nurseratchett

Hi Everyone, I have not been on the board for quite a while( 3 weekends of company in a row) but I did want to share I finally got my Virgin Fill ! Yesterday , 1.5 cc in a 10cc band. It was weird I could feel the band tighten right around my stomach as he filled it ! I was told Liquids for 24 hrs and then Mushies for 24 hrs and then reg foods. I do feel the restriction especially when I drink something cold. I feel it in my pouch and then slowly drain into my lower stomach. So far so good !Today we went out to breakfast and I even ate a half of a pancake w/sugar free syurp and half a 2 egg Cheese omelette and then I was Done !! Very tight and I hope I stay that way !! Yikes my fill cost me $340 bucks because it was under the Flourascope ??:bandit I heard the DR say it would be that for the next fill also and then ONLY $250 :bandit Yikes as I keep saying that price alone will curb my appetite:faint: I would be interested to hear what some of you self payers like myself are paying for fills. I live in Arizona and it really feels like that is a lot to pay for a fill ?? I lost 28 pounds so no complaints about that and the best thing is my Doc. finally gave me a release for Cortisone injections for my hip and knee Yipee !!:clap2: Hope everyone one has a restful and relaxing weekend, Joanne

Dr C. I have a friend who had a G.B. about 4yrs ago. She lives in CA ( San Diego area ) She has gained most of her weight back and requested the Lap Band. Her surgeon said it was not possible. Since this was your first Lap Band over G.B. do you think this will be done more often. Thank You in advance for your time, Joanne

I saw Al Roker on another T.V. show (Not The Today show )He admitted to a weight gain of 20 pounds and he was working out with Oprah's personal trainer.....But I saw him this AM on the Today Show in a wet suit and bless his heart he looks like is struggling with more tha a 20 pound gain :-( I also noticed as he was walking he has a much more pronounced limp again. He had a hip replacement about 5 yrs ago and the extra weight is putting a real strain on that new hip ! It just proves that the Gastric Bypass is not sure proof either. I have a friend who is going to Jenny Craig again after having the G.B. and losing 120 lbs she kept it off for 4 yrs and it just started creeping back on as she was able to return to her old eating habits. She has gained about 80 lbs back and is very depressed ! She is NOW asking her surgeon for the Lap Band but he says it is not possible. Just my 2 cents, Joanne

The Only Meds I am taking for pain is Motrin for my joint pain and I have taken it for years. Perhaps our dreams are more vivid because our stomachs are not so full and our bodies don't have to put forth all the effort to digest all that food that may also allow us to sleep deeper which in turn allows us to dream more ? Who Knows ?? But I am glad to be dreaming again after 11 yrs. Hope you are all having a restful weekend ! Joanne

Just a word from someone who is 59 yrs old and tried every diet and excercise program 3xs or more. I always thought I would be able to do it on my own..... Well It just did not happen. Now my joints are gone ! I must have a hip replacement as soon as I lose enough weight so I can make a good recovery.I'm trying to lose 50 pounds w/o being able to do any kind of arobic excercise because of my hip. I also weighed 300 plus pounds for most of my adult life.I say have the surgery while you are young it will be so much easier.Be glad you insurance will pay for it as many of us had to pay our own. I say don't put it off. It is far from the easy way out. The Band is only a tool to HELP you lose weight. I do not consider having any kind of surgery "The Easy Way Out." Good Luck On your Decision ! Joanne

Well I never even thought about connecting my dreams to the surgery ?? But as I think back I have not been a big dreamer for years. All My dreams seemed to just stop ?? when I lost my Mom and step dad with in 8 mo. of each other. It was wierd !! It was odd enough that I mentioned it to my husband and co workers and we all came to the conclusion that losing my parents so close together was pretty traumatic and so that was probably why ? Now fast forward 11 yrs and suddenly I am dreaming again in detail just as I used to. In fact I had a reacurring dream 3 nights in a row about a friend I had lost touch with. It was so vivid that I searched the internet for her e-mail address and e-mailed her..... I have not heard from her yet I'm wondering if something bad has happened ? Last night I had another Vivid dream about living back on the farm with my parents again ? So long story shorter just perhaps Jeanette you might be on to something OOO-WEE-OOO:eek: You are not alone !! Joanne

Hello Fellow Bandsters, As I wrote yesterday I found some Zuchinni Patties 70 cal each/2 protiens each.I had 3 for dinner lastnight with a forth of a cup of Cottage cheese and a Morning Star Farms sausage patty 80 cal /4 protiens They were great!! For desert I had a sugar free popsicicle (sp?)The Patties are in the frozen food section and the brand name I bought is Golden. They were $3.99 for 8 patties I'm going to buy 2 more pkgs today ! My goal while I continue to be in Band hell is to find foods that fill me up and are full of flavor with not to many Calories These fill the bill and my stomach too:clap2: I just thought some of you that are in the same boat might enjoy these. You can also put a dollop of Lowfat sour cream or salsa or both on them. Have a Great Day ! Joanne

I will give it my best to do some sort of upper body excercise:scared: Until I can get my Hip replaced that will be all I can do :faint: Once summer gets here I will be in the pool swimming laps....so come on Summer :clap2: I found some Frozen Zuchinni Patties for 70 Cal I haven't tried them yet BUT I will let you know if they are any good right now everything sounds good to me:hungry: Wellllll with the exception of that Nasty protien drink I spent so much $$ 40 Bucks a box at GNC (Myoplex) because the Nutrionist reccomended it so highly UGH!!:omg: I had to have my husband take the boxes over to a friends house The sight of the boxes makes me physically ill. I lived on the stuff for a month and the thought of it makes me sick:sick Well On that happy note I am 2 weeks and counting til my first fill :biggrin1: Hope you are all having a Grrrrreat Day !! Joanne

That Girl ! You are not whining anymore than the rest of us ! I believe it is called Lap Band hell !! I am in exactly the same spot ! It never even registered with me when they said 6wks for my first fill ? I think I just wanted the surgery so bad. I had been turned down by my Ins.2xs. We decided to self pay and NOT delay any longer. Then when I came home from surgery,I had to force myself to eat and was so full with a fourth of a cup ! I thought at last this is what every overweight person has dreamed of eat a few bites and you are stuffed, Then ever so slowly as the weeks progressed so did my appetite Grrr ! Here is what I am trying to do ! Eat Plenty of protien ! I find it staves off the hunger. Have you tried the Low fat Laughing Cow Cheese Yum 1 triangle is only 30 cal sometimes I take healthy Choice Deli ( 6 slices is a seving)selects and lettuce leaves and smear the Laughing Cow cheese on the lettuce and roll it up ! You can eat more than one and it is so filling because it is full of protien. Don't think you are alone because we are all struggling and I am hoping my first fill will hold me for awhile because I have to pay $250 bucks a fill. Now that might curb my appetite :-( Hang in there ! Joanne

Hi Sunshine , You have had a rough week so do not be to hard on yourself ! It could have been a lot worse for all you have had to deal with. I usually weigh on Mondays BUT I chose not to today. I did not want to derail myself. I to have been snacking, I'm trying to make good food choices but I know I am eating more than I was. You are doing great do not be discouraged ! Joanne

It looks like you are eating a pretty good balance of protien foods and water. And you can treat yourself with a piece of Pizza on the weekend too:) You are a real inspiration. As for me each day that goes buy I am hungrier:hungry: and hungrier:hungry: With no hope for a fill until 3/15:faint: I'm just trying to maintain my 23 lb loss. Today I am starting back on the meal replacement bars and the only protien shake I can tolerate is Glucerna:phanvan so I am having that for dinner tonight. I'm going to try and kick up the protien since that does help hold the hunger down. Be very ,very happy that you have not reached Lap Band Hell that many of us are experiencing right now...... No restriction but still 10 days or more from being able to get the first fill. Keep up the great work !:clap2: Joanne

Wow ! That is wonderful, congrats on your Super weight loss :clap2: Have you even gotten your first fill yet ? Joanne

Shues, Congrats on your weight loss ! I'm just sorry it was under such a stressful situation. It sounds like you are on the mend now and if I had lost 37 pounds I think that would be a real mood elevator for me Joanne