MistyDTX

I was banded in October 2007. I lost almost 60 pounds and was doing great! In February 2009 I found out I was pregnant with my son and had hypermesis. Since I couldn't keep anything down and all the vomiting was actually painfil my doc took about 1/2 of my fill out. Not only was my hypermesis better almost immediately, I could eat pretty much anything I wanted. Bad bad news! During my pregnancy I gained almost 50 pounds. Ugh! When my son was born I had every intention of getting back on the horse. He was an incredibly difficult baby. He had colic, cried ALL.THE.TIME and I was just physically and mentally exhausted. Honestly getting a fill was the LAST thing on my mind. After I went back to work I went to a different doctor for a fill, a doc that was closer to my office and more convenient. I got a small fill that didn't really do much but I got a HUGE wake up call when I realized this doctor billed my insurance company $800 for my fill. $800 came out of my HRA account and pretty much screwed me up with my insurance for the rest of the year. I was so so mad. Mostly at myself because I didn't ask enough questions but still.. I was mad and didn't want to go back. So now, here I am only 30 pounds lighter than I was when I was banded almost 5 years ago and I am so discouraged! I have been waiting to get back to the right place mentally, don't know what that's supposed to be exactly, but I recently decided I've just been using that as an excuse. I just have to DO something instead of just sitting around waiting. I do still have some restriction, I'm not able just eat anything I want, but I know it's not enough. I called my surgeon's office and I'm just waiting for them to re-verify my insurance again so I can go in and get a fill. I have to get back on the horse!! LOL! My 6 year old and 2 year old NEED me to be the healthy happy me I was and I know I can be again!

I was banded 10/07 and I'm down about 70 pounds. Admittedly I have not been eating well the last few months and I think I need to get another fill. My DH and I are also trying to get pregnant soon. So my question is... should I get another fill now, only to have it taken out if/when we get PG? The more I could lose before getting PG the better, right?? And one I do get PG, do they take out your fill immediately? Someone told me at the end of the 1st trimester but I thought they would do it right away. Any pregnancy/banding advice is appreciated!

I was banded 10/07 and I'm down about 70 pounds. Admittedly I have not been eating well the last few months and I think I need to get another fill. My DH and I are also trying to get pregnant soon. So my question is... should I get another fill now, only to have it taken out if/when we get PG? The more I could lose before getting PG the better, right?? And one I do get PG, do they take out your fill immediately? Someone told me at the end of the 1st trimester but I thought they would do it right away. Any pregnancy/banding advice is appreciated!

I had my 3rd fill about a month ago. I'm happy with the restriction I have and I don't want to be any tighter. My doc said that with one more I should be where he wants me to be. Problem is... I don't want to be any tighter than I am. This fill has been the biggest adjustment for me so far. Before this one I was still able to eat pretty much anything, just far less of it, and I was still losing. Now I am PB'ing often, but not often enough to think I would need an unfill. I'm trying to be really good, but something as simple as scrambled eggs got me this morning. It's almost like this fill has been a real challenge mentally for me. I don't feel like I'm ready to get another fill. I feel like I've hit a brick wall and that if I got another fill right now I'd really be in a bad place. Has anyone else experienced this? What helped you over the hump? Thanks!

My 2nd fill was in February and my 3rd in May.

Yes, 3 months later and I got my first fill. I was very VERY disappointed at my weigh-in. According to my scale at home I was down about 23 pounds but the doctor's scale said I was only down 16! Argh! The appointment took all of 15 minutes and was painless. I went to the mall after though and felt sick to my stomach a little, I think it was from the barium I had to swallow for the fluro. I had tomato Soup for dinner tonight and it went down just fine. Hope everyone is doing well!

You know, its just the way my doctor does it. I don't know why. I was REALLY upset about it but it all worked out. I'm going in today for my 3rd fill!!

DH and I took off Friday to take DD, 21 months, to the zoo. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we had a great time. Except for... my first PB! By the time we got to the zoo all of us were starving. We went to a BBQ place and I ordered sliced turkey. No bread, nothing special. Just turkey. After about the 2nd bite I felt it, that lump-in-your-throat, OMG-what-have-I-done feeling. I stopped eating and just sat there waiting for it to go away. I could tell what was about to happen and there wasn't anything I could do to stop it. I had a huge stack of napkins and yakked right into them. It was gross and embarrassing but it wasn't painful. I couldn't figure out WHY I would PB on turkey. I must have just taken a too big bite or didn't chew well enough because I was so hungry. Once I had PB'd I was able to still eat a little being very careful. All I can say is YUCK!

Kimmie - Keep me posted, I hope it all works out for you. I was VERY lucky and had no problems with my employer and UHC was great to work with. You will be in my thoughts!

I have United Healthcare and I pay $50 out of pocket for my fills with Dr. Carter. I think that's his standard co-pay for those with insurance. Good luck!

I can't believe it! I went in for my 2nd fill today and have lost 11 lbs since last month. I am sooo excited! I really didn't think it would be that much since I've been able to eat whatever I wanted. I am thrilled! So now I have about 3cc in my little band and I'm ready to get on with it! LOL!

Hey there Tens! Hope you are all doing well. I'm off for my 2nd fill tomorrow. I really hope I can tell a difference with this one. I got 1cc in January and was still able to eat whatever I wanted. Right after my fill I noticed I would go from being content to STARVING at the drop of a hat. It was the weirdest thing. Then I ended up with a stomach bug a couple of weeks ago that was really awful. I don't know if I've lost much since my last appointment so I am anxious to weigh in. I can tell I have lost because I can actually take off my jeans without unbuttoning them at all! That's fun! :blushing:

I was banded by Dr. Carter in October and didn't get my first fill until January 17th. I thought I would lose my mind! I didn't though and you will be OK too. I have my 2nd fill scheduled for tomorrow, once you get through the first 3 months he has you coming back monthly after. I would also read about fills 6 weeks out and I really don't think I would have been ready then. I thought I was but in hindsight I don't think I was. Hang in there! I know it's tough but you WILL get through it! Feel free to PM me if you need encouragement!

I am 4 months post-op and the last 2 days have been agony for me. I have had the worst gas I have ever experienced. I've also had diarrhea for the last 24 hours. I've used Gas-X strips, taken Gas-X tabs and taken some Immodium. Tonight I took a hot bath and have been using the heating pad. I made myself take my DD to the park because I know walking helps get the gas out. NOTHING is helping! The last time I had this much discomfort I was in the hospital having a baby! These gas pains have been so bad they've felt like labor! Until now I haven't had any gas issues at all, other than right after banding. Is gas this severe common? It's nuts, I can HEAR and FEEL the gas in my belly. What else should I do? HELP!

I am 4 months post-op and the last 2 days have been agony for me. I have had the worst gas I have ever experienced. I've also had diarrhea for the last 24 hours. I've used Gas-X strips, taken Gas-X tabs and taken some Immodium. Tonight I took a hot bath and have been using the heating pad. I made myself take my DD to the park because I know walking helps get the gas out. NOTHING is helping! The last time I had this much discomfort I was in the hospital having a baby! These gas pains have been so bad they've felt like labor! Until now I haven't had any gas issues at all, other than right after banding. Is gas this severe common? It's nuts, I can HEAR and FEEL the gas in my belly. What else should I do? HELP!

I had my first fill last week and ever since I have been starving! I will be going along happily content and suddenly I am dying to eat! Like in mere seconds I feel like I'm about to starve to death. Is this "head hunger" or what??

I was banded 10/2 and didn't get my first fill until today. My doctor won't do a fill for 3 months after banding. My scale at home said I had lost a total of about 23 pounds but then I weighed in today I was shocked that according to their scale I am only down 16! I've only lost 4 pounds since my post-op visit! I was so mad but know that now I have my fill. My appointment took all of 10 minutes and I was out the door. I went to the mall and started feeling a little sick to my stomach. I think it was the barium I had to swallow for the fluro. My doctor schedules fill once a month so I have an appointment for next month for another one. I'm anxious to see what I can do with this band!

I was banded by Dr. Carter in October and have my first fill next week! I've been trying to get to one of the support meetings but seem to always forget about them!! My approval was also pretty quick but I think that has more to do with my insurance, United Healthcare, than the doctor. I think Dr. Carter is one of the only doctors that waits so long for the first fill, he waits 3 months. I've had some issues with waiting but now the wait is almost over! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

I was banded 10/2. I knew going into it that my Dr. is very conservative about fills and that he doesn't do the first fill for 3 months. I was ok with that, thinking I wouldn't have to worry about it until after the holidays and that with the new year I would be on track. I'm down 22 lbs and that's great but I feel like I am eating SO much! The only thing I have pretty much eliminated from my diet is soft bread and soft drinks. I have had only sips of Diet Coke since banding and it just doesn't taste the same to me anymore. But tonight I ate 3 pieces of thin crust pizza. That's what I ate before I was banded! I know once I have my fill the "real" work will start. I guess I am just ready to get on with it.. I am tied of waiting and I still have another month! My appointment isn't until January 17th!

Fantastic! I also went down a size but will in the "plus" section of the store...for now! Congrats!

I was banded 10/2 and have been on solids for a while now. I ate a late lunch at almost 4pm and haven't eaten since but now I'm having sharp pain in my chest. I can't imagine it would be from anything I ate, I would have felt something immediately. I did drink some ginger ale..could that be it? It was carbonated but I let it sit a while before I drank it.

My doctor said not to start an extensive exercise routine until after my first fill, which won't be until January. He said for now to just walk outside or on the treadmill. To be honest, I haven't really done much because I walk a lot at work and have a 16 month old I run after. I'm sure I should be doing more but just don't have the time or energy! I need to get inspired to exercise! What are you other "tens" doing at this point?

I was banded 10/2 and mine are still on. They look disgusting. I've showered and washed every day since surgery and they are still stuck. They aren't even loose! Is that normal? I go to the doc Tuesday for my post-op check up so I'm wondering if he will try to pull them off?!!

My doctor is the only one I've heard of that makes you wait 3 months for a fill. At first I was ok with it because that meant I would still be able to enjoy the holidays a little before getting a fill. I wouldn't eat as much as I would normally but would still be able to eat pretty much whatever I wanted. Now that I am almost 1 month post-op, and haven't really had problems eating anything (even though I am staying away from breads and rice voluntarily).<br /> <br /> I am starting to struggle with the amount of food I am eating. For example, yesterday for lunch I had a Healthy Choice meal and by the time I left work I was starving. For dinner I went to KFC and for some chicken strips and potatoes and ate all of it. Then I felt guilty that I ate so much but didn't feel like I had overeaten, I was just comfortable. <br /> <br /> I'm starting to get scared that until I get a fill I will be eating too much. Any ideas on how I can get through the next couple of months? Should I be increasing my Protein shakes? Should I be having smaller, more frequent meals? Help! I should add that my doc already has me on a regular diet. I only did 5 days of full liquids and 5 of mushies before he had me putting regular foods into my diet.

Welcome Frankie! The only thing that helped me was a heating pad. That plus lots of walking to get the gas moving. For me it was especially bad at night, I could hardly sleep. But it will pass...no pun intended!