sisterfunkhaus

I have wodered about this b/c I POSSIBLY have Systemic Lupus. I have tested +1 ANA ONCE in five years. My doctor at this point calls it an inflammatory arthropothy. I take Plaquanil and have no symptoms as of right now. My symptoms have never been life or death. I've never had any organ involvement. As a matter of fact, I NEVER had even one symptom until five years ago when I gained weight for the second time. In my case, I think my body isn't liking the 100 lbs. of extra fat. I have a feeling that the band is going to help. I am very glad to see other autoimmune people having good luck with the band. I haven't gotten mine yet, but I will soon :eek: The doctors office I went to before was going to do it. The doc that I am going to didn't seem to think it would be a problem and has done this surgery on several auto-immune people.

I am also curious, what happens when the body rejects the band?

Yeah! WTG!! Congrats to you. I can't wait for that to be me :eek:

Thanks for the warm welcome :couch2: I am very excited and ready to go!! I FEEL much better about it now that it's been over a year and I have done more research. I feel really confident about this. These boards are great!

I have my second consult for lap band March 13th. My first was in 2004 and I chickened out. My insurance company is pretty tough about the surgery, so I already have financing set up just in case. I AM getting this surgery, period.

I'm not scared of much. I am pretty excited actually.

As for my cover story? I'm not hiding it from anyone. I'm excited and proud. I do know someone who did though and I didn't quite understand it. She didn't really work her band though and stopped getting fills. She didn't lose much. I WANT people to know. That way I WILL feel the pressure to stay on the program and work my band.

I actually just called and have an appointment for Mid March :couch2: They were AWESOME and answered all of my questions. I did read about him in D magazine, so that was a plus too. I went to Dr. Benevides for my first consult (almost went to Dr. J., but a friend was using Dr. B.) I'm not sure that my insurance will pay for it b/c of the 1yr. diet thing. My doctor has noted my diet/exercise/weight every three months and has been diagnosing me with obesity for several years. My BMI is 41 and I have several co-morbidities. I'll be visiting with him three days after my visit with Dr. Chu??? I have also applied for financing just in case. I also have some other sources if I need to private pay. I'm going to get the surgery. I never had any health problems until I got fat. This surgery would literally pay for itself in about 5 years.

Wow, all of these glowing praises make me want to go to Dr. Jay.

Just popping in to intro myself. I am seriously gearing myself up for getting banded. I went for an eval. in late 2004. I chickend out. I think I am ready now though. My insurance supposedly covers it. I have a high BMI, sevral co-morbidities, have been overweight for way over five years, and have managed to lose a whopping 10 lbs in the past year on my medically supervised diet My stats are in my siggy if anyone is inerested in seeing where I am right now. If my insurance denies me, I WILL pay myself.

I have already done the "Is he any good research." I do have a couple of questions before I actually go see him again:

1. What brand of band does he use?

2.Does he stitch the band onto the stomach?

I have not been banded yet, but wanted to say that I have been reading books about nutrition. If you are going to eat salads, try to stick to spinach, Romaine, and baby greens. Iceberg has almost no nutritional value.

The doctor's office I went to for my original evaluation said I would eat low fat/low-carb. I am planning on returning to him very soon. Does anyone know

if I COULD'NT eat the following foods:

oatmeal

Low carb yogurt

Low Carb Slimfast

Veggie Soup with a beef base/no Pasta

chicken Soup with a chicken base/no Pasta

I hate to ask such specific questions, but I want this to go perfectly so I am planning far, far ahead. I had mono back in October and my liver swelled up like crazy. It's apparently back to normal, but I have this crazy paranoia that he will get in there and it will be huge again.

Also, someone commented above about thier liver still being fatty after the diet. I wonder if doing the diet for 3 weeks would help even more. I can do anything for three weeks.