May 2007 Banders

[Mischievous1 6]

Hi!

So what is your fill level now? I wonder if that cold feeling you had was the saline solution from him missing the port. Now you will be on the road to losing weight! I wish I was too. I have eaten really clean today. I swear I can eat anything now..cept drink liquids too fast. I had a big old fried chicken sandwhich from sonic last night. I am afraid that I have streched out my tummy! I made an appt with the doctor fot the 21rst regarding the possibility of a revision to a d switch. I don't know if someone under 200 can have one though. I am sure he will want to see what level is in my band. I may have a leak and that may be the problem. That would mean a revision to a new band. I so don't want to go through that. I'll let you know. Keep up the good work...you had a very good reason to gain the weight. Now, like you said..you did it once and you can do it again. Let me know how it goes and what your fill level is. R we the only two of the may 2007 bandsters having trouble? Where r the rest of you guys!!!

I'm still here...i'm prego so not really living the lapband lifestyle...in fact I have been eating hamburgers....it's nice since I hadn't had one for almost 2 years..but once I deliver, I need to get back on the bandwagon!!

Where is everyone else?? Has everyone just went and gotten all skinny on us and quit following lapbandtalk?

[jsrico 1]

Hello to all!

Since my last fill witch I think was the last week in June I feel great. I have lost 20 lbs. I still have a lot to loose but at least something is happening!

[Manatee 3]

UHC Success!

Got the word today that UHC has approved taking out the lapband system, after the doctor coded it (correctly) as a gastric obstruction.

The center is talking to the hospital about the costs to do the VSG as an add-on procedure. I should have hard money numbers shortly.

While the band certainly did the job when it was working, I'll be happy to get my slip-and-slide companion on it's way. I wonder if the doc will let me keep it in a jar?

[Shalee04 7]

UHC Success!

Got the word today that UHC has approved taking out the lapband system, after the doctor coded it (correctly) as a gastric obstruction.

The center is talking to the hospital about the costs to do the VSG as an add-on procedure. I should have hard money numbers shortly.

While the band certainly did the job when it was working, I'll be happy to get my slip-and-slide companion on it's way. I wonder if the doc will let me keep it in a jar?

Yah!! Congratulations !!! keeping my fingers crossed that they will pay all or part of the VSG for you.

Kelly

[Manatee 3]

WLS, take 3

Tuesday appreciation:

Well, the word came down today, and I am now scheduled for VSG surgery Oct 21. The insurance company is picking up about half the tab because of the lap-band removal; the rest of the procedure comes out of my pocket.

This looks to be an interesting and different path than the one I've been on, and hopefully ends up in a much better place. I still think the lap-band is a great procedure for those who can cope with it, but my body simply insisted on being in that 2%.

(Lap-band 05/2007, high 292, low 178, slip, revision, slip, current 220 and headed up)

[Manatee 3]

Getting closer

Yesterday I had the pre-op meetings with the surgeon, nurse, hospital, nutritionist and at least one person that I had no idea what their role might be.

I've gone through this before, so there wasn't a whole lot new. I was interested in the differences in digestion time between gastric banding and the sleeve. It turns out to be significant, as the band still has a complete stomach and the sleeve does not. This difference means that Vitamin supplements and Calcium supplements are more vital to sleeve patients than band patients.

In running through the paperwork it turned out that my initial labs were never ordered. The hospital decided to add them to the mandatory pre-op labs. This ended up requiring 13 tubes of blood from my sad little vein. I desperately needed some food after that!

So all is set, and a week from now at 7:00 AM I get to have my 7th medical procedure in 2.5 years. Huzzah!

[realmccoy 0]

"Where is everyone else?? Has everyone just went and gotten all skinny on us and quit following lapbandtalk?"

Hey All.........I'm back, finally after being off here for a while! Great to see how everyone has been doing. I haven't changed my ticker yet- down 100lbs!!!! Took a while- did get a complete un-fill last year due to cancer treatments and needing better nutrition. Gained about 25 lbs! I went kind of food crazy (obviously that's why I need the band)!! Kicked the cancer, got a fill, lost the 25lbs I gained plus some and feeling great. Next step- Tummy Tuck and reduction!

[Mischievous1 6]

"Where is everyone else?? Has everyone just went and gotten all skinny on us and quit following lapbandtalk?"

Hey All.........I'm back, finally after being off here for a while! Great to see how everyone has been doing. I haven't changed my ticker yet- down 100lbs!!!! Took a while- did get a complete un-fill last year due to cancer treatments and needing better nutrition. Gained about 25 lbs! I went kind of food crazy (obviously that's why I need the band)!! Kicked the cancer, got a fill, lost the 25lbs I gained plus some and feeling great. Next step- Tummy Tuck and reduction!

I dunno about you, but I think I would BRAG that not only did I kick CANCER's BUTT but that I gained 25 lbs in the process! That's awesome! Most people get so sickly and have difficulty keeping weight on with all the chemicals they are exposed to, good for YOU!!!! YOU ROCK.

[Mischievous1 6]

Getting closer

Yesterday I had the pre-op meetings with the surgeon, nurse, hospital, nutritionist and at least one person that I had no idea what their role might be.

I've gone through this before, so there wasn't a whole lot new. I was interested in the differences in digestion time between gastric banding and the sleeve. It turns out to be significant, as the band still has a complete stomach and the sleeve does not. This difference means that Vitamin supplements and Calcium supplements are more vital to sleeve patients than band patients.

In running through the paperwork it turned out that my initial labs were never ordered. The hospital decided to add them to the mandatory pre-op labs. This ended up requiring 13 tubes of blood from my sad little vein. I desperately needed some food after that!

So all is set, and a week from now at 7:00 AM I get to have my 7th medical procedure in 2.5 years. Huzzah!

So similar to Bypass you are going to have to watch your vitamin intake for the rest of your life? Why is that when you still have a good portion of your original stomach and are not bypassing any vital organs? (sorry i'm not at all educated on how this procedure works)

I'm REALLY curious to see how your new VSG lifestyle compares to that of your lap-band lifestyle...please keep us posted so those with slippage issues can compare and make an informed decision by hearing about it first hand from someone they know and have shared similar experiences with.

Thanks Manatee!!!

-Renee

[mini 0]

Hi everyone, Mini here. Can't wait to read the posts. I see some of you have been doing great and some are having problems. I can relate to the problems. I had to go and have my fills all removed. Had a huge problem with acid reflux since around last march. Then over the past weekend while on vacation...lost 4 pds..couldn't eat anything..nothing would go down..pb's 3 to 4 times per day...even on Fluid. Went to doc on tues and he sent me for xrays..yup, nothing would get through band while they were watching on the xray machine. He withdrew all fluid and I go back Nov 12 for a fill under floroscopy. He said that I may have to have the band removed. He is willing to try and give me a few more fills but at the first sign of trouble he is done with fills and will remove it. The ins won't cover a revision because I am at 29 BMI. He said if I regain the weight..then maybe I can get a revison. I don't want to regain the weight...but am very depressed, because, I am already starting to overeat and it's only thursday. I see my self looking like my old self by Jan. Sorry to be a downer.

[Shalee04 7]

Getting closer

Yesterday I had the pre-op meetings with the surgeon, nurse, hospital, nutritionist and at least one person that I had no idea what their role might be.

So all is set, and a week from now at 7:00 AM I get to have my 7th medical procedure in 2.5 years. Huzzah!

Good luck Manatee on your surgery Wednesday!!!

I look forward to following your progress into the sleeve from band. I have recently learned my band has slipped up, and I'm having insurance issues, so I'm at a weird place right now, but have been thnking of the sleeve also as an option...

Good luck!!!

Kelly

[mini 0]

Kelly,

Will your ins. pay for a revision? My doc says mine won't unless I gain back all of my weight.

What ins do you have?

Mini

[Shalee04 7]

Kelly,

Will your ins. pay for a revision? My doc says mine won't unless I gain back all of my weight.

What ins do you have?

Mini

Mini,

Well if I still had Kaiser it would have covered the revision to sleeve or fix my band, But We found out on Sept 23rd that it has slipped up my esphogus (sp) and On Oct 1st my husbnads compnay switched insurance providers and no longer even offers Kaiser. So I now have Aetna, and have just gotten an Appt to see a primary Dr so that I can get a referal to a bariatric surgeon hopefully. the paperwork I recieved and when I call CS they all say it depends on the circumstance if they will cover it.... So its a wait and see game right now......

WOW for your Dr to tell you you have to regain to be covered is just plain crazy, Sheesh dont they relize what we go thru and then to tell us to regain, Phhhhfft.

[Manatee 3]

FWIW -- I was able to get my original revision covered by the doc coding it as a 'gastric obstruction'. Maybe that helps?

My insurance would not cover band revisions or rebanding/sleeve as my BMI was too low.

[mini 0]

Kelly,

Thanks for responding. I have Aetna so I will be waiting anxiously to hear what goes on with you. Please keep me updated! Good Luck!

Manatee, thanks for the info. Coding it as a obstruction. I will let my doctor know. I go in for my first fill on the empty band under floroscopy Nov. 12th. It I still have the bit of dilitation, I don't know if he'll let me have the fill and then that is when he will decide if he wants to remove it or not.

The first couple of days that I had the fill removed, I lost controll ..yes, I started pigging out on all the fruits and veges that I have not been able to eat since 2007, but I also went crazy on candy! But, with the help of my very supportive hubby, I finally am under controll again and am sticking with a lot of Proteins and veges. I am eating much bigger portions than I am used to eating. And..I am eating so fast..oh my gosh, and the sized of my bites are so much bigger! Very strange to eat like I used to. I am determined not to gain any weight before my first fill...I would be so embarrased.

Kelly, please keep me filled in on your journey! Hopefully I can follow in yours and Manatee's footprints.

Mini