Keeper

Out of curiosity, do you guys pay for your fills, whether insurance co-pays or whatever? My co-pay was $20. A little surprised - I was under the impression that my after care/follow up appointments were included.

Yesterday was one month since getting banded. Can't believe it's been a month already! I am literally waiting in the lobby to get my first fill. I weighed in this morning and I am down 13 pounds. Feeling pretty positive!

You guys are great - thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I did weigh this morning, but it's because I am having my first fill done today and wanted to know how my scale compares to theirs. After that, it is going UP! I walk 3 days out of the week to pick my kids up from school but that is only about 20 minutes. But. I just bought an elliptical, something I never would have done for myself before. So I'm feeling pretty good!

I am so intrigued with this thread! I developed quickly, going from a B cup in 8th grade to a DD by the time I graduated. I did get larger when I was pregnant but I never needed to buy another bra, and I did not breastfeed, but I have always "sagged". I told my husband I want a lift at the least. Since I have not lost the weight I need to, I cannot picture what I will look like if my breasts get smaller. I would definitely consider augmentation though. But, one woman I used to work with got an augmentation a while back. She had been overweight, lost weight, and when she consulted her surgeon, he told her because of the amount of loose skin she had that he wouldn't be able to go under a certain amount CC. And she said that she can't go braless - I always thought that was the biggest perk (pardon the pun) of having fake boobs - you wouldn't have to wear a bra!

Mine is Dec 9th. I would love to know how it goes and how you feel after.

believe me, you aren't alone in the post-op sore and sorry stage! How are you doing now, since it has been a couple of days since you wrote this? My days 3-4 were ironically my worst. Now (starting my 3rd week today) you would never even know that I had surgery! Good luck with recovery. Cheers!

that's hysterical about restaurant staff! One of the things that I am also 'amused' by is that for the most part, most people say to practice mindful eating, not sitting at the TV or whatever, but our dining room table is small. I'll set my boys up at the table, hubby sits on the couch, and I find myself at my desk a lot (we have a linear open floor plan kitchen->dining->living room). I find that if I take my half cup of whatever and sit at my desk, check FB, answer an email, read things here, etc., I actually space out my bites. @@amponder sorry about the blues. I have been *mostly* ok since my surgery, but I have had a couple of really hard moments, so I get it. I guess I would just say, be gentle with yourself, lots and lots of grace (we are not going to change over night. If we could, we would have done it already!). Lots of good vibes sent your way. :-)

Same with me @@stanpry . I have heard that the band can cause some people to have heartburn, reflux, etc, but since I had the lap-band and hiatal hernia repair, I have had NO heartburn! Yea! @@tw42 good luck with the revision!

disclaimer: not a professional opinion. :-) first question - did you go to a local place or was it a national center (i.e. True Results, which is what I did)? In trying to get a fill, are you contacting your insurance directly, or are you going straight to the office? If going to the office, I would contact your insurance carrier and ask them to send you an 'explanation of benefits,' or to put in writing what they will or will not cover. second question - the hardship papers - who recommended that? If the clinic, it seems like they have the responsibility to follow up with you on this. All this to say, that really sucks that you are having to go through this. I have no idea of the accuracy of my next statement, but I have heard it is $100+ every time one goes to get a fill if they are self-pay or if they did not work in a number of sessions (like 6 fills, etc) added into their overall cost surgery if paying out-of-pocket. You can definitely call another lap-band provider to see what their policy is on accepting patients from another facility. I think it would be wise to do so. I truly hope this works out for you and that you can get it resolved!!

@@CherieRyde today marks the beginning of my third week post-op so I can't ultimately answer your question, but ironically I started my period yesterday. I have always been fairly regular, though. You got banded in July - is this your first period since then? Just curious. I have actually been very curious to see if losing weight would cause changes in cycles. Sorry I don't have any answers! I am hoping some other female vets will join this thread

@@Ldimples good luck going back to work tomorrow! And I'm glad you were able to take those extra days. How much did you lose pre-op, if you don't mind me asking? Having switched to soft foods, I haven't lost anything this week. Little bummed but my first fill is the 9th.

Binge eating disorder = BED

@@My Bariatric Life I totally get it - the mixed feelings aspect of it. I actually do think it is important but only because I think counseling is important. For some people, seeing a psych for the screening is their first contact with a psych. I guess I am most interested to see what it is like "on the other side" - after WLS for someone who has battled BED. I mean, I guess in some ways we all have. ugh - I can't get it out right what it is what I want to say. I am one week/one day post op and all I wanted to do today was eat. It is all head hunger - I get that, but I so desperately want the thoughts to go away, not just the weight.

I am very interested to hear from those who have dealt with an eating disorder. I actually went through a 6 week intensive outpatient program - for me it was to see if I *had* BED, and I found that it helped some, but in a lot of ways left me fore confused and more focused on food than before.

I jinxed myself. Today I have felt no restriction and feel like I can eat anything :/

I appreciate, but am also frustrated with this thread. We all have stories and whether some agree or not, our stories ARE connected to whether or not we ate more calories than we burned off. I gained 40 pounds with one pregnancy and didn't lose it, and nothing (seriously, no weight gain) with my second and then lost 40 right after. I was abused growing up, so I hid in a fat body. I got married and got comfortable. I went to culinary school, surrounded by good and rich foods all day. In my younger years because I was on my feet and working my butt off in restaurants, I was able to maintain my weight eating anything that I wanted. But I was never skinny or thin. As for genetics, one side of the family is all beanpoles and on the other short stubby round folk. I feel like I can relate to a piece of almost everyone here's story. Yes, we put too much food in our bodies. Maybe we did not exercise enough. Yes, we ARE responsible for those actions and more, but that by no means eliminates the "other" reasons we gained weight. I am a food and carb addict. I am at my heaviest weight ever. But I want to change, so here I am on a crazy WLS journey. I will change the way I eat and move but I CANNOT win this battle without facing the psychological reasons for the way I am. Just my 2 cents.

susancae - I totally get it! When I was on all liquids (esp first couple of days post-op), chicken noodle Soup broth was the BEST THING EVER! hahah. beef broth wasn't so bad either but I got a little tired of it. good luck, stay strong!

@@Sophie139 have you heard from anyone else about your numbness? I certainly have not experienced this as a side effect from surgery, but I have experienced something similar - just randomly and it goes away type thing - like if I stand on my feet too long the side of my thigh will become numb, sometimes followed by that jabbing sort of pain. I never knew if it was just nerve pain or what. Would love to hear if/what you learn!

Thanks! Technically it was 7 for the week as I lost 2 in my piddly little one week liquid pre-op diet, but I was still super happy! One time it took me SIX months on Weight Watchers to lose 13 pounds, But having said that, I stepped on the scale this morning and it showed I gained 2 pounds. Ugh. It is magical to watch those numbers go down, and depressing when they don't, and maddening when they go up. :/ And that is why I need to stop weighing everyday!!!! Once a week, y'all, once a week....

My one-week weigh-in: I am so excited to say that I have lost 9 pounds! I am very excited. I am sure I won't loose weight like this every week, but it feels REALLY good to have a decent start. I am the kind of person who feeds off success. I am starting to get hungrier now, but I have my first fill Dec 9th. All in all, I am feeling pretty good!!!