ragdollx19

I posted this on the before after page but I really enjoy sharing them with all of you guys! I wish more of you would share! Wenja I use flickr so I dont know what you have to delete?

I got tired of doing monthly pics side by side so here goes my before and current...

Actually they only gave me .2 cc for my last fill. 9 days later I am happy to say I am not sliming at all now. I think I just had to let the swelling go down. I can even eat steak if I chew it well! Thanks for all of your replies!

I am only 3 months out so I guess what I say doesnt mean much in this department. So far it has been good... my dh used to be frustrated watching me lay around doing nothing and eating a lot of garbage. Now I am eating healthy even when he isnt. I think our sex life has improved too now that my self esteem is changing. It will be interesting to see how things are in 9 months. It seems all I can think about is how different my life will be one year out from surgery. I was actually surprised by my Dh's response to me wanting the surgery in the first place. I was expecting to have to do this all on my own with no support because I thought he would just tell me to just stop eating and work out. He totally surprised me by saying he thought it was a good idea and has been wonderful and caring during the whole process thus far. Not that he isnt normally very caring and sensitive to my needs. I just expected him not to be so gung ho about it and I am very happy he is... and why not?? It clearly benefits us both!

BCBS of Texas like other insurances is individual to your employers policy. They have the option to place an exclusion on their policy for all WLS procedures which saves them money. Google "cpt code lap band" call your insurance company's 800 # and ask them if that cpt code is covered on your policy. If they say it ISW covered ask them where in your insurance book the information related to this surgery is so that you can see what if any hoops they may require you to jump through. If they say there is an exclusion I believe you will have to find other ways of paying for the surgery but I am no expert. Good Luck!

I have had 3 fills and have always been able to eat more than 1/2 a cup of food. I can probably eat about a cup but still have been losing 2-3 lbs a week. My doctor never told me I should focus on only eating 1/2 a cup. He said eat until you are full then stop, if your weight loss slows down from the 1-2 lbs a week and you are eating healthy and working out then go get a fill.

Wenjea- Hope you feel better really soon, that sounds absolutely miserable! Metalband-Long time no see!! I am down another pound this morning, I am thinking my Dh is probably getting tired of me telling him each and every pound I lose but its so exciting to me! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Where did you get this information?

I am trying to learn how to use myspace... and am pretty computer literate so you would think it wouldnt be that hard! My daughter put a background on my page but other than that there really isnt much info about me. I can do the blog but it only shows the title for each entry. How in the world can I blurb? I cant find it anywhere?? Any other pointers would be great too. Thanks! Oh and I need friends, my daughter has informed me its lame not to have several to talk to on there.

I used a photo editing software to make my pics side by side. You can post them side by side but they wont be cropped like mine were. If you use post new message instead of quick reply and click on the mountain icon you can post them that way if they are small enough. Im clueless really!! I cant even figure out how to add a blurb to myspace.

Sandra, That is too funny... I get on my scale every day too and this morning itsaid 229!!! I got on my scale three more times to check its accuracy. I know the weight loss will eventually slow way down but this freaking rocks!!!

I am in DFW and had surgery May 23rd by Dr Marsden. I too could not be happier with my decision. I know the weight loss will slow down but I am absolutely thrilled to finally have some control and lots of motivation! My scale is saying the nicest things it has said to me in years! I am under 230 as of this morning. WOO HOO! I can smell onderland from here...

Does it feel like its there all the time when you swallow, or is this just something that happens when you eat? If it just happens when you eat maybe you arent chewing well enough or are eating to quickly? You could always call your Dr's office and ask. If it were something abnormal I wouldnt think getting a fill would help your case. Good luck though! Maybe someone who has felt what you are talking about can help more. This past few days when I swallow it feels like something in my throat but it is not food for sure.

Some people take many adjsutments before they find the right spot. I do not know personally but have heard the larger bands are harder to find the elusive sweet spot with.

Laura, Lastnight I had an argument with someone on the phone, as soon as I hung up my thoughts were... what can I go get to eat?? Sheesh! It made me sick to be thinking that way. I looked in the fridge and there was cake... I just didnt want to take the chance of getting sick. So I went to the store and got a Lemonade Propel (yumm!!!). So yes I must confess to being an emotional eater as well. I am finding other ways of treating myself when I am feeling emotional - bubble gum, a good beverage, stuff like that.

Sandra, This happens to me a lot. No matter what the scale says I only put my lowest recent weight on my weight charts. I will stay one steady weight for a while, and some times go up a pound or two and then over a few days drop 5 pounds at once. Dont get discouraged. Its normal for everyones weights to fluctuate a few pounds. Just remember its not going to keep going up and up like it did before :confused: I bet you are weighing every day too (I know because I do)!

I am going to e-mail the people in charge of the support group and tell them they need to be able to take more control of the group when there is someone like that in it. We didnt even make it around the room introducing our selves and our band date because of this downer chic! I will probably give it one more chance but I wont sit through the whole meeting if this girl runs everyone else! Sorry yours had 4 people like that, I cannot even imagine!

I got my first fill 4 weeks after surgery. I felt some restriction for a few days and then felt exactly as I had before the fill. I didnt get any kind of restriction until my 3rd fill. Good luck! Fills look scary but from my experience I had no pain at all.

Just because it doesnt look swollen to you doent mean thats the case. They sew the port to you so it is puffier than usual. Mine felt almost completely back to normal at a month post-surgery and unless I push looking for it I hardly know its there.

I struggled with it until my 3rd fill. I would be eating something and want more or I would try to eat something I knew was a bad idea such as a donut and be sad that I couldnt eat it. It would frustrate me. But then my scale started moving and I started learning how to eat, what to eat, and when to stop. Now I dont plan my life around all the things I feel like eating. It doesnt drive me crazy all day thinking how good a frito pie would be or how I am missing out on Saturday morning donuts with my kids. Instead when I eat now I am proud of what I am eating. I dont feel bad after I eat because I am not eating a bunch of crap. Pre-banded I would sometimes even sneak foods because I didnt want people to see me eating them. My family is eating healthier because I am the one who prepares the meals. I could have brought home 2 whole pizzas from work yesterday but I had bought myself a big chicken for dinner so we all had that. It is hard at first but you get used to it and it becomes the new you. Eventually you will realize if you want good results you have to eat good foods. You realize the consequences of eating a donut no matter how good it tastes are just not worth it! Good luck!

I did not look into VGB or any other surgery because I too like the fact that it is adjustable, reversable, and it can be replaced if needed. If god forbid I were to get very sick later in life and needed to be able to eat more I could. If I won the lotto and wanted another baby I could have it adjusted and eat more. For me there was no other option I considered. I also liked how simple of a surgery it was and how quickly I was back to being myself. Good luck in your decision!

I told everyone exactly what I was doing. I get a lot of questions from people and their spouses but I like not having to hide anything. And when I wasnt feeling well after surgery everyone was very understanding and encouraging. I work in a small office though so I imagine its different. I am proud that I have gotten my band am willing to do whatever it takes to improve myself. I dont care how skinny they are. Good for them! I am on my way to joining them!

sell...

NSV for me!! I managed to easily put on a NON-stretchy pair of NON-Lane Bryant pants in my closet. They look fabulous as long as I am standing up J Sitting in them is not pretty or bearable but it will come with time. I was just happy to be able to put them on without tugging or sucking my gut in! I went to a support group last night that had the potential to be a really good thing but one loud mouthed know it all ruined it for everyone else. I have never been so irritated in all my life. I wont say much more for fear of her seeing this!

What the heck are 7 jeans?? I know you dont mean size 7 so what gives?