MikeSchor

BTW, I agree with what was suggested above. Get a new PCP. It doesn't sound like your health is hers/his main concern and it should be. Michael

It's not that my PCP wouldn't do my 3 month diet, but the surgeon I chose required a specific diet so he did the monitoring of the diet with me. It was a bit more because my co-pays are higher for a specialist vs PCP but it worked out OK in the end. Good luck! Michael

I was banded on 12/21. Originally the surgeon put in 3 cc's but I had major chest pain all night long and went back the next morning for a small unfill. I'm now at 2ccs and very comfortable and feeling full after my meals (4 oz of protein and 8 oz of produce). My next visit is in mid-feb and we'll see if I need a fill at that point. Michael

My answer at the beginning was "no" also. However, when I talked to HR I found that the more expensive plan that was offered did cover 90% if medically necessary. I switched to the plan, which can only be done at one particular time of the year, so I could get the surgery partially covered. I'll switch back to the less expensive plan in June when I will be allowed to change back. It won't matter much (except to save me money) because the pricey ins. doesn't cover fills/unfills anyway. Hope this helps. Michael

Hi Mary, I was banded about three weeks ago after several years of research. I needed to lose 81 pounds and as of this morning I have 61 to go. I did the post-surgery diet for a few weeks and lost 8 lbs and 13 since then. The first few weeks I was on a liquid diet; broth, tomato or other creamy Soup, pudding, Jello, yogurt. I was worried about being hungry all the time but after the band I wasn't wasn't hungry after a much smaller amount of food than I was used to. I'm on soft foods now for a week; same as liquid diet, plus fork tender/smashables; fish, poached or boiled eggs, canned carrots, peas, tender meat. Next week I can eat more regular stuff; all the previous diet stuff plus more meats, dairy (cheese, etc). These are just a few of the things I eat. There's so much more to satisfy the pallet. I have a friend who had the band 4 yrs ago and can eat sushi, a burger, slice of pizza, etc. That's their choice. I'm really motivated to get to my goal sue to medical reasons. When trying to lose weight rice, Pasta and breads are big no-no's. Those were the most difficult to cut out. The most important thing to remember is that the band is a tool. It will work as well as you want it to. Cause and effect. I can honestly say that as of last week my cravings for burgers and pizza are gone, even when the commercials come on TV. I'm personally not afraid about not being able to eat this type of food any more but encouraged that in a few years if I wanted to I can probably try. I hope this helps a little. Good luck on your journey! Michael

I have several goals. Actually, more are like milestones. My primary goal is 180 lbs. Goal 1 - Get banded - 12/21/10 Goal 2 - Lose 20 lbs - 1/12/11 Goal 3 - Lose 30 lbs - Goal 4 - Lose 40 lbs - Goal 5 - Lose 50 lbs - Goal 6 - Lose 55 lbs - Goal 7 - Lose 60 lbs - Goal 8 - Lose 25% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - 1/13/11 Goal 9 - Lose 30% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 10 - Lose 35% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 11 - Lose 45% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 12 - Lose 50% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 13 - Lose 60% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 14 - Lose 75% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 15 - Lose 80% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 16 - Lose 85% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 17 - Lose 90% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 18 - Lose 95% of the weight I need to reach Goal 1 - Goal 19 - 180 lbs!!! (81 lbs lost, 100% to my goal weight) -

Hi everyone, My name is Michael and I was banded by Dr Terry Simpson on Dec. 21, 2010 (almost 1 month). I have type 2 diabetes, insomnia, osteoarthritis (diagnosed before being overweight), diverticulitis, depression, asthma and probably a few others I'm forgetting. At my heaviest, while in a depressing, go no-where job where there was constant abuse and frustration I was almost 300 lbs. About 4 yrs ago I stopped chasing money and decided to follow my childhood dream and become a Librarian. I don't make much money and I'm almost bankrupt now but my quality of life and how I see myself as a person and useful member of society (helping people rather than trying to find new ways for them to buy things they don't need) is much better. I think I was using food as a way to end it all. Now as a Librarian, I have a more positive outlook on life and want to stick around longer. I tried for several years "diets" and things but my current age of 43, with poor health and air quality hat is consistently getting worse, I finally had to face the fact that I can't do this alone. I did make a little progress but kept falling backwards. I didn't want gastric bypass because it's not safe enough and I know people who have had more problems after that surgery. As a Librarian I spent a couple years on research and decided after several recent studies that, for me, it was now or never as my doctors told me I probably would be around much longer. With childhood obesity at it's current level and continuously rising I also felt that as a Youth Services Librarian I wasn't setting a very good example for the kids. I started my post-surgery eating plan on November 19th, 1 month before the surgery, so I consider that to be the date when my "official" journey began. It's been 56 days since I started my journey at 261 lbs. As of today (1/13/11) I've lost a total of 21 lbs (8 before surgery, which the surgeon said did help, and 13 since my surgery a few weeks ago) and am 26% of the way to my target weight of 180 lbs. I already feel better emotionally, and a bit better physically. I've have been video blogging about my journey for about 4 months -- http://mikeslearning2.blogpot.com I hope to meet some more lapbanders and I'm here if anyone has any questions about the process or thoughts I went through to get here. Thanks! Michael