bjperkins54

I am 1 year out from surgery and only 11.5 lbs from my goal weight -- I've lost a total of 75+lbs since I've started on this trip......but I'm having recurring issues that I need to know if anyone else has experienced. #1 prior to having lapband surgery, I has about 8-10" of my colon removed due to diverticulitis which almost perforated my colong. #2 4 months later I had lapband and have been doing wonderul until about 8 weeks ago -- when I started having issues of feeling "full" all the time -- not being able to take in liquids 30 min after eating without losing what I had eaten. We thought my band had slipped and the doc took out all the Fluid -- which gave me relief. Barium swallow test 4 days later showed no slippage (which is not unusial after the fluid is removed from the band). So 2 weeks later, the doc adds 3 cc fluid backto the band (previously I had 6 cc). #3 did fine for a week or so, then while on vacxation in Florida, got to where I couldn't keep anything down for 2 days -- then overnight, started getting better and was back to eating normally within 2 days. #4 Did fine again until 5 day ago, when I started feeling "full" all the time again.....could eat Breakfast fine, then lunch fine, but by late afternoon had extremem indigestion issues and if I tried to eat, ended up throwing up. This went on through yesterday...then suddenly this morning, I wake up feeling fine....have eaten 3 meals and 1 snack without issues. I am totally confused -- it's almost as if I get something stuck...but yet, am able to eat in the mornings -- as if food is just going very slow through my pouch. I am so frustrated and confused as to what can be going on. My symptons are very much like a slipped band, but once slipped -- it doesn't "fix" itself..... All tests so far have shown no slippage and no gall stones....so has anyone else had these strange symptoms and if so, what was the cause?? Thanks!

My doctor wants me to lose 4-6 lbs per month, which is a nice steady rate. I'm doing that, and it sounds like you are too! Don't be discouraged --that is a good steady weight loss and you'll be healthier for it!

I was banded on 11/12 -- I lost 10 lbs in the first 2 weeks, but none since (now that I'm on a regular diet) - but since it took me 10 months previously to lose 22 lbs, 10 lbs in 2 weeks was awesome to me!! The last 2 things my doctor said to me before leaving the hospital was "Don't expect to lose weight in this first month" and "You WILL be hungry". Well, I wasn't hungry for the first 3 weeks, now I really get hungry between meals but still sticking to the rules -- my first fill is next Thursday, so I'm looking forward to that. And I DID lose 10 lbs, so I'm also happy with that! Also, I was just realeased back to full activity this week -- so I've started my workouts again...so hoping that kick starts my weight loss again. So -- I think if you lost 16 lbs, you are doing great and will probably start losing again once you have a fill and start exercising. Since I'm new at this, I'm guessing....but congrats and good luck!!

Hi -- I'm from N Ga too (Jasper) and Dr Champion banded me on 11/12 --I'm doing great post-op. I really like his staff and Doctor Champion. I think you will like all of them. Let me know how things go...Good luck!

It really depends on your doctor I think -- mine said after 3 weeks -- I can eat regular food, regular activity and the occasional alcoholic drink is not an issue. I haven't had any of my red wine for 3 weeks -- 3 more and I'm gonna open a bottle and toast my new life with 1 glass of fine red wine!

Why should we not include it? My pre-op weight loss was from months of dieting and working out before I could even get approved for the surgery. And my diet just prior to surgery wasn't like many here.. I was on low carbs, no sugar and low caffeine for 2 weeks prior to surgery and on liquids for the last day only. And why does it matter WHEN it was lost? What should matter to everyone is that we are all in the same struggle here. A pound is a pound, no matter when or how it was lost. We should be proud of every pound we lose.

Mine also includes pre-op weight loss -- since I had to be on a 6 months monitored plan prior to insurance approving my surgery, I'm counting every pound I have lost....it's been hard! I'm 3 days post-op, but my ticker shows what I started at in March 2008 until my weight as of my surgery day.

My doctor recommended them....and I think they are great -- it only take 1/2 one for the 20g of protein needed and I just drink it right down. A little sweet tasting, but not bad at all and it beats trying to get down one of those powder mixes!

I'm going for my pre-op today.....surgery on Wed. I'm not nervous at all so far, just ready to get this done. I've been working for this since March and it's finally here! WOO!

I don't know on how much overweight -- since my weight has been at a BMI between 35-40 for a few years, every weight I turned in qualified me for this BMI range. But you must have 1 co-morbidity problem if you fall within that range....mine is BP. I know sleep apnea and diabetes are 2 others -- I can't remember what the 4th one is.

Aetna requires that you go through a nutrition program with a licensed nutritionist (6 visits) -- I've been working on this since March....went through it via my surgeons office and lost 20 lbs during that 5-6 or months. They also want proof that you've been overweight for at least 2 or 3 years -- I just provided them the last 3 years medical history which showed my weight on each visit to the doctor. But, since my BMI is < 40, they initally turned me down because my BP is under control with medication. Dr. Champion then had to do a peer-to-peer call with the physician that denied approval and they then reversed their decision. Apparently, this is normal with Aetna -- Dr. Champion told me in August that this is how it would play out. Outside of those 2 thing, if the BMI is over 40, apparently approval isn't an issue --it's only when you fall within the 35-40 BMI range that they like to turn it down. If you have decided on a surgeon already, then use them for helping through the insurance stuff -- Dr Champions office knew what Aetna required, what they would do concerning approval.....and they made sure we had everything covered before we even applied for approval. Makes life much easier!

Yes -- scheduled for Nov 12! Was surprised I could get on the schedule that quickly. So I'm now on my pre-op diet -- which basically just consists of cutting out carbs,sugar and reducing caffeine. So not too bad. Do my pre-op visits on 11/10 --surgery on11/12!

Monika....it's very likely she's just worried. I know my husband finds anything negative about my upcoming surgery that he can, but it's just because he's worried. Sit down with your friend and talk honestly with her --- make her talk to you -- that's what I had to do with my husband. He is supportive of me, but very worried about the surgery, so by understanding that, I can deal with him easier. Good luck with your friend, you need all the support you can get!

Wow -- there really is a difference in pre-op diets. Mine is cut out the carbs and sugars and reduce caffeine -no liquid diet until after surery. I've been working toward this since March when I started the 6 mo diet/nutritionist visits....and as the doc said, Aetna initally turned me town and he had to conference with them -- then they reversed...then it moved fast! Good luck to everyone -- it is scary but exciting.

November 12 for me! Just got the date yesterday -- was surprised I could get it done that quickly but I'm glad to get it over with before the Holidays!

I've been telling everyone about it -- I'm excited. I think sometimes when you tell folks, you hear "well you need to speak to so-and-so -- they did it and had a terrible time!!". I just smile and let them know that I've done my research, and I realize that until it's done I don't know what my experience will be....but this is right for ME. As my sweet Mom told a dear friend when she got upset about me having this surgery -- "Becky is smart, she's done her reserach, and I trust that she is making a smart choice for herself"....gotta love that Mom support! :thumbup:

things went exactly as Dr. Champion said they would....Aetna initially did not approve the surgery because my high blood pressure was under control with meds......(Dr. C said they would turn it down and he'd have to get on the phone with them)....sure enough -- he did a peer to peer -- and they called to say they've reversed their decision. Just waiting on the official letter now to schedule surgery!

My husband doesn't want me to have surgery either -- but I told him I needed and wanted his support...but I had researched lapband for a long time and I was going to do it with or without his support. Luckily he is giving me support -- I just got my insurance approval today, so will be scheduling surgery soon. Just be straight with them and tell them you are going to do it == with or without them -- but you sure would love to have them in your corner. It's your life, your body and YOU have to make the decision for YOU....not for your family. My hubby is a skinny little thing and has no clue what being overweight is about -- but he does see how I struggle to lose weight. Be strong and do what YOU need to do for yourself. One more thing....have them read this forum...there is tons of good info here -- and you'll read both the good and bad experiences...but it is informational and i've asked my husband to read this forum too.

Looks great SnT!

Hey SickNTired -- noticed your Go Vols! I'm a huge Vols fan myself. My surgeon is Dr. Champion in Marietta -- he does surgery at Northside. My insurance approval was sent in last week -- haven't heard anything yet. I'm guessing around October for my surgery as well. They haven't said a thing about an upper gi or ultrasound or anything for me...they said when the insurance approval was received, they'd schedule my surgery within a month! I just had emergency surgery on July 1 for a colon re-section due to diverticulitis -- so he wants at least 12 weeks between surgeries. Good luck to you! GO VOLS -- BEAT UCLA!!

I'm no expert, but after discussing this with my doctor just last week -- he said the lapband will stop working at some point, but there is not really long term data to know what that average life span is yet... ....at the time it does wear out, you have to either leave it in not working, replace it or remove it entirely.

Good luck to you! It will be a few more weeks for me --waiting on approval from Aetna right now.

Well, I think I figured out the sig question....just had to dig a little on the board!

by Aetna -- have furnished 3 years of weight history -- saw my doc on Thursday and he's sending in the request for approval for my lap-band surgery. My husband is still against it, but will support me if I'm adamant about having this. Doc says not to be surprised if they refuse it initially -- then he says he'll have to get on the phone and "remind" them that I've done everything they require. But I can't do anything for at least 5-6 weeks anyway -- I had emergency surgery to remove a portion of my colon on July 1, so he wants to wait at least 12 weeks until he does this surgery. Hopefully the two won't conflict with each other! BTW, Would someone tell me how to get a ticker set upon my profile? I can't seem to find/figure it out -- thanks!

http://www.drchampion.com/ Don -- here is the link to Dr. Champions web site in Marietta GA....He will be the one to do my surgery, when the time comes