Search the Community

Both fat and Protein promote satiety. Carbs if not used get stored very very quickly. If it's playing in your city Fed Up is a great film to see.

No one told me that having this surgery would make me younger! I have regressed to the age of TWO since I cannot control my emotions whatsoever! I am literally a walking snickers commercial today. I am sick of every poind lost opening up another pocket of angry within me that has to come out. I obviously used food to swallow my emotions and my feelings pf being used and abused because I am not taking ANYONE'S BS and I am loudly speaking my mind and voicing my emotions. I am emotional and angry and my relationship and my work are suffering. I am in counseling, but all I learned is I am co-dependent. I am a child of an alcoholic. But truthfully with how I feel I am seriously thinking the surgery is driving me to the nuthouse.... Is this normal? I am not suicidal. I am not violent. I am just fighting and screaming and stomping my feet (literally) and crying and feeling injustice against me. I have rages I cannot control. I hope it isn't like this forever...is it? Is something wrong with me?

I’m 6 days post-op and I can tell you that the essentials for me were my robe (I got to put it on as soon as I went to my room for recovery and it was a life saver. Felt like I wasn’t flashing anyone and felt warm bc my room was a little cold), chapstick, toothbrush and definitely mouthwash!!! I wasn’t allowed to drink anything so getting to brush my teeth and using mouthwash was a lifesaver.

Hi Pam. I'm in BC. Where are you going for your banding?

Hi Devana, I was banded on June 8th in Victoria, BC by Dr. Amson. Where abouts are you located? I lived in Fairmont Hot Springs from the time I was 12 years old until I was 20. Then I moved to Saskatoon and have been here every since. My brother still lives in Canal Flats, BC. Pam

So I stopped riding a bike when I was in 9th grade and the weight kept increasing so I refused 2 ride bc I would look "dumb" well my husband bought me a bike and a ride along for my baby for his bike so we can do it together well last night I did it I rode the bike was a little shakey but I did it.

I was banded one week ago, so I just came off my full liquids yesterday. I still drink my shakes, but I feel like I'm grazing like every 3 hours. I can hold the entire 8oz shake. Now that I'm onto mushy food, I can hold about 3oz of mashed whatever for about 4 hrs. Thanks for posing this question bc I do get hungry. A friend of mine who had it a yr ago said she didn't even feel hungry for like the first month. I've lost 15 lbs so far but I want to make sure that I'm not setting myself up for failure down the road. Thanks to all of you for your insight.

I had my first appointment yesterday. The dietician and the surgeon feel that I should not have any problems, however another dietician was quiet pessimistic. :cry She doesn't think I'll be approved....maybe she's just being careful. I don't know!?!?! My BMI is 39.7, with 99 pounds to lose. I do not have hypertension or diabetes, but my cholesterol is a little high, but not considered dangerous. I have joint problems though (2 knee surgeries on left knee), a herniated/a protruding/a bulging disk(s) in my upper back and incontinence. I was psyched until the last lady saw me. I work at the hospital that does the surgery, so maybe that will help. I'm in Virginia & I have Anthem BC/BS Choicecare/Blueview. I really, really want this badly!!!! My knee is starting to bother me again and I'm tired of being a load & having my upper back hurt. Also, I can't stand having "hidden areas", if you know what I mean!!! Any words of wisdom, encouragement, advise would be most encouraging while I wait!!!!

Rach, ok after reading everyones comments they say what I wanted to write so I won't repeat . But what I do want to reinforce is that we are all here to help you, we respond with constructive criticism bc we do care. Its not always good to hear bit ot os ecpressed with much truth and love for your wellbeing. We bandits stick together. I'm glad you found the place to vent here. Now take the advice here and seriously put forth your best effort to "get er done "!

I had surgery12/7. Drank a lot of water and tea in hospital then went home and drank my 64 oz a day easily for a week. Was also able to eat / swallow jello. I had hernia repair too w lap band. As food stages approached I had no issues but I followed the rule about eating / drinking and chewing. Pain wise it was discomfort not painting me at least. I just took liquid Tylenol ( the cvs brand) every 4-6 hours and didn't take the pain meds dr sent with me bc they make me vomit. Gas is again very uncomfortable but I listened to my dr and was up walking day n night. I wasn't allowed to use a heating pad til after my 10day post op. now I use it every night before bed bc it helps the discomfort I feel. At about I month post op I finally feel back to myself and eating solids, just follow the rules and be mindful of what and how you are eating. You will do great. A few days of discomfort is worthy a healthy life.

Yeah the gas will get ya, as soon as i got out of surgery i was ready to get up bc i couldent breathe it was chokeing me i remember barley opening my eyes but screamin get me up get me up i cant breathe once they got me up n got the gas off my chest i was good and when i started walkin round the hospital after my gas just kept coming out walkin all over the lil nurses were laughing at me but i couldent help it cuz i kept apologizeing lol Im glad to hear that ur recovery is going so well though thats amazing!(:

I have BC/BS and I am doing my 6 monthly weigh-in appointments with my NUT. It's an hour class with others pursuing WLS.

So tomorrow I have my preop scope procedure I'm pretty nervous just bc I'll be going under anesthesia. I also learned that today everything was sent to the insurance and now we're just waiting to hear back from them to be able to schedule a surgery date. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and terrified all at the same time. Did anyone else have to have the scope preop precedure? How did u react to the anesthesia? Also, how long did it take to hear back from insurance? I have bcbs of illinois. Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

I began to eat popcorn very carefully at first bc of the "can't have" but it goes down easy. I just let it melt in my mouth then chew the crispy stuff til it's very minute. But I only have a small handful at the movies when we go. BTW that was with my 1st 3 cc fill. I've had another 3cc fill and haven't tried it yet so I hope it still goes down. Not having any other problems...actually less than with the first 3 cc. I thought for sure I wouldn't be able to get my pills down (about 25 a day) but with 6cc in me it's like a dream. The dr said now I should really start losing. YAAAAAA!!!!! Bout time. But I would suggest like everyone else is to take it slowly and make sure the one popcorn goes down w/o trouble.

Ok.. That made me laugh! I just don't understand how y'all can put up with the insurance BS. I'd go postal

Sleeved nov 9 iam on pures foods and tomorrow i can inteoduce all foods even tho i wont be able to i lost 20 lbs first week like clock work Then i stoped i figured pureed foods mor calories would stop my stall it just make me go between 343 and 344 ive measured also and not lost any inch anywhere from week1 This is weird bc i didnt even do the pre op diet well i gained and now iam doing eveyrhing right Iam bigger i should have atleast lost 1 or 2 more pounds yes 20 is wonderful but it was just in the first week i think i would have felt better losing the 20 over the 3 week period not just a lump sum and absloltly anything I know theres stalls but one week and two week almoat 3 week stall? Ive seen where people have been sleeved one year and only 50lbs loss i didnt know this was possible makes zero since Any advice

Hi. I also have FED BCBS Basic and just got banded on 3/3/08. I stayed 1 night in the hospital so I had to pay the $100.00 and co-pay of $30.00 when I see my Dr. I was also approved very quick. I received a letter from BCBS and I'll quote parts of the letter. "The following procedure has been approved as medically necessary as defined by the member's Health Care Benefits booklet or Summary Plan Description" Goes on to state my Physician, facility treatment setting ; which states "Inpatient Acute". "Service Procedure Code: 43770 The service Procedure Description " LAPAROSCOPY, SURGICAL GASTRIC RESTRICTIVE PROCEDURE; PLACEMENT OF ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND ( GASTRIC BAND AND SUB CUTANEOUS PORT COMPONENTS)" Does not say anything about "implant". I called to make sure my provider and hospital was a "participating provider" and in-network provider and facility, and thankfully they are!

Thanks for the infor Melinda. I think it took about 12 days from the time my paperwork was submitted to BCBS before they issued a letter stating that the surgery was deemed "medically nessacary", which is as close as I could get them to saying it was approved. They say they dont do prior approvals, but if a covered surgery is "medically nessacary" they will pay for it. I will say that some people have stated they did get a prior approval letter....but I didnt worry with that, as I felt comfortable with the above explaination, now I'm wishing I had fought a little harder to get one!! As far as the copay, I was told my the insurance coordinator at my surgeons office I would have to pay all copays upfront, and all they asked for was $250 for the surgeon (which doesnt make sense, bc the insurance booklet says it should be $100 per surgeon - did I have 2.5 surgeons lol?) and $40 for the hospital. I hope you can work something out to get your procedure covered 100% -RCG

I have this same insurance and I have sleep apnea and they pay 70% for equipment. I think your stuck with the big payment because you did not spend the night. sorry dude. How does this bc/bs basic pay for lapband fills....????

Age: 25 HW: 275 CW: 265 GW: 165 Surgery date: 3/30/16 I am reflecting on a moment that really hurt me. When I was 20, I went on a crazy 8-month long diet. I barely ate 1200 calories a day and I worked out vigorously at the gym. I didn't care what kind of calories I ate (didn't care about protein) and many days I dipped well below 1200 just to see results. I went from 230 to 150 in 7 months. Every conversation I had was about calories and working out. People were worried about me. My face looked sunken in. I was starving. I started eating a more normal amount and continued working out. My weight crept up to 160. Before I knew it, I was back up to 180. As soon as I stopped starving myself, all of my weight came back. Well... I had gone to my PCP at some point during my weight loss. They had a recorded weight of around 160 for me. I went in a few months later for a Pap smear- side note... My PCP is a wonderful man who has been seeing me since I was a child, however, other people in the office are not great- I decided I wanted the nurse practitioner to do my pap because I wanted a female. This was my FIRST PAP EVER! So... I was half naked on a table, terrified of what was about to happen, when this blonde, skinny, young nurse practitioner walks in. She was looking at my chart and she threw it down on the counter. She said... "Are you aware of how much weight you've gained?" I said "ummm I am here for a Pap smear, I don't want to talk about my weight with you." -Weight is ALWAYS a sore subject, but it is especially sore after you know you've gained when you shouldn't have and you're not emotionally mature enough to handle this BS!!!- Ok, so she insisted on talking about my weight over and over again. She told me I'm going to die early and that I'll never be happy as an overweight person. I started crying and continued to cry all throughout the pap. I didn't want her to touch me. I didn't want her to look at me. It was just a really awful experience. It has been 5 years since that incident. I have kept my weight gain to about 30lbs since. Despite her rude ass comments and chilling demeanor, I have been happy. I can thank her for that challenge. I have cute clothes to wear and a plethora of friends and a loving, healthy boyfriend who is happy for me and supportive. I am in a good place, and I am FAT. Because I'm in a good place, and have been for quite awhile now, I am so very excited about my upcoming sleeve gastrectomy. I want the tool. I can't wait to be healthier and more active. I'm happy I'm doing it now so I can finish enjoying my life. I would like to write that nurse practitioner a letter, but I'd have a hard time being nice! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The whole thing went well. I could of waited for insurance but was feeling so miserable and was just getting fatter by the day so I went self pay. The place is small but nice, the staff is very caring and quick to react to your needs. It WAS noisy though so bring some ear plugs if you want to sleep. The level of care is different from what you may have in your country, it is different from in the United States. It's not better nor worse just different. A lot of the BS that is part of the US care system is bypassed, they just seem to get on with it. And as Forrest Gump said, "That's all I have to say about that." I was comfortable, well taken care of and pleased with the care. I would do it again if I was faced with the same choices.

PPmom- this is funny bc not only am I in the same boat as you but my numbers are exactly the same! I was 196, dropped to 194 for a day or two & for 3 weeks I was at 196. I don’t exercise (yet, I joined a new gym that opens in sept) . I was also sleeved In July. I just stick to the plan & keep doing what is recommended & finally the scale budged after 3 weeks & yesterday I was down to 192.5. The less weight you have to lose it will be harder/take longer. Just know if you’re doing what you’re supposed to then the scale/your body will eventually catch up! Good luck

mmmmmm YUP there they are yummieeeeeeeeeeee ok so i had a half of one today took the box out side and fed the birds and squirles . guess they liked them to they were gone in an hour!

I too had some concerns about the weight loss. My husband married me as a full figured woman. I had a convo with him prior to surgery to tell him how much i needed him to tell me he loves me as the thought of losing weight made me feel insecure even though my husband is of average weight. I have always been heavy but also have always gotten attention from men. The difference when I lose weight is the men approaching me are progressively becoming more and more attractive. But I will handle them the same as the others. Say thank you to the compliments and don't engage any further...if they persist tell them to get the h$@# out of your face bc you are married! Lastly, although my husband married me full and likes me this way he has enjoyed the perks of my sleeve from better intimacy to cheaper dining bills...ha ha. You may have to point out the perks to him. Im sure he will appreciate some things about your sleeve as well!

My boyfriend is a truck driver and when he needs to drive all night he mixes a bottle mountain dew with BC powder and he is wide awake all night..... I know it has sugar so maybe u can try diet mountain dew. It does the trick everytime when an energy drink never gives him energy.