barbara465

It was effective June 1st, so for me he was only out 13 days. Also, when he was in network, the surgical center was going to charge me $2,900. They still want to charge that to me if there bill gets there before Spiegel's. Has to do with the deductible, etc. Keep me posted.

Saul that was a brave move you made. I wish you and your wife the best. When there is love all things can be handled.

My doctor wrote the date on my port bandage - 2 days after surgery for removal. the others I took off at day 4-5. The steri strips I removed a week after surgery. Hope that helps.

Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is wonderful. Your on your way now!

We went on an Alaskan cruise end of May. It was awesome. I love the Caribbean as well and your daughter should be able to handle that. The beach, shopping, hanging out. I'm going to Hilton Head in September for a girl's week. It is a lovely place to visit. The beach is great, lots of things to do, and many small towns to explore. We will cap the year off with a cruise to the Western Caribbean over the holidays. We will leave out of Galveston and visit such ports as Belize and Conzumel. Looking forward to that. Your daughter is at a difficult age. I just think you have to plan and hope the "mood" will be right and they will enjoy. Maybe you should think of allowing her a friend to travel with. That always helps.

I just realized something. This month we all concentrated on our surgeries. Next month it will be our fills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope all of us have an easy time getting our fills and we don't suffer any PBs or sliming episodes. I am apprehensive about getting one, yet excited. Thanks for the pics of Mexico. Too bad you couldn't really enjoy the beach and hotel! Makes me want to take a vacation!

I think I would find out first if she truly wants this surgery for herself. If she does, and money is the only obstacle in her path, prepay the doctor and give it to her as a gift. I would also sit her down one on one and discuss your weight issues with her. Let her know how you feel, what you believe contributed to your weight issues, and how being overweight made you feel. A frank discussion, laying it all on the table, will maybe allow your mother to rid herself of some of the guilt. Her guilt for your weight may prevent her from getting the surgery. She might think that her weight is her punishment for putting you through what you went through. This might take some time to work out, but it needs to be for her to be willing to accept her own issues. My mother is now gone, but I had to have that talk with her. She never understood my weight issues and what made me fat. She never understood what words and actions can hurt someone to their core. Your post has hit me to my core. Family is so precious. Give her the gift for you, for her, and for future grandchildren.

If I cop an attitude like her after losing my weight, please hand me the gun!!! I used to like her and found her entertaining. Once she lost weight, had an elaborate over the top wedding, and starting traveling in richer circles, she became a real bore. She is not gracious at all and I for one am glad to see her go.

Have you thought that many your wife is now insecure? After all, when you were swathered in fat, you were undesirable to other women. She was safe. Now that you have lost weight and are receiving advances, she is less secure in the relationship. Believe me when I say the unspoken word carries a big message. This is the same when a woman puts a man through college and then he leaves her for an established professional. Or a woman seeks out a dynamic man that brings excitement to her dull life. Fantasy can be great, but it should be channeled. Twenty two years is a long time, and a few months of a "new" you don't warrant this behaivor. Is it really the weight loss, or are there other issues in the marriage? Give her time to adjust to the new you. And give yourself time to readjust yourself to the changing relationship. She has been there for you. Now its your turn.

Hey guys remember that this time is for healing. Any weight loss is a bonus. Don't fixate on that or you'll be disappointed. We are eating liquids or mushies and they all have calories. Once we start solid food we can get a better balance. For most, weight loss comes after the first or second fill. Grant it, those that have had extensive pre and post op diets tend to lose a great deal of weight upfront. This is your reminder what stage you are in and where are priorities are at this time. (of course, I can't resist getting on the scale either. :grouphug:) Glad everyone is doing so well. I think our June group is coming through this with less complications than most. Let's pray it continues. I feel wonderful and have far more energy than I've had in a long time.

And this has taught you what? Gum is evil to bandsters.

I feel great. I have since the beginning. None of the usual complaints. I have the left shoulder issue, but nothing I can't handle. No pain meds. It was so much easier than I was expecting. Good luck to you and hope you can get to bandland soon.

I can't believe your doctor would charge that much. The norm seems to be around $100. I would start shopping around as the band does no good without a fill.

Welcome and good luck to you and your husband. The lapband is less evasive than gastric bypass. You will lose slower, but it is adjustable and removable if something happens that you need that. I am recently banded, but did much research. This site being one of the places I come for information. Hope you and your husband get approved soon and start your journey on a new life. Welcome to lapband

Losing 80 lbs and having plastic surgery is a major accomplishment. You aren't finished yet. This is life long. Don't undo what you have worked so hard to do. You can do this too. You know you can because you've done it. Recommit to the lapband and show it whose boss. (it is ofcourse) I agree a fill is probably in order. Make yourself proud and us as your groupies. Rah, rah, rah.

Yup. They don't do much for anyone. They are in black/white anyway so your red eyes won't show.

Hello all, Kenny: I will try the GasX after meal. I just used it once when it was very obvious I had gas. I haven't tried it as a preventive to the shoulder pain, but will give it a try. Suchadiva I would probably go ahead and get a fill. That will be a long time to be without a fill. Of course, if you're not hungy it might not be a big deal, but I am. For me it would be a really big deal. Ask them to go slow on your fill and that you are flying. If you can get it a week or two before you leave it would give you a chance to see how it is before you left. Some people experience tightning when flying and some don't. socialgal3 - he is using the zone diet and has lost 200 lbs. He wants to lose 700+ more. He is not going to have the surgery unless he can't lose by dieting. That was what the article here said. Avilla - sliming is what happens when something gets stuck. You can't get anything down and liquids, your saliva, comes up. This is what they also call a PB, but without the burp. Some have to get the food unstuck to stop the sliming. I have heard that you can raise your arms and hold your breathe or exhale really long to get all breathe out in hopes it will dislodge what is stuck. Some have taken meat tenderizer and a teaspoon of water to help disolve what is stuck. Best advice: don't get stuck. Hope all that are getting banded today are doing well. Let us know. Enjoy Mexico for those of you down there.

Xena, If you get a refund let me know. I also had to pay for the time he fell out of network. I still hope his bill gets there before the surgicenter or I will owe them. This system really sucks and its difficult to navigate these insurance waters sometimes. Not sure who dropped who, but all is well that ends well.

I also have UHC. They didn't require any additional tests, etc. They didn't require anything from my PCP either. Let the doctor submit everything. THey will build the case. You probably need a few co-mortalities to get approved. They also submit how many diets, etc. you have been on in the past. Its the forms you fill out at the doctors seminar that get it for you. Since you are in Houston you probably went to one of the well known ones. They know UHC and how to get it done, provided your policy doesn't have any exclusions. Best of luck to you.

Day 15 and I feel great. My incisions are pretty much healed and most of the bruising is gone. I still get a little hitch on my right side, but its OK. My real complaint is after I eat I get the pain in my left shoulder. It is more intense after dinner, maybe because I eat more then. It was the worse last night. I wonder how long this lasts. Surely the gas from surgery is out by now. I start solids this weekend. I'm a little nervous about that. I'll take it slow and easy as I don't want any problems. Glad to hear everyone is doing fine. I enjoyed the lists that were posted. Indeed every doctor is different, but I do believe that slowing easing into this is the best way. The lengths differ, but it seems to be the best. Welcome to the newly banded.

Amazing. How fast was that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will succeed. And no fill. WOW

My doctor wants all pills crushed. I crush them everyday and take with a couple spoonfuls of yogurt.

I went on soft foods the 3rd week - now. The first week was Clear liquids followed by a 1 week of thicker liquids. Every doctor is different as to what they want you to do. The best advice is to follow your doctor's orders so that you are in sync with his/her plan. I have been hungry from the beginning. I seem to get satisfied when I eat my meal, but no signs of fullness. I don't expect that until my first fill. I do seem to get that left shoulder pain after I eat. Hope this helps.

Don't forget all the food you are NOT eating has a cost associated to it. I thought I would put away all the money I save at restaurants for what I don't order. I think a nice trip with DH will be reward for me. p.s. you could get a massage at one place, a facial at another, etc. to get better deals on cost. check it out.

Refund? You think we could get a refund? I think it was probably a combination of Spiegel and UHC not coming to terms. After evaluating the number of patients with UHC it was reevaluated. If we paid too much then we should get something. I guess I'll wait until the bills come in and see what UHC does in the way of adjustments.