ParrotheadCathy

Suzy, my Blue Cross Blue Shield policy had a written exclusion against any weight loss surgery, so I know how you fee! I weighed 284 pounds, had 3 comorbities and my PCP supported my choice 100%. So I went to the first visit, found out what testing had to be done and then called my PCP. He made referrals through BCBP docs for everything i needed, had the results sent to him and he sent on to my surgeon's office. Other than a couple of $25 co-pays, the pre-op testing didn't cost me anything really. Abbemac ... be aware that it is NOT the insurance company who is telling you they won't pay for it. It is the employer who negotiates with the insurance carrier as to what they can provide for a price. So some of us have coverage for WLS and some of us don't. I have BCBS HMO...and a written exclusion put it by my employer and you can't even appeal a written exclusion. But my best friend has BCBS HMO too ... and her policy covers WLS with just a couple of qualifications. But all that testing that you have to do before surgery is pretty much stuff that tests for problems any obese person might suffer, so to go back to your PCP and get referrals to docs for the testing is a very smart thing to do if your policy doesn't cover the surgery.

Remember that your port is either stitched to muscle (Lap Band brand band) or held to the muscle with metal crimps (Realize brand). If you do a repetitious movement that pulls that specific area, it's going to create soreness/pain.

I would call back (chances are you won't get the same person twice) and ask your question again. ASK FOR DETAILS. Find out what their requirements are for approval .... Is there a minimum BMI? Must you have been at that BMI for a certain period of time? Documented weight loss attempts? (This could be as simple as your PCP having in your records that you were trying Weight Watchers or NutriSystem or Jenny Craig or whatever) What do they need to see to approve you. They will have specific requirements, and every policy is different. If they say it isn't covered, ask if there is a written exclusion (somewhere in your policy it could say specifically that there is absolutely no coverage for weight loss surgery) because such a written exclusion cannot be appealed or gotten around. This is a hard one because nobody wants to hear this one. But your policy was decided upon by your employer, not the insurance company. Your employer decided what they are willing to pay for and if there is a written exclusion for WLS, then you are out of luck or self pay. I read a post where someone even called their state insurance commissioner on that and was told a written exclusion is Iron clad.

LAP-BAND There is a list of lap band abbreviations. This can help you read posts! PB = productive burp. If you eat too fast, take too big a bite or don't chew your food well enough, it can (and often does) get stuck. How will you know you're stuck? You'll know. It hurts. Your body's reaction is to produce "slime" to lubricate the esophagus so that HOPEFULLY the stuck food will pass into the stomach. If it doesn't it will come back up. Please note that this is NOT vomiting. Your stomach contents, including stomach acids, do not come back up. Just the food that was stuck. It's a pet peeve for me. I hate it when people say they are vomiting when in fact they are PBing. Frankly, when food gets that stuck, I don't care which way it goes as long as it moves, LOL. After a PB, I recommend not eating for about 10 minutes. Then go ahead and eat but be mindful of the size bites you're taking and make sure you chew them well and don't rush to take the next bite.

Anatomy varies from person to person and affects how much it takes to create enough restriction. I will say, I've never read many positive comments from people who got at fill during surgery .... combined with post-op swelling, so many have problems with being too tight. For me, there was .6cc left in my band after they tested it in the operating room. My last adjustment was an unfill of .2cc. I am holding at 5.8cc.

carolepart -- I'll be 59 in January; my 1st bandiversary is 2/10. No regrets at all; only wish I'd moved forward sooner. As for the cold feet, that's actually pretty common. Most get nervous right before surgery. It's okay! The people who post with problems....you have to remember that a lot of people who have had the surgery are living their lives, succeeding with their weight loss and really haven't found a need to look for something like this board. Throw a problem at them, and they post because they are looking for answers, reassurance they are not alone, etc. I probably wouldn't be here except that I was looking for more information back before I had my surgery -- and I stuck around because I enjoy it. But the squeeky wheel thing certainly applies, LOL. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how you're doing!!

There was a post on here a while back that described the gain/lose yo-yo like this: You are chained to a slot machine. You keep putting quarters in but you never, ever hit the jackpot. NEVER. Sound familiar?? Anybody who questions your choice is probably a bit misinformed about lap band (they know a bit about gastric bypass and that's about it). Don't bother to try and educate them. It's not worth the trouble. They will see soon enough that a lap band isn't a magic potion. Tell them that you are tired of gaining and then losing and then regaining time after time. That you know that yo-yo-cycle is stressing your body. That you know health problems related to obesity are not a matter of "if" but only "when" and that you are doing this for yourself and your health -- NOT for them.

Go for protein first. Protein is more dense than other food so it takes longer to digest, so it makes you feel full longer than other foods as it stays in your pouch longer. Bandster Hell is tough!! We've been there. Once you get to fully solid food and start getting fills, it does get easier.

I believe the brand name is Nectar....a protein powder to mix with clear liquids. Comes in quite a variety of flavors. Ask you doc if it would be an acceptable substitute. Also, GNC sells a variety of protein shakes and will usually let you sample before you buy.

Journal every bite you put in your mouth. You're the only person who will see your food journal so be exactingly honest. If you ate one M&M write it down, basically. Most of the online (free) journaling options will help you track calories. Try to keep it under 1200 calories per day. You may find that you are eating the appropriate volume but not the best food choices. Change your exercise routine around. Change your food around. As long as you stick to the program, the scale will move.

99% of the time a supervised pre-op diet is not the surgeon's requirement but that of the insurance company. I've heard different stories ... (1) that they want you to lose weight so that you are below the qualification level so they don't have to approve you or (2) that they want to see that you have a commitment to the process so that they are not throwing money away.

Another fill would probably be a good thing. Remember that we all have weight fluctuations and you may have simply gotten on the scale when you were up.....monthly cycle, red meat can make you retain Water. Just keep doing what you're doing and it will correct.

I don't have a problem. I eat things like low fat cottage cheese (packed with protein, 12-13 grams in 1/2 cup) and an egg (usually about 7 grams per egg); 3 oz lean meat, usually about 20 grams) with a veggie and sometimes a whole grain carb; about the same at dinner. If I feel I've come up short for the day, 1 oz of low fat cheese is tasty and is 7 grams.

1. Can you feel the device once it's in? You can't feel the band around your stomach. However, if you press down, you can feel your port. But it's not like you walk around with this conscious awareness that your band/port are "in there". 2. Any complications at all? (I know it's different for everyone, but still...) None for me. 3.Ladies: Can you take birth control afterwards? I'm using Yaz right now...will they put me on something different? I'm too old for that issue, LOL BUT no you don't have to change your BCP. You can swallow small pills almost certainly. I can swallow the one pill I do take (to help me stay asleep) and I have taken Tylenol caplets 2 at a time with no problem. 4. Sex: When can you start up again, and is it safe...? For me, a week I guess it was. Maybe don't swing from the chandeliers right away.... 5. Did you experience a lot of vomiting? No nausea post-op. Vomiting is bad for your band. The doc should give you a prescription pre-op so you can have it on hand. Nausea and pain meds, actually. 6. Will you ever be able to eat food? What do you mean, will you "ever be able to eat food"? You'll be on liquids for some short period of time post-op and then mushy food for a little while and then youo literally can eat anything your little heart desires. That doesn't mean you should, of course. Discretion is part of losing weight! 7. Right after surgery, what did they give you for nourishment? Followed by a week-to-week deal? Post-op was liquids like Protein shakes, broths, Water, sugar free Jello, SF popsicles, etc. For me, it was 10 days. Then mushy foods (for me, again 10 days)....soups, SF pudding, mashed potatoes, grits, refried Beans, that sort of thing. After 7 days of mushy foods I was told to start adding regular food and move forward to a fully "normal" diet as soon as I wanted to. JUST BE SURE TO DRINK 64 OZ. OF WATER!!!! You must stay hydrated. Oh yeah, NO MORE CARBONATED beverages, EVER. 8. How much weight did you lose within the first month? I know it's slow and healthy weight loss, but do you feel like it goes quickly? I've lost 80 pounds in 8 months. Sometimes, it's slow like 1 or 2 pounds a week and sometimes you might not lose anything, and other weeks can be 3, 5 or even more. 9. Any change in emotions? (Not hormonal, just all around feeling great - confidence?) duh! You will have more energy (enough to drive the people in your house insane), more desire to go and do because you feel better.

CALL THEM BACK. Explain that this is somewhat of an emergency in that 1. You cannot eat any solid food 2. You often/most of the time have a problem taking in hydration of any sort. DEMAND to be seen. Surgery is not the first line of treatment if there is a slippage. Most doctors will put you back on a full liquid diet and many times that enables the band to slip back to its problem location. Honestly, slippage doesn't occur easily. Many doctors actually use some of the stomach to stitch around the band to anchor it down, too. I know mine did that and I've read comments where others were told the same thing. There are possible other causes for your issues but just the fact that you have a difficult time swallowing liquids makes me thing you could even be too tight.

It is NOT "all vomit". A stuck bite never makes it to your stomach. It is stuck in the esophagus and cannot transit (at least easily) into the pouch created by your band. Slime is generated to make it easier for the stuck bite to move...one way or the other. When you truly have a PB, it may seem like a cough and out comes the bite. It may come out forcefully even. But it is NOT accompanied by stomach acids and the entire contents of your stomach. That is vomiting. It requires muscle spasms/contractions to vomit. Regurgitation is much less complicated and uses only the mildest reversal of peristalsis. Personally, I don't want to PB and I try to avoid it at all costs. And I usually do. Vomit? My gawd, I would lay on the bed and pray for deliverance from the possibility of vomiting. I can't even stand to hear someone else vomit. All that stomach acid and bile coming back up is just about the worst thing I can imagine in life.

Purple, there really shouldn't be anything you can't eat. There will be a few limitations. meat, if cooked too dry, will be a problem. But that's a cooking problem, not a food problem, per se. Bread, that is SOFT bread, can be a problem for some of us. I don't eat soft bread but toasted is not a problem at all. Think about when you were a kid. Did you ever take a slice of white bread and pull the center out of the crust and sort of squish it into doughy balls? Well, when you chew it, it can form those same sorts of balls and be a little hard to swallow. If you're a bread addict, you're going to have to cut it WAY back because your capacity for food will be dramatically decreased and you will be told to eat at least 20 grams of Protein protein first, veggies second and then only if you are honestly still hungry you can eat a single serving of a whole grain carb. Vegetables .... most of us were warned about "stringy" vegetables...that would be asparagus and celery. Like pineapple, they are fibrous. I put fresh asparagus in a salad and I cut it up into 1/2" bits and have no problem with asaparagus at all. Celery is not something I pick up and eat but I do cook with it and it has not posed any problems for me that way. VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: The band is not a method of punishment. You may have to experience with cooking techniques and such but you should be able to eat pretty much anything you want. Having said that, of course you will have to exercise some common sense. For example, yeah, you COULD eat ice cream but you really shouldn't because (1) it's a slider food (easy to swallow) and (2) too high a calorie content in exchange for nutritional value. Most of us take some sort of a Vitamin every day. I take a performance vitamin because it makes me feel good.

Strangely, I've not had any pain. There's just this bulge. Thankful, of course, that I haven't been through what you went though! That had to suck. But your story is certainly motivational as far as pushing forward to having the surgery. Thanks for sharing!

- My Type II Diabetes - My high cholesterol - My aching back

It probably isn't the fish. Here's my questions 1. Have you had a fill in the last week or so? 2. Have you had any little symptoms of a cold or allergies ... specifically, a little bit of a runny nose, hoarseness, post nasal drip that you are aware of? 3. Are you 100% sure you aren't eating too fast? 4. Are you 100% sure you aren't taking bites that are too big? 1. Sometimes, a fill doesn't register as making a change in restriction for a few days. 2. Mucus can drain down your throat and into your pouch, where it can effectively make the opening smaller than it actually is. 3. Too fast sticks 4. Big bites stick. Any bite bigger than a nickel is too big. And if the only thing that seems to apply is that you've had a fill recently, are you 100% sure that it was stuck? Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna get stuck but if I just sit up straight or stand up, the feeling goes away.

Lori, I suggest that if at all possible have your surgeon supervise your diet period. They can help you to act appropriately. And go ahead and eat now .....a few extra pounds never hurt in this situation. I know, who thought a fat person would be in the position of NOT wanting to lose any weight??

Dophin, just a couple of observations. You said: WHOLE BOWL :scared2:of salad with all kinds of veggies, cheese, bacon bits etc. I should NOT be able to eat a whole damn bowl of salad. What the hell is wrong with me??? I dont have any diet plan laid out, I just try to watch what I eat and nothing seems to work. Lettuce has almost no nutritional value at all, is mostly Water and when you chew it up it can pass through the stoma very quickly. So you can easily eat more volume of lettuce than other things. As for the cheese and bacon bits, that's a deep pit. You can be piling on calories when you start putting stuff like that one a salad. That was always the problem with salad bars. I read many articles about how people thought they were eating so well only to discover that "healthy" salad had over 1000 calories because of the stuff they put on top of the lettuce. This can happen with almost anything. You say you don't have a diet plan laid out. That needs to change NOW. 1. Journal every bite you put in your mouth. Nobody is going to see it but you so please be honest with yourself. 1 M&M? put it on there. There are several options for journaling online (free) that will help you track your calories. Aim for 1,000- 1,200 per day. I believe that at www.livestrong.com there is a good option for journaling. 2. Make SURE you eat at least 60 grams of Protein per day. My doc's eating plan says 3 oz of lean protein per meal, vegetable, whole grain carb (about 15 grams of carbs is a serving). 3. If you get hungry in less than 3 hours, you may need another fill, but if you snack, choose PROTEIN. An ounce of low fat cheese or a boiled egg because they are about 7 grams of protein and less than 100 calories for either one. Hope this helps.

You sound like where I was after my last fill (6.0 in a 10cc band). I kept thinking it would loosen up but it just didn't. I finally told the doc I thought I was too tight. He removed just .2cc and now I'm fine. No problems at all.

Low fat cottage cheese .... 1/2 cup has 12-13 grams. That's a lot of protein in a small serving. Protein shakes can add the protein BUT they are liquid and liquid goes right through your pouch so even though you got the protein, you get no satiety from drinking the shake. Much better to EAT protein. There are protein powders meant to be added to drinks and foods.

That just makes me count my blessings. My doctor has 2 offices and surgeries so he's not there a ton of time in any week BUT he has a partner who is not a surgeon and a physician's assistant that are always there. I don't even really care if I see the surgeon because I don't have any problems AND I can see the PA or the "office doc" whenever I need to. Lucky me. I'm really sorry you're having these problems. When you do go in, I suggest that you express your dissatisfaction with your surgeon....after all, it's a problem with the way he's running his practice. See what his reaction is. Then, if you aren't satisfied, start seriously shopping for another doctor. Good luck.