TXNurse77

Total cost of all preliminary tests, labs, x-rays, etc was $9,900 and included unlimited office visits for the first year for seeing the surgeon just for a follow-up, fills, or anything d/t complications. I applied to CC for a $10,000 line of credit. So I had to be very careful to pay a little ahead before my first pymt was due because the interest would have put me over the limit. Okay so, as of today I owe $9,831.83 and my minimum payment due is $235.00 (second pymt). I paid extra on the first payment. I sent in $300. Anyhow, the Regular APR is 26.99%, however I signed up for a fixed pymt reduced APR of 14.90%. But they have an even sweeter deal if you can afford it - 0% interest if paid in full in 6, 12, and 18 months. So, really if you have to finance it through CC for 60 months you really want to try your best to make extra payments to help lower your OOP costs. If I paid just the monthly payment my band would end up costing $13, 957.00 over 60 months. I thought this bit of info would be helpful to anyone who was looking around for a way to finance their band. Everyone's needs and budgets will be different. Good luck, and if you want it bad enough you will find a way to get it in time.

There's a big fat nasty bottle of Bariatric Advantage "Wild Berry" presently sitting on our microwave with maybe 20-30 missing. NASTY stuff! I did get to sample the Lemon though, after complaining about them to my Surgeon. I do like the Lemon. Wish this stuff wasn't $40/bottle.

Oh My Goodness! Bahaha. Yes, please do a little landscaping down there. Just get in the habit of doing it often and you will find it so much easier to maintain. You never know when someone will see you. Every catheter I put in and someone is grown out like jungle vines...my mind screams. Everytime I see pubes coming out of the sides of someone's panties looking like spider legs...my mind screams. Everytime I palpate or listen to someone's abdomen and their pubes are growing upward of their abdomen and I have to be very careful my stethoscope doesn't land on them...my mind screams. LOL! I'm not typical medical staff who just ignores things. I'm a bit on the OCD side and notice everything, making mental notes all the way!

You look amazing!! Congrats!!! :Banane23:

81 lbs!! CONGRATS!!!!:party:

Oh yeah, I cheated. I only did the Pre-Op diet for 8 days. I had 2 Beefy 5 layer burritos from Taco Bell one day. 2 Days before surgery I made some homeade Dos Equis beer battered onion rings and they were huge, ate about 5 of them. The DAY BEFORE, lol..I had a chicken breast from Chicken Express minus the skin and a big chocolate chip cookie. My Surgeon showed me a picture of my liver and said he was pleased at how well I did on my pre-op. Hahaa. I honestly believe they put us on the diet knowing we may cheat some that even if we are compliant 75% of that time we're still by far better off than doing nothing at all.

Everyone is different on how fast the Gas leaves their body so I would not be surprised if you still have some lurking around. Walking, staying hydrated, and doing range of motion exercises with your arms and shoulders (windmills and rolling your shoulders) really is the best way to get rid of gas pains. I will tell you about my issue I had this past week. I was on my 4th day post op and was so uncomfortable. I kept blaming it on gas pains and I was having bad pains in my ribs upon breathing in/out. I called my Dr's office just to let them know what was going on and they asked me to come in so they could look at the band under the x-ray and possibly get an unfill. The saline the Surgeon put in when testing my band was 1 cc and there was air in there also. All of that got removed. I kid you not, I felt instant relief in my stomach and all of my muscle tightness went away. The nurse said I was WAY TOO TIGHT. I still have the rib pains just not as bad and I was told I would need a rib adjustment for that. So, I just try to tell everyone now to use their instinct on whether it is true gas pain or they believe it may be something else. It doesn't hurt to call the Dr. to find out. I'm 9 days post-op and it does get more tolerable and better each and every day. Hang in there!

That's ridiculous... What has your Surgeon said about this?

I did that and within a minute the bubbles came back.

I'm using a magic bullet and have noticed I'm getting about 2" of air floating above the shake. I used 1 scoop of Jay Robb, 1/2 cup canned sliced peaches, 1 cup 1% milk, and 4 ice cubes. I have to keep the bullet pulsating for 20-30 seconds minimum to puree the peaches since I'm only 8 days post-op. What am I doing wrong or is there a fix to this besides putting it in the fridge and waiting for the air to dissipate?