Search the Community

My Dr said no intense exercise for 6 to 8 weeks. Can't even bicycle for 8 weeks! But I feel comfortable with that. Been walking a lot. Right now I have some pain in my port area after having none since the first week.

8 lbs, that's more than 1/2 lb a day. 23 lbs in 2 weeks is ridiculously good. Your body is going through alot and it's playing catch up to all the body drama. You will see results again just give it some time.

At two weeks I had only lost 17 lbs dont' worry I've been there. I'm now down 97 lbs from 230 and surpassed goal. The weight doesn't fall off like magic it takes time. And the slower the better. I would rather be slow without saggy skin then fast and saggy skin everywhere. Just remember you just started this journey it will come we have all been there. But also remember when was the lasttime you lost 23 lbs in two weeks. Think of it that way.... Good luck and congrats....

I will probably have to take something for life due to a pain patch I wear that is really constipating. I currently take 2 Colace in the morning and an 8 ounce glass of crystal lite with Benifiber. Also the occasional Milk of Mag. and yet I only go 2 to 3 times a week.

Hey! Nice to see ya on the boards. My weight loss was actually pretty fast. I lost 45lbs in about 2 months. I'm about a week from being 6 months out and I've lost a total of 67lbs. I haven't lost any weight in about a month now so I think my body has finally hit its "sweet spot". When do you see your surgeon again next? I see mine next week to discuss what happens now and other things on my to do list

I am only three weeks out so I have not even had a fill yet. However, I did read something about a five day pouch test or something that is suppose to jumpstart the metabolism. You might want to look into it. You could also try to change up your exercise routine. Good luck and let us know what works for you.

You aren't alone. I am 4 days out and I'm feeling the same way. I've been posting about my experience in my blog (link below) because it helps to write about it. I keep telling everyone it feels like I've been stabbed in the stomach ... port hole stings and feels like there is a pulling going on. Ugh. Wish I could snap my fingers and a week would go by. Ugh - just coughed. Hurts. Owwww!!!!

Hello I had my lap-band installed last year. So far Ive lost 100+ pounds. I vomit at least once a week, I'm trying to eat slow and follow directions but i'm scared that i'm going to mess up a great thing....I mostly eat regular food, it just happens every once and a while (once or twice a week). I don't know what to do- sorta feel out of control. No heartburn the band has been consistent. Please Please someone give me advice i scared and dont want to jack this up.

Once again I have been having bad days and have given into the sweets. I am really disappointed in myself. I need to just move on and get back on track, I have been at a 3 week stall and it is driving me nuts. My head is getting the best of me.

I am 3 1/2 weeks post -op - have been able to eat soft foods and even steak as long as I chew it well no problem - have even had sips of tea during meals no problem - this morning I ate my usual boiled egg for breakfast, it would not go down and I got sick - at lunch I rolled up some turkey and ate it and it got stuck - feeling I needed to eat something else at 3:30 I ate some mashed potatoes and they got stuck - what is the deal? Thanks

I think the suggestions given to the OP (original poster) on this thread are some things you might want to consider for yourself. Look at what your meal plans are like. Stick to those and cut out the Snacks. If you must have a snack, make them healthy. Start walking if exercise is difficult for you, start with whatever amount you can handle and continue to add to it each week. Set goals mini and longer goals for yourself. There are weight loss challenges going on all the time. Go to the General Sleeve Discussion category. We are just finishing up the 4th of July challenge. I personally find this very helpful. It's totally voluntary, but most people post once a week their progress. Kind of a way to help us be accountable for our weight loss. Hope this helps.

Thank you both for your replies, I ended up taking the names of each of the Lap Band doctors in our area and searched for them on the CareFirst Blue Choice website, I originally put gastro as the specialist but I was only able to find the doctors if I leave the specialist blank. I'm going to post another message to see if anyone has been to Cynthia Long in Silver Spring, MD. I live all the way down in Lexington Park, MD but drive up to New Carollton every day for work and Silver Spring would be close enough that I could probably get my fills while I'm up in that area during the week. We'll see. Another doctor that was recommended and is on the CareFirst list is Dr. Tran in Woodbridge, no convenient but like I said before, I want to go to someone that is recommended. Thanks again for your posts and good luck on your journey, I hope to join you before long!

sphipps~I'm sorry you got treated that way there was no need for that. Our dr office is suppose to be there for us. I had a similar experience the other day at my md's office. I was banded on Mon the 28 th as well and I am so confused on what I can and cannot eat during this liquid 2 weeks post of period. ???? I mean I have info overload so now I'm just completely confused and the nurse at my dr.s office was short and sassy with her answer. (which I didn't appreciate) I called them b/c I needed clarification on my post op diet but she spoke to me like "duh" don't you know. I don't want to ruin all this hard work with something I'm not suppose to eat/drink so if you or anyone else on this thread could suggest some foods/beverages for liquid phase of diet I would be so greatful for the advice.....Good luck with your weight loss!

Your surgeon should've told you both of these things FOR ME--that doesn't mean you also--lifting nothing more then 10lbs for 2 weeks and no ab excersizes everyone seems to recommend as much walking as you feel comfortable doing, pretty much straight out of the hospital

I'm one week out today down ten lbs. 33 lbs overall And most notable for me today I finally weigh less than my husband! This week has been pretty smooth incisions healing nicely, they are itchy but I'm just an itchy kind of girl. No problem getting in my fluids and protein now, I started out sipping from shot glasses but graduated quickly to a big girl glass . I still am a bit short on energy but that probably due to the lack of carbs and calories. Which leads me to my one question, should I be concerned over # of cals? I'm using body fortress shakes that get me almost 80 grams protein throughout the day but only equal out to 360 cals, how long can the body run on that few? I really don't feel any hunger yet, will that change as time goes on or am I one of the lucky ones?

I am early in the process still but this is such a crazy emotional journey! I went to my first appointment with the surgeon at the end of February and so far have had 1 sleep study, 1 nut appointment, blood work (9 vials), upper gi/barium swallow, ultrasound, psychiatric evaluation and information session! I have done all of this still with the fear that I may not be approved! I have struggled with my weight for 20 years (and I am 33). I have lost and gained so many times over those years I am surprised that my body has survived! I have never had a problem losing it just doesn't stay off and when it comes back it usually comes back with some extra "friends" (more pounds). Right now I am 245lbs (5'7" tall) with a BMI of just under 40. I found out I do have sleep apnea and will be going for my second study next week. I am a mixture of emotions. I want this surgery! I NEED THIS SURGERY! I am sick of being fat. I am sick of not having enough energy to play with my kids. I am sick of constantly thinking and worrying about my weight! I have a few more steps, last one being my final nut appointment on May 21st and they we will submit to insurance! Fingers crossed! I love this board it has given me so much knowledge on what to expect! Look forward to sharing my journey with all of you!

I had no appetite at all the first week. My dr said as long as I was drinking water not to worry about it.

I cheated on week 2 after my lapband 4 yrs ago. I ate a Burger King cheesburger. The fear of a staple line leak after my revision 6 mths ago was enuf to keep me on 4 weeks of full liquids and 4 weeks of soft. In fact, the nurse had to talk me into eating Jello the first week cuz I thought it was too solid. Plus my husband is the food Nazi and I know he woulda tattled on me to my dr... Good luck with ur surgery!

Were you allowed to walk on the treadmill before 4 weeks?

HI Everyone, :laugh: I am really really struggling...I am seriously having the fight the insurance co & my PCP blues. Pasted below is draft copy of a letter that I am working on to send to the insurance co. and maybe even the insurance consumer division. Although a really tight squeeze for now, I am working on Plan B. Dr. Alvarez in Mexico, 9750 for sleeve. Here struggling...having gained 18 pounds since September 15--all of my clothes are fitting way way way toooooo tightly! Bumming Here's my letter! I just dont know what to do.... Any insight is greatly appreciated! I am not sure if I should be outright saying I want to request an appeal or just asking for an update. Please review and give me your insight. Thanks! Group/ID Number: XOH842901948/H06800 Primary Care Physician: Dr. Derek Kelly Diagnosis: 278.01 Morbid Obesity Procedure: 99241 Office Consultation Referred For: Office Consultation Requested: 12/9/08 Denied: 12/9/08 Services Requested: Consult with Dr. Vitello for a Sleeve Gastrectomy Referral Authorization No. 23,562'Denied (Referral Denied'This is a request for an out of network non-contracted provider with Managed Health Care Associates Managed Health Care Associates 2740 W. Foster Avenue, Suite 411 Chicago, Il 60625 FAX: 773-271-0264 Illinois Department of Insurance Consumer Division 100 W. Randolph Street Suite 15-100 Chicago, IL 60601 Greetings I a writing to formally request an updated status of the referral decision rendered in December 2008. First of all, the services requested are inaccurate. Since October 2007, Dr. Derek Kelly has provided referral authorizations for me to see Dr. Vitello regarding lapband adjustment. From October 2007 until September 2008, I visited Dr. Vitello for lapband adjustments and presented with complications of my adjustments on a monthly basis. Resultingly, September 2008, I had to have emergency surgery to remove my lapband due to slippage. I followed up with post-operative care with Dr. Vitello, who then consulted with me regarding revisional bariatric surgery. In the interim, I informed Maria, of Dr. Kelly's office and contacted the BCBS of IL to be advised of my benefits coverage and protocol for seeking revisional surgery. At that time, I was advised of the criteria for coverage, which I meet now and did so at the time of request, and advised Maria of the same. She advised me to have Dr. Vitello submit the referral authorization and that she would handle the request, as she had handed the processing of all of my prior referral authorizations to Dr. Vitello. Upon mutual interest, Dr. Vitello petitioned for referral authorization for revisional bariatric surgery, vertical sleeve gastrectomy. My last follow up appointment with Dr. Vitello was October 31 and the referral authorization was submitted twice by Dr. Vitello's staff (University of Illinois at Chicago) before warranting a response by the Managed Care Group. This petition submitted in full disclosure, my operative and post-operative reports and medical necessity substantiating the need for the procedure. According to my insurance terms, bariatric surgery is a covered benefit as long as it is deemed medically necessary; this is furthered for revisional bariatric surgery with indication that as long as the first bariatric surgery was medically necessary, there is no waiting period for clearance for the authorization of a revisional surgery. Additionally, according to my policy's terms and conditions, I have been advised of the following: Repeat of a covered bariatric surgery may be eligible for coverage only when ALL of the following criteria are met: For the original procedure, patient met all of the screening criteria, including BMI requirements The patient has been compliant with a prescribed nutritional and exercise program following the original surgery Significant complications or technical failure (i.e., slippage, etc.) of the bariatric surgery has occurred that required take down or revision of the original procedure that could only be addressed surgically Patient is requesting reinstitution of an acceptable bariatric surgical modality. Dr. Vitello submitted his referral authorization to Dr. Derek Kelly indicating my request to reinstitute an acceptable bariatric surgical modality, vertical sleeve gastrectomy. On December 9, I received paperwork advising of a decision of denial for a consultation. It indicated the denial was based on the fact that the services are available in-network and the request was from a non-contracted provider. The basis of this claim request for out-of-network coverage is due to this surgical procedure being revisional bariatric surgery, which is an acceptable bariatric surgical modality. Secondly, the letter advised of an alternative for the non-approved service, to contact Dr. Kelly for a referral to an in-network specialist. On December 15, 2008, I met with Dr. Kelly in follow-up to the denial. Dr. Kelly advised that he needed to submit supplemental supportive documentation along with the referral for processing to secure an affirmative decision. Dr. Kelly then proceeded to review my operative report records from the surgery and reviewed my other health records in my medical file and interviewed me regarding my health status. Dr. Kelly indicated this procedure should take approximately 30 days maximum and to anticipate an affirmative response to proceed with revisional bariatric surgery and that I had his medical support in substantiating the medical need. I have been waiting since December 15, 2008 and to date am more frustrated now than ever. For the past 2.5 months, I have meticulously called Dr. Kelly's office regarding a status update. Maria, the administrative assistant, has provided several updates. The updates have included the fact that the previous medical director retired and was replaced and the new director was then on vacation, to the medical director making request for additional paperwork (which was submitted), to the medical director needing to meet with Dr. Kelly regarding the details of the approval process for this type of referral authorization, to the medical director and Dr. Kelly being unable to meet to further discuss the nature of my referral, to Brenda communicating that there was never a properly submitted referral from Dr. Kelley to the Managed Care group which resulted in the initial denial decision. In my first direct contact with Brenda Blazek, the Referral Coordinator who signed the referral denial letter, she claimed to know nothing regarding my case and further indicated that there was no documentation in my file. When I followed up with Maria with Dr. Kelley's office, she advised that Brenda did not find any information in my file because all of the information was being held by the medical director. Whatever the real case is, this is neither professional nor acceptable in accordance to my patient's rights under section 502(a) of ERISA. Just yesterday, I called and spoke with Maria five times to get an updated status, to exhaustedly be declined, yet promised an update by the end of the work day. I have not spoken with Maria, nor have I missed an update call from Maria. This has been my experience for the last 2.5 months. Below is an excerpt of the fax sent to Dr. Kelly, which was confirmed as received by Maria on February 5, 2009. Maria, I would like to reiterate that on 12/9 the referral authorization stated that the procedure, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, is a covered benefit in-network; however my request was to have the procedure done by an out of network provider. Additionally, this was confirmed by Tammy on yesterday at 12:50 with Blue Cross Blue Shield that this is a covered medical benefit as long as it is deemed medically necessary. My appointment with Dr. Kelly in December was to have provided me with a specialist referral to have the procedure done or we could have executed an appeal. I think Dr. Kelly submitted an appeal for coverage of the procedure; however, I am requesting to have this surgical procedure done by Dr. Vitello or be advised of the in-network provider who can perform this surgical procedure. Even in accordance to the appeals process, the timeline has been elongated to address issue of medically necessity when that is not the matter'the issue is approval for out-of network coverage or referral to an in-network specialist. I hope this clarifies the situation more. I will call you tomorrow to see if you have an updated response. Additionally, I was contacted by the non-contracted provider's office as a follow-up to the request in January and February. Last week, I advised them of the insurance referral hassle that I have been experiencing and they formally resubmitted their request, directly to Dr. Kelly (attention Maria), to the medical director of the Managed Care Group and to Brenda Blazek. To date, no response has been received; however, they have confirmed receipt of such documentation. Resultingly, I am assuming that since the only official documentation I have received to date is the referral denial, then I am evoking my patient right to request an appeal, specifically an expedited appeal process. However, I am highly dismayed because Dr. Kelly advised that there would be no need to execute an appeal. I would like to seek clarity first on the status and if this is in order, I would like to request an activation of the appeals process and under separate cover I will or will have my attorney to handle the appeals process. Before escalating to that level, I am very much interest in seeking resolve immediately. If and when I need to activate an appeal, I am requesting an expedited appeal process because my health at this point is continually declining and it is therefore imminent and serves my best interest to not further jeopardize my quality of life by waiting for a decision. Since December, the following symptoms I have presented: my breathing has become labored and therefore results in extreme shortness of breath my severe obstructive sleep apnea condition has worsened (hypopnea with severe oxygen desaturation) my acid reflux has returned my amenorrhea has returned and I have again began experiencing tumultuous joint, knee and lower back pains __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Hi Linda Adapting to the band can be difficult at first. I was banded almost 2 years ago in Belgium, I live in England. I am a member of another site too and what I experienced and what a lot of others experienced seems to be different to that of others on this forum. Firstly I have not heard of the Protein Drink that is mentioned and whilst all surgeons have different recommendations I am not alone when I say that I resumed sloppy food very early on. I was on Soups and yoghurts etc from day 3 and by day 6 I was on sloppies. Some people stay on liquids for much longer but it is also common to start on sloppies as early as I did. Your body will soon tell you if it is too early for you. It is a learning curve and everybody is different but there is no need to feel deprived when there are lots of alternative foods available, it can be an adventure rather than a physical endurance test. I am confident when I say this unless there is a huge difference between bands which I think not, I have a heliogast band. Remember everybody is different and what works for one may not for another but I was not alone in my experience. Good luck on your journey, chin up, you will soon see the benefits of having your band. I have never looked back and not once have I wished that I had not had it done, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The band exceeded my expectations for weight loss and flexibility, it got me to target without a lot of work on my part and I have just recently had a tummy tuck (3 weeks today) so I am like a new woman now! I hope my words inspire you or at the very least make you feel better. Bye for now. Heather

I'm don't with pre-op tests! It is so great to hear the words "I'm going to clear you for surgery" from the nutritionist and psych... By the middle of next week they should be sending off my information to insurance. So I guess now I just wait... Crossing my fingers for a quick response, but I'm not holding my breath for it...

Sometimes you don't feel the effects of a fill for a couple of weeks. It's weird but I don't feel the effects of my fills for close to 3 weeks i think and then i notice the tightness. Keep chewing and choose the right foods. If it's still too tight, call your doctor

Here is a little story. A couple weeks back around 5 months post op I was chugging along. Going down a couple pounds a week on a steady basis. Fairly consistent for a a few months. I was getting close to my first but not final goal, what is called around here as Onederland. (Sub 200lbs) 210,, 208, 205, 202, 201.. Then a few days went by and poof 205lbs.... WTF!!!!!! I know about the whole ups and downs, I have seen it many times since surgery, But why now. Just when I was about to hit the mark I have been looking forward to for so long. So I just kept going, business as usual, I kept away from the scale because I didnt want to do anything to put a damper on my motivation. Needless to say a week went by and this morning I woke up, took a shower, shaved and brushed. And then i did it. The scale was just sitting there calling me. .....199.2....... The moral of the story is take a shower and the weight will come off. LOL But really, just be patient, ups and downs will happen. Just keep doing what your doing and good things will come.

I've heard this is SO common and will pass by week 2. I've already warned my husband that I will be a basketcase by the end of the first week. Hang in there! This is a NORMAL phase. Must mean you're doing great!!!