KirstenHope

Out of pocket. I have BCBS and they covered my WLS but they will not cover skin removal unless there is a issue. My boobs sagging they do not consider an issue I am using Care Credit to help pay for it.

^{I see this topic has not been posted in for a while but I just joined this group. I live in Edgewater FL. I was banned in Dec 2010 a=I am down about 100 pounds. I am setting up breast and arm lift. for July 26th. Just wanted to say hello!!!}

A little history - I was banded Dec 2010. I have lost 100 so far. I have had some ups and downs but for the most part I am VERY happy with having the surgery. I have had 4 fills and I can not remember how many cc's I have - I think and 8.5 or 9. I am a size 14 (I think I was 10 or 11 years old the last time I saw a size 14) Over all I feel Awesome BUT I have lots of sagging skin. My boobs are giving me directions to my toes and my arms look like a roosters neck. My belly is not bad at but my thigh skin is very loose and droopy. Most of my weight was lower. Sooo I went for a plastic surgery consult and decided to have my boobs lifted and my arms lifted at the same time. Belly and legs will come later. Surgery is set for July 26th. I am super excited and nervous. I am worried the lift will not lift enough or the arms will still look flabby. I am also worried about the recovery. Should I get a special bra? Compression sleeves on my arms? Soo many questions. I will have time to ask my doctor all of these questions but sometimes the best advice is from ppl that have gone through it!! I will post pictures once I have the surgery. Seeing real pictures of ppl you can relate too have been helpful for me!! Any advice of feedback welcomed!

I just just got my 4th fill on Tuesday (last week) and I now have 9cc in my 14cc band. After every fill it takes me 2 weeks to be able to eat more normal. My stomach must be senstive. I am eating some mushies now. Drinking Protein. I can not drink real fast but everyday i feel a little better. Ihave alos dropped almost a pound a day. That makes me feel good!

I just had a fill last Tuesday. I was at the point that I could eat anything if I chewed it long enough and I coulld eat as much as I wanted. I gained back about 10 pounds so I went in. I think I have had 4 fills. I have 9cc in a 14cc (I think) band. I am feeling very tight right now but my body seems to take about 2 weeks after a fill to settle down. I am eating mushies and Protein Shakes, Soups and I am down about 6 pounds already. Over all it still has been a great experience.

I have not been around much but I am glad the support is here!!

I do love him and his staff! I had the surgery Dec 8th 2010 - I live just a couple of towns over I have a fill appt Monday. I think it is my 4th fill. So glad I found him.

Kirsten

I too drink vodke and crystal light. When I drink the weight does not come off. I have no problem with the band but a few drinks and the calories add up fast!

Was banned in Dec 2010. I lived in the Virgin Islands and was banned in Daytona Beach Florida. After I had the surgery I flew up for my first fill. Because of the cost I did not return for 5 months. BUT I was fine I stayed in contact with the office, called if I had an issue. My weight loss was slower because of the lack of fills when I needed them but I still stayed on track. I have moved to Florida now, about 9 months ago. And in the 9 months I have had 2 fills. One in December and one a week ago. I would not be afraid to keep the doctor you have. I am so glad I never changed.

Good Luck!!

I was banned 12/08/10.. I was 260 and I am down to 205..YEA!!! I finally have some restriction. I have a 12cc and 7cc in it.!! Congrats to everyone sounds like we are all doing really well!!

Sorry- have nothing to add other than I am so jealous that you live in the Virgin Islands. Can I come visit?

I just sent the Surgen's office an email with a picture of the rash asking what i should do.

My husband and I have lived here since 2003, to rub it in a little more we live on a boat! A big part of the reason I wanted to get the weight off. Moving around the boat was getting more difficult!

Come visit any time!! Cruise ship come here almost everyday!

did you call your surgeon?

No not yet. I was hoping it will go away. The skin is not broken just red and bumpy. I will call tomorrow. I am nervous.

I had my surgery on December 8th in Florida. Everything is feeling good. I have little restriction but I am doing really well with sticking to the diet. I live in the Virgin Islands so I fly up to to Florida for all my appointments and the surgery. I had my 1 week post op appointment and everything was fine. I fly up again on the 9th for an upper GI and my first fill. What is making me nervous is I have gotten a rash around all my incision sites including the port site. I am worried I will fly up there and he will not do the fill because of the rash around the site. Has anyone had this happen? I believe the rash is an allergic reaction to something. I went to the doctor here where I live and they said the rash is flaming up around the incisions because it is weaker skin. I REALLY want my fill!! And I can not afford to fly up for nothing!!

Hope all my fellow december bandsters are doing well!

After not touching a drink in many months, I'm planning on having a few drinks tonight. No beer, though, but I'll probably have a nice scotch on the rocks or some other type of liquor. Maybe wine if there's something decent.

Anyone else a few weeks out from being banded planning on having a drink tonight?

I am! My husband retired on the 29th and I had a few glasses of wine. I might not have a "few" tonight but I am planning on at least one!

I know we are going to get yelled at for this one!

Hi! I also was banded on the 8th of December. How are you doing? Have you lost any weight since banded? What did you start at? What have you been eating? Are you on solid foods yet? I would love to hear how you are doing!

Thanks!

Dawn

Hey Dawn! I am doing good, My starting wait was 258. I lost 20 pounds before surgery and abouit 10 ponds since surgery. I am on the mushie stage of eating and it is wonderful after being on liquids for a week. Over all I am feeling great! How are thngs with you?

I had mine removed on my i week post op appointment. Everything was healing nice. I took showers and got mine wet. One of the strips feel off on day 6 but everything look good so I did not worry.

Hello December Bandsters!! I am now 11 post op. I am feeling really good. I still some gas pain in my left shoulder but only for a minute or two. So far I am not sure how I feel abou the restriction I feel. I am on the mushie stage of eating and I have felt "full" only a couple of times. I am not over eating and I am only eating the amount that was recommened but not because my body it telling me to stop eatng i stop because the doctor said so! I have lost 10 pound since surgery and I am happy about that. I get my first fill January 11th. I am afraid that my will power will not hold on that long!! I think as long as the weight is coming off I will be motivated to keeping making good choices. I FEEL like I can eating anythingi i like I have not tried this. i do not know how I would feel if I over ate. I guess I should just be happy that everything is going really well.

I read A LOT of the post here and I want to thank all of you for posting! This website has been a true "friend" through out all of this!

Hello December Bandsters!! I am now 11 post op. I am feeling really good. I still some gas pain in my left shoulder but only for a minute or two. So far I am not sure how I feel abou the restriction I feel. I am on the mushie stage of eating and I have felt "full" only a couple of times. I am not over eating and I am only eating the amount that was recommened but not because my body it telling me to stop eatng i stop because the doctor said so! I have lost 10 pound since surgery and I am happy about that. I get my first fill January 11th. I am afraid that my will power will not hold on that long!! I think as long as the weight is coming off I will be motivated to keeping making good choices. I FEEL like I can eating anythingi i like I have not tried this. i do not know how I would feel if I over ate. I guess I should just be happy that everything is going really well.

I read A LOT of the post here and I want to thank all of you for posting! This website has been a true "friend" through out all of this!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52173126@N02/5256854902/

Since I am sharing - here is a picture of my belly!!

I do not think I am posting pictures right!

Hello all!! So I was banned on dec 8th.. Here is my 4 day post op update!

Gas pain in my shoulder is gone!! (for the most part) I have been able to get up and walk around. I have gone out to do shopping with no problem BUT I have been taking the liquid pain meds. I have not really been Hungary but I have removed myself from some dinners my family has eaten (crab legs) I can not seem to get 72 oz of liquid in me - which means I am struggling getting 60 - 70 grams of Protein in. I have been tired but I am blaming the pain meds that I have been (enjoying) taking. I am sleeping pretty good. I have a full feeling if I drank to much to fast. I can drink about 6oz of a Protein shake at one time. Today I had about 2 teaspoons full of mashed potatoes and I also had 2 small bites of cheese cake that went down with no problem (it was my mother-in-law's birthday) Over all I feel good. I started out at 258. I was about 240 for surgery. I am going between 234 and 236 right now. The bloating is still there but not bad. Sooooo over all I think I am doing ok. I need to get my liquids down better but I am not doing bad. I go back to the doctor on Wednesday and start mushie food. I have had my moments when I was scared i was going to F**k up.. I was a little pissed at myself for eating ANY cheesecake and mashed potatoes. In my head I was thinking "Oh my god that was like a 1000 calories" but in reality it w.as just a very small amount. So far I am very happy at the choice I have made but a side of me is scared shitless that I will not have the will power to make good choices. I just have to everyday tell myself that i am VERY luck to have this tool to help me loose weight and use the tool the way it was meant to be used..

Thanks for the rant and the vent!!! It felt good!!

I was banned on December 8th. I also had the same repair for Hiatal Herina. I am only 2 days out of surgery but my back feels fine.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

i was banned december 8th! I feel ok. I am still taking the pain meds that were giving to me, I do have a tight feeling in my chest - I am not sure if it is a full feeling or gas. I am on liquids for a week then I move on the mushie foods. I am 5"5 and started out at 258. I lost about 20 pounds for the pre op diet. I am not 235. I am doing ok with the liquid diet - but I have removed myself from eating with the family for dinner, for now anyway..

Look foward to meeting all of you!!

I was banned December 8th, I have been feeling OK, it is was only 2 days ago! I am still taking the pain meds. It looks like they gave me enough meds for like 4 or 5 days. How long did everyone else take pain meds?

Also if I did not see the marks on my belly i would not believe I have the surgery! My belly is sore but I was kinda expecting to "feel" something. I think I can feel a full feeling when drinking my Protein shakes. But I really do not feel any different inside! I guess this is a good thing! I would love any input on peoples first couple of days!

Thanks

I had a fantastic experience with Federal BCBS. My BMI was 43 BUT I was figuring my BMI based on me being 5'8" with gave me a BMI of 40. Once the doctors office measured me they said I was 5'5". This put me at BMI 43. Fed BCBS will approve you as long as you have a BMI of 40 OR if you have other comorbities - sleep appnea, diabetes, acid reflux. i did not have any problem except being fat.

The insurance did not cover the dietitian - the fitness Fed BCBS.. The fee for my fills will only be $30 copay. Good Luck hope this helped! Feel free to ask any questions!!

I am at 10am tomorrow.

I go at10 am too! I can not sleep I am so excited!

I have federal BCBS. I was approved in one day. I have not had to do any any doctor supervised diets. I also only had not other health problems besides being fat. The while process has been very easy.