Hello I'm new to the forum. I received my lapband on Monday this week and am home resting for the week. I'm 42 years old and have struggled with weight for many years. I'm very excited to have finally had the surgery after waiting almost three years. I'd researched the band several years ago and also looked into gastric-bypass (no way!!!!)

I had my surgery through the TrueResults clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. They're based out of Texas and are in three states now and do just the lap-band. Their program includes some serious preop and postop followup (for a year) along with alot of support mechanisms so I'm satisfied I'll have the help I need. The surgery was performed by Dr. Gowen Nirmul. Dr. Nirmul has done "100's" of lapbands and I felt very comfortable having him do the surgery. He went to Yale University and did his residency in advanced laproscopy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Like alot of doctors I've investigated he used to do the full RNY Bypass but stopped to do the band instead.

The entire pre-approval process for insurance took from August 2007 until two weeks ago. I had BCBS of AZ and originally they had a six month preop requirement list including 3x a week visits to club, weekly Dr appt to weighin, nutritionists appts and I couldn't gain more than 5 lbs from my original starting weight. In January they dropped all the prereqs then my employer suddenly dropped it as a benefit! I was devastated by my employer agreed to an exception because I had started the preop the year before (I have a great employer and a great job). With that letter I was able to get approval. Once everything was submitted it only took 10 days to get my approval from BCBS of AZ and two weeks later I was in the OR!

Monday I had my surgery and was approved for an overnight stay. I went into the OR in the early morning (was number 2 of 7 band surgeries for my surgeon that day) and went to PACU afterwards. I was put in a nice room and laid around most of the day watching TV. I had some broth and apple juice for lunch and again for dinner. I was able to finish about half of it. Around 8pm I started having some abdominal pain so they gave me some morphine. I was on IV most of the day and a second bag that evening. I didn't sleep well but rested and watched alot of TV. The next morning at 10am I was discharged and went home (yesterday).

Today I woke up and actually felt pretty well. I'm having some nausea when I take my pain medication (hydrocodone liquid) and thought I was going to vomit earlier but sat in front of a fan and stayed calm until it subsided. I think it started because I was laying down and took the meds so I'll make sure I'm up next time. I'm 48 hours post-op now so I'm having EAS Protein shakes (3 a day) with 2 liquid diet items a day (beef broth and apple sauce).

My BMI was over 50 to start and my starting weight was 357. I used to be in shape and played hockey many years ago but an auto accident left me unable to play anymore and the weight piled on after I stopped being active. Other health issues appeared then and made it worse and before I knew it I was "fat". After years of diets and exercise and not being able to lose the weight I started investigating bypass but found it way to dangerous so I settled on the lap-band instead. I'm very happy with my choice.

It is nice to be here and I'm gaining alot of knowledge reading the other posts of recently banded members.

ErikMesa

Mesa, Arizona

You're right about the liquids. They go right through the band since you have no fill, into the lower part of your stomach.

You're doing great!

Hi ERIKMESA and everyone else....I'm in Mesa too! Sounds like you are doing great...I know it hasn't been a picnic but hang in there...remember your body is healing and it is OK to give in to it....

Are you walking? you never mentioned having any gas pains from surgery...good for you!

Hey the three of us should get together in Mesa when I come there in May. It's always nice to talk to someone who is banded in person.

Erik,

Thank you for sharing your story, I am so excited to be watching your loss (loss in a good way). I work for BCBS GA and I did not even know that covered the procedure until I overheard a coworker talking about just having the lap band, soooooo I am going to my seminar on April 19th I am so excited I finally feel like there is hope I have tried every thing but at 50 years old the weight just will not come off. This site is really lifting my spirits also. God Bless!!!

Sherry Jones

amsderb posted:

Are you walking? you never mentioned having any gas pains from surgery...good for you!

I'm walking a bit. I really haven't had gas pains at all (although alot of gas the first few days). The only pain I'm having is on the lower left abdominal area where I assume the port is. It'll go away as it heals.

The other symptom I have is hiccups. When I change positions (for example I'm laying down then I get up) I have 2-3 hiccups and I'm fine. It isn't really pain but it's very uncomfortable. Same if I'm sitting down then go stand up. It's bizarre really.

Athinnerdenise posted:

Hey the three of us should get together in Mesa when I come there in May. It's always nice to talk to someone who is banded in person.

Absolutely! I think it would be nice to have some friends who were banded at least we wouldn't have to worry about going out to eat all the time.

kayabitim posted:

I work for BCBS GA and I did not even know that covered the procedure

My previous employer was insured by BCBS of GA and they had an exclusion so it wasn't covered. My new employer has BCBS of AZ and they did cover it. I work in healthcare myself so I'm no fan of insurance companies and their ever-changing rules. I had someone explain it to me once that the reason so many insurers don't cover the bariatric surgery procedures is because the cost is so high and most people change jobs eventually. The old thinking that an employer needs to keep people healthy is gone because people don't work 30 years for one company anymore. Sure you might end up with heart disease or diabetes later on in life but the odds are you'll be working somewhere else and have another insurance company thus the risk to the current insurer is low. Thats why the argument "it'll cost more later if I don't have the surgery" really doesn't work with most insurance companies. They figure you won't be insured by them forever.

The other reason is as this coverage is really company contract by company contract the giant increases in healthcare costs the last several years means employers are shouldering a larger percentage of the cost of insuring employees. They're looking to cut corners and save money any way possible. Bariatric surgery is a "luxury" item in that way. I'm just very fortunate I have a great employer who was willing to basically pay for this.

ErikMesa :regular_smile:

Edited April 6, 200818 yr by ErikMesa

amsderb posted:

Athinnerdenise posted:

Hey the three of us should get together in Mesa when I come there in May. It's always nice to talk to someone who is banded in person.

Absolutely! I think it would be nice to have some friends who were banded at least we wouldn't have to worry about going out to eat all the time.

ErikMesa :regular_smile:

Mesa is actually pretty big (compared to where I live, lol) My dad lives

near McKellips and Higley. Are you close to there? I have been banded

for awhile now. The band used to cause problems for me with what I could

eat etc, but now, it's almost like I don't have it. I know what I can eat and is band friendly. I can pretty much eat anything though, in small

portions. Do you live close to there at all?

Hic ups are very normal. So is a lot of burping. My daughter told me the other day I need to learn to burp quieter. It seems every time I drink

or eat, I burp a lot for a few minutes.

My dad is moving into assisted living on 72nd and Broadway, so I will be

coming to have an estate sale and get his house ready to sell. I am not

looking forward to that, so it would be nice to get together and get my mind off of it, for a little while. I have a couple other banded friends

in AZ one in Phoenix and one in Glendale, but none in Mesa!

When you get to Mesa, email or pm me, we can get together , it is nice to have people going through what your going through, highley and mckellips is about 5 minutes from here, I am near university and sossaman. Congratrs Erik on your weight loss, just remember to stay hydrated, I myself have been treated for dehydration twice already :regular_smile:

I find it diffucult to get in all my liquids and nutrition.

Hey that is so cool that you are so close. I know exactly where that is.

We will get together for sure.

Let me know if you have any questions. It was hard in the beginning but now it's pretty much like I forget I have a band.

Hi you all! I live pretty close to the 60 and Gilbert road, so no problem with me getting together...

Hey Erik...I have worked for the same company for 24 years! I know that is rare!

Have agreat week everyone!

I'm near Broadway and Power so the same area as most of you posting from Mesa! We'll have to get together sometime for Protein shakes! :thumbup:

ErikMesa :regular_smile:

protein shakes are my favorite...in fact I mix a few mean ones!

Hey by the time I get there in May, you will have moved to soup. We can all go have soup together. Funny, Mesa is so spread out, but we are all pretty close! Yay! I love meeting with other bandsters!