VegasGrace

I continue to weigh myself, but noticed I don't do it every day. I do it about once a week now. Last time I was thin and stopped weighing myself I gained it all back plus. I promised myself I won't let that happen again. Clothes aren't a good judge for me because I wear relaxed fit clothing. So I could gain 10-20 pounds before I even noticed weight gain. (no, I don't wear jeans) Yes, if you are losing weight and need to stop, an unfill is in order...between .2 and .5cc. I got .3 unfill and am still losing weight, although at a rate of a pound every 3 weeks or so...so it's not alarming. If I get closer to 130, I'll go in for another unfill. Good luck and congrats on the weightloss!

If you are just sliming... no worries. It takes time to figure out what you can tolerate and what you can't. If you vomit, like when you have the flu or something...w/ convulsions and all....that's NOT good.

Yes, you can. It's designed to do just that. And it's adjustable so that if you ever start to go back to bad eating habits...it can work a 2nd time, or a 3rd.

Not wierd to have that happen. I experience that sometimes.

FIRE HIM! He accused you of something..... fire him!

I took Fastin as well.... I lost a few pounds...but had to diet. Gained it all back, of course.

Hahaha, when you said, 'mexican patients' I thought you meant MEXICAN patients. So funny! Nah, so many md's take patients banded elsewhere....it's becoming so common. Elsewhere including if you move or have the surgery elsewhere.

I used my overdraft protection/line of credit linked to my checking account. Best $7,000 I ever spent!

CNN, FOX, MSNBC...I don't remember. They were showing how certian states usually vote and used different colors to show religions. Of course, the south was RED for Baptist, but they listed Christian, yellow, and had a few states dotted... just didn't make sense. But they lost credibility with me and I turned the channel.

Yes, single. The band hasn't changed my dating life a bit. Haven't had a date in 10 years.

The law sees the legal entity (the marriage) having the responsibiltiy of rearing the child....just like ALL debts in the marriage...even if 1 party did not charge on the card or know about the purchases. Weird, huh?

oooo.... I get to update my ticker from 145 to 143.....

I'm having my Mt. Dew still....I mix it w/ Diet dew. No problems.

I just don't know what's up with Pasta.... but I experience the same thing...no matter how tiny or microscopic I cut the pieces. I hate blowing my nose and spaghetti comes out! Oh well.

Let me know when it's going to be. I can make a contribution. Grace

I don't feel my port or even know it's there....but every once in a while I feel it....and I think it's protruding out....but it's not. Weird!

Fellow junies, everything has been going smoothly, have had 2 fills so my 9.75 band that holds 4cc has 2.2cc. My last fill was about 7 weeks ago. I'm still restricted. Over the past few days I can't hold anything down. Slime everyday. But now I foam up fluids and around midnight or 1am I wake to choking on my slobber. It's been said that sometimes restriction doesn't kick in until 2-3 weeks after a fill...but I'm 7 weeks out. Has anyone at all gone thru this? I'm not running for an unfill just in case this is temporary swelling or something. After getting rid of my lunch today I've decided to do ONLY fluids for a few days and if I don't feel any better, I'll call the doc on Monday. I'm self pay so I like to handle things on my own first then go to a doc if I can't remedy it. And going a few days w/o food isn't going to hurt anything. If I don't eat I can get fluids down, so I'm not in any harm. Thanks for the advice.

Hey, just saw your pic and said...hey, it's you! How are things going? How's your mom? Best wishes for the new year!

I couldn't tell if your bmi was 33 or 26.5. At 26.5, sorry, you aren't a candidate for banding. But, at 33 you are. But insurance won't pay for it.

Oh, btw...you aren't alone in eating fast. I tried eating 2-3 bites...but sometimes I justify in my mind that I'm going to slime it up so might as well just eat a ton...quickly.

Crazy but it just might work: get a Krispey Kreme donught... chocolate covered creme filled and a small coke w/ tons of ice (the colder the less foaming/pbing) Eat a bite, drink...eat a bite, drink. Do this until you either get sick of the sweetness or it comes back up. Tomorrow weigh yourself...you should see a pound gone. Oh, do this by mid afternoon! Believe it or not, so many people have found this to jump start losing after a plateu.

what were all the costs involved? Was the initial amount given to you the full amount or are there hidden costs that I need to be taking into consideration Paying more than 7-8 k for this you are just wasting your money. The inital amount given to me was $7,000. I paid $7,000. No other costs at all, it was all inclusive meaning surgicenter, surgeon fee, appliance cost, anesthesiologist, cardiologist, nutritionist, psych eval, meds, ...everything! * if your BMI was between 35 to 40, does the center you went to still require you to have a comobidity to go along with your lower ranged BMI (I have a BMI of 36 or so and I'm not sure I have any comobidities - I will need to do a sleep apnea test and I know I have a higher range on blood pressure, but it's never been diagnosed (I have med records that show all my bp ranges, I'm sure). Inamed, makers of the lapband say anyone w/ a BMI of 30 or more are candidates. The US docs say 35 just because alot of insurance companies require that...they want to avoid paying as much as possible so they upped it. But yes, your surgeon should ensure he's just not doing the band to be doing business. If you've ever had high blood pressure or a family history If you've experienced shortness of breath climbing stairs If you've experienced joint pain If you don't sleep well at night and snore.... you'd be surprised what can qualify you for the band * is there anything esle I need to be researching as for as self pay people go? I feel like I have researched and researched, but could still be missing something.... Of course. First, make sure you want to get the band...for real. Understand the band for alot of folks is a last resort. Understand what's involved. Getting a band doesn't cause weightloss. Know that? Its the adjustments that are to cause the weight loss. (although some patients have experienced weight loss on the preop diet and just by being banded...how lucky!) Know you aren't going to inhale food anymore. That was a shock to my body...but a overdue one. Know you may not ever be able to enjoy certain types of food. Know you have to keep up with your adjustments on SCHEDULE. Are you ready to change your life? Oh, I did find a doctor who normally charges $12,500 but is running a "special" (I know that sounds bad, huh) of $9,500 thru 2/29. I thought that was a great deal being as that's lower then anywhere I have researched yet! It's not uncommon for docs to run specials...competition is getting fierce out there. This isn't a procedure for the rich and famous anymore. Just don't sell yourself short and go to someone in the middle of a nasty divorce, behind on mortgage payments, etc. After you decide to have the band...select a physician/surgeon. Look at all your options. Going to the best will require you going out of the country as Lapband is new in the US and places like France and Mexico have been doing them a heck of a lot longer than US docs. But there are many well qualified docs here in the US. Get references...and remember those references will be from 'good patients'. Do some digging and find other patients who will give you some info without the Doc knowing. Good luck and keep us posted!

This is the third time I've gotten sick while being banded...pnemonia/flu. When I live in extremely cold climates this happens to me. New England now Utah....all this snow! Anyways, get your fluids in if you think you are getting sick. I can't even drink because my band seems to get really tight. I'm on maintenance yet I am spewing my fluids again. Hydration is so important with the band. Drink your Water and if you don't like water...anything is better than nothing. Stay away from alcohol as it causes dehydration in the cells. Anyone else have this happen to them? Sick and spewing? Any idea on how I can get some fluids in...w/o going to the ER for an IV?

Wow! I have never heard of that. I don't know what throwing a blood clot is but it makes me think he had the blood clot already and it was a ticking time bomb. So, with or without the surgery ...in this case just going a few days without solids....he would have died anyways. That's a tragic tale and fits in along with others like him who obesity claimed their life. Banded Bob, thanks for sharing the info and yes....all doctors should warn that obesity can kill. And there are risks associated with obesity. So when attempting to correct the obesity, things can go wrong.

I can see why you are frustrated, things just aren't going the way you planned. Your mini-goals weren't that far reaching. But this does happen. My suggestion: Get an aggressive fill. Yep, tell your doc you want to be aggressive. Tell him you want to feel restriction. Agree to come back in a week for a followup- just in case it's too tight. Want to eat and slime it up? Want to take 3 bites and that be too much? Are you ready for this? Really ready to lose the weight? This is what someone can do when they can't stop overeating. And it seems you can't stop either. That's what I did...get well restricted. Not so much I had to have an unfill; however, but I was at the MAX. Good luck and keep us posted.