bsimoes

I don't know whether or not you've been to any of the support group meetings--one is required prior to surgery, but I try to go each month. I missed the last one, but my roommate from the hospital and I try to go each month, because we both were very grateful to have people there who had had their surgery already. My roommate and I are friends now, and we usually meet up there and then go out to dinner after. It's a long haul for both of us and wouldn't see each other otherwise. Perhaps I'll meet you up there. The next meeting is Tuesday, January 8th. They are usually the first Tuesday of the month from 5-6pm. Dr. Forgione is great by the way.

I had my surgery on June 18th, and I will be going to the doctor's office on the 31st of July for a possible first fill. I was just wondering if this is covered or should I expect a big bill? thanks.

Thanks everybody, Blue Cross covers fills for the first three months after surgery. In that time I will have had two fills. My first was 1 cc and the second will be on the 24th of September and my doctor said that he would put in 1/2cc. I hope that helps because I just feel like there is really no restriction. I can eat bread, pasta, pineapple etc.--all the things that people with restriction might have trouble with. I love those things, so I'm not complaining...I just want to be full sooner and with eating less than I am. Thanks for all of the replies. It's so funny how it is handled so differently insurance company to insurance company. I'm hoping that they soon come to their senses and just cover them regardless of the timetable.

I started my career in Chapter 1 / Title 1 reading! You will have much more flexibility with that kind of position. Glad to hear it! I have many fond memories. I just discovered the store, Christopher and Banks--I love that store. The best part is that I no longer need 1x-2x but am fitting into extra large and even large. Very exciting. Hang in there with the liquid diet and keep the long haul in mind. All the best. Barb

Hi. You probably will have to take time off, but not the whole day. It is frustrating because the checkup / fill only take 5 minutes. When you have a fill, they are only scheduled on Mondays every other week and they can't let you know what time until the day before. Apparently, emergencies crop up. For my first fill no one ever called, so I finally called at 4:30 PM on Friday. Then, they want you there an hour early--not necessary; I got there 1/2 hour early, but they shuffle you through third floor registration where you check in, have a seat and wait to be handled by one of the people with a desk in the back, you go there and they do paperwork and give you a bracelet; then you are told to go down the hall to Pre-op (?) and wait with 100 other people and hope you hear the lady call your name from the front desk there after giving her the paperwork. Then finally you're escorted to the back, where you lie on a table, they take your blood pressure and you sign a release. The doctor tells you to find your port and then he inserts the saline. That part is rediculously quick and easy. If you can swallow water, you are free to go. You can ask to be scheduled later in the day; I don't know how late Dr. F is there, though. My last check up again was only 5 minutes, but somehow they kept me waiting long enough that my parking cost $6.50. He always seems to be in a hurry, but obviously doesn't catch up. I'm from East Middlebury and it takes about an hour to get to Burlington. I take 116 and it's a pretty straight shot into South Burlington without any traffic lights etc. I used to go out to lunch or dinner while up there, but of course you are put on liquids after a fill. Now that I am losing weight, I take the opportunity to swing by the mall and do some clothes shopping. I see it as a reward for a job well done. I've gotten many really nice tops, now I need to find pants. I am 5'1", so anything off the rack has to be altered unless they carry petites. The problem with petites is they usually only go up to size 14! Hey, what will you be teaching? I teach Ancient History to 7th and 8th graders. It is so much fun; I am really looking forward to starting up. Barb

My doctor has his patients be on liquids for four days; I've had a long standing lunch date for tomorrow, my fourth day, and I'm thinking that I will order what I want. I just hope I don't embarrass myself my having something get stuck; you know what? It would still be worth it!

Yes! Finally, I've found some other Vermonters! I, too, had Dr. Forgione. My surgery was June 18th--just 3 months ago. I just had my first fill and am on my third day of liquids...what's up with that? Everyone else has only 1-2 days of liquids. It had better be worth it! Anyway, glad to know you're out there. I live in Middlebury; where are you?

Welcome! I was banded by Dr. Forgione on June 18th; my first day of summer vacation. I, too, am a teacher; I work at Mount Abe. Let me know if there are any questions I can answer for you...and the best of luck to you. I was not nervous going in to surgery, and haven't looked back since. You're doing a good thing. Barb

Thank you so much; boy, I realize how lucky I was with the timing of my surgery etc. I didn't have to fight the insurance battle that so many before me did, and now perhaps I won't have to fight the fills either. At the time, it seemed to take an eternity, but now I am really grateful. Barb.

I didn't have the itching; I started using vitamin E right away in hopes of reducing the scarring. Maybe that also helped with itching. I remember the lack of energy though. I really didn't have any pain from the surgery or port area, but it turns out that I was very constipated from the meds I was given. I hadn't gone for about 7 days. It turns out that I had an impacted bowel. Not pleasant. My physician recommended something called phosposoda sp? that worked wonders and got me back on track. If you're not making bowel movements, this might be something to look into. Barb

As always, this site rejuvenates me. I have a question and everyone chips in to answer it. Thank you all. I love the support. Barb:)

I soon found that protein powder mixed in milk helped a whole lot. The protein really helped curb my appetite. Pretend that you are drinking chocolate milk and it makes it a whole lot easier. I'm sorry that your appetite is already back; mine took a few weeks, so the liquid phase wasn't so bad for me.

I just posted the same question! I didn't read far enough down. I am due for a first fill on the 31st, and am curious to find this out. Money is really tight right now, so I'm really hoping but suspecting that it won't be covered. Let me know how you do with this. I suppose I could call the doctor's office ahead of time.

I'm so sorry for your struggle. I started my journey in January; that was right around the time that BCBS started to accept this procedure as a valid weight loss treatment. I was on the cusp. Fortunately, my surgeon's office is within a hospital and they did all of the corrospondence with the insurance company. I guess that was a huge help. I also knew that I had to have my primary care doctor make the call to the lapband surgeon's office; it wasn't something that I could just make an appointment for myself. See if you can find a surgeon whose office takes care of all the insurance stuff. They know the loopholes and the shortcuts and have lots of experience doing this sort of thing. Hope some of this helps. Good luck to you. Barb

Yes, mine was so low for about a week. I'd get up and then just want to crawl onto the couch. To get up and get something to drink was something I really had to think about. I discovered that in fact I was very constipated, and I think that that was at the root of my problems. I tried suppositories, enemas and finally my doctor told me to try Phososoda, a product by Fleet, in the enema section of the drug store. Finally, I was able to go after nine + days. I was feeling terrible and that was the cause. After I was able to go, I felt great. Good luck.

Wow, I don't remember anything like that, just that I was always hungry. Perhaps try a little protein drink; you're probably not getting enough, and that may be affecting you in strange ways. Hang in there.

I have been using a protein powder, such as Body Fortress chocolate flavored mix in milk. A couple of those is great, because it gives you liquid and each serving is like 23 gr. of protein. It tastes sort of like chocolate milk, so it is soothing. You can get these at any supermarket or a place like Walmart. Give it a try.

I'm going to be banded tomorrow and already, I've gone down one clothing size through walking and dieting prior; fortunately, I didn't throw out my smaller sizes; before hearing about the lapband, it was just wishful thinking. I've got clothes across 4 sizes: 16-22. Just wondering how often people have to purchase new clothing? I'm thinking this will be a fun thing, watching the sizes go down rather than up, up and up!

Ken, I appreciate your lengthy reply. I have a friend who is a traveling nurse who lives in Beaumont. She stayed the summer in Vermont, and then was off to Alaska; she wanted to see snow. She got her wish. Guess what? She's back in Texas now! Hope all is still well with you. B Simoes

I was banded on Monday. Felt great in the hospital, spent the night and then came home on Tuesday afternoon. I've spent a lot of time dozing and then getting up to try to swallow some fluids. I don't believe that I have ever lost my appitite before. This is a totally different experience. I kind of like it. I'm looking forward to the full liquids, just so I can get some protein in me. I called and asked the doctor if I could have just a few teaspoons of milk in order to take prednizone. The last two days were like torture; it felt like it was burning a hole in my stomach. I was given the go ahead and that made all of the difference. The rest of the time, I'm trying to get down some broth or tea. My energy is so low right now that even listening to books on tape is hard. I wasn't expecting that. I know all of this will pass and that it will have been the best thing I could have done for myself.

I've heard that the band makes hunger and fullness feel different than what unbanded people experience. Can anyone who is banded try to explain the difference? I will be banded this Monday, and I can't wait. The liquid diet thing is not satisfying me. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Barb:rolleyes:

I had watched the live surgery procedure of the lapband on the web, and after, it showed someone getting a fill. The doctor asked her about hunger and fullness and she said that it was completely different. She said that the fullness was much higher in her chest, which makes sense, being that is where the band is. Interesting; I guess everyone is different, and I'll just have to wait and see! Thanks for your post.

I have the same date--tomorrow; I'm psyched. Friends keep asking me if I'm nervous--maybe I should be, but, just getting to this point, I've gone from size 22 jeans to 20's and I'm almost ready for 18's. Once upon a time, a very short time, mind you, I was in size 8's. I'm looking forward to that again. I wish you all the luck. We made a good decision. Keep us all posted.

Congrats! You're losing and that's the main thing. Wow! Back to work in three days; did you have gas pain at all? I'll be banded tomorrow, June 18th, and I can't wait. Most people write about how nervous they are; maybe that will hit me, but so far, I'm just thinking that I can't wait to be done with the liquid diet that isn't filling me up. Were you nervous before you went in? As far as the fills go; maybe you will gain a little back, but once they get the right amount of saline in, then you can start losing in earnest. Don't beat yourself up. All the best. Barb

My nutricianist has had me keep a food journal so that I am aware of how fast calories add up. I date it, write down what I eat and keep a running tally in the margin. Some days are really a surprise to me--not in a good way! I am surprised at how it has taught me better food choices. It also holds me accountable. I was brutally honest in the beginning, but knowing that she will critique it, sometimes I leave things out or am not as honest about quantities as I should be. It also motivates me to exercise, because everyone is given a calorie counter book, and in the front, there is a chart showing how much expenditure there is with different forms of exercise. For example, I like to walk and for my weight, I will burn 7 calories a minute for brisk walking. If I walk 1/2 hour, I can subtract 210 calories from my daily amount, but if I walk for 1 hour, I can subtract 420 calories. I have found that to be the biggest bonus. Hope I've helped. Barb