GuyMontag

I definitely agree that the mask can be key. When I got my cpap machine I had a nasal pillow. Unfortunately, I'm a mouth breather so I had to invest in a full face mask. Once I got that things were much better.

I vote for wait.

I had the lortab and for me it was the bee's knees. If it's not effective for you then I would ask for a different script. Everyone is different and there's no reason for you to be in pain.

One thing that kind of freaked me out about the bypass was the 2% mortality rate...i mean...1 in 50 dies from it?!? Yikes. Also, recent studies have shown that after five years, people who are banded actually lose more weight and keep it off than people who go through bypass. Also, the adjustability really appealed to me. I don't want to lose my weight too fast and become some malnutritioned skeleton. I have a friend who had the bypass...and sure, he lost 225lbs...and looks like death. I don't want to look like that. Losing your weight at a slower pace will allow your body to adjust and allow your skin to slowly shrink back in place. It's like Aristotle said, everything in moderation. Sure, if you want to be skinny for your next high school reunion in 3 months then go with the bypass. If you're loooking at making manageable changes to your diet with the use of a consistent tried and true tool...then choose the lap band. At least that's my take on it. PS - You might want to check this out: http://www.lapband.obeseinfo.com/lap-band-gastric-bypass.htm

300lbs. as of today.

Everyone is different. I place I chose to get my lap band done has banded over 5000 people in 7 years. To me that translates into experience. That being said, I was banded on February 13th and today, February 17th, I am in no real pain. My port is a little sore and I use ibuprofen for that. I've read through a lot of horror stories and inconveniences that people go through after the surgery and I am happy to say that I have had none of that. I'm currently on the liquid phase of post op recovery and doing fine. I'm a little hungry but it's nothing I can't handle. The first couple of days after surgery I took the liquid hydrocodone and if I had any pain I guess I just wasn't aware of it. I was a bit proactive I guess...i figured, they gave me pain meds...why wait until it hurts to take them...but I've even heard of people not taking them at all. Just remember, everyone is different, so what is painless for one person is not for another. If your'e really serious about the lap band then I would encourage you to do a lot of research locally and be sure to choose a surgeon that has lots of experience and great references. At one point I was interested in possibly going the Mexican route to save money, but when I found Cincy Weight Loss and found out that for a few thousand dollars more I could get all my fills, visits, etc. for free for two solid years after I was banded...that swayed me. I decided to spend the extra money for the long road...and so far it's working well. Good luck.

Chemo was one thing that my doctor brought up during my pre-op consult. He said that in 5000 lap bands they had only seen one case of "slippage" and that the patient had recently had chemo and he wondered if they weren't related. I would say it's definitely something to talk to your lap band doc about.

I had constipation the first couple days. Tons of people recommend Miralax. I chose the natural route and mixed about 4oz. of prune juice with 4oz. of apple juice and I had a BM the next day.

I'll guess i'll join the fray. I'm only three days banded right now. I guess i'm in what they call, bandster hell :rose: I'm surviving on protein shakes and cream of chicken soup right now. I started at 325lbs. and i'm down to 306. I won't be surprised if I gain a little before my first fill but I figured I should at least document what i've lost so far. You guys are an enouragement and I hope you all keep posting. BTW, any tips would be appreciated! PS - I was banded at Cincy Weight Loss in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Have you had any fills yet? I was told not to expect weight loss until after I started getting my fills. Sure, a lot of people do lose weight immediately after post-op but that's not the goal. Post-op is for healing. Don't be discouraged.

I'm plan on keeping my band forever. I know that the band has only been approved in the states for around 7 years. Before that they had been doing it Europe for around 10 years. My doctor told me that Europe is kind of like our guinea pigs...we let them get all the kinks out before the FDA approves it over here. Believe it or not we actually have all the lawsuits to thank for that in this country. Our country is super diligent when it comes to approving medical procedures. As far as complications, I was banded 3 days ago and so far so good. I went to Cincy Weight Loss to be banded. They have performed over 5000 lap band procedures in the last 7 years. And from what i've heard, they have very few if any complications. Good luck with your banding.

I was banded yesterday and I had the same problem with urination. When I called my doctor he told me if it persisted into the late evening then I'd probably have to go to the ER and have them drain my bladder. He said that it's a rare side effect of the anesthetic that affects a small number of people. He recommended sitting in a warm bath and peeing while I was sitting down. He said he knew it sounded gross but that it works for a lot of people. I chose to just keep sitting on the throne picturing water falls and such. Eventually I got a few drops and kept going back and finally got enough urine out to turn the water yellow. I am just now feeling like I'm able to urinate more like I used to be able to. However, I have not yet had a bowel movement...I hope that doesn't keep up...I hate the pain that can come with constipation so i'm going to keep a close eye on it.

I'm on day 5 of my 2 week pre-op diet. Yeah...it's definitely a challenge. I hate the term 'cheating'. I'm supposed to do 800 calories a day...I might push 1000 on most days...that's still good. Last night was the first time I had anything solid. I put some mozarella cheese in my tomato soup. So sue me. I've lost 8 lbs. in 5 days so I'm not too worried. I think the big thing to watch is how much and with what you're cheating with. Cheating with some vegetables...or some crackers here or there...big deal. Now eating a whole pizza...THAT would be cheating and I would discourage you from doing that. Hang in there...others have been where we are and soon we'll be looking back giving helpful advice to the upcomers...won't that be nice? I can't wait to be post-op :cursing:

I just scheduled my banding for February 13th. Friday the 13th...good thing i'm not supersticious

<p>My company currently has Blue Cross / Blue Shield in Kentucky but our current plan EXCLUDES any kind of weight loss surgery. We currently have Blue Access (PPO) plan 332. I was wondering if some of you out there that had Kentucky BC/BS could share what plan number they had that DID NOT EXCLUDE weight loss surgery so that I could pass that information on to my employer. Thanks so much.</p>

I got this response from my employer after I requested that we get a policy that covers the lap band procedure. Any thoughts? (just talked to)...our anthem provider to see what can be done on your surgery request. because of the risky nature of the procedure, anthem has eliminated this and anything related to it from their coverage. only the largest of companies can add this to their rider and it looks like anthem is going to nix doing that as well.

I just got off the phone with Anthem BC/BS and they said that any and all bariatric surgery was specifically excluded under my current plan. That's a bummer. I guess my only two options now are to either get my company to change my policy to start covering the surgery or fight the insurance company tooth and nail

Thanks for the encouragement. Something I failed to mention earlier was that my insurance company is Anthem BC/BS out of Kentucky. If anyone has any tips on how to deal with this particular company I would appreciate the help. Thanks again. Peace.

I am at step one of possibly getting a lap band. I saw my doctor today and he is referring me to a lap band specialist in Indianapolis. A little about myself, I am 5'8 and 290lbs. I used to be skinny but have gained about 10lbs. per year for the last 14 years...you do the math. I have tried dieting, exercise, weight loss progams and nothing seems to work for me. I must admit that I'm a little nervous that I'll be turned down by my insurance company for the procedure mainly because I don't have any "life threatening issues" so to speak. The major health problem I have due to my weight is acid reflux. Other than that it's the million other daily problems I face due to being large. I'm not sure that will convince an insurance company that I need to lose weight. I guess I'll have to wait and see. I hope to visit here often and get/give support from/to others as the case may be. Thanks.