abraxasbear

I'm at 10cc in a 14cc band, and I'm travelling to Peru for two weeks in October. I'll be taking part in some ceremonies with traditional healing plants, which are known to sometimes induce vomiting. Knowing that vomiting could be an issue with the band, I asked my doctor about this. Much to my surprise, he recommended that I get a partial (as in "most") unfill before my trip, and refill afterward. As he put it, you don't want to be out in the jungles of Peru, having a problem with the band. I have some real misgivngs about this idea. In talking with the guides leading my planned trip, the vomiting reaction is not really common (they've had only one person vomit, and he'd worked himself up ahead of time to the point that he was overanxious and probably brought it on himself). Naturally, I also worry about regaining weight during the trip. Finally, if I do get a "big" unfill before the trip, can it all be replaced afterward, or would I have to work up a little at a time, just as I did to get to my 10cc? Has anyone else here been temporarily unfilled for travel purposes? Has anyone not had an unfill prior to travel, and wish they had? Thoughts? Experiences?

To me, the bigger question is what to do when you're ready to maintain your existing weight. My goal isn't to be skinny. Even though the charts say I should weigh about 165, I know that I start to look unhealthy and gaunt as I drop below 180. I'm shooting for 200 pounds (okay, maybe 195, just so I'm not in 200s territory), and then I'd like the weight loss to basically stop. Do they unfill a little at some point, if your goal is to maintain without further loss?

I don't get them when I'm done eating. I tend to get them after just a few bites, when I don't take my time as I should (which is still way too often, I'm afraid). When it happens, I hold my breath for 40 second or so, and they always go away.

I'm four months out from getting banded. I'm currently at 8 cc in my 14 cc band, and very nearly at the "sweet spot." Along with the great weight loss results though, I'm noticing a "not so great" result. I've had increasing flatulence, which only seems to get WORSE as my band gets filled more. I've searched the archived messages here, and the posts on this topic all seem to address a short-term issue that goes away shortly after banding. Am I unusual in having this issue persist/worsen? Any tips on solving it? I'm not eating any particularly large amount of foods you'd expect to cause the problem---in fact, diet doesn't seem to affect it one way or another. The only difference I notice is that it can be worse after drinking a lot of liquid. Help??

Now if I could only type "Hooray" correctly in the topic header! LOL!

I started out at 338 pounds, and still weighed 317 when I was banded on November 1st, 2010. My goal is to get down to 200 pounds. As of today, I'm down to 267 pounds, so I've officially passed the halfway point toward reaching my goal! 70 pounds lost, and 68 pounds to go. It's SO NICE to finally have my "left to lose" number SMALLER than my "already lost" number! HAPPY HUMP DAY TO ME!

I had 3 cc in my 14 cc band at the time of surgery, with an additional 1 cc added on 12/16/2010. I went in for a fill yesterday and received 2 cc more, so I'm also at a total of 6 cc right now. My surgeon directs two days of liquids after every fill due to the resulting inflammation, so it's hard to guage what my restriction will be like. What I do know, however, is that I can feel the liquids accumulating in my upper stomach, and not just running through, so maybe that's a good sign!

I know that soda is something to stay far away from anyway, but how would soda inside your stomach rot your band, which is outside your stomach? That doesn't seem to make much sense to me.

Stacy, I think the "two offices" thing differs between the states where the claim is processed. Mine was in Washington State, and apparently the split only is done for claims arising out of the Seattle metro area.

I've had a terrible time with Federal Employees Blue Cross Blue Shield. At first, my pre-authorization paperwork had to be resubmitted after it was "lost." Then they pre-authorized the surgery within a day. Unfortunately, they didn't bother to tell me or my surgeon's office that you have to get TWO pre-approvals, one from the office that handles the surgeon's professional fees, and another from the office that handles the facility (hospital) fees. To make matters worse, these two offices don't share information, so the office handling the hospital charges ended up sending me their refusal to process $37,000 worth of hospital charges, because they had no records to support the procedure and it wasn't pre-authorized by them. After multiple calls, I was able to get the second office to retroactively authorize my surgery. I expected to be charged a copay of $150 for my surgery and overnight hospital stay, since my surgeon requires all his lap band patients to stay in the hospital overnight. Imagine my surprise when this weekend I received a new explanation of benefits, indicating that my share of the bill was $1,496.72. More phone calls ensued, of course. I found out from the insurance claims office that the additional charges were due to my surgeon's office reporting the surgery as OUTPATIENT, rather than inpatient. They said all I needed to do was have the surgeon's office correct the medical record, and the billing department could resubmit a corrected claim. I called the surgeon's office today, only to learn that they ALWAYS report lap band surgery as outpatient, and they justify this by getting you out of the hospital in less than 24 hours, even though it's overnight. (Mind you, I went into the operating room at 7:30 a.m., and was discharged the next day at about 9:30 a.m., so that's not under 24 hours!). The surgeon's office refuses to make the necessary correction, and so I'm stuck with the larger out-of-pocket bill. I wish I'd known this BEFORE surgery, so I could have REFUSED the overnight stay. In any case, BE WARNED that what you THINK you'll be paying out of pocket could be very different from what you actually are charged---in my case, literally TEN TIMES the expected out-of-pocket!

I also had my first fill yesterday. The surgeon had placed 3 cc in my 14 cc band at the time of surgery, and surprisingy, I was experiencing restriction and losing weight (31 pounds in the six weeks since surgery) at a good pace. The nurse practitioner who handles my fills said they usually like to go with five right away (not clear if that meant 5 total, or add 5 to the existing for a total of 8?). Since I'm doing so well though, he only added 1 cc. Like honk, I felt extremely "weird" when I got up from the examining table, but I was able to drink Water without any problem and the feeling subsided in a short time. The nurse practitioner said it was more likely from him manipulating the band, than from the fill itself. He had to do some real poking and prodding to find my port. I'm back on liquids for two days (he even suggested taking three days), but so far I'm having no problem with my Protein shakes or other liquids. Personally, I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake by agreeing that an addition of only 1 cc was a good idea. In the last week I've been able to eat more than before--still a much smaller portion than pre-band, but more than when I first advanced to soft foods. My next fill won't be until January 26th, and I don't want to end up slowing down my weight loss due to such a small fill.

Congratulations!!!!! 303 here, and looking forward to joining the same club! :thumbup:

Congratulations! I have a long way before reaching my goal of 200, but I'm closing in fast on saying goodbye to the 300s. I should be there within the next week or two, tops!

My surgeon has had me on two weeks (he prefers 3) of very low carb pre-surgery diet. On the last day before surgery (TOMORROW!) I will be on clear liquids only. After surgery, he will have me on 3 weeks of clear liquids, 3 weeks of pureed foods, and then "gradually" reintroduce solid foods. Apparently he will actually do a small amount of fill at the time of surgery, but after that the first fill is at 6 weeks.

November 1st for me, too! I report to the hospital at 5:30 a.m. and my surgery is scheduled for 7:30. Today is my LAST DAY of solid foods---doc has had me on a very low carb pre-surgical diet, but the last day is Clear liquids only. That means prime rib for my "last meal." Hehehe.... Nervous? YES. Eager to get on with it? YES!! :thumbup:

I wasn't given the above reason, but I had my pre-op appointment last week, and they told me very specifically NOT to shave 48 hours before surgery, with the exception of my face. Of course, being a vain guy who shaves his head, I may interpret "face" upward. :huh2:

For what it's worth, there's another BCBS Federal thread in this category, and the approvals are coming VERY quickly. Once your surgeon's office has everything in, it appears they are granting the approvals within 3 days, and in one case within 1 and a half hours. Mine (once it was resubmitted to the correct fax number---grrr) was approved about 26 hours after the documentation was faxed in. So if you can get your paperwork in from the surgeon, you very well may get your surgery before the new year! GOOD LUCK!

Whoo-hoo! I just got a call from my surgeon's office, letting me know that they received the approval from my insurance! My "tentative" November 1st surgery date is now my OFFICIAL November 1st date! :smile: :grouphug:

I just got a call from my surgeon's office, letting me know that they received my insurance approval! Just over 24 hours, once it was resubmitted to the right fax number! November 1st, here I come! :w00t: :smile: :grouphug:

Sounds like you and I are on the same track, FS! I started at 338, and I'm shooting for that 200-ish mark as well! GOOD LUCK!

They scheduled me based on their track record of getting approvals from federal employees' BCBS, together with the fact that I more than qualify (52 BMI, plus I have some comorbidities). Basically, they felt it was a "given" that approval would be granted.

SIGH... My surgeon's office submitted my paperwork for insurance approval back on 9/29. Since I hadn't heard anything, and so many others here with federal BCBS were getting such prompt responses, I figured I'd better call my insurance to see what was happening. I called last Friday, and after being on hold for several minutes, I was told they hadn't received anything from my surgeon's office. They gave me a fax number, and asked that I make sure the paperwork was sent to that number. I followed up, and sure enough, it was sent to a different fax number at the insurance company, so it never reached the correct approvers. Everything had to be re-faxed this morning, to the correct fax number. :smile2: The insurance company legally has up to 30 days to make their decision, but my surgery is scheduled much sooner than that. Now that the paperwork is in to the right office, I sure hope they work as fast for me as they have for others in this thread. I already have time scheduled off from work, etc., and I'd hate to have to be rescheduled! :tt2:

I use a shaker bottle that I believe holds about 8 ounces of skim milk, and I've had no sense of it seeming too thin. The chocolate truffle and the caribbean cooler are both great. The cherry---not so much.

I was told two days ago that my surgeon does NOT require the two week liquid pre-surgery diet that I've seen so many here write about. However, he said I need to "strictly" focus on protein during that time, eliminating as much carbohydrate as possible. The reason is that eliminating carbs will shrink your liver, and if your liver is enlarged and in the way, they can't proceed with the surgery.

I've decided there is one small drawback to getting banded in November, though. Thanksgiving dinner is probably going to consist of a one ounce pumpkin pie smoothie! :smile2::laugh: