BetsyB

I would find it problematic, too, if I believed it to be the case. However, when my BMI was 33, I already had years of experience with diet failure. I would bet the woman you've decided didn't deserve banding also has a bit of experience under her belt. Do you have reason to conclude that the doctor you're speaking of did not thoroughly assess his patient's readiness for surgery and understanding of it as a commitment to lifelong lifestyle change rather than "easy fix?" If your complaint is against doctors who don't prepare their patients for the reality of the surgery, then BMI is a distractor; if you read enough posts here, you'll learn that there are scores of very-high-BMI bandsters who were very ill-prepared for postoperative realities. And I agree, that's wrong.

If you have to rely on high-calorie, high-fat slider foods in order to eat, then an unfill won't result in gain--it will protect the loss you've had and prevent additional gain. What a frustrating situation!

I didn't get an approval letter from my insurer until I was practically in the OR ---weeks after my surgeon's office called and notified me--then scheduled me. If you've gotten your letter, I'd give the doctor's office a call. You may have received the letter before they did OR they may be having a busy week. It's okay to inject yourself into that week to get a date :thumbup:

How frustrating! I hope, by now, you've gotten good news. My surgeon won't schedule surgery until clearance is given---otherwise, it would be a scheduling nightmare! I'm always surprised when doctors' offices do schedule in advance of approval. Talk about unnecessarily increasing patient anxiety!

I made the decision before I attended my first seminar! I'd long thought about it---watched the procedure evolve over the years---and was comfortable with it. I knew I'd done everything that I could do, short of surgery----I just was ready.

I wish to God I'd had it done at a BMI of 33---all the time (and weight gain despite perpetual ---correct, supervised---dieting) didn't change the fact that I require a level of intake so low that it was impossible to maintain, long-term, without the band. My doctor jokingly called me "only a little morbidly obese" when I had my first consult. But I view obesity kind of like pregnancy---you are, or you aren't. Why should people spend years working their way into ill health before intervention? Wouldn't you have preferred to have YOUR surgical intervention before you became 150 pounds overweight? It defies logic. The idea is to PREVENT the health problems associated with obesity! Ah, well this is where your thinking goes a bit astray. The 35-40 BMI isn't driven by doctors (or "medical engineers") who think it's best to wait. It's driven by insurers who don't want to pay for surgery.

Close! I'm in Plainfield :thumbup:

IMO, the best unflavored option is PURE Unflavored Whey Protein Isolate from bariatriceating.com

I wouldn't feel even the slightest guilty for having a skinny vanilla latte---it's good calcium. Alas, I can no longer tolerate caffeine OR the acids in coffee!

Yep, sounds like your port :thumbup:

25 times? Really?! Yikes.

What are you eating? Until you achieve restriction (and really, even after!) you do have to modify your eating behavior considerably. Once you hit restriction, the band puts brakes on how much you eat (and even, to a degree, what you eat). But it's important to make the right choices---the band can't do that for you, no matter what the fill status. Get those habits in place now. Even with restriction, you will be able to eat around the band, so you really, really need to focus on making choices that give your body what it needs.

It's too bad that, during the preop phase,you didn't get good instruction telling you what to expect. Your fantasies may yet come true---but the band isn't a quick fix. It takes a while to get things adjusted for restriction----and until you reach that point, it is just like being on another diet. There's a difference, though: it's time-limited. IT WILL PASS. It's very, very likely that your first fill will NOT give you appreciable restriction. It may take several months for you to feel as though the band is doing its job. But I promise, if you work with your doctor (and vice versa!), you'll get there. I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged---I think most of us know how it feels. But if you try to reframe what's going on to a more positive, "I'm working hard now, but it will be worth it!" it may be easier for you to withstand bandster hell.

I'm already researching plastic surgeons for all the work I am likely to need when I hit goal. Boobs top the list---they needed to be put back where they belong even before I started losing--big breasts + pregnancies + nursing + weight gain & loss = dire need of attention!

I journal at Fitday.com. It counts calories, protein, carb, fat, and various micronutrients.

Every single day, without fail---usually more than once.

The "starvation mode" is controversial at very best. Your body has fat stores to use for energy. It may be reluctant to let them go, but upping your calorie intake may not be the best route to take. Your body probably does not require more energy in order to meet its needs---after all, it has reserve. That said, if you're banging your head against the wall, there's not really any harm in upping your calories to see what happens. It may trigger loss, at least for a while. Or you might maintain or gain. Either way, you get important information about what your body needs. Information that, really, no trainer knows. Bodies are weird. Bodies with fat reserves can be especially weird---they don't like giving the fat up sometimes. I spent years listening to those who told me I needed to eat more to lose---including trainers---and just wound up heavier. LOTS heavier. I've since discovered I need 800-1000 calories/day, with exercise, to lose at a moderate pace. When I am normal weight, I need 800-1000 calories/day, with exercise, to maintain (with room for occasional indulgences). Boy, did I want those doctors and trainers to be right! 800 calories a day, sans band, sucks! But for this body, they were wrong. Thank God for the band---it allows me to stick to that low level of intake.

It used to be common practice to remove the gallbladder during banding. The thought was that rapid loss often resulted in gall stones, so they'd cut to the chase. They determined that the incidence of postop infection is FAR higher when the procedures are performed at the same time. Many surgeons now prefer to do the cholecystectomy first, allow healing, then do the banding. It's nice to get it all done in one fell swoop, but I'd want to explore the added risk first.

Your insurance contract is what it is. If you want changes, approach your employer--they can make changes to the policy at policy-renewal time. In the meantime, do what YOU need to do to lose weight. The band doesn't do it for you. Research how you need to eat with the band--then do it, even without the band. Exercise. The band is a tool. It makes it easier. But it doesn't do the work. It doesn't produce life-savingly fast results. I know you feel hopeless and helpless, and I'm terribly sorry for that. But you DO have control. You CAN make progress. Your screen name makes me sad :eek: I'm sorry you're feeling so bad.

Good questions! 1. I have some discomfort/pain when I take a really deep breath. This is very likely very normal. Your insides have been disrupted! The pain may be due to gas that was added to your abdominal cavity to make maneuvering easier. If so, it will resolve over the next week or so. It may also be due to the incision and/or organ manipulation. 2. I am adding some things to my Protein shakes (1/2 banana, spoon of peanut butter).. they go down ok, is that ok? It depends on your doctor's requirements. For my doctor, this would be a DEFINITE no-no. But your doctor's regimen may be completely different. If in doubt, call the office. I was on purees on Day 3---but bananas? Verboten until the third month postop. If you don't like your protein supplements, Bariatric Eating has a line of protein powders called Inspire. They are great. You can order them online at bariatriceating.com. 3. Some times I get this hiccup/burp feeling.. it takes a few minutes, but can burp and it goes away. Totally normal :eek: 4. What does "the band" or "restriction" feel like? It doesn't feel like anything until you eat. Then, if you remember to take small bites and chew very well, it just feels as though you're satisfied sooner. (I hesitate to say "full," because you won't feel "full" the same way as preoperatively.) In general, I'm not at all aware of my band. I feel my port from time to time, when I bend certain ways or lean on things. But the band doesn't "feel."

My surgeon's regimen is actually very limited---it emphasizes Protein (JUST protein) at the beginning. Two months out, veggies are added back in, and three months out, fruits. He also is a three-meal-a-day guy. I find that I do better with 5 smaller meals (same number of calories over the course of the day). Not really because of hunger at this point, but because if I don't have protein supplements as Snacks, I don't reach my protein goal. (I aim for 80-100 g/day.) I start out with a warm Protein Shake soon after I get up. I need this because I take a number of supplement capsules, and the warm liquid helps the Gelatin dissolve so they don't get stuck. After I exercise, I have brunch. This is usually around 10-ish. It definitely is my carbiest meal of the day---usually chicken chili with black Beans and a little cheddar. (I'm weird; I prefer savory stuff like this to Breakfast food.) For lunch, I have 3-4 ounces of protein (turkey, tuna, something like that) and 1/2 c. nonstarchy veggies. Sometimes I add a fruit. If I do, I save the veggie for dinner. For dinner, I focus on protein. If I haven't had a veg for lunch, I'll have it now. But usually, I'm tighter at dinnertime so I don't tend to want as much. Before bed, I take more supplements, and have another warm Protein Drink. All told, I get ~800-1000 cal/day. Meals are protein, protein + nonstarchy veg, and protein + fruit (some days). I won't add grains/starches other than legumes in until I reach 75 percent of excess weight lost. We're asked to commit to a year of really focusing on loss, with this very restrictive regimen. After that, things loosen up quite a bit. So far, so good :eek:

I couldn't be happier for you :eek:

My surgeon and insurance require an overnight stay. I was very grateful for the time in the hospital.

May I address the naked body concern? I am an RN, and have never seen a patient's body unnecessarily exposed. You will wear a gown into the OR, and will be covered with a sheet or blanket. When your abdomen is exposed, it will be done so in a way that the remainder of your body is covered. I don't bring this up to minimize your fears; I understand why you have them. Rather, I want to reassure you that you will NOT be naked and exposed, either while awake or under anesthesia.

I'm sorry you're experiencing so much pain--it sounds horrendous! I would ask for a referral to a rheumatologist.