2muchfun

When I had surgery, I was billed $647 by the surgical assistant. My insurance denied the claim on the basis that this assistant was not a member of their providers list. But on the benefits statement, the allowable fee was listed. I sent him a check for about $350 along with the EOB and a letter of explanation that I was paying the allowable amount by the insurance carrier and that he should accept this as payment in full. He did and I've never heard a word from him since. tmf

I was sore for 2 weeks but went back to work nearly immediately. I see many post here who struggle going to work within 5 days though. I would guess that most people are OK to work or go to school within 7 days with just a few who have issues up to one month after surgery.

Mine needs mowing

Ixnay on the Advil per my doc, but yours may allow it.

Here's a link to his profile. Look on left side and you'll see all his patients who are or have been on this forum. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/surgeons/943-alan-geiss/

Have your attorney contact them. Bastards!

Your weight loss could be just loss of fluids. Regardless of your band, fat loss is still just calories in, calories burned. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth and accept that you're a better informed and more disciplined eating machine. Something we all strive to be someday. Congrats!

Thank you for your service, both of you. It's always a good idea to touch bases with a nutritionist who is familiar with the band. They'll listen to what you're eating now and then make suggestions on how to cut some of the unnecessary foods from your diet and add in the foods that will help your band do it's job. Also, having a well adjusted band is always super important. You did it before and you can do this again.

Drinking fluids with each bite can wash the food through the band without stimulating the vagus nerve. That's the theory. My doctor prefers his patients to adhere from drinking and eating but said he knows of some that are able to drink, eat and still lose or maintain their weight. So, he's flexible. He said, as long as I'm losing and I'm feeling satisfied for 4 hours, do whatever I want. tmf

Each BCBS plan will be different. Your employer chooses the level of coverage they prefer to pay. WLS is considered to be part of a Cadillac plan so some people who belong to small group coverage plans are exempted from WLS plans due to it being a higher cost to the employer/employee. You should be able to register online for BCBS and look up your own plan and see if bariatrics is part of your plan? I had BCBS with one company that did not have the coverage, but when my wife changed jobs, the new plan from a bigger employer contained the WLS/bariatric coverage.

I read posts like yours often. Seems quite normal to me although I didn't experience it with my surgery. My doctor gave me a prescription for nausea, did yours? The nausea will pass within a few days and you'll have an all new perspective

I've seen posts like yours before so I would say what you're feeling is normal. Obviously no one can hold you back but you at this point. I think the trigger for this behavior is the idea you won't be able to eat your favorite foods ever again and that's just not the case. We all indulge ourselves occasionally. But once you're banded and your band is adjusted properly you may not want to eat all those foods that created the person you are now. You'll still be you, just you with more confidence and self control.

Who is your Doctor?

Sounds like you may be in "Bandster Hell". It's the period between having surgery and getting enough fills to feel satisfied with less food. This is still a diet for you and most of us failed at diets so that's why we're here. You should follow your doctor's preset diet program as best you can. You're still healing and you don't want to damage the doctor's good surgery. I was in Bandster Hell for 14 weeks and I chose to eat healthy foods but I ate more than the 1 cup recommended. As long as I kept at eating healthy food, I didn't pack on the calories and didn't gain. Good luck.tmf

You will find sugar coated coddling here and you'll also find frank and honest responses. Take the ones you want and leave the rest. No need to attack other forum members.

And others believe they can read between the lines? Apparently you believe you have psychic powers? Please point out one statement from anyone that's not supportive in this thread other than the cheap shot you took??

"Can you take it easy on me?" ??? I simply suggested you follow your doctors orders to meet him at the hospital! You sound like you're too tight.

Watered down yogurt isn't on that list. Yogurt drink is on the list? You should do what your doctor tells you to do? If he put fluid in, he may want to take some out. Follow your doctors orders!

The boiled cabbage diet. I didn't do it, I hate cabbage. My friend did it for a week and swore by it. He lost 6-7 lbs but he's clueless to the fact that most of the weight loss was from excess water he was carrying. One more? SENSA! What a joke. Supposedly it dulls the taste of food so it's not so appealing? It just made me want to eat more and more.

1-4 week plateaus are very common especially if you are exercising. Exercising builds muscle tissue which offsets the fat you are losing so don't get discouraged. You should feel it in your clothes fitting looser.

Microwave dinners are very high in sodium and can cause you to retain fluids. You say you lost but gained? How much and over what period?

Longest incision and there's a hard lump about the size of a Hershey's bliss cube under it. It's easy to find as it's the only incision that should protrude a 1/4-1/2 in. or so.

Doctor knows best

Mine didn't. It's unlikely you'll lose much over the 6 months unless you're usually successful with diets. If you are, you shouldn't need WLS. Dropping below 35 is highly unlikely but if you can do it, again, you shouldn't need WLS.

You're way too tight. imo I couldn't live like that but as long as it works for you?