debbieperez55

Why the different sizes of bands? Is 14cc better than 10cc? I know the fills are slow as needed so that you can get use to them, but what is up with the size? I am confused. Did your Dr tell you ahead of time what size you would be getting?

I have Anthem Blue Cross HMO, I called the number on my card and spoke to my insurance directly. That way I was able to tell my Dr that the insurance said they would pay. You have to meet the requirements, BMI over 40 and such, but call the number on your card and speak to customer service. The person I spoke to told me She and several others in her office had the Lap Band. She was a godsend!

We are so lucky that this site exists. I was told I had to have a support group but my Doctor's was all ByPass RNY and they are not open to the Lap Band approach. I get so much support and help from everyone in here.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions by Alex. I got tons of info from there. From what I understand, you stomach is the size of an egg. You drink liquids between meals and no liquid with meals. Liquid makes the food go through faster, and the goal is to have the food release slowly. The band is adjustable and once you get it right it helps your brain think it is full. Check out that link, it will answer many of your questions. Hope this helps

how lucky - you spoke to someone who truely understood where you were coming from. I can only wish I could be so lucky.

Thank you for explaining that. So this is different than being stuck? There are so many expression I have had to learn, like LMAO Okay, is it, this is gross, but I need to know - sick - is it mucus or regular vomit or exploding or what? Vomiting is bad, so sliming is bad. Somehow I thought sliming was different.............. yuck

CONGRADULATIONS, getting approved is a battle, but well worth it! Now the fun begins................. :-)

I like that kicking this weight's A*#! Positive outcome, we are going to win!

Flowers, I am so sorry that you had such a negative experience. I was lucky, I was able to get some real facts from my Band Buddy. Please, follow your heart. Quite a few of us have experienced the prejudice from these groups. Here are a couple facts you all should know - I have seen these in more than one place, take them as you would like: Erosion is RARE , they need to get their stats before they quote them . Slips are Rare and 90% of the time are fixed w/ an unfill ! And at the 5 yr mark weight loss for the band and the RNY are the SAME !!! I was very upset and copied exact quotes from the posts to show her what "they" had said. And I just read, RNY might be faster in the beginning, but Lap Bands have the same loss down the road. I'm not sure about you, but I choose the slower method for a reason. My regular MD liked the slower method for the same reason. I myself personally am looking for a "healthy" or near healthy method. I do not care to have to worry about malabsorbtion issues for years. Something we should all think about, I don't recall seeing any posts bashing RNY or anyother bypass procedure. On my Surgeon's web site, I encoraged someone to make their own decission and was met with a bariage of trash talk. Everyone is different and the choice is theirs.

For Me September Samurai's sounds nice - mmmm me a Samurai Warrior, a little out of my nature, but definately what I need to do to win. I just think that it is FANTASTIC that we all have this one goal in common. We can't win alone, we are going to need help.

I have told my family, but work, that is a different story. I am a Manager of a Department and any sign of illness causes discourse in my Department. I told my "mentor" at work, and my immediate supervisor. He was shocked at first, I actually told him, "you might have notice that I am overweight", but he didn't know what a lap band was. I had to explain. I think he went home and spoke to his wife. Anyway I choose to take vacation days. It is no one's business why I am off and I plan to keep it that way. One person in my Department took off to have her "boobs" done and you would not believe the problems it caused. I didn't tell Hr and got my ass kicked, so to speak. So I am unsure if I should tell her. I don't want to appear weak. But then again I hate when I cannot breathe after I have to run upstairs when she calls. Any suggestions. My supervisor told me not to tell.

Thank you all so much. I am so thankfull that I found this website. Funny that the Surgeon didn't tell me about it. You are all so supportative and I am am so glad I found you. I unsubscribed from the site and if asked by my Surgeon, I think I will tell him the truth! He needs to know that his support group is one sided and very predjudice and not supportive at all. Thanks for being there. :biggrin2: Debbie

Thank you, your post really helped me. I was just "beaten" up in my Dr's Support Group because I am having the band. Someone actually posted "I'm surprised that Dr. K did not talk you out of the Lap Band as he did me! I went into his office convinced that I would be having the Lap Band, He convinced me that the RNY was the better way to go for me" There were numerous replies even worse than this. I was feeling so alone. I know I have people here, but I let it get to me. Why do they push "their" view as the only view and everyone else is wrong. I made this choice for many decisions, but honestly, my personal DR and I discussed this at length. He actually spent 30 minutes with a packed waiting room. We went over the everything, both types of surgeries and I KNOW I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ME! Thank you so much Debbie

My Dr insists on his support group. There is also one online. I joined only to find out that I am the only Lap Band. Everyone is RNY, Gastric Bypass. I was referred to another web site, even more biased to Bypass. I was "attacked" for my choice. Someone remarked, I can't believe Dr K didn't talk you out of the Lap Band like he did me. YOu are not going to be happy. I just need some Lap Band Support.:thumbup:

WAY TO GO!!! I just read/went to your U-Tube. I commend you on being so honest. Even writing these entries is hard for me, I am very private, but I have to do this. You have such a fantastic outlook and I know you are going to do fantastic. So do me a favor, tell me all about it. You know, I was so bummed out before I saw your video, I had just read replies on my Dr's support group website. They are 99% RNY. One person actually told me that she could not believe the Dr K didn't talk me out of it like he had done to her. Everyone is so down on it and they made me feel like I was being attacked for not chooseing THEIR method. And everyone who posted to my entry told me what a horrid mistake I was making. ANYWAY - thank you! Keep up the good work and thank you for lifting my spirits. I really needed it.

Hi Tally, My name is Debbie and I know how overwhelming this site can be, but it is a god send. This site is JUST for lapbands. My Dr has a support group site that is 99% bypass and they have nothing for me. I have found nothing but support from everyone here. We are getting quite a group of September Bandsters going. Kind of exciting, something we all have in common. Just read as much as you can, and there is tons to read on this site. It is a fantastic tool. Hope to hear from you. Debbie

Thanks I think I have some basics going, but yours is just adorable. And actually you should show off your milestones. This is quite a process and just making down the road this far is quite a feat. We are just days apart - and since you go first, you can tell me all about it???? lol

Thank you for your support. I appreciate it very much.

I know, September is right around the corner. I am still waiting on my stupid Group, Health Care Partners, to refer me to the Psy and for my Stress EKG. I think I am afraid deep down inside that the Treadmill is going to show something with my heart. When is your surgery?

:biggrin2: Okay, I admit it, At first I thought Band Buddies were stupid. Now that I have found one, I can only recommend that you find one. I was so lucky to find someone so quickly that I can relate to. What a wonderful experience. Having someon you can relate to one and one who has been there and knows what you are going through is nice. We have a lot in common, we are all going through the same experience and traveling down the same road. But this is different from every other road we have traveled and for this one we need a guide. Take care - September will be here sooner than we think.

I have been wondering through these forums and I don't know how I got to this place, put you posted 38 minutes ago. It must be fate. My name is Debbie, as you can tell by my log on. I didn't know what to write so I just went with my name. I will be 53 in October and I have been "obese" for 30 years. You name the diet, I have tried it or something very simular. I am a Weight Watchers Lifetime Member! Yeah for 5 minutes. Anyway I have come a long way to get to this point from thinking about it to actually doing something. And even that wasn't easy. Once I made a decision to check into the lap band it took me weeks to get up the nerve to ask my insurance if they would cover it. I could not afford to self pay. When I called I got the nicest woman on the phone. I was embarrased and afraid, but she actually helped me. When I asked about the possibility of getting the Lap Band she surprised me by telling me she and others in their office had it done and they were all very happy. She encouraged me and told me what steps to take. Talking to my Doctor was the first and hardest, but even he surprised me. At first he started off saying what a bad idea it was and then he changed and said he had heard positive things about the Lap Band and he supported my decision. I had to be referred twice. The first referal was to a place that reminded me of all the Diet Doctors I have gone to over the past years. The Doctor was rude, made me feel small and stupid and I cried when I left. I was so discouraged. I felt like someone had kicked me to the curb and took away all hope. I went back to my Doctor for my asthma and I mentioned my experience. I have had bad experiences before, just recently I had a lump in my breast. The Surg Dr did a biopsy, no cancer, but said I had to have it removed. My Mom and Aunt both had Breast Cancer so of course I said lets do it. While on the table I told the Dr, Are you sure you are in the right place (I knew he was no where near the lump) Of course they shut me up - gave me drugs to knock me out and it was over. Turns out I am SEVERLY alergic to tape, another horror. After a couple weeks I was checking myself and low and behold HE TOOK OUT THE WRONG LUMP. So back to the story, sorry for the deture. I mentioned to my Dr what had happened and that she said I was going to a horrible Doctor and that I should go to her. My Dr was shocked, and then I told him how upset I was. He told me I had the right to a second opinion. I didn't know that, I thought I had killed my only option. My second referal was with the USC Bariatric Department. They told us Obesity is a disease and over eating is an addiction. It is not our fault. I took that to mean I am not a lazy fat pig who couldn't just get her will power going. I went to the seminar and met with the Surgeon. I have my date, September 17 and my date to meet with the Nutritionist. I still am waiting on my referral to the Psy and for my treadmill. Now I am excited. I am very shy around people I don't know so this whole forum thing is hard for me, but I am determined and I am making myself take the steps. I even posted my picture, trust me there are very few pictures of myself around so putting this on the internet is very hard for me. At my job I give 150% - I have always thought I had to in order for people to look past my outside to see my inside. So now here I am. Ready to give 150% to this. So now that you have heard my story, will you be my Mentor? Let me know. I am sure you must get hundreds of requests. Thank you Debbie

It is so exciting to see other who share the same future. I look forward to hearing from you. Debbie

I know this sounds dumb, but how do you get all the cute stats below your post. I didn't join that long ago and I have never done this type of thing in the past. I know Excel, Word and basic internet. I feel soooo OLD. Funny my grandkids know more about computers. I barely got an IPod. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Debbie

This is so fantastic. I am getting banded on September 17. I still have to get my referral (it got lost in the fax) for my Shrink and Stress EKG. I have to loose 10 to 15 pounds, sounds easy but of course it is not. I have had such trouble finding support. My Dr has a support group and another online group but they focus on bypass. Congradulations to everyone for making this commitment. I have heard from a quite a few who are very happy with the results. They say you have to be patient and go slow. We are on our way! :thumbup:

Hi, My surgery date is Sept 17. I notice you are from Sou Calif too. I am having trouble getting my referrals for my Psyc and Stress EKG. The paperwork got lost in the fax. Let me know how you are doing.