RestlessMonkey

Ok then ignore it! I mean, obviously it works. In fact, during my seminar, the statistics my surgeon quoted showed Aussies to have even BETTER results that those we have here in the USA, and 3 years out losses are equal to, or better than, bypass patients. So ignore that negative mumbo jumbo. The band is just a tool and if you use it properly it will do wonders. If you don't use it, it won't. Just like a hammer...it just lies there unless you pick it up, grab a nail, and wham away! :tongue_smilie: Welcome and good luck to you!

Where have you seen the negative reports? Is it from a reliable source?

Tell your doctor your symptoms and when you get them. He may do an unfill, or he may prescribe a medicine, or he may tell you to change your diet. He's the pro; get some help from him! and congrats on your losses so far!

The ONLY thing I know that is a "no no" is carbonated beverages. Otherwise, where did you get that info? It MAY be a food SOME people have trouble with; but that is not the same as it being a "no no". My doc says we should be able to eat just about anything in smaller quantities. So far, he's dead on.

Get some therapy for your (understandable) depression. I don't eat when sad but realized I was a reward eater. Now I'm a "recovering" reward eater...I have to fight it. Apparently when down you eat, and in life, you'll have ups and downs throughout the years. You need to learn a different way to handle depression, like I needed to find better ways to reward myself. So my suggestion for therapy. As to the other, you've already gotten good advice. Until you have good restriction the odds of you expanding your pouch overmuch are slim. Feeling bad about that is probably part of your depression, so get you some help, and get back at it. The band is a tool; you can still use it!

You need to talk with your surgeon...and so should Jenfs5. I don't know if it will stop you or not but you need to advise your doc and ask him. You would be furious if he withheld important information from you; to intentionally omit data like Jenfs5 is doing is no better. Odds are he'll have you do extra tests and perhaps put you on some medication (there are others besides Reglan) but you need to be up front!

Make sure you're chewing very well and taking small bites before you get an "unfill". I was banded last August and haven't really had restriction at all until my Feb 5 fill. Even then I could still eat a good deal. My Mar 5 fill really tightened things up and I thought I was too tight until I realized I wasn't following my doc's orders regarding eating. I sit at the table without distractions, cut my food up into small bites, and chew each bite to mush. And guess what? No problems! I get full on less but don't have problems with the first bite. So try that before you get unfilled. how large is your band? You may very well be too filled but before you pay to have some taken out, try really thinking about what you are eating, paying attention, chewing well, small bites. That worked for me, anyway!

Ok don't really know why you're mourning food. Once you've healed and are a few months post op you should be able to eat anything. I've lost 2.8 pounds this last week and ate steak and a baked potato, some birthday cake, a burrito, a grilled cheese (not all in one sitting) I can't eat as much, but I don't miss it. When I'm full I'm full. I've even had lemon chicken once (lost 2.8 pounds that week, too) I DO make healthy choices and I do sometimes make choices that may not be as healthy. Just like life...you do what you can. No need to mourn food. Just hang in there on your post op diet per your doctor!

My fills are $400 and that's what my insurance pays, just fyi! (well I have a 20% co pay until I reach a cap so I pay $80 and my ins 320)

My husband was dead against it because he's a nurse and worked in a GI lab and saw bypass patients with horrible GI issues. He felt the band would have the same results. He attended a seminar with me and my wonderful surgeon took the time after conference to address my husbands concerns. They talked about 20 minutes or so, and my husband went from dead set against it to enthusiastic. I wanted my husband on board because I know he loves me, he's not jealous or afraid I'll dump him, and so on. I knew his reluctance was not because he was afraid, but because he was afraid for me. Knowing that, I wanted to allay his fears rather than just "ignore him". However, honestly, if I felt he wanted me to stay fat for fear of losing me that would make me leave him so fast his head would spin. AND if he were reluctant because he thought I was just fat and lazy and could do it on my own, well,....I'd leave him over that too. After 25 years of marriage he knows I'm not lazy, he knows I love him, he knows I'm a darned hard headed woman and if I haven't been able to lose on my own, then there is a good reason for that. So what I would do may not be what you would do. But that's how I solved the problem....education. Because of that he's been a GREAT help to me...even doing liquids when I had to and so on. He and I are adults and a team, and very respectful of each other. I understood where his fear was coming from (and he was right about bypass)...and he respected me enough to go along with an open mind and make a decision after the seminar.

As far as I can guess (and I'm only guessing) the preop diets are different because of different surgeons and different patients. I weighed 405 before my surgery and apparently because of information provided by my tests I needed a longer preop diet to shrink my liver. Not all people have thicker larger livers. One thing I've learned is that info on here is nice but you can't really compare us; we may be alike in that many of us have (or are interested in) a gastric band to control obesity, but that's where the similarities stop. Each surgeon is different, each experience is different, each patient is different. There are some fairly hard and fast rules (like not eating post op because you can dislodge the band and cause trouble) but mostly we just have to do what our doctors tell us and trust that they are the "pros". As to hair loss, my doc said most all of his patients loose hair at about 3-6 months post op, extra Protein and/or supplements don't seem to impact it, and that no one ever needed a wig or toupee, and that it stops and the hair grows back. I lost hair exactly as he said..from month 3 to month 5, and am fine, and even my hairdresser said it never thinned.

Melly obviously it isn't an outpatient procedure for everyone...and most insurance companies consider it "outpatient" if you are there less than 24 hours (which can mean you are there 23 hours). Some people stay overnight; some if complications arise stay longer. Some docs REQUIRE an overnight stay just to be on the safe side. We're all different.

I asked my surgeon. I was told we were to avoid it because "it can be an appetite stimulant for some". There is a tendency in the medical community to shun caffeine when actually they are finding (studies being done) that caffeine in moderate amounts can actually be good for you. Since it does not stimulate my appetite (in fact in some people it DECREASES the appetite) I have coffee with caffeine daily...a cup or two....and I drink unsweetened iced tea with caffeine (about a quart a day). Ask your doc.

Take some chapstick or lip balm (they'll be really dry) and also a book to read, or MP3 player. Wear easy on/off shoes (you won't want to bend over long enough to tie them) and a pillow for the ride home (to brace your surgical sites. Really helps) brush, comb...glasses case if needed (don't wear contacts if you do, they'll make you take them out) toothbrush clean undies (you'll wear their gown) Good luck! OH and the bag is adorable!

I think your plan is good, as long as he does become "in network" in 6-8 weeks. Why the wait? What if there's a glitch? Only you will know the right decision. If it were me, I'd either make sure from the insurance co. that he's "in line" to become in network, and get a timeline, or I'd go somewhere else. He's probably really good but also probably not the only really good one around. I'd wonder about the "6=8 week" thing, especially since you are on a deadline.

I'd go find a provider who was IN NETWORK now and get it done. And they cover at 70% after your deductible, but what is the annual cap? (Most companies have one)

Who does your fills? I guess you'll have to go back to Mexico; I wonder how it got infected so late in the game. After a year you should be healed! Good luck!

I guess you didn't tell him you'd already advanced to hot dogs..... :lunch:

Welcome and good luck! I agree...our doc says to aim for "satisfied, not full" and that's even MORE ambiguous. I think the lucky ones who hit on it are the successful ones. I'm still "zeroing in", myself! It's a process, but totally worth it!

I did...on my left upper thigh...small patch that went away in about 2 days. Call your surgeon and tell him about it, just to be sure...but I think it's a side effect of the anesthesia/surgery and don't think that there's anything (but time) that can help it. I am not a doc, though...so you're safest to call your surgeon and ask about it.

You will NEED it...it will keep you alive, and you may not ever know it was there (like your other surgeries). They knock you out, and they remove it before you come to fully, so you don't ever know or feel panicked etc. I get claustrophobic but the tube was a big non-event. In fact my second surgery I didn't even have a sore throat from it (sometimes you do, sometimes you don't,. but again it's minor). Hang in there!

I hope so! I cheated on mine and didn't get banded the first time out; but that's rare. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you...but use this to help keep you strong on the post op diet (so you can heal properly) Good luck!

Not mine. He feels we need time to adjust.

An agent should be able to help her. Insurance (and laws) vary so much by state to state; what one person has (price, coverage etc) will vary when compared to another state etc. Personal insurance is so expensive (and many of them don't cover "elective" surgery, which this is) so your friend MIGHT be better off to just pay for the surgery. Either way a good independent insurance agent can help. (remember too that insurance, when you self pay, is way more expensive for overweight people) Good luck.

I'd think your only option would be to pay for the surgery yourself.