klariade

So I went to the doctor today for a routine lap band checkup and found out that my new insurance doesn't cover ANYTHING related to lap band. No fills/unfills, no revision surgery if God forbid I ever have to have it done, nothing but the office visit. This SUCKS! My surgery and all my appointments up until now have been fully covered. I switched to my husband's insurance last month. He works for the state government and apparently their insurance doesn't cover a lot of what my old insurance did. Great. Government healthcare at it's best. I could go back to the insurance my employer offers, but I'm only staying until June (I'm a teacher) and we're currently trying to get pregnant which could be considered a pre-condition if I switch insurances mid-pregnancy which would mean no coverage for anything pregnancy related. You just can't win with insurance, can you? Luckily I'm at a point where I haven't had a fill in months and can survive fine without any more, and I've never had any complications. Pray that I don't have any future complications! God bless my doctor though, I needed just a small tweak of a fill today and he did it for free. I wasn't going to have it done, figuring I could make it just fine watching my portions and wanted to save the $200 for a fill or unfill for when I really needed it. But, he offered the free fill as a "wedding present" so I could keep losing while hubby and I are trying to get pregnant. It is so nice to know that I have a doctor that is truly in it for the patients' best interest. I knew that before, but today truly showed how wonderful of a doctor I've been blessed with. So, I'm going to stay positive and get on to the baby making!

I'm not much of a measurer either, I'd rather listen to my body and stop eating when I'm satisfied. I've learned the difference between full and satisfied, and I hate that full feeling now! If I find myself hitting a plateau or gaining a few pounds, I will measure for a day or two just to keep myself in check...I'm usually spot on, and sometimes even eating less. I've come to realize that a cup of food is a lot bigger than one would think! My doctor likes to keep my portions around a cup, but he doesn't get overly concerned if I can eat a little more or less than that. If you listen to your body and recognize its signs, you really can't fail.

You need to be more patient. You are in what we call "bandster hell," those few months after surgery where you don't have good restriction yet and have to utilize a lot more self-control. Not gonna lie, it sucks! You've only had one fill, and look how much you lost even without a fill! Don't be so hard on yourself. Some people are lucky and get good restriction right away, and others it takes 3-4 fills. You don't want to fill your band too much too quickly, that can cause a lot of problems. Hang in there and keep doing what you're doing...the restriction will come!

Everyone has different "full" signs. For me, I get a slightly tight feeling just above the area around my band and, this is a bit gross, but I always burp when I'm just about full. Never did that before the band. LOL. The sandpapery feeling isn't normal...you might be getting a soft stuck so chew chew chew before you swallow. If you still have that feeling and are chewing your foods 20-30 times, it might be acid reflux especially if there's a burning sensation that goes along with it. Pay attention to what you are eating when you get that sandpaper feeling, and avoid those foods. If they are spicy, greasy/fried foods, or chocolate, it is most likely acid reflux. Some people have to get Fluid taken out of their band to get rid of acid reflux, and some can control it with medication and/or diet. I'm very lucky that I've been able to control my acid reflux just by avoiding certain foods. FYI: It took me 4 fills to get good restriction, and even now (2 years later) I need a small tweak of a fill now and then (usually 0.2-0.5cc's). Some people have good restriction at 4cc's, others more or less. It all depends on the person's anatomy. As you lose weight, your restriction might change because the fat around your stomach will decrease. Everyone is different, so don't fret!

My dr said the same thing before my honeymoon. His reasoning was he didn't want fill me right before going away in case I had any problems (ie: being too tight) that could get me in trouble while I was gone. I ate way too much on the honeymoon, gained a few pounds, but I did enjoy myself! I got back on track when I came back and started losing again. Don't fret, you relaxed and enjoyed yourself now get back on the bandwagon and watch the pounds melt away! A week of vacation and overeating won't hurt you in the long run.

Just like everyone else has said, the band will work if you work it! It is a wonderful tool that really helps to curb your appetite, but the rest is up to you. I regained some weight over the summer because I ate around my band...ie: I ate a lot of CRAP. I indulged in cookies and cakes and chips galore, ate a lot of unhealthy slider foods, and went out to eat several times a week. It doesn't matter if you can only eat a small amount of junk foods...if you indulge in them for long enough you'll gain weight! You must be committed to change and if you use your lap band tool the way it is supposed to be used, you will see incredible results!

That's what we're here for!

You're doing great! It's only been 3 months, so you're probably not at full restriction yet. You don't want to have too much put in your band at a time because it can irritate your stomach and cause problems. 2 lbs a week is a good goal, and you're doing much better than that. You'll easily lose more than 10 pounds by October! Keep up the good work! And ditto what Cindy said, there's a big difference between full and satisfied. Eat til you're satisfied and you can't go wrong.

That's wonderful! I've had to adjust the seat in my car several times since surgery. It's a nice little NSV that you wouldn't think about otherwise. Hooray for smaller tushies!

Besides the health benefits of water, I also find that I don't get stuck as easily when I'm fully hydrated. The days that I don't get all my water in, food doesn't go down as easily.

I have the same problem. When I was measured for my wedding dress they measured me at an 18, I didn't lose any weight between then and when it came in and it had to be taken in almost 2 sizes (although after going through the same thing with all my bridesmaids I'm convinced bridal shops intentionally measure you a size bigger...but I digress). Every store is different, and even then their measurements are often inaccurate for certain body types. I've also come to the conclusion that my extra skin is a huge factor. I have so much skin that gets compressed when I wear clothing, that makes my measurements larger when I'm not wearing clothing. I think maybe that's one of the reasons measurements aren't a good indicator of size. That, and different body types will wear clothing differently so the measurements should be just a guide. Me, I wear anything from a 14-18 (or a large-xxl). Crazy!

Ugh, I'm so mad at myself right now! I got through the wedding and honeymoon, and let myself slack off for about a month. Amazingly, I only gained 5 pounds through the wedding and honeymoon planning and festivities, which is incredible considering I'm a big time stress eater. I was bound and determined at the beginning of August to get back on track and lose a little more weight before school started. I did well for about a week, and then started to slack a little. I didn't go to the gym once. NOT ONCE! And then we had the family reunion, which was 4 days of camping and included all the unhealthy campire foods. I had been off track a bit, so I gave myself a free pass for the weekend...NOT A GOOD IDEA! I had 2-3 s'mores every night, and hot dogs galore, mountain pies, beer brats...good Lord, now that I'm sitting here writing this I'm wondering how the heck I managed to eat all this CRAP?!?!? I shouldn't even be ABLE to eat all this! UGH! So this morning I made myself face the scale...I've gained ten pounds in a week!!! AHHHHHH!!!! I'm hoping, praying, that with all the high sodium junk I ate that a lot of it is Water weight. I took a good look at my face in the mirror this morning, and I can tell it's puffy. No wonder my clothes were feeling snug! YIKES! This morning is a serious re-start. I am bound and determined to get to goal by the end of 2011! Enough piddling around, time to get serious. I have a doctor's appointment this Friday. He's not going to be happy, but I guess I need to face the music...and get a serious fill! Thanks for letting me vent!

These ladies are correct in that the band does not keep you from making bad choices. However, I disagree that it will not help you with your eating disorder. I am a compulsive overeater/food addict. I have been for many many years, and have tried all sorts of diets that didn't work. I've even been to Overeaters Anonymous (which I do recommend if you are suffering from the same disorder), which helped but I needed more. I was banded in August 2009, and have since lost almost 160 pounds. Because I could not physically eat as much, the band forced me to find other ways to deal with my emotions. It is only recently that my compulsions have returned, but now I know how to deal with them and will not relapse as badly as I would have pre-band. Yes, you will have to learn how to control your addiction and compulsions, otherwise you will be in a tremendous pain. And the band is not full-proof and it will take a while to get to good restriction. After surgery you will probably be very motivated and will follow the rules to a T, which will help while you are in "bandster hell" (not having full restriction yet). I am a firm believer that the band can help you overcome compulsive overeating/food addiction. It is a disease you will live with the rest of your life (just like being an alcoholic or drug addict...our drug of choice is food), but if you have the right tools you can learn to live without food controlling you. As long as you stay focused and follow your doctor's directions, the band WILL work for you. It is very freeing when food no longer controls your life!

Cindy, check out the 5-Day Pouch Test (http://www.5daypouchtest.com/). It's a 5-day diet that goes through the post-surgery food phases, giving your pouch a break and gets rid of all the carby sugery cravings. I've done it several times, and it works like a charm every single time! Everything you need is right on the website.

Thanks everyone! I'm not one to wallow in self-pity, but I did need to vent a little. If I'm being completely honest with myself, I haven't been on the band wagon for the past 6 months or so. But I've got less than 40 pounds to goal, and by darn it I'm gonna get there!

I usually eat a protein bar or drink a protein shake after the gym regardless of if I'm hungry or not. Your muscles need the protein to repair themselves and get stronger after a good heart-pumping workout...especially if you did a lot of lifting. I also find that I get fuller quicker when I eat dense protein.

Try getting some flavorless protein powder (GNC has a good one) and mixing it in with your food. Also, dietdirect.com has a lot of high protein snacks that aren't very filling (puddings, soups, and even pretzels).

Me too! About 3-4 days before my period my band goes on vacation. I can eat ANYTHING, and it seems a lot more than normal! Once my period hits, I get really tight and have had some months where I could only do liquids for a couple days. I tend to gain a 2-3 pounds PMSing, but it always falls back off (and sometimes more) once my period is over. I'd say try grazing on solid proteins and veggies, but we all know that's just impractical and nearly impossible during TOM! Hahaha!

I've been addicted to shopping ever since I hit a size 16! It's so wonderful to be able to have my choice of stores! Congrats to all you ladies who have a closet full of clothes you can't wear...because they're TOO BIG!! Who ever thought we'd have that problem? LOL!

Don't beat yourself up about it, that's the worst thing you could do. Take it as a learning experience and move on. And like the others said, I'm sure you ate A LOT less on your "binge" than you would have pre-surgery! That's progress!

I had the same thing happen to me on our honeymoon. I was so sick and nauseous I was starting to think I was pregnant...until I realized I wasn't drinking nearly enough water. When it's scorching hot outside, the normal 64oz of water isn't enough. I bump it up to 80-100oz of water a day when it's ridiculously hot, especially if I'm outside all day. I've gotten nauseous a few times since the honeymoon (because it's been so darn blazing hot) and every single time I have a "doh!" moment and remember I'm not getting enough water! So the moral of the story is...DRINK!

YES! Several times! And I'm a teacher, so it's not exactly easy to just leave the room if I need to go take care of things. That, and I'm lucky if I get even 25 minutes to eat so I try to take stuff for lunch that I know will go down easy. I've had several times when I was walking back to my classroom from lunch and had to have someone cover for me and go back to the faculty room. Once, I had a delayed stuck episode during my 1st grade class after lunch and there was nobody around to grab to cover for me. I ended up sitting at my desk while the kids were singing a song (I teach music) and upchucking into a paper towel and discreetly dumping it into the trash. I was so mortified, but luckily the kids didn't seem to notice (and since they're 6 or 7, and brutally honest, I'm sure they would've said something if they did!)

Wow, never heard of that before. In fact, both my doctor and gyno encouraged me to get the lap band because it would help with PCOS. My lap band doctor told me many women with PCOS have a lot of success with the lap band. My gyno suggested lap band over gastric bypass since I was on the pill for my PCOS, and gastric bypass removes the part of the stomach in which the pill is absorbed. I was told by several doctors that lap band is the better choice for PCOS patients. The band has no affect on the pill. I had (yes, HAD) PCOS when I got banded and have lost almost 160 pounds! I was taken off Metformin (a diabetic drug I was put on because of the insulin resistance portion of PCOS) just 4 months after lap band surgery and am no longer at risk of diabetes. My gyno did a round of PCOS testing at my annual appt in January, and after 1 1/2 years of banded life I became PCOS FREE!!! I literally cried for hours (happy tears of course!). Life after PCOS is so much better! No medications, regular periods that only last a few days like they're supposed to, and much much lighter periods. It is truly wonderful! You should not have any problems getting a lap band with PCOS, especially since it is a co-morbidity.

I tend to gain a couple pounds just before my period, and I can eat like a horse! During my period, my band is sometimes so tight I can only get liquids down. Afterwards, the weight always drops off and I go back to normal restriction. Sometimes the post-period weight loss includes a couple bonus pounds!

Oh yes, burping is a regular occurrence for me now. No worries, you'll learn to tastefully disguise/hide your burps. My hubby is very impressed that I can belch better than the boys. hehe.