NeenBand

Mexico is out of reachfor me, I'm on the east coast and on a very limited income. Foo. Foo. foo foo

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. They help. Alex, I'll call tomorrow, thanks!.

Hi! I'm a vegetarian too! I'm so glad someone posted this thread. I need ideas to up the protien and fill me up. My weight is stalled.

I called Medicare and basically, I'm out of luck. I have charity care with the hospital, but the doctor's fees are $450, I am told. I'd really rather have it done by fluroscope, and I don't even know if getting it done by a different doctor is even an option. I don't want to jeopardize my relationship with the current doctor.

I think some of you need to chill out. This guy came in here to discuss the problem, try not to be so judgmental. ANyway, to give you advice and not to call you names, I'd like to say this is actually quite common. In fact, my counselor brought up the fact that changes in body image, and bariatric surgery will either make a strong marriage stronger, or be the flame that brings to light a marriage's weaknesses. I would defo suggest counseling. It sounds like things may have gotten stagnant in your marriage, you have grown apart on some level, lack emotional intimacy or all of the above. Also, many times when people are heavy our self esteem is in the tubes so feeling good about ourselves allows us to take steps we might not have done before, like getting out of a unfulfilling relationship. Also, when we are heavy, it can feel safe to an insecure partner, and seeing us look good and becoming more social is a threat to that. In any case, your in some dangerous waters and if you'd like to keep the relationship, seek out some help with it. Best of luck.

Well, the doctors are highly respected AND also work in a very affluent area. Plus, they do it under flouroscope, no exceptions. I'm trying to get through to Medicare to complain.

Check out what I wrote here; http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=20319 If you have Medicare and are looking for surgery or fills, you have to have it done at a rare "Center of Excellence" or they won't pay for it.

I'm furious!! First I had to wait over 3 months before medicare would pay for a fill. So FINALLY, I have my first fill scheduled for July 13th. I get a call from the doctor's office saying Medicare has just put through a stipulation that in order for them to pay for it, I must get my fill at a center or hospital of "Certified Excellence". My doctor does not belong to a place "certified" with them, and in fact they told me, there are very few in the country. SO NOW I CAN'T GET A FILL!!! I'm sitting here with a band in me that they paid for, and that I'm also paying for and it's doing nothing, NOTHING for my health. Out of pocket would cost me over $650, and if I needed an unfill, that would cost me extra too. Medicare will also not pay for surgery now unless it';s at a place "Certified Excellence", so if you have Medicare and your getting this done, you better look into it.

Thanks Sunta!

I have chest tightness caused by 3 things; Asthma, panic disorder and costocondritis.

I am unfilled and going for my first in 2 weeks. I am a "sweller" so I am nervous. Is it a given that you will PB with a fill?

Hey ladies! Sorry! I thought I updated this. Upper GI shows everything normal. so it was my stomach swelling after a near-PB experience. Your right Kathy, I am such a sweller. (it's the Fibromyalgia) I seem to be okay now. No more pain. I'm supposed to go for my first fill the second week of July and I'm not looking forward to it for obvious reasons! And thank you for the prayer. It always helps me.

Gaynor this has happened to me recently as well, and I'm not even filled! I've been wide open for over amonth. Could eat anything I wanted. All of a sudden, I'm restricted again and I can't eat certain foods. The only thing that has changed is I started on a new medication. I had a upper GI and a scope all all is well. Weird.

I think we may be nude folks, and here is why; Just as I was starting to go out, the nurse began to move the sheet down from my boobs and then stopped to see if I was out. Also (and this is embarrassing) I had a pad on with those horrible surgical panties they give you, and when I woke up, the surgical panties were on but the pad was gone.

I had the same temperature for 3 days. Doctor said it was due to being dyhydrated and the body's response to pain and surgery. I had some chest issues due to the tubing and swelling. But defo call your doctor.

Wow! Thanks so much for this!!!! We banded vegetarians are sometimes overlooked! :-)

That's not very encouraging. I know someone will come along and say "But the risks of being fat, you know the risks, etc it's worth it, etc etc etc" But that's easy to say while we are feeling well and nothing is gone wrong, but it's small consolation to someone who has it removed and is having pain or problems every day for the rest of their life.

Okay Kath! The throbbing is pretty bad tonight. I'm thinking I will have to go to soft for a while, because the 3 days on it after that PB did not seem to help and it's very swollen.

Phyllis, I am so sorry!! I can understand your fear. One of the main reason's I got this was to lose weight so my GERD would resolve and lower the risk of cancer. I was just posting in another thread that I had GERD before banding and the banding did not relieve it, like it has for others. I wish I could add something other than how sorry I am.

I have acid reflux. I've had it for years, before banding and still do, although it's not as bad. It's still there. I wonder at how some of the other bandsters have had their dissapear after banding. Lucky!

IT IS!!! We (my family and boyfriend) are so happy over here!!:clap2:

ALL CLEAR!!!!! Benign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got the tests today. THANK YOU GOD and thank all of you who prayed and sent me light and good energy!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Hey! I'm back from the endoscopy! Doc said everything looks fine. Said my throat and my band is a-okay. YAY! What a nice gastro doc he was too. I'm wondering if I irritated my pouch or stoma after my golf ball incident? I rested it for 3 days, but perhaps that wasn't enough? I wonder what it is ?

That's true (I hope!) I'll post later what they find with the scope Kath. Thank you. I'll be honest, I'm freaking about this. I want to say "take this thing out of me!!"

Thanks lildarlin, That happened to me twice 2 weeks ago for the first time, and I've had that feeling ever since.