MaggiesMom1999

Hi! I was banded 7/01/08 by Dr. Snow at Mobile Infirmary. Started pre-op liquids on 6/21 and had lost 24 pounds on day of surgery. 2nd fill was last Friday 9/5/08 and I have lost 50 pounds total. Only another 100 to go! Better still, I have not had any insulin injections or blood pressure meds since the surgery! Leigh:thumbup:

I have Tricare Prime, south region. I went to the seminar at the end of February and had my first appointment with the surgeon in March. I filled out my part of the paperwork (weight loss attempts, etc.) and had my doctor send in my records and FINALLY got the surgeon's office to send in the paperwork to Tricare in late April. Approval was on line in about a week from the time they mailed it. But I needed to lose more than 150 pounds, have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and have had two spinal surgeries so I had plenty of comorbidities. Had my pre-op surgeon visit and GOAL class on 6/6 and scheduled surgery for 7/01. I did not have any psych eval, no EGD, just the regular pre-op blood, urine, EKG and chest xray. Started pre-op liquid diet on 6/21 and had lost 24 pounds by 7/01, day of surgery! First check-up was 07/10. First fill was 8/08 and he put 3.5cc in 10cc band. Have lost 43 pounds as of today (8.5 weeks since beginning liquid diet for pre-op). Tricare has been great, no problems. I had to pay the hospital $25 and pay my $12 copay for each office visit. However, my surgeon's office told me that Tricare will NOT pay for fills and I had to prepay for 6 of them ($600) prior to the surgery. So my visit on 8/08 was the first of $100 visits. If anyone can cite "chapter and verse" where I can find indication that Tricare DOES pay for fills, I would love to see it. Oh, I forgot to mention that I have not had a blood pressure pill or an insulin injection or diabetes pill since the day of my surgery! All under control! :smile2: Leigh Dr. Snow / Mobile, Alabama 320 / 296 / 277 / 170 highest / day of surgery / current / goal

My surgeon's office told me that Tricare does NOT cover fills and I had to prepay for 6 of them prior to the surgery.

Banded on your birthday? What a way to celebrate! Good Luck! Leigh

Another online group that I joined recommends pineapple juice, room temperature, to help you get unstuck. Supposedly, when you have an episode you can take just a small sip or two of the juice and it will help to dissolve the "lump" so that it can move on. I have not personally tried this but several people swear by it and keep the small cans of pineapple juice everywhere---home, office, car, etc. I have only had one stuck episode and it was terrible but only lasted about 5-10 minutes. I will definitely try the pineapple juice next time. Leigh

I was banded 7/1/08 and had lost 24 pounds on the 10-day liquids prior to the surgery. After that it seemed to stop. Even that first week when I ate nothing--and I do mean, nothing!--I didn't lose anything. Finally, after a couple of weeks I started losing again and it has been really slow but steady since then. I'm up and down every day but over all I lose the 1 to 2 pounds per week that they recommend. And I'm not exercising very much. But I envy you, I would almost kill to be 199! I started at 320 and am down to 282 and have 107 (at least) to go. Good luck and don't get discouraged. Leigh Alabama :biggrin:

You can also use myfitnesspal.com to log your food intake and exercise. Very helpful! I was banded on 7/1/08 and had lost 24 pounds on the pre-op liquid diet. I have only lost about 6-7 pounds since the surgery (3 weeks). I was supposed to do full liquids until 7/10 (my first re-check appointment) but I did have some pureed foods before that. Then I could "legally" start pureed foods on the 10th but I pretty much went straight to regular food, just cut up really small and chew, chew chew. My calorie intake varies from about 800 to 1500 (only once that high). I am also gradually increasing my walking time. Best of luck to all! Leigh 320/296/290/170 highest/day of surgery/current/goal

Hello, all! I have been lurking and reading for a couple of weeks now and very much enjoy all of the information. I was banded on 7/1/08 and had lost 24 pounds on the pre-op liquids. In the first few days after the surgery (while on Clear Liquids which equals "nothing") I lost another 6 pounds. After that I have lost nothing which is a little discouraging but I'm still hanging in there. My next appointment is 8/8/08 and I hope for my first fill then. I am going on vacation next week which should prove interesting. I am in south Alabama and was banded by Dr. Snow in Mobile. Good luck to everyone! Leigh 320/296/290/170 highest/day of surgery/current/goal