Karen F.

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It's now 4 months out from revision surgery.  I've lost 34 pounds since the revision for a total weight loss of 87 pounds.  More importantly I've now lost all my life threatening co morbidity's.  The diabetes & high cholesterol have been gone since the day of surgery, and I just had a sleep study done and it's official, NO MORE SLEEP APNEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Any wows from here on will be gravy.  It's official, I love my DS!

After 3 months of jumping thru hoops for Cigna (and a lot of work on Dr Anthone's part) I was finally approved for revision to Duodenal Switch.  On 10/16/09 I was revised.  No problems with the surgery and recovery is going well.  I'm just impatient and want to be completely healed now (but that's just me).

I am now 1 month out and doing well.  I'm getting in all my fluids and vitamins and I'm averaging about 60 grams of protein a day.  As I'm able to get in more solid foods there shouldn't be any problem getting that up. I've been off all meds for blood sugar and cholesterol since the day of surgery.

Doing well physically, down 16 pound.  Went back to work after only 2 weeks with no problems. 
Now I'll get keep working on getting rid of the weight and hopefully the sleep apnea, back pain, hip pain and knee pain.

It's been a year since I updated this thing, so I guess I'm overdue.

I have had this band for 15 months now and it has been a complete waste of time and money.

I lost about 25 pounds in the first 3 months after surgery, then nothing for the next 6 months, just kept bouncing between 191 & 195.  Then it started; the gradual climb back to were I was the day of surgery.  It's like my metabolism just adjusted to less food and went back to storing everything I eat.  No amount of fills did any good, they just made it impossible to get solid food down till late in the afternoon and it hurt to eat even then.  And that "tames your hunger" claim is a load of crap.  I've never been so constantly and ravenously hungry in my life, and I mean real hunger, not head hunger.

I HATE THIS LAP BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am now working on getting a revision to Duodenal Switch.  I had my consult with Dr Anthone in Omaha, NE on the 15th of last month and am now waiting for Cigna to approve the surgery.  Even if they don't approve it I will go ahead with it.  I'll just be up to my eyeballs in debt.

Just counting the days. 

3rd fill, up to 7.0 cc's.  PLEASE let this work!

Second fill, now at 6.5.

I got my 1st fill today, 5 cc's in my 14 cc band. I'm on liquids for 24 hours then mushies for another 24, so it'll be Saturday before I find out if I have any restriction. Liquids are going down without any problem. I'm crossing my fingers and toes, but I know it usually takes 3 to 5 fills to reach the sweet spot.

As of this morning I'm down to 201.8, down 11.4 since surgery. I was soooo hoping to be below 200, but no such luck.

I just need to learn to be patient.

It looks like I'm overdue for an update.

After completing the 3 month's diet/excercise/psych, the final paperwork was submitted to Aetna.  2 weeks later they denied it saying they were missing 2 pages of doctors notes .  The paperwork was resubmitted and 10 days later surgery was approved.  Unfortunately my surgeon was on vacation.
I had my final consult the Dr E on 4/1 and surgery as scheduled for 4/16.  It's now 4/17 and I'm banded!!!!!!!

I seem to be luckier than some, as there has been very little pain.  Just a little tylenol and I'm fine.  So now I work on the 2 weeks of liquids, 2 weeks of mushies, then ease my way back into solid food.

Down 47.8 pounds pre-op, 93.2 left to my personal goal.

I had the sleep study Friday night and it confirmed what I expected, severe sleep apnea.  My sleep was so fractured there wasn't enough solid sleep time for them to fit me with a CPAP, so I have to go back for another night.

12/04/07

The psych eval went well and I had my first consult with Dr. Edwards this morning.  Now for 3 months of diet, excercise and behavior modification to meet Aetna's requirements.  My official start weight is 242, so only 122 pounds to goal. 

My birthday is March 15th and I'm hoping to have my surgery by then.

11/15/07

As usuall the weight's back up and my BMI is once again over 40.  On the plus side, I'm now eligible for WLS.  I go for a psych eval next week and my first consult with Dr. Edwards on the 4th.

10/01/07

Shot down. Even though my screwed up back is considered a co-morbidity factor by federal guidelines, Aetna doesn't consider it one, so my BMI would have to be over 40 before they'd cover the surgery. It had been 41, but I'd been working on losing weight to prepare for the surgery, but since I lost it on my own and not on a doctor supervised diet, they say it doesn't count. 

9/17/07
I went to the weight loss surgery seminar at St Johns today and tomorrow will start the process of trying to get insurance approval.  I'm crossing my fingers and toes!