They have historically been very good and they approve fairly quickly but recently they have become a little more difficult. They do require that you have a 6 month physician supervised diet with monthly visits, documented exercise and some documentation of counselling by the physician on behavioral changes. They also want to see results with the program - if you gain weight or stay the same, they have not counted the program. Dr. Stickler www.medabolix.com

I have been performing LAP Band since 2004 at Charleston Area Medical Center. Please check our website at www.camcwlc.org. There is a section on LapBand as well as you can veiw Online seminar on LapBand. Once you have complete these and would like to see us for further consultation, please call us at any time. Thank you. Robert Shin, MD,FACS

The biggest concern for episodes of severe doubling over abdominal pain is for an internal hernia. This is not like a hernia in the abdominal wall where straining and lifting can make it worse. It just happens nothing that you do causes it and nothing you can do to prevent it if it is present. The episodes usually hit around the mid to upper abdomen and generally last several hours. Sometimes after the episode you will have some loose stool. When you go to the ER, usually everything looks normal, even the CAT scan. I have taken many patients back to surgery and found these hernias to be present and it is very easy to repair. The biggest concern is that the bowel will twist so tight that it cuts of the blood supply and the bowel can die. Once my patients begin having this, I take them to surgery and it can usually be fixed laparoscopically and only takes about 20-30 minutes with minimal recovery time afterward. I would talk to your bariatric surgeon about going in and checking this out. Dr. Stickler

For the last few years, (2 or 3 times a year), I have had severe pain in my abdomen. Usually before I get these pains, I'm slightly nauseated for several days with a nagging pain. The pain is directly under the scar of one of my incisions. Then my belly will swell, (almost as if I'm pregnant) and the pain is excruciating. I'm doubled over and I'll have gas (belching and vomiting). The pain is very similar to labor contractions. (maybe worse). The pain is so sincere; I hurt clear through my body and back. This just happened this past Friday, and I was in bed for two days. I can't even walk to the bath room when this happens. I use to go to the hospital, but after being in the emergency room for hours upon end and they not find anything, they would send me home w/ a large bill. No pain medicine helps. Absolutely none. The pain happens unexpectantly, and no certain food or activity triggers this. I have done nothing unusual to make this happen. It's to the point, it's affecting my job. I can't keep taking off when this happens, but I can not even sit up let alone walk and work. I'm very desperate. The doctors in my hometown are not familiar w/ the bariatric surgery, and they are dumbfounded. They come straight out and tell me, I really don't know what to do, but I can set you up for more test. I've had so many tests, and they come back stating, "We can't find anything." I had an upper GI, lower bowel, etc. etc. etc. Just to hear the same thing. "We can't find anything." Maybe I'm wrong, but (I've even mentioned this to the doctors, but they don't care to listen), but since the pain (which feels like a sword going completely through my body and turning) is directly under one of my scars, (the same scar every time) could it be scar tissue or adhesions that could have perhaps grown inward and maybe wrapped around some of my bowels or organs? And if that is the case, why the extreme gas build up? Is it possible that it is obstructing some of the bowel to cause bloatness? I have tried to take gas-x when I feel this attack coming on, but it didn't help. I have talked to other gastric patients, but they have not experienced this. Has anyone had this happen and if so, what did the doctor's find out?

Has anyone heard about the plataue diet? How does it work? ANy ideas on the subject?? i AM AT A PLATUAUE NOW AND HAVE REAAD SOME ON THIS PLATAUE DIET. Any info would be helpful.. I know we all have plataues but it is soo frustrating and i just want to start going down again sooon... Thanks alot.. 355/250/?? 105 LBS GONE...YAH!!!