Cocoabean

I did info seminars with a couple of different doctors. I went with Dr. Callery based on my PCP's recommendation. Scripps has a fine reputation. Good wishes to you!!

3 years ago my insurance company was billed $43,000 for my surgery. I doubt they paid that much. What they bill and what they are reimbursed is different. Self-pay is generally much less.

Elcee, glad to hear all is well. I saw Riverdance a few years back. it was wonderful! DH says the tap sounds are taped and enhanced...dunno if it is true. Elfee, maybe it is left over scar tissue? Crystl, any decision on the fill? My MIL, well actually my SIL will be asking MIL's doctor to place her on hospice tomorrow. MIL just sits and stares at the family and won't say what she actually wants. But goes along with what this SIL says. This SIL has been the last hold out on believing that MIL's health is failing. It's a relief, but DH doesn't handle this stress well. Ah the joys....NOT!

Everyone is different. But do you know what size band you have?

There is no "diet" per se. Every doctor has different suggestions and advice. Some have nutritionists they work with, some don't. I don't follow a diet. I make healthy choices, listen to my body, and quit eating when I feel satisfied. Some doctors have their patients do a low carb diet. Some have theirs weigh and measure their portions and keep food journals. It is an individual program.

For me, it is most often immediate, but can take some time as well. It all depends on when the offending item hits the stoma. It can last a few minutes and then go down, or it can go on for a long time--then the item come back up. Either way, it is no fun.

Rachael, glad you are feeling better now that you have some substance. I remember after just 3 days of Clear Liquids I was ready to eat my dog I was so hungry. Luckily for him he could move faster than I! When my doctor called in to check on me I told him I was very hungry, so he moved me along quicker than he originally told me. Of all the choices you could have made, SF pudding was a good one. It isn't like you chose something very hard to digest or very hard to chew.

I like the gallbladder idea, if you haven't already gotten it removed. Or could you be vague and just say you are having a medical procedure? As you will be in over a Friday night, can you tell them you and DH are are going out of town for something special, and need them to sit for you? Maybe you could even take Saturday night as well and stay close to the hospital at a hotel? (Not sure of finances, of course) Is it possible for him to come pick you up on Saturday with the kids in tow? Not ideal, but then you'd not need a sitter for the pick up, only for Friday getting them either to or from school. Last option that comes to mind, pull the kids out of school on Friday and bring them along, get a hotel near the hospital and have them nearby. With the price of gas these days, not having to drive back and forth can offset the price of the hotel. Of course, that would be a lot for your DH having to take care of them while worrying about you. Plus our local hospitals are not allowing youngsters inside due to swine flu fears. So, that might not be the best idea...but I am brainstorming here. If you see your parents often, be aware that you are going to be moving ginergly for a week or so after the surgery. So, if they do watch the kids, don't be the one planning to go pick them up right from the hospital! Best wishes to you!

Thanks for the update Melody, have been thinking of you!

Listen to your doctor. Relax. Lapband is not about fast weight loss. You need to heal and get fills. It is about calorie restriction. Weight loss is an AVERAGE of 1-2 pounds per week. This is after you have healed from the surgery and gotten to a good restriction level with fills. Give it time.

Are you speaking of a band over a bypass? I have read of a few people doing it, yes. It is not without risks. I believe there was a thread about it a year or so ago on thinnertimes.com You could also look into having your pouch revised if it has stretched. They can return it to its original size.

Something to keep in mind when eating in a group. You need to be very aware of chewing and swallowing. When in a group we tend to get involved in conversation, and our mothers always told us not to speak with our mouths full. There is a tendency to swallow a large chunk of food to say something. I've gotten food stuck this way on more than one occasion. So, cut the food up very small. If food gets stuck and you start to slime, it is very hard to explain that away.

There were two ladies on the cruise who were working on the hand portion of quilts. They'd sit by the pool and do their thing. They were soooooo pretty!!

Beautiful Crystl!! Wow, wish I had the patience that. Elcee, update on your son??

It is best to be prepared, some people DO notice and will comment or ask questions. A lot of good info has been shared. I was having a rough time when I went on a new medicine that caused my band to tighten temporarily. I was also on travel for a meeting for work. I met some new people and went out for lunch with two of them. I ordered Soup, and could not even get that down. My co-workers noticed. One asked if I was feeling OK. I could easily have said my tummy was a bit off or something, but I am pretty open about my surgery. So I told them. One person's father had a band, the other's aunt had had bypass. So we had a bonding moment over my discomfort.

Melody, you can always come clean my house! Glad you are feeling great! So is the shoulder pain all resolved?

Thank you for sharing your story, best wishes for the future!

You are losing about a pound and a quarter or so per week. That is a good loss rate. Bandsters only have restriction of calories and not malabsorption to create a caloric deficit, so we can expect a loss of 1-2 pounds per week. You are right on track. Not at the high end, but doing fine. Especially when most surgeons say to not worry so much about losing until you are 1-2 fills into the process. We want it faster, and sometimes it happens, but not always. My average during the losing phase was 3/4 of a pound per week, but it added up. At your current rate you'll be down about 65 pounds in a year, that's nothing to sneeze at!

http://www.ehow.com/how_5669480_donate-skin-after-bariatric-surgery.html http://www.livestrong.com/article/126643-donate-skin-after-bariatric-surgery/ There are two websites I got from a google search about it.

Elcee, vicodin's generic is hydrocodone it is an opiate and tylenol. Melody, glad you are doing well. I finally took my wedding ring into the jewelers. I haven't been able to wear it for about a year. It's just too big and spins like crazy. They could not make it any smaller, at least not small enough to stop it from spinning. My knuckle is size 4 1/2 but below that is a 3 1/2. So, I ordered a solitaire setting that is hinged to have my diamond reset into. I'll wear it with a band in a traditional setting. In my other ring, I'll have an aquamarine set (my hubby's birthstone) and wear it on my right hand. It still spins a little bit over there, but no where near as bad. I figure that with my weight loss stopped, I am safe to get it now.

I use vicodin for my joints. I like the little buggars! Glad to hear it went well, Melody. Even though you are not a bandster, you will always be a bandster, you best not leave us like Anne did! It sounds as though it was a big success! I am very pleased they were able to tell the exact cause of the problem. Too bad they could not seat it properly for you, but better out than in, as Hagrid says. Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Been thinking of Melody today. Does her lack of presence mean she had surgery?

If money is an issue, do keep in mind that the band is not a set it and forget it procedure. FIlls cost. And it can take many fills before you start losing. It can also take some unfills, for which you will have to pay. Be sure to check how much the aftercare will cost.

Thanks Cat Lady! My PCP says a tighter band can lead to erosions. He's had gastric bypass. So is into WLS. He also says that an inflamed port area is a sign, so he checks each time I go to see him. I had an upper GI in September, all was well. This has been the easiest weight loss/maintenance for me, ever. I hope it goes as well for you! I had to appeal my medical group in order to see my surgeon for a consult. It was very worth it!!

In honor of Melody, I woke up this morning at 4am with a very raw throat, thanks! :-) Hoping you are feeling better and they are able to proceed. So, since both of my bosses are off today, I called in sick. Took some Advil (I am allowed some from time-to-time) and went back to bed. The fact that it was raining this morning didn't help the attitude. How you feeling, Melody? Any word from the surgeon on proceeding? Shammah, I hear ya with the budget cuts and stuff. My employment keeps getting extend 2-3 weeks at a time (Federal). So every few Fridays, I don't know if I am getting an unpaid vacation. Bobbie, can you get generics or do the pharmaceutical companies have an coupons? It sucks when you have to choose rent over meds. Course if you choose meds over food, diet problem solved? BF might go hungry though, then he'd be grumpy, too...hhmm...that might not work.