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I think most people just don't know the difference between gastric bypass and gastric sleeve. I feel like most of the world thinks bariatric surgery is a big huge terrible horrifying thing you do to lose weight because you give up. People are just not informed and even the media screws up the message. Ugh!

BariatricEating.com - BE, Inc. The number one bariatric website for Protein, Vitamins, and success.

I have posted this elsewhere but my former surgeon and his partner took over a retiring bariatric surgeon's practice (they are general surgeon, too, in addition to getting into WLS) and I think they wanted to use up old inventory before it expired - and that included the old 4cc bands. They have a sterility expiration date. My current doctor said the same thing you did that the 4cc band is harder to fill - it can take micro amounts of fill. My idiot former surgeon gave me 2cc's and then 1cc for a total of 3cc's - and I couldn't imagine why I was having so many problems with 3cc's in a 10 cc band - because that is the size band he told me I had. Another of many reasons why I left him and found a competent doctor. Thanks, again.

Texas, I know exactly what you mean. You know I had a thought last night. I wonder how many of those celebrity chicks have already had bariatric surgery. Some of these women...I'm thinking...okay how are you still 111 pounds at age 41? What are they eating? Their own hair? Just a thought.

First, get a list of the PCP's from your insurance co. Then call the insurance person at you bariatric surgeon's office and ask them for some suggestions of PCP's on your list. They see who is easy to work with/does a good job with the letters needed, etc. all the time. Good luck! -BG

Ok, I've got an update to this thread. I did join WW. I am doing the flex points so that I can eat some things I want and some core things. I may switch to core if it slows or stops. I LOST 7 LBS MY FIRST WEEK!! I told the gal that the scale was wrong and that I needed to step off and back on. She laughed ... but I WAS SERIOUS. I almost cried right there on the spot. I have been on a plateau for over 5 months. Watching that :thumbup: scale go up a pound, then down a pound then up a pound then down a pound. I switched things up, I increased my exercise. I did lots of stuff. The difference? 1) I am in a positive environment... unlike my doctors office, very negative "you're going to fail if this..." blah blah blah ... Here they are excited when I lose and when I had a gain, she said, "Hey it happens, over all you are still down! :thumbup:" 2) I'm accountable. I am weighed by someone else. This would not work if I were at home. I find myself really making GREAT efforts that I was not doing when I only had to face myself on the scale. 3) The meetings, the sharing. Being with others and sharing recipes, strategies, etc, is very refreshing. I'll keep ya posted if things change... but I broke my plateau and it has given me renewed hope, and energy!!! Just in time for the Holidays too.

Your BMI is 34.7. The criteria for insurance was usually 35 with co-morbidities or 40 without. But I don't know about self pay. If you exericse as much as you do I am sure that you do carry your weight well. As to whether the band works for you - no one knows that prior to getting it. It depends on the kind of eater you are. If you are a grazer and/or eat slider foods, the band probably isn't the best choice. You could discuss this with a bariatric surgeon. Don't listen to the trainer, those people are often zealots and many have never had to deal with obesity. This is your choice and you don't need his permission or opinion. He isn't qualified to give one.

I finished all the paperwork and have been excepted into a Bariatric Sugery Program in Maine. I haven't gotten my first appointment yet and am trying to be patient about it. I am seeing a dietician at my lipid Drs. office, but haven't done very well this past two weeks..:sad: I have had some really strange hunger pains since changing my reflux meds. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with things, making excuses as to why I didn't exercise everyday, mostly because my kids were gone and I didn't have anyone to motivate me. I have an appointment for a weigh in on Monday and am dreading it.On the other hand, I walked 1.5 miles in a parade for my daughters softball team after admitting that the only reason I didn't want to go was because I didn't want all those people I never see to see me. I admitted it to my friend and fellow coach and I think she was shocked. My other excuse was my still healing broken leg which is a valid complaint, but I survived it.:smile: I am getting some mixed reactions from people about the upcoming surgery. I have had very few reactions of "go for it" from the people closest to me. I know most of it from my family is just general concerns, but isn't that the whole point of the drastic life change?? I'm already seeing the effects of being overweight. I hate that look that people can't hide that says,, well why don't you just stop eating.. I think I have thought that before myself, but obviously if I could do it and stick to it I wouldn't still be fat right? I have started the conversation right off with " I am going to have the Lap Band Surgery,,, because I don't want to have a stroke or heart attack" It pissess me off that people have to be so judgemental before they even listen to what you have to say:cursing:. My other struggle is finding a support person who is supportive not a food police. Every non essential bite I take brings on guilt and self beatings, I don't need anymore of that verbally. I want someone to say, "you ready for that walk?" or hey I found a great place for salads!.. lol I do have one friend who wants to walk with me, but I can't talk to her about the surgery because she truly believes I can just do it all on my own. In a perfect world that might be true, but I really need some help. I had an appointment with shrink that I had made on my own to talk about anxiety attacks. She doesn't want to put me on meds which I am happy about, but wants me to see a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist to help me work through them and control them on my own. I am also trying some Omega-3's and multi B vitamin to see if it helps.. Its been a week and I feel a little less tense, but my kids were also gone for a week for the first time for more then 2 days ever so I didn't have that kind of stress to deal with. I am going to work harder this week to be better about the amount of food I am eating, and will not eat out at all if possible..

My evening treat is two Bariatric Advantage Calcium chews. They are caramel -- delish! I take calcium and magnesium in the evenings because they help with sleep.

My 6 months of supervised weight loss was invaluable. I thought I was ready back in June when I was first denied, but I was FAR from ready. I took these 6 months as a chance to prove to myself that I could succeed after surgery. I started exercising regularly, started counseling, attended a bariatric support group, and learned to eat healthy. I made a ton of mistakes, but I learned so much from them and I know I'm stronger than ever for after surgery. The 6 months was definitely a blessing

Hi, Busywoman: I have always had group insurance (through a company) where there are no underwriting guidelines. If you were to lose your job and could not find another before your group insurance expires (which is my case) then in order to have health insurance you would have to buy an individual plan since you were no longer part of a group and no longer had an employer. I am self employed and my husband has always worked for large companies IBM and Motorola. Both companies are self insured and pay the bills but use a network like Humana or CCN PPO to administer the plan and provide the network. My present situation is that my husband is no longer employed, our insurance is running out and I need insurance. COBRA is an option, but the premium is at 102% of the normal premium that the employer formerly paid for my group plan. It means I have to pay it myself. For my family of 4, the monthly premium is $1,400 dollars. The only folks that would want COBRA are people who cant get insurance because they are considered high risk. Having any kind of bariatric surgery within 10 years excludes me from most plans. That is why I am asking for help. Someone here who is self employed or pays for their own insurance may have the answer I am looking for.... Babs in TX

Well here's an update! I had a plastic surgery consult today. The surgeon (who works very closely with my bariatric surgeon) told me not to lose any more weight. I kinda thought that's what was happening. She said a lot of very helpful things. Showed me how my body will change. Some science and some clinical experience and some anecdotal. I like her. So she wants me to up my calories again. Over 1800. A lot has to do with how active I am and that my metabolic rate will triple to heal from the plastic surgery. She said I will lose a minimum of five pounds from the surgery. So now I will put effort into maintaining. Thank you for the feedback.

History of the LAP-BAND In the 1980s, Dr. Lubomyr Kuzmak invented the first gastric band with an adjustable balloon along the inner circumference. The Bioenterics Company improved upon this original design and Dr. Mitiku Belachew (Belgium) placed the first LAP-BAND in 1993. The Inamed Company purchased Bioenterics and continued to perfect and refine the design. Surgeons have performed more than 120,000 LAP-BAND procedures, making it the number one bariatric surgical procedure worldwide. The gastric bypass is still the most common bariatric procedure done in the U.S., but the FDA approved the LAP-BAND for use in the U.S. in 2001 and the number of patients having LAP-BAND surgery has increased rapidly as more patients learn about the procedure and health insurance coverage for it improves. In the early 1980s Lubomyr Kuzmak was driven by a sense of purpose and passion to develop a better and safer gastric restriction procedure for the surgical treatment of severe obesity. He became a visionary pioneer who applied his inventive talent to design and patent an adjustable gastric band and a method to place the band by laparoscopic technique. He did initial investigational studies of his device and method. While the food and Drug Administration demanded expanded studies in the U.S., Dr. Kuzmak taught bariatric surgeons at International Workshops at the University of Padua, under the sponsorship of Professor Mario Lise, Franco Favretti, Gianni Segato, and later Guy-Bernard Cadiere, and at the University of Liege, under the sponsorship of Mitiku Belachew and Claude DeSaive, soon advanced the implantation of the adjustable silicone gastric band by minimally invasive techniques. Professor Paul O’Brien of Monash University was an early participant in these workshops. He became a leader in the laparoscopic placement and teaching of this procedure in Australia

I've got a rant about three different types of calls. 1. The no return call from contractors - I'm having work done on my house, I've called various trades including plumbers, roofers, landscapers and masons. The masonry job is estimated to be at about $15,000. I had a guy give me an estimate last Fall and we parted saying I would call him in the Spring. Fast forward to MARCH when I email him with the photos of similar work that was done at my brothers house (per his request) and with the info on the material I picked out. Crickets. I emailed again two weeks later asking when he might be able to come out again and start the job. He emailed me that he would be out that weekend and would call with the date/time. Crickets. I called him. He said he was really busy but where he had given me estimate last year he would make time for me. (GEE THANKS!) I had a neighbor and a good friend use him last year and they both said he does awesome work but he's hard to get a hold of. He finally called and said he would be out on this past Sunday.........NADA, NOTHING...no call/no show. He better not call me any time soon. I had a tree limb fall off a very high Pine tree and it crashed into my garage in the back of the house. I didn't realize that the branch had actually put a fist sized hole in the roof and damaged it a few more places. I also developed a leak in the main roof after the guys shoveling the roof hit the pipe coming out of the roof from the bathroom with the shovel. I don't know the technical name for that pipe, but it vents the air from the bathroom. I went on Angie's list and looked up "roof repair". I called 8 roofers. 4 of them called me back and "they are only doing entire roof jobs, no repairs", 3 never called. The last guy is great - and is fixing the roof and my chimney (he's putting a cap on it) tomorrow. I will definitely be giving him a good review online once the work is done. 2. No return calls from LICSW/Therapists. I've been looking for a therapist for a while. I went online to my health provider, put in my info and found two therapists that have some experience with bariatric patients. I called one and left a voicemail with my info. CRICKETS. No return call. I emailed another - she initially emailed right away and said she would call me to schedule the following week. Never happened. I called a referral service that my NUT gave me. They called me back right away and gave me the names of two therapists - one of whom I had already emailed and she ignored me. I gave her another shot. NOPE. No return call, no return email. The other therapist who was new to me - I called. I left a voicemail. That was three days ago. Good thing I wasn't in crisis huh?! I am at the point where I am ready to give up. 3. This call JUST happened while I was typing this. I got a call from the "BLANK PARTY" on a recorded line telling me that we couldn't let SO AND SO into the White House and should they send out my party material confirming I would pledge $200 or should they put me down for $100?! H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEYSTICKS NO????!!!! No sweetheart - I don't know how you got my cell phone # but lose it fast and don't ever call me again. The nerve. I don't want to get into politics but both sides are making me ill. I'm not at the point where I'm moving to Canada or going to load up on shotgun shells or anything but the political landscape right now is just downright depressing. Luckily I have an awesome plumber who recommended a masonry guy and I called him today. He's coming out TOMORROW to price the job. He was pleasant and courteous and I'll be making sure that he gets a good review online too if he decides to do the work (and does a good job....I'm figuring he will Ok - RANT OVER. Thanks for listening!

Do I get a bariatric wrist bracelet or necklace?

Please, can we figure out a way not to have that new "new Hope bariatric Center" ad in the top right corner of the site. Because it is active it screw up how the page and posts look and it uses so much bandwith that even my high speed modem can't make the site move more quickly. I understand the need for ads to keep the site going, but this one really disturbs the beauty of how well this site generally works. It is making part of the page look off to the side 9so i have to scroll over) and it takes more than twice as long to have a page load. Does it have to be on every page? This site works so well in terms of content and format that it is a shame to mess it up with one ad. Thanks

The Bariatric Support Group will meet the 1st Thursday of every month in Lecture Room 1. Date: Thursday - 1/8/2009 Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Location: New Britain General Campus 100 Grand Street New Britain, CT 06050 Contact: 860-224-5453

I actually had something like this happen a couple weeks ago, but reversed somewhat. I was trying to set something up with a surgeon who was in the BCBS ppo "network". The surgeons office told me they couldn't do the surgery because they were not a "blue distinction" center. I called the insurance company and they told me that it was absolutely not true. Any surgeon could do it as long as they were in the "network". Right now, I am just trying to get the approval but I have pasted below what my insurance company states about it on their website. So, I know this doesn't help much but thought I would share. " BCBSIL member participation is voluntary. Members whose benefit plan includes coverage for bariatric surgery will be advised of the Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery; however, depending upon the member's benefit design, the member may be able to choose other contracted facilities without penalty. The member must complete a medical weight management program and satisfy all other criteria in the medical policy regarding Surgery for Morbid Obesity before bariatric surgery can be considered. When using a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery, members should confirm that the surgeon is part of the contracting network by calling Customer Service. Members will not receive in-network benefits for the services of surgeons or other providers who are not in the contracted provider network of the member's health plan."

I was denied today because Cigna decided to tell my Bariatric center at the last minute that I had to have my surgery done at a hospital that was a "Center of Excellence". So they gave me the doctor and hospital I have to use. My bariatric office was so mad because they never once caught that when they reviewed my benefits at Cigna. They told me that I am pre-approved through Cigna. So I am hoping that when I get an appointment with this doctor.. The office said they will fax everything over. I did everything I needed to so I hope it gets approved quick. If anyone has been through something similar I would love some feedback.

I have the Bariatric Advantage brand Protein shakes now- bought from their website, also you will need Multivitamins and skim fat free milk makes the shakes easier to tolerate. Otherwise it's real thin and hard to drink all the time. I prefer the Isopure zero carb Protein Shakes though and intend to go back on those afterwards. It's better as far as carbs and fat and stuff goes and I liked the taste a tad better. Bout the same price too. I also recommend V-8 and soy milk. :sad: Oh and I have this cookbook which I used and pureed the food during my mushy stage: Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery, Patt Levine M.D., Book - Barnes & Noble I thought the recipes were tasty though I've only made a few of them so far- and they tell you how much to puree for the lapband or for gastric bypass etc. I have a Blender Bottle and use it every day! It's so easy to make the protein shakes with and is easy to just rinse out real quick afterwards and let drip dry- rather than a blender or spoon to stir with. Otherwise, nothing else comes to mind. Congratulations by the way!

A good friend of mine recommended this site to me for some good support and conversation with fellow Lap Bandees. I'm 24 years old and have always been a "big guy." However, in the last few years, I've become more and more sedentary and thus gained a lot of weight. So around a year ago I started looking into bariatric surgery to get me on track and help me improve my health. Well, on April 3rd, 2008 I was banded by Dr. Darrin Hansen of the South Valley Surgical Center in Sandy, Utah. So far I'm feeling really good and haven't had too much pain. I'm excited to get to a place where I can get exercising and resume a (quasi) normal life. I'm a student and I work full-time for a law firm so this downtime is hard for me to accept. I'm glad to have learned about this site and I feel I will frequent it with questions and for general support. I have a blogsite I've set up for any and everyone to check out and follow my progress. You all are welcome to comment on it. Becoming Half the "Mozart" I Am (My nickname has been Mozart since I was 8 years old...)

From caloric/ bariatric perspective honey and agave are not good options. I have no idea about sorghum.

My question: What is your bariatric surgeon willing to do for you??? Is he/she going to insist on a doctor to doctor conference call with your insurance company? Remember that most of the time an "approval" or a "denial" is already "templated" for whoever receives your request onto their station/desk--usually not a medical doctor of any kind. Your surgeon can take the easy way out and just accept your self pay offer OR she/he can and should have the facts and figures to stand behind his diagnosis and plan of treatment, then be willing to pick up the phone and "fight" for what he/she thinks is what is in your best interest. That takes the $ out of the equation and replaces it with what is best for YOU. If you truly think that a RNY is not for you, than stand firm and fight---being damned sure your surgeon is willing to do the same. Otherwise, in my opinion, you need a different surgeon. You can always self pay (your words), but here and now, you have the opportunity to do the "right thing". Others following down the same path for years to come will be grateful that you fought the fight not only for yourself, but for them (who probably would not have the privilege of self paying). "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching"