Marimaru

Anyone know if they have a website?

Mine is to the left of my bellybutton, about at the "10:30" position if my belly button was 12. It's right on my waistline. I notice when I am moving around alot in tighter clothing, but it's not pain, I just feel it in there.

I completely think that your 'friend' should have to pay ALL of the cancellation fees on this. It's completely ridiculous. It sounds like she was even told by her boss exactly what she had to do to make sure that these rates were locked in. You should consider calling the agency to go see your family. I can't imagine you'd be the only person that turns her in, besides, when they see her lack of sales for the month, they are going to wonder what's up, because I would venture to guess she was telling everyone how many of these she'd gotten. Either way, the bottom line is that you do what you need to do for yourself. It's really kind of you to not want her to get in trouble, but she caused you a lot of pain with this mess...

I was basically told no carbonation. I have eaten steak and nuts, etc. Small small bites of steak, but it went down well enough. Ohwell

I also have been dealing with air issues. I dunno if I swallow more air than I should (and how to avoid that), or if my stomach acid is producing it or what. If there's air in there, I feel really uncomfortable when I eat until it comes up. I had 3 bites of my lunch yesterday and knew I'd pb if I had anymore. I waited like a half an hour, and then had a few burps (fortunately I was in the car by myself!), and I felt better after a couple of minutes as things started to settle better. At first I thought my fill was too tight, but seeing how I feel better after the air comes up, I know that's what it is now. Now I just have to figure out what to do about it...

Beyond tracking on fitday, keep in mind that you were on liquids n' such for a while. Once your started eating real food your body when "holy crap!" and started holding on to everything that it could. Tracking on fitday will likely tell you that you aren't getting enough in. You need to be getting in probably at least 1200 calories, or your body might think it's starving. I totally know where you are coming from though. "I'm not eating half as much as I used to, how is this even possible!"

I didn't post last week, I'd lost another 2 lbs (need to update my sig). Didn't lose anything this week tho. *kicks the scale* 280/249(yay under 250!)/145

Welcome to the "other side"

I dunno about being so flat that I don't have to wear a bra... how about not needing one cuz yer perky? LOL

My 2 fills have kicked in for me right away. I was actually nervous about this last one because it was pretty tight. Not too tight, but tight enough that I had to relearn somethings about chewing and how fast I was eating. I'm not sure if I've just "figured it out" or if things have loosened up in there or what. Yesterday for lunch I had a salad with some chicken in it. I ate most of the chicken and left most of everything else. If I had to guess I'd say prolly 2 oz of chicken. It took me forever too. I know they say that you should stop eating after 20 minutes, but I just hadn't had enough food. It's really trippy on the mind to have to make sure to get ENOUGH food in the day. Anyway, last night for dinner I slowly ate a little bit more than half of a subway wrap with no problems. It was really good and I really wanted to finish it but I looked at it and knew I'd have a problem if I kept going, so I threw it in the trash. I probably could have put it in the fridge and had it for lunch today, but I didn't want to have to think about going back for it later. Anyway, I think that's neither here nor there. Sometimes I get typing and I forget what I was originally talking about. lol

Well, the general rule with the band is to eat your protien first, then veggies, and then carbs if you have any room left for them, so I would say that low carb would be the ticket.

Also, I emailed Inamed and asked for a copy of the card because the one my surgeon gave me was in spanish. Don sent me 2 copies right away.

Also, you say your fills were included with the surgery, but that only means if you go back to Europe and see that same doctor. You are likely going to have to pay out of pocket to any doctor you find here, and that can cost anywhere from $250 to $1000 or more. Go to the Inamed site (if you have the Lap Band) and they'll send you a list.

I actually bought a bra at target the other day. They didn't used to carry my size (which hasn't actually changed quite yet), but they do now... so since they are something less than 20 bux I don't feel so bad buying one every couple of months or whatever as my size changes. I definately wasn't going to spend 40+ on a new bras as the size was changing. I hadn't thought as far as to stuff my bra in the meantime tho. lol.

I cry more than I used to. I was upset about something a week or so ago and sat down and thought to myself "damnit I want to eat something". That was strange. I'd never thought about it before, I would just wander in and grab whatever, but I can't just go do that now. I have to be careful what I eat... if I eat junk calories, then my calorie intake will be higher while I'm trying to get in my protien. I don't count any of that stuff, but I try and have a good calorie/protein ratio. I think that at some point I will want to go get some therapy, but I don't think my brain is ready for it yet. I know that I just recently realized what an impact my dad's diet nazi tactics from when I was a kid have on me today. Anyway, I'm rambling now. lol

There's a woman that works for a client of my company's who had the RNY done. She's lost about half of her former self, but my boss/mom says she's not losing anymore (I don't see her, she's on the opposite coast). My mom is MAYBE 20 lbs over weight and trying to lose that, and she says that this RNY patient eats more than she does. She told me about one meal that they had and I couldn't even believe that she ate that much. It was something like 8 hot wings, half an order of onion rings, and a bunch of popcorn shrimp. Mom didn't know what dumping was until I explained it to her, but says that this woman does it all the time, which means that she hasn't trained her body to deal with the foods that cause it, she just eats them anyway. She had it done in July of last year, so she's just coming up on the 18 month mark. I think I have started down a good path of developing new eating habits. I think if you took my band out tomorrow I would inch toward my old eating habits, so I know my brain isn't where I want it to be, but fortunately, nobody wants to take my band out .

Hey- Have you talked to Dr. Spivak about this directly? Or is he the one that told you you'd need to pay this? I can't imagine paying money to someone 'extra'... especially if they told you they are unlicensed... Double check the facts and see what they are... If it's still the case you may consider asking your insurance(s) if they can recommend another doctor. I was self pay, but I didn't have to pay my doctor's assistants anything extra beyond the fee..

I FINALLY BROKE MY PLATEAU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got a fill on Thurday and it was just what I needed. I was down 4 lbs today! YAY

Welcome Vickie "comorbidity fishcakes" I love that. You mentioned being concerned about eating no more than 1000 calories. I don't think that should be a problem, but make sure not to go under 700 or 800 at the very least. I have days where I don't really think about eating and end up right around the 700 mark, which might be ok if I got in enough protien on those days. It was the wierdest thing to track my calories for a few days and realize I wasn't eating ENOUGH. How the hell did that happen? lol I hope you give your insurance what for on Monday. I can't believe they are going to require something they wont cover. You should consider the costs involved with that stuff and see what the cost difference would be to go to Mexico, since you have to travel anyway... Just a thought. Anyhow, good luck! Sarah

It's not the band that changes sizes (unless Fluid is lost, however that happens), it's the stomach/esophagus. It's the same reason that some women have more restriction when their monthly comes. Water retention, so the tissue is thicker.

Elizabeth- You may or may not lose anything until your first fill. Sometimes we drop some weight during the liquid phase, but that's kind of a 'bonus' while we heal. When you have good restriction is when the pounds are supposed to start falling off.

Well... I'd been having PB issues, and found that there's a few things I was trying to eat that weren't working for me that I didn't realize, and also that I needed to slow WAY down. Now that I've done that, I'm doing alright and I'm debating about getting a fill. I'm super tight in the morning. I had 3 bites of a Breakfast burrito yesterday and while I didn't PB I was kind of uncomfortable for a while. I'd actually previously sworn off breakfast, but every once in a while I'll try a bite or two. Anyway, lunch is a bit more food. Even more if I have coffee or tea in the morning. I guess it loosens me up. For dinner, I can eat 'normally'. Not 'preop' normal, but normal person normal . Example, I can eat a whole one of those Subway wraps (can't do the sandwich cuz of the bread). So here's the issue that I have in my head. I LIKE being able to eat as much as I am currently able to. But I know that I have more room that I could be tightened, and I would lose faster if I got that fill. Does anyone ever feel like this? Stupid brain, always getting in the way.....

momhappe1- I wouldn't worry yourself too much about it. 'liquid in, liquid out'. Since you've gone to thicker liquids and mushies, your body is probably building up what little solids you have. But, if you continue to be worried about it, call your doc. That's what they are there for.

Roro- If you are losing 1-2 lbs a week on average, you are probably fine. But talk to your doc and see what he thinks.

Welcome Sweetness Most everyone caught everything already, but I just wanted to mention that fills are really no biggie. Sometimes the port can flip and then it might be a pain, but it's still nuthin. You'd be surprised how much it's not a big deal to have a needle in the tummy. It hurts less than the arm