formykids2

I am also tricare and got my surgery just as they started having the proven diet/ medically supervised weight loss qualification. They did NOT used to require this, but the new policy that came into effect last year in the early fall now does state that you have to be able to show that you have been on a medically supervised weight loss program and be unsucccessful with the weight loss. That being said... I was told that they want at least 3 months, that you have to document going in every month, and you have to have documented in your medical record what you are doing about it. I saw my pcm to start the process and immediately went to the nutritionis on base. She gave me a calorie plan to follow and I followed up with my pcm every month for 4 months to get approved. While I did lose some weight, it was not considered enough to have been clinically significant so I was approved and had my surgery Oct 13 , 2011.

I just started it last week and I agree with everything cls70 said. I am NOT in shape and definitely NOT a runner and I have survived! I made a playlist of only songs that have a good faster tempo and that are very motivational for me and I use a c25k app for the ipod. The app has the time tracked and a little voice over that says when to run and when to walk, but I use my own playlist with it!

I also LOVE my fitbit. I bought it at best buy though and got the geek squad protection plan so for 2 years it is covered from breakage and "oopses". With so many kiddos and things always happening I didnt want to risk the washing machine episode like someone stated earlier.

I had trouble for a couple of years w my gallbladder. My surgeon was WONDERFUL and took it out during my banding. I took antibiotics for a few days before as a safety precaution too. I can say I am SO happy it is gone! :-)

I am now finally, officially, legal again! My weight actually matches what my drivers licence says!! WHOOT! I went in for a fill today and actually got complimented on how well I have done in my journey with the band. I never thought I would have such nice comments!!

I had that type of pain for a while after surgery. I believe it is simply caused by the swelling from surgery and the way our bodies heal. How are you feeling now??

I am also north of the city! Just north east.

I wish our state didnt have weight on it, but alas they do. Military ID has it too so I cant escape it being written! I cant wait to go have it changed when it drops more!

Like Honk the biotin I get are tiny! My Vit D capsules are a little bigger than the biotin and with 2 fills and decent restriction I have never had a problem with them. Mucinex pills and most other hard/big pills I wont try, but I have been told my many if it is smaller than an m&m it is generally good to go.

YAY! I did request to join so hopefully will be in there with you all soon!

I would REALLY like to join the group, but I have told almost NOONE about my band. Does it show up on your page that you are linked to the group?

I thought I knew what to expect with the band well before I actually got it, and now i am totally confused about something that I am hoping you all can help me with. I am scheduled to have my first fill on Fri, but I dont know if it is the right time. I eat around 800 calories a day, 60-80 grams of protein, and low carbs and I am not really hungry between meals, but I am not losing. I did lose 5 lbs right after surgery and then didnt for the last 2 weeks. I know the postop time is about healing and not weight loss so I am not too focused on that. I do wonder though, if I am only eating 800- maybe 1000 calories if I really push hard and I am not hungry between meals, how will a fill help me? Should I just wait until I can excercise more and see what happens or should I go ahead and get a fill? Should i try to get more calories so that my body isnt doing the starvation mode thing?( I did lose very well in the preop diet time because I did south beach and I havent really changed much since surgery but am not losing like that anymore,,, am I doing something wrong?) Please understand I am NOT complaining about not losing weight right now, simply that I dont know if I need a fill yet w/ my calorie intake being pretty low, but I know that the loss of 1-2 lbs per week is one of the clues as to if you need a fill or not.

The question was because my first fill is scheduled already for this Fri and that is only 4 weeks and 1 day postop for me. I am going to try to start adding in some more excercise this week, but still take it easy until I am cleared to do more.

Thanks guys. That makes me feel better. corrigan.... I do use myfitnesspal.com and keep track of everything... it really is 800 calories unless I force higher calorie things. I think I will do the check up and give it another few weeks and see how things go once I can exercise more.

Seriously! Now instead of people belching after dinner and the kids going "eww... who did that one?", now we have "Mommy, what is wrong with your tummy??" just from the CRAZY and LOUD alien style gurgling noises!

Well, I am only 3 weeks postop, and I can feel both the band and my port. I was curious about this weird feeling behind my breast bone and asked my dr about it and he said that it is indeed the band that I was feeling, but not it around my stomach, instead I am feeling it rubbing against other things in there. It does NOT hurt, it is just weird and it does NOT happen all of the time. I do feel my port right now, but I have been assured by a few people that how I feel it now will not last. Right now if I bend, pick something up, or say kneed and roll out bread I can feel the pressure of where it is sewn in. I can also feel the bump from the outside too. Again, they do NOT hurt, just weird to feel this hard object that totally resembles the feeling of a baby pushing a hard body part against my tummy :-) Hope that helps (although yes, everyone is different!)

I made my appt for my first fill and it lands only 4 weeks out after my surgery. Is that ok or too early? The next appt time I could get is 2 months postop and I dont know which is better. Any advice?

No I dont mean throwing up either THANK GOODNESS! I am just under 2 weeks post op and feeling under the weather. I dont know if this is me truely getting sick or if I am just so run down after the surgery. I did have a rough time with pain after, and I am finally feeling more human with the ability to move and bend and walk distances so I am very thankful, but I am SO tired and just feel cruddy. Is this a common post surgery thing that I can help get myself out of or am I looking at the beginnings of getting sick :-( * I am getting at least 30-40 grams of protein (that is all I can manage to get in right now and dr said it is ok for the short term since I am not eating much), I do take b 12 sublingual, and calcium and vitamins, and ALWAYS have water with me* Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

How long are you supposed to stay full between meals when you have no fill? I can not eat much at a sitting but I am hungry before 4 hrs later. I know this isnt the time for worry about losing weight just healing and that isnt my concern, just how long I should be full. I have yogurt or cottage cheese and I am good again until meal time, but was told to not snack. Is it ok to snack if it is healthy and protein until I get fills and have some restriction?

well I woke up with an earache and sore throat so it wasnt just healing, although I prob was more likely to get sick because of trying to heal. Oh well.

I am sipping on a hot chocolate made with milk and some extra water, but added my protein powder to it and a squirt of peppermint coffee flavor! YUMMY and protein!

What are we supposed to count? Do we count calories? Carbs? I know we are supposed to have a certain amount of protein, but how about the rest? My nutritionist talked about what to eat, and how to eat it, but never about calorie count or carb limits.

So... are soups like minestrone with lots of beans ok?? Rib sticking yet still a soup??

I had mine removed with the lap band surgery.

Is anyone surprised by the "look" of the port incision? Not the size mind you, I knew it was large with the size of the steri strips, but mine looks GROSS! Is that just because it is healing? The dr said everything looks good and i do trust him but it is so gross looking. All of my others are a pea sized bump with a cut on the top, but the port one is healed almost in the middle, but pea size bumps on the end and angry looking. I dont really know how to describe it but it looks nasty!