RestlessMonkey

They are the ones who will approve/pay for your surgery. Someone there has to know what that entails. Call back and get a supervisor/manager; demand someone who knows what's required and can help you.

You are safest to call your insurer. An insurance company can offer many different policies/provisions within each state so your BCBS may not be your neighbor's. Call them and find out exactly what YOU need to do.

I'm 54 and it NEVER occurred to me I was too old for the Lap Band. What did occur was that I am too old to stay fat and live much longer. You don't see many morbidly obese people in their 70's and 80's.

My doctor, when I told him I wanted a low profile port (I have the lap AP band) very delicately told me this: "It can be a challenge to find the port in many patients, until they've lost a substantial amount of weight. If you need a low profile port because the old one sticks out I can do that for you quickly and fairly easily, and will gladly do so" LOL So keep that in mind! OH and no, he placed my port about 2 " below my left breast and I forget it is there. My bra doesn't hit it, it doesn't hurt, I can't ever feel it (although I do NOT lie around mashing myself!) it's a non-issue right now. Otherwise here's a website that contrasts/compares them: Compare Adjustable Gastric Bands - LAP-BAND vs. REALIZE Band

Actually I can think of one reason more people=higher percentage of slipping, and that is that more people (and YOUNGER people) with less to lose are getting the band, (the infamous band mills, for example) ANYONE who gets banded and doesn't scrupulously follow the post op diet (as recommended by Lap Band) is more at risk for slips. I am NOT saying all slips are the fault of the patient. BUT statistics are great only to a point. Since we don't have the source of wasabubble's data (again am not implying you are lying because I am sure you aren't, Wasa!) it's impossible to judge the validity, or whether that figure is even germain to this discussion. The upshot is, all surgery carries risks. Even "dieting" carries risks. Remaining obese carries risks. We all have to make our own best choices.

Each doc is different regarding caffeine. Mine had it on the "no way" list but when I asked I was told it's because it is an appetite stimulant TO SOME! (get that...TO SOME. For some it is an appetite suppressant!) I've had 1 cup of coffee a day, and caffeinated sugar free tee (about a quart a day) for YEARS. I am still "indulging" and am fine. The thing is, if you put cream and sugar or so on in your coffee, the empty calories are a waste. So ask your surgeon WHY he has coffee on the "don'ts" list and use your judgment. I will say, though, that I didn't have coffee for my pre and post op times; all told about 3 months. I didn't need to wean, either (no headache or withdrawal; I guess my body is meant for caffeine LOL) but I gave it that long while I healed.

The early times are for healing. If you lose fine, but that's not the point. Many don't start losing until they get adequate fills that 1 cup of food will fill them up and keep them full for up to 5-6 hours. You are expecting way too much and being way too hard on yourself.

How long can you maintain (house etc, cutting back but still having your life) if you DONT cancel the surgery? I'd have to look at that; and what are the chances your husband will find a new job soon? How long has he been looking? And would your surgery money really "save the day" or just delay the inevitible (ie moving in w/family or whatever) for a while? The lap band can improve your health and, quite frankly, your employ-ability (employers aren't supposed to discriminate against fat people, but it's human nature to go with the thinner person)... I agree only you and your husband can decide, but what if he'd lost his job the week AFTER your surgery; what would you have done then? I don't think it's awful for you to think of proceeding with it; I think you just need to weigh all your options.

Of course you can lose on very low calorie; aside from bypass patients (or other WLS patients, other than banding) think of prisoners of war, or concentration camp victims. Your body may temporarily try to not lose but it is GOING to happen if you don't get fuel. "Starvation mode" is bandied about quite a bit on weight loss sites but if you consistently eat very low calories (below what your body needs to just survive) you WILL lose. Of course, not eating (or consuming only very low calories) isn't healthy, and your energy level may be low, but you WILL lose weight.

My port is high enough that if I were constipated and that caused me port pain, I'd be a medical marvel! LOL :frown: Not everyone has a sensitive port, but even if you do.... Pain that gets worse as she described isn't normal and should be checked out.

DO NOT eat ahead of your post op diet!!! That's the road to band slippage! Yes it's probably too much salt and water retention. Many of us need to keep our salt low (under 2000 mg/day) and a can or two of tomato soup can blow that out of the water. Besides you're supposed to be HEALING right now. Give your body a chance to let this work! You need to discuss your concerns and so on with your surgeon. This isn't a quick fix; it's not bypass. Talk to him and see what the plan is for you.

I'm not sure I exactly understand what you want here; you mean your surgeon said if you don't want back surgery, to lose weight and that would help your pain? IF your back pain is caused by obesity and you are successful at losing with the lap band, then yes it will help your pain. If your pain is caused by some other issue and your weight just makes it worse, then it may not help. AND lap band surgery requires diet and exercise to work; you have to watch what you eat, exercise etc for the weight to come off. If you just want lap band surgery to fix your back, I think you may need to look into it (and other options) a little deeper...unless I misunderstand your post?

If you do go to Mexico to get surgery (and people do) just make SURE you either 1. have the time and funds to go back frequently, at least the first year, for fills and checkups or 2. line up aftercare locally. I've learned that aftercare (especially that pesky fill level) is VITAL to the success of the band. Getting it and no fills would be like buying a car but not being able to get gas for it. It won't do much for you if it doesn't run! :frown: Many many surgeons will not take on patients that they did not initially band so aftercare is a problem for Mexico bandsters. (or actually anyone banded anywhere away from home, here in the USA. You could go the next state over and still have issues locally; surgeons don't like to treat people who were not their patients originally. I guess they don't like dealing with someone else's problem.)

good luck! And follow your post op diet to the letter! You'll heal well that way!

I didn't stick to the preop diet and came to in recovery without the band because my liver was too large. I hope that doesn't happen to you. I could do any diet...for a while. I just couldn't keep it off. You still have to kind of diet with the band anyway....could be you aren't ready for it? (not being mean either, ok? just honest!) The preop diet is bad but the post op phase is worse and it is imperative that you follow doc's directions then or you can cause slippage etc. So talk to your doc (I was on a 500 cal preop diet) and do some soul searching; see if this is really what you want. If you do, then diet like your life is on the line, because it may be!

Yes thanks I did mean bypass; I've corrected it. Too excited about finally getting my BSN to proof read! LOL

My doc said band slipping is most often caused by people eating ahead of their post op diet; ie moving on to mushies or beyond when still in liquids phase etc. And overeating would be more likely to stretch your pouch than cause a slip. Lastly a slip hurts, or so I've heard. What you may need if you aren't losing 1-2 pounds a week is another fill.

Honestly if you REALLY just have a sugar problem, then bypass (and it's concurrent dumping syndrome when you eat sugar) may be the best choice for you. Bypass is scary to me but the point isn't "JUST" to have an easy surgery, but to be successful. I didn't want bypass because it is permanent. The band is "foreign" (so for that matter is a pacemaker which I didn't want to need down the road) but can be removed if necessary; bypass CAN be reversed in very very very few cases. So in the interim....buy a book or two (like WLS for dummies or some such..I researched a bunch on amazon) and educate yourself! Good luck!

Your preop diet SHOULD be prescribed by your surgeon and/or nutritionist. Are you nervous about it? or the surgery?

Thanks! SA's ok...except for in July and August! :tt2: Anyway I hope it all works out for you!

Ask your surgeon; I'm sure they are all different.

I can see why you got that diet, and it makes sense. You do want to lose. I know it will be a long summer but it's just one in a BUNCH of great summers that will follow! Although my doc didn't put it the way you have, my post op diet (once healed) is very similar: we're to eat Protein, then veggies, then if we still have room (and we shouldn't have room!) fruits and grains and pastas. So I was told the same thing, just in a different way. I bet you lose well following that plan.

Sure...if you can drink medi-fast and stay away from your old faves (whatever got you where you are today). If not, you may want to find something else to help you lose and keep it off.

First, follow your post op diet/guidelines TO THE LETTER until you are well into solids. That period isn't for what you can/can't/should/shouldn't do, but for healing. Period. You need to not eat the wrong foods so your band can heal. After that? Before you have restriction, many of us feel we don't even have a band. I was one. I ate like I used to. That meant sometimes the goods you describe. I haven't, to my knowledge, hurt myself. Once you get restriction it is a different ball game but until then, once the band is healed (and your swelling has subsided) until you are tightened up, you don't have to be so watchful. And actually post fill depending you may be able to have rice/pasta etc (just don't drink while eating; it can stretch your pouch etc and can HURT!) My nut. said just to make sure the rice or Pasta is very well done so it won't continue to swell once you've swallowed it. Eventually you may get tight enough that you won't have those things because you'll be trying to get adequate nutrition and are very full on a very little bit.

Try drinking some water; sometimes when my stomach is growling water will make it chill out! :tt2: