HappyCamper

I'm from Palmdale, CA too!

I didn't buy Viactiv from Costco for the same reason, it's calcium carbonate. I was also told by my nutritionist to take calcium citrate. I found Citracal Creamy Chews that have calcium citrate. I take the caramel flavor, and they are wonderful. I feel like I'm having a treat and I don't forget to take them. I found them at drugstore.com Buy Citracal Creamy Bites Dietary Supplement, Caramel Online at drugstore.com

I have problems sleeping even under the best of circumstances, so I was very concerned that I wouldn't be able to sleep during the sleep study. I called the place that does the sleep study and asked if I was allowed to take a sleeping pill. They said that over the counter sleeping pills would interfere with the sleep study, but I could take Lunesta if my doctor prescribed it. I called my PCP and he called in a RX for Lunesta. It worked, and the sleep study went well.

I'm so glad to hear that you got everything straightened out. Good Luck on you surgery.

I had to be on nothing but Optifast a week before surgery to reduce the size of the liver. A lot of surgeons require two weeks of Optifast.

Congratulations!!!!! Wow, two years! I never heard of an insurance taking that long.

Good for you! Let us know what happens.

I was told that the 4cc bands are the older bands. The newer ones are AP Small 10cc and AP Large 14cc., so you may have the AP Small band. Ask your surgeon if you have the new AP band. I have the AP Large 14cc band.

I didn't feel any restriction with my 1st or 2nd fill. I lost some weight but only by pure willpower. Then, my willpower started running out, and I only lost 3 1/2 pounds in two months. I got my 3rd fill a week ago and it's been a huge difference. I feel satisfied on a small meal, and I don't even think about snacking between meals. I lost 8 pounds since my fill a week ago. Don't feel discouraged, try to hang in there until you get to your "sweet spot". It is surprising, just when you think you'll never get there, you get a small fill and "Bam" it's instant restriction. Good Luck.

Congrats!! It won't be long now before you're a bandster. Good Luck on you surgery.

You're doing great on your weightloss. Don't be in such a rush for fills. Get one only when you really need it.

The two AP bands are APS 10cc's and APL 14cc's. I don't know about other bands.

I have sleep apnea also. I suspected I had it so went to my PCP before I started the Lap-Band procedure. I had a sleep study in my own home. The tech just wired me up before I went to bed and monitored me from another room. It turns out that I have severe sleep apnea. I got my cpap machine and got used to it before I had my Lap-band surgery. It is serious. My friends son died from it. On the plus side, if you do have it, it will a help when your insurance decides whether or not to approve your surgery.

I am 5 mo. post op. I have the 14cc ap band. I had my 3rd fill three days ago and I'm at 7.1 cc now. I had no restriction before this fill. I got 2 cc's with this fill and wow what a difference. It even hurt if I took too big of sip of Water. After two days of liquids, I went on solids last night. It hurt right away and after about half an hour, I threw up once. Today I'm very careful when I eat to take tiny bites and chew, chew, chew and wait several minutes between bites. So far this has worked and I feel fine today. I am thrilled to finally have restriction, but now I know I have to follow all the banster rules carefully.

DrWatkins this was very interesting. Thanks for the information.

I got my 3rd fill today in my 14cc band. I'm now at 7.1cc's. It's a little early to tell if I have restriction yet, as I'm on liquids for two days. I am hopeful that I have some restriction, because I have to drink my liquids very slowly, and I've never had to do that before.

I have 5.1cc in my APL 14cc band and feel no restriction. I get my third fill in two days. Can't wait.

I am an AT&T retiree and I also had Kaiser and switched to UHC Choice Plus just to get the lap-band surgery. I was approved quickly and had surgery within two months of switching insurance. Good Luck.

I agree with make 33, take your husband and son to an informational seminar with you. My husband wasn't keen on me having lap-band surgery, but he went with me to the informational seminar and then he supported me 100%. A lot of people hear "weight loss surgery" and think it's all drastic like the bypass. The seminar will help answer their questions and calm their fears.

I mix it with sugar free instant pudding. Mix the unflavored Unjury with milk first, then put a box of sugar free instant pudding in and mix it up.

Be sure to tell the anesthesiologist that you have sleep apnea. This is very important. You should use a cpap machine all the time. It takes time to get used to it. You can try using different masks until you find one you like. Just don't give up. It took me quite a while to get used to my cpap. Now I love it. My friend's son had sleep apnea and died in his sleep because he wasn't using his cpap. The good news is once you lose your weight, the sleep apnea may disappear.

My doctor also gives fills every two months. It's hard to wait that long when you don't have restriction. I've been losing weight, but only by willpower. My willpower is running out. I've had two fills so far and have to wait 10 more days until my 3rd fill. I can't wait. I sure hope I get some restriction with my next fill.

I had the same problem after surgery. Someone suggested taking Benefiber, and that did the trick. You can mix it in your shakes, pudding, or anything else. It doesn't thicken up like Metamucil, so you don't have to guzzle it down fast. Hope this helps.

I had to stop wearing mine. It gave me a big red rash on the back of my arm, not from the strap, but from the Bodybugg itself. My arm was red and felt hot to the touch. It took a whole month for my arm to return to normal. I assume that the metal part on the back of the Bodybugg has nickel in it or something else that I'm allergic to. I wish I would have gotten the ActiTrainer.

I feel your frustration. I'm right there with you. I have had 2 fills and feel no restriction. I've managed to lose 40 pounds by pure willpower, but now my willpower is running out and hunger taking over. To top it off, I have to wait two months between fills. I have three more weeks before I can get another fill. It seems like a lifetime.