DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Congratulations! You've done great!

I agree, you need to contact your surgeon immediately.

I did a lot of research on these and ProSmoke had great ratings. I thought they were great, plus you can get different nicotine strengths, which really helps as you're weaning off them. The starter kits are really good deals, too. Here's a link: http://www.prosmokestore.com/

ErinMarie, e-cigs are how I quit. I had tried everything in the past- the patch, gum, even Chantix. Nothing worked. With e-cigs I was finally able to quit, it took me about 2 months slowly weening off the e-cigs. I have't had a cigarette in about 15 months and no desire to ever again.

It sounds like the problem is your surgeon's office. I also wonder if maybe they don't require a 6 month doctor supervised diet before covering it, because of their mention of a specific diet. Many insurance companies do that, too. I do know this, trying to go after your insurance company legally would be a waste of time. Because they will cover it with the right documentation, there isn't a case against them. Good luck, I hope they straighten it all out for you on Thursday.

Dinner is a little bit much not by a lot. Maybe a 1/4 cup at most. And if your nutritionist is ok with what you're eating I would think that little bit more should be ok. I mean, heck, you've lost a TON of weight really fast. You're obviously doing something very right! I can understand why you're questioning another fill, though. If I were in your shoes and did get another fill, it would be a VERY small one. Like .2 at the very most. You already have such good restriction, I'd be afraid of over-shooting it into the Red Zone if you got a bigger fill.

I'd wait, too. Also, just because you're not getting a full signal doesn't mean you're not in the Green Zone. All that matters is that you're no longer physically hungry. If you can be satisfied with a cup or less of food for 4 hours, it sounds like the Green Zone. Also, plateaus are normal. A week isn't long at all, some have plateaus that last for many weeks.

I couldn't feel mine at all at first, but now I definitely can.

I always lose a lot after a fill, too. I'm not sure why that is, because my eating habits don't change, so you wouldn't think a fill would make a difference. Yet, it does. What makes you question your restriction? Are you able to go about 4 hours after eating a cup of food without hunger?

Are you having pain when you lay down? Is it pain from the surgery or from the gas they pump in?

I quit smoking 6 months before surgery because I know smoking can not only cause serious complications while under general anesthesia, but it can also severely hinder the healing process. A lot of surgeons require you to be smoke free for a month before surgery and will randomly test your blood for nicotine to make sure you're not smoking during this time. I've had surgeries as a smoker in the past and I can't tell you how much easier it was as a non-smoker. When I smoked, I was on oxygen for 2 days after surgery because my level kept dipping down. I had issues with my incision healing properly and just overall felt horrible. Since quitting, I've had two surgeries, one for Lap Band and one just two weeks ago for a strangulated hernia. I was a non smoker for both, didn't need oxygen after surgery, and my wounds healed so much faster and better.

Hello and welcome! Those pre-surgery pictures are truly brutal. I see mine and I still feel immediately depressed. The only good part is now when I do see them, I also think how incredibly happy I am to no longer look like that. It also gives me resolve to never, ever look like that again. Your optimism and attitude are wonderful, I'm sure you'll do great with your band! Best wishes to you

That's awesome and you look great! Congratulations!

Jim I do too. I tell others to only weigh themselves once a week to save themselves the anxiety of the scale- because I know that's the smart thing to do. Ya think I can follow my own advice? Nooooo lol. I'm hopping on that dang scale morning and night both some days. It's like some weird addiction.

I've never heard of a band maker taking an insurance company to court, however if they said the reason for denial is a lack of documentation from your doctor, why not find out what documentation they're missing and give it to them? It's not like they're denying saying they don't cover weight loss surgery, they're just saying they're missing some of the necessary paperwork. I would think that should be a pretty easy fix.

Congratulations!!

No, there's absolutely nothing wrong with you. The band is not supposed to restrict what types of food you eat. In fact it's not supposed to restrict your food intake at all. Some people do have issues with certain foods, but a lot can still eat anything.

That is something you need to see your doctor about. It could be many, many things causing it. Some that are no big deal and others very serious. Whatever the case, a visit with your primary care physician is in order.

There is a thread specifically for Lap Band and pregnancy, maybe you should check it out? Then you can read the experiences of other who've been pregnant with the band.

Wow congratulations! I started this journey with over 200 pounds to lose, so reading your success story is very inspirational.

I chose the band because I wasn't willing to have my intestines rerouted or a big chunk of my stomach removed without trying something less drastic first. I figured if I tried the band and it didn't work for some reason, then I'd consider the Sleeve, but there was no way I was about permanently disfigure my otherwise healthy organs without trying the band first. For me, the band has been a life saver. I absolutely love my band and have zero regrets. Do your homework and research both. While you'll get a lot of opinions here, you need to research the actual facts of each surgery. We're nice people with a lot of opinions but the sad truth is, this is a forum, and you have no way of knowing if the advice you're getting is actually true and factual or not. It's crucial you do your homework. Best wishes with whatever you decide.

Try taking smaller bites and make sure to chew it until mush. If you cook it in such a way the meat stays moist, it will be much easier too. I sometimes struggle with dry meat, but if I cook it in some sort of marinade or even a crock pot, it stays moist so I have no problems.

Welcome and congratulations

I'm glad you're losing, and I'm not trying to be a buzzkill, but there is no possible way you could reach your goal weight by the end of September. You say you're 310 now and your profile states your goal weight as 230. It is impossible to lose 80 pounds a month. A much more realistic goal would be to lose 8-10 pounds by the end of September,

It sounds like it is too tight. I'd make an appointment with your surgeon because being too tight can lead to slips. Keep in mind, the band is not supposed to restrict your food intake. At all. It's not supposed to physically stop you from eating anything nor is it supposed to make you feel full. The only thing the band is supposed to do is make you feel satisfied with less food for longer periods of time. Satisfied simply means no longer physically hunger. It doesn't mean full nor does it mean you can't eat anymore. That's one of the reasons it's so important to stick to a cup or less of food per meal, because when your band is at the right fill amount, you'll be satisfied with that amount of food. Sticking to cup assures we don't eat beyond the point we're no longer physically hungry.