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I am in northern virginia I live in ashburn near dulles airport. I am lucky to have coverage through Kaiser but not an approval as of yet they want you to go through their program inhouse before a referral to a surgeon. ( insurance bs & them stalling us. They only allow so many seats & only have class every other month to make a waiting list that is unnecessary imho)

Hi Dar, I too have fibro and another autoimmune disorder.Not too sure what it is though. I go to the rhumitologist every 3 months for check ups and refills on meds. Are you on anything for either condition? I have just begun my lap band journey. I've been for the consultation and go to pulmonologist tomorrow. The BS had me go for blood work and the guy taking my blood was surprised by all of the tests that were ordered. 21 viles of blood!!! I'm so glad to hear that someone out there has had the band with similar conditions as myself. As for all of the problems that you have encountered, I'm sorry to hear that. I know when we get the flair ups it's hard to eat healthy. It's sometimes painful to have to cook because of all the time that it takes to prep the food and to prepare it. So much easier to pick up the phone and order delivery or drive to the closest fast food place. But when it gets to that point I just keep telling myself that if I can get thru this time of pain to eat something more healthy and be able to loose weight, in the long run my overall health IS going to become better and I WILL feel better. Congratulations on the 20 lbs.:clap2: have you tried to make healthy meals that you can tolerate and freezing them in small portions to thaw and heat on those days that you just don't feel well enough to do all the work? That's what I've started doing for my family. That comes in handy on thoes days that are too hectick too! Keep your head up and just think, you're 20 lbs. lighter than you used to be!! keep in touch Theresa

:confused:Hi Everyone- I went to a seminar with Dr. Schmitt in January and I was so motivated and ready to go I would have had the surgery that night if they would have let me. I don't know what has happened to me now... I read about problems on this website and all I do now is think about everything that could go wrong. I cancelled my appointment with Dr. Schmitt and I haven't rescheduled; I also quit going to my montly GP monitoring visits (I'm BC/BS). I know I have to have help or I am going to die from my fat. Did any of you have a time like this and then get yourself back on track? I'm scared to death I'm going to die on the operating table or have breathing trouble from being knocked out or have band slippage and have to go back to surgery. Also, did I understand correctly that BC/BS will not pay for any corrective surgeries associated with banding after the first placement one? Congrats to all of you that are doing so well; I'm so happy for you! Keep the good info coming.. some of us need really need to hear about your positive experiences!

I have checked the web site and spoke to my family Dr and confirmed this to be a valid warning so I am passing it on to you. Not stated in this pre-prepared post but you will see it in the web posting is the fact this drug is in decongestants and also in many weight control drugs. This is the warning I received: All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being recalled. You may want to try calling the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND. Please read this CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone you know. STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine. The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine: Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant Acutrim Plus Dietary supplements Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine ! (cherry or orange) Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine BC Allergy Sinus Cold powder BC Sinus Cold Powder Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules Contac 12 Hour Caplets Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus Dexatrim Caffeine Free Dexatrim Extended Duration Dexatrim Gelcaps Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir Dimetapp Elixir Dimetapp 4 Hour liquid Gels Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops Permathene Mega-16 Robitussin CF Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion Triam! inic DM Cough Rel! ief Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head Tr! iaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough ..... I just found out and called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and they informed me that they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children: Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink) 3D Cold & Cough berry 3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant They are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on the box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and they will also issue you a refund. If you know of anyone else with small children, PLEASE PASS THIS ON. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF! DO PASS ALONG TO ALL ON YOUR MAILING LIST so people are informed. They can then pass it along to their families. To confirm these findings please tak! e time to check the following: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/ PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN IN CASE THEY GIVE IT TO THEIR CHILDREN OR TO FRIENDS WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

I have BC/BS PPO, I just got my approval letter Friday. I had to have a BMI of 40, and had to do a 6 month diet, and get approval from a heart, respiratory, and phyc. Dr. I also had to give them a copy of the last 5 years of being over weight. I had to lose 15lbs for approval. Im waiting for my surgery date. Its taken me 9 months to get here. I hope its all worth it.

Was this the ER dr that said this? Or you surgeon? A friend of mine gets bad colds/respitory allergies and sometimes cant drink liquids. The dr removes fluid while shes ill. She usually has to wait a while before getting fluid back in bc shes swollen from all the mucus being built up near her band.

HI, I am new on this board, I normally write on the obesity help board, I have been denied by my insurance bc/bs il and am trying to appeal, I want to ask my HR dept to write a letter since my insurance is thru my work, I just need ideas for what to write, I heard that alexandra on this board fought her insurance and won, any suggestions would be great. Thanks Nicki

Yes I know exactly how you feel. (I think) I get tired, sometimes, of always having to be aware. I would love to be able to sit down and eat dinner and when I am done have it still be hot. I cannot remember the last time I had a hot meal, for the entire thing. I start with a hot meal but it usually cold by the time I am done. I think it just gets to me sometimes. For the most part I am happy with my band I just get a little fed up at times.

Hi Sandy, so glad you found this forum -- glad to have you here! I have learned so much from the people here -- far more than any information I've gotten through my surgeon and the materials I was given. One thing stands out -- all are protocols are different and so are our bodies. It's hard to know how long it may take to reach the green zone. I was banded in November (and on mushies day 8 by the way), then first fill about a month out. Some people have a partial fill at the time of surgery -- also called a primed band. A few people have band and Plication. I just had a regular Lapband procedure with no fill but I think my followup schedule is fairly aggressive -- 11 scheduled visits with the surgeon in the first year following surgery. This is when I realize how important that relationship is. My surgeon is great but the follow up appointments are a little wham bam thank you, ma'am. I've really followed other people's journeys to the green zone here on the forum so I'd know for myself when I am there. My surgeon describes the goal as being satisfied on a tennis ball sized portion of food for 4-5 hours. I'm so glad 2muchfun posted those you tube videos -- those were so helpful for me. I have had five fills and may be in the green zone. I won't know for a few weeks. But what I do know is my appetite has dimmed considerably and I feel able to distinguish between real hunger and old habits (evening grazing in my case). You will get there bit by bit. Follow up for fills is very, very important so make sure that is all set. And keep in touch here -- read, ask questions, ignore the occasional BS and keep thanking yourself for deciding to turn your life around. Best wishes to you!

I would stay in Canada and go to Dr. Colbourn mainly because of the fills. The TLBC is a great clinic and Dr. Yau is the leading surgeon, but they don't have much in the way of "fill" support outside the province of Ont. I pen pal with someone in Nova Scotia who was banded by TLBC and can't find a fill nurse and is hoping her doctor will do it. Not all medical doctors will do a fill even though the TLBC does have a DVD for the doctor to learn how to do it. Doctors/nurses that specialize in doing fills usually support only one clinic and as someone has posted two fill doctors in your area that support Dr. Colboun, I would go to him. I live in BC and after much effort found a doctor that would do my fills.

I still have a psych eval and the medical clearance. My problem is I live abroad. I was hoping to get everything done while on vacation but I don't know if that is going to work. I have FED BC/BS. They do not require the 3 or 6 month dieting. The doctor's office told me they are easier to work with. I am just hoping my time line for returning to the US works. I really would like to be home by October so that I can have surgery by November........They did indicate the process should take me around 2.5 months.

Thats so stange I have Empire Bc/Bs PPO of New York and my first three months were covered for everything even my first fill! My Nurse NP(surgical assistant who does the fills)did not feel I needed a fill with in the three month time frame since I had lost 40 pounds. I had my and one any only fill on Ocotber 25,2006 of 1cc which I did not pay for, just paid for the office visit. My monthly follow ups are with my Nurse Np and dietican and they are not covered by insurance, they each charge $80.00 each which is out of pocket. I am able to get remburished for my out of network fees up to a certain amount. I have to sumbit recipiets each month. I have lost 57 pounds since my surgery on June 13th and Iam 8 1/2 months out! Most fills after the first three months are usually not covered by insurance,I would call your insurance ask for Medical Management department and ask alot of questions on how Lapband bariatric surgery is handled. I had to do this with Empire when getting my approval for surgery they were both informative and very nice. Good Luck -- Hang in there the journey is so worth it! Lisa

I posted this today on my blog and wanted to post it here as well! So if there are names or backstories that I mentioned...that is why...hahah! I didnt realize how long it was! In the name of reflecting on a year gone by, I have been working on this Bandiversary post. It is a mumble jumble of some of my thoughts, tips, rules (non-rules), and lessons learned since Tina the Wonderband took up residence in my body. This year has flown by and brought me so many wonderful presents, people, and experiences. I don't have all the answers...and our journeys, while on parallel paths in the same direction, can look very different. So here you go! Happy Reading! All doctors, clinics, bandsters, and rules, are different. They just are. And I am not a slave to any of the rules. I see them more as guidelines and helpful tips. For example, I eat Soup...a lot. Soup is a liquid and therefore, slides right down the old shoot. But I honestly feel rather satisfied with 2 cups of wonderful soup. I also now almost always choose soup if we go out to eat. I noticed this when we went to Lambert's for my mom's birthday. Lamberts did not have one soup option. I think I started ordering soup out as a rule after my October fill. It just became too risky to try solid food and a waste of money. And even though I can bring leftovers home, leftovers usually go to waste in our house. I just couldn't see spending $10 on something that I could only nibble at. It does not bother me, this soup fetish of mine. I can have a couple of bites of whatever Tracey gets and I am a cheap date. Drinking with meals. This was not that hard for me to give up. At home, I just make sure that I don't have my Water near me when I eat dinner. When we go out to eat, I drink about 4 cups of water before the meal comes. I drink right up to that point. I do not personally believe that water primes the band. Water goes right down people. It doesn't just sit there. For me, when I do try and be naughty (Cookies and milk anyone?) drinking with my food either hurts OR gets me stuck. Some bandsters measure, weigh, or journal their food. All the time. I do not. I do measure Snacks though. For example, if I am going to have some nuts, I measure whatever one serving size is and put it in a little baggy. This way I know what my calorie intake is for that snack. I do not do food journals, count carbs, or watch my fat intake. Those things, for me, are all part of DIETING. They give me horrible flashbacks and I find myself rocking in the corner with sounds of helicopters and gunfire in my head. They send me to a bad place. However, from time to time I have recommended online food journals to struggling bandsters who feel lost or out of control. Sometimes when we estimate our calories we forget things, round DOWN, or just lie! So it can be a useful tool. And whatever works for you is the way to go. The scale. Another rule I do not care for is the "scale rule". Even my wonderful Dr. Friedman told me not to weigh daily. I weigh myself every day, but only record the weight on Mondays. Mondays keep me motivated through the weekends. I do not freak out if my weight fluctuates during the week...I try to reserve such freakouts for Mondays alone. Your weight will go up and down. But weighing myself every day does keep me accountable for my actions. I eat better when I bring my lunch to work. While for dinner I can usually eat grilled chicken breast, some pork chop etc., leftover meat is a no-go for me anymore. It just gets too dry when I heat it in the microwave. This is one of the reasons I make soup and freeze it. But whatever you choose, make it something you can just grab...so you don't use the excuse "I didn't have anything". It is a rare, rare day when I eat fast food for lunch. And the only fast food I do eat is either chili from Wendy's or nuggets from Chick-fil-a. I am thankful for an amazing doctor, who surrounds himself with amazing staff. I think that having the right doctor is so crucial to success. Dr. Friedman let me decide when I needed a fill. I could come in week after week until I got restriction. I see him every time I go for an appointment and he is right beside me when I get my fill. I am honest with him. I tell him when I have been drinking Sunkist or snacking. I tell him what I can and cannot eat. He listens. I was a trooper through bandster hell. I stayed the course and did not go hog wild (pun intended) when I realized I could eat anything and everything. I was on my high from my preop diet weight loss. I knew what I had to do. Dr. Friedman told me upfront that the band does not work for everyone...that his biggest fear is that his patients won't lose weight. By God I was going to lose weight. I listen for the real hunger. One of the most important lessons I have learned is when I really need to eat. How many times do we say "OH I am starving"? A lot. And are we really? No. So I took this phrase out of my vocabulary. I might say "I am hungry"....but that is different than starving. When you are fighting headhunger, try and stop and say "Am I really hungry?" If the answer is no, try to resist munching! Drink water instead! Do something. Of course I still snack sometimes whenI am not hungry, but at least when I DO, I am tsk tsking myself! LOL I tell everyone about my surgery, if they ask. This will be a debate until the end of time...on Lapband Talk and on these blogs. There are just so many factors that go into making this decision, and I know that for everyone...their choice is their own. I don't think it ever occurred to me to hide it. For me, I tell because it can help others, because their is no shame in having weight loss surgery, because it can educate the ignorant, and because the truth shall set your free. I think about some of the ladies who have been banded because they have seen my progress. What if I had just told them I did it through watching what I eat and exercising (which is not a lie, but not the complete truth either). Would they feel like failures because "Amy did it the old fashioned way...why can't I?" Would they still be putting off the idea of surgery? I am proud of my choice and where I am today. You know ironically, I get the most negative comments about choosing WLS from fat people. Maybe bc the skinny people don't want to be politically incorrect? But as I think about it...yep...mostly my heavy "friends" are the ones who turn up their noses when I tell them about the band. But that's okay...I'll give them time. A year later, I still think of food all.the.time. This by no way means that I am hungry. In fact, the only time I feel real hunger anymore is in the morning before Breakfast. I have read about those people who after being banded, food just became something they "had to do". I used to really hope for that day to come. Eh, it just might never happen for me. I did learn this year that there are actually people who do not think of food all the time. This was mind boggling to me...and still kinda is! Funny, but it seems that those people who do NOT think of food all the time are thin. Who would have thunk? There are foods I do miss...and they all involve bread. I miss peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hamburgers with buns, hot dogs with buns, cinnamon rolls, oh cinnamon rolls, Stuffing my face with cookies and chugging milk , pizza, Big Macs...It's a good thing I have the band huh? lol I set goals. Mini goals, about every 3 months along. I made these goals preband (for the first 6 months out at least). I have met every goal. Don't be afraid to set these mini-goals. Right them on your calendar, a post it note, on the fridge, or on the wall above the scale. Exercise. I have yet to become an exercise fanatic. Right after surgery I started walking to get ready for my first 5k. Then we did bootcamp/interval training for awhile. Now we just do what sounds good. I play WiiFit once in awhile, we go walking, we are going back to bootcamp, Bandita and I did Zumba. Exercise is an area that I could improve on. Another rule that does not work for me: Not eating in front of the t.v., computer, while reading...etc. They say that when you eat you should be focused solely on your food. No distractions. They say this well help you eat slower and take smaller bites. This is not true for me. For example, when Tracey and I eat at the table, or with family...I tend to eat MUCH quicker. For several reasons. First, I feel a need to keep up. Second, have you ever adopted a dog or puppy that comes from living with lots of other dogs? They eat so quick bc they are afraid that someone else is going to get their kibble. Somewhere deep down I am still afraid of not enough kibble to go around. So, when Tracey and I sit on the couch with our tv trays...I eat much slower. When I am reading a magazine or surfing the net...I eat much slower. It gives me something to do, something to put my fork down and entertain myself with. Things that have changed: Where I shop. What I eat. How much I eat. I cook more. I try new and different foods (but that doesn't mean I like them all). My love for Tracey. I love him even more. He is so proud and supportive. I can cross my legs. My lower back pain, my pee sneezes, and shin splints...they are all gone. The amount of people who read my blog. The amount of blogs I read. The amount of friends this blog has blessed me with. My pant size. My shoe size. Things that haven't changed: My self confidence. My facial hair (still the same amount...I was hoping for less). My attitude. My complexion. I thought it would clear up a lot. The way I see life. My obsession with food. My thirst for Sunkist. The way I act with, towards, and around other people. How many pictures I take. How I wear my clothes. My finances. My job. My dislike of a the majority of vegetables. Things I have learned: Peanut Butter cups and sunkist do not mix. Well, they do...but then they erupt out of your nose. Eating a muffin in shame in a bathroom stall is not a high point of anyone's journey...but your blogger friends will love you even when you share the shameful moments. You can walk a 5k at any weight. And most likely you will not be the last person to finish. It is better to set a goal and not reach it then not set a goal at all. Tweezers may come and go, but apparently whiskers are forever. Life's journey is long. You better take snacks. (okay, I stole this one from a calendar). I really do have bones in my body. I cry happy tears in dressing rooms, and am also known to cry tears of frustration. I always want more. Poopies will never be the same. Good bye big girl poop. Hello chicken nugget poop. I have no boundaries. Just when you think it can't get any better....it does. And finally, the biggie. Why was I able to lose 120 pounds in 12 months? Why Amy and not everybody? I have given a lot of thought to this question and I am not sure I have the answer. If you think about it...I could have lost more. There are certainly bandsters out there who have done it (Mary for example) and others who are well on there way. I could have lost more by making the right choices, working out harder, etc. I did not have the perfect year. But that's okay! I personally think that for those of us who start at a higher weight, we can lose a little faster at the beginning....so you could say I had that going for me. There are the things I think are out of our control: Genetics, history, body shape. Even though I was 327, I was solid as an ox under all that fat. Perhaps my muscle mass helped in the beginning as well? There are two things that I think really made a difference in my weight loss. The first is this blog. This blog and all of you who have become part of my life helped to keep me accountable. When someone tells you that you are an "inspiration", it makes you want to keep inspiring! I didn't want to let anyone down. I knew that I would be honest with you guys. I shared the ups and downs. And seeing others make it into a new pant size, or run a 5k...inspires me. The second reason I have lost this weight is...Because I knew I could and I would. When Dr. Friedman told me that the band does not work for everyone, I made a choice that I would not be one of those people. I was not going to have a surgery just to "eat around the band". I wanted to be his star patient. I wanted to be the person on the commercials. I wanted to be a success story. And I wanted to be more than a statistic. Of course, all you have to do is read through my blog to know at times I had a few doubts and questions, but overall...I knew big things (and a smaller body) were possible. And you have to believe. I was at a great place in my life. I had support from Tracey and my family. I was at a good place mentally. It was just the right time. So that's it! That's all that I could think of! I hope you made it through and I can't wait to see what this next year brings! Thank you for everything. Yours- Amy

Anyone from Essex ? banded 23/11/12 could do with some one from uk to be a buddy , stuggling weight not shifting , feeling fed up !

Accept your genetic body type. Your weight, height, and bone structure are strongly determined by your genes. Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Stop comparing yourself to others. Be media conscious. We are bombarded with media messages telling us our bodies are not perfect… Most fashion and women’s magazines focus on an ideal of beauty that is just not something thatanyone in real life can be. Remind yourself that the body images you see are manufactured by make up artists, hair dressers, airbrushing specialists, fashion designers, lighting specialists, and cosmetic surgeons. Also know that many fashion models have eating disorders and are not able to maintain their low body weight in a healthy manner. Create a Why I like myself List. Think about all the things about you that you like… are you funny? Creative? Honest? Intelligent? Think of all the reasons you deserve to love yourself and write them down. Remind yourself of all the things you are besides a body. Read this list daily and add to it every time you think of something else you like about you. Create a Body Appreciation List.Think about how your body has been loyally functioning on your behalf no matter how much you fed or starved it. Write these things down (remember that your heart has continued to beat, your lungs continue to breathe, your liver continues to detoxify your body, also perhaps your body has learned a new skill, gotten stronger, taken you to the top of a hill, rejuvenated during sleep, or allowed you to comfort a child, share love with a spouse, or go shopping with friends!). Celebrate your body and the marvelous things it can do. If you’ve had WLS note all the things that your body can do now that it could not do before. How has your life changed because of the changes your body has gone through? Read this list daily and add to it every time you are grateful for something your body has done. Stop thinking that thinner thighs are the answer to all of life's problems. When you find yourself hyper focused on your body stop for a moment and ask yourself what you would be doing, thinking, or feeling if you were not obsessing about your body. What is this preoccupation stopping you from being present to in your life? Am I in anyway benefiting from focusing on what I believe are my physical flaws? Deal with and set goals about the real issues in your life - relationships, job, etc.. “Act as if you” were comfortable in your body even If you are not quite “feeling it” yet. How would you walk, what would you wear, how would you speak to people, what kind of self talk would you be speaking, what kind of eye contact would you make with others? If you change a behavior the feelings will eventually catch up. Give up judgments about your body right now!! If you find yourself being critical of your body, stopand acknowledge that this will not support you feeling good about yourself, then respond to yourself as you would to a best friend. For every negative thing you catch yourself saying about your body, apologize to your body and say 2 loving/ appreciative things about your body. Make a decision to truly “nourish" yourself. Read a good book, take a bubble bath, schedule a massage, get a haircut, dance to your favorite song, make plans with a friend, take a nap, ask for a hug, give yourself permission to say “no”, meditate, pray. Make it your intention to move and enjoy your body; go walking, swimming, biking, dancing, do yoga, tai chi, etc… not because you have to but because it makes you feel so good. Your body deserves to be treated well. Surround yourself with people who celebrate and appreciate who you are. Say “thank you” to compliments without discounting them. Know that you can control your experience of your life by the thoughts you choose to think. How you experience your life is a direct consequence of your predominant thoughts. By making a decision about the thoughts you choose to think you take responsibility for creating your reality. So if you decide to think about what is not good about your body you will experience not only your body not being good enough but you will also experience your life as never being good enough, always being in a state of waiting till things change before you can really be happy. If you choose to think about what is good about you, what you like and appreciate about you, you will feel gratitude for this life that you experience as abundant and joy-filled! You choose! SELF LOVE AND COMPASSION is the foundation upon which a healthy body image must be built. The next time you find yourself being critical of a particular body part, sit down and write a letter to that body part telling it exactly what you don’t like about it and how it makes you feel. Then have that body part write back to you telling you how it felt to read that letter. Then write back to that body part…….. and just notice what happens………. If you have any questions or comments about this article I would love to hear from you! You can email me at louisa@louisalatela.com or call me at 856.429.9799. To learn more about my telephone support groups visit www.louisalatela.com www.ysayit.com

I'm in vancouver, bc...and my surgery is july 28th....where are you located

target is having a sale on the generic spanx (made by the same company though) 10$ a pair!!! i plan to go get a few pairs i found that when i wear them bc my legs arent reshaping well that they take off about 3 extra inches when wearing them!!!! give them a shot cant hurt huh!!! they are called assets Assets : Shapewear : Intimates : Clothing : Women : Target

I am such an emotional eater... and it is fed by carbs...bad carbs!!!!! This past week has been very stressful, and I am using bad habits...I need to stop it!!!!!!

Hello! I'm new here, but have been banded since 2009. I have had problems w the band & now it slipped. I'm considering removing it bc I have read lots of info which says if i fix it, a slip could happen again! I want this to be my last surgery! I don't wanna risk slippage again & go through all the acid reflux issues I have. If u have had it removed--how was your recovery? Same as being banded or easier?? What abt Eating schedule right after surgery?? Is that the same?? Thx and ANY info would be much appreciated!

I am in a similar situation... I also have Anthem BC/BS. My BMI is only 35.9 but I have sleep apnea, GERD and joint pain, so that qualifies me. My doctor requires 3 visits one month apart with him -- I'm not sure if that's Anthem or just his requirement. I also have to see a pulmonologist, cardiologist, psychiatrist and nutritionist. Apparently Anthem does not require the 6 month supervised diet thing. I have a surgery date of June 9th now and at my visit with him yesterday, my surgeon told me to go ahead and start working on changing eating and exercising and that it would be OK to start losing now because I was already pre-approved. At the first visit, he had told me not to change eating habits because if I dropped below 35 I wouldn't qualify for surgery. If you have co-morbidities, you should still qualify for surgery if you're above 35 BMI. Hope this helps -- of course all insurance plans and docs are different, so it's best to be absolutely clear with the doctor.

I switched my arthritis medicine after banding. I was allowed to crush or cut up but they were just too nasty to deal with. The new pill is nice and tiny so it gives me no trouble. I would say it's about the size of BC pills. As far as the day of surgery - just ask your surgeon if it's ok to take your meds and let him/her know what you are on. I now take a chewable Vitamin - they are generally huge so I was never able to get those down. congrats on getting your date!!!! wombat

I'm in BC

I am a Dr. Britt patient. My GP recommended him rather than one in Huntsville that I had originally made an appointment with. I haven't had many dealings with Dr. Grove outside the seminar, but I have heard that he is wonderful, one particular thing about him, is that he has also had the lapband, so he will truly know what your going through each step of the way. Dr. Britt, as you know, is Dr. Grove's surgeon so either one is a win/win choice in my book. They both are very supportive and encouraging. I really like Dr. Britt and I love my band. Don't worry about the six months, it actually goes by faster than you realize. I do understand the anxiousness to go ahead and get started on your journey to a new life and trust me it will get here pretty quick. Your going to be busy jumping through the hoops for BC, just do exactly as your told and you will get through it with flying colors. As far as the office staff, I find them to be equally as supportive and very responsive. I have not once had any second thoughts or regrets with my decision to get the band, or the surgeons to go with. They truly seem to care and want to see you succeed. Good luck to you!

Personally with my slipped band- i was so tight had acid reflux at night - and was very very sick with it--- my band did not open up-- it closed up and no food would stay down. I know they say it is different for every person but i believe that this more than likely isnt a slip... my slip happened bc i was violently throwing up from a bad gall bladder.

Just... in the exact same position I was when I left off here years ago. I am STILL around 320 pounds... and i am STILL TIGHT and have restriciton problems constantly. But instead of trying to fix it with prednisone, I just deal with it. I choke every day. On food or water. I think.. ill just start off with a food journal. I just gave up cookies yesterdaty or so I tell myself, we shall see. I gave up candy 10 months ago, and have had NO candy since. Which is mindboggling. I have not done a food journal for months. I got to see where I can make changes. See if what I THINK, is really the Truth. Tuesday April 12th 11am. - 2 pills and one gulp of 100% Grape Juice. 12:45pm- 4 tortilla chips 2:30 - One inch section of granola bar ariel handed me and I took. 3:30 -Now.. and Im hungry. but... ya. I can still feel that granola bite, in my throat. 5:00 = 3/4 cup mashed potatoes with gravy (from this dinner thing, i fed the meat to the dogs) 20 ounces 1% milk, with nesquick 7:40 - eating Rye chips right now. hey. I should go to fit day.