Aurelia

Mine came 2 days after surgery. Fun times.

So I have a bit of a complex issue. I had the Lapband put in 2009 and had great success. In 2015 I developed an antibiotic resistant port infection and had to have my band removed. I’m trying to get approved for the gastric sleeve but my insurance has denied saying I’m only allowed one surgery per lifetime. Has anyone ever successfully got them to approve it with peer to peer review. Trying to arm myself with as much info as possible.

It depends on the type of coverage you have. I have Choice Plus and everything was covered for my surgery.

6 months and I absolutely hate it. I have lost a lot of weight but I've been in pain and no one really knows why. I maybe getting it removed. My mom was thinking about getting the surgery but after she's seen how much I've endured she changed her mind. It's not for everyone and everyone's body reacts differently. I'm grateful for the weight loss but the price has been too high in my opinion.

You're not alone. I hate the band and wish I had gotten a bypass or a sleeve.

Violet, Thanks for understanding where I'm coming from as an aviator. No offense to the responses that I've received but business or leisure flying is not the same as working a flight. I'm glad I got a FA to respond to my question. I have spoken to my doctor about adding my issues to his case studies and so far he's given me a cat scan and an upper Endoscopy but all seems well with the band. I still have ridiculous port pain and I think it's shifted and lodged up by my ribs. He's not really sure what's going on and seems to just be scratching his head. I have a work colleague who had bypass and he has no issues. I really think doctors shouldn't recommend the band to pilots or flight attendants. It's just pure hell!!

I'm not talking about run of the mill soreness. It hurts to touch...I can't have anything on it. He says my band is most likely infected.

Has this ever happened to anyone? It started out with port site pain that was very tender to touch...went to see the doc today and now I'm waiting to have a CAT Scan done. He said the band might have eroded. In a situation like this would they revise it to a sleeve or gastric Bypass? I'm just scared because my weight loss is going great.

No it's my port. I feel it moving and making a popping noise.

Um...there's no joint in my stomach last I checked.

for the past two weeks I've noticed that my port site is very tender to the touch. Forget laying on my stomach...it's incredibly uncomfortable. This week it started popping when I would bend over. Is this normal??? Anyone else experience this?

I guess everyone is different! I do try to drink water throughout my flights to stay hydrated. It's just nearly impossible to get anything down once I'm back on the ground. This is so weird. Plus you also have to remember that I'm in the air a lot longer than the average person especially when you factor in my 3 hour commute home after flying for 13+ hours from the middle east.

Sally, I think two things cause the restriction...The Cabin Pressure and the dry air in the cabin. I finished flying on wednesday morning and I'm still not able to eat because I'm so tight. I'm giving it one more day and then calling my doc to see about a slight unfill.

I was outpatient and the my hospital bill was 36K My physician was 10K Anesthesiologist was 6K Physicians Assistant was 5K I nearly fell to the floor when I saw the charges. Thank G-d my insurance covered everything and I didn't have to pay a cent/

I'm a Flight Attendant and I just wanted to see if my experiences with flying with the band are on par with others. My trips typically last 4 to 5 days and they are pure hell. I try to drink water during my flights because I know dehydration can cause the band to tighten. However, I find that I am unable to eat on the days that I fly and for about 2 days after. On the last trip I did I almost passed out from the lack of food. I have considered perhaps getting an unfill but on the days that I'm not flying I'm ok with eating food. Has anyone else experienced this and how did you combat the problem. I've also noticed that my port site becomes extremely irritated when I fly and I feel it popping when I bend over. What's a girl to do?

I'm at 56 pounds weight loss and wearing size 12/14. I just got a fill and I'm at 6.5 cc in a 10cc band.

I have UHC choice plus and my surgery is done and paid for.

Couple of things... UHC doesn't require that you stay overnight. I had my surgery in March and was able to go home. They only keep you if you have complications. I have choice plus and only submitted 3 years of weight history and none of them were BMI of 40 or above. I was approved in 5 days. Stay positive it will happen for you!

How is everyone doing?? I'm doing great. The past few weeks I've done some major shopping and it felt great. My old clothes were looking ridiculous on me. I went nuts with all the sales and I bought all new stuff and they were medium and they fit!! Do you know how great it feels? I was a 2x before surgery and now I'm wearing regular clothes. I've been having issues with finding a right fill level though. I'm currently at 6cc's but still finding that I'm hungry...however moving up .5cc's is too much and makes me too tight. I'm exercising and still losing so I'm not too concerned yet. So how is everyone doing?

Tyson makes a 99% fat free chicken that comes in a small can...its a great option for a wrap. You can use low carb tortilla's or romaine lettuce as someone suggested above. Also, if you like tuna they have it many varities and you can use it with wraps. I also make shrimp or crab salad and I wrap it with romaine lettuce. Let me know if you want the recipe. It's really quick and easy to make and tastes yummy.

hey everyone I've been on hiatus because Ive been very ill. I've spent most of june in the hospital but I've managed to lose a few pounds still. I was hoping to break into the 160's but I think I'll have to hold off on that until july.

I love two buck chucks! I'm a Flight Attendant and every time I head out to LA I bring back as many as my little suitcase will hold!!

I'm a Flight Attendant and I fly all the time. The band does get tight sometimes but it settles back down a few hours after my flights. Just drink warm liquids and it usually helps with getting it back to normal. Also, I drink a few glasses of wine every week and it hasn't affected my weight loss. Just do it in moderation. Don't go drinking a whole bottle or something!!

Hey Everyone! I've been doing fairly well. Since I have time off from work I've been an exercise fiend. I alternate between Wii Fit and Wii Active and when I'm done with my 30-40 minutes of that I go swin 20-30 laps in the pool. It's been paying off because I'm finally in the 170's!! I haven't seen these numbers in years! So far I've had a total weightloss of 41 pounds. I'm still learning to eat properly but some days I screw up and end up in trouble. Hope you ladies keep on chugging despite the setbacks.

Jennibells, I'm doing so much better now. I really got my butt in gear and I've been exercising like crazy!!! The weightloss has been slow and steady. I got another fill yesterday and I'm hoping it will finally bring me to that elusive sweet spot!