Donna113

I'm self-pay and while I would have loved it if my insurance would have paid, in some way I'm glad I self-paid so I didn't have to deal with all those issues and wait for months while the insurance company hemmed and hawed. I just wish I had made this decision years ago but as with everything in life, the aha moments arrive only when you're ready.

Name............Lbs Lost........% of wgt lost.......BMI Foofy..............37.5..................14%.................38 Sades.............31.5..................14%.................36 Shalee04.........61.....................24%.................31.1 Bandpal...........66.8..................24%................36 Skinny_Jill.......48....................22%..................32.7 Stephanie.......60....................26%..................27.1 Hollyberries.....95....................27%.................38 linda..............42.5..................19%.................31.6 Abbisgood.......53....................23%.................?? want2lose.......76.4.................26%..................33.5 DonnaT820.....9.5......................04%...............39.5 I almost feel silly for posting such low numbers bur I did just get banded so I'm looking forward to updating it.

Click on my ticker and it takes you to the ticker site and allows you to create your own. Once you've created it, you have to copy the url and paste it into your signature block under edit signature.

Sounds like you need a new doctor, if you can get one. I know with military insurance, sometimes it's not your choice.

It's easy to have 2 comorbidity (sleep apnea, arthritis, joint pain, back pain, shortness of breath). These are comorbidity issues which an insurance company can't claim you don't have if you say you do (OK, sleep apnea is something that can be checked, but if you are nearly 200% overweight, I bet you have it!

There will always be judgmental people who judge you poorly for one reason or another. If you're overweight, then it's the most obvious and easy target for their disapproval. I used to worry alot about what other people thought but I have finally got to the point that I really don't care what those kind of people think because I realize I don't like them and so their opinions don't matter to me. I have chosen to tell people I've had the surgery and for me that was the right choice. I have to admit I am really surprised at how almost everyone has responded by saying "I'm so proud of you for taking such a difficult step." I didn't expect that at all.

Thanks, it's reassuring to know that others have gone through it too and that it is part of the normal process.

I started thinking about WLS a couple of years ago and decided against it because I didn't want to do something that would affect what and how I ate for the rest of my life. Now I realize that was my addiction to food talking because the reality is that food was controlling ALL of my life. Once I could finally admit that I had a disease and it was getting stronger while I was getting fatter and flirting with comorbidity illnesses, it was really easy to say no matter the cost or the effort (I had to self-pay) it was worth a try. I am now 1 week post surgery and have no regrets and am looking forward to the rest of my life.

The guidelines provided by the doctor says after moving to solid foods, avoid liquid calories. Wouldn't that suggest no protein shakes and to get the protein in through solid foods?

I got banded last Wednesday and started feeling weak and dizzy on Monday. Still feeling weak and dizzy. Is anyone else feeling the same?

I'm 5'0 so I know exactly what you mean. I think 127 at 5'1" looks great. Do you excess skin or did they shrink back fine?

Now that you are 10lbs from your goal after only 9 months! That's so awesome! Are the last 10lbs really difficult to get off? p.s. - what kind of rice? I'm a big rice fan and am really bummed that my doc says rice is a very bad idea after banding, regardless of what stage you are at.

You can eat rice? My doc says no rice, ever, as it will stick and clog.

I wish I was one of the ones that weren't hungry, but no, I was very hungry the day after banding and still am hungry. My question was more in the maintenance phase. Once you lose the weight and go into maintenance, what is a normal daily intake of food like? As long as the band is there, even if the fills are taken out, isn't there some restriction which prevents eating bread, pasta and rice which can swell or stick?

Any update on the band slippage? I hope all is well.

My post op diet is 24-48 liquids next 4 weeks soft foods (anything with consistency of baby food) ABSOLUTELY NO meat except Fish Then stage 3 - solid foods (be very cautious in introducing beef, especially steak) Did your doctor OK eating steak 3 weeks post op?

What is normal eating after banding? So long as the band is in place, won't we always be restricted in what we can eat?

Hi TerriDoodle. Do you remember how long it was before you were able to remove the bandage strips? Today is day 6 and it is itching like crazy!

Do you remember how soon you were able to take off the strips? Mine are itching me like crazy!!!!!

But if you don't measure what you eat, aren't you afraid of stretching your pouch (especially during the healing phase)?

Of course it's up to you how much time you feel is necessary to recover, but generally speaking 4 days seems to be the recommended amount. Example: have the surgery on Wednesday, take off Thurs and Fri and have the weekend to recover and be back by Monday. For those have bypass surgery, it may take longer but the lapband surgery is less traumatic to the body than gall bladder surgery.

I got the surgery last Wednesday and would like to have gone to the support group today but unfortunately due to scheduling won't be able to make it until the next support group meeting which I assume is August 5? I really want to go because I have lots and lots of questions.

Scary. I almost went to Spiegel but I was so turned off in dealing with his staff that I decided to go with Spivak instead. Since I was self-pay I had the freedom to choose. Hearing all these wonderful things about Spivak makes me very glad of my choice.

Do you go to his support group meetings and do you find them helpful?

BayCityBandster - You've lost 20lbs in 2 months! That's fantastic! Those 20lbs are 20lbs you will never see again. Also, the slower you lose, the less sag you will have in your skin.