Rebeccalee

Yahoo! That is fantastic, Vera! It must feel good to own that thing free and clear! I can't wait until I do. That's a great reward for you, too. Hope that fill gets you to the just-right spot you are wanting!

I believe the statistics are closer to 60-75% average loss of excess weight. There are a lot of things that go into this equation. I lost 60% of my excess weight in 6 months, if it is figured by the insurance charts that say I should weigh 125. My goal is 145, since I never weighed under 140 in high school. So by that figure I have lost 72% toward my goal weight. Even if I stayed right here, it would be well worth it. I have the ability with the band to lose more if I work at it. There is no window of opportunity. It's good that your doctor was very honest with you. I wonder if he does more bypass surgery than lapbands? My doctors prefer bypass (from what I can tell.) I am very happy with my choice to have lapband surgery, but bypass was not one of my options. Keep looking at what goes into each process. Only you can decide what lifestyle you prefer. Good luck with your decision!

What a classy-looking couple! You two have done a fabulous job! Thanks so much for sharing your picture. It's very encouraging.

I used liquid Tylenol with codeine and then plain liquid Tylenol. A heating pad helps sometimes. I was tired to the point of feeling depressed for a good 2 weeks, maybe longer. It passes into euphoria.

Try protein drinks like Unjury or Isopure. I also ate fudgsicles as well as popsicles, sugarfree on both. V8 filled me up better. If your doctor said yogurt and milk, he wasn't sticking to clear liquids.

I forgot about my turkey jerky! I ate it a lot when I got to solids. I used it as a snack or as lunch at school. It works great for snacking because you can't eat much and it sticks with you. Chew it real well. Try the better brands that aren't as dry. I used to buy the turkey teriyaki at Costco and it worked well.

Have a great trip, Babs! Good luck with the renewed resolve. I'm right there with ya!

Trish, I had the burning, numbing pain in my thigh and back for quite a while. It was awful. I drove 100 miles a day and sometimes thought I wouldn't make it home. Then it was worse at night. It has improved tremendously since losing weight. I get occasional pain, but nothing like it was before. I hope yours improves as well. There is hope.

How did Greg miss this one!! You guys are usually the 3 Mouseketeers, showing up in unison on the threads discussing feminine issues. What a treat to get a sensual...I mean virtual...bath with Donali! :cheeky

There is a medication that Jessie Ahroni uses for spasms -- nifidipine. She has found some success relieving spasms in her patients. (She is a banding nurse practitioner in Washington, banded for 6 years, posts daily at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters/?yguid=22243206.) Before giving up on your band, I'd try another doctor. I know that is easier said than done. I would want to know why all the hard work was not working as well as expected. I hope you find a new doctor and a way to fix your problem. I'm sorry it has been such a disappointing journey for you so far.

It should be smooth sailing from here on...I don't know why the psych eval seems to bother many of us so much...but it sure does! :nervous

It is so good to hear that you are doing so well. Thanks for checking in while you could so we know there is no reason to worry. Congratulations on your very successful relationship! :Bunny

Sometimes it doesn't take much of a fill to make a difference. You did have a lot taken out, though. I'm glad you are back in the fight! Good luck with your new fill!

It was hard for me to stop weighing myself constantly at first. I lost so much weight so fast that I just had to keep checking. Give it some time. You will get tired of weighing yourself. Setting a specific day (my surgery day) and writing down my "official" weight for the week and keeping track of the total helped me. My day is Thursday and I also weigh on Monday for the weekly scale challenge, so I weigh twice a week. If I hop on more than that, I treat it as a casual glance and tell myself it is not "official." This helps me keep my sanity.

That's so cool, Greg! I love the part where you did it again -- just like a little kid. What a nice nsv.

You may still be swollen from surgery or you may have restriction already. Lucky you if you do! The learning curve is short and wicked if you do, though. No gradual build up to learn on -- just BAM! I am very glad I had restriction right away, but it was a hard way to learn.

Here's a poem an old missionary used to recite to me -- REALLY!!--that's not the joke yet! :devious I can see through my bifocals With my dentures I'm doing fine I can live with my arthritis But, oh! how I miss my mind! :cheeky

It was extremely comforting to me to hear that my surgeons, who do mostly bypass, had only had 2 deaths with that surgery and no real complications with the band. Sometimes it is difficult to get straight facts, but it is important to ask the questions to set our minds at ease.

This is one of the hardest parts of banding. Everything feels so weird and is so individual. I had many strange pains and twinges. Unfortunately, each of us has to decide which ones need further attention. It never hurts to come and explain things and get suggestions or comparisons. Many times my eating behaviors are to blame for pains that make my chest uncomfortable. Keep track of when it happens and see if you can find a cause. If it persists or gets worse, by all means call your surgeon.

Welcome to the board. Lucky you to have insurance to cover your surgery! I can't even suggest an idea for the smoking decision. I've never had to wrestle that demon. Thank goodness. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I am very happy I got my band. It has made a huge difference in my life.

I got my Water in today. And took a nice long walk. I feel much better. When I got banded, I viewed the no drinking with food rule as non-negotiable. I'm not much of a water drinker anyway, so I suppose it was easier for me. I grew up in a house where we drank milk when we were thirsty. No wonder I got fat!

It's just different than some. The hospital and surgeon are separate. Insurance paid most of the hospital bill -- $6500 or so. (Of course the hospital billed them an outrageous sum, but the self-pay was only 6500.) Self-pay would have been something like $16,000. I paid $8500 and 25% of all the tests and the rest.

I paid $8500 for surgery and follow-up. The insurance paid 75% of the hospital, anesth., labs, etc. My insurance requires that anyone who bills them accept their payment as paid in full (it's a federal govt. thing.) Since I had paid the surgeon up front, he decided the $1200 the insurance sent was not enough. That's not how it works, but I didn't want to lose my doctor, so I just let it go. I had to pay his whole bill and decided to pay for the follow-up, too, since he would no longer accept my insurance. I feel very lucky that my insurance covered the other parts and I have a doctor who is fairly close.

Congratulations on your banding tomorrow! Everything will be fine. Being nervous is very normal. This is a very good beginning to the new year!