cherieinnv

I just wonder if BCBS is stalling because I've almost met my out-of-pocket limit so they will have to pay for all of the surgery and hospital. Call me cynical... so I'm going to see a surgeon this week about having a knee replacement. My knee is bone-on-bone so I don't think they can deny it. I was hoping if I lost enough weight, I wouldn't need knee surgery, but it's probably inevitable either way.

I had this happen years ago because of ruptured disks in my back. Keep after the doctors to act quickly because it may lessen any permanent damage. I had to have surgery for mine. Please don't be embarrassed. You're injured and need assistance and maybe a cool walking stick for awhile! Hang in there.

Someone new from the surgeon's office contacted me this week and said the file was sent to insurance on Monday. I guess if I don't hear back from her next week I'll start checking with BCBS for a status.

I feel like it's too late to request a new advocate and I've learned to go to the woman that assists him when I need help. However, I have another issue now. My paperwork was supposed to be submitted to insurance a week ago but when I called BCBS on Fri. to see if they had received it, they said no. This is so frustrating! So I called my advocate and got voicemail, as always, but didn't bother to leave a message because I don't want to wait the usual 4 days for a reply. So I emailed the assistant, who always answers promptly.

Yes, they can fix it during the same surgery.

I'm glad you had fast turnaround. It sounds like more of an emergency than mine. I have pain at the port site and belching, but I can eat. Let me know how you do!

I'm worried about the lapband compliance issue. After I only lost 25 lbs my 1st year, my surgeon started yelling at me about messing up his metrics so I left and never went back. No one else would adjust the band because they didn't want the liability. I then had to move to TX for my job and again, no one will adjust it. I've managed to lose 80 lbs total since then, but just maintained in the last year. I'm having a lot of pain around my port site and get the dry heaves, once so bad that I went to ER. I'm starting to think my insurance will pay for band but not GBP, which makes me worry about regaining the weight. But I'm seeing a therapist who specializes in ED and went to OA meetings for 2 yrs. I'm now attending SMART Recovery support group, which really helps. If nothing else, the lapband convinced me I have an ED, so it did me some good. Sorry to ramble, but it's nice to have people who understand how sad I'll be if I can't get a GBP. I've gone from a size 26/28 to a 20/22, but don't know if I can get any thinner without help.

Did they require a certaun BMI or comorbidities?

Good to know. Thanks!

I am almost 6 mos after surgery and my hair has improved. It looked thin before surgery so I cut it short when I started to work out again. It is looking fuller now. I try to take my multi daily and use a gentle shampoo. Plenty of protein is key. I also drink lots of water.

I was banded 6/26/08 so I am more than 5 mos out and only 20 lbs lost. I lost 30 before surgery. I just received an email from a friend who was banded the same day and has lost 50 lbs. Oh well, I am exercising and I know it will start coming off again. I am doing 1 day at a time...

Thanks for the encoragement, Michellelei! It wasn't as bad as I thought. I only gained 2 1/2 lbs. Dr. Teng gave me a lecture, though. He said I'm the quarterback of the team and I have to be willing to go for the touchdown/ My 3rd fill was a little bit more intense than the first two. I asked the doctor to be more aggressive, he said no, but then said he put in so much it was squirting back out. For the first time, I could hear gurgling when I drank the water. I was able to drink coffee and a small yogurt later on. I am hopeful that I'll make it through the holidays.

Thanks for the encoragement, Michellelei! It wasn't as bad as I thought. I only gained 2 1/2 lbs. Dr. Teng gave me a lecture, though. He said I'm the quarterback of the team and I have to be willing to go for the touchdown/ My 3rd fill was a little bit more intense than the first two. I asked the doctor to be more aggressive, he said no, but then said he put in so much it was squirting back out. For the first time, I could hear gurgling when I drank the water. I was able to drink coffee and a small yogurt later on. I am hopeful that I'll make it through the holidays.

I see my surgeon tomorrow for my 3rd fill. I was banded 5 months ago and have gained some weight back. I don't think the doctor is going to be very happy with me, but I have next to no restriction except on the day I have a fill. Yes, I stopped going to the gym and have been eating too much. I'm hoping that this 3rd fill actually makes a difference on how much I can eat. Dr. Teng is very conservative with fills and I am going to ask that he get more aggressive this time. If I could only drink protein drinks the rest of my life, I would cope. My teen daughter even said she was disappointed in how I am doing. I did better in the pre-band stage than I've done since the band. I told her you don't get restriction until the third fill. I hope it's true. I still feel so much better than I did, and I went back to the gym yesterday. I am dealing with the emotional side of my weight by going to on-line Overeaters Anon. meetings, and it helps tremendously. I underestimated how much food can be an addiction, but I am fighting it now every day. Let's hope I haven't gained more than 10 lbs back. I need to get back down to the -50 mark and then start losing again. We'll see what happens with fill #3!

I see my surgeon tomorrow for my 3rd fill. I was banded 5 months ago and have gained some weight back. I don't think the doctor is going to be very happy with me, but I have next to no restriction except on the day I have a fill. Yes, I stopped going to the gym and have been eating too much. I'm hoping that this 3rd fill actually makes a difference on how much I can eat. Dr. Teng is very conservative with fills and I am going to ask that he get more aggressive this time. If I could only drink protein drinks the rest of my life, I would cope. My teen daughter even said she was disappointed in how I am doing. I did better in the pre-band stage than I've done since the band. I told her you don't get restriction until the third fill. I hope it's true. I still feel so much better than I did, and I went back to the gym yesterday. I am dealing with the emotional side of my weight by going to on-line Overeaters Anon. meetings, and it helps tremendously. I underestimated how much food can be an addiction, but I am fighting it now every day. Let's hope I haven't gained more than 10 lbs back. I need to get back down to the -50 mark and then start losing again. We'll see what happens with fill #3!

I haven't started attending meetings yet but am working on removing sugar and chemicals from my diet. I am allowing myself to eat and food that has 1 or 2 natural ingredients. My box of raisins just says "California seedless raisins." I also snack on dry roasted edamame (soybeans) which only contain soybeans and sea salt. I can also eat meat, vegetables, etc. I tried eliminating all flour, but they had a free turkey dinner at work yesterday and I ate the stuffing, etc. But I get my 3rd fill Monday and will ask my doctor to be a little more aggressive with the fill. I am going to try to attend a meeting, but I'm nervous about walking into my first meeting. So many people downplay that FA is an addiction; I feel embarrassed to admit it to anyone.

Thank you for starting this thread. I had stayed away from this site for awhile because I had discovered I really did have a food addiction. I never believed it until I got banded and then started fighting the band. I thought only "idiots" did that, but now I know the word is "addicts." Being a food addict felt so lonely. I tried to talk to a friend who is in NA and she dismissed my issues as being nothing compared to her addiction. I stopped talking to anyone but I wanted to say, I'd give anything just to stop eating. I know I have a compulsive nature but I stopped drinking and stopped shopping (gave up credit cards) and am very careful not to get addicted to my medications (although Xanax is a struggle). I have been roaming the Internet reading up on FA and then came back here and found this thread. The band helped me lose weight (30 pre-band and 20 post-surgery) and it stops the binge before it can get too out of control. I read last night that it takes 10 days to get out of the addictive behavior loop and today was Day 1 of no sugar. Tomorrow I add flour. I'm not ready to give up coffee, but I'll start looking for an OA meeting. I went to 1 about 20 years ago, but left because I was too proud to think I had anything in common with the OA group. Thanks for reading this, but I had to get it off my chest. Thanks for letting me know others are fighting FA and balancing the band.

Hi Purplesloane! There are a bunch of bandsters in Las Vegas and Henderson and we're all here to support you. This site is a wealth of information. Read through the various topics and you'll see that you are not alone. I was banded in June by Dr.Teng and have had a positive experience but am losing slowly. I am very happy that I was banded and I'm sure you will be, too. There are some monthly get-togethers in Las Vegas for several bandsters, too. Best of luck with your surgery and recovery!

I'm out of town that weekend but have fun!

I'm so excited! I am only 1 lb away from the 50-lb mark. I got my 2nd fill today and the surgeon said I was "right on track." I lost 30 lb before the surgery so "only" 19 since surgery on June 27, 2008, but I am happy that the scale is finally moving again. It was almost comical how it never budge from 269. I am staying home from the gym tonight but have been going religiously, which helps with the stress and mood. I am also doing well with "head hunger" since I started researching food addiction and admitted I have an addiction that is easily triggered by some foods. I have 1 good support group and just found another for eating disorders which I will attend next month. I see my family for the first time in 3 years later this month. I hope they can see a difference!!

I'm so excited! I am only 1 lb away from the 50-lb mark. I got my 2nd fill today and the surgeon said I was "right on track." I lost 30 lb before the surgery so "only" 19 since surgery on June 27, 2008, but I am happy that the scale is finally moving again. It was almost comical how it never budge from 269. I am staying home from the gym tonight but have been going religiously, which helps with the stress and mood. I am also doing well with "head hunger" since I started researching food addiction and admitted I have an addiction that is easily triggered by some foods. I have 1 good support group and just found another for eating disorders which I will attend next month. I see my family for the first time in 3 years later this month. I hope they can see a difference!!

My surgeon invited a plastic surgeon to speak at one of the support meetings, but it all seemed to apply more to those getting gastric bypass than those of us getting banded. I have no interest in (and no funds for) PS, which is one reason I went with the band. Seeing photos of people and their scars was nothing I wanted to see. I think people should be informed about the possibilities, but I would also like to hear about skin care to help avoid PS. I am using Neutrogena's body oil to help my skin stay moist and Vitamin E cream on my scars. So far, so good.

I FINALLY broke my plateau! I dropped 5 lbs and finally got past the number 269, which I have been fighting for 2 months! I "only" have 99 lbs to lose now, but am glad it is no longer triple digits. I've been exercising but was forced to take a break because I came down with a bad cold, and NOW the weight drops off. Back to the gym tomorrow, I want to turn this 47 lb loss into 50! I get my 2nd fill next week, so this is perfect timing. YAHOO!

What a terrible experience! I'm so sorry this happened, but please don't give up on yourself or your weight loss. Talk to several doctors about your options. Please stay on the forum and give us a status.