JulieC

Mylah--how awesome for you!! I know I could not lift the 73 I have lost but it is amazing that we have been lugging it around for so many years.

Dear fellow shrinking shamrocks, I don't post much but enjoy reading all of your posts and enjoying your stories and successes! I just had to post because I am so excited, I am down to 250 finally!!!! Thanks for your support! :thumbup: :cool2:

Congratulations Special K thats great! Scappy Friend what a wonderful milestone for you, I can't wait to get there myself! I have been at a standstill for almost 6 weeks, playing with the same two pounds! I got a fill, lost about 10 pounds but was so tight it was very difficult for about 4 weeks. Now about 4 weeks after that I am in the same plateau. I can't eat much of anything until after noon then light for lunch. Most evenings can eat almost anything. Any advice, should I get a fill or just keep hangin in there? I am averaging between 900-1000 cals a day and excercising about 3-4 times a week. I am a little leary about another fill since I had such a rough time after the last. Thanks for being here, I am very proud to be in this group. Julie

I also have midlands choice, they do take their time when it is so hard to be patient. I found the name of the contact person there and contacted her and when I talked with her asked when I could expect an answer and when it would be okay to check with her on the progress of my claim. It was worth it I think to keep in touch in a very nice way to keep your claim on their mind but not bugging so much they hid it. Good luck!

I totally agree about how people really notice your weight loss when you get new clothes that fit right. I finally had to give in and buy some new clothes and omg the compliments I got last week made me feel like a million bucks!!!

good luck I know you will love Dr. Hung he's the best.

I live in Hastings. I had my surgery with Dr. Hung in March. I am down 60 total. I have had my ups and downs, I am a little tight right now and so have a little trouble eating at times. Some things will stay down one time and not the next. I am hanging in there as it will get better as I lose more. I have lost about 10 pounds since my last fill about 6 weeks ago. All in all it has been so worth it to me. Good luck with your journey. Feel free to ask me anything! Julie

I had my surgery on March 25 with Dr. Hung at St. E's in Lincoln. He and his staff are the best! Everything has gone wonderfully for me. His staff is great, if ever I have had a question or concern they are readily available to help me out. I am 100 miles away but feel like they are right across the street from me. I was lucky enough to have insurance that paid for my surgery so I have no idea about self pay. They are wonderful and I felt very comfortable before my surgery and after with all the instructions I got. I recommend this group highly! Good luck in your journey, please feel free to contact me. imnrnbsn@yahoo.com Julie

CONGRATULATIONS ALL!!!! It's a little ironic that last night I was working on my weight log and figuring my BMI and found that I too am no longer morbidly obese!! I have slipped into the severly obese category. Haven't been there in over 15 years at least! It was and is a great feeling! :wink2:

Brandy, I'm not sure how to take your comment??? I don't want you to think I meant I was perfect by any means. I am still smoking probably cuz I can't eat my emotions away anymore. The idea that I was trying to get across is that a persons smoking status is important following surgery for the person to get the best care possible. Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.

I am a recovery room nurse and a smoker...bad nurse. Anyway yes smokers do have more trouble after general anesthesia than non smokers. Of course it is better to quit smoking before surgery. That being said I quit smoking before I was scheduled for surgery then my surgery was cancelled by my insurance the day before but didn't have anything to do with smoking, they wanted me to diet for six more months. Well being the rebel I am I dieted half heartedly but started smoking again. I ended up having surgery as a smoker and didn't have any problems post op. Smokers tend to take longer to get their oxygen levels back to normal postop and need to be meticulous about deep breathing and coughing to keep their lungs well expanded to avoid pneumonia.

Hello everyone! I am glad to see so much success in our group! I went for my second fill Wednesday and boy am I tight now. I have been trying to advance but cant seem to get anything but liquids or cream soups to stay down. It is a little discouraging but since I am able to get enough nutrition at this point I think I will hang on another week or so to see if things loosen up a bit. I hate the thought of having to go in for an unfill. I am at 4cc in a 14cc band. I am very satisfied with my weight loss so far. The past week seems to have made a huge difference as everyone at work is noticing my change in shape. For my 50 pound mark I had my nails done and got a new hairdo! I also splurged and bought two outfits, I have gone from a size 30 to 22. Yippee!!! Thanks for your support, I don't post much but enjoy reading all of yours!

Miki I am in the same boat. I had my first fill and am very hungary also. I did eat before I went but only soup and salad. I was already hungary 2 hours later when I walked in to get my fill. I also had 4cc put it but he said it was a 12 cc band. I saw the same thing on the flouro total restriction then he adjusted to slowed passing in comparison to the first swallow I did. I am looking forward to advice also.

Hello Fellow March Bandsters! I was banded March 25 as well. I have lost a total of 40 pounds, 15 since surgery. I seem to be at a standstill as well. Looking forward to my fill on April 30. I am a little cautious in the morning as seem to be tighter but by evening I can eat a horse or want to anyway. I am so glad to meet others at the same stage as I am!! Julie

HI Sherri Yes I am right there with you. Banded march 25 and my fill will be april 30. I am hungary all the time but must admit I am able to recognize most of this hungar is head hungar. My dilemma is I can eat and eat without consequence until LATER when I have a stomach ache for hours. Julie

Thank you so much for this thread I have read every post. I am so thankful I am not the only one in band world that has not followed all the rules. I was banded 3/25/08. Post op day 1 i was served full liquids in the hospital so continued full liquids for 10 days before I began to experiment with food. At first I would chew it up and spit it out. After accidently swallowing a few bites I learned that I could eat food as long as I chewed it thouroughly. So I guess I only had mushies for a few days. I am 2weeks3days post op and eating pretty much whatever I want. I have only had one episode of PBing which was with bread. I have felt so guilty about advancing my diet ahead of schedule. Now what? I am making healthy food choices and have lost 10 pounds post op. I have my first fill on 4/30. Should I backtrack? Julie

Banded 3/25/08 Highest 323 Day of Surgery 293 Current 283 Yahoo!

Having a difficult time here. Just found out I have four of five herniated discs in my lumbar spine. Have been in terrible pain but have been being helped by epidurals. Hoping surgery will help this problem as I don't relish the idea of back surgery. Looking at other posts I am wondering if I should reconsider having the band and look at bypass as a mean to get the weight off faster? What do you all think? I am really up in the air about it. I have lost a total of 17 pounds in this second diet I am on in the past four months, I hope the band can help me take it off faster than that? Any and all advice appreciated! Julie

Joely, The initial seminar at St. E's is a round table presentation describing the procedure. They tell about both the lap band and gastric bypass if there are people there wanting more info on that. They talk about the preop qualifications, the preop diet etc and then describe the surgery day and all that happens. They discuss the post op diets, protein supplements and what to expect following surgery. Most of the people there had already had a consult with Dr. Hung I believe and it was used as a preop teaching session. That was the first thing I attended. This was presented by the nurses. I also went to another class on a Saturday morning that I really didn't know what it was. It ended up being a general overview of the services they offer and what things must be in place for you to qualify for surgery. The nurses and one of the doctors were there to answer questions. There wasn't really any one on one time with them but they were happy to answer questions after the program also. What I have been seeing on here is there is really basically not alot of difference in the insurances, they seem to have much of the same requirements with just a little difference here or there. I hope this helps you! Good luck on your journey, I am counting down, hope to be banded by February!

2nd chance, I didn't go to Scottsbluff only to Lincoln. Dr. Hung did gastric bypass on a good friend of mine and she recommended him highly. Lincoln is only a little over an hour for me so is more convenient.

Hi Laurie and all, I am from Hastings. I am planning on Dr. Benjamin Hung in Lincoln doing my surgery in January or early February. I am in the middle of the second 6 month diet my insurance requires. I have been working with the folks at St Elizabeths hospital and Dr. Hungs office and they are wonderful. They are soooo supportive and have helped so much to direct me on how to get approved and ready for my surgery. I am so glad to hear from others so close. Take care in your journey! Julie

<p>I join you in the six month diet plan! or game I feel. I am glad to know so many of you are in the same boat as I am. I have been slacking a little knowing I do not want to go beneath 40 BMI as I do not have real significant co-morbidities. Just hangin in there!<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/hungry.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Hungry" smilieid="262" class="inlineimg" /></p>

I am so glad I found this thread! I am also waiting my six months, hoping to have surgery in Janurary or February. I am just trying to be as patient as possible. I have been heavy for so long I guess a few more months wont make that much difference. I am lightly dieting I guess you would say. Just biding my time and trying to not go below 40 bmi. Good luck to all of you too!

I just found out that I don't have to go back to see the psych doctor. She asked if I would come back to see her but I guess didn't demand it in my report yippee! Will be after the first of the year for me as I still have till mid dec for my six months of dieting.

I never tried to fake answering any of the questions on the psych evals, they just seemed stupid to me. I am a registered nurse and have been to counselors before and have a couple of very close friends that are counselors. I will go if my doctor or the psych eval says I need to. I just felt she was reading alot into these tests and didn't spend much time getting to know me or anything about the way I deal with things. I have worked critical care and emergency rooms all my career. I have learned not to sweat the small stuff in my life. As long as there is a pulse and breath you have a great start! I have never felt more ready to take on something more than I do about taking control of my health and eating. I feel very confident in my support system and in myself to make this a success.