Wheetsin

Yes?

Hate the game, not the playa! No worries, that's definitely not 50 lbs of fat! I wish!

Is that the same issue here, or have they done it again? Maybe the amounts they paid are negotiated rates, and not full coverage rates? My insurance co was billed about $30k for my surgery, and will pay the surgeon about $1700. I'm not stuck paying the difference, it's just that $1700 is all my surgeon gets paid b/c of the negotiated discount.

10mm is the VanGuard band, capacity is 10cc.

I'm heading into my 6th week post-op and have virtually no appetite, but from what I've discussed with others this isthe exception and not the rule. It seems most people regain their appetites within the first 2 - 3 weeks, so much so that they have a hard time maintaing whatever weight they lost pre- and post-op. So yes, sounds normal from what I've been told.

There are several of such threads. Here's mine.

Some people are filled beyond capacity, but I believe most find that they don't need to be. The band by itself, without fill, will give you some restriction. Some people make it to goal without any fills. The Fluid added from there just increases that. Ideally by the time you reach goal you'll have been able to change your behaviors enough that fills aren't required for a lifetime. However, if you aren't able to do that, or have situations come up that make it near impossible (e.g. pregnancy), then your band is there and you can seek out a fill. I can't remember where from, but I've heard the statistic that after the first 2 years, fills are really only done if weightloss warrants (reduced organ size requires tighter band for continued restriction), post-pregnany (returning restriction to where it was), etc. I believe there are doctors who are starting to empty the fill after the first 2 - 3 years, too -- again supporting the idea that the behavior change should have occured by then.

My situation is kind of like yours, and kind of not. I, too, met my husband before I got fat. However, he has never told me once that he is not attracted to me, or that he would divorce me b/c of that. IMO - I think your husband is being a shallow ass. There are lots of reasons to be attracted to someone other than the condition of their body - intelligence, character, personality, etc. The silver lining here is that your husband feels comfortable sharing very strong feelings with you that a lot of other men would keep to themselves. The black cloud is that he really shouldn't feel that way to begin with.

I can't vouch for the flavor but the PowerCrunch (GM friend uses them) have: 170 calories 8g fat 8g carbs 1g dietary Fiber 14g Protein I think I'll stick with my 90 cal Protein shakes though. 8g fat is more than I feel comfortable eating in one place still. :straight

I am, since carbs are one of the things my nutritionist really stresses, esp. during the first 6 months. I've found a low carb, low fat yogurt that's pretty good. I can't remember the brand off-hand, but it comes in 6 little pots per pack. I used the strawberry to help me get through my semi-liquid phase. I'll see what the brand is next time I'm downstairs.

Actually with that height and weight, your BMI is closer to 65, and with your weightloss around 62. There's a BMI calculatore here if anyone is unsure how to calculate theirs. Welcome to our thread! :clap2:

May is a convention at the Tampa Bay Grand Hyatt (I think) but normally no, it's just for meetings or something, we have a sister company in that area. I fell in love with the Bonefish Grill (was a sdecent drive) last time we were there, their seared ahi was so yum. And closer to that particular area, "Highlands Preserve" or whatever it was, we found this little place onthe backside of a building, I believe it was called SukoThai -- wonderful sushi and Nam Toke chicken... mmm... Last time I took DH with me and we drove across the bay to Madiera City, then up to Orlando to visit some friends who moved there. If you're familiar with the area, I'm usually in a suite at the Wingate Inn.

When I went into the OR I scooched over onto the opeating table myself, but post-op -- someone would have had to heave-ho me back onto the gurney. Oh goodness, the poor, poor person who had to do that...

I was so proud of myself, too. I thought ahead - got a wax b/c I knew I wouldn't feel up to it after surgery. Shaved what should be shaved. Trimmed what should be trimmed. Never even once thought about some poor nurse having to play tug of war with my fat rolls to get me back on the gurney - not one damn time. Just proves that no matter how hard you work to prepare, you'll always forget something.

Hey Florida ladies, I'm constantly in and out of Tampa for work. I think it's considered "north Tampa" but I could be completely wrong... it's just a few minutes from the intersection of I-75 and Bruce B. Downs. I know I will be there May 8 - May 12, and possibly for a week between now and then. I think we're booked pretty solid, but if I can get away would anyone want to meet for dinner?

How tall are you? Just curious. DH is 6'4 and at 255 wears a comfy 42. Of course, at 215 he's in a 36, which he likes much better. Then again my dad is about 5'9 or 5'10, about 285, and wears a 50.

PBs suck monkey butts.

Surgery was on Wednesday, I worked from home the following Monday & Tuesday but could have come in, back in the office the next Wednesday. So I needed 3 days off.

I wasn't required to do this, but I know a lot of people are. In most cases, 6 months is worth the costs of self-pay surgery. I don't know how much that Dr. charges, but I know my insurance company was billed just under $30,000 plus additional sums for pre-ops. I've heard figures between $10,000 and $25,000 throws around for self-pay costs.

I love veggies but here as some ideas I can think of -- Maybe try some of the old school Atkins recipes, e.g. cauliflower potato casserole/cauliflower mashed potatoes. Maybe add some additional flavor. Asparagus spritzed wtih olive oil and rubbed in garlic powder, wrapped in bacon or proscuitto, and grilled is divine. I think they made vegetable marinades, Mr. Yoshi brand or something like that. I vaguely remember commercials of a guy sitting on top of the vegetables in the produce section of a store on the commercials. Add veggies to shishkabobs - they taste different grilled, and absorb some of the meat & seasoning flavors.

It's a soft stop for some.

ethansgrandma, I was allowed oatmeal and mashed potatoes within my first month. I've been too scared to try the oatmeal, I just don't visualize it going down well, but mashed potatoes have been no problem. I've also been able to do hashbrowns w/o problems. Just remember small bites & chew... IMO it would be hard to get something stuck at this point following those rules. There are only two things I can even feel when I eat - one is banana, and the other is applesauce. I can eat them, but I definitely feel them as they go through. I don't know why those two things in particular, but that's how it is.

During one of my pre-op psych visits the doctor asks me, "So how would you feel about 160 - 170?" I just stared at him. Blinked. Mouth slightly agape. "Are you serious? I'd be thrilled with 180, 190 - hell, 210. 160 seems impossibly far away." I'm just a hair over 5'10 and I know that 220 - 240 I'm a loose size 20 (by LB's sizes) or a tight 18, and 200 - 220 I'm in 18 comfortably. I think I'd be happy at an 18, thrilled with a 16. I can't remember, it's been abolut 9 years since I was there last. I don't see myself getting below a 14, period, unless I have my arms & legs cut off.

I'm just 5ish weeks in... I've given up pretty much everything I truly enjoyed before - my Diet Coke, especially, and my beloved Chipotle burritos (loving the bol though). The one thing I can't do is fat free dairy, except for the milk (Vines - we'd make good roomies in that regard!) I've tried fat free mayo, fat free cottage cheese, fat free sour cream, fat free cheese -- I just can't make myself eat it, I can barely stand the low fat stuff, so in those categories I'm still eating the full fat stuff. My saving grace is that I still have no appetite, even this far out. Most days I just don't get hungry at all, and have to make myself eat something. When I do get hungry, I'm full within 4 or 5 bites. So the good news is that I don't feel too bad about eating full fat because I'm only eating an ounce or so. I haven't drank milk since I was about 12 or 13. Now if I try to drink whole milk (buy it for DH) it's soooo thick, it's like a milkshake. 2% is too thick also. I don't care for the taste of milk, but I have been using Hood CarbCountdown fat free milk for my Protein drinks. Not usre I feel that I've given up anything else, because if I really wanted it I could have it... just not wanting it. I'm enjoying wearing these smaller sizes too much right now. :confused:

I've not heard of a Swiss band, though I have heard of the Swedish band referred to as the Swiss band. There may be a Swiss band... but my guess is it's Swedish. (I think it's just something about those two countries. My husband is Swedish and people are constantly asking him to "say something in Swiss".) Also might want to see if you can find this: Search google for keywords "lap-band" and "Swedish". You're sure to find many more hits and information.