MeMeMEEE

I don't know about with Aetna but I know with my BCBSIL it says you have to have been compliant with your previous surgery - so you records from you previous Dr are very important.

My leak was discovered at 9 weeks out. I had it from at least 6 weeks according to my blood work (high ferritin).

My program says 1 month is when you can switch to pills/capsules. It was a little hard even then so you may have to break them in half.

Get the Pepcid right away and take it - it will help your stomach. Also, when you see "broth" on your approved foods don't get hung up on plain canned broth - I bought some of my favorite soups and just ate the drained broth. Our local Chinese restaurant was great about giving me mostly broth of wonton soup and egg drop - I strained it when I got home. So many different flavors of broth! Those things got me through!

SW 242 Height 4'11'' 6 month Pre-op loss (-28.6) Surgery date 8/8/11 213.4 1 month - 194.2 (- 19.2) 2 months - 180 (- 14.2) 3 months - 170.2 (- 9.8) 4 months - 164.4 (- 5.8) 5 months - 167.2 (+ 2.8) 6 months - 162.4 (-4.8) 7 months - 155.4 (-7) 8 months - 149.6 (-5.8) 9 months - 143.4 (-6.2) 10 months - 139 (-4.4) 11 months - 132.6 (-6.4)

Did you have insurance prior to this with no gap in coverage? If so, you can prove this and get the pre-x waived.

Make sure you count your Protein in your Fluid intake - it isn't 64 oz Water plus the protein, it is combined 64 oz. That said, no you probably won't have to drink it forever. Once you can eat dense protein you can get so much more protein in. I am down to one shake a day, I can do it without a shake but it tends to be higher calorie day than normal so it's better if I do drink a shake. Also, if you don't like the shake you have, order some samples and try others.

no picture coming through! they sound yummy!

Certainly be conscious of what you eat, you don't want a leak, as Peacequeen states (I had one also, not caused by what I ate) they are not fun!! You know, rationalizing with the low calories you get in now will be ok NOW but when you are getting in higher calories and can't say no to that cake? Not good. I have an aunt who cheats her lapband, melts M&M's in the microwave, drinks sugary coffee drinks - guess what, she isn't losing, in fact she has gained back what she did lose. You can cheat your sleeve with all sorts of bad for you stuff. Some might make you feel sick like the cake but some might not. Just think of it this way - when you are at goal, you can have those things in moderation - and even when you are in the losing phase and ok'd for real food, on a special occasion I say go for a small piece. But don't do it now, when you are healing. And don't do it often later. These are the things that got us in trouble to begin with.

I LOVE to walk and talk but can't find anyone who will do it consistently with me and most of the time of the 5 people I have none can go which ticks me off! LOL Last night my hubby and I took the dogs through the park and I loved it - so did they! But he works nights and won't consistently walk with me either. I take what I can get with everyone, it just isn't much. I was thinking the TV thing might work, we don't have cable so if I can watch my shows when they are on instead of the next day on the internet it might be me going!

Sorry just saw this! Seems I get an email for everything except when people post in my blog?? LOL We can do this - we WILL keep it off!!!

I've been keeping track of my weight lost each month in my signature and it is getting too big, at 1 year I'll have to delete something so I have decided to go ahead and stop the monthly tracking there - I track on MFP and will maintain it here in a blog but not in my signature. SW 242 Height 4'11''.......6 month Pre-op loss (-28.6).....Surgery date 8/8/11 213.4 1 month - 194.2 (- 19.2).......................................................7 months - 155.4 (-7) 2 months - 180 (- 14.2)........................................................8 months - 149.6 (-5.8) 3 months - 170.2 (- 9.8)......................................................9 months - 143.4 (-6.2) 4 months - 164.4 (- 5.8).....................................................10 months - 139 (-4.4) 5 months - 167.2 (+ 2.8) 6 months - 162.4 (-4.8)

Ack just saw this!! I think my first month was pretty typical but my second month maybe not, I most likely had my leak by then.

Don't beat yourself up! your choice of chicken and veggies was a good one! I had a hard time on my preop because everything was so sweet! I was able to have protein shakes and unlimited veggies.

Hi Sunny! Have you spoken with your surgeon or nutritionist about it? Also, do you track your food anywhere? I use myfitnesspal and find it very helpful - lots of sleevers on there and they give good feedback if they think something you are doing is causing your loss problem.

We are coming up on our month 10! One year is just around the corner for us! Can you believe it? I'm down 4.2 lbs since my check-in on May 12th. Would love to see a big loss of a couple lbs in a week but my body just doesn't want to give it to me. I believe though as long as I am headed in the right direction I am satisfied with that. I changed my goal last week, I am being daring and setting it just within the normal range of my BMI. This is scary for me, I haven't been in that range at least since high school, very possibly junior high - so 22-25 years ago! I have confidence in this sleeve and I though, I know together we can do this. I did however reach 100 lbs down this last month - that includes my pre-surgery loss as well. I have worked for every pound so I don't differentiate before/after. I've been dreaming more and more about plastic surgery these days, sure would love to have a tummy tuck, and have my thighs and arms done. And heck, if I am doing all that, maybe a boob lift. Not actively trying to win the lotto though so I am sure it won't happen for a long time. My support group had the plastic surgeons in for a meeting and they discussed all of their pricing so I know what the cost would be from them. Anyone else considering it or looked in to it yet? If you see your fellow all-stars out on the boards, try to let them know about out monthly check in! Have a great June!

11 months for me today - I am 8.8lbs from my goal. I think I will revise it when I get there, but am not ready to do that right now. My goal of 123.8lb is based on the BMI scale and is the very top number in my normal range of 93-124 lbs at 4'11''. I am not sure where I will stop. Honestly I would love to have a tummy tuck and arm lift then re-evaluate. Not going to hold my breath on that!

Scroll down a little further in the forums and there is a lapband revision forum - everyone there is former lapband!

You won't get "full" liquids - give it until solids and you will be shocked! Great that you can drink plenty - some can!

I say ask the endo - I know the people I know with pumps have a very hard time getting them set right with any change in their life.

I made lifetime on weight watchers in 2003, planning to go back at least for the free monthly weigh in when I get back to lifetime weight (3 more lbs). I agree with what someone above said - you may not be able to ear your points on weight watchers, I am well under what mine would be on the old plan, not sure on points plus. But if you get a good leader you will get lots of great info and ideas, recipes, etc. It's adds some more accountability for you and it will be awesome to go with your husband to support him as well.

I know everyone signs a waiver and it is possible to wake up with a different surgery than you went under for - I have seen at least 2 sleevers who where scheduled for Bypass woke up with the sleeve due to stomach damage or disease.

My surgeon told me when it comes to complications and healing all bets are off if you are a smoker - it takes you body alot longer to heal. My mom quit cold turkey after smoking for 50 years - her motivation? The Dr telling her if she left the hospital and went home and smoked she would be back in 30 minutes, or possibly dead (super bad lung problems, lung cancer). She tried the wellbutrin route a year before that after finding out about her lung cancer and couldn't do it. She had no problem quitting cold turkey when she found out it could kill her that quick. How about trying cold turkey?

Bacon - yes! I love bacon and it has protein! Not lots but it does! Potato, yep but it isn't the best choice. I wouldn't do it often. I have an occasional drink (I did wait until I was about 6 months out). I won't eat a sub but I get all the goodies either wrapped in lettuce (think Jimmy Johns Unwich) or if it is like chicken salad I have them do it on a bed of lettuce. You can have a toasted bread fairly easily but again not a good choice and I wouldn't do it often. It will fill you up and no protein. If my daughter is with me I snag a pinch of her yummy sub bread just for a taste. I wouldn't touch diet cola or any cola with caffeine now days - it's an addiction I broke and I won't go back. I think a lot of programs probably say no carbonation and no caffeine - mine does. You will have a new normal.

sounds good!