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Is anyone getting their lapband removed??? My guy had his band 5 years lost maybe 50 pounds and he was a big guy 415. But he's now had some scary side effects which we are now action upon and asking for removal. He has lots of getting stuck episodes where he has to puke up what he's eaten, he has to have a pike cup with him when he eats and on the bedsi de table, he has regurgitation issues at night with either saliva or air, he chokes on it and has even had an episode that caused enough to get in his lungs and cause pneumonia, he has passed out and had seizures twice due to stuck meds and food. Fir $t time I found him in the bathroom unresponsive, jerkinf, puking, lost control of bowels. He had told me he was feeling woozy after his swallowing his meds. Luckily, I had decided to wake up bc it was early and he was supposed to be leaving for work. I ended up catching him as he fell. The second time he had a bite of grilled cheese. Had I not been there to pull him forward he would've died choking on his own vomit. Both times the doctor thought it was unrelated. I disagree. He has never had an issue before and now he's super careful and it hasn't happened since. I did some research and when food gets stuck you can have esophageal spasms which can cause your heart rate to slow and cause seizures it's happened to others as well as the pneumonia... I cannot believe lapband is allowed to be implemented anymore. I would highly caution you against it. Much love. I understand the struggle <3

Is anyone getting their lapband removed??? My guy had his band 5 years lost maybe 50 pounds and he was a big guy 415. But he's now had some scary side effects which we are now action upon and asking for removal. He has lots of getting stuck episodes where he has to puke up what he's eaten, he has to have a pike cup with him when he eats and on the bedsi de table, he has regurgitation issues at night with either saliva or air, he chokes on it and has even had an episode that caused enough to get in his lungs and cause pneumonia, he has passed out and had seizures twice due to stuck meds and food. Fir $t time I found him in the bathroom unresponsive, jerkinf, puking, lost control of bowels. He had told me he was feeling woozy after his swallowing his meds. Luckily, I had decided to wake up bc it was early and he was supposed to be leaving for work. I ended up catching him as he fell. The second time he had a bite of grilled cheese. Had I not been there to pull him forward he would've died choking on his own vomit. Both times the doctor thought it was unrelated. I disagree. He has never had an issue before and now he's super careful and it hasn't happened since. I did some research and when food gets stuck you can have esophageal spasms which can cause your heart rate to slow and cause seizures it's happened to others as well as the pneumonia... I cannot believe lapband is allowed to be implemented anymore. I would highly caution you against it. Much love. I understand the struggle <3

I love these stories because they make me feel that I am not alone on this journey. I too fooled myself for a very long time about how fat I was. I tried to believe that having big jeans meant being proud of my body, that I was a BBW, and all the usual mindf***s that the media shovels on us when they're not telling us we're ugly. Getting my head straight has been one of the best side effects of WLS. It's like not only did part of my stomach got lopped off, but also the section of my brain that put up with other people's BS. I'm more critical now, but especially of myself, and I've become my own best friend while being my personal drill sergeant at the same time. This is one strange operation -- my butt getting smaller while the scale doesn't move, for example -- but I continued to be amazed and thrilled at what it's done for me.

I was approved quickly. From the time I decided to get surgery til the day of, approximately 6 weeks. Medicare/BC approved , no pre-diet was required. I think it depends on your insurance.

I'd join in too! My husband got the band I believe 2010-11 turned out the first was defective and had to be replaced about a year or so later. He now pukes almost every time he eats. He passed out twice. I am certain due to things getting stuck. First time he had taken meds and I found him passing out while on the toilet. He lost bowel control and had what looked like a seizure. He was pale,jerky movements, and his body was forcefully puking afterwards he was like zombie lethargic and weak When we called his doctor he said it was probably unrelated and a spell of some sort. Second time I had made grilled cheeses. Not the best choice but he had a bite stuck and did the whole pained puking slimming regurgitating thing. Then he got scared said he was going started yelling help as he again passed out, had what looked to me as a for real seizure foamed, jerked again puked. This time was insanely scary bc had I not been there he would have choked on his own vomit and died. I am certain of it. He again had lost bowel control and was zombified after. At this point we couldn't contact his dr. Bc they had moved. I looked up all this online and found a few cases explaining that blockages can cause esophageal spasms which can slow your heart rate down to the point of seizure and unconciousness. Anyone else go through this??? In addition he can't lay down most nights because he ends up regurgitating saliva and burping causing him to choke on his spit. We have to keep a cup next to the bed he can puke into. Half the nights he has to sleep sitting up due to it. He used to just wake up and puke except one night too much regurgitated saliva ended up in hia lungs and he got pneumonia.searched that online and once again it's happened to someone else. So he has finally agreed he's going to get it removed this year.his dr. Is a nice guy and dosent ever seem to agree with our argumeets but it's no longer up for discussion. Would love to hear if anyone had similar complications. How the heck is this a safe option anymore. Oh fyi allergan is his band.

That would be amazing if they had one here. I don't care if you like big girls or not. I'm not here for hook ups or even be told that. Point is I am trying my hardest to lose weight and be happy. It completely ruins the experience and I leave early sometimes bc of it.

Samantha&Sunshine my packet was just submitted today, how long did it take for a response? I too have fed BCBS.

8 yrs after bypass surgery and Im still suffering consequences from it. Since Bypass surgery in 2006 I have had at least 10 surgeries due to complications of the Bypass surgery. I have not taken any legal action because I made the decision and I only blame myself for that mistake. When I say Mistake I mean the Biggest mistake of my Life! I try to discourage people from evin thinking about having this surgery. It has made irreversable changes in my life and wasted years trying to recover.I decided to have the surgery because I was in pain all the time, I had high blood pressure, dibetes, faciates in both feet and no energy to keep up with my 4yr old daughter. The Dr. let me know all of those would change in a positive way. I visioned myself healthy, thin, painfree, happy and enjoying life with my baby girl. Well all those wonderful thoughts vanished on Sept.24,2006. 3 days after my 40th bday. The freind that motivated me to have the surgery died in Nov.2006, 3 months after my surgery, from complications of the Bypass. The day of surgery I already knew I made a mistake when I woke up in recovery and immediately began to vomit and the pain was unbearable! I was told there would be a 3-5day hospital stay after surgery. I was in the hospital 3weeks due to an infection on my incision site. By the time I left the hospital I had lost at least 30lb.s which was not a healthy start. When I went home I was not interested in eating at all. This put me back in the hospital for Dehydration, malnutrition, calcium deffeciency, low magnesium and I was diagnosed as beeing anemic. All this was given back to me through an I.V. over the next week in the hospital. I left for home another 20lb.s lighter. This should have made me smile but instead I became depressed and had no energy for Life and did not want to be in it anymore. I didnt care about moving forward and a few weeks later I was back in the hospital. I had developed Spinal Meningitas because of the lack of nutrition in my body my immune system was hardly existant. I was so sick I cant remember half the time I was in the hospital and so dehydrated I was poked 12 times before they could start an I.V. in my neck. My veins had flattened. I had not seen my daughter since surgery which was at least 80lb.s and 2 yrs later. She was so scared of me and so was I. I was so pale and sickly looking and had become so weak I could barely hold her and my tears barely dripped down my face. I was so sad I Loved her so much and I felt like I wasnt going to see her again. I didnt want her to see me like that again. My mother made the decision that she needed to see me at that point, and Im glad she did that for me. I finally started to recover from the menangitis when I got sick again and was diagnosed with MRSA. This took its toll just like everything else that had gone wrong and I lost another 40lbs. This was not good for my health because I was eating nuthing at this point. I did not have a taste for any type of food or anything else which only landed me back in the hospital. The Dr. explained how my body was eating itself since I wasnt feeding it. This disgusted me that I couldnt eat or drink anything without vomitting as quick as I tried to eat or drink. I was fed through an I.V. for the next couple weeks. Is anyone as disgusted with the outcome of my surgery as I am? More to come........

As much as i like popcorn i am staying well away from it. I had my surgery on 13th August 2014 and developed a tear in my stomach and after going septic and almost dying twice plus being fed through a nj tube until last week, i can safely say i am sticking to what my docs have told me to do. I got out of hospital Christmas eve and i don't plan on going back so unfortunately popcorn is just going to have to wait. Please be careful with your food. I was and still ended up very sick which makes me worry what might happen to someone starting foods too soon or pushing their limits.

Hi all. My surgery was Dec 9 and I have "only" lost around 30 lbs. I say only bc I know a whole bunch of folks r probably going to jump on my back saying you couldn't do that pre op etc etc. I started out at 318 day of surgery. I had an issue w an incision so I was really limited in my motion for the last month. So 30 lbs according to my dr was what he considers average for the first month. He said about 10% of starting weight is what he likes to see. He just gave me clearance today to start working out so I'm hoping that I can get some more off.

Hi Blerdgirl, Happy u had no surgical complications. Sorry u got the flu and hope u feel better soon! bs

Anyone else?

I felt that way when I went to do my endoscopy. If my mom and 8 year old brother weren't beside me, I would have pulled the iv out and ran. I did However still make a scene bc after waiting hours waiting to be rolled into the o.R., I could no longer keep my anxiety and nerves in check. I began to cry and it was embarrassing...I'm 25 years old. Lol. My surgery is scheduled for the first week in February and my biggest concern and fear Is the surgery and making it to the Operating Room. I don't know if it's possible to not have to wait so long before they roll you in and if they can knock me out before the roll me in. Something about being rolled down the hall into an open white operating room just terrifies me and I physically can't handle it. I suffer from anxiety and I will not be able to take my medication that morning so that's my biggest issue right now..

@@livvsmum do you find that's enough to fuel your running? You're training for a marathon aren't you? Would love to get your input over on the Marathon Training thread! Ok to the OP, I guess I am officially a vet now, 13.5 months out and below goal. I don't know if my routine is helpful, because I am in the enviable (until you are in it) spot of trying to NOT continue to lose weight. So I am currently upping my calories weekly to try new levels to balance things out. 5:15am (DH leaves for work EARLY) I am adding a snack here in the early am these days---TB Peanut Butter or a Greek yogert or a Special K Nourish oat/quinoa Cereal. Mostly Protein. coffee and Water after (I sue vanilla protein shake as coffee creamer) I take my Vitamins (multi, bcomplex, Biotin, d3) now too except for calcium which I take in the evening. 7am with the kids Either an egg scrambled with cheese or a quesadilla on a low carb tortilla or PB on two graham cracker squares, turkey and cheese roll ups or something like that. Protein and fat with maybe some carb. More coffee (w "creamer") and water after. I also then make a protein shake (BSN Syntha 6 or Syntrax Matrix typically) which I sip through the late morning. An hour before I run, usually mid morning or early afternoon so this changes time wise, I eat some complex carbs---banana with peanut butter, dare balls (I make them--dates, dried fruit and nuts), a kind bar or some of the things from my early am snack above. Then after my run I do at least half a protein shake. I run four days a week. lunch is similar to breakfast above. Usually 1pm ish. Afternoon snack 2-4pm is usually a Quest bar or a snack from Graze or NatureBox or beef Jerky. dinner is modified version (lower carb) of the family dinner---chicken, fish, meat sauce from the Pasta, Etc. I do eat some of the carbs like sweet potatoes or whole grain tortillas. I often have an evening snack these days... Protein hot chocolate or a Greek yogert or another Graze/Naturebox/quest bar. As I said, I run four days a week (occasionally 5) typically averaging 20 miles a week (which will be solidly increasing as I ramp up to the marathon in May I am training for) and do 1-1.5 hours of yoga 3-4 times a week. That's in addition to a family bike ride or hike on most weekends. I don't know if that's helpful at all bc as I said, I am trying to NOT lose right now. I've dropped to 135 and 17% body fat and don't want to go below that, mostly bc it will decrease my endurance for the distance events (and DH keeps telling me a need to gain back 10 pounds or so!). My current goal is 1800 calories a day and it is so hard to do! I lost last week at my 1600 calorie goal.

Thank you for the insight. Im glad to hear you can still eat and drink what you want but in smaller portions. I'm totally fine with being able to do that from time to time on those special occasions.I was worried that I'd never be able to enjoy a birthday party or the holidays or any special event ever again. Or that id make other people uncomfortable for not being able to participate or join them. The pre op nutrition class left me weary. The nutritionist said for the rest of my life I can only eat food that is cut into pencil eraser top sizes and chew each tiny piece 30-40 times before swallowing...I mean what's the point? Might as well opt for a liquid feeding tube. It sounded exhausting to always eat this way and that it would take hours to finish one meal. Also, I was disappointed when the nutritionist told me I could never eat certain foods again. she also discussed the medication for life afterwards. It would be a Vitamin 3 times a day with calcium in between each one. maybe this varies by state and doctors. But this makes me a bit nervous that I'm going to be at risk for health issues like malnourishment. Also, im in 4 weddings this year in which I am maid of honor for 2, which has me stressed. my window for the preop 2week liquid and surgery recovery is small. the doctor has told me I cannot drink alcohol for a year! which concerns me when it comes to not missing out on bachelorette parties they are once in a life time experiences. I feel as if I will be ruining my sisters and best friends experience bc we won't be able to make the traditional memories they are expecting. To have my surgery I will have to sacrifice a lot for my health,but I feel my health should come first. It's just that all these scenarios and dilemmas are weighing heavy on my heart.I think it would be more important to my sister that i look good for her wedding standing next to her than making bachelorette and bridal shower memories. Thank you all for your responses!! I felt alone. I think my biggest fear is the surgery in general. I just need to be strong and work hard to keep my nerves aND anxiety in check.I'm 26 but hospitals and needles make me a 2year old baby crying for my mom....it's always a scene getting blood drawn and my edoscopy done and it's ALWAYS embarrassing! Lol. Last question, do they make you use a catheter? Because If so, I honestly don't think I could go through with it. My dear and anxiety couldn't handle that violating and painful situation.

@@BLERDgirl Thank you for the insight. Im glad to hear you can still eat and drink what you want but in smaller portions. I'm totally fine with being able to do that from time to time on those special occasions.I was worried that I'd never be able to enjoy a birthday party or the holidays or any special event ever again. Or that id make other people uncomfortable for not being able to participate or join them. The pre op nutrition class left me weary. The nutritionist said for the rest of my life I can only eat food that is cut into pencil eraser top sizes and chew each tiny piece 30-40 times before swallowing...I mean what's the point? Might as well opt for a liquid feeding tube. It sounded exhausting to always eat this way and that it would take hours to finish one meal. Also, I was disappointed when the nutritionist told me I could never eat certain foods again. Also, im in 4 weddings this year in which I am maid if honor for 2, which has me stressed. my window for the preop 2week liquid and surgery recovery is small. the doctor has told me I cannot drink alcohol for a year which concerns me when it comes to not missing out on bachelorette parties they are once in a life time experiences. I feel as if I will be ruining my sisters and best friends experience bc we won't be able to make the traditional memories they are expecting. To have my surgery I will have to sacrifice a lot for my health,but I feel my health should come first. It's just that all these scenarios and dilemmas are weighing heavy on my heart.I think it would be more important to my sister that i look good for her wedding standing next to her than making bachelorette and bridal shower memories. Thank you all for your responses!! I felt alone. I think my biggest fear is the surgery in general. I just need to be strong and work hard to keep my nerves aND anxiety in check.I'm 26 but hospitals and needles make me a 2year old baby crying for my mom....it's always a scene getting blood drawn and my edoscopy done and it's ALWAYS embarrassing! Lol. Last question, do they make you use a catheter? Because If so, I honestly don't think I could go through with it. My dear and anxiety couldn't handle that violating and painful situation.

Make sure you are getting enough calorie or your body goes into starvation mode and you don't lose but gain.. You will have to push your self to eat what you can and drink the shakes but I promise its important to lose the weight. I'm one month out from mine. Dec 15 and I've lost 30 pounds. But it stalled out at 3 weeks bc I had cut back on calories. I actually gained 2 pounds. I upped my calories and 3 pounds came off to put me at my 30.. After talking with many people I learned what I just told you.. Eggs are my friends so are pickles.. And anything soft. Keep us updated. And good luck to you both..

Hey ladies, I finally lost some weight I had been in a stall for a week.. Not long but it seemed like it was a thousands weeks.. 3 pounds in a week.. I increased my calories to 800/1000.. 1000 was a good day if I did 3 shakes.. Yes I included them in calories bc they have em.. Any ways. I just wanted to share I'm 9 away from my first goal

girl listen!! I have over 12 dx! to name a few..SLE, Polymyalgia, Fibro and Hashis...I told my thumey I was having this done to get my life back. I wasnt out for her approval. I had 2 of specialist refer me to WLS. I have stage 2 an 3 kidney disease. I had to go on armour thyroid in order for my thyroid to be "within" normal range to get released from my endo but I made it! I have a specialists for every organ I have left. I wasnt out to get approval from drs..I did this for me. bc NO dr can tell you how its going to be after everyone reacts differant. but I had ballooned up to 270 or so . I was miserable. yes in pain before an after still. my surgeons words to me was he has had some fibro pts who improved the pain. some pts GERD inproved. some do an some dont. I was going to do the surgery no matter. I was either going to kill over fat an miserable or what have ya. my surgeon told me the surgery was worth the risk. it gets soo much easier with the weight dropping. the first month was brutal...not from pain but from the tummy just being so swollen inside so getting drink an food down was a chore. but I also had hernia fixed. after the first wk an I went into get weighed an stepped on the scale I had lost 25 pds. I knew then it was going to work. for the first month I was pain free! then the flair hit me like a brick wall. yea...I tuffed thru it a few months..upped my plaquinil. had a medrol pack I took. got thru it after I had to get some relief. it was several months flaring but I had already made a radical diet change a few yrs ago got off all processed sugar, grains etc...even with them changes alone the weight kept going up. so yea I am thrilled I went thru my desision of the sleeve. I am 6 months out an almost 100 pds down. it is well worth it. I flaired being fat which felt just as bad if not worse bc of the excess weight an of course mentally an emotionally..I flair now. I would so much rather be thinner an have a somewhat better active life then the way I was on that self destructive path. I am better mentally getting my confidance back an emotionally better. but I have been ordering essential oils from the mountain rose herbs...organic..sn I rub that on my muscles which is alot of areas...but I prefer them to prednisone. I drink hot tea at night either ginger, peppermint or licorice an I ordered organic liquid D3, liquid B12 an I take wkly B12 injections myself..turmeric. I have muscle issues in my esophagas so I try an take liquid suppliments as much as I can. getting difficult to swallow things. but I manage. I have not taken narcotics for pain. I didnt want to start that path but the oils are helping. I do have a script topical lotion that I can use an I use my TENS machine for my neck back an shoulders. if this is something YOU want an YOU only dont let others talk you out of it. they dont live in your body. I didnt tell anyone in my family except my hubs that I was doing this. I didnt want to listen to everyones opinions. this is tuff going thru it enuff without all that negativity. thats just me. they still dont no. I told my BFF an thats it. an with 90 some pd weight loss yea Iv been turning heads! lol...I dont care! I just say I am on a strict portion control plan ..eat high protein off such an such basically Ketogenic diet. an the right amount of thyroid med. feels great!! I wish you the best. I hope this helps. but I would not change it for a million bucks!! you can contact me further whenever you need to! from one lupie to another..

I have Highmark BS in Pennsylvania and was wondering if anyone could share their approval experience. I am currently around a 41 BMI. I am in month 5 of my visits and basically I have gone up and down by 1/2 lb. each month. Right now I am about 1/2 lb. down from my original weight. I have an extremely difficult time losing weight, which is why I haven chosen to go down this path. I am terrified that I will be denied if I only lose a pound or two, however, to stay at a 40 BMI, I can only lose about 8 lbs. before I drop below 40. Has anyone had a similar situation? I have been overweight my entire life, have tried to lose many many times over the years, but ultimately end up gaining it back. I am just so nervous about the whole insurance approval process. Can anyone ease my mind?

I have Highmark BS in Pennsylvania and was wondering if anyone could share their approval experience. I am currently around a 41 BMI. I am in month 5 of my visits and basically I have gone up and down by 1/2 lb. each month. Right now I am about 1/2 lb. down from my original weight. I have an extremely difficult time losing weight, which is why I haven chosen to go down this path. I am terrified that I will be denie

Got to the gym for 50 minutes today, and decided I WILL get to the gym tomorrow morning before my flight. I was starting to feel anxiety about not getting to the gym several days in a row, bc I am ALWAYS afraid of falling back on my old "COUCH POTATO" lifestyle. So, I am committing to getting in that exercise tomorrow morning early, so that I will only miss Friday this week. Still struggling to get in all the Water, although I will try to drink several glasses tonight. Cottage cheese and fruit for lunch, chicken salad and homemade chicken soup for dinner. How did everyone else do today? Meeting your goals?

@@Jana64 I was saying that earlier! They are lucky I hadn't already started the liquid bc it's 2 weeks. lol I think it was an honest mistake, but if it happens again I'm gonna go into Babzilla mode I think bc it took it out of me today! @@BeautifullyCreated1982 the first one is Jan 21-Feb 11th per the farmers almanac

Wow!!! That's a lot of bs to go through! I've only just begun, but I'm exempt from six month wait due to bmi over 50, so at least I can check that off the list. I've spoke to 3 different BCBS agents, and all three have informed me that yes, all my costs, 100% will be covered after I've met my OPM...(even though wls surgery has a 50% coinsurance)...BCBS says doesn't matter, once OPM is met all approved procedures covered in full. WELL...the coordinator at surgeon's says she's not seeing that info on my policy. For the love of God!!!! Is it too much to ask if I can get a straight and consistant answer as to if I will be paying 1000...OR 3000?!?! That's quite a chunck of change...not like I have a couple extra thousand lying around! Hoping I'll find out more as the process gets further in. Glad I'm not alone in the insurance cat and mouse game! Good luck to everyone still waiting!

I've heard that our hormones are stored in our fat deposits, and that when we lose that we will experience all kinds of emotions that have been stored up. With that said, if my husband hadn't been willing to help me out with my personal needs and around the house, I would have been angry. I am really lucky that he was willing to do that, but after a week or two he did start to get grumpy about it, LOL. I would say to make sure that the kids are fed, and let everything else go to hell for a little while until you feel better. Just close your eyes to the mess and catch up on it later. If you have any family close by or friend who has offered to help, now would be the time to call in the recruits. If not, just do the very basics, and don't ask your husband to do anything. It might make him start feeling guilty and he might have a change of attitude want to do it himself. If one has never had an abdominal type surgery, they don't know how challenging recovery can be for the first while. It sounds like you are doing great but it sounds like you're doing way too much and my opinion. Good luck!