Alexandra

Hi Jennye, Yes, you are normal! Restriction can come and go with all sorts of variables. It's not a static thing. I experienced the same thing several weeks after my fill and then a few weeks later, bang, the restriction was back. Continue to be careful when eating, so you won't be taken by surprise when you get tight again. That's very unpleasant!

Babs, thank you. Your words really help, and serve as a reminder that if I do nothing else cutting down on the carbs will get me a long way toward controlling cravings. It's so easy to give in to the cravings when there's no *gain* from indulging. It's the dark side of the band. Now I'm worried about another thing, the sagging skin and looking my age. Being fat has always given me this very youthful appearance, and I'm not-so-unconsciously worried about losing it. I know exercise, Water, and taking better care of myself will help in this regard, but all of that is what I'm finding it so hard to do right now. Maybe I'm actually a little scared to be thinner, since it may not be all I've imagined for so many years. :confused:

At my fill the doctor wouldn't even disclose the amount of fill he was putting in, saying it's utterly irrelevant and useless for me to know that. It only leads to fruitless comparisons with other people and distracts me from feeling what IS, by making me concentrate on what I think it SHOULD BE. (He actually sort of lectured me sternly, even though I hadn't even asked him how much! Sheesh.) But I completely understand the message. That perfect fill is only what's perfect for ME at any given time. Whether it's .5 or 3.5 is completely meaningless, and the amount will change over time no matter what.

Thank you for the comments, people! I really appreciate your taking the time to read and respond. Gaynell (would you believe I know another bandster by that name?), thanks for the comforting words. Looking at my fat pictures is a great idea! Bright, you are so full of terrific tips and I love them! You too, Donali. When I get my reason-for-losing back I will know exactly what to do!! Because that's what seems to be gone at the moment--my reason for losing. And now that I think about it, I'll bet that's because of the weather. We're doing a lot of cocooning and cuddling by the fireplace, so a few extra pounds don't matter. My husband made a really good point to me - he said maintaining your weight at this time of year is the same as losing 5lbs at another time! What a terrific thought! I will cling to that with both hands. Kellymoos, that is so amazing you're into 16s and 14s!! Congratulations! This morning I put on a pair of 22 slacks and a 2X sweater. That's down from 28-30 and 4X, so I'm pretty happy about that indeed. Happy enough to stay here? That's the question. I don't want to be, but I'm not mad at myself either for not losing more. A little self-criticism can be a good thing! I went and got weighed this afternoon and they agreed I could use a fill. So on February 19 I will be going for my second fill. In the meantime I'm going to try to remember what MY job in all of this is, and recapture my inspiration for taking this road.

Hey Bright! I'm sorry to be so late with the congrats, but it's great to read your spirited messages. You sound fabulous!!

Trmoll, have you ever had surgery? I've heard it compared to really minor surgery--that it's way easier than c-sections or gallbladder surgery, for example. For me the hardest part was the anaesthesia. The actual incisions didn't hurt at all and my muscles were only sore for a week. The gas pains I've heard described were not a problem for me at all.

That's a very specific question and I doubt anyone will be able to give you a definitive answer, trmoll. Have you had other medical procedures done while on this insurance? That would be a good indicator of how long they take to get their approvals done. Or call their customer service dept (if there is one for Medicaid) and ask them.

Good job, Tellie! Congratulations on your first fill. With such a small adjustment you may not feel any difference, but don't let that fool you. Take it easy. I'm so happy for you! What a relief that it wasn't painful. Yay!

Hi Sultana, By the time of your next appointment you'll be 7 weeks out, and that is not too early to have a fill. Inamed's recommendations are 6 weeks minimum, so you're fine. You'll know if you want a fill by whether you are feeling any effect of having a band and losing weight. Does it take less food to fill you up? Can you stop easily after a small portion and feel that you've had enough? If the answers to these questions are no--which is probable--then there's no reason not to have a fill. I've only had one fill and I think its effects are wearing off. It took a couple of weeks when I had it done back in October for the restriction to really kick in, and its been on and off since then. When its off I have a lot of trouble stopping eating when I should, so I think it's time for another adjustment. I think we are all a little bit in the dark about how to use the band until we're actually learning it for ourselves. All the instructions in the world can't prepare you for the way your body will react to having restriction. The stories sound similar, sure, but everyone has to learn for themselves exactly what it feels like to them. So don't be concerned--you're perfectly normal!

Tellie, I'm also a serious needle-phobic so I can totally understand where you're coming from. But I can assure you it is nothing to worry about! Does your doctor use the fluoroscope? If so, you never even have to see the needle. When I had a fill I was lying on a table and this big machine was over my midsection blocking all my vision. I couldn't see a thing, and could hardly feel anything either. It really is no big deal at all and doesn't involve any blood. PLEASE relax because I know you know stressing will only make it worse. It's way better than going to the dentist because you can close your eyes and just concentrate on relaxing whereas with the dentist you have to keep your mouth gaping open the whole time! Please come back and let us know how it went. Good luck!

Hi Donali! It's so nice to read your one-year ruminations. You sound great...Sweetie is a lucky guy!!! Glad you're back...we missed you!

I think one of the most important things we have to learn as bandsters is not to compare our progress with that of other people. Certainly there are things we can control, like our caloric intake and amount of exercise, but there are way more things we CANNOT control and those are what account for the huge differences in the way people lose weight. There is no reason to get disappointed or frustrated with a 17 lb loss in two months or 10 lbs in one month! These are terrific achievements and you should both be very proud of yourselves. It's easy to lose perspective when we start comparing our progress to that of other people. And that way lies only anguish. Pay attention to your own achievements and you'll see them mount before you know it. Congratulations!!

As one of those people who had to wait an entire year, I can't imagine going from decision to surgery in just two months! I'm very happy for you and hope things continue to move along smoothly. Good luck!!

Bullit, I had surgery on Wednesday and returned to work on Monday. I have a desk job so there wasn't any heavy lifting involved, and I didn't have any trouble at all. The hardest thing for me was recovering from the anaesthesia; while others bounce right back the next day I wasn't totally clear-headed until Sunday morning. Like you, I have a huge aversion to vomiting. I don't do it well at all, and I was a little worried about this before surgery. But I think this is just one more reason why I was a good candidate for the band--I will be more careful to avoid behaviors that might lead to it. However, what you have heard referred to as a PB is not the same thing as vomiting. For me it's more an esophageal pain relieved by the reappearance of whatever was stuck. While sometimes this reappearance is accompanied by large amounts of saliva (this seems to depend on how long I was "stuck") it's never like traditional vomiting with stomach acid and so on. Don't get me wrong, it's not pleasant, but it's not "vomiting" either. In any event, it's important to learn how to avoid these episodes because they're not good for us. I needed exactly this aversion therapy to learn to moderate my portions, since that was my particular demon. I've never had any indigestion or reflux. Nothing about my digestive process has been changed, so there are no surprises on that score. I feel perfectly normal, I just can't eat as much as I used to. Perfect!

Hi Bullitt, I can tell you about my perspective, which may or may not ring true for you. I'm not yet a "successful" lapbander, if by success you mean having lost huge amounts of weight. But I know I made the right choice and haven't looked back for one second. I'm also someone who has been fat all of my life, and frankly, there are lots of times that I just don't want to think about it. The reason I've always failed at diets in the past is that I just can't consistently make managing my weight my first priority. But last year I came to the conclusion that I needed some serious help, because I'm getting older and the situation was only going to get worse. My two small children need a healthier mom. But I'm not fooling myself--it's impossible to change a lifetime of poor habits overnight. If I could, I wouldn't have gotten to this point. The RNY is so utterly life-changing (if you survive the operation) AND the effects are unpredictable and in many cases, temporary. The idea of going under the knife to have my insides cut-and-pasted only to have the weight possibly come back five years later was just inconceivable. I was equally uncomfortable with the idea of huge amounts of weight just dropping off of me like slabs of lard; I've seen post-ops who look like they have bags of rice stuffed under their clothes where their fat used to be. I much preferred the idea of a slower, measured loss that would give my body, my mind, my kids, and my life time to adjust. RNY would make my whole post-op life be just about that--being post-op, and I just feel like I have better things to do with my time and attention. The band is ADJUSTABLE. Right there I knew I had the right tool. There's a million second chances in those hypodermic needles putting in and taking out various degrees of Fluid. The whole thing just makes more sense, particularly in light of possible future developments in medicine. Whatever my life might have in store I want to face it with my innards intact. I've lost "only" about 30-35 lbs at this point, but I'm in a weight range I haven't seen in 10 years. If I never lose another ounce I will feel like it's been worth it. And my journey has only just begun.

Hi Ann, Try taking a photo with higher resolution. If you're scanning a regular photo, set your scanner for a higher quality. The photo you have here looks like it was a low-res photo. And Kelly's right--you look great!

My psych eval was done by someone my surgeon referred me to, and at the end I was handed a paper saying I was "cleared" for surgery. She did a longer report which was sent to the doctor, but it was just the clearance note that went to my insurer. I agree with Bob, I don't think this level of detail will be important to the insurer. Your surgeon might care, but of course you can always *talk* to him. It's not so easy to talk with the insurance carrier.

Hi Alex (wow, *another* alex!)-- I gotta say, if you're 5'9" and are only 15 lbs over your goal, you are THERE, baby! I've heard time and time again that the last few pounds come off slowly, and if I were you I'd rather give it more time instead of running the risk of a too-tight fill. You're how old? 19? IMO you should be concentrating on learning how to eat with the fill you've got, and tweaking your habits rather than tweaking your fill. Congratulations on getting so far! You are normal, honey, and 15 lbs on a 5'9" frame is pocket change. Hell, I'm 5'10" and my "goal" weight is a range of 30 lbs! I certainly won't be worried about the "last" 15. Concentrate on school, and staying healthy!! That's my thinking, and you did ask.

Hi Kellymoos! I'm glad to hear you're doing OK! I hope this fill settles in well for you and that your weight loss picks up again. We're at exactly the same place, bandsister, stalled at -34! I'm going to give it asnother couple of weeks and if there's no change in my restriction I'm going to see about another fill. In the meantime, I'll be sending you good vibes! Cheers,

I think yes, indeed, there does. Two weeks post-op is not it, though! You're forgiven your worrying; it's perfectly understandable. Dr. Kurian is absolutely at the head of the class as far as followup care goes; I don't think you have anything at all to worry about.

Glad to hear the holidays were good for you! I can't really say I've found the "right" snugness for the band; I've only had one fill altogether. What I did find is that since my fill on October 16 I've experienced several different levels of restriction. Directly after the fill there were two weeks or so where I had to really be careful. Then sort of suddenly, in the middle of November it loosened up and I thoroughly enjoyed Thanksgiving . Over the next several weeks I was fine and learning what I couldn't eat, but was sort of getting concerned that it was not snug enough for good weight loss. (My weight was stable for all this time.) But then around Christmas it seemed to tighten up and since then I've lost several more pounds. All of this is to say that I think fills should be given some time to "take" because people often report changes in restriction over time. My doctor's approach is to go for the "right" restriction the first time, and I realize it will take me time to learn how to work with it. You may find that something similar happens to you, so don't be too quick to get even more saline added. IMO that's the way people get into trouble. Take it slow--the band will be there for you for a long, long time!

Hi Sultana, I think the usual routine is for a certain number of fills (two or three within the first year, for example) to be part of the surgical precertification. This is because the implanted device REQUIRES adjustments in order to be effective, so said adjustments are a REQUIRED part of the surgical treatment. That said, banding is so new that the codes haven't caught up with the procedures and many carriers are handling fills in different ways. There might have to be clarification from your doctor, a resubmission of the claim once or twice, or whatever, but the bottom line should be that fills are part and parcel of the surgical treatment that was approved. Therefore, they should be covered as part of the original treatment approval. As far as how much they cost, that varies considerably according to how they're done. I was told that my fill--done by the surgeon himself, at a hospital, under fluoroscopy--would cost $450 out of my pocket *just for the hospital costs* if my insurance didn't pay (which it did). But that's pretty much the the most expensive way to have a fill done, so that's got to be at the high end of the scale.

Hi Becky, The answer to your question is NO, YOU ARE NOT EATING TOO MUCH!!! People are always surprised when, post-surgery, they don't feel the restriction they expected. But before a fill there is often no restriction whatsoever! Your goal at this point is to eat until you are satisfied, while sticking to your doctor's instructions. If 5 oz of food didn't satisfy you before surgery, there is no reason whatsoever to expect that it will do so now. Don't worry!!! You will find as you progress to solid food--and particularly, after you get a fill--that it takes less than it used to for you to feel like you've had enough. And in fact, it may take your head a lot longer than your stomach to recognize "enough." But these are lessons for down the road; right now your body is still healing and as long as you stick to soft foods there is no reason not to eat as much as you like. We've seen this exact same post from so many new bandsters I think we can all recognize now that it's a universal experience.

I agree with onemoment. From time to time I become more conscious of my port site because of internal tugging and sometimes sharp pangs or pings. They had to cut through and suture muscle, after all, and I guess that takes time to heal. And I don't know about you, but even very old injuries I have can flare up from time to time--not causing real pain, exactly, but just making themselves known. The human body is a strange and awesome thing.

That is as good an excuse as I've ever heard for an absence from the boards. Good on you, Donali, and we can't wait to hear all about it! :D