pay for any aftercare unless you have it done at a hospital they approve of, and there is only 3 in my state, one way down in South Jersey, one way up north of me and only one other doctor about 40 min away. Now here is the kicker, the one 40 minutes away was the first surgeon I consulted with, and I decided to go with someone else. He will remember me and it would be awkward to say the least. "Hi, remember me? I didn't think you good enough to do my surgery, but can you give me fills?" I'm just freaking amazed that Medicare would leave people like me out in the cold without after care.

I've passed out a few times in my life and it's scary! Once when I had the flu and the others because of heat and lack of food. I was on an airplane in the summer and it was delayed and just sitting on the runway. No air was moving inside and it grew stuffy. It was a morning flight and I did not have time for brekfast. All of a sudden that terrible feeling came over me, I started sweating buckets and passed out for a few seconds on the shoulder of my boyfriend next to me. Another time I was on a train...(embarassing) and another time being fitted for my wedding dress. One time I was sitting at a B&B having a drink with a girlfriend and there was a fireplace next to me. Some stranger who sat way across the room kept piling logs on top of it and I passed out. A funny ending to that story, my friend took me outside and threw me on top of a snowbank where I regained my senses. But people were walking past and looking at me, I could not get up. I was so embarrassed I just blurted out I was pregnant and feeling faint. It's not fun

I just got off the phone with medicare again, and you won't believe what they told me...to travel to one of the "Approved Centers of Excellence". Oh right, just what people on Medicare can afford to do. I called the hospital my doctor works out of and they have no idea when they will get this freaking insane Medicare Stamp of Poop that leaves so many Lap Banders across the country out in the cold. NO CARE!! Medicare Banders you better think twice now. I'm also very ticked off at the lack of help and caring all the way around for someone in my postion. **RANT OVER**

Okay here is an update and it's upsetting. I called my doctor's office and asked what I was supposed to do now? hey said call Medicare and complain. I said, I did complain but what do I do, I need fill and care, so will the doctor's work with me? I told them I am unemployed and had charity care with the hospital they work out of, so if the doctors would work with me on the fill .... I did not get help on that and they told me it would be $450 for the doctors to do my fill and did I still want to have my fill and have to pay for it. I asked if they could refer me out to another doctor and they told me their is no places Medicare approved, and I listed the names off the link of hospitals that Randii posted. SO I didn't get a referral either. So I'm very dissapointed in both medicare and that my doctor's office wouldn't lend me a hand with this. 5 Months post banded and no fill, nothing but a band sitting inside me. I don't know what to do. Maybe I should put up a "Pay for My Fill" Charity website or Ebay auction. jeez.... :-/

I love me some coffee too Paula. It's been the hardest to give up. My first real job was working in a coffee - tea store that grinded blends from all over the world for the rich and famous on 3rd ave in NYC. Due to my Irish mom, I grew up on tea. Even in our bottles. It was called "babba and tea". A mily sweet weak tea and it was the highlight of our day. Then I went to work in this place inNYC and had my first introduction to great coffee. I love the smell of it, the taste and the buzz, but man does it rip through my innards.

Crikeey, this so stinks. I'm sitting here with a band instide that they paid for, going on 5 months with it doing nothing. Thanks Medicare.

I'd love to know who they are!!!

This is true. I've heard of women being at parties with her and of Joy being very catty. She doesn't seem like a nice woman either. In fact, most of the women who have left or been fired from the show eventually talk about how unkind the women on the show were to them. Which is part of the reason i don't watch the show. I won't give themthe ratings. Plus, sitting around listening to the cackling of these hens and their opinions on things would drive me up the wall. Women are hard on each other aren't they?? Bottom line: Mean people suck.

My dislike of Star has nothing to do with her weight loss. I have not told anyone but my family and respect her decision not to talk about it in the media. She didn't sign on to be anyone's weight loss pied piper or advocate. But then again, she DID write a book about how to get your life together and it did talk about weight loss didn't it? If your going to mentor people in weight loss issues, and enough to write it in a book, then yes, you've chosen to put yourself out there and yes, speak the whole truth then. I refuse to give her my "little people's" dollar by buying her book, but if so, methinks I smell a hypocrite. No, my dislike comes from hearing about, and knowing of many people both in the industry and the "simple man" treated badly by her. Quite simply, she is not a nice person. So, what I would say to any mean person.... buh-bye and let the door hit you on the way out!

I find Nexium is not as helpful for me as Protonix is. Perhaps switching? And yes, no matter what I take, coffee will make the acid break through no matter what.

Buh-bye Star. Karma for all the dead animals you wear and all the people you've been unkind to on your way up. Maybe this will be a humbling experience for her to learn the lesson of kindness and that all people are equal and worthy of respect.

Hi Becky, I don't blame you for being nervous! If you have the band taken out, will the problem go away??? Keep us updated.

Check out Robin Robertson's vegetarian cookbooks. REALLY good.

This is a big deal in the media because those in the entertainment industry have been waiting and waiting for this day to come to Star. She is one of the most disliked, hated even, people in Hollywood. I never liked her and refuse to watch her. I have heard so many stories from people who were ill treated by her. SHe is NOT a nice person. Look at what E! online says, it's tyupical of how she treated people. And she has been known to have "the little people " fired if they did not please her.: http://www.eonline.com/Gossip/Awful/Daily2006/060630.html