MissMelo

The milk of magnesia works. It is just REALLY disgusting.

I was banded 4/2011 and when I went back for my first fill in June, I could not get a fill because my port flipped! For insurance reason's, I was not able to get it fixed until January 2012. Between that time period I was basically going on will power because I was not able to get fills. I did not exercise much aside from walking a mile maybe twice a month. I did however lose 65lbs between April and now. I do believe I would have lost much more if I did exercise.

Horrible! I have to drink Milk of Magnesia sometimes just to go. I usually can tell when:

My weight is going up

I feel bloated

Bad gas pains

M.O.M. usually solves the problem.

I'm here! I just had a port revision on 1-5-12 due to a flipped port, so I basically had no fills for the entire time! I just got a fill at the time of my port revision and have much better restriction. Hopefully it does not happen again.

No fills here, but not because I wanted it that way, It's because my port flipped and I was self pay! No money to pay for another surgery to fix it...smh #life

I hope all goes well with your surgery. Let me know. I am still waiting for hospital to make determination on whether I have to pay again for surgery. Is yours covered under insurance?

Nope, I was also self pay, which makes this situation all the more frustrating! My guess is that I won't have to pay anything or maybe they will figure out a way to bill it to my insurance. Otherwise I'll just have to pay even more money to get it fixed. My surgeon didnt really specify whether I would have to pay more money, but I will definetely keep you posted.

My port is completely flipped! I went in for my first fill on 6/7/11 and my doctor could not do the fill so he sent me to do my fill under flouro, and thats when it was discovered that my port had flipped! I was so upset. He said that he would do the port revision and that it was a 15 minute procedure, so I'm hoping it will be quick and painless. Im scheduled for 7/7/11

My weight loss has been minimal at best, but that's to be expected with a flipped port which means no fills!!! Ugh!!! Also, I'm not excercising as much as I should...

45lbs! That's amazing! When were you banded? I didn't have to follow any type of pre op diet, just no eating or drinking the night before surgery so I didnt really loose much weight ,just 4lbs. I sometimes wish I had created my own pre op diet and lost a little before hand, but what are you gonna do... Keep it up!

I feel the same way you do! I am going to miss "bandster hell". I really did enjoyed being able to eat , almost, anything I want with a little restriction. My first fill will be on June 7th, so I'm a little nervous about that but hopefully everything goes well. I have to say that even though I did enjoy eating and still losing weight, the weight loss has now become stagnant and I need my fill to take it up a notch. Good luck with everything!

My situation is the opposite! I was banded on 4-18-11 and my first fill is scheduled for 6-7-11, I am just getting back on solid foods but I CANNOT eat just anything i want. My food actually gets stuck if I don't chew it well, no throwing up though, just an uncomfortable feeling. I am too terrified to try any type of bread, toasted or not. Pasta and rice is fine, but I do get a full feeling after just about 1-2 cups of food. So I guess everybody's situation is different.

Everybody is different, but I think she may still be pretty uncomfortable to sit through a class for a day. It took me a little over a week to even be able to drive.

Hi!

I had my surgery on 4-18-11 and I had my hiatal hernia repaired. It was discovered during my upper GI Endoscopy, but previous to that I had complained of severe heartburn and chest pain, which is a symptom of having a hiatal hernia. After my sugery, I dont think I was in any more pain than normal, so I dont think it would be any more painful just because you had your hernia repaired. I do know that I no longer have ANY heatburn or chest pain so it is worth it to have your hernai repaired during surgery. Good Luck!

April 18th for me! Woo hoo!!!!!

The Zumba for Kinect will kick your ass!! My husband did it first just for fun and as I'm watching him I'm saying ohhh this looks so easy!, I was trying to figure out why he was so tired. Then I tried it, I was exhausted after just the five mintue warm up. The music is fun, the dances are fun, and it is like your in a gym with other people. Love it!

I can't wait to lose my arms and my stomach! Mostly my arms though. I already know that I will have an insane amount of excess skin on my arms after I am done losing weight, so I will have to get an arm lift. Ugh, more money to spend. SMH

April 18TH. WOO HOO! So excited!!!!!!!

Anyone else out there have an April date?

I'm the 14th!

Is it nerdy that I'm so excited about this post?!!! I could not wait to post that my surgery is scheduled for April 18th!!!!! Woohoo! Can't wait!

Do any of you guys know if there is some type of laser or cosmetic treatment to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. I am looking forward to being banded and losing weight, but I would also like to enjoy my new skin, stretch mark free.

Cigna requires me to see a nutritionist once a month for 6 months. There is no

medication or anything. The nutritionist I see does a group meeting. First visit

talked about the band and how you have to eat after. The second visit talked

about fat, carbs, Protein, and trying to start eating right now. I guess it's good because you learn how you are supposed to eat. Some people know nothing about nutrition so this will really help them.

I also have cigna so I have to do the 6 month diet as well, but it's done with my pcp. I am currently in the third month of my diet so I hope to have the surgery some time in april. I have an app scheduled with the surgeon next month so hopefully he'll be able to give me a date.

Good luck with the Psych Consult. The idea of the consult is to make sure you are fully aware of the procedure, the risks, that you have studied your options. They also want to make sure that if there is a history of depression you recognize it and have control. That you are self aware as to how you have gained the weight, if you are Obsessive Compulsive about eating. If you do have an eating disorder they just suggest working with a therapist as you move forward towards banding so you can gain control of the disorder, otherwise banding won't help. I hope this helps and you will do great. Just be honest, they are trained to tell when you are lying.

Exactly! Just relax and answer the questions truthfully and you'll be fine.

Side Note: I cannot believe some of you had to answer so many questions and that it took so long for some of you. I was out of my car at 10:45 and back in my car by 11:05!:frown:

Guys thank you so much for your help! My hr department just got back to me and said that it is a covered benefit!:frown: I was so excited! I'm still wondering why cigna tried to say that it was not covered? I'm also concered that I might have to start my six month diet over. Hopefully not, but I'm still going to try and get most of my pre op apps done before my insurance changes.:mad2: Thanks again guys!

Guys thank you so much for your help! My hr department just got back to me and said that it is a covered benefit!:frown: I was so excited! I'm still wondering why cigna tried to say that it was not covered? I'm also concered that I might have to start my six month diet over. Hopefully not, but I'm still going to try and get most of my pre op apps done before my insurance changes.:mad2: Thanks again guys!

Did you ask your surgeon if he/she might make an exception? Just tell them your insurance is changing and if you don't get it done by a certain date you won't be able to do it. They might look at what you have done and go for it.

I have no other choice. I honestly hope he will be able to squeeze me in before January. Could you imagine going from having everything in place and having the surgery 100% covered, to possibly having to self pay! I am beyond pissed at this point!

I was going to waive the new insurance and use cobra, but my hr department said that you cannot use cobra if insurance is being offered. The only other thing I can do is hope that my doc will try to fit me in for surgery before January.