BetsyB

I was concerned about the same thing last year. (My surgery was just after the new year.) Your HR people should be able to give you the information you need. I was reassured that there would be no changes to coverage, but that since I'd started the process already, even if there were changes, I would get the coverage that was in effect when I was pre-approved. (Each policy is different, but mine gives preapproval at the very beginning of the process; then, if you jump through all the hoops and get clearance from the right guys, it's pretty much green-lighted.) Try to get some peace of mind from the people who manage your benefits

If the pharmacy closest to your house doesn't carry it already, the pharmacist will happily stock it for you if you ask (Usually a transfer from one chain store---CVS, Walgreens, etc. to another takes about a day.)

After 6 months postop, my doc okays a cup a day.

I understand your concerns--but while the preop and immediate postop diets often do require artificially-sweetened or higher-sodium products than you might ordinarily choose, banded living in general does not have to. I do use artificially sweetened products some, but never exceed what is traditionally thought of as a low-sodium diet, unless I eat out. Even then, my intake is well within recommended levels. One of my favorite Protein supplements is unsweetened and flavorless. It bumps up my protein without adding stuff I don't want. That's helpful. (When I was doing the preop diet, it also was a nice change of pace from sweet, which got cloying after a few days. The unflavored stuff in broth was great.) I think it's wise to be cautious, but don't think you need to feel as though you're backtracking; once you're a bit out of the gate, you will be able to resume a whole foods lifestyle in which you choose or avoid the foods you want.

It's the period of time between the time your band is installed and the time you achieve good restriction (after a series of one or more adjustments). During this time, people often become frustrated because they expected the band to control their hunger---and instead find themselves feeling as though they are dieting and hungry! It's time-limited--and if you eat carefully (and remind yourself that it will be the last time ever you will be hungry in the name of weight loss), it's not that big of a deal. It's just part of the process.

I have reached restriction, so I don't always weigh my Protein. I would recommend that you do, at this point. When I was where you are, I was "allowed" 2.5-3 ounces of protein. It wasn't enough! I was hungry, but I stuck to that amount (and therefore lost even before I had restriction). Now that I have restriction, I can now "hold" between 2-3 oz. of solid protein and 1/2 cup or so of nonstarchy veggies per meal. If I'm having something like chili, I usually can tolerate 4-6 Fluid ounces. A thinner Soup, maybe a cup. You're right, the sensation of FULL is totally different now. It really is a so-so feeling, like you've described. You're not hungry. You're not stuffed. ("FULL" is a really unpleasant feeling for me now--and one bite too many can mean the difference between just right and ill.) What you're aiming for is a state in which you have that so-so feeling (which you will come to recognize as being satisfied) for a period of a few hours before you are again hungry. When you reach that point, you will be approaching good restriction :smile2: You will get used to this--but it is a real adjustment, psychologically. It sounds like you're doing a wonderful job adjusting to the new feelings, though. As for the drinking rule--I am "allowed" to drink right up until I start eating, but my doctor recommends not drinking until 90 minutes after eating. I do try to adhere to this--it does help prolong satiety for me. But if I am exercising or very thirsty, I sometimes cut it a bit short.

I've consistently lost on 800-900/day since banding. I've had a couple of very brief stalls (no more than a week or so), and always resume losing. It's just the way my body works--adding more calories doesn't do the trick for me. What does do the trick, when I am stalled, is changing my exercise a bit.

I have pretty consistently lost 2.5 pounds/week since banding. Some weeks, a bit more, some a bit less. But the average has been 2.5. I stuck with my doctor's (low-carb) postop regimen even before restriction, so my loss was not slowed by a wait. I do follow a pretty stringent eating regimen, and exercise daily at least once (usually twice--my dog loves me more if I do).

14 ccs to close your stoma??? Did I read that right? 14 ccs--then trying to have you swallow barium? I have never heard of a doctor doing that! Even just as a test, before withdrawing Fluid to an appropriate fill level. (ETA: I just read your profile, and Dr. Curry has a really excellent reputation as a surgeon--but wow. Is his group doing your fills, too? I am really surprised at this approach.) To those who have not yet had fills, please don't be scared--this is NOT TYPICAL. Most doctors start out with conservative fills. Even if they use fluoroscopy, they do not close the stoma, then observe as they remove fluid. Rather, they put a conservative amount in, observe the flow of barium through the stoma, then add/remove a tiny bit as needed. My first fill--and all subsequent fills--have been non-events. A swipe of an alcohol swab, a needlestick, infusion of a reasonable amount of saline. Then, the doctor observes, fluoroscopically, as I swallow barium--and if he believes a little more/less saline would be best, he adjusts. That's it! No biggie.

Bariatric Eating has an unflavored Protein (it's called PURE) that is outstanding. Add it to broth---but stick to liquids if that is what you were told to do. My doctor has his patients start on pureed protein on Day Three--but there's no way of knowing if my doctor's surgical technique differs from yours. Your surgeon gave you instructions based on what he did to your body--and you need to follow them. Find a way to stick to it. (The bullets are made of protein that is not as bioavailable--readily used by the body---as whey protein isolate. It's better to find a low-volume whey protein option; bariatriceating.com's Inspire and PURE lines require just 4 oz. of liquid--and are very good. I happen to like them with more liquid--but that's just me. I drink the Dutch chocolate protein warmed and it's something I look forward to rather than dread--and I never wanted to see a protein shake again, either. These changed my mind.)

Nah, they're no biggie. It's like getting any other injection--over before you know it.

Oh, sorry I misunderstood. A year does sound terribly discouraging. But think of how well prepared you'll be! You'll have lots of opportunity to work on the habits that will make you a banding success. (You never know, either; my insurance changed from a six-month to a three-month supervision right before I started the process. Maybe during your wait, the policy will change, and you'll get to the OR sooner.) I know it's really frustrating--but it will be worth the wait. It really will.

Different docs, different patients, different bodies, different rules :smile2: You didn't get a particularly liberal diet--you are getting, from food, the same things others get from Opti-Fast. A low-carb diet that will reduce the liver's glycogen stores. My doctor's regimen is not as restrictive as many--but it is severely carb-restricted, and lasts 2 weeks. The carb restriction is what shrinks the liver. You can achieve that using shakes---or a number of other ways. Like the one your doctor recommends The two days of liquids clear out the bowel.

Well, he may drink. But the fact of the matter is that SOMEONE has to tell her surgeon that she's an alcoholic. It's immoral not to. If you don't think he will, call yourself. Or find the surgeon's email online and send an email. "I am very concerned about my friend, your patient Jane Doe. She has a severe alcohol addiction, and has indicated she has not shared this information with you. I am concerned about surgical risks; in particular, I am concerned that she might experience delirium tremens during the immediate postop period. I have asked her to share this information with you, and she has indicated she will not--that she did not share it during her psych evaluation, and will not comply with any preop diet/postop rules you have about drinking alcohol. I know that HIPAA prevents you from discussing this patient with anyone, but I hope that this information is received in the spirit it is intended---to protect my friend, and to protect you."

If I'm correct in understanding that your insurance has in fact verified that banding is not a covered procedure, your best bet is to make a case for an improvement in coverage to your employer. (If pressured--and convinced that providing this coverage will cost them less than covering comorbidities and absenteeism of morbidly obese employees, they may change the policy when it's time to renew.) Can you get coverage through a spouse's employer? (Or vice versa--through your own, if you are currently using your spouse's insurance?) If so, read the available policies to determine which is most favorable for bariatric surgery. I would not assume anyone in the doctor's office [italic]lied[/italic]. Sounds like there was a mixup, and they thought you were preapproved----and notified you as soon as they discovered the error.

The scale is fickle. A large fluctuation is just fluid retention--nothing to worry about. (I know, it does play mind games. But you'll learn to take them in stride.)

For altitude, I might--just because of the tightness many experience at higher altitudes. (But not to get more energy for skiing--I want my body to use the energy stored on my ass and thighs for that!)

My doctor is a three-meals-a-day guy, too. And he recommends 65-70 grams/day. I find I lose and feel better if I go for 80-100--but your mileage may vary. I eat around 3-ish ounces of Protein (chicken, turkey, fish, Beans...whatever) at every meal. But I also use protein supplements a couple of times a day. (Not sanctioned by my doctor; he likes patients to limit to 1/day, and as a meal replacement. I use them as Snacks. Still, I am losing at a greater rate than most of his patients.) I like the Inspire and PURE Proteins from bariatriceating.com.

I don't keep it a secret, but I don't tend to tell people who don't need to know. It's just like any other personal information, IMO. That said, if I think it will help someone, I do share. I do this because the father of one of my son's friends was banded and told me about his band when I asked about his loss. It helped me when I was in the early decision-making process.

Prescription diuretics your doctor has given you for this purpose? Or over-the-counter ones? I tend to just wait it out--move a bit more and give it some time. But six pounds in a couple of days can pose health risks for some people--if you have any blood pressure or heart issues, I'd give the doc a call.

Awesome! Congratulations!

When you lose weight, you lose inches. No magic about it.

Congratulations!

Congratulations! I noticed, this morning, that my hipbones are now visible when I lie down. Odd, discovering body parts we lost long ago!

My fills have been over a longer period of time--but my surgeon was willing to do both my second and third fills 3 weeks ahead of schedule. (He usually does 6 weeks between fills; I asked for my second fill early, had it at 3 weeks, then used my 6-week appointment for my third). He fills fairly aggressively--though with recent fills, it's been more cautious (I'm at that, "Is this enough? Will more be too much?" stage.) I would trust your doctor knows what he's doing--as long as you're aware that as you go forward, the fills will be smaller and their effects MUCH more dramatic (i.e., you may find yourself experiencing more swelling/discomfort at first), you're golden :smile2: If nothing else, you've been spared a prolonged bandster hell. You'll need to be very cautious as you introduce solids, though--they are a whole different ballgame. My doctor starts his patients on solid Protein (first pureed, then regular) on Day Three postop--so all fills take place after we've resumed eating. The ability to tolerate food is one thing he assesses when determining the need for fill. Removing this from the equation, I wonder what criteria your doctor uses to determine whether you are too tight. That's the one thing that gives me pause; what happens when you start eating?