SoAnnaBanana

I have been fighting with my doctor's office over a revision. I had a band slip nearly a month ago. My surgeon wanted me to revise to sleeve. All the insurance folks are telling me BCBS of MI won't cover a revision to sleeve and that I have to have a new band installed instead. I have had so many issues with my band and don't really want to go down that road. My BMI is 34.6. I know other folks have had success getting this covered. What's the deal?

I have been banded for over a year and this is my signal that I ate too much. It is quite painful so I always try to eat slow. The pain doesn't come right away either, it is as the food settles in. I HATE that feeling.

I had my surgery over 3 months before you. I have had 3 fills and I still have NO restriction. I have done well on my own though. I am hoping my next fill brings some much needed restricting! Stay strong!

I am adding myself, finally.

Though I probably was not suposed to, I slept on my stomach from day 1 out. I would start out on my back but wake up on my stomach. I had very little port site pain.

Wow! That is amazing. You are a true success story!

Hey, just wanted to let you know that I also had pain there and I called the nurse and she said that is where your colon is and if you are at all constipated that could be part of the pain. That was the case for me.

I made pork chops in the crock pot yesterday. It was so good! Just throw your chops in, cover with healthy request cream of mushroom Soup, and cook on low for 8 hours (or high on 4). Then add green Beans once the pork is done and serve with some mashed potato... YUM! Also, I made this super good bean salad. Mix one can of chick peas, one can of black beans, and one can of kidney beans (all drained), with 1/4 C olive oil, one large tomato chopped, 3 cloves or garlic chopped, one small onion diced, and 4 Tbsp lemon joice. Let is all sit over night and yumm-o!

Great post! Mine is : The forever diet

Dr. Katz did my surgery on September second at St. John's Weight Loss. He was so kind and caring and did a wonderful job.

I am also with you on the emotional rollar coaster! I was banded on 9-2-09 and have gone through many different types of feelings. Some days I feel great about my choice, some days I cry and feel left out, some days I just don't care. It is rough... especially when we depend on food to get us through the tough time and now that isn't the option. I would suggest therapy of some sort. I saw a therapist previously to deal with my food issues and will be going back again this week. It isn't because you are crazy, but just to give you someone to talk to and reconfirm that you are doing the right thing, making possitive changes and that bumps in the road are normal. I know I am really struggling right now because I am not losing any weight but am eating so much less. I "know" this is normal but it is still frustrating and makes me feel sad. This is a big change and we all need to find a way to cope. I am still working on that. Good luck to you!

Congrats, and good luck to you all. It is so worth it once it happens! Stick with it!

I keep track of everything. I find some weird sense of comfort in food journaling. I use sparkpeople.com to keep track of what I eat and how much I work out.

I was banded on 9/2 and I have also had bowel issues. I called the nurse yesterday because I still hadn't gone. I had starting taking MiraLax the day before and she said that is good and that I should try prune juice and fiber. I have since had a bowel movement but think I will have to continue with the MiraLax. I am sure once I am on to better foods (not full liquids) it will be less of a problem.

I am also having issues with the cocktail thing. I am a social drinker, and normally this weekend would have been a big drinking and eating weekend. Atleast we are so motivated to keep ourselves on track. Good luck to you!

Man, today is 4 days post-op and I feel so bloated. I don't really have gas pain but feel really full and I feel like my stomach is puffy. I am moving around a lot and feel pretty good. Tomorrow I start full liquids, and I really need it because I am weak from the clear liquids stage. Take care all.

I have to say, I totally agree. Even water seems to fill me up. I went for a nice long walk this morning, and I feel better, but still really bloated feeling. I haven't been able to eat an entire sugar free popsicle yet. I am going to enjoy this as long as I can though! One more day on clear liquids then on to full liquids Saturday. I am a little nervous about full liquids!

I had my surgery yesterday and was released from the hospital today around 10 am. It felt like a life time... I could not wait to get home and unhooked from all the machines. I am feeling pretty good... sore but no gas pain, just incision pain. I have been moving around a lot, but am not able to eat much. Everytime I try something that isn't water I feel like I might throw up. I am taking loritab liquid... it tastes horrible. I had the most amazing experience at St John Hospital and with my surgeon Dr. Katz. I am very pleased. I am now heading back to bad. Glad to hear everyone is doing okay. Keep up the healing all and for those yet to be banded, keep up the good pre-op work!

Tomorrow is my day and I just called to get my time. I have to be at the hospital at 5:15 am! The hospital is about an hour away so wow... early morning. Hope all you Sept 1sts had good days today! I look forward to hearing your stories later on in the week.

Thanks all for replying! I will soon know how it feels as my surgery is tomorrow. I actually think my husband will be the one giving them to me.

Wow, this weekend has been tough with the pre-op diet. It was both my anniversary and my husband's birthday. All I could have was slimfast, broth, oatmeal, cream of wheat, and crystal light. I must admit... I had second thoughts while on this diet... it has been so hard. But here we all are turning the corner and soon to be post-op. I am looking forward to all the great things to come! Good luck to you all on Tuesday!!!

I had my diet and post-op info class yesterday, as well as my bloodwork, EKG (again), and a chest X-ray. I met with my surgeon again, and the anesthesiologist. I start my full liquids diet tomorrow and I have to admit... it is all hitting me now. As I was sitting in my diet class I kept worrying that I couldn't do this. I have no fears about the actual surgery, but man... the lifestyle change! I know this is what I need and that I have to do it but I am nervous. I guess that is normal. I keep thinking about how I will feel a year from now and that makes me feel better.

Wow, I can't believe how many September 1st dates there are. I am feeling a little left out with my Sept 2nd surgery date! I am so excited! How about you guys?

The more I read the more fortunate I realize I am. I have BCBS PPO of MI and I did not need pre-authorization, just some paperwork filled out. I went to my seminar on June 22 and got my surgery date on August 3rd. I needed to have my Psych eval, a surgical clearance filled out by my PCP, and a letter of support from my PCP. I didn't have to do any diet. My PCP did make it as hard on me as she possibly could though... she made me have a full physical plus some extras, refered me to a cardiologist (I don't have a heart condition) who sent me for a stress test plus extras. All and all I think I had about 20 doctor appointments but I was extremely determined. I have my pre-op bloodwork and nutrtition class August 24th and then off to the OR on September 2nd. Stay possitive and keep your eye on the prize. I remember thinking it was too much work but I never let that get me down. I had first thought I wouldn't be able to have surgery until Nov or Dec so I am so pleased I was able to get everything done so quickly. I had many highs and lows (at one point my PCP would not fill out the letter of support because of "legal" issues"). I went back to her 6 times before the whole thing was settled. Eventually my surgeon just signed off on my form and said it was "semantics". Good luck!

I can tell you how long it took me from seminar to surgery date, however, all this is based on so many things. I have BCBS PPO of MI. I do not need pre- approval for surgery, just needed to get a letter from my PCP and a letter of surgical clearance and my Psych eval. Also, it depends on the surgeon and any other doctor you see how quickly they can get you in. I went to my seminar June 22nd, scheduled my psych eval for that following week (that took 3 weeks to get my results), met with the surgeon July 14th, saw my PCP on and off (about once a week cause she kept telling me she would work on it). PCP made me have a full physical and sent me to a cardiologist on (so he could sign off on my surgical clearance). The cardiologist made me have a stress test, and then I finally got all my paper work in on Friday July 31st. They called me that next Monday and scheduled me for surgery on September 2ns. I will have my pre-op bloodwork and check X-Ray as well as nutritionist appointment on August 24th. All in all it will have taken 10 weeks and 2 days when I have my surgery. Also, my insurance did not require any diet, many do. I would say for having to deal with insurance and many many doctors, my process was pretty quick. Good luck to you! It will all be worth it in the end.