SIPS in Seattle

I have Aetna too. Mine was outpatient as well. My surgery was at 6am and I was home by 9am. Easy peasy. (although the gas pains were annoying) the hardest part for me was my leg muscles were sooooo sore from the anesthesia (sp?) it's happened to me before... my muscles contract and its like I just ran for miles or lifted tons of weight. that lasted two days, i walked liked i'd been riding a horse for days HAHHAHAHA Good Luck on your surgery

AWESOME! Congrats on your NSV It's always such a great feeling to have someone outside the lap band bubble see and comment on all our hard work

Oh boy... I've been banded since 5.5.11, so, about 2 periods since then. First one.. didn't notice much. Second one, I was up to 7ccs and oh my god... did it get tight! My weight loss stopped for about a week or so... but ya... I was super tight and had to be extra careful. Once it was over, things went back to normal.

You're doing great... I am the same way you're not alone. I've been in a size 18 forever... and still am, even though im down about 35lbs. I can button a 16 but for some reason... can't make myself buy new clothes... (it's the rolls, they ain't pretty) so for now... I'm hanging out in a very loose 18

No kicking from me, just want to say you're still doing great... get that fill and keep on truckin'

Wow, All of mine have never hurt. Does your doc/PA ask you to lift your legs a little of the table? That tightens the tummy muscles and brings the port to the surface. I just had my 6th fill this morning, they're in and out so fast, I don't feel any pain... no pain, no loss

In general, when I'm overly hungry I get nauseated. Even if your brain and tummy say "I'm not hungry" if your'e not getting enough nutrition, your body will say otherwise. Good Luck on your Journey

I'm not sure where, some US docs won't touch a band placed in Mexico. A lady at my office said her fills are over 500 a pop cuz she got hers done in mexico. I've had 5 fills in the last 2 months, that would be 2500! No way could I afford that.

Only if you have a smartphone that has a mobile application that allows you onto the site. is your samsung an older version or one of the new smartphone kind?

Hey all, Just checking in, May 5th for me I think we are a pretty small group of bandsters for May 2011. Hope everyone is doing well!

I hate buying bras, they're sooo expensive! Good thing I never throw anything out. All the sizes going up, are now fitting me heading back down. I had a collection from 38D - up to 42D so thank goodness for being a pack rat! back into my 40Ds now... only problem is if the girls shrink down to a C... boo.

Hi Shirley, Did anyone reply to you on this? The bar code scanner is on the phone app. I have the iphone, not sure if the droid version has it? But next to the search bar there is a little bar code looking button, you click on that and it turns on your camera. Then you basically put the barcode in view and it captures it and tells you the information of that item. It's pretty neat Happy Friday, ZoeBug

I agree with Brenda. nwwls.com is their website. If you're self pay, the cost is higher than Mexico somewhere around 17K BUT... all your fills for the first 13 months are included. Plus, they're a center of excellence and Dr. Michaelson is just totally awesome in my book. They all are. Most of the employees there have bands, so they know what you're going through AND they're so very kind and caring. Good Luck!

Oh my gosh, I have two goldies too and they LOVE swimming. I wish I had a pool. My Zoe girl doesn't exactly swim swim swim... she just like jumping off the dock into the Water... she jumps straight up and basically belly flops. It's the funniest thing to see. Jax-a-saurus Rex will swim til his tail is crooked and he can't lift it. Poor bubbas. If I could figure out how to insert pictures (this dumb computer has the old internet explorer and we're blocked from upgrading at work) so the editor won't let me select, insert pic. But I'd add a pic of my Zoe, who smiles.

Oh my gosh so exciting! It will happen before you know it I can't wait til onederland... I'm bouncing around 206.3-207.3 right now... I can taste it! Next goal after onderland: LOL for my scale to finally match my drivers license HAHAHHAHA GOOD LUCK!

Hiya, Where is your "rash" located? If it's in the folds of your skin, its more than likely yeast.... rub on some monistat.... I had it too, it was awful.

In Everett, WA at NWWLS, fills are free for the first 13 months too...thank goodness. otherwise, I believe they're about 150.00 a pop.

I'm planning on a large back tattoo The kind that wouldn't look good in the rolling hills now LOL HAHHAHA Good Luck everyone!

WOOHOO!!! Congrats, you're doing awesome!!!

5.5.11 for me I've have a total of 7cc's in my 10cc band, 5 total fills. Haven't updated my ticker, but this morning was down to 206 woot woot from 239 starting point (245 was my highest) Good times keep em' coming!

I was denied twice. Had to get help through Obesitylaw.com with my surgeon's recommendation. I was at like 38 BMI, mild apnea, lower back pain (already had spinal fusion surgery) but they denied me for not having 2 years documentation that i was over 40 BMI.... they said my apnea wasn't enough. Just make sure you have everything documented and gather as much medical information as you can about your weight. Good Luck!

Wow, I hope you find the care you need. My surgeon and clinic is also a center of excellence. Dr. Michaelson is awesome and has the best bedside manner. Two reasons why... when I went to the seminar, I was sitting in the back right hand corner... at my consult... he was like, I remember you, you sat in the back right hand corner. Then once while I was preop there to visit my nutritionist, I was sitting in the waiting room and he walked by and totally remembered this other lady who was postop but still pretty newly banded and he was so friendly and congratulating her on how much she'd changed since her surgery... For a surgeon who sees tons of people to remember the little things (names/faces etc) that's a plus in my book. The surgeon himself does not do the fills, there's several nurses for that who are all banded themselves. So they know what to expect and ask the right questions and give you straight up honest answers when you ask. In fact, the majority of the employees at nwwls are banded...right down to the receptionists. I chose nwwls because I feel like my success is an important part of their success. They want their patients to succeed that's why their cost (for self pay and insurance alike) is all inclusive for the first 13 months. You can get as many fills/unfills as you need at no extra cost. I'm so thankful that they are right down the street.

My heart goes out to you. Keep strong, you'll get back to where you need to be

OMG... when you say losing hair... do you mean like handfuls? I know we lose approximately 100 hairs a day naturally and having long hair to my waist... It's more visible to me to see the hairs that naturally drop off... I'd probably have a heart attack if I grabbed a handful out Long hair became my security blanket when I gained weight...I'd be sad if I had to chop it...