lessofme

Jack's correct. I was able to write off my medical the year after my surgery since my medical expenses exceeded the acceptable %. If you're going to try it, be sure to add up ALL co-pays, dental, eyeglass, all over the counter contact solutions etc. vitamins....look into it, or you'll miss some! We had to change filing status though. Had to file "married, filing separately" since adding both our incomes together, bumped the % of medical you would need to have, far too high. Filing singly helped allow the deduction. Doesn't have anything to do with a Dr.'s note though....humm...funny thing to have said.

Why would you even think of trying to push the envelope and drink carbonated drinks or work around the Doctor's advice? I read about everyone trying to "work around" the guidelines, but I paid $13,700 out of pocket to take off 60 lbs. that I've carried around for 30 years. I wouldn't dream of possibly expanding this new stomach, making way for excess food again. Last time I tried a Sprite, I had to pull the car over and throw up. Why not accept it for part of a new healthy lifestyle and move on. Gotta be committed to make this work for a lifetime.

I've noticed a change as well with allergies etc. I've recently been very tight, but have not had a fill in about 6 weeks. I've very stuffed up which is normal for me off and on. I wake up with sinus headaches almost every day. I couldn't imagine why this would cause the band to tighten, but maybe it does. Humm... Here's a new one...I am a Mom of 3 which has resulted in a family of 15. I have family dinners quite often and had Thanksgiving as usual at my house. I have found that I'm so tight the day before I have people over. Anyone get tighter due to stress, or just being on your feet, cooking etc? I swear that's all that's doing it. Thanksgiving was tough...cooking all that wonderful food and tasting maybe one bite of each dish. Sad, but glad. Had a pity party for a while though.

I've eaten it for years with fruit. Just add drained crushed pineapple, peaches, pears..it's all good. Just stay with the Fat Free or low fat kind. I mix fresh rasberries and blackberries too, sometimes add a touch of sugar. It's my little dessert that way. Yumm..

Didn't know I had a hiatial hernia either until the Dr. told me afterwards. No big deal, he said it might make for a bit harder recovery, but good to get it fixed. Completely cured my heartburn until I got almost as tight as I wanted..then it came back. Oh well..worth it nonetheless.

Congratulations! Follow the rules and you'll love it. There's a whole new you waiting! Don't let anyone tell you "being thinner can't buy you happiness"....it totally made me a happier healthier person. I've got my confidence back, walk with spring in my step and it's literally cured my HBP, backache, snoring, cholesterol problems and a host of others. Happiness comes from being healthier and you're one step closer. Way to go!

I guess we all get set in our ways. The thing I don't like about the new home page is the size of the top part...all the ads are so big. I think the thread titles are a bit over the top. Do they think we're blind as well as overweight? It takes 15 taps on the down arrow to begin reading! Drives me crazy!!

Everyone's so different during this process. You have to grasp hold of the fact that your insides are getting smaller in order for the outside to "appear" smaller. Thus...less fat around your band just like everywhere else. Makes the band looser, so you need another fill. I had them every 3 weeks almost, now I've had 15 fills total. Haven't needed one for 4 months now. Yippee! Only have a few more lbs. to loose. Needing fills is a good sign things are happening. Keep up the good work, it's well worth it!

Breakfast: 1 pkg. Oatmeal (weight control) w/1 Tbs br. sugar Lunch: Veggies, diced chicken, 1 hard boiled egg (all from a salad bar, no lettuce) shaken up in a cup w/low fat ranch dressing. Snack: 4 Lorna Doone Cookies Skinny Vanilla Latte Dinner: 1 Salmon Pattie w/tarter sauce Snack: 1 cup skim milk & 10 almonds

I can relate to the lower BMI, endless diets (30 years) and the not-so-encouraging support from others for Lap Band surgery. My BMI was 33 but I also had high BP, backaches every day, foot pain, headaches as well as high cholesterol. The only part I would be concerned with is that your whole outlook on food will have to change. After going through the process, it's a long haul until you have the band regulated. I made the mistake of thinking the band would do more of the work. Don't let anyone tell you it's the easy way out. It's work, but it's worth it. I've lost 50 lbs. as of the 4th of July. Took almost 18 months, but that's OK. I'd like to loose 10 more, we'll see. BP has gone from 189/98 to 135/75 (much better...although still on meds). Cholesterol is down from 210 to 171 (Oatmeal every day since I could eat mushies...). So life is good and every time I step on the scale and see a lower number for the first time, it reinforces my decision to change those bad habits once and for all. I say go for it! The renewed confidence which comes with a healthier self-image is worth more than you'll know. Good luck, soak up all the knowledge from all these banded friends and be prepared for the new life you'll be living with your band. It's not bad, just different.

My BP's been high for over 10 years now, was banded 15 months ago with BP around 180/88 (I take 2 meds currently)...but it's dropped nicely since loosing almost 50 lbs. It's now around 135/75. I had to provide my BP history, so they knew the high BP was not a new development, maybe that's the difference. No one was too concerned though, good thing!

Thanks for the reply. Good advice. Looks like you've been there already. I think I'll try a few more things before I get an un-fill. I do tend to eat a few crackers before bed, thinking something in my stomach will help. Maybe not.