iwalktheline

i have an HMO that states they will cover any procedure an MD requests. that is how i got my lap band paid in full with a BMI of 35.so I have wanted to remove the excess skin around my belly , b/c I am pretty small under all the skin and have to wear spanx to fit in to clothes. so I called the PCP and got the referral to the PS office and called the PS this am and the receptionist said "Oh no one ever gets there TT covered. Even when your insurance says they cover it we will not submit unless you have skin hanging below your pubic hair." so now I am sad, cause I dont think the skin hangs that low. Can anyone give me some advice or help on how to handle this?? thanks. love to hear everyones stories too

i am 2 years out and you need a magnifiying glass to see my scars. but @ 1 year they were still quite bright, so something must happen in the second year. now my problem is that my port is sticking out when i wear my work out clothes ( after losing all the weight its like this big thing in my stomach) geez it's always somethin with me but I cannot recommend lapband enough. it has cured my binge eating and changed my life. Ide ratherr die than have it removed.

congrats on getting the surgery. did you finance or pay cash? i am super interested b/c I want a TT BAD, my insurance will only cover panni, I want the cadillac of TT w/contouring and lipo. in Chicago it costs 6500. please post before and after pics. I will definately be wishing you well.

wow, what great advice. thanks so much for all the positive feedback. if I had listened to all the "nay sayers" when I was looking into my LB 2 years ago Ide still be sitting here completely miserable @ 80lbs overweight. I know that cosmetic TT is very rarely covered. but I guess I may have a very good HMO plan cause when I called to inquire they said it was covered after large wt loss. went to the MD today for a letter and referral to have a pann/tt done and he was more than happy to give it. he kept complimenting me on my hard work. I will now go see my LB surgeon who also does panni's and tummy tucks. he told me last year that he only does them after 1 year and when you are within 10lbs of your goal. so I need to lose 10lbs. QUICK!! I have done some more research and found out alot of PS don't like to do TT's for insurance cause they don't get the $$$$ like when paying cash. So i guess we will jus have to wait and see. this is important to me, but I always try and remember that there are so many people out there that have alot more serious medical problems than I do, I am lucky to have what I have.

hey mimi, did you have a basic panniculectomy or did you have a full TT?? just wondering cause I think your surgeon should fix that for you. take care

i think you must not have understood my post, I am not seeking major abdominal surgery to look cute in a bathing suit. I have huge amounts of abd flesh, that hangs off my small frame that I have to actually pick up and move when I sit down, get sore red skin i don't wear a strong girdle to hold it up and clearly looks like a disfigurment. I will stay positive and keep hope alive that I will get coverage for my panniculectomy.

i am a nurse, and i have seen pretty bad dog ears on patients that don't have lipo done during TT. i also have seen the upper abdomen get big while the lower stays flat, b/c no lipo was done. i just found out my HMO covers what ever my surgeon says I need. I had LB done 2 years ago (I paid $25.00) and work out 6 day a week, run 20-30 miles a week and am a size 8, but I cannot lose the abd flesh. I want to get the TT, but I am afraid of 1. Scarring 2. people think I am vain and crazy to have a TT 3. losing time at work taking care of my kids 4. not being able to work out. I guess Im just scared. does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do?? thanks much

yeh i have been dropping a size w/in 10 lbs. i am tall and muscular, i have been working out 6 days a week for 1-2 hours a day. i am in the 160's and i am wearing a pair of size 6 levi's right now. started w/size 18

I am 40 years old and just had a positive pg test after missing my period for 2 months. i already have 2 kids. i can barely pay the mortgage. i just started my life. felt like living again after being banded 7 months ago. lost 60 pounds. training for a marathon. no more depression. no more high bld pressure. now its over. my life is over!!! any supportive advice is welcome

i have been working out 6 days a week for 7 months now. (banded in feb) i work part time so that makes it easier but i do have 2 little kids so if you want it to work it can. my schedule" mon step and circuit training plus half mile swim tues step and weights wed run 6 miles thurs run to the gym and do boot camp class or spin fri step followed by half mile swim sat off sun loooong run (8miles) sometimes i bike to the stadium near my house and sprint up and down the stairs. everyone thinks im INSANE, but hey it makes me feel good my cholesterol is down from 260 to 190 triglycerides are from 190 to 90 doc is so happy w/me.

My goal is to run the chicago marathon in 2010. i started running after my band 7 months ago about a mile i now run 8 miles on my long run day.

i am very upset because i have not lost 1 pound in 4 weeks. i was banded on 2/16/09. i have lost over 40 pounds and i weigh myself once a week. so my weight hasn't budged in 4 freaking weeks. i just don't get it. i work out like crazy and am only eating 1200-1500 kcals. i thought i would have lost so much more by now. should i just stop eating. i had a fill a week ago and it feels great. i think i finally have a sweet spot. anyone else ever go through something like this?

ok 51 pounds is AWESOME. have you ever lifted something that weighs 51 pounds. HEAVY. i would like to add that my hair is falling out too. why is that? im shocked every time i run my fingers through my hair big clumps comes out. i didn't think i had any nutritional deficiencies. one more thing. i have not lost 1 pound in 4 weeks. i felt like crying after getting on the scale today. i have been killing myself diet and exercising. can't figure it out. i sure hope that this isn't it. i still have 40 pounds to go. i had a fill a week ago and feel like it hit the sweet spot

hi all. 6 months for me too and my story is just like yours. had a fill in late june lost 9 pounds and i haven't lost a pound in 3 weeks. i can't believe it because i work out an hour a day everyday. my waste has gone from a 36 to 31. hips from 44 to 38 . i started in 220s and i'm in the 170s. size 10 are getting loose. u can definately tell ive lost weight but i thought ide be at goal by now. NOPE. i want to get to 139. i have a small band and i have had a total of 2cc put in. my doc is super conservative. i told him i could eat a 6inch loaded subway and he said OK time for a fill. i would like to hear how everyone else is doing. good luck.

one hour step class w/2 risers and half hour walk (before surgery could barely step up on step)

how long does it take u to walk seven miles? where do you walk and why don't you start jogging...just wondering (oh great job by the way:thumbup:)

today i did an hour step class and half hour circuit training tues: run 3 miles wed: step class thurs: one hour boot camp friday: one hours step class walk everynight half an hour w/kids sat: off sun: run 4 miles my goal is size 8 levi's by halloween

feb 16th here...i cannot express how much i love my band, i really feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to have this weight "security guard" implanted in me. i have gotten my life back. i have only lost about 28 pounds so far but have gained a huge amount of energy and self esteem. i have about 50lbs to go. i feel disappointed in myself because i still eat bad food but i have so much restriction already w/2cc in a 10cc band that i know i can reach my goal. i am working out 5 days a week and have gone from size 18 to a 12-14. good luck all, and keep me updated. i love to hear everyones success stories.

i really regret telling all the people that i told. if i could do it over the only person that would know is my husband and best friend of 30 years. that's it.

congrats on your wt loss i bought a pair of size 12 levi's a few days ago i feel like my body is shrinking, but boy is it flabby stats: highest 226/surgery 216/current 193/goal 135

hey all feb 16 banders. well i had a 2nd fill last week and not much difference. i got to the office and lost 6 pounds since 1st fill. doc was GIDDY:w00t: i was like "uhhh this sucks, i thought ide be down alot more" he said that i will be losing weight for the next few years and that this is great. ughhhhh. he didn't want to give me a fill and i insisted. so he would only give me .5cc, so now a total of 2cc. i can eat whatever. i have to watch my food intake again. and i am thinking about going on ANOTHER diet. god help me!!!! i never thought that i would have to do this crap again. on the positive side, i am working out an hour a day 5 days a week and lovin it (can jog 2 miles) so i started the 6 month diet at 226. surgery 216. and now 198. good luck to all and keep in touch with your progress

thanks so much all for your kind words. i know in my heart that i did the right thing and that i DID NOT want bypass. way too radical for me. i should be glad for how good i feel so far. i feel better, i am doing step class, wt lifting, precor and i take an hour walk a day. all my clothes are hanging off me now, but the scale isn't seeing it. the truth is i am terrified of failing because i see this as a last resort. i have a big emotional investment in this whole thing (probably too much) i have had a fill and feel absolutely no difference. i am going to stay optimistic and will reach my goal, just not as quick as i thought. good luck to all and keep me posted on your success:smile:

hey all, totally bummed about my weight. i have not lost again this week and it is making me physically depressed. when i see the scale w/the same number my heart just drops. i cannot believe that even with surgery i am still not losing weight. i should have had gastric bypass. who was i kidding to think this would work:sad: i am working out and walking like crazy. i am eating 1200-1500 kcal and NOTHING. god am i disgusted!!!!

Oh Boy do i regret telling people i got the band. Every friend and family member i have told has told EVERYONE they know. so now anytime i see anyone that knows me or of me give me a once over. I hate the pressure i feel to be losing large amounts of weight. people call me and the first thing they say is HOW MUCH HAVE U LOST; ARE YOU SKINNY YET....uggghhhh I am the posterchild for lapbanding now.