marnimae

Wowsa, you look fab. Good job and great idea re: the pic with the same outfit.

This is from my experience only, I can't say for others. I live in MA, where the hospitals and programs are kind of strict. It was a year before I was considered and approved. I had group meetings/Behav. Modification, one on one therapy, and 7 phone appts with a program set up by my insurance co. before they would approve me, on top of meeting with physical appts, bloodwork, surgeon, nutrition (which nutrition beside my group therapy was the best thing). Some people cannot tolerate different things after surgery. Your stomach is the size of a egg, I am not allowed red meat or shellfish for six months, but I hear others have it and tolerate it. I myself have chicken but I need it in a sauce, it has to be moist or I don't bother, I get hiccups. You learn to eat slowly, and if need be sit down at the table with a timer to slow yourself down, you use smaller plates and bowls, and you learn to drink and eat seperately. It is kind of mandatory, no straws for drinking. Some people become lactose intolerant after surgery, I was warned about this, but so far so good. Needless to say it is time consuming, and work, and not easy. It is not easy, so please don't think it. I am on my two month anniversary for being banded today, and had my second fill yesterday. You need patience, I am going through this now learning patience. I am waiting for the restriction feeling (feeling full), I am still not there yet. As for cost it varies,I had insurance. I had 40+ appt for the year and the average appt copay was $20 to 25 dollars for nutrition and group, $40 for surgeon, and my copay was $150 for surgery. It adds up, but so doesn't the weight if you don't take action the way I look at it . Lane bryant is too expensive for my blood, (clothes) so I invested in myself for once, because I am worth it. If out of pocket it would be like buying a new car, a really nice one.

I got my second fill yesterday. I keep waiting to feel a restriction, but yesterday was liquids, and today mushies. So tomorrow should be the test to see. As for now, I feel the same, she only put in 1 cc, so between my last and today I have a total of 4. I just hope by the next fill I will feel something. As for my oatmeal breakfast this morning, I didn't feel anything or any difference than before(no restriction feeling). I tell you that honestly, I am getting frustrated. I am glad I didn't gain any weight b/c I have been waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. ravenous, starving, physically hungry so I grab a yogurt or fruit. This is annoying and confusing b/c it interrupts my sleep and second it shouldn't be waking me up. My weight has maintained, no loss , which I am glad I did not gain that is great. But my patience is wearing thin , I swim, I walk, I watch what I eat, I eat smaller meals, I am killing my fruits and veggies, blah blah blah. Hopefully by next month we shall see a difference, something heck at this point 1/2 to 1 lb a week would put me over the moon. I quit my crutch of leaning on a protein shake at least once a day like the nutritionist said, but I might try this every other day b/c I seemed to do better with it. I am reaping the rewards of everyone gardening, I received some beautiful broccoli and summer squash, now I am waiting on the tomatoes :wub: . So as for now, still waiting, still pushing on.

I understand the hunger, I met w my nutritionist and she said when you healing & the inflammation goes away the hunger can kick in, it did for me hard and fast. I think the fill will help but make sure to call/talk to your Dr about this. Don't be so hard on yourself if you did gain, so what? Get back on the ball, look at your food logs with your nutritionist. Mine said to stop relying on the shakes and eat real food, it would help me fill up longer, where the shake is a liquid and won't last as long (didn't occur to me but I feel she is almost as good of a tool as my band is). Your Dr. Has heard & seen it all, they aren't there to judge you but help you. Don't be so hard on yourself. Hang on till you get that fill. Chin up.

Ok I am talking for me & my hubby. He has been extremely supportive so I consider myself lucky. I went for a little over a year to behaviour mod. Meetings, nutrition, group therapy, so it was a lot of help on his part even before surgery withstanding the kids, making dinner or me just not being there. Then holidays, Halloween parties, Christmas, thanksgiving even Valentine's he was amazing and helped as much as possible 're:candy or temptations, alternatives and eating way healthier than before. If your partner has binges or is a junk food junkie they need to do it when your not around. My hubs loves his three musketeers, Doritos, and ice cream but knows it will trigger me so he does not eat these around me, or put them in the house. 're: surgery he took 7 days, initially five but added two because it was a tougher go than we thought. He was caring and kind even when I was blubbering and crabby about gas pain or incisions or sick of shakes or helping me track my fluid intakintakes walking & moving around. Also, We eat as a family at the table and that was a really hard part for me, bc I couldn't really till stage four bc I had to have such different things, soup was when we ate together at dinner which was nice. If you have a partner that undermines you or has issues with food it may be extremely difficult and you will know right away when you sched surgery and they won't take time off, or help watch the kids for appointments or meetings. My hubby just went bathing suit shopping with me, his idea, so I think he is happy with my progress and it makes me feel better and I feel like I haven't in a long time. Insecurity may sneak up and the trade-me in comments might happen but if you assure them that you love them usually goes away quickly if you are secure in the marriage. I so know this is not for the weak at heart, you will know even before the surgery if your partner is going to be with you or against you . But that's me.

I did this process a year, and I lost weight pre-surgery, I was in the 270's and got down so the liver would shrink. I think it's really important to ask your Dr what he will use(staples, stitches) even pics of previous patients surgery scars so you know what to expect. It is the one thing I regret the most, most people's scars are not so big.

I went to the doctors today and got my first fill! Yahoooooo!! Finally I feel like I am getting somewhere. This unbelievable hunger has come over me the past ten days or so. I think it was because I was totally healed and no inflammation was left after the surgery, at least that is what my nutritionist explained to me sometimes happens, but I think with me going to stage 5, I had free range and cravings I could have fresh food, fruit &veggies ohhh I have missed them. Anyway it didn't help but i have maintained so I am glad, but I could have gained easily if not for exercise and telling myself over and over over the fill is around the corner. I had 3 cc put in and will go back in two weeks. I had no pain, the needle sting was super quick and I could feel something going on, it was strange but not uncomfortable and I noticed at dinner a difference. I think this week is going to be interesting, seeing if I notice a difference. Hopefully another fill or two & I can wear my bandster tiara & my big girl panties and start to my path of getting under the 200 lb mark, oh to be able to put my wedding band on, my fingers have been too fat for years, it is a goal I set. I went down two sizes but, I feel like I am one of those that needs to lose 50lbs before I really can see it. I mean I see it in my face and my midsection, but nothing significant. Time to start trying some exercise dvds, hip hop abs looks good, I found some cool workouts on interest for tightening your bum and legs. Anyhow that is all for now.

My nutritionist made me log my fluid intake and protein intake. No calorie counting b/c she wanted me to focus on these only. I was adding whey protein to my boost or Atkins shakes and I even added sugar free popsicles to my fluid intake. Are you having at least one snack a day? I know it is hard to get the shakes down but even three shakes w/o whey are about 600 calories.

I worry about the same thing but the way I see it I will be using push up bras and spanx to support me. I also was thinking about those waist like belts you wear post pregnancy pregnancy to help w your back and get stuff to go back right, my mum wore one after her bypass and she lost well over 100+ lbs and she said it helped a lot. I hope someone answers this though.

I am waiting for get my first fill on 7/1/13. Can't wait, so excited. Np told me today at my appt. That they start with 2cc. I have to wait six weeks before a fill, but I still lost another 4 lbs, since my last appt. So I am happy.

Worcester MA area, banded May 16th.

Nope, no red meat allowed, or shellfish (shrimp, lobster, scallops) for sure. My nutritionist is great, but made it clear no red meat for 6 months. Maybe turkey meatballs will cut the craving but I hope they taste good, maybe in the crockpot w/ my homemade sauce so they will be super moist. I think it was the smell, it was scrumptious, that's all.

Three weeks, heck w/ those staples in, I wouldn't even let him see me change. After the staples were out I felt better but still held off. Now it is back to normal. It should be what you are comfortable with, go with the flow.

I am coming upon my 1 month anniversary. It has gone by fast, but at the same time slow. I would say the first two weeks with the healing and pain were rough at times but, then nothing is easy re: losing weight. I am pleased and shocked at my progress. I am presently on stage 4 (diet) and by the end of this month I will go onto stage 5. I like that I can sit down and eat a meal, salmon and a sweet potatoes or some chicken and butternut squash, I can eat with my family and feel normal. I am glad to have more options re: soups other than those cream O' this & cream O' that. Egg drop soup is my favorite. Turkey burgers are fantastic for bbq's and tasty, my son likes them too, and ate my whole turkey burger, so I had to make another one. I am losing in places like I have never lost before and it is freakin' me out!! Usually I lose it in my tummy first, but I am losing it in my arms, legs, face and stomach, and not pudge area first like before (moms know, that pouch area, below your belly button) I am losing it in my upper stomach!! I have more options now, like almonds for snacks or some string cheese. Hopefully the Dr. will give me the green light to start some work out dvd's on Monday and I can find out the info re: my fills etc... I am nervous, but excited, I want the fill asap, b/c the hunger monster is back. I watch my portions, and am mindful of what I am eating but seriously it is hard. I got the Mindful eating book again(eat drink and be mindful), and I am giving myself mani's and pedi's, reading alot more, minor indulgences I never took the time for before. I am trying not to be hard on myself too, but the stress level is still there trying to be the main cook in the house and my family can eat things I don't. Honestly it doesn't bother me a whole lot, I am kind of amazed by this, the only thing that bothered me lately is meatballs, yes meatballs, they were what was for dinner one night and the smell, well it made a river run in my mouth. I did not touch them, b/c red meat is not allowed. I left the kitchen, and drank a iced tea. Point is, I got over it! I got over it, and I lived and life went on. Ok gotta go, I am missing DishNation.

Yes, I feel for you. I was banded on May 16th and have just started to feel normal. I got my stitches taken out last wednesday and I felt such relief. My pain was near my belly button and it was terrible and I went back to be checked out and they told me it is normal. I had the gas pains when I laid down or napped but this was not gas, it was from the surgery. I would give it a little time b/c you just had surgery but if you feel like it is not normal call the dr. office, I did and talked to the nurses too. If your dr. office doesn't call you back, call them back and ask why they aren't returning your calls? It's probably a mishap, but you need that communication with your dr. The nurses can be helpful, ask to speak to a nurse first.