lulalove

I did not feel restriction until 3cc currently added a week ago & went from 2cc to 3cc. A week into additional c. I am starting to feel restriction SPECIALLY when cheating. Example: rice and bread. Although it makes me feel miserable physically for 30 minutes, I am glad its reinforcing me to think twice now!!! I still don't feel at green zone but know its around the corner! Oh and weight started coming off a tad bit faster... yessssss!

. I was banded 12/3. Pre-op I lost 15 lbs. I gained 5 lbs post-op!!! I always retain Water after surgery (noticed with child birth). Then lost it plus 5 lbs then gained 2.5 lbs!!! ( when started mushed food ) Now lost a tiny bit but pretty much at stall. I walk 2-3 miles a day 4-5 days a week. Currently exercising 2x week and struggling to drink 64oz of water. Counting my calories, keeping under 1300... Just think my body is in protest mode and communicating to scales lol but what keeps me sane... measurements!!!!! I am loosing in inches

Same here, was bended 12/3... Went for post op on 12/29 and asked for doc for fill due feeling no restriction and swallowing just fine. To my surprise I had little less than 1cc which as explained to you, was just placed snug around the stomach. Doc placed the 1cc back plus one more (total 2). Another fill is on 1/26 for probably 1 more, I can eat freely but training to find that full feeling by measuring food and eating slow (or trying too lol). I do wish I could get tight enough sooner but I trust my doctor, after all I allowed him to perform surgery on me It must be tough with doctor being this far for you, however don't rush, you would not want to stretch your stoma or have slippage. Like you I am learning will be a slower process for me than what I was predicting but you have to get the most out of your situation. Take your time ti learn to eat with the band even if it allows you to eat more than a cup. Band does not mean you won't be ever hungry again Good luck and hang in there, with me

you are right, I did notice the difference last year also if employer offered but HRA also bariatric surgery is mot covered. Its outrageous considering the policies are about $300+ per month... Obama's Health Reform is cheap stakes "i did something for the country"

oh and it definitely depends on policy type. There are different levels. The policy my family has I made sure prior and it did say it covers bariatric surgery. I also called. As i answered above my policy does not do pre-auth only pre-determination....

I have BCBS, have to check for payment but predetermination did award the medical necessity. They do not issue authorization number as its only predetermination. Insurances often view these procedures as experimental although the greater proof is that they work! Also for nutritionist visits BCBS pays 100% of fee (no copay, dedictible, co-insurance) .. usually 30 min=$100 but they give headache for this procedure. It all comes down to money. These procedures cost insurances 20k on average vs few visits to nutritionist.

youtube!!! just search for 25 min workouts, create account and add those you like so you won't have to search. But on side note MAYBE to inspire, I took my child as I am stay at home mom and went for walk in 20 degree weather. Had to put layers on him and myself! But the accomplishment beats any frost bite.

Hi all, This will be a long post about my journey 6.5 weeks post-op and its a bit tough (like everyone else's!) So I have not updated in a while due going through a major stall. After surgery my weight went up 5lbs, dropped by 4 then again up by 2. I started feeling very lousy and discouraged. Was blaming it all on the fill... etc (naturally) But little by little I regained my will, well still trying, Put reminders to eat slow, eat little, drink Water and exercise will beep on my phone FOREVER. Yes, every 30 minutes I set up my phone to drink water. Funny when my hubs is at home he counts how many I missed I have 25 oz bottle and know exactly how much I drink. Four of those and I feel accomplished. Three and I am happy too! Two I know I have to get back on track. I can gulp for now as I am only 2cc so pretty loose. Second, I log my food on MFP for nutrients counting. Started right when I finished cake from my son's 2nd bday... I have now the 2 bad days to compare with... then I threw out all the sweet stuff (except my dark chocolate!). I still cheat a tiny bit (i know, booooooo!) my hubby had to make homemade ice-cream! but I only had a cup about when I had 300 cal def and made him feel so guilty for making ice-cream and not frozen yogurt haha Plus I walk 1.5 - 2 miles at least 5 days a week. Wish I could do 3 miles, but my little monster gets annoyed. Plus weather in NYC is not so friendly. No excuses, so I did my first day of exercise following an app on iPhone. Just 19 minutes, light one to prove how out of shape I am! Still soar and feels great. So thats it, eat & count calories, carbs, fat and Protein. Eating about half a cup per meal. Drinking water every 30 minutes, but not 30 min before and after meals and get moving! Oh and I did buy Alex & Natalie's "The big book on lap band" just for support still reading ... Finally, I am down to 225.8 lbs! Its a tough journey but I chose the perfect tool. Thank you for reading and hope to hear some stories too. lula

Surgery couldn't be better! I feel good, positive and determined. Lots of tightness specially laying down or sitting but I try to move around ad much as possible. Still feel a bit oozy from meds. Not much pain only at the site of port upon getting up (back to pregnancy days and rolling off to a side to get up:) My biggest challenge will be away from my almost 23 months old son. My awesome mom is taking care of him for the next 3 weeks until I heal (cannot lift anything heavy). My sister is my biggest inspiration, she was lap banded in 2012 lost all the excess weight and keeping it off. Her only major complication was lifting her son (then 2.5 yr) and having port twist and stitches open slightly, she was only 3 weeks post op. So yes, I will learn from that mistake! Otherwise I make sure I drink plenty of water, broth, kefir, fresh squeezed juices and protein shakes. So far so good, learning to swallow nice and slow. Biggest challenge was to go #2 , but milk of magnesia did the trick . Still a bit bloated but feeling much better. Hope to hear some great stories of encouragement.

my stall just ended! . I started trying to drink 100oz of water a day and eating no less than 80g of protein per day plus limit carbs. seems to work

6 weeks

Thank you!

Try Gas X they have the strips that melt in your mouth.

Congrats for the first step. Where is the pain? It may be gas pain that they pump you with. Get yourself Gas-X strips pronto!!! they really do help after a few. Wander why doctors forget to mention (mine did to me, but told my sis). Also there is shoulder pain. That will last up to 5-6 weeks Did they give you liquid Tylenol with Codeine? Don't skip out

Hi. it is said .5 - 2lb per week. Is a healthy loss. So both of ladies are doing great!! congrats

Hi Tiffany, how did your surgery go?

where is the LOVE button? You are wonderful and so very well done for yourself. Enjoy the monkey bars! Love life

Congrats! the left shoulder pain will get better. Mine "let go" on about 4th week. As explained by my doc with digram, your band is turned with access to port on left so when you eat it will push out and press on your diaphragm and that is also where lots of nerve endings are, therefore the pain. The good news it will go away, had me on my knees. Sometimes get a mild pain now but happens less and less. Hope you feel better!

Good Luck Tiffany! It is a journey and lap band is a tool. I am still trying to manage my tool being a bit over a month post op. Julie

So I have had my first fill 12/29 and spoke with my doc about the red, yellow and green zone; also about my weight at stand still. Its a week post fill and I have gained 2-3 lbs but it may be Water retention due that time of month. I do know I am still at yellow zone and need more filling but also need to get on track with eating good. With holidays and the "visitor" I am cheating with sweets. After the first filling I was fine, 2 days later is when the tightness kicked in and broccoli got stock. Today at least I drank more water and that is the key. Happy New Year to all!

go see your doc, meanwile have lots of water, walk a ton and at home what my sis said helped he r(she has lap band for 2 years, me for 3 weeks) is to jump a bit with your hands reaching way up. I hope you feel better!

thank you. saved!

did you ever have any ultrasound tedts done where you had to swallow liquid and the would look how it passes? how long ago?

Are you possibly gassy? Do you burp as you down liquid? Try gasX strips after24 hours you should feel better, plus do try to drink 2-3 oz of fluid wait 15 min and drink more