cheri52

Hi Deb, by now you have gone for your first fill, hope it went well. I also went for a fill today, I think my 7th ! she only put in a tiny tiny amount as we were on the fence as to if I needed it. figured I was there so might as well. Now that I see just how little it was .1cc, to make it an even 3, anyone know if I really have to do liquids and then mushy ? seems silly. (but I am doing it) I have never had any novicane/ or ever felt I needed it. It's generally just a little prick and over with quick. only had it once where it was a bit uncomfortable but I surived! there is a lot more to this whole process, than just getting banded, it's not the end all for some of us. I did manage to lose 10 lbs since my last visit, but 2 lbs a month average isn't the most inspiring. I only got the "little" lecture. I'm still happy , at least it's 2 down and not 2 up! It's been a bad couple months on the home front, my choices haven't been great. BUT I plan to hang in there!

Thanks Juli, have you thought about running for office? I'd vote for you! got a way with words for sure:thumbup: I think we should give our :tt2: friend, JOJO a round of thanks though for getting our blood moving , a good old shot in the arm! (if not a shot elsewhere) I just don't understand the likes of such. glad we are still here......It's been a rough summer, going for a fill on the 15th and not looking forward to the lecture I'm sure to get. I was happy to hear from someone on here that a fill may be needed as time goes. I thought I had found the spot a while ago but looking back at my "stall" I'd say I'm no longer there. Love you guys!

:crying:guess it really has come to an end. so sad,:biggrin: miss you guys

Luv2teech, I'm pretty much in the same boat with the "secret". I decided not to tell either, I really didn't want any of the opinions that so many are quick to offer who really have no clue what we go through. My family would worry. Only my partner and a few at work on a need to know only have been informed. (and several of them have had gastric!) bottom line, it's none of there business anyway!

Hi Liz, good question. going to give you the same advise I'm about to give myself. I have an appointment in 2 weeks. give the pros at Lahey the history , just what you told us, and let them make the call. So far, Pam has never steered me wrong. I'm personally resisting the idea cuz I'm enjoying my current somewhat comfortable fill. playing around with the last 4 lbs, maintaining fairly easily, enjoying things I should not be having!! I've gotten complacent with my current wt., happy to be smaller(I'm down 100 lbs. from my top wt.:biggrin:) and enjoying the notice people are now giving. Yet if I were to step back and take a look, I'm certainly not an "average " person yet! So glad you asked, I was thinking about canceling my apt. but now, thinking it out for you, guess I got my own answer!!

Thanks Liz, nice to hear from you too! I'm OK, not much change here. I may have used the wrong word, not sure the NPs are assigned exactly. I was just told that they seem to mostly work with the same DR, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. Next time someone goes ask the question just for the fun of it. Pam was the one to give our group the class about all the info concerning the surgery for those who had a date. never met Corinne, wonder if she does the same? weird that if they work together that I never saw her once in all my visits. Anyway, take care.

If you got your date you must know which Dr. it will be?? Pam is Dr. Brams' NP. She would be the one you will see for everything before and after surgery, fills, etc. I only saw the Dr. once before , durring, and 1 follow up post surgery apt. , perhaps if there was a problem I would see more of him! they seem to be a team. the other "team" is Dr. Nepomnayshy and Corrine, his NP. I spoke with her once when Pam was off. they cover for each other. At least that is how I think it is arranged . Has anyone had Dr. Nepo... and had Pam? You should have met at least one of the Drs. at the info session. If you have no prefrence they will just schedule who ever has the best time for you. I would then assume that you would be talking to which ever NP (nurse) is assigned. If you call the regular number for the unit they will get her or pass the message. The girls who answer for the unit should be able to tell you who your DR. will be. I thought mine was very good, but then every one who had the other said the same. I gather the only way you can tell after is which side the port ends up on! Brams favors the left, his partner, the right. It will a bitch (sore) no matter which side . Congrats on getting your apt.

Hi Annie, the wii fit sounds fun, I locked into curves for a year, but am thinking I might try somethings else after that. My contract is up in Oct. . It's a great program but I'm bored and it's hard to work into my schedule. you'll have to keep us posted as to how you think it is doing. Your comment as to friends and family's expectations is yet just another reason I didn't tell any of them! They all think I'm doing great even though I know I'm going slow:wink_smile:. It's a lot less stress not having to worry about all their concerns. They couldn't possibly understand yet I'm sure at least some would become experts:rolleyes2:. You keep doing what you are doing and it will work:thumbup:.

Welcome Tammy, I totally understand about the not telling anyone. I did the same thing , for about the same reason. didn't even tell my grown kids or mom. I did have to tell my supervisor in order to get the time off, and have since told a select few as the occasion arises and seems safe to me. I don't think it is any ones business and I'm not good with judgements. Had people judging me all my life about my wt., tired of it! I also think in the beginning I was a bit ashamed and thought I was taking the easy way out, I was being hard and judgemental toward myself. Now I know different, it is far from easy, it's still a bitch of a peice of work :confused_smile:!.But totally worth it. If I lost nothing more, my life is still so much better. About the ticker..... I forget, it's been awhile! I remember it took several tries. start by clicking on anyones here and it will take you to the site. After you create it there are addresses at the end. you cut and paste it to your signiture here under the user cp section. don't remember which address I used, think I tried all till one worked! I think it required me to write a reply here before it took, you'll just have to try. Maybe someone else can give you better directions. Good Luck!:drool:

Thanks Juli, I know we are but it's rare the "little ones" take a chance to find out. I don't think I will ever wear her clothes, size 6 is still probably not in my future! she was a 4 when we met, thinks she's fat now that the 6's are getting tight . she's definately special.

Cindy, I know! it is wrong and I have tried in the past to fight it but to no result. both pass the blame to the other. I have never had flouro, only a needle, no x ray, 2 minutes tops. I've had the insurance co. do reviews and they say it is right. would love to know how others are codeing it. there should be some sort of review board not conected to either the clinic or the insurance co. thanks for the support, maybe I'll try again:glare:

:wink2:Tina, YOU GO GIRL!!! I'm so impressed with your attitude! that we could all be so determined, I'm sure you will get there. I don't know if you can get too much, don't think so but never thought of it! why not have one with less mix? or have slimfast or someother kind of shake or fruit smoothie? I'm sure there are other options at this point. you should be on full liquids, which is far more interesting. I think the unjury is 20 grams/serving. I just realized I have a NSV! I just made the 100 lb. total loss! from my high of course, not since the band. But it all counts for me. My honey was just marveling at the changes in my body as we first met 80 lbs. ago! I still can't figure how I snagged her at that wt. 14 years ago.

Cindy, I think I was wrong on the surgery copay, I believe mine was $500 too. It goes back too far in the check book to find it at the moment. I don't remember the deductible either, I just know they charged the $150 as outpt. surgery for the fill on some occasions and $48. in addition to the visit copay on others. I am wondering if it is how the hosp/clinic codes it. Where did you go?

better yet, back track to the main forum surgery topics and find food and nutrition, from there, the one on cooking and recipes has ideas for all the stages...check it out! :rolleyes2:

www.unjury.com :tongue2:Tina, I thought this co. made the best shake mix. esp the choc. I wasn't wild about the chicken broth one, I thought it was a bit weird, better to use a broth you like and add the unflavored. this site also has recipes and other suggestions. IF you find you are not going to make the 4 wk no matter what, be sure to go with very well blended and thinned "mushy". I got a cooked chicken from BJ's, I find them esp. tender, put it in the chopper with added broth till it was very smooth, like jar baby food, a little fat free gravy, and soupy inst. mashed potatoes, thought I was in heaven ! For me, this was not cheating as my Dr. allowed this in 2 wks. Now, I am in no means suggesting you "cheat" but IF you do, do it wisely and slowwwwly. Also, we had a week of full liquids before mushy. that being creamy soups, tomato, etc. all were put in the blender to be sure all lumps were out. I made a fish chowder just for something different and put that in the chopper, was great! had that on the full liquid stage and it was gd on the protein. good luck. I wish these Drs. would get it together and come up with a uniform protocall.

Hi Tina, I hear you, you can get unflavored unjury protein powder and add to any cold or warm liquids, doesn't work so well in hot. I can look up the web site if you need it. got to go now. will add later. good luck with that , at least you should have a big start with the wt. loss!

Mine is only a copay too, the question is "which one and how much?" MY co-pay seemed to change with the wind direction!

So Kim, who is your insurance? it's very sneeky the way they do it. yes you are covered, but probably not as you expect. and you'll get a different answer from everyone you talk to. I had mine go to review several times, with no results. grrrrrrrr:mad:

Insurance! now there is a touchy subject for me:cursing: I went in expecting it to be covered as an office apt. as they only requested a reg. copay. On the first billing they prorated it to a larger copay of $ 48. as an adjustment because the correct co was larger than the cost of the procedure! They claimed they were giving me a break. Later billings they tried to get $ 150 out of me which is my copay for out pt. surgery! They claim it is the same as an emergency rm. visit/out pt. surgery:angry: $150 is my copay for the whole surgery, who would have guessed. there was another thread started addressing this issue, but nothing lately. so far as I'm aware, we were all having this problem. I finally gave in and paid the damm bill. When they did the fill on the same day as blood work those were the times I got the higher copay. if no blood work, then the $48. one! Yet, blood work is fully covered. never did get a good answer about that one. I've been back and forth about it with little success to both the isn. com and Lahey. Both try to pass the buck and blame the other for the way it is set up. Oh, and they still charged for the regular office call too.I got tired of the fight. If any of you do manage to get this resolved I'd love to know how. I have BCBS Blue, hmo. GOOD LUCK!

You got it. I go to Lahey and that is the drill so far as I know :thumbup: who are you seeing? Pam is great, love her:wub: Good luck

Congrats Seattle! Wow is right. That is long. mine was nearly that of CM. 1 wk clear, 1wk full liquid, next 2 (3&4) soft/mushy stage. wk. 5 was mushy plus adding in something new each day ( egg, then fish, then ground turkey till wk. 6, our "new" regular diet!!!! But then , mine didn't have me on liquids before at all. sounds like a VERY carefull Dr. there is a whole thread on "mushies stage receipes" on here that has a lot of other usefull info also. check it out:thumbup:

nice to see a familiar "face" on here, very happy for you, and jealous!!! the last time I was on a ride was 98 lbs ago:embaressed_smile:. it was the "merry mixer" and the bar was so tight across me it wouldn't allow the catch to release. it was very embaressing especially when the kid had to get the maintance man to get me out. I nearly died. My kids were little so I don't think they were aware of the real problem. now 25 years later I'm too chicken! I have this fear that the ride will break and all this will be for nothing. I may have to rethink that . My NSV I guess is I only got 2 more lbs. to go to hit my 100 lb. loss ( from my top wt. of course!) :laugh:

HI Tom, that's crazy! as you can see from my ticker, I started with 138 lbs to lose. all my Dr.s wanted was 14 lbs. gone before surgery,and no pre-opt liquid diet. now, granted a lot has to do with your build, but really! I carry most of my wt. in the legs, with a much smaller gut. that makes it safer for the surgeon and you. but, if you can lose half of the wt. on the liquid, why would you even have the band done? If you don't mind my saying, it doesn't even really seem like you are that much over wt. I thought one needed to have at least 100 lbs to lose.?? I think I might get a second opinion. Juli, I was wrong, it's not 2000, almost 3000!!! wow.

something.....something......something........something........ seems we are alone! how does one have time and energy to post over 2000 messages , ride all those miles and still have a life with your sweets? I'm very impressed and awed :tt2: not to mention the great wt. loss :thumbup:

Next week I see the dietician again..and wonder if they'll do fill #2 while I'm there? or will this require another appointment? anyone know? That's great! glad you got a good responce to the fill. Are you a long way away from the clinic? I've never had apt. that close together, so not sure if it's too soon. I always book Karen and Pam together because getting there is such a process. they always do it for me on the same day about 1/2 hr apart. I think it might be a good idea to call and arrange it ahead to be sure other wise you will be making extra trips. you should ask them.