chell1957

O.K. I have a question...all this talk of prots...I know why we have them..for the fills...my questions R these, will the port ever be removed? If so, how long after surgery is it removed? How bad is the scar after its removed?

What is this drink mix. Where do u buy it and how much is it?

If I understand correctly, they are talking about the diet powered soft drink. I also think they now come pre mixed on the soda isle. I also know a lot of stores have their own versions of it. I have found WalMart to be the lest expensive and it taste o.k. Good luck.

LOL! U all are to funny. I turned 50 in July and I too have a hubby 9 year older! Yes I get told all the time I don't look my age. Which is nice I guess. I do not fell like I am 50, mentally some days I feel like I am 80, LOL! Seriously, I know I will look like one of those winkle dogs. I have an installed zipper (old style c section) that is 26 years old so my tummy is a giggle mess anyway. I can just imagine what it will be like once I am banded and have lost my 80 lbs. Lord help me! LOL

Been reading the remarks from us all. I am not banded yet. Still researching. I have been trying to force myself to eat slower and chew better in preparation for the future. Its much harder then I expected it would be. I am not a fan of PB or any other such thing so it will be good reinforcement for me once I am banded. Thanks to all the good advice and info I am getting here.

Hi. Its me again..dose their "diet" require that you buy their food. I am a poor person on food stamps and I have no extra $ for such a thing. This is why I have stayed away from Jenny Craig, Weight Watcher's and others like them. thanks Chell

Hi. I am new, not banded yet, reserching...I found your blog and it was of help. I have questions about the psy test, u know, what to expect. It takes the anxiety out for me. Thanks for sharing. Chell

Yes. I use the Veterans Hospital since I am a Vet. I also have a from of Medicaid but do not use it. I like to be on equal footing at the Dr. and with Medicaid Dr.'s tend to look at you different, like you are a charity case for them, at the VA we are all the same, no insurance is better then the next person's. So far I have had pretty good luck. Been using them for about 3 years now. Just wondering if they will cover any of the P.S. for post op?

IndioGirl55 I hear that, I too think I will have a turkey neck since U can see in my photo I have a BIG neck and chin now. I also point out fat faces do no show winkles, yep I am sure my balloon will deflate also. Wink...LOL

Hum...I am guessing that my insurance will cover this, I use the Veterans Hospital out of Philly Pa. I once had a Nuro Psy done to see if I had ADD or a learning disability. I disliked the attitude of the women who tested me. I was so nervous and when I am nervous I talk a lot, she seemed to think I had "isssues"...well considering I had 2 hour drive to go to a place I never was at before and arrived late (called her from the road)...any way I digress, LOL...it was an 8 hour test! Yuck!

Ladies, my journey down this road was a bit different. I started at age 47! I am now 50. Anyway, I used the pill for a number of years for regulation (in my 30's at the time) and I started to have hot flashes on the pill! I noticed my period would last 1 maybe 2 days. Well a few painless blood test later and it was confirmed. I went off the pill. I did do an HRT for a while but then that study came out and I went off and toughed it out. I used a fan 24/7 since all I would is sweat, and when I sweat its not a nice picture! LOL. Just have to persevere. I also used herbal remedies for a while. The over the counter type. Estevan.

Hi. Not banded yet. In the research phase of it. I was wondering the same thing. I am pretty sure my insurance will cover the surgery but unsure of the PS after care. I have a c-section scar (old school type, runs like a zipper!) which really messed up my belly. I am worried it will be worse. I can deal with the wing spam arms (have them now) but would like to look better as well as be healthy. If my insurance will not pay the PS aftercare I am screwed since I am considered "poor" by any standard.

This is great news! I use the VA myself (Philly Pa) and am hoping to have it done at Pittisburg VA.

Hi everyone. I am new here and I have not been banded yet. I joined as part of my research into making the final decision. I trust that the information I will get here will be very good knowledge. I hope along the way I am able to make a few friends as well. I am married, 3 grown sons and 2 grandsons. I would very much like to be around when my grandsons graduate high school around the year 2020. I would be over 65 then. My family has a short life span (into our mid to late 70's) so I am very determined to keep healthy for this reason. Right now I am anything but. This is the main reason I am considering this surgery. Chell

I was on this stuff in the late 1990s, around 1997 or so. I was tested several times but have had no problems sine that time.

Losing weight is very hard for me. I am on Thyroid meds for a slow thyroid. I keep trying to remember to eat slow, chew very well. I am trying to use portion control but then I am hungry again in a hour. I do mean hungry, as in growing stomach. I am also trying hard to drink more water. This is why I liked the Merridia so much, it took away the hunger for me, the rest was easier, I could concentrate on the nutrition part. Other then having a sweet tooth (really a nite time sugar addition) I eat healthy food. I love salads, veggie, sea food....I just seem to eat too much of it. I am also trying to have more veggies and less of the meat.

To GG88....is this a RX from your doctor? Is it his RX? I can't afford to buy them since I am on such a low income. Everything would have to be by RX.

Very good question. I have a fair amount of meds I take now which I am hoping will stop once my weight starts to come down. Not banded yet but am learning so much here.

I was on Merridia in the late 1990's. Never had any problems medically and I was THE best loser in my local study group.

So much of this sounds familiar to me. I can't remember a time when I was "thin". Save for my very early teen years (1st yr high school). By graduation I weighted 135 lbs. I am 5' 3" tall! I now weight 210. In Navy boot camp I lost weight and gained muscle. But all I did all day was calisthenic and walk/march every place. I love how my body looked. Well along came pregnancy and I gained weight again. Now I had my mother nagging at me. As the years went by my wright went up. Then came the Redux and Merridia pills. I was in the local trials for the Merridia. I lost 60 lbs!!! I did not feel hungry. I felt for the first time how it feels to feel "full" after eating a meal. It gave me so much control and self confidence. Then in 1999 along came my anxiety/depression and the medications to treat it did not agree with the Merridia so I had to come off. I gain the 60 lbs back and 20 more. Bringing me to my present weight. :cool: I can relate to a lot of what I read here. I too am fine all day but as the night creeps in I eat more. I get edgy and restless if I don't. Something I don't understand about myself. I also have a sugar addiction which I know is no good for me. I have tried to eat healthy food and fill up on veggies and fruits but I keep going until I have the candy and pastry. So my depression kicks in since I am now ticked with my self and my behavior. How dose one charge this behavior?

I am learning so much here. Thank you all for the information. I really want to change my eating habits now but I find it so hard to do. I have no support in the house. I have not yet been banded. I am in the research stage. I am going thu the Veterans Hospital for their Move program. If I am approved for the surgery I will have to travel from NJ to Pittisburg Pa. This is a 4-6 hour drive 1 way. Anyway I digress. The information is very helpful.

Got a question for you. Why a dr. superviser diet? Tell me about the diet please.