lonestar5212

Yeah, not fun when that happens. I had a painful chicken experience about 4 months ago. It is all about the chewing. We know that, sometimes just get in a hurry, but the band reminds us quickly!!! I have eaten chicken since, this time chewing slowly and completely and have had no issues.

Hi There! Wanted to share my experience. I have had my lapband for over a year now. I was getting fills almost every month in the beginning, then I got good restriction and didn't need them for awhile. After losing about 87 pounds, I lost restriction so I started getting fills again. Once again I was on the month to month schedule. Then about 2-3 weeks after my last fill, wham, great restriction. I can't explain it, but I hit my sweet spot. I haven't had to have a fill in about 5 months. Just wanted to let you know that it happens sometimes that way. If you can eat your protien and a proper diet, you are okay, but if you can only eat mushies, I would talk to my doctor.

Ditto to everything everyone has been saying. This past winter was a nightmare for me! I was always the one who hated the heat, now I am looking for sun to stand in all the time! And I can't believe I have to wear socks and sweaters all the time. BUT, well worth it, huh guys?

My port is also tilted, but all my fills are done the flouro way. My ins. company won't pay for them this way, but because of my tilt I am afraid to do it any other way. Still trying to find exactly the sweet spot, but I haven't ever had to have an unfill. It doesn't sound like fun at all! Hope we all get it right soon!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your reply to my post. I did exactly what you suggested and I am glad I did. I only got .2ccs today and then I will go from there. I scheduled another appt. for 1 month from today and will see where I am at that point. Thanks for your help!

Supposed to get a fill in the morning. Here is where I am. When I eat, not able to eat alot, maybe 3/4 cup of protien. Getting hungry a couple of hours later. Some things like fruit, chili, I could eat alot of but draw the line and just stop. My weight is down a couple of pounds, up one, down one, up two etc., etc. Don't know if I should get a fill. I am so afraid of getting over-filled, but at the same time I want the best restriction. What would you do? Have been off my exercise routine this month, but just got back on that. Help!

When I lived in Florida for ten years and was hot and sweaty, I complained constantly and could not believe anyone would want to retire and move there. Well, here I am 18 years later in Dallas and freezing!!!! I can only long for the hot and humid days in Tampa!!!

My insurance didn't cover any of my fills at all. I have been paying $150 a fill.

Beyond happy. I am finally becomng the person I think I was meant to be my whole life if my weight had not prevented me from completely blossoming. You are right, satisfied customers tell one person, unsatisfied customers tell everyone! Just to let you know, I had my surgery in March of 08, am down 70 pounds, have never thrown up, not even once. After last months fill, I have had a couple of times where I didn't chew well enough and it was a little uncomfortable going down, but that is it. I had great restriction after my 4th fill, and took a few months off of getting fills because I just didn't need one. When I lost the 70 pounds, things loosened up and I got back on the fill wagon. I have had three now, and I am back where I was as far as restriction goes, and things are going well again. There is lots of success and happiness out here. You can be one of us, you just need to talk to your surgeons office and figure out what is the missing link in your journey. This is a life alternating decision. You will be forever changed and forever happier.

Hi Katie--and fellow Texan!! I was banded in March 08. Did great until August when I started getting hungry, eating more, and staying the same, not losing. I had lost about 60 pounds at that point. I went and started getting fills again in Sept. I have had three fills now and I am back to where I was the early months after surgery, not hungry, getting full after a small amount, and losing again. It did not occur to me (dumb) that losing weight means the band may get loose so you need to start fills again. This remains a learning experience as you go along. I just joined a gym also and think that will help me stay motivated plus feel better. I hate to go, but once I do I can't believe how good I feel. Hopefully, eventually, that feeling will make me look forward to going a little more. Hang in there, this is so worth the journey!!!

It is stupid, but I have been told by Aetna that they believe the fills should be included in the total cost for surgery, which they have paid. The surgeons believe the fills should be charged for separately after the surgery, so here I am in the middle until they come to some kind of agreement down the road. If I don't get it done under fluoro I can get it covered as an office visit at some places. HOWEVER, my port is tilted, has been since they first looked at it after surgery, and they have a hard time even with fluoro getting it right. It always takes some real guidance with lots of specific direction for them to get it, so there is no way someone would be able to get it without seeing it without stabbing me a hundred times. Time before last, I had to be poked 3 times, and that is with the visual aid of fluoro. I will just keep paying and enjoying my band. I feel so blessed that they paid for the surgery, I guess I should just shut up.

I have Aetna. They paid for my surgery and all visits to my surgeon, but they won't pay for my fills. I spend $150 everytime I get a fill using fluoro.

I had my surgery in March, 2008. I went in April for first fill, and May for second fill. Neither one was painful at all. I was pleased, even though my port has been at a 45 tilt since day one. I then took off June and July because I felt full when I ate, not hungry, and I was losing well. Then I started getting hungry and the weight loss slowed, so I started back with fills. August fill was a piece of cake, so was Sept. Then in October, I walked in and there was a new person giving the fills. It took her three tries to find the port and it was very uncomfortable. I went back on Monday of this week for another fill. It was the same person and I was a bit nervous, but this time she found it the first time. She is a little rougher that the person who did it before, so it was a little uncomfortable, but I was happy for the one stick. The person doing the fill has alot to do with your experience that day. Oh yeah, I always get it done with fluro.

Last month it took three tries to get in. New girl at surgery center. First time I ever had an issue. My port has been tilted since surgery, so they must use fluro everytime or I might be there for days each time I go for a fill. I had another fill yesterday, with the new girl again, but this time she got it on the first try. Was a little rougher than the old girl used to be, but I am thankful for just one prick.

Yep, happened to me too. Had surgery in March. Started to notice in July that my hair was really coming out. I normally have very thick hair, so it has been an adjustment, but it has definitely slowed down now. My daughter is my hairdresser and she says that there are spikes about one inch long growing all over my head now, so I guess it is coming back. I too take the Biotin now.

What's up with us all taking a trip to Disney after surgery?? Anyway, I flew to Disney about 5 weeks after surgery, no problem at all. I have flown many times since then and feel no effects whatsoever. Happy flying and tell Mickey hello.

EnchantedRuby -- I waited 30 days exactly to get my approval. I was exactly where you are for thirty days. I called and called and kept being told that it was in review. It was very difficult to wait, I know how you are feeling. Then one day, when I was busy doing something else besides freaking out about approval, the phone rang and there it was. So don't be discouraged if it is taking long. I don't know why Aetna approves some people quickly and others seem to take longer. There doesn't seem to be a pattern I could get clues from, but in the end I got approved. It has been such a blessing in my life. I don't remember when I was this healthy, or this happy before lapband. Hang in there and good luck.

There has been so much wonderful advice given in all the responses that I won't repeat all that good and true advice, however, I just want to say something that I kept telling my son when he was going through kicking an addiction of another kind, "It is NOT failure if you keep trying. You only fail if you give up." My best to you Andrea, you will do this!! P.S. My son got control of his life back and he is very successful. I am on my way to being in control of mine. Had to live by my own advice!!!

I just want to let you know that this is an exciting, scary, frustrating journey in the beginning that will turn out to be the most wonderful thing in your life. I can only tell my story,but when I looked at the calendar this morning, I remembered a year ago this month when I picked up the phone and made an appt. to begin the process. I went to a seminar on Oct. 15th of last year. I was so disappointed that I had to do a supervised weight loss diet and exercise program that was to be 3 months long. How could I ever make it! It sounded so long! Now, here it is a whole year later almost, and I barely remember those three months. But at the time, I thought time was standing still. I was scared that my insurance would deny me. It was all I thought about. It consumed me. I gathered paperwork like a crazy person, not trusting anyone to get it right but me. So much hung in the balance. I wanted that better, healthier life and I was so frightened that someone would forget to do something, or not turn in all the paperwork, or not use the right language to persuade the insurance company that I really needed to have this done. When I think back, I was a mess. But everyone I dealt with was so patient with me, so perhaps all of us act a little desparate in the beginning. When the nutritionist dragged her feet in getting my report in (2 months late!) I went nuts and called her directly and told her the rest of my life depended on that report. She sent it immediately, probably was scared to death of the crazy woman on the phone! Then after everything was sent to my insurance company, they sent me a letter saying that they had not received ANY of my health history. I hit the phones again, calling everyone in the universe, checking and double checking. Then my insurance company took exactly 30 DAYS to give me an answer. All the while I am reading on here that people are getting approved in one day or one week, and here I was sitting, going on a month. I was so depressed. I was sure I would be denied. Then the call came that I was approved. So don't give up hope if "Suzy" gets approval in one day and you are still waiting. The time it takes doesn't mean you won't be approved. Just hang in there. Then came the surgery. March 14, 2008 is my new birthday. I will always celebrate it as the beginning of my new life. I am not a young woman anymore, so it took me a few days to bounce back. But at the one week mark, I was good as new. I have been so fortunate. I reached my sweet spot after only two fills. I have lost 63 pounds as of today. My pcp says he only wants me to lose 19 more. I cannot put into words how my life has changed. It began to change me the day of surgery. I felt so good to be back in charge of my own life. Every day since then has been a transformation of me into the person I have always wanted to be. Confident, healthy, strong, and not too bad looking for an old broad either. People listen when I talk, they look me in the eye, the seat on the airplane is now comfortable, booths in restaurants, my knees don't hurt doing stairs anymore, my lower back feels much stronger, my blood pressure returned to where it was when I was in my twenties, and the best of all, my doctor has taken me off of my diabetes medication and I am doing so good. So almost six months after surgery now, and I just wanted to share my story with those just beginning. I remember that it seemed like an impossible dream back then, but six months post surgery it is my reality. Hang in there, it can be yours also.:thumbup:

Hope all you beginners are still hanging in there. I think of you often and can't wait for you all to be on this side of banding.

Really! I love that place. Guess I will ask my surgeon's office about the medical card thing. Did you get one from your surgeon? Does anyone else have one of these? Tell us what it is exactly.

I too am having this issue. I have lost 50lbs. and it started about two weeks ago. I appreciate the recommendations on shampoo and supplements. I will order today and give it all a try. I try hard to eat alot of protien, vegies and fruit and even take a vitamin for post-bariatric surgery, but still have this problem. I still have alot to lose, I just hope I have hair when I get there!!

I think one of you said "it is different for everyone," and that is so true. Some need alot of fills at first to eliminate that hungry feeling, others get it after a couple. I was due for a fill last week, but I don't feel hungry, and I am losing weight, so I cancelled. Just be patient with your own body and your own physicians way of doing things, (he is trying to do what he thinks is best for you), and it will all fall into place for you. Just keep making wise food choices and exercise. Just because you CAN eat something, don't eat it if you know you shouldn't, substitute fruit or vegies or more protien instead. It will all work out for all of us, just keep working at it and keep searching for your own personal sweet spot, it will come.