RestlessMonkey

Sorry then; I can't help you; I've never heard of that! At any rate, welcome and good luck!

1/2 cup of food? Zounds. That's almost nonsense, IMHO. I'm getting in 1 to 1 1/2 cups and my doc does little happy dances; no Snacks for me though. We're all different but 1/2 cup just seems too austere, to me.

Who needs the determination letter? Your insurance? or the surgeon?

What I would do if I were you is find out exactly what your insurance requires. Usually if you go to a surgeon in your network, there will be someone there who can at least help you coordinate everything. Psych evals and various other preop tests are common. There is also usually a BMI requirement (depending on the insurance you have) AND sometimes co-morbidities (again, what those are and how many you must have varies depending on insurance) So I think you need to call your ins and get the particulars LOL as Failureisn'tanoption just said...

Umm...YOU tell us.

YES! YES! YES! We do have that quivering grey mass between our ears; might as well use it! Good for you (and great loss by the way, too!)

Anesthesia is more dicey with a smoker. Make that an obese smoker and that spells TROUBLE...or at least most anesthetists see it that way. Also Jodi is right; smoking impedes healing. If you feel up to it, quit now...Many surgeons do require it and take my word for it; quitting is easier than losing weight (both are hard, but quitting smoking is finite....eventually the urge to smoke goes away) Good luck!

I'd start with BCBS rather than the surgeon. Usually something is covered (subject to your insurance deductible and co-pay) or it isn't. That may or may not be the case in your situation (ie the surgeon may be trying to bill you more than he legally can, or not) Start with your insurance; take it from there.

At least it wasn't your band! If it is your gall bladder they'll remove it (another surgery, no fun I know) and then you'll feel marvelous. Glad you got it checked out!

no not really. But to be honest I don't pay attention to every twitch or pain. I'm 54...if I did that I'd be whiney all the time! LOL If it doesn't HURT I don't notice it.

You've lost 30 pounds in 2 months. Considering the 'average" loss is 1-2 pounds a week, I think you're ahead of the curve. Maybe you should first quit expecting too much of yourself? Lap band isn't bypass you know!! You're doing great. Keep doing what you have been; that's my suggestion! :thumbup:

I think Bunz has a good plan and it's what I was going to suggest to you...first find a different route for the caffeine and then taper that. (caffeine can make some people hungry so if it does that to you...watch out!) Odds are sometime down the road you may, if you wish, be able to drink carbonated bevs again (and I mean a year or two out, not the 2nd week of recovery) so don't think of it as "forever" but just "for now". Maybe that will help you be strong. You can do it!

Sorry no...I wish I did. Have you asked your surgeon? (and you know the band is up high...right below your sternum, I think, right? Most of us think our stomachs are much lower down than they really are) I wouldn't even know I had a band if I didn't see the results of it, most times, so I have no experience with that type of pain to help you. I hope your doc can help you; that would be annoying at best!

thank you! I never lost enough weight to be at a plateau before, but think maybe I'm at a little one now (way to put a positive spin on it, huh?) I lost most of my weight since 5/7 and now I'm stuck at 70-75 pounds down. I can eat wildly, I can not eat much, doesn't seem to matter! BUT I have my band and I know it will start going back down again. Restriction is a wonderful thing! :thumbup: Hang in there.

Jacqui I think we're both right. (can't find my phys book anyway but been thinking this over) You are right in that the body and brain "prefer" carbs...because they convert "fast and easy" to glucose. They are quickly available energy. HOWEVER...they do cause changes in blood sugar levels, AND a release of seratonin in the brain. Carbs are generally "feel good" food (to varying degrees) and can make one more calm, and sluggish. Protein also provides energy (ATP) but it is harder to come by, body must work for it. However it does NOT carry with it the "feel good" and "sluggish" components...usually more stable blood sugar and no seratonin surge. In those of us who are still overweight, fat provides enough "sugar" (once broken down) to keep us clipping along quite nicely. And many (but not all) "feel" and perform better without too many carbs (regardless of the source...processed or raw, simple or complex) Having said that...personally I don't think any diet that shuts out a component (fat, protein, or carbohydrate) is a good thing. I think it's wrong to be knee jerk about this, as in other areas. We need different amounts of calories, different supplements, we are different. Some may do well with 130 carbohydrates a day or more, some may not need that many. Some may thrive on a low carb diet. We have to try to find what works for us. And yes to the poster who mentioned it; carbohydrates are in fruits, veggies, grains, etc. There's even 1 carb in eggs, I think. So if you want to count them, you have to count 'em all! There's nothing inherently "bad" in any food. Fat is good for us in limited quantities and depending on the type, protein is good, carbs are good. We just have to make good choices. Sometimes that can be hard to do, with conflicting science etc. So listen to your bodies, too...see what they need, what type of "diet" makes you feel energized, sharp, happy. That's different for each of us.

Jacqui it is after 3 am here...but tomorrow I will dig out my phys. book, look it up, and quote it. I remember my nutrition prof telling us to eat Protein before a test (no carbs) and I know protein is used in neurotransmitters. I also know you have a disagreement about the high protein/low carb diet often pushed over here... but believe me, we don't all need 130 g of carbohydrate for good brain function, and the brain needs Proteins to function. I'll look it up, but it will have to be later...too late and too tired (and don't want to wake husband turning on lights and digging in closets)

I don't remember how I did mine but maybe this will help you http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

It won't help "counteract" anything and may be harming you. You need to discuss this with your surgeon and a good therapist who can help you.

And I call myself fat, because I am. Most people don't call me anything but my nick names.... but again, any term if used derisively is bad. My ex-husband once was really angry and thought he'd cut me to the quick by saying "YOU like to READ!" he meant it bad...LOL So I guess it's not the words, but the intent.

LOL I do think people who keep popping out babies with no income or way to care for them...well...maybe someone should tell them what causes that. BUT that's a subject for rants and raves. I don't mind any of them as long as they aren't used in anger or derision.

Brain Power: Why Proteins Are Smart | Psychology Today Protein...we may use carbs for energy throughout the body (or stored fat for ATP) but protein makes us more efficient..makes us more sharp.

I think medicine has largely, thus far, failed the obese. It is a mulit-level problem that isn't easily solved by any single solution. Hormones, genetics, emotions, what we're taught as we grow, so much goes into it. It isn't just calories in minus calories used, like they used to think. I can totally see that the malabsorptive benefit of bypass is a boon for some...and that quick cessation of diabetes II for example. For some the band works, for some the sleeve. My surgeon said the only surgery that is ALMOST 100% sure is the duodenal switch (and those poor souls have fairly constant drizzly diarrhea, I think) Anyone who'd choose that is fairly desperate. I believe in listening to your doc and following the rules. But if it were easy, we'd all be a healthy weight. We're not one size fits all. People are fat, people cheat, people try, people win or lose for many different reasons. All we can do is try, and give it all we've got.

Asking your surgeon this early out is really prudent. However, realize and remember that the "plan" is for you to have the band for life and it isn't realistic or even smart fo you to never eat a potato or have a couple oyster crackers in your chile. Do what your doc says in the early days.. and as you gain in skill and come to know your new band and altered digestive system, you'll modify things some. So don't despair, even if your doc says no. An occasional potato or some macs and cheese, if enjoyed in moderation, is not a bad thing! :cool: My nutritionist said to just make sure all pasta and rice is well well done so it won't continue to swell in your pouch and cause you some trouble (so from that you can see that pasta/rice aren't off limits to me). My doc says "eat anything, but in moderation"...again, just to tell you there is variety in how we work the band, and how the band works for us. Do what your doc says then once you learn, do what you feel is right for you.

If it's a new symptom, he needs to check with his banding surgeon to make sure everything is where is should be...

The first weeks post op are for healing, not weight loss. Think logically; your body is struggling to repair, to replace, to "fix". That is NOT when you want to lose. Further, many people DONT lose until they get adequate restriction. At my surgeon's office that's usually 6 months or more out. I think you may have researched getting the band....now you need to research living with it. If you read on here you'll see over and over people post "OMG I've been banded 2 weeks and am up a pound since surgery" or whatever....I think that's human, because most of us think of "getting it" and then living happily ever after; but we kind of gloss over what we'll have to go through (like what you are now) to get to that "happily" part. You're doing fine, you just have a knowledge gap! I didn't start really losing until after my 8th fill 5/7/2009 and I got my band 8/29/2008. That's way longer than it takes most people, but it happened for me on my own schedule. It takes as long as it takes; but keep the faith and let yourself heal; it will happen.