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things went well with the surgery (9/10). i was in and out quickly. they did find that my liver was way larger than normal, so they took a biopsy. came back and i have early fibrosis/non alcoholic steatohepatitis (fatty liver disease) that could lead to cirrhosis if i dont get/keep the weight off. in the hospital overnight, couldn't sleep. was on an 8 minute dilaudid pain pump, which i thank heaven for. just don't let them take out your IV/pain pump til they are actually ready to walk you out the door, especially if you have a long way to get home. i had mine out too long and got very agitated because the dr took 2.5h to write my discharge orders... i felt horrible and then started running a fever and my blood pressure and heart rate (things i don't have issues with) skyrocketed. the nurse had a horrified look on her face when she took them right before i left. on the ride home, every bump was horrible. i just wanted my own bed. and it felt like years before my husband got home from the pharmacy with my pain meds. other than that just poking and prodding. went home the next day, pain for about a day and a half, only gave my oxycodone. phenergan did not touch the nausea, so they called in some zofran. if you have nausea, DEMAND the zofran. much more effective. turned out to have been pain mainly from the nausea from pain meds. i was fine w just zofran the 2 or 3 days after that, then i felt just fine. within the week, i actually felt GOOD. weird. i did have one night where i laid in bed and felt like there was electricity going through my body. i couldn't sleep and was just restless. it was horrible. i think it was related to an anti nausea patch they gave me to put behind my ear? not sure, but i stopped using it and it hasn't happened since. so far, down 25 lbs and 25 inches. mostly in my arms, legs, and face. coming off slowly on the abdomen, which is where i carry everything. was initially scheduled for 3 weeks off work. i feel good. was cleared for soft food, sex, and exercise today, THANK GOD. walking wasn't cutting it. i did get approved for another 2 weeks off of work though. i want to be less exhausted from healing. my sleeve doesn't hurt. it cramps a little in the am when i am empty and haven't taken my prilosec, but other than that, no pain. no nausea otherwise. i think i am eating too quickly bc i am overly full when i am done. take the time to listen to your body. eat super small bites VERY SLOWLY and you'll avoid getting too full, which feels gross and can make you cough out the extra. it's really not fun. matrix mint cookie protein and i are bffs. the best flavor! and not too thick. so glad i did it! best decision i have ever made! questions? lol

Below is a fun bit of information you may need to know about Canada. Oh, Canada: Now that Vancouver has won the chance to host the 2010 winter Olympics,the following are some questions people the world over are asking. These questions (and answers) about Canada were actually posted on an international Tourism Website. Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK) A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die. Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA) A: Depends how much you've been drinking. Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden) A: Sure, it's only four thousand miles, take lots of Water. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada? (Sweden) A: So its true what they say about Swedes. Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed Beaver. (Italy) A: Let's not touch this one. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (UK) A: What, did your last slave die of? Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada?(USA) A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North... oh forget it. Sure the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked. Q: Which direction is North in Canada? (USA) A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada? (UK) A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA) A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is... oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked. Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany) A: No, WE don't stink. Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the fe male population is smaller than the male population? (Italy) A: Yes, gay nightclubs. Q: Do you Celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA) A: Only at Thanksgiving. Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany) A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget it's name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA) A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare it by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking. Q: I was in Canada in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Surrey, BC. Can you help? (USA) A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour. Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA) A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first. Cheers TommyO

and today's weight is.... = 336.2 my BS and my BP are decreasing as I eat right - what a concept!!!! LOL

I have BC/BS Ma and they are great. It is only going to cost me $250 out of pocket.. I am excited but I start 4 shakes daily for the next 5 days.. That is going to be hard.. I can do it because I want this to be my last fat summer. Donna

Hi All, Im a newbie to the forum although ive been reading the posts has a guest for almost a year now, Ive decided finally to sign up lol too this great forum. A little about me, Im a man in my early 30's been over weight most my life weighing in at around 297lb/22stone? Ive tried so many diets in the past that have never bought me lasting results, so I have been interested in getting a lap band done after reading an article about it in the papers... which lead me to do some research on the topic which in turn lead me here to this forum:cool2:. At the moment im trying to save really hard for the Op has I will be self funding The doctors Just brushed the idea aside for Nhs Funding when I spoke to them:thumbdown:. So Hopefully by the end of july early/Mid August I will get Banded Probally in Europe/Belgium where its a little cheaper. Im fed up of Being Obese and Cant-Weight to get back to being me again! Thanks for now Cant-Weight

I was sleeved March 10. Started period early (day before surgery which I know is common bc of stress). Then in April and May I was normal (30-32 day cycles) but now for June it still hasn't came. I'm not pregnant but a week late. Normal? Going to ask my surgeon in Wednesday but wanted others thoughts.

My coodinator thinks it is BS; my Dr is having a "peer to peer" conference call w United Healthcare tomorrow am. Perhpas it is just another hoop in a long littany of hoops jumped thus far (not to mention the liquid D). THanks for the support. As I chose a Dr in network and I exceed the BMI cutoff by 5 and all of my paperwork is in good order.... ahhhhhhhhhhhhh:embarassed:

I HAVE BC-BS OF KENTUCKY, I HOPE, AND IT BETTER GO THROUGH:heh: LISA W

Not for me. Actually my doc let me advance my diet as tolerated. Since I am diabetic my blood sugars were doing a rollercoaster. So by day 10 I was eating mushy/soft food like fish, mashed potatoes and such. It really helped to get my BS under control by getting back to a seminormal eating schedule. I haven't looked back. I go next week for my "four" week checkup. It is really being done at six weeks but that is okay cause then I can get a fill. So transitioning from liquids to mushy/soft was very easy for me. M

Thin4Anisha, bsmith56 is right...you can try to find something in the policy that allows you to switch from your parents' plan to your company's insurance plan. There are many reasons you can do so. I don't know them all, but I'm sure you could find out. For example (not suggesting you do any of these), change in marriage status, new baby, new job, increase in price of your current policy, etc. And as mentioned before, since you are 24, you may be at the end of the line for your parents being able to cover you anyway. I believe my dad's BC/BS policy would not cover me and my siblings once we turned 24, regardless of student status. (of course there are exclusions if you are a disabled adult child or something of that nature) There is a possibility that your current insurance policy just hasn't realized your age yet. If you bring it to their attention, perhaps you'll be able to switch to the better insurance - you wouldn't have to wait for open enrollment in Jan 2009 since it would be like a "hardship transfer". Hope that helps! Let me know what you find out.

With BC/BS IL, they use your original BMI before the 6 month non-surgical program.

Hi I am in langley, BC i just got my band on dec 19.08 best thing ive ever done hope u go for it

Hello, jsut noticed your post. I have had the band since March and all is well. I noticed that you get your fills in College Station. I am looking for a support group in BCS as I live in Caldwell, Texas. Also I wanted to tell you that my brother is having the surgery in two months with the same doctor as my sugery and there are placing the port high ... close to the ribs because my brother is a stomache sleeper.... I'm not sure why that is relevant... but that's what my brother told me. Anyway if you know of any groups please let me know. Thanks, Catherine

hi there, just moved to BCS, was banded 2 1/2 years ago in Mexico but havent had the thing working correctly due to getting pregnant 6 months after being banded and now getting ready to deliver another baby anyday. I am wondering if you ever found a support group here? I am going to gat a fill as soon as I can after having my baby. The fills I received before never worked and I never truly had good restriction. I would really like to see this band pay off. I also think my port isnt attched correctly euther, it flips back and forth! Any info on BCS support groups for bandsters is appreciated! thanks

Hi everyone! I have been researching and wanting to have surgery for quite awhile. I have been unsuccessful thus far because I don't have any health problems, other than being fat. As we all know, the health problems will come... Anyhow, I found you all here and saw the comments about BCBS fed and thought I would give it a shot. So, I called customer service and was told that I don't need health problems, my BMI would qualify me, to look up a doctor and go, doc would send my paperwork in for approval. Looks like I would pay my copay like normal for an out-patient surgery procedure- $100. I am excited, nervous, scared. I called the center today and I go to Penrose on the 14th for my educational consult...learn all about it and what to do next. Wish me luck! I am shooting for Stacie Perlman...so we will see. Lynette

I'm just so bummed. I had myself all excited about this...now I feel BC/BS is jerking me around. I could just cry. Not to mention...I have a incarcerated hernia that HAS to be repaired...so I am going to have to do 2 seperate surgeries???? How insane.

I am really getting frustrated. When my surgeons office first called to check on my benefits they were told no prerequsites.. no psych eval, no diet, nothing... Now they are demanding the results of my sleep apnea test, as well as 5 years documentation of my weight. I got a form letter today, and it appears that they also require 6 months of dieting....has anyone NOT had to do this??? I am getting so flustered and frustrated. :biggrin:

I know they were so nice. It took nearly two weeks to get the answer but they called and said "I am about the make your day" and then she said I was approved! I have Empire BC/BS through my husbands employer. They Rock so far! I just hate the big cash expense to the surgeon for the program fee. They need it ten days before the schedules surgery date. I just have to come up with is somehow - that is the only down side.

I liked him from the start. I had gone to the seminar for Dr. Miles and Schmidt on a Saturday in Feb. and I just didn't like the fact they made a copy of your insurance card when you came in the door. Dr. Miles was nice, but after the seminar when I was trying to make an appointment, it was going to be 6 weeks before I could get an appointment, and they were scheduling them in 15 minute intervals. (I'm thinking if I have to wait 6 weeks for 15 minutes of the Dr.'s time, he's just too busy for me). When I left that seminar I felt like I had been to a time share selling seminar (Just my opinion) I called Dr. Cottingham's office on Monday, he was having a seminar on Wed. I went, I called on Thursday and got an appointment for the following week. Since I have BC Federal, I didn't have to wait 6 months, so everything went fast enough. I am very happy I chose him and his staff. Carraway was great too. I didn't have one problem there.

I'm sorry to hear that :scared2: if I was you I would start looking for other doctors now and make sure that you get a second opinion on what these surgeons say before they do anything because it sounds like they are a bit fed up with your band. Best of luck, I hope everything is fine in 2 weeks and that it is just swelling.

On my list from the Dr. on medications to aviod is mainly aspirin and ibuprofen. Ex: Advil, BC powder, Pepto Bismol, Excedrin, Mortrin, Alieve Safe for joint pain: Vioxx, Celebrex, and Mobic Erythromycin should only be taken with caution and your physician's approval, becuase of stomach irritation.

It's amazing what doctors dont pick up along the way. I had my first band replaced last Sept. bc it slipped, my surgeon is Prof. O'Brien and follow up doc is John Dixon. From day one, as soon as I woke up I kept telling them this band doesnt feel right, straight away it was as if I had a tight rope right under my rib cage and could only take short breaths, then I go home and had these excruciating pains in my left side, again under my ribs, something like a stitch but would last for half an hour at a time. So they tell me its gas trapped after the op. That went on for months, in the meantime I developed what I would call colic, I tell you I know why poor little babies scream when they have colic. I had and still have to this day so much gas that its incredible, it feels like twins kicking around in my tummy. Seen my gp, who is as useless as tits on a bull (looking for another one), gone to prof number of times, then of course to John Dixon, and they all just guessed this and that. Three weeks ago I was in so much pain and misery that I insisted on a barium, then a colonoscopy and endoscopy. WELL the endoscopy showed that my band is in the wrong position, right on top of the esophagus (sp), in other words I have no pouch:omg: , so the air that I swollow gets trapped below my band and cannot come back. I am having my band repositioned/replaced on the 4th Oct. My third operation in less than three years. I am furious. Sometimes I think I should have the band out, and grow up.:cry Sorry guys, this was a long rant, but there is really no one who completely understands what I am going through, including my family, think you have to be fat, banded to really relate to another person in a similar position. Thanks for listening edited: Anyone interested in a get-together, we all seem to live in the same area

Hi: Joine the BC WLS website. This site is mainly for BC residents who have had gastric bypass or gastric band. Just post and you will get all sorts of information. You have to apply to be a member. Also, there is a monthly meeting of Gastric by pass patients all over the lower mainland and one monthly meeting for gastric band patients at the Lions Gate Hospital. You have to be very agressive with the BC Government. If you doctor recommends it, you could also be sent to Washington State. I know of a gastric by pass patient that went that route. By attending these meetings you will get all the accurate information your require. I had a BMI of 50 and now down to 40.5 and I could not get help so went private. If I waited any longer I would have died. Since the band, I have a cleaned our RRSP but I also have had my medications reduced considerably. You may want to try going private. Doddie

Here is what I did on my last surgeons visit day 6 days before surgery. --I met with the before surgery nurse, She checked my meds, went over the steps I would have to take to get to the surgery. Talked about the self injected blood thinner I would have to take for a while and gave me some booklets on how to inject myself and the lists and maps of where I would have to go during the day and the day of surgery. --a "fellow" (Dr intern), went over the consent form contract for the surgery and had me sign it. Got my copy. Asked him if the center ever did sleeves... he said yes, that he had assisted on 5 himself and there were many other interns that were assisting at other times. He said that the bypass takes a ton of skill, and not just anyone can do it, they do a bunch of bypasses and have for years, he said the sleeve just needs someone who knows how to do it. I asked if I could have a copy of my surgery recording... and he said no, it was a liability for them. I asked him what Bougie size the Dr used and he said of all the questions anyone has ever asked, no one has ever asked that one. He said they use a 36 and staple it loose. He said they hand stitch the staple line or sometimes us a robot to stitch. There is no advantage they have found to one or the other. The surgery is 3 1/2 -4 hours long. I said that seemed long, and he said Teaching Universities are in no hurry. There is plenty of time taken for surgery, no need to rush. The hand stitching takes a long time. I asked him why I heard so little about the sleeve before my first meeting with a Dr. He said that California is way behind the east coast as far as sleeves go, not because the Drs skill or desire, but the insurance here is so screwed up that it has been excluded until recently by most insurance companies. He said he worked doing sleeves for three years on the east coast before coming here to California. --a research representative, asked me to agree to be part of an ongoing study of WLS as part of them keeping their "Center of Excellence" status. The want to do followups for 5+ years if possible. I signed that. --the during and after surgery head nurse, Anne. She went over much of the same stuff as the before surgery nurse, and we chatted about travel, and how 50 is the new 40. She wrote me a note to give to my work saying I need 6 WEEKS! off to recover. Ouch, I have sick pay/time saved up for 3 weeks, and one staff at work is going to try and give me some of hers... well see....She said the Dr (Ali) was at a meeting and couldn't see me that day, but he would see me on the day of the surgery. She decided what my med schedule would be before and after the surgery. She put a list into the pharmacy for the dissolvable meds I would need. She did a short physical to access my state for surgery, checked my heart, reflexes, flexibility and asked questions about arthritis and such. -- the Lab for blood work and a pregnancy test, and then I went next door and got my blood and urine done. They need a pregnancy test. I told the lab tech that if I was pregnant then she was witness to a miracle. (being menopausal) They took about 6 tubes for testing. --the surgeon I went back to the office to pick up my letter for work, and the after surgery nurse grabbed me and said the Dr was back and wanted to talk to me. I went in and had a nice 20 minute visit with him. He was really nice, and personable. I asked him about the bougie size and he asked me why I wanted to know, and i told him about wanting good restriction and not to leave much of the stomach that stretches out more. He said all the parts are stretchy. He said they use a 36. I asked them about the loose cut, and he said it has to be loose because they stitch the whole thing and the extra room is to do that. He also leaves a little bit extra by the pylorus end to avoid complications that sometime happen there. He said that even people that have a 60 bougie lose weight, that the main reason for people gaining weight is their own actions, not the size of the bougie. You have to make changes in how and what you eat for the surgery to be a success. He also warned that it is his opinion that more people will gain weight back from the sleeve than RNY. Even though the long term results are not in yet. I asked him if he thought the people who gain back weight do it more because they eat around the sleeve, or because the sleeve stretches out, and he said they are related, and the people who gain weight back are more likely to look for some outside reason for it than how they eat and exercise. Those who follow the plan and exercise into the future lose the weight and keep most of it off. He talked about leaks, and nausea. He said that nausea is the most common complication. It can last one day to months. In the case of months, some people need to be fed by IV. 20% of his patients have some amount of nausea. There are meds for nausea. He said he thought I would be a good candidate and believed I could find success with the sleeve. I asked him why I didn't see or hear anything about the sleeve in his lecture or literature, and he said that until recently the sleeve was not covered by insurance in California and so he didn't bring it up as a choice. --the anesthesiology offices. They checked my meds, asked again about allergies and such. About a 5 hour day. They will call me friday to let me know when I need to go in for surgery on tuesday. The day of surgery will be about 8 hours of check in, wait, surgery, recovery and to the room. They expect I will be in over night, there will be a leak test the next day. If all looks well, I can go home the next day. They want to see that I don't have a lot of nausea before I go home and will keep me an extra day if need be. There ya go. The rundown as well as I remember it. More later!

Delarla - you actually should not skip periods unless you are on a medication that causes this to occur. Commonly depo, nuvaring and some BC will cause you to have very light periods and sometimes not have them monthly. Not having a period (commonly occurs with PCOS), can actually increase your chances of cervical and other female cancers. I have PCOS and am HORRIBLE at remembering to take a pill everyday - thus another reason I chose the Nuvaring. WILLBETHIN - yes you can take BC - I have just chosen a method (nuvaring) that does not require pills and lightens your period and cramps.