Joanna240

Banded on Jan 16, 08. I've had two fills at the hospital by my surgeon. My third fill is scheduled for 4/22/08. I think I have 6cc's in a new 10cc band. After the 2nd fill, I found out about PBing, had about 3 sorta dramatic episodes now, my fault for eating too fast, not chewing properly. If I have that "stuck" feeling at home, my husband massages the middle of my back, and that always helps the food to slide down. The PBing is the slimy food coming back up, sorta like vomiting. I can still eat whatever and as much as I want as long as I chew, chew, chew. I don't have that restriction feeling that some people have, wish I did. I have lost approx 26lbs, the weight loss credit mostly goes to my willpower, the band helps by not having such a large, empty pit in my stomach, I don't stay starving all the time. My weight loss seems to be slower than others than I have read. I'm keeping myself hungry to lose weight, because I told everybody and his brother that I was getting the LapBand, so my willpower has to stay strong because they keep asking me, "how's it going" pointing to their stomachs. I'm a longtime yo-yoer and my head will only hold out so long and then I'm gonna start eating BIG time. Ok, I'm not exercising like I should, I'm walking some, but not breaking a sweat. I go to the monthly WLS group meetings, a very, good of gals. I'm happy I've got my Band but I need for it to kick in to high gear soon to give my head a break :tongue_smilie: Come on people, I need some support!

I respect what my surgeon/weight loss dept says but- 1) I'm a Type II Diabetic and I have to take medications with food. 2) For me, I think it is very important to get fluids in whenever I can so I take every opportunity. This is just works for me.

$400????? not me

Great taste. also comes in Pear flavor but I like the Berry the best. Calories 10. 0 fat. Sodium 35mg. Carbs 1g. Sugars 1g. I'm trying not to eat much and these are very satisfying for me.

After two fills, I don't have any restriction BUT I don't walk around feeling like I have a large, bottomless pit inside me. I love my LapBand for that. I can go for long periods and not eat. There a lot of theories about whether you should eat more or less. I know for myself, I have to go to bed on the hungry side or I don't lose weight, LapBand or no LapBand. I'm three months out and I have lost 30lbs by going to bed feeling like I could eat a large plate of something, anything :biggrin2: . My husband isn't banded but he also has some weight to lose, so we're doing this together. No appealing foods in the house. For supper, I've been eating two naval oranges and a small bowl of a healthy, high Fiber cereal. Cereal and oranges satisfy the sweet tooth. The cereal helps with the pooping and the oranges help with the peeing. We weigh every Friday morning. This morning we both lost a little over a pound from last week. We try to go real hungry Mon-Thur and then eat a little better on the weekends. We should but we don't exercise much at all, just working around the house in and out. Good luck, you have to keep changing things up until you find what works for you.

anything an employer is denying or threatening you, you must get it in writing. If they say they are going to cancel your health ins, then just tell them you will need that in writing. This day and time, employees rights are well protected. Your workplace absolutely cannot cancel your ins because you are going to be out for a medical procedure. I wouldn't take the time to try and argue with that bunch, I would just seek out an Employment Law attorney. In the yellow pages, find an attorney who specializes in Employment Law.

I agree with Shalee04. And you should present your boss with a doctors excuse for some medical leave, have your surgeon's office put down the days to be out, with no complications. If you have complications, then you bring another note from the surgeon's office extending your medical leave. As long as you give ample notice, nothing your boss can do but to let you go for a "medical" procedure. I know you have already told him, but none of his beeswax what the medical procedure is for.

my surgeon does my fills at the hospital under an Xray machine so he can actually see what he's doing, no bent needles, my gosh. I've had two fills. I can still eat all the quantity that I want, but the LapBand helps me by feeling like I don't have a bottom-less pit inside of me. I don't have restriction. Like they say, the LapBand is only a tool, so far for my weight loss, my head has had to do the majority of the work. Don't know how long my head will hold out, I'm a long-time yo-yoer.

no restriction here after first fill, looking forward to second one on 3/11. With same Dr., took my girlfriend fill #4 to get to sweet spot.

Same here. Because I can eat anything that I want, I'm back to taking Matamucil capsules (still not loose my any means). I've only had one fill and so far no restriction at all. I've lost some weight because my head is in to it right now. I go back next week for another fill so I'm hoping for some restriction. I'm eating a very healthy diet with plenty of fiber and fluids but was so constipated, I developed a hemmroid problem although thank goodness that has cleared up now. I was miserable for a while. I may have to get off the capsules eventually and figure something else out. I tried the FiberCoice chewables but that didn't seem to be helping me.

Had my first fill yesterday. Dr. Cook did it at the Hospital under an Xray machine. He said I already had 4cc's in the band from surgery and he added 1.7cc's. I'm down 20lbs and feeling great so he and I didn't want to push it. My next fill is scheduled at the hospital too. In a month, I'll see how I'm doing, at the moment I don't think I'll need a second one. Dr. Cook refers to my band as the - new, big band. If anyone can elaborate on that I'd be interested. I may feel at little difference in the restriction (I shouldn't have worn my tight bra today to work, don't know what I was thinking this morning). I haven't eaten anything since the adjustment but may try some mushies later, I think I'm up to it. Joanna in Boone

SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP Now meeting the second Monday of each month at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in downtown Boone at 6:30 pm. Anyone is invited to attend. For more information, please contact Barbara Armstrong at 964-5779 or Linda Denney at 773-2845.

We have a great group of gals at the WLS support group in Boone, some pre-op's and some post-op's, y'all are welcome to join us the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30PM. Last night, 10 of us just sat around in a circle for 1 1/2hrs, there were laughs and tears, a wonderful night, and we all hugged in the end. If you are in need of emotional support, this is a good place to get it. You can tell this group things that you can't talk to anyone else about. Our leader is Barbra Armstrong -828.295.9603 Last night she gave each of us a rose for Valentines, I thought that was really sweet. Joanna

I was banded by Dr. Cook at Frye in Hickory on Jan 16, 08. Doing great. No pb's, no choking, no discomfort. Everything slides down just fine but don't have much of an appetite - the wild beast in my stomach has been tamed. Down 20lbs (since 1/2/08). Getting my first fill on Wed Feb 13, 08 although not sure how many of those I'll be needing. Others talk about wanting fills but I think I'm at a good weight-loss pace. I'm Type 2 Diabetic and staying healthy lowcarb in addition to the LapBand, my head is in to this right now but that could change, I've always been a yo-yo er. Joanna in Boone, NC

Banded Jan 16th Folks are forever saying they need fills, begging for fills, but I seem to be at a good pace. We've been in such a deep freeze, I haven't walked much yet. On Jan 28, at the WLS dept I weighed 226. When I weigh in Feb 13, I'm sure I'll be in the teens. I'm doing a LapBand/healthy (diabetes) LowCarb combo. I have to remind myself to eat and then I eat very little. But it's great, I feel fine, food just doesn't appeal to me much. All my food slides down just fine. Poop sure stays loose I'm thinking the Splenda has an effect on me. It's like when they did the surgery they cut the chord that was constantly ringing my dinner bell. So far, my food obession has just diappeared, it's such a blessing. a funny - I'm a Secretary at Watauga's public transportation system, I work with a lot of older men. They knew I was going to have some sort of weight-loss surgery, and when I arrived back at work, they just shrugged and said, "she just looks the same" - like I was going to come back transformed into Eva Longoria. :biggrin: Joanna Wilcox Banded Jan 16, 2008 Dr. Cook, FRMC, Hickory, NC

My Cigna ins made me do a bunch of stuff before they agreed to pay for it. I started the application process in April, finally got approved in Dec, had the surgery Jan '08. I'm 15 days out and doing great. The lapband recovery was a breeze, I'm one who always takes a while to get over the anesthesia I don't have any restriction yet (haven't had a fill yet) but its like they cut a cord that was always ringing my hunger bell. Between staying lowcarb and the lapband, I have to remind myself to eat. Believe me when I say that I have always been a ferocious eater, I always had a bottom-less pit for a stomach, something great has happened!

best to study up on HEALTHY lowcarb. I've traded in my potatoes for cauliflower, etc. George Stella recipes are great. I was just banded and presently inject insulin but determined to get this Type II Diabetes in remission and staying HEALTHY lowcarb is the key. Aquacise is recommended by drs post banding.

although I had a long-documented history with my doctor, I still had to do the 6-consecutive months with my doctor. I didn't even try to lose weight though during those 6 months, I figured it was just a "going through the motions" process. I inject insulin and it's extremely difficult to lose weight while on insulin. Doctors notes will be very important when applying. It's best if your surgeon has a weight-loss-dept at the hospital, they guide you and then send in the info to Cigna when they are satisfied all i's are dotted and all t's crossed.

I was just banded on Jan 16, 2008. I'm trying to turn my whole unhealthy world around. I'm more and more convinced that us diabetics (yes, I'm on insulin) are very carb-sensitive. I was just banded but I'm gonna try the combo of LapBand and HEALTHY LowCarb. 1) no breads, no 2) no starchy vegetables - I have to trade in my potatoes for cauliflower. 3) fruits are berries and cantalope 4) not a lot of meat, maybe a stirfry portion once a day 5) very few processed foods, I'm doing a lot of cooking and taking a healthy lunch to work each day. Also, with all the cooking, I put food in 1-cup containers. Therefore, it helps me with portion control. I'm following the recipes of George Stella and they are absolutely delicious. Heck, I'm even making my own ketchup and Thousand Island dressing. My husband who is also on a weight-loss journey is enjoying all this too, he's pretending he was lapbanded. I'm absolutely determined to but the Diabetes in remission.

add Apple Pie Spice to LowCarb SlimFast Vanilla Creme, makes it taste like eggnog. Apple Pie spice contains cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Had my surgery on a Wed and returned to my desk job on a Tues. If I has a safety-sensitive job, would not have returned that soon. My brain was in such an anesthesia fog, and I'd been watching the FoodNetwork for 5 days straight, I was ready to get back to the office and try and get my brain in gear.

I was banded on Jan 16, 2008, since about day 4, I'm been up to mushies with no problem, everything is sliding down just fine. I'm not counting calories but staying HEALTHY lowcarb because I'm Type 2 diabetic (injecting Lantus). Between the LapBand and LowCarb, I'm trying to put my diabetes in remission. My only complaint at the moment is gas pain on the left side of the stomach but I've been passing gas at both ends. :-)

If you've already lost 32lbs, you way ahead of the game, congratulations. The way it was explained to me at the Weight Loss Program, they want pills crushed or to use liquid medication, not so much about swallowing, but about the pill sitting in the small top-side of the stomach (after banding), the longer it sits there, the more it will irritate your small stomach, so just try to get the meds to flow on down to the lower-big portion of your stomach. I was banded on Wed Jan 16 and back at work on Tues Jan 22, still in an anesthesia fog, but otherwise doing real well. I'm already eating mushies, everything is sliding down just fine. Dr has me checking my blooodsugar often. under 175 do nothing. over 175 take 1/2 metformin. I'm hoping to get my Type 2 in remission. No longer injecting Lantus and taking some Metformin every once in a while. I was on LOW CARB Slim Fast pre-op and I still like it after I put some Peanut Butter in the chocolate and apple pie spice in the vanilla. I'm going to try and keep my carb intake waaay down. I'm now a believer that the Diabetics must stay low carb. Good Luck! Joanna

Starting day 5 I was banded 1/16/08 and have a bunch of staples in me. Dr said I had an unusally shaped stomach. I asked, "that it was XXL?" He laughed and said, "no, just some blood vessels we had to think about." My surgery lasted quite a bit longer than most. Was in the hospital one night. post-op problems. Low-grade fever, pounding headache, and I feel like I have a cement block in the upper part of my stomach. Was a loooong journey to get insurance to pay for banding and now I'm having mixed feelings. Just haven't had any quality of life yet.

I was banded 1/16/08 and have a bunch of staples in me. Dr said I had an unusally shaped stomach. I asked, "that it was XXL?" He laughed and said, "no, just some blood vessels we had to think about." My surgery lasted quite a bit longer than most. Was in the hospital one night. I'm having two post-op problems. Pounding headache and I feel like I have a cement block in the upper part of my stomach. Was a loooong journey to get insurance to pay for banding and now I'm having mixed feelings. Just haven't had any quality of life yet. Also, in the evenings, I'm running a low-grade fever.