jenhay

Hi All, Just got an official letter from my insurance stating that they will cover 12 adjustments total, so I am SO HAPPY. It has been a long process. It has taken 5 months to get everything straightend out as to whether they will cover the fills or not. It took 7 full months from the time I first went to a dr. about the lap band to the date of my surgery. Go figure! Now I can make an appt. and get that long overdue fill. Thanks everyone for all the information and help. Jenhay.

Hi All, Thanks for your input on the costs of fills. I have a friend who had the lap band in Louisville and all her fill for the first year were included in the cost. She was a self-pay and I thought that was why it was included. I did get a call from my insurance today and they told me that my adjustments WOULD BE COVERED! But I still am not happy with this particular weight loss clinic charging so much. I realize that the clinic is a part of the hospital and I have to see the dietician each time I go but that should not mean they should charge a $450.00 fee each time I go to get a fill. I do not have a problem with the $380.00 Dr. fee as I can see from everyones' different fee amounts that it is not totally outrageous on its own. But the bottom line is that my insurance is going to pay so I can make an appt. to get that long overdue fill. Again, thanks for all the information that you all shared. Jenhay

I had lapband surgery in July, 2008 and had my first fill in Oct and the second one in Dec and had another one scheduled for Feb which I have had to cancel because I have gotten the bill for the previous fills and my insurance is balking on paying the cost. I had everything pre- approved and went thru all the red tape and my insurance did pay for most of my surgery but it seems that none of my fills were included with the cost of my surgery. My Dr. charges $380.00 for a fill and there is a $450.00 Facility charge on top of that for a grand total of $830.00 per visit. I feel as if I have been left in limbo and can not take advantage of my lapband because I cannot afford the cost of the fills to get the restriction to make it all work. I have read on some threads that people are paying as little as $100.00 per fill and would pay that myself if necessary. I live in Western Kentucky and had my lapband in Evansville, IN and would appreciate any info on qualified fill Doctors within a 2 hr drive from me. Has anyone else had this problem? I went to a really good reputable weight loss center and just did not realize that the fill would be so expensive or is it my insurance they are trying to rip off? Jenhay

Sounds great. Will probably start on Monday. Finally got electricity back yesterday and the last of my family left last night. Got off work at noon today and have been working non-stop since to try and get my house at least liveable again. I adore my family but I totally spoiled them growing up. I was a stay at home mom and I did everything for them and they really don't know how to keep a house. But thats what I get for having three boys and letting them be my whoile life for 25 yrs.! Talk to you all later. Thanks for inviting me. Edie, make sure you tell your husband that I said thank you for doing the kind of work that he does. I know we were without electricity for 8 days and water foir a couple of days, but if it had not been for all the great work from our utility guys it could have been a lot worse. Jenhay

oh I forgot to mention that my whole family, ( married son/wife/2 grandkids, 2 single sons who live next door and 1 of their best friends and a girlfriend) has been staying with us for the past 6 days also. Empty nest syndrome is certainly a thing of the past, at least until we get electricity back!

Hi You Two, Have not been on the net much for the last week considering the ice storm we had and the only electricity we have had for the last 6 days is from our generator which we only run for about 6 to 8 hrs a day, and we alternate the times so we can keep the house warm. would love to join you on your trip, just give me the details and as soon as my life gets back to half way normal, I will start. Edie, how are you doing in all this mess from the ice storm? I know you only live about 25 miles from me

GO GIRLS GO! jenhay

Hey Ladies! Where are you? Just happened to run across you all's little trip and wondered how you are doin. Are you getting any closer? Edie, I just noticed that we are from the same area! Jenhay

A years worth of cheese and the baby back ribs! I wish it was more, but I guess I should just try harder. Been offline for a while and I think it helps a lot to stay in touch.

{sorry} and sometimes daily. My Dr. was concerned that if I continued this that I might suffer a slip. I would rather have to try a little harder than to have to have this re-done or even worse to have to have the band taken out totally.

Hi Stephiee, Congrats on being a new bride. I just had an unfill 3 and half weeks ago and have since gained 5 pds but have decided that is ok cause I know it was because of poor food choices over the holidays. I really overdid it and intend to get back on track. The reason my Dr. did the unfill is because I was throwing up at least every other dAY AND

I had a fill 3weeks before Thanksgiving and had a terrible time until my next appt, on the 2nd week of December/ I told my Dr, that I had been "throwing up" on the average of once every day or so. He was concerned that I might have a slip if I continued doing this so he didan unfill. I feel no restriction and have gained 5 pds in the last 3 and half weeks. I know that it is all my fault for eating all the wrong things over the holidays and intend to get back on track right away. I would rather have to try harder on my own than to be too tight and suffer a slip. Wish me luck. Jenhay

Hi Everyone, have not posted for a couple of weeks and am not losing as well as I would like either. I can tell by reading all your posts tha.t I am eating too much. I have been keeping a food journal on a site called FitDay and it is really easy and free to use. So much easier than trying to write everything down. Hope you can use this info....FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal Jenhay

Marie, I started on the pouch test today and so far so good, at least for today. I looked at your pictures and you look great. I would like to do that also but I am very computer challenged. I do well to log on and get to this site! I haven't even been able to do a ticker factory thing yet either. I am going to try to get to this thread at least once a day so I can keep up with everyones progress in comparison to mine'. Kimaly, Donna, Diva, you and I seem to be pretty close as far as our weight loss goes. So everyone hang in there and keep talking! Thanks Yall! Jenhay

Thanks Sunshine... I was really discouraged when I weighed this morning and learned that I had actually gained back 4 lbs in the last week! But I am back on track this morning. My downhill slide started on Halloween (bad time for me considering what a chocaholic I am and then deer season at my house, which is a big deal. Lots of company, food, card playing and visiting. I have three sons and it is like grand central station around here with all the friends and everyone stopping by cause they know this is where everyon will be and of course they all bring in food, the wrong kind. I have not told anyone outside my immediate family about my band so I need to watch more closely and not get off track so easily. Thanks for the encouragement and you keep up the good work and we will all get there eventually. Jenhay

Thanks Kimaly, I too have been at a crawl for the past month. I am going to try the pouch test for the next few days and see how things go. I was banded July 31, 08 and have lost a total of 30 lbs pre and post OP. I know I could have lost more but keep getting side tracked by weddings and social functions and need to learn to practice more self control. Also I have not posted for over a month and really am thinking that probably I should get on the site and interact more. We all need encouragement from our fellow bandsters. Let me know how you did on your pouch test please.:rolleyes2:

G-Bear, Thanks for the post. I have been on this site for several months and read a LOT of threads and posts but this is the first time I have heard of this. I was banded on july 31 and have had 1 fill and have had no restriction. I go for my second fill on Oct 10. I guess I am in for a rude awakening! I have been able to eat anything and everything and am trying very hard to maintain my weight loss from pre and post banding. I want to feel restriction very badly but hoipe not to have the symptoms you de3scribe. Good luck and hope this passes quickly for you. Jenhay

Donna, You are quite an inspiration! I was banded on July 31 and just got my first fill on Sept. 10 and since then have had a really hard time staying on track. My Doctor said to go back to reg. food after a couple of days of liquids. I feel no restriction and feel like my SAFETY NET of the past two months of liquids and mushies is gone and I am so unsure of myself as far as real food is concerned. Am I making any sense? It is almost likje I can fall back into my old eating habits if I am not very careful. I do not go for another fill until Oct, 10 and am hoping to not gain back before then. Any advice?

I Had my surgery on July 31 and just in the past 5 days have really had a problem being really hungry. It seems I can eat anthing I want and as much as I want. I am not sure this is a good thing because I have been really worried about stretching my pouch, but I am having a hard time controling my appetite. I need to get back on track before I ruin my band. HELP! Jenhay

Hi All, I was banded on July 30 by Dr. Haughn in Evansville, IN. Just found this thread and hope to learn more about where I should be in my journey as compared to others who had surgery the same day or there abouts.

Also wanted to ask if you alls incisions are itching as bad as MIne?

Hey everyone, Finally got out of the house today to celebrate my one week anniversary of the "BAND'. Not really, I had a meeting I had to go to tonight so I left about 4 hrs early so I would have time toi visit my sister and my brother and wife also. Of course there was the Hell Mart stop too. For some reason I have not been inclined to tell very many people about my being banded. MY Husband and sons and daughter-in-laws, my sister (told her to not even tell her husband) and 2 close friends, one of which was banded a year and half ago. I also have 4 brothers that do not know and we are all very close, but I just wanted to stay as private as possible. If the rest of my girldfriends ever find out They are going to be so mad, but there are about 10 more close ones and with that many females it woul be imposssible to keep a secret. Do you all think I am being too secretive? Didn't mean to write a novel here, Sorry. Any way, one week post=op and the shoulder pain is gone as is most of the burps. It gets better every day.

I too was banded on july 31 and today nis the first day that I haven't felt the need for a pain pill. The shoulder pain was actually tolerable today. The burps still give me a sharp pain in tthe chest but I am learning to deal with that. I am concerned about the amount of food intaake and thinking I may be taking in too much. Its not really food, but the Full liquid diet, and I find that in order to get all my protewin in that I have to eat like 6 times a day. I try to boost the protien but it seems only the sweet protein drinks have the most and I am so sick of sweet shakes and stuff.

I was banded yesterday also, but because it was over an hours drive there, the Doc wanted me to stay the night. I checked in yesterdaY AT 11 thirty pm , had surgery at 1 thirty pm and left the hospital at 4 thirty pm this afternoon. Feel pretty good except for the shoulder pain from the gas which iI am taking gas-X for and the Dr. prescribed pain pills also. Good luck to you all. Jenhay

Brandy, I think you look great! Keep up the good work and you will be looking even better. I go for my band in 2 more days. Thursday at 1:30 pm. Wish me luck. Jenhay