AZ Gary

^^^^ Guess my signature is rounding up. MFP has me a tiny bit more to go.

Got my fill last week and can really feel it. To the point that I have to be careful what I eat and stretch out the swallowing. Had a few minor stuck periods but was ok. I have learned to make sure to keep any water or drinks out of arms reach. The 60 pound marker is starting to tease me. I set a reward that when I cross the 100 line, I am booking a diving trip to the Caymans. Just for laughs everyone should make a point to visiting the warehouse store and pick up a bad of something that is equivalent to the amount of weight you have lost.

Best advice is learn to love it, because you will be revisiting a version of it many times. After surgery, after fills and for me after a stuck episode when I don't feel like risking normal stuff. Use this time to experiment and find flavors you like.

Tell then you want a second opinion from someone that is medically qualified, not from someone on the approvals team. It is well documented that the average person can fluctuate as much as 5 pounds in a given day. For females that can be even greater depending on time of the month. In Arizona you could have weighed the first time during one of our high heat days in the afternoon and the second time during a cooler period when you may have been better hydrated. That is also not counting the type of clothes you were wearing. I would point out that the percentage difference of your total body weight. Also ask them if they would prefer to handle this in front of the state insurance board which is going to be more costly for them.

I have had 2. The first 15 years ago and it was in a facility with all the wires hooked up. I sear I didn't sleep at all. The second one was at home wearing just the head mask for two nights. The first night it wasn't tight enough and kept falling off, but the second night was a breeze.

I've seen that movie... No thank you. Bad enough when the nurse at my PCP takes extreme joy in pulling off the EKG contact pads.

Don't think of the pre-op diet as a bad thing. I went through it for three weeks. 2 planned and the 3rd was due to the surgery being moved back a week the night before the original date. Think of it as training to get your mind, mouth and stomach in shape for the things to come. After a fill you will need to revert back to it for a few days. Also when you hit a plateau on the scale, nothing like a day or two of shakes to get it moving again. I was not a big fan of it during the pre-op phase, but in hindsight it was worth it.

My wife and I went out for dinner at one of the local soup and salad places. It is usually pretty busy at dinner, but tonight I guess the storms kept people home. So as we sat down I got a chuckle and said, "look honey the booth fits." Now looking forward to flying in October without having the fear of wondering if I will have to ask for an extender belt.

Cathy. How did it go today?

I was told and confirmed by several staff members that True Results does not start with an empty band at surgery. I had 4.5 at surgery. But that may not be the case for all providers. Seems to be a wide range of what is considered normal and customary.

Same here. Off some meds and others lowered. And that was my PCP's suggestion to lower without me asking.

I had my first fill also. 2.5 cc's for me bringing me up to 7 total. I was surprised how much that made a difference even in drinking water. Like you said, best not to rush it.

It should only be for a short time. Once you start to lose weight it will be better. My wife has said the snoring for me has dropped 90%.

I was banded on 6/27/13 so one day later. Just had my first fill today. I didn't need one on my first visit last month.

I've had some back pain also. Recall having it at times also when I lost weight and I asked about it. The response was that you spine / muscles are adjusting to rebalance your body since the center of gravity is shifting. Not sure if I believe it or not, but until I hear otherwise it is the best suggestion so far.

Actually had my first fill this morning. I don't recall seeing anyone actually tell the story of getting a fill or the process of them poking around to find the edges of the port. I started at 4.5 during at the date of surgery and they added another 2 today. Looks like soup for dinner tonight. Also had my regular doctor visit to review labs and he said to stop taking one of my BP medications. All in all a pretty good day.

I'll be up there for a fill on the 27th. May bump into you.

My policy had that clause also and the center said I would have a very slim chance of fighting it. I ended up self pay but was lucky enough to have a 401K at work that allows you to take a loan against your balance. The interest paid goes back into your fund minus a very small administrative fee. I was able to apply and had funds in my hands is less than a week. For me it sure beat the 6 month study by the insurance company where they might bail on coverage anyway. I figure I will be 9 months ahead of the weight lose curve going that path.

I tend to get stuck on the scale from time to time. Seems like a week it doesn't move and then it will be a pound a day for several days in a row. Just monitor it from a big picture of the overall loss. If you need motivation use myfitnesspal to record your weight and zoom the graphs to 3 months.

A lot of us down in the valley. I had your same surgeon on the 26th of June.

I am doing great. I have found that being hungry between meals depends a lot on what I have. Protein shakes and meat seems to last longer, cereal for breakfast makes me want to forage by mid morning. Lunch I have gotten a workable standby. I have hummus and use fake crab legs(Transocean snackers 4 in a single serving pack) as a substitute for crackers or bread. That usually holds me until dinner. I have found also that my tastes for foods have changed. Hummus I never cared for and now could eat it five times a week. In the past week I have grilled beets and last night fennel bulbs. Any one else have their tastes change or now venturing out to different foods?

LessLee, You're coming up on the 2 month anniversary, how's things going?

I used True Results as self pay and one year of follow-up was included. Some of the office visits may be covered as routine visits under your regular insurance. You can always do any lab work on your regular PCP and just take the results over to your WLC center. I have a regular visit with my PCP next week to review labs and then have a fill schedules a few hours later, so they all share the same results over the single jab.

There is the My Content under your profile on the website. On the iPad / Android app it is under subscribed.

He is very good. I was banded on 6/27. Other than the consult and the day of surgery have had no contact with him. The TR staff is going to be your lifeline for all questions and answers since you will be seeing them regularly. Compare it to a wedding, you're going to do all this planning and prep for the big day, and on that day it will be over before you realize it. The only difference is there is no cake afterwards.