labwalker

I have to correct my last post, I just checked my claims records... Apparently it is $140 to see the APRN, and another $250 if a fill is performed. That is a lot of money, but I live in CT and everything is darn expensive in this state.

$150 for the office visit, and another $250 to see the APRN. I was surprised at what they charge when I saw the insurance claims.

Surgeon felt it was my best option, all things considered. I would have done the VSG otherwise... I had to trust his experience and judgement.

It has to be Water gain!!! Don't sweat it, and just keep on track like you've been doing. We had booked an 11 day cruise for the British Isles, and because of the delayed dates for our surgeries (insurance hangups) we had to cancel out. I feel like I missed the trip of a lifetime, but when this weight is gone I'll enjoy the next cruise even more.

"Revenge of the Band." LOL

Welcome aboard! We need a few more "guys" on her, the ladies have us outnumbered! I think many of us have our bad days when we cheat... getting right back on track is what really counts.

Make sure your doctor's office (his staff that handles the insurance claims) is exactly on the same page as your insurance company's requirements. There was a poster on here who went through the required six visits with the surgeon's NUT, in his office, but the insurance company was denying because the doctor didn't some required paperwork or record keeping for each visit. I don't remember the particulars... but insurance companies can be a real pain to deal with.

I'd consult with your NUT or doctor's office before embarking on a WLS diet that puts carbs ahead of Protein intake. Every web search shows that carbs will only serve to increase hunger. http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/riskfactors/a/lofatlocarb_2.htm

I can't go too fast, but I like to use the incline to burn more calories. Since it is a cardio workout, do you have a way to monitor your heart rate to keep it in the ideal range for your age? Only thing with the incline is that the sides of left heel start to bother me after awhile--think I may have a few sore tendons from over doing it when I started.

Congrats! I think many of question whether we have reached the ideal green zone... but what is important is that your weight loss is on track!

Sounds like your band is too loose. Is your band back to where it was before the doctor removed all of the fill? Eating dense proteins first is a good start to control hunger. What does your doctor say?

Being comfortable in an airplane seat.

Can you eat your last meal of the day a bit later? And make it a high protein content meal? That should help with the hunger pangs before bedtime. I don't keep any snack food in the house... my cheat foods are now pears or apples. If I have to snack, I'll slice up a fruit and pick away at it slowly.

I only notice restriction after a fill. A lot of foods bothered me for the first several days after my first two fills. I'm on my third fill, but I can eat almost anything without getting sick or stuck. Some days I wonder if the band is even there--but since I'm able to follow a diet and not being hungry between meals I'd have to guess it is doing it's job.

High fat foods like ice cream will slide right through a band, and I doubt that you will find any benefit to the sleeve unless you avoid junk foods. I can eat around my band, if I choose too, and I am sure I could defeat the sleeve if I had that WLS. What works for me is not to have anything in the house that would slow or limit the effectiveness of my band. No ice cream, no crackers, etc. But, it would be helpful if everyone you lived with would try to support you. Since my wife had the sleeve, I'm finding it a lot easier to keep on my diet.

When the dust settles you are down to 278 from 330! That is a major weight loss in itself. Don't worry about water over the damn. I see you are getting back on track with your surgeon. It is never too late!

If it was my decision I would have gone in for the sleeve. My doctor was pushing the band, while his APRN told me to that I should go with the sleeve based on my the reports from the cardiologist, upper GI test results, cardio and other health screening. I was torn between the two procedures. The only reason I went with the band was because that is was what submitted to the insurance company for approval, and I didn't want to delay surgery any longer after the several months that I had to suffer through waiting for my approval, My wife was worried about my undergoing any surgery besides the band... odd thing is when she finally accepted the fact that I was going to have my surgery, she decided that WLS was the solution for her weight issues and ended up going for for the gastric sleeve!!!!! I still believe the sleeve is the best choice for rapid weight loss, and it is free of the maintenance and fill hassles associated with the band. I would do the sleeve if I had the chance to do it over. Regardless, now that I have the band, I will do whatever it takes to make it work and to lose the weight I want and need to shed.

Do you have any co-morbidities that might get you under the insurance coverage? If you have to self-pay, I'd suggest consulting with the doctor and the hospital regarding a discount price for paying cash up front. I've heard that can reduce the cost by quite a bit. Good luck!

Low fat Greek yogurt with cup of blueberries: breakfast. Lunch and dinner I'll have four fish fillets (broiled) and a can of yellow or green beans. Total calories is about 800. Adding my cheats (sugar and half and half for the morning coffee) and the calories in the chewable vitamins and calcium supplements problem gets me to 900. For snacks I'll slice an apple or a pear. Still at a thousand calories, and protein runs between 80 and 90 grams.

I see a lot of posts from folks who want, or need, to get back to work within a few short days after surgery. I think your experience would be a good lesson to anyone who tries to push their healing time. You probably saved a few readers the same experience.

Measure, weight, record... always worked for me, even before banding. When I became complacent and lazy, I failed.

I didn't notice it was so close to the surgery... the diet may be to promote healing. Stomach needs time to heal.

NUT suggested that if I do eat the oatmeal, to add low fat milk instead of water... just for the added protein provided by the milk. She wasn't anti oatmeal, but she took exception to my not having any protein intake for breakfast.

What the others said... more protein, less carbs. Eggs, turkey sausages, yogurt. I never thought I'd eat yogurt, but I add blueberries to mine and that's my breakfast. I used to eat oatmeal, but the nutritionist wanted me on protein.

I experience a four or five pound variation day-to-day, and that is taking my weight first thing in the morning and just before bed. Just watch the new "lows." They are a better indicator of where you are heading. So long as you see a new low weight over a period of time, you can be pretty confident that you are losing. Temporary water weight gain is common. Just taking a shower will leave me with extra weight until the skin dries out.