amonroy

I have tricare also and was banded in July, I did have some co-morbitites but when checking on coverage if you are above a certain BMI and I think it was 35 you didn't have to have co-morbities. You should give tricare a call to clarify because I cant remember the exact BMI. I believe I had a 41 BMI and approval process was very smooth. Good Luck with everything!

I definitely would not spend alot of money on a product you have never tasted. There are so many different protein products out there, it took several before I even found one I liked. I would hate for you to order something very expensive and not be able to use it. I have never tasted pure whey.

I had the same thing. I was banded on 7-16-08 and I have hard lumps under my incisions and they are still there but going down now, my physician said it's scar tissue and it will go away with time.

I go through this every single time, i've had 3 fills so far and I get poked at least 5-6 times...BUT...she puts on numbing medication first. So it doesn't hurt at the time, but I am sore and bruised afterwards which is a little better than dealing with every painful poke. Ask you doctor to give you number medication next time before your fill.

thats about 45 minutes from grand ledge where I live lol! I've tried blending bean and bacon soup and health request chunky sirloin burger. Those were the only two I could eat blended because the taste wasn't any different. I think you just have to (or at least I know I did) get past the whole texture thing. I also make kinda a smoothie out of genisoy protein powder (from meijer) diet tropical V8 splash, and a little frozen berries which tastes really good...i still drink those now just to get in all my protein.

Hi, im from Michigan too (lansing area) where abouts are you from? Don't worry it will get better as far as the food thing, i'm 2 1/2 months post op and all is going well. Good Luck!

Not the most pleasant subject I know, but I didn't know who else to ask but you guys who've been through it lol! Has the frequency and quantity of anyones bowel movements changed since surgery. I mean I know we are eating far less so I expect that the amount would be smalller. I used to be very regular ever day, but now it's like every 3 days and just a small amount. I know with all the Protein and vitamans it can become easy to get constipated but I dont feel constipated or anything, so I was just wondering if this was normal?? Thanks!

Exactly what I went through. I had way more restriction before I even had a fill. Then nothing and was just starving all the time. I called the doctors office and they said it was unusual to have "less" restriction after a fill. So I got to go in 2 weeks after my first fill for #2, she only puts in 1 cc at a time, so I thought and was hoping it would be better and I wouldnt feel so starving...no luck! I go back on Tuesday for fill #3 and i'm hoping I at least get some restriction because right now i'm doing all this on will power, I could eat alot more than I do, but I wont allow myself to do it. So hang in there, I guess everyone is different from what I keep reading, we'll get there! Call your doctor to see if you can get in earlier for another fill.

I have the same problem, I actually got stuck like 15-20 times and ended up so sore and bruised like i was kicked in the stomach...so I drew a circle around the right spot with a sharpie marker so when I had to go back she wouldn't have a problem finding it (i had to redraw it a few times because it started to fade but thought that was better than all the pokes) so anyways when I went to get my second fill she tried that spot...well guess what? It was not in that area anymore, my doctor told me the more weight you lose it will not stay in the same area because your body shape is changing?? So I ended up getting poked about 5 times the second time because it was pretty close to the old spot. I carry most of my weight in my stomach so I have alot of belly fat, she said once most of that goes down it will be much easier to find....i sure hope so! I go back on Tuesday for my 3rd fill...not sure how many pokes it will take this time!

My surgeon is in Lansing, about maybe an hour from Kalamazoo. My surgeon is Dr. Mindy Lane, she is very good and seems to really care about her patients. I highly recommend her. Also im 2 months post op and just experiencing this, maybe my body just adjusting???

Your definitely not a failure. We have probably all been where you are at and feeling what your feeling. Alot of people may say this is the easy way out, even I guess I thought that before I had the surgery. But in all reality this takes a lot of hard work and committment to a healthier lifestyle, the band is just a tool to help you get there and not regain those pounds you work so hard to lose. My only regret as im sure alot of peoples is that I didn't do it sooner. I contemplated it for years but like you wanted to do it myself, then realized I just couldnt keep the weight off. I also am on the short side im only 5feet and was topping 240, i'm so happy I did it. Its only been 2 months since i've been banded and I have not had any problems. I wish you the best of luck.

Ok I went back for my second fill today after getting 1cc the first time also. I only got 1cc this time too and have to go back or another fill on Oct. 2nd. My doctor said she will only give me 1 cc at a time in order to inch up to the ideal restriction rather than giving me too much and my having problems. So I guess I will just take it slow, I want to be fuller faster, but I guess I dont want to run into problems either.

I just had my first fill 2 1/2 weeks ago and I only got 1cc too! I was so mad especially after seeing people on her getting more than that. As for me it did absolutely nothing and I am actually more hungry now than I was before my fill! I called the doctor and i'm going back in this Tuesday for a second fill, don't know how much i'll get this time though! I would suggest calling your doctor back too and letting them know so you can get back in for a second one. Good Luck!

Your lucky....I only got 1 cc for my first fill and it did absolutely nothing, especially after being poked 20 times to find the port. I go back in Tuesday for a second fill but my doc seems a little conservative with the fills so I dont know how much i'll end up with this time.

My doc doesn't do that in their office, I asked after about the 5th poke and she said they only do that in the hospital, but I thought I read somewhere on here that people have it done in their doctors office. I guess everywhere is different unfortunately.

I had the same problem with my first fill 2 weeks ago. I got poked so many times, than god they gave me a shot to numb the area first. They had to look on ultrasound for my port but still couldn't get the needle in the right places, I got poked around 20 times! I didn't feel it then because I was numb, but the day afterwards I was so sore and bruised. On top of that I only got 1 cc which did absolutely nothing. I had more restriction BEFORE the fill with nothing in it than when i got the fill. I'm going back next week for another one so I actually drew a circle around the poke where the port actually was with a sharpie marker so she could find it the first time lol! But I did not have any gas or anything, I didn't feel any different, maybe because she gave me such a small amount?? Hopefully it goes smoother for you too on your next fill.

HI everyone, I have been reading alot on here about things getting "stuck". I understand you have to chew chew chew and take small bites and everything. I start mushies next week and i'm getting really nervous after all I have been reading to go on to normal foods when it's time. What does it feel like to be stuck? And what do you do if something does get stuck? What types of food get stuck most often? Lol sorry for so many questions, I think i'm starting to freak out about it.

I'm five weeks out from my band, anytime you would like to talk, feel free to email or IM me, i'm at spcmonroyswife@yahoo.com

I use Genisoy protein powder, it has 21 grams of protein per serving. It has no taste and I get it at my regular grocery isle by where the sell the cartons of silk, almond milk, rice milk...mines located actually in the baking isle. I mix it with Diet V8 Fruit and some frozen berries to make a smoothie. Tastes great...it can't do whey protein either.

I didn't have my surgery at the time when I was working there, but unless there is a specific exclusion in your plan that doesn't cover it...otherwise as long as you meet the criteria they were not requiring a preauthorization. Mine was just covered recently by Tricare. I would call their customer service just to clarify, like I said it's been 5 years since i've worked there.

Oh please tell me the facial hair slows down with weight loss??? That would be so great...I am so sick of waxing and plucking lol! My doctor said the PCOS symptoms will definitely subside with weightloss which was one of the factors in my decision to do this along with the weightloss itself.

Just eat very slowly and until you feel satisfied...not stuffed. I didn't really have any guidelines in this area either, my nutritionist just told me "you'll know"...it took awhile but I think i'm getting it now lol!

I"ve actually wondered the same thing myself, I am 3 weeks post op today and I can easily eat a cup of food until i'm satisfied. My nutritionist never gave me any guidelines on exactly how much to eat when i've asked, all she says is "you'll know when you've had enough", well my enough is about 1 cup right now and I dont know if that's too much. I go for my first fill 8/14 so i'm sure i'll probably eat less after that?????

I was feeling the same way, i'm 3 weeks post op...scale is moving very slowly now. I too let the scale rule my moods, losing a pound made me feel great, gaining made me feel like a failure all over again. I have to keep telling myself this is still early in the process and i'm adjusting. It's very hard, but we have to remember we are on the right path and we did this for a reason, we'll get through it!

You will be fine and you'll be glad you did it when it's over. I felt the same way at the night before my surgery and at the hospital getting ready, like "what am I doing??" but I did it, i'm still in the early stages post op but i'm on my way and I couldn't be happier, you will be too. Good Luck!