allykat

Wow!!!! You should be proud of your accomplishment! You look wonderful and sooo happy!

Onder Woman - I had to call myself the day before surgery to get my report time. Nobody was going to call me. I remember reading somewhere on my papers about Monday patients calling on Friday. I'd call if I were you. I want to say it was sometime after 2 pm when you are supposed to call?

This weekend is bad for me, but I'm sure others may be interested. It is our Rose Festival this weekend and my DDs are in the parade Friday and dance in several shows Sat. and Sun., so we'll be hopping all weekend. I found out yesterday I have to have outpatient surgery! Yuck! Can't remember if I posted this or not, but several weeks ago my youngest DD kicked her leg back while dancing around and I just happened to walk by, putting me in the wrong place at the wrong time. She ended up hitting my thumb, bending it back. Well, after 5 weeks in a splint of one sort or another it is no better. Back to the ortho today and it is a torn ligament in my thumb. Dr. doesn't think it will improve without surgery, but he is willing to humor me for the next few weeks. I'm in a remvoable cast now and if it doesn't improve within 3 weeks, it is surgery. After surgery, he warned me that I'd spend several more weeks in a hard cast and another splint. Typing stinks right now! I'm trying to catch typos but I'll just let this be my disclaimer so I can just let it go from here! LOL!

Tater and Taz - I wanted to tell you about something I learned at my last fill. My doctor said that it is not uncommon for the scale to be really stubborn in the beginning, but you may be loosing inches. Are your clothes fitting differently? If so, I'd concentrate on that. I'd also do what has already been suggested about tracking what you eat. I know for me, the scale didnt' move for a month (I was loosing inches though...clothes getting looser), but I wasn't getting near the Protein. I upped that and now I'm seeing some movement. Concentrate on making healthier choices and exercising and I bet you see some movement soon! Hang in there, ladies!

I haven't eaten breakfast from a restaurant to go, but I do love to eat Kashi bars in the morning. They have a good bit of protein in them. My breakfast of choice is usually a bar or a protein shake or yogurt. I usually will eat one of the three early and then something else from those foods mid-morning before lunch. Usually, it is yogurt and a Kashi bar. Both are convenient to take on the run.

Sounds like you have a good attitude about it now. I'd also suggest watching your Protein intake. That usually always ends up affecting my weight loss. One other thing they told me at my fill appointment was that it is not uncommon in the beginning to go through plateaus where the scale isn't moving, but you are instead dropping inches. How are your clothes fitting? Try taking measurements to compare, especially during those frustrating plateau times!

Congrats on your surgery date, onder woman! As for work people, I only told two, both close coworkers (one is actually my assistant, but we've been friends for years). Another coworker guessed. I was back at work after my surgery and she knew I was on a restricted diet (work meeting involving food). I could tell she was really thinking about it and since she has a medical background, she just guessed. I trust her totally to keep it to herself. Nobody else at work knows and I don't plan to tell them until much later. I don't want people scrutinizing me to see if I'm loosing like they think I should. In my personal life, I've only told a handful of people, too, for the same reason. I may feel more comfortable telling people later, but it isn't anyone's business right now. There is one person I told that I didn't intend to tell. She knew I had investigated it, and when I was going out for "outpatient surgery," she asked what I was having done. Not being nosey...she was genuinely concerned. I told her a hernia repair (that was my standard lie), and then she asked me all kinds of questions from there since her DH was having it done! OOPS! I had to 'fess up since I obviously didn't know what I was talking about...rofl.

Leslie, the scale went up for me as soon as I added mushies. I would think that is normal since you were essentially on a starvation diet to that point (Dr. B's words). What helped me get through this stage is what I read everyone on the boards....you have a new car (the band) but no gas in the tank (a fill). You will definitely get hungrier as the days go by. I ate less during that time, but probably didn't eat as a true bandster either. That is probably why the scale didn't budge once I ate real food either! Try to eat more protein if you can since that will make you feel fuller longer. I'm definitely doing that now that I have had a fill (still can't feel any difference) and it is helping me. Good luck - you are in what they call Banster Hell right now!

Jeannie, Congrats for being overweight! LOL - only on LapBand Talk could you say that! I know what you mean about daddy's approval. It was actually a comment from my dad the was the final push I needed to have the surgery. I told him I was thinking about it and then he told me how worried he had become over the weight I'd gained over the years. It was a wake-up call. I knew I had gained a lot and I knew I needed to loose it, but I didn't think I was at the point yet of causing worry. It really hit me hard. My parents are divorced and he lives in SC. He was here about a month ago, and I look forward to when he comes back in May. Hopefully, he'll see a difference in me then!

Okay, here are my before and durings. The first (blue shirt) was taken about 5 days after surgery and the second (black shirt) was taken Friday. One is a bit further away than the other, since my DH took one and DD took the other. I can't see a big difference, but I've had a few people say that they can see it. I do think that what Elizabeth told me sometimes happens to people is happening to me; although the scale isn't moving a lot, I am loosing inches. That black top is two sizes smaller than the blue one! So sorry they are so huge! I have no idea how to resize them!

Mia, when I was here Wednesday, I heard Malik talking about a new nurse but didn't get when she started. I made appointments for May 20 and June 17 when I was there. I hope I don't have to keep the May appt. - I hope I'm down at least 8 lbs. by then!

Holly, we just missed each other! My first fill was on Wednesday. It wasn't so bad, but man, was I hungry last night! So ready to be done with liquids! Elizabeth told me to do liquids Wed and Thurs and to do soft foods today before resuming regular foods tomorrow. The scale is finally moving again - so yea!

Right after surgery I noticed the lump in the throat thing. Someone suggested I watch when drinking to be sure I wasn't taking in extra air and to chew more/eat slower. I tried to tune into these (didn't think I was doing it wrong) and I noticed it got better. HTH!

Jeannie! That is hilarious because I did the same thing yesterday! I freaked myself out as well. I took little sips and soon realized I was fine. I didn't get the gum stuck...I was just scared that I would.

Leslie, definitely talk to Dr. B. I did not handle liquids well AT ALL and he moved me to mushies and softs after one week, too. Drink some Gatorade, too...it will help your electrolyte balance. Hang in there!

Pamela, I am so sorry! I was really worried about MRSA when I had my spot lanced last year, but "luckily" it was just plan old staph. Please take care of yourself and follow directions from your doctor to the tee. We had two people at my work that were infected with it following surgery, and both had quite an ordeal and a long recovery. There is really no telling where you picked it up. My DH is a firefighter and it went through their department a year ago (which was why we thought I had it). You can get over it, but it takes some time to kick MRSA's butt completely.

You can definitely see the difference in your face, Mia! I think it is cool how everyone always looks so much happier in their after and during pics. Have you noticed that?

I think it is really interesting how some people have more pain than others and our reactions are so different. I was really sore in my back/shoulder area, but the heating pad helped significantly. I only really have 1 or 2 uncomfortable nights and took pain meds maybe 3x. On the other hand, the liquid diet whipped my butt and sent me sprawling. I just think that is cool how we all react so different. Leslie, hang in there and definitely take the meds if you need them. I'd say you'll feel better within a week's time.

Georgia girl - it is an abx cream. Also comes in ointment form. We keep it on hand at our house all the time and swear by it! It is available by prescription. I feel your pain on the incision...I had one lanced last year ant it was no fun!

Leslie - congrats on joining bandland! Your next few days will probably have your emotions all over the place, but it is pretty common. Congrats! Brina - Interesting about the 2cc's. I'm also curious to know what size band I have and if there is any fill in it. I felt a lot of restriction up until about 2 weeks after surgery. Now, I am eating less than preband, but a lot more than I did during those 2 weeks. As a result, I am now the proud owner of your lost 2 lbs....lol. I've got to start making better food choices. Just because I can eat something doesn't mean I should! Georgia Girl - I've dealt with staph for about a year now. Bactraband (sp?) cream is great for any spots. Plus, you put it on a q-tip and use it in your nose. Staph is common in the body and lives in the nose. Nice, huh? Do they think the swelling in your phase is staph or could that be just causing congestion? You may want to dry a decongestant and see if that helps. Mia - congrats on the loss!

Question on life after the fill....does it get easier? I was moved to solid food earlier than usual, and that brings with it all of the old temptations. I've had to rely on will power, which obviously sucks or I wouldn't be in this situation! So while I know I'll probably always live with a bit of a food monkey on my back, does it get easier to actually stick to something? Right now I can eat anything and have zero restriction. I get filled next week. Is it going to be easier to "just say no" soon?

Brina - I take the Flinstones chewable - when I remember to take them! Guys, I stink at remembering to take those. I finally brought some to work and put them in my desk drawer. I still am hit or miss. I know I should do better! 1. Exercise - I want to say that walking was okay as soon as you felt up to it, but any weights or heavy exercise was closer to 4 weeks - 6 weeks out. I know one week from surgery I was walking 2 miles. No problems at all. 2. Gas Strips? I read about people using these, but I never did. I probably would have tried it when the gas pain was at its worst a few days after surgery. 3. Heating Pad vs. Cold Compress. I loved the heating pad on my back! Used it for about a week (maybe less) following surgery. Only way I could get comfortable the day I came home. 4. Ice chips? Yes, Sonic sells them (my DH loves the stuff!), but I just used the crushed ice feature on my ice maker. Georgia Girl's idea to get Gatorade is a great one! I ended up getting my electrolytes all out of wack and had a rought few days for a time there. Dr. B told me to drink that on my way home from a recheck and I immediately felt better! Good luck! It will be here before you know it!

Personally, I'd love it if there were evening or Saturday appointments! It would be nice to not have to take off so much time to go to Albany for appointments. My first fill is next week and it could not possibly come any sooner! I need some restriction!

Hi all, I called UHC last week to find out if the surgery was covered by my policy. It is...$200 deductible at 90% - great news! I was also told it is subject to predetermination paperwork? What is that exactly and what all does that involve? Is the process long with UHC? I know I called the doctor I've chosen and was told that after attending the seminar next week, I'd make an appt. with the surgeon and then be referred to a nutritionist and the psych eval. The psych eval, I was told, takes the longest as it can take about 2 weeks to get in and then another 4 weeks after for the eval to come in. Just wondering if this is all the stuff UHC needs to approve?

Vonnie, It is probably because this is a pretty old thread. I will tell you I am also a state of GA employee and unfortunately, all state policies have exclusions to weight-loss surgery. I wasn't told that when I initially started calling with the procedure codes, but in my journey, it became clear I'd have to be self-pay.