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I had my first fill 4 weeks after surgery. My insurance paid 100% of it (I have Empire BCBS)

I am your surgery buddy - two weeks. It sounds crazy.

I am your surgery buddy too! Started the preop diet Monday. Not eating regular food is totally making this real. I have my final consult with my surgeon tomorrow and my education class and preop testing next week. Ready to move over to the losers bench with everyone.

$300 fee is nothing. Drs do have costs associated with submitting your case to insurance company. People like me, who required 3 full submissions and 2 peer to peer appointments cost more than easier patients/insurance companies so the fees balance out. My first surgeon had a $2500 "lifestyle management fee" that had to be paid in advance of the surgery being scheduled. And that was on top of all the other costs that insurance was covering 100%. Supposedly that was to cover support groups/classes and the doctor coming out to visit you in cases of extreme need, but considering we lived 50 miles away and the support programs were all during business hours we would never have used any. Plus, if we coukd afford $5000 we wouldnt be on medical. The surgeon also refused to work with us on the fee. The surgeon who did my sleeve (and who i recommend if in CA) is Dr. Richard Nguyen of Lifetime Surgical. He charges $300 and i didnt find out until after I paid it that that fee also includes the bariatric diet food for the 2 weeks preop. That makes the portion that goes to them more like $150-200. I find that very reasonable for all they did. HW 385 SW 359 CW 344 Sleeved 10/5/16

I too had wls, mine was bypass. I'm strictly fluids fr two week. This includes Jello,i can't finish a half of one back cu. Sent from my SM-G550T1 using the BariatricPal App I'm lucky in that I was given a binder after surgery and it really helped with the pain. Sent from my SM-G550T1 using the BariatricPal App

re: "the weight gain is due to eating the wrong foods"; <br />disagree.....consider it's due to OVER eating the wrong AMOUNT of food.... re: 'ovulation'.....can't speak to this as my ovaries have been inactive for quite some time... The 'sweet spot' does exist IMHO, and requires awareness of the nuances to manage satisfactorily. I found if I make sure most of my weeks total meals fall below a certain calorie count, I have no weight gain concern. And if I do eat over that point for a few days, I begin to feel like the old habit of eating more than my body needs begins to stir again. I do have some kind of long and subtle cycle of slightly more and then slightly less restricted. Sometimes my Band seems even a bit fickle. Life with my Symbiant, my 'Little Angel of the Silicon Fist' is far better regardless of the occasional frustrations. Finding a way to coexist requires adaptability. cheers on your journey

I had the exact same problem. I was told this is normal, the nurse told me the saline settles in the nooks and crannys sometimes so thats why i suddenly was hungry after not being hungry for 2 weeks. ( 3rd fill) same prob now after my 6th fill so im going for a 7th next week. She said everybodys different, you just have to go with what YOUR body wants and needs.

It's likely because as you've lost weight, the fat layer surrounding your stomach as shrunk, so now the band isn't nearly as tight. I was great for about 6 weeks after my 3rd fill then all the sudden had the same thing happen, totally starving hungry all the time. I got another fill in May and now the hunger has been gone ever since.

Hi I am looking for a lap band buddy/mentor . I was banded in 2008 lost 130 and have gained back about 80 cannot get back on track . I am a school nurse, married with three children elementary school age, always busy and need some support or guidance on how to get back on track from the new york area. Thanks

SherB, I have United Health care too, I got my approval after one week, but that was back in February, after that I had to do CPAP and quite smoking. Have patience you will get your approval soon!

I too, have United Healthcare. Got my approval in a week. They also told me 30 days. I did call them everyday too. I didn't call the number on the back of the card. I was given the number for clinical services intake department before my last back surgery. They have more info.

I'm 12 days out and I can get about 50 ounces of fluids in and I'm hitting 20-25 of Protein. That's about it. Today I tried a new concoction and got 4 ounces in and was nauseated for the first time since the hospital. I'm going back to clears for the rest of the day, tomorrow I'll go back to trying Protein shake. I have never had problem taking medication in my life, not Vitamins, not liquid medication, no problems brushing my teeth (I usually brush 3 times or more a day) I floss, I use mouthwash and what happened? Seriously the taste of toothpaste makes me nauseated. I can't handle the taste of cough syrup, it takes me easily 1/2 or more to get down 2 tylenol cut in 1/2 and my medications. I know I'm not the normal and that other's are progressing faster than me, but having an autoimmune disorder is definitely working against me right now. My husband, son and parents think I'm doing great though for all the issues I have had to deal with, and I'm just going to flow with it. I'm going to try baking soda next because the Sensodyne is not sitting well with me. I see surgeon for my 2nd visit June 27th and I see the nutritionist on July 9th. Looks like I have 4 more weeks of Pure liquids. I started my liquid diet of 3 shakes a day May 21st for two weeks before surgery June 4th, so I will basically be on liquids 7 weeks before I hit pureed stage!!! I'm hoping somehow my surgeon takes mercy on me and they let me advance after the 27, but more so that I can actually handle purees by then. Right now, it's looking slim, but sigh, August looks like it will be a good month

I also posted this on the Pos-Op board, but I thought I should share it with my December friends, too. :biggrin: It's been two weeks since my surgery, and I have updates. I lost 20 pounds on my 2 week pre-op diet, and since then I've lost 14 pounds more. I've been absolutely fanatical about following all the rules of each stage of the diet. I want to succeed, and I especially don't want complications (slips, erosions, etc.) I know sometimes that's unavoidable, but at least I won't have any guilt if it happens. liquid Phase: After reading on these boards that many people gain weight before their first fill, I was deeply concerned that I would lose my progress. So on my liquid phase, after the first few days where I could only get down broth and tea, I stuck pretty much to my pre-op diet, not eating the vegetables of course, but adding in more Protein shakes, for a total of 800-1200 calories a day. I did not drink diluted juice even though it was "permitted," sticking instead to Protein Shakes and, two times, fat-free milk. Mushy Phase: I knew from reading these boards that a major pitfall for many bandsters is the mushy phase. Being that we're hungry and mushies go down easily, the calories can easily add up - many people understandably gain weight during this stage. I didn't want that to happen, so I was afraid to move forward to mushies - but I knew I should leave the liquid diet behind already. I was trying to solve the problem, when I decided that I could do mushies but I would have to keep track of what I was eating and how much. So, I joined Weight Watchers. Diets never worked for me for very long in the past, but I figured the 3.5 week liquid diet should have shrunk my stomach a bit, and knowing I have a fill coming makes it mentally easier to hang on and not go off plan. Before surgery I didn't think I'd care if I gained a little before my fills, but now I do. I've lost 34 pounds in 4 weeks, and I just don't want to go back. I've been sticking like glue to the plan. I weigh and measure everything before I put it in the food prcessor, and I track it online as soon as I've eaten it. I eat mostly low point foods, but I've also splurged on higher point items - did you know you can process french fries? To make them mushy I mixed in some Soup, which I also have to count points for, but they still tasted like french fries, and were worth every point LOL! I've also pureed pizza with a little extra sauce - it doesn't taste like pizza by the time you add the sauce in, but it was fun. Mostly, though, I stick to low point foods: sugarfree pudding, fatfree yogurt, scrambled egg whites with fatfree salsa (pureed), boiled vegetables (pureed), unsweetened applesauce, etc. I also eat whatever my family is having for supper, measured out and pureed. All in all, I've lost 14 pounds since surgery. Anyway, that's where I'm holding now. I have my first fill next month, and I'm terrified. I hope it won't be too painful! Anyway, that's the update. Good luck to everyone on this journey!

I'm so happy! we went away for the weekend and I was thinking since i didn't get enough Water in, that i would probably gain from eating 'out' and i'm sure that had lots of salt in the food.... I'm down!!! the scaled moved DOWN after a weekend away and not eating at home! 32 pounds GONE in 9 weeks!! 10 pounds from beating the 150's! (remember i'm VERY SHORT..... i have a LONG way to go still! 11 pounds until i'm considered JUST overweight! 29 pounds to be the weight i was when i got married! 39 pounds to the lowest i've been since having children and also my 'goal' weight. 44-49 pounds to my OMG goal!! I plan to have PS done. I'm not sure when i should go for my consult. that's a goal i really look forward to. I'm thinking about 20 pounds from goal i will go and see what they say.

It's now 12 weeks out and i'm down 38 pounds! 4 pounds to be out of the 150's 5 pounds to no longer be obese! 23 pounds to be the weight i was when i got married! 33 pounds to be the lowest weight i've been since having childern and my 'goal' weight. 38-43 pound to my OMG goal! I joined curves 5/21 but couldn't work out that day ( i needed an appointment), but went for my first workout the yesterday and went again toady! I even walked after i was done yesterday! I can SEE reaching my goal....that's such a great feeling! i NEVEr thought i would get to it before!

My dr said no hot tub for the first week to 10 days after surgery so I'm guessing after that it would be fine. I'm sure if you are healed from your surgery the hot tub would be fine.

Mattie- I felt that same way! It is just lack of food and anesthesia wearing off still. Good luck at your appointment tomorrow. Mine lasted a total of three minutes lol Susan- you have got to try it! It's heaven in your mouth! Jess- sorry to lol but that was my fear getting it out of the oven haha! Fortunately I wasn't my usual clutz self and didn't spill it. Yes that us the website! Have you seen her ice creams and shakes? Omg it's crazy! Don't get discouraged about the scale. I've read that when we reintroduce actual food to our bodies that we will stall and possibly gain. Just drink that water! I am going to start walking tomorrow but u have to do it immediately after work or it gets dark soon. I'm ready for spring!!

Good Afternoon, I'm new to this forum and I would like to to take this time to introduce myself. My name is Alcine and I'm married to the greatest man in the world. Currently we live in North Richland Hills, TX. My husband is an Army recruiter and I'm a marketing coordinator at M.E.P. Consulting Engineers. I lived most of my life in Germany (my father was also in the army). I love to travel and I love meeting new people. I decided to get the lap band because I'm ready to make some serious changes in my life. I want to be in better shape and I want to be healthy. I feel that if I accomplish that I will be a lot happier with my life overall. Basically that will be one less thing I have to stress and worry about. I haven't got my date yet for surgery, hopefully I will hear something next week. Wish me luck :tongue2:! I would like to congratulate everyone who has decided to make a change with their life. Its not an easy journey but I know we all will make it. Good luck and God bless everyone. Feel free to write me anytime. Happy New Year!!!

I have read 92.... but that seems high. I will ask my OB when i go in next week.

Hi, I was banded 58 weeks ago and have only lost 55lbs. I am dissapointed because I expected to have lost at least 85-90 lbs by now. I weighed 289 to start and am now down to 233...but my goal is 145. The protein shakes has been the worst for me. I have not found anything that I can keep down...they all make me nauceous. These recipes you have sound pretty good. I am going to try these...Thanks for posting them. I will get back to you and let you know if you have saved me from the protein demon :0)

Three weeks ago I got my first fill - 4 cc. Today I went for my second fill and the Dr. could extract only 3.2 cc. Is this normal or should I be concerned about a leak?

I have good days and bad days still swallowing 5 weeks later after band removal. My doctor thinks that he may need to go back in-another surgery-and take out the stitches attached to my stomach. I dread another surgery and I wonder if I will ever be normal again. Thank you for thinking of me. Private Dancer7

Hello I go for my first fill Oct 3rd and was banded Aug th I would have gone this week but my doctor is on vaca I lost 17 lbs right away and gain like 3 back. I am eating normal and now I just feel like I always feel and I can't wait to get filled. This past weekend I ate more then normal didn't follow my diet....I am hoping I didn't do anything to damage my band I will be so mad at myself. Have you ever ate more then you should? I just can't wait to go get this filled....I am afraid I will screw up. I want to get started on losing weight I am back on the right eating habits but really worried myself

I was banded just two weeks ago on 1/26/11. Have had no complications, minimal pain, and a pretty easy time of things thus far. On mushy food diet. When I started investigating WLS I decided early on that RNY was not for me because I didn't like the idea of malabsorption and intestinal re-routing. I had never heard of VSG prior to surgery, and saw only one brief mention of it in literature in my surgeon's office. I asked about it but was told that it wasn't available on the east coast and still considered experimental. I did no research on it. I did a significant amount of research on the Lap-Band prior to surgery. Now, of course, as I continue to troll the blogs and forums, I'm reading more about VSG and am deeply concerned that I've made a mistake. VSG sounds as though it offers all of the benefits of RNY without the challenges of intestinal rerouting. Does anyone have any thoughts? My big concern is that I read someone's post today who said that her surgeon told her that LapBand is on the way out, as VSG is a better surgery with better results. Comments would be really, really helpful to me. Any information that anyone has would be appreciated. Thanks.