Mermaid

I never had reflux until this week - after my third fill. I had practically no restriction since surgery (almost 3 months ago) and had lost only the 5# I lost the week of surgery. I had 6 cc in a 10ccVG band after my last fill and had 2cc added - I now have 8cc. What a difference! I know I will start to lose weight now! I finally understand what people are talking about when they talk about pb'ing! I have to be so careful with what and how I eat. I have had acid reflux since the fill. I have to be VERY careful taking the medicines I take! I don't mind the reflux as I am just so excited to FINALLY feel the restriction I am supposed to feel. I am thinking that I really didn't need the bigger band.

OK, week 2 and I am doing "OK" with my food, but need to get better. I am doing well with my water. I go tomorrow for fill #3 (VG band) thank goodness! I feel like I am doing this all on my own and that this band has done nothing for me so far. I am 2 1/2 months out from surgery and have lost nothing since the 5# I lost the week of surgery (Have I wasted all of my hard earned money???). Hopefully tomorrow will make a difference. My exercise program started today. I love all the positive remarks and motivation on this thread!!!!

I am late to this boot camp, but better late than never. Count me in. I need this motivation. Thanks!

It is so good to read what everyone writes on here and know that I am not alone. I had my surgery 10/20 , had my first fill the day before Thanksgiving and have lost only 5#! I am going in for another fill tomorrow as I feel very little restriction. I guess I thought this surgery would be a magic pill, or something but have found out that you certainly still have to be very regimented with your way of eating! It is hard if you are a "snacker" and not one to eat 3 regular meals a day. That is the biggest thing I need to work on as well as not drinking with my meals. So I am needing to start over and try to do this the right way. Thank you to everyone for all that you write and all the information I gain here!

It is so good to come to this forum and read wht others are going through and know that I am not alone. I had my first fill 2 weeks ago - 4cc in a VG band I feel very little difference. I was hoping for so much more. Since my surgery I have lost only a few pounds. I am going in for fill #2 next week. Hopefully it will work better.

I was just banded 3 weeks ago so am just starting this process. However 10 years ago I went from 290 down to 184 and went from a 42DDD to a 36D. I could finally buy normal (pretty) bras, however the girls needed to be tucked up and I'm sure will this time also. I fully intent to have them put back in place when I get back down this time!

I think all your symptoms are normal. Sometimes the irritation is from the tape. I was banded on the 20th and had all the same sypmtoms, but they all went away. Good luck!

I was banded on 10/20 and have lost only 4 pounds so your weight loss sounds great to me! I had lost 6 pounds and have regained 2. My doctor did not require liquids as long as many of them I have read about on here. I only did clear liquids for 2 days, then full liquids for a few days quickly progressing to mushies and regular food at 2 weeks. I wish I actually had done liquids longer to get a jump start on the weight loss. I am not able to eat as much as before banding, but close. I can't wait for my first fill (the day before Thanksgiving) so I can get going on this weight loss. I think I will go back to protein drinks for awhile. It is depressing to read these entries on here and see the phenomenal weight losses some people have had so soon after surgery. So keep up the good work. You are doing great. I am sure after our first fill, the weight loss will improve. In the mean time I am slowly learning to eat slower, chew longer, order less food when eating out and trying very hard to not drink with my meals which is so hard for me - but getting easier!

Karen, Thank you so much for that link. I had tried to get it before, but for some reason it wouldn't play. Being a nurse, I really enjoyed the mechanics of it all. I was amazed at how small the stomach pouch is! Amazing!

Kare, I am new to this site - was banded on 10/20. So far no fills for my big band and right now I feel no restriction. It is kind if scary as I want to throw myself into this weight loss thing. You have reminded me of my history with weight loss. In the past the only way I have lost weight is to exercise exactly as you are talking about. When I exercised like that, not only did I lose weight, but I looked and felt better. After reading about your exercise and seeing your weight loss, I am motivated to throw myself into the exercise thing. I also have to stay off sweets which is my biggest problem and not really helped with this band. So, my goal right now is - NO SWEETS and EXERCISE. Thank you for the motivation!!!

It is so good to hear other people who understand the sweet thing. I was just banded on 10/20 and have been eating junk (sweets - cookies) since being able to eat again. It makes me nervous and I feel very little restriction which is scarey. I want a fill but the doc won't do one for 3 more weeks. I don't think I have lost but a few pounds. Did anyone else experience this when they were first banded? Did your eating get much better after your first fill??? HELLLPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!! I am off of sweets as of TODAY!

Wendiss, I understand completely what you are saying. I was given a huge list of the insurance company's demands and could meet all of them except the psych evaluation which I had to pay $250 myself to have done. I had completed 1 year of a medically supervised diet - 1/2 year of liquids and 1/2 year of refeeding. I had already had a cardiac evaluation with a stress echocardiogram. How many people can meet just 2 demands. I thought I would get approved easily. After waiting a few months, then I kept thinking I hate to pay now, I'm sure they will approve it any day. Well, this strung out for months. Records were faxed and refaxed to the insurance company. I wish I had just paid for it myself back at the beginning of the year and I would have been much further along in my weight loss. After what I went through, I have been amazed at how easy the insurance approval has been for some people. I went through 9 months of stress and fighting and finally gave up - which is what I think the insurance company wants. Good luck to others in their quest for approval!

Maybe I wasn't persistent enough. I had my doctor submit and resubmit documentation. The insurance company would say they didn't have part of the information and they wouldn't accept you just sending in the part they were missing, they made you resubmit everything again. It was ridiculous. I even reported them to the Kansas Insurance Commissioner as I believed they were denying my medically necessary treatment and that went nowhere. I was denied 3 times, was granted a peer to peer review with my doctor and the insurance doctor which, of course went nowhere. This had drug on since January and I was tired of the game. I just finally had the surgery and paid for it myself. I hope you have better luck with your insurance. I am amazed by some of the stories here and how easy it was for some people.

Wendiss, Sorry to tell you this, but I went through the same thing with my insurance company. I met all of their demands. I had done over a year of a medically supervised diet. They kept coming back with more demands that I was able to meet - like asking for cardiac clearance and I had already had a stress echocardiogram I was able to give them. The contineud to deny coverage saying it wasn't medicaly necessary. I had letters from my doctors asking for coverage and everything. After fighting them for 10 months, I just had the surgery a week ago and paid for it myself. Had I ever known it would take so long to fight the insurance company, I would have just borrowed the money and had the surgery months ago. I would certainly be further along in my weight loss. What do we pay for insurance for? I had so many reasons for them to cover the surgery and still they refused. In the long run, I just had to decide that I was worth spending the money on. Good luck.

Pamela, I am sorry to hear you are feeling bad, but I know exactly how you are feeling. I was banded on the 20th and was feeling the same as you. I thought I would feel better by now. My abdomen is still pretty sore and lying on my side is really tough. I still have some gas pains which I thought would be gone by now. At times, I have thought - what have I done??? I know it will get better and the results will make the memory of this discomfort go away. We just need to stay positive! Pam

Thank God for Gas X! I have been dying with this gas pain for 2 days now and am finally getting some relief. I am walking a lot also to try to relieve the discomfort. I know it will get better. I am so glad to have discovered this site. You are all a hoot! I know it will help me to listen to all of you who have had your bands for awhile. I can't believe that cream of wheat sounds so good that I just can't wait to eat it!

I am new to this forum, so bare with me. I had my surgery yesterday in Kansas. From what I am reading here, gas seems to be a big issue. Is it? If so, what foods make it bad so I can avoid them when I am working????

Annie, I am new to this forum but have been reading a lot this past week. I am also scheduled for the surgery this week - same day as you. I am having the surgery here in Kansas. I finally gave up on my insurance paying for the surgery and am self-pay. I have tried for a year to get approval and they have continually refused even though they say they cover the surgery. I finally decided that I just needed to take the plunge, take care of ME and pay myself. Good luck with your surgery. I am excited and know you are also.