Dave_NW

Hi Fellow Washingtonian! Welcome to the Forums. There is a ton of information on this website, and your questions have many answers. Search the Forums and you'll find a lot of information you're after. If you plan to have your insurance pay for the surgery, before you do anything else you should ask them what they require. That will tell you a lot about what you can expect. The second part of that is once you've selected a surgeon, contact that office, to see if they have a free seminar you can attend before committing to surgery. You can get direct answers to your questions from them. Everything else is speculation. The reason there is no exact answer to your questions is because different insurance carriers have different requirements, and so do the surgeons. It seems there are plenty of ways to do this, and different surgeons go about the process differently. Some insurance carriers require you to go through a six month supervised diet before they'll approve you for surgery. Others (like mine) don't require that. In my case, I have Tricare Prime as my insurance. I did not have to go through a lot of preliminary steps. I chose Swedish Hospital for my surgery, and Dr. Ross McMahon (the head of the bariatric department at Swedish) as my surgeon. I highly recommend him - the guy knows his stuff. I've had zero problems, and I'm very pleased with him and his staff. Check my ticker in my signature to see how well I've done with this. I'm very happy. I attended a free seminar at Swedish before they'd let me make an appointment to see anyone. They require that so you'll have a good idea what to expect before going into the office. When I did meet with their staff, I met with a psychologist, a physician, a nutritionist, and the surgeon himself. Each meeting was for a different purpose, but they all serve a good reason. The psychologist is there to make sure you have realistic expectations of band surgery, and what it will do for you. The band is NOT a magic bullet that will solve your life or your problems. If you have a food addiction, that won't change. If you're lazy and expect the band to do all the work, you will be disappointed. If you think you can live on junk food and still lose weight, you'd be wrong. The psychologist will ask about these kinds of things. If you research things ahead of time, and go in with a clear head about what to expect, you'll do fine. Band surgery is an expensive thing to go through, and you need to be fully aware of your part in the process to achieve the best success. Other tests you may need ahead of time will depend on the results of the physical exam the Physician will do on you. Your age, weight status, general physical condition, and so forth all have an effect. They need to ensure you're healthy enough for surgery. I had to have an endoscopy, where they found I had a hiatal hernia. I had no idea I had one. They repaired that during surgery. Swedish did not require me to do a pre-op liquid diet. (Just the last day before surgery.) But I was required to do three weeks of liquids after surgery, to give my band the best chance to heal up. I don't know if everyone they operate on has the same kind of thing. Again, they can tell you that. I hope this has helped you a bit. Search things for more specific answers, but remember that different surgeons have different requirements, so the answers you get here may not be exactly how it plays out for you. Wishing you great success going forward, if you decide banding is the right option for you. Good luck! Dave

Sara, you can call their offices and ask what their credentials are. That way you'll have a better idea what they're all about. Google their names, search other weight loss forums, and so forth. Dave

Did you read my extensive reply to your post from the other day? If you call the surgeon's office, they will tell you exactly what to expect. Dave

I was pretty open with everyone after I had surgery. I didn't talk about it much before surgery, because I didn't want to be pre-judged. After I had the surgery, I took off work for three weeks, so it was natural that people would ask me what was up. And my Department Head said in a department meeting in front of everyone that I was going to be away "having bariatric surgery." Gee, thanks, Doug! No privacy left on that score. Since I returned to work, and the weight started to fall off, everyone has been amazing. Nothing (to my face) but supportive comments. If anyone has had something negative to say, they haven't said it to me, and I haven't been made aware of anything. What I do get are amazed smiles and lots of congratulations for doing so well. And there has been a fair amount of good-natured jealousy from obese people who have witnessed my entire journey, but who have done nothing to change how they are. So I have had no problem telling people I had band surgery. If they are someone I think might benefit from surgery, I've offered to share details with anyone who is interested. Lately, my attitude has begun to change. Not toward those who have walked the journey with me, but with new people I'm meeting, or people who have never known me when I was obese. I go about my business, I work out at the gym like always, and I socialize with people as a person first. The subject of me being overweight, or of having lost nearly 90 pounds so far, has not come up. And I'm not the one who does bring it up to new people, because it means having to go through a lot of explaining to the new person about how the "me" they know is a different "me" than I was last year. It's awkward, and I'm choosing not to volunteer my story to anyone unless I'm asked. The odd period is when I meet two people, one of which who knows my obese history, and one who has no idea. I get the usual complimentary comments from the person who knows, and of course, a look of surprise from the person who has no idea. It's weird. If I didn't work in such a large place (a hospital) where I see many people every day, I might have kept this to myself. My family knows, for the most part, but I don't see them often, so don't have to endure the constant questions. When I do see them, I get "Wow!" a lot. And that makes it worth it. Dave

D'oh! Busted!!! Dave

Ok. I think there are band surgeons in Spokane. The rest of what I posted still applies. Good luck! Dave

Hi Sara, Welcome to the Forum. You are absolutely in the right place. There are several people currently posting here who are from Washington as well. Whereabouts in the state are you? If you're near Seattle, you have a number of choices available to you to find out more about whether you are a band candidate. There are options in other parts of the state, but most are in the Seattle-Tacoma area. For starters, I'd suggest contacting your insurance company and ask them whether they pay for band surgery, and what their requirements are. Be very clear with them, and tell them that you want to know about deductible amounts, co-pays, followup appointments, fills, and the other aspects of living with a band. Who pays for what, and how much? As I'm sure you know, just having the surgery is only the beginning. There is ongoing cost and effort required to be successful with a band. If you learn they will pay for the band, be sure to ask about how you go about the process to meet their requirements. It's easy to find a place to have surgery done, but not always easy to find a good surgeon who accepts your kind of insurance. Ask them who they recommend you should go see for an evaluation. If you find you have a choice of surgeons, do some research. Where band surgery is concerned, there is no substitute for experience. Find a surgeon who has a good track record, and who is dedicated to the work at hand. (I used Dr. Ross McMahon at Swedish, and I'm completely satisfied. I highly recommend him and his staff.) Once you know who to see, call that surgeon's office and introduce yourself, explaining how you came to be contacting them, and make an appointment. They may ask you to attend a free seminar first, which is what Swedish Hospital in Seattle required me to do. I learned a lot at the seminar, then I made the appointment for an in-office evaluation. At the in-office appointment, you can discuss your questions and specific issues. If you suffer from severe acid reflux, it's possible you have a hiatal hernia, which they can repair during the band surgery. I had one, which they repaired for me, and I've not had any heartburn or reflux since. Keep plugging away, keep doing your research, and move forward at a pace that's comfortable for you. If you really want this surgery, there are ways to get it done. Keep in mind that it's not a magic bullet, and if you get the surgery, you need to do your part to get the most from it. If you want to succeed, you will. Good luck! Dave

This thread was started last December. Bob hasn't been around here since, as far as I know. Dave

So how are all you guys doing post-op? Check in and let us know! Dave

Agreed! I think it's very often due to the anonymous nature of forums like this. People can be whatever they want to be, and some act out because they feel they "can." Awhile back someone posted a comment that really made me think: How do you know the person who is posting problem posts isn't really a 12 year old boy who is playing tricks by masquerading as a 40 year old mother of three? Got me to thinking - you never really know who's on the other end of the computer screen. Dave

I don't know which thread you're referring to, but my experience has been that most people here are pretty considerate. There are a few people around who seem to wear a Know-It-All hat, and who can be intolerant, so maybe you came across one of them. I'd say consider the source, and move on. There are lots of folks here who are sincerely interested in helping, and plenty of historic information. I'm still amazed at the sheer amount of information on this site. Dave

It's easy to play "armchair physician" in this kind of case, so he definitely needs to talk to his doctor about the issue. His problem may not be so much mechanical as it is psychological. If he's been unable to get erect "for years," then his weight may not be responsible, and he may need help in other areas of his life.. However, if his issue is mechanical, it may be that excess weight (and presumed physical inactivity), may be restricting the blood flow to the area. If he can't increase the blood flow, he may not be able to get erect no matter what he does. But by losing weight and improving vascular health, it could increase blood flow throughout the body, and presumably, to the area where he's having an issue. If he's a banding candidate, then I'd say go for it. At minimum, he'll find no change. But weight loss from banding can bring on extreme improvement in self-esteem, and he could find he's a whole new man -- with the addition of very positive side effects. Dave

There are many people here who have had it done. Search the Forums for many threads about it. It's a non-event, and the recovery coincides with recovery from band surgery. The major benefit of having a hiatal hernia repaired during band surgery is it (generally) eliminates heartburn and reflux from happening. Since mine was repaired during my surgery, I no longer get any reflux symptoms. Dave

What you're going to find after you're eating solids again, and getting on with your banded life, is that your INTEREST in food will be as high as ever, but your NEED to eat like you once did will be reduced. You can still go out, you can do what you want, but you won't be as tied to the food involved. I go out all the time, eat in restaurants frequently, and I have a great social life. And I've also lost a lot of weight while doing so. My family and friends have learned not to worry about me - that I'll find something to eat at the event or in the restaurant that suits me. And they can eat like they always did. Above all, the social aspects of my life are actually better than ever, because I'm not hunkered down over a plate or two of food, stuffing my face the whole time. I actually have the option of participating in the conversation or whatever, without having to keep one eye on the food table, waiting for them to cut the cake, or whatever. It's life-changing to be freed from the chains of eating all the time. Dave

Whoops! Thanks for pointing out my error. I grabbed the wrong data from a list I had. The cheese Head sticks are actually: 80 calories, 6g of fat, less than 1g carbs, and 6g Protein. (Hope that's a bit better. ) Dave

I was reading your signature. Did you actually get banded ten years ago? Or is that a typo? Dave

How long ago were you banded? Did Tricare pay for your band? If they did, and if it's been more than a year or so, maybe have your doctor's insurance coordinator resubmit the claim, citing the band surgery dates you had. Tricare should have to accept the fill if they paid for the surgery, too. That's like buying a car and not being allowed to put gas in it.... I was banded in December, and Tricare is paying for my fills, no problem. Good luck! Dave

If it's the string cheese I get, the Cheese Head brand string cheese sticks, they come in an easy-to-carry packet, they taste good, and they're nutritious. The ones I buy (from Costco) are 110 calories each, with 80g of fat (it's cheese, after all), 7g of Protein, and a half-gram of carbs. I use them as a planned snack food when I need something to stick with me, but that doesn't screw up my eating plan for the day. Dave

I'm still amazed at how many different ways there are to approach banding. For every "Yes" you'll probably see a "No" comment, as well. My NUT didn't say anything about caffeine, one way or another. I used to drink a lot of coffee daily, but now only drink a cup or two in the morning. I drink caffeinated iced tea periodically at other times, and have not had any negative reaction. My NUT knows I drink those things, and has never said not to. I don't drink carbonated beverages, so have no reference to that, but a coworker who is banded drinks soft drinks all the time. Go figure... Dave

I agree with you and with Heather. (She makes SO much sense of all this, doesn't she?) For me, banding was a physical thing that resulted in a permanent change in how I approached my day to day life. Pre-band I was driven by my nonstop hunger, and I was absolutely TERRIFIED of letting myself get hungry. I had such negative side effects of hunger (severe shakes, inability to focus, couldn't sleep, gnawing at the pit of my stomach), and it didn't just happen gradually, it was immediate, ferocious, and debilitating. So I ate a LOT of food as often as I even THOUGHT I was going to get hungry. When I'd leave for work in the morning, I'd aready have made plans for supper. It was insane. Enter the band. And suddenly I just don't GET hungry anymore. Letting go of that problem has allowed me to completely change the way I eat, how often, and what I'm eating. I can work within the expectations of what and how bandsters eat, and I'm fine with it. The natural side effect of the weight that fell off after getting banded has changed a lot of the rest of how i live these days, and I couldn't be happier. So I don't know how much of it is psychosomatic, as much as it's a response to the physical and emotional changes that happen after getting banded. But I can tell you this: I'm delighted to be here, and I'm never going back. Dave

You've only been banded three weeks. The first SIX weeks post-op are supposed to be just for healing up, and getting ready for the next phase, which is the beginning of weight loss. You are getting waaaay ahead of yourself. Step back, take a breath, and relax. Developing patience is a very critical part of successfully having the band. Do not be discouraged by a lack of weight loss right now. You gained it over a long period of time. It will also take time to lose it. Keep working your plan, and stick with it. When your body has recovered from surgery, and you're back on solid food, your metabolism will adjust, and the scale will start to move. After a few fills, and once you figure out how your body relates to the band, you'll start losing. It may be just a pound or two at a time, but if you keep going, the pounds lost will add up, and you WILL be successful. Hang in there, and enjoy the ride. Being banded is a life-changing event. Dave

My ONLY regret is that I waited so long to have the surgery. How many positive memories have I missed out on because I was too obese to enjoy them? Now that I've had the surgery, and done so well with it, I am completely satisfied. Dave

I weigh myself daily, and use it as a barometer for how I'm doing. I correlate the food/calories I ate the day or two before with what the scale reflects today. If things stop moving, I examine what I've been eating, or how much exercise and activity I've had. Over time I've gotten to know my metabolism pretty well. Plateaus have happened, and I've kept weighing, just to monitor how the plateau is going. If my eating and exercise are proper, I know it's just my body readjusting itself, and that the scale will start moving again soon. And sure enough, it does. So no, I don't think weighing daily is a bad thing, as long as you don't let it get you down if things don't move as quickly as you want them to. Especially for a new bandster. After the Water weight goes away, and you get back onto solid foods, your weight loss will slow way down. Don't get frustrated if things don't move as quickly as you'd like. Dave

Congratulations, Jenn! NSV's like that are awesome! I was banded five months ago, and have already cleared out my closet twice. I figure I'm never going to be this size again, so if it's too big, out it goes! The best part is having to replace the replacement clothes I bought after the first go-round. When my old clothes started falling off, I replaced things with new stuff that fit right at the time. And now THAT stuff is too big, so is being replaced again. It's a great feeling. People complain about the cost of clothes, but I figure I'm saving SO much by not eating like I used to, I can use that food money toward new clothes. It's a small price to pay, and I look good while I'm losing weight. One dinner out in the old days is equal to a new pair of pants or a dress shirt now. No more Omar the Tent Maker clothes for me. Dave

Nikki, I agree with previous posters. Getting stuck and such are usually something you can prevent if you eat right, follow the rules, and don't get in a rush. In five months since my surgery I've only gotten stuck to the point of sliming twice. Once was while eating salsa and chips at a Mexican restaurant (and not chewing properly.) The other was while eating raw broccoli (and not chewing properly.) In both cases it was my own fault. I have not vomited once since my surgery. As an aside, I'm wondering what benefit is there to plication with a band? My understanding of plication is they roll the stomach to make a smaller stomach capacity. If the band is working right, it will restrict the volume of food that can be eaten easily anyhow. So what purpose does the plication serve? Seems like a lot of extra effort for not a lot of results. Can you please educate me? Dave