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Terranne: Hi: Anyone with a weight problem has failed so many times they were in tears and depressed. This is what caused most of us to make the giant step to acqiring a band. I was 303 lbs when I made my decision, I had the band Feb. 01/07 and yesterday I was told the port had flipped and I needed further corrective surgery. The TLBC has a wonderfull followup program and the fills are free as well as they have a nutritionist and support programs. A conference call is now being put in place for out of towners. I am from North Vancouver BC and I did not do a thorough job of researching the issue of fills. The TLBC referred me to a surgeon close to my home. I don't know for sure, but I believe the surgery correcting the port flip is free of charge. I may have to pay for the anetheseologist (sp?). What I am saying, is I would do it again with no second thoughts, but I would be more careful in finding someone close to home so I wouldn't have the huge costs of flying to Toronto. You are in a tough position having to decide whether your family's spendable money goes on you or your husband but did you know that if your family doctor referred you to Alberta, they have a clinic that assesses people for banding. As the medical system is Federal, they take from anywhere. I belong to a support group and one of the ladies in my group is going to Alberta having been referred by her family doctor and the surgery will be paid for by the medical system. there are other requirements that I am not sure about. You may have to wait, but it would be better than doing nothing. Doddie

Hi Jennifer I think it is fantastic that you joined up in support of your husband. I think the biggest misconception may be that there are foods we can't eat after surgery. Granted there are MANY items we shouldn't eat, but unless for some reason he can't tolerate something, the option to have his favorites, in moderation, are there. Bread is hard for a lot of folks, its just too dense and heavy. There is no way to know exactly how he will be effected. I love my carbs too, and I know I need to stay away from them to really get the most out of my weight loss efforts. This has ALWAYS been the case, not just post op. Carbs are necessary for a balanced diet, but most have no real nutritional value. Since we take in so few calories, we really want to get the most bang for our buck, so I try to stay away. I just found some wraps (Fiber One honey wheat) that I will have for lunch on occasion. Your switching to whole wheat pastas etc, is a great step in aiding his changing habits. I had a conversation with my mother not too long ago, she has never had any weight issues and we were a large family of 10 kids, so she never really thought about the food we ate growing up and how it does shape our habits throughout out life, just that we had enough. We had lots of bread and Pasta, quick meals that fed a lot of people for less money. It was a way of life, and that's what it needed to be at the time. But looking back, my habits were formed early on, it was up to me to change them. I completely understand his not wanting his struggles to be ones your children have later on and his wanting it to change now. That being said, it has got to be hard for a whole family to make sweeping changes, but some are for the overall better good. I don't have children, but I do have my young nieces & nephews come over a lot. Yogurt, cheese sticks, fruit. all acceptable snack items that are all still good for me too. keeping an open dialog is most important, if there is an item that he feels having around will make it really hard for him then maybe talk with the kids and see if they can take one for the team & dad and do away with for a while. I also can understand needing there not to be junk food in the house, maybe each of the kids can pick their own healthier alternative while he is in the early stages. I have been keeping pre-portioned packs of nuts as a snack, it gives me a crunch and on my plan. Making the decisions as a family for the overall good should make it a little easier at least. He may not realize all the changes you have been making behind the scenes. There are a few really good websites that have very tasty family friendly recipes. www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com and www.emilybites.com The kids most likely won't even realize these are "healthier" options. If his inquiry about surgery opened more of a dialog about healthy eating habits for the family, there is no "fault" there. He might need to think about it in a different way, or at least know that you don't think of it that way. Every summer I go away with a big group of my family to the beach. This year I put it out there to my many nieces and nephews to bring their bikes as a way of getting from one house to another (and to get me moving on vacation) They JUMPED at it, they loved that I wanted to ride with them and every one brought a bike, the whole week we rode and they never thought it was more than a great way to spend time together. My point really has to do with perception. There is a sub-forum here The Man's room. He & youmay get unique point of view by checking it out. Again, I really applaud your efforts to understand what he is going through and your willingness to do what you can to make the process easier. Best of luck to you all!!

Well as i have stated in my previous blog my surgery was rescheduled for June 2. I was bad all last week and i didnt have very much fun being bad.:smile2: I had done the pre op diet the two weeks prior of low fat/carb and no greasy foods. Well this week i was happy i could go to taco bell and eat greasy food BUT everytime i ate something bad my stomach would get REALLY upset:huh2:. So much for enjoying my last week of bad food. My abcess is doing great almost gone.:tt1: I had to go to the doctor and they had to pack it bc it was a big whole in my behind and they didnt want my skin to grow over and not let it heal on the inside:embaressed_smile:. My husband and i went and bought a grill yesterday. He insisted on grilling everything in our frig (ex. sausage, boudain sausage, chicken fajitas).:thumbup: lol. So that was interesting. Tonight i am going to my grannies to have my last bad dinner the second time around lol. I think we r having wings. :drool:My husband is up for a promotion at work so thats reallllly awesome, i am very proud of him.:thumbup: I love this website. I have never been the kind of person to blog (i dont even do myspace and im 20). :wink2:I guess im so interested bc my body is going to be goin through alot of changes and i know i can rely on the great people here to help me out with questions. Its just a very positive website and i dont think iv seen a negative comment or slander against anyone! Well i will quit blabbering! I hope everyone has a great day!:cursing: Mandi Jo

LOL ok do that...but don't tell her I blew her BS story heh heh I wish I didn't know as much as I do, but after all the trying we did to have a baby I learned FAR MORE than I ever thought was possible about pregnancies!

I told my family first and than told everyone I can tell . Bc I was so excited to get it done .... And I can careless what anyone thought because its my body and Im the one that had to deal with it . not anyone else

Dr. Schmitt did complete my surgery on December 18, 2006. He was so wonderful, I cannot even begin to explain how wonderful my experience was. I have lost 65 pounds. I am scheduled for another fill next week. I was too tight in May and in June he took some out of my band. This is September and I cant wait to get to my goal weight. Dr. Schmitt has always answered all of my question. This has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I feel like a different person. I am 36 years old and feel like I did when I was in high school. The only bad thing was that when I was to tight I would throw up alot. I went back to the doctor and everything has been fine since. I have BC/BS of Alabama and it would not pay for my surgery. I was self pay. This has been the best money I have every spent.

A few things... 1--you can get insurance for anything...but the more a policy covers, the more it costs. People have BC/BS policies that pay and other people have policies that don't. You need to get a copy of YOUR policy and see what YOUR policy covers. It can be very different from the BC/BS policy the person next door has. And you'll seldom get the same answer twice from the people who work there. (Some just read better than others.) 2--a lot of what gets covered and what doesn't is in how you phrase it. My insurance is NOT in the mood to pay for a breast lift. But if WILL pay for a breast reduction and, if what is left of my breasts turns out to be lifted....well, oh my. If you ask for wls, you probably won't get it. If you ask for weight loss surgery because you're overweight, you probably won't get it. BUT, if you ask for weight loss surgery as treatment for morbid obesity, then you're at least in the ballpark. 3--your BMI is close. Most insurers want a BMI of 40. So if you are 5'9" and 265, your BMI is 39.1 and you are NOT MO. But if you are 5'8" and 265, your BMI is 40.3 and you ARE MO. So wear your heaviest jeans and several layers of clothes and, if they measure your height, have them do it while your shoes are off. Also, some insurers accept a BMI of 35 WITH comorbidities. Do you have any health problems related to your weight. (Do you snore? Have you had a sleep study?) Then, I'm going to kind of give you a hard time here: You need to read more. My answers might be right or they might be way out in left field. When you pop into an internet bulletin board and ask a question, your answers could be coming from two drunks and an inmate with nothing better to do. Get information from several sources, and don't trust any ONE source to be 100% accurate all of the time. Good luck, Sue

Monkey Gal, It's posts like this that make us all like and respect you. That was a great analogy and makes sense in the pure simplicity of it. Food is neither good nor bad. It's JUST food!! We just have to recognize that "better" food gives us better results. Zoom zoom zoom....fed my car some good stuff today, feel good, and hope tomorrow is even better. We can just do the best we can and when we know better, we can do better, to paraphrase Maya Angelou. Thanks again, Monkey, for your unique perspective. TPG

Hi: Here is what your requested http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BC-WLS/files/BC-WLS%20Mod%20Squad%20Files/%22Getting%20Started%22%20Files/

Hi: Post what you are thinking on the BCWLS group website. There are a group of individuals that are in fact fighting the BC Government to support all obesity surgery. They have (I believe) had an interview by the Health Minister but I have lost touch and not sure where they are in the negotiations.

aww sorry to hear that! yeah, I have not had many major problems, but thats bc I am not on solids yet.. Dr Ortiz has me on 21 liquids (NO MUSHIES) and I am not getting my first fill until 6 weeks. So i guess we will see then! I have only lost 6 lbs, but I am trying not to focus on the scale since I am still healing and retaining fluids... Are you taking your antibotics on an empty stomache? try having at least some orange juice or something or crackers? Maybe it is upsetting you stomache, like you said?

What is going on?!?! So I have had my band over a year now and it seems like every time my pouch is empty from not eating for a while, my chest starts to hurt. It hurts up on the left side and it even hurts where the band is placed (and yes, I can feel the pain in that place). When I eat something, it doesn't hurt so much, but I always seem to have a hint of discomfort . Burping also seems to help some. It is weird but I always feel like I have something stuck in the bottom of my throat, like a golf ball, even when I haven't had anything to eat. I had an US done on my thyroid and it is normal size. I have never experienced this before, I haven't had any problems with my band whatsoever until the past month or so. Now it is constent to feel the discomfort, even bending down kinda hurts me and I thought I was going to pass out last night at zumba class from being dizzy. I don't think I have a slip bc 1) I can still eat solids and stuff without any problems and 2) my doctor said i would know if it slipped b/c it would be extremely painful and I would be calling him immediately. What kinda worries me about a slip is that when he put the band in, he sews a part of the stomach in the closure of the band to help prevent it from slipping. So maybe it has moved but not totally slipped?? I guess I already know what I need to do, see my doctor, even though it will be out of pocket. Just wondering if anyone else has or had experienced this and have some insight. Thanks.

YOu are in the hardest part post op. its sooo hard not to wanna eat everything BC your starving. You said your hubby doesnt follow the rules, soo let that give you a boost to do exactly what you should and show him he should do it too.. stick with it right now i promise it will pay off. and when you get your first fill things will get easier. i was a big eater as im sure a ton of us were and your gonna get hungry just say yes to the good foods and no to the bad ones and push through the hunger ONLY A LIL LONGER! you can do it!

I am an overnight stocker. They said 4 weeks bc the port is attached to the muscle. I need the time off to deal with the mental part of this surgery no one tells you about.

Hi! I think we're surgery twins... May 16th! I started phase 2 of my liquid diet (5 meal replacement shakes, 200 cal specific veggies) today. For the first part of my liquid diet, I struggled a bit initially with cravings. The worst has been cooking for my family and not being able to join them. Now I've become pretty good at distracting myself. Any time I feel cravings or hunger that can't be fed at the moment, I do a mini workout. Some stretches, a few wall push ups, or some marching in place. It helps a bit. As to the vitamins, definitely check with your surgical team. I am to stop mine 3 days prior to surgery, and then all but one of my prescriptions the day before surgery. The nerves are real, but this is a good step. Good luck on your journey!

My bottle-baby son never had a single ear infection his entire life. I breast fed until I had my motorcycle accident when he was 3 months old. I stopped because the trauma of the accident stopped my milk. It is possible that the trauma of the surgery could stop your milk production as well.

The last few days my fasting bs has been 95 or lower! Woooohoooo! One more week of broth, Protein Shakes, and jello!

Hey world- so this is a silly question- was anyone concerned bc they felt too good? I feel like a did the day before surgery, just normal- Drink my clear liquids (Diet) a bit slower, sure but nothing like misery I see people post about? Weight loss hasn’t been crazy for this week... maybe 5#s?

Hey i was banded 5 21 09 and i only had one incision. but not only that it was in my belly botton so theres no visible scarring. my recovery was prolly the same as everyone else maybe even less bc there was only one scar. im thrilled!

Thank you for the reply! I was so worried when I saw the scale - I am so so good abt Protein and Water on normal days I don't miss a beat but I was camping in a tent on a conservation & I did have some chicken breast to grill but only the first couple days bc it won't last in a cooler - so I was doing protein shakes and tuna and I am kicking myself right now bc I don't want to set myself back .... I just have to be patient! Sent from my Z970 using the BariatricPal App

Don't give up - I ended up being a "self-pay" and went to Tijunana. I was denied by BC/BS as well. I would absolutely go to Mexico and have this procedure done again if I had too. I am happy with it and was very happy with the hospital and doctor. Don't give up!!!!

I called BC/BS Alliance Select and was told that I was denied because my BMI wasn't High Enough I've yo-yoed between 37-40 for the past two years and that my co-morbidities aren't enough I have gerd, asthma, migraines, joint pain and depression. Geez I don't know if that is enough i mean my weight basically dictates what I can do in my life. This is so messed up. I'm of course appealling and resubmitting my Insurance lady at the surgeons office is out until Monday so I called and left a message that says I needed to talk to her called my PCP and asked him to write a letter of medical necessity and to please list all the stuff I've tried and failed at, all my co-morbities and how this is going to help me be healthier yadda yadda yadda. Am I missing anything that I should be doing? I'm a college student so self-pay is out of the question. I really think I need this surgery I wouldn't have worked towards this for over a year if it was just gonna be a quick fix I'm ready to start a healthier life for myself why can't my insurance company help me out How much money would they save if I didn't have to go to the doctor as often or get Rx's all the time....:tt2:

I have BC/BS of Alabama & was denied immediately ( after the required 6 mos nutrition visits, psych eval & so on) because bmi was not documented @ 40 for 3 yrs, & the nutrition visits not signed by PMD . BMI 37 to 38 for 10 yrs... No where in the policy did it say any of this ! Have decided to pay out of pocket using other resources. It is worth it at this point. There was no way to appeal.

Hahha! I think I might break that rule too. In fact, I might just copy that idea completely. Bc I feel like that would be so motivating for me, as I absolutely love clothes. I want to find a nice place to donate my clothes to bc I have a pretty extensive wardrobe and I feel someone could really enjoy them. I also chose to have the gastric bypass. I flip flopped between the bypass and the sleeve.

I don't think I've ever had this many compliments from total strangers as I had just now. I was in the ladies' dressing room at my gym before i worked out, and the cleaning lady stopped me to say, "You have lost so much weight.... I just wanted to tell you." When I finished my 65 minute elliptical workout, the woman next to me said I INSPIRED HER! Then, as I was sitting in the lobby, waiting for my husband to finish his workout, another woman came up to me and said, " I've been wanting to tell you this for a few weeks, but you rock that elliptical workout." I was in such shock bc you would have to understand where I came from when I started exercising last June. I really couldn't do 10 minutes on that elliptical. The day I went 30 minutes, I went into the dressing room and cried. I pushed myself to get to that 45 minute mark, and for the past three months, I've been working out an hour a day on that machine. I'm inspired by so many others in that gym, and today I inspired someone else! My husband put his arm around me as we walked out of that gym together today, and I felt proud of myself for no longer being, Tammie, The Couch Potato!!!!!