wifeof46pilot

I am totally with you. I got my band in February of 2008 and have lost 50 lbs it was more but I got discouraged like you and turned to junk food. My goal weight was 160 I was 8 lbs away and couldn't get there. Now I have 20 lbs to lose because i lost focus. I made an appointmnet with my doctor whom I have not seen since JAnuary of this year and am hoping this will get me going back in the right direction. I have tried to start eating better and my husband is going to start exercising with me again. It is easy to get in a rut. That is why I finally logged back on to here hoping I was not the only one struggling. Thanks for your story, we have very similar problems. I know that I am not eating right at all I started off good today so far. Pushing the protein. Hang in there.

I asked to see it before I had it . It looks like the old round dental floss cases and it is made out of hard plastic with a softer piece in the middle where the needle is inserted to receive your fill. There is no metal in it. I asked that. I heard there are new ones coming out that will be made of that and you will be able to adjust them yourself with a heavy duty magnet. I don't think this will make it to the US though. You couldn't go through the airport because it would suck it shut.

I have never heard that. But I had a MRI and it was fine. So if they left them in me it doesn't effect you in having a MRI.

My doctor told me that they can eat a hole in your pouch to stay away from them. My new doctor said they are okay on occasion.

The weight does not come off that fast. I have a friend that had the RYN in March and has not lost 80 lbs. You have to be real with your self. If you do you homework you are only suppose to lose 1 to 2 lbs a week. These people who are on their post op diet are losing fast but with the band and being able to eat it doesn't happen that fast. Set a smaller goal and work toward that. It is not a miracle it is a tool.

Okay ladies I am doing better. I appreciate all the post. It reminds us why we are being banded. I thought long and hard and decided to try some easy foods. I have been eating salads and even a little meat very little one or two very small bites. I don't seem to be as tight as I was and I am eating very very slow. It seems to be working. I think I got so used to being tight I was not even trying too much food. I still am not hungry though I have to tell myself it is time to eat. That is a good thing. I remember in the beginning before I got to this point I was always hungry. So hang in there ladies there will be a day that you are not hungry all the time.

My husband retired 2 years ago. Mine was Tricare Standard. I didn't pay anything but 500 that was for nutritionist and psych but I have a secondary insurance also. I will try to find a bill to see what tricare paid. My total bill was 34877.00 Insurance paid 6049.78 and they wrote off 28827.00. So you are right they don't pay much. I couldn't get it answers when I called Tricare either. I printed out the thing on line that said they paid for it and then just talked to the lady that dealt with the insurance at the doctors office. Whoever does insurance at the doctors office that you go to has the answers you will need. Tricare does have to appove your surgery but once they faxed the paperwork in they had a response in 2 days from Tricare. So it is fast if your doctors office stays on top of it. I just kept calling them until they got me approved. Good luck. I hope I answered all your questions. If you have anymore just email me.

I am trying to do better. I get my protein through my shakes and try eating. I think I am still probably eating too fast. My doctor has taken a leave of absence and the doctor I am seeing is not that great so I don't want to go back to him. They are trying to get a new one to replace my old one that is what I am waiting on. I am taking all my vitamins and don't feel bad at all. I have been this way for 3 weeks and I am losing. I know I need to eat more. I do appreciate all your concerns.Thanks

How did you know there was a problem from being too tight? I think mine is too tight but in the same since see it as will power. I drink a protein shake in the morning and some popcorn in the afternoon and that is about it. I am just not hungry. I can't do any meat, it gets stuck. I can do a salad and I don't usually do that because I am not hungry and I hate to take the time to do all that prep not to eat it all.

I realized I needed to do something when I saw myself in a picture my sister-in-law had taken. I couldn't believe it. I called the doctor right away. I use to look in the mirror and see what I wanted to see and not what was really there. (I would say I am not that big) but pictures don't lie. Talk to your doctor some doctor will follow you for 6 months and some will do it quicker. Look at it this way if you have to wait 6 months to be followed where will your weight be then? How much will you have gained? Call your doctor. Get the process going you will be glad you did.

Tricare just started paying for Lapband Feb. 1st of 2008 they said they were going to back date it to 2007. I called on January 30th and if you go on line to Tricare and put it lapband it tells you they cover it. That is how I found out about it.

I just got my hospital bill. I have Tricare and the insurance was billed 34877.00 Tricare paid 6049.78 and the adjustment was 28827.22. I paid nothing except my psy and nutrientist. Out of pocket $500.

Just get ready for the question "how much weight have you lost now" everyone that knows will ask you every time they see you. I only told a hand full of people and that is too many in my opinion. I am tired of the question!!

In the beginning you won't want to eat. For me it was as I healed and then once I realized I could eat anything it was down hill. I did reach a restriction and then was scared to eat bad but that has worn off. Time for a fill. I go tomorrow. thanks goodness. I can eat everything. I am glad for the girl who wrote before me but I still have those craving for everything. I had the willpower at the very beginning but don't have it now. I hope my fill will be tight enough so I will get back on track again. this is a great website. It is very helpful. Even the tough love part we all need a kick in the butt sometimes to get us back on track and you will find it here sometimes. Good luck

You really need some self control. Many people will tell you it is a tool. At first you will have no problem eating everything. Because there will be no restriction. It takes some time to get good restriction. I am a junk food eater too and I am here to tell you junk food always goes down. for some reason it is easier to digest. I can always eat junk food when I can't eat regular food. I have a habit of turning to the junk food after not being able to get down something healthy. In short you have to have some will power to make the band work. I am sure you will get several responses on this. There are some people who will give you tough love talks. This is just my observation with my band. Lots of luck. :eek:

I have only been banded 3 months and my period is alot heavier and last longer. I don't know if it has anything to do with it or it is just a fluke.

You can eat eggs that is 7 protein anyway you want them. I also add a little cheese that helps up the protein. Even egg salad if you add a little tuna that helps up the protein too. Just an idea.

I had that shoulder pain also. It lasted for about 3 weeks. I read that some people get over it faster. That was worse than my incisions

From all the post I have read everyone has to do that. Good luck

If you are on the home page and scroll down, look on the left. There is a place that says diet and nutrition and recipes. That helped me. Good luck!

I think the biggest concern would be sticking with the diet(liquids, mushy, soft.etc..)while you were on vacation. It might be hard to get your protein while traveling but if you plan ahead you might be okay. I agree that you need to talk to your doctor. You shouldn't be in any pain by then. Just the diet part might be hard.

I am glad you asked that question. I have the same problem. I am confused on whether to get a fill or not. I decided today that I would shoot for the middle of May to get a fill. That will give me some time. I am anxious to see what post you get. Just wanted to let you know you are not alone in this problem.

I had a hard time deciding too. I read somewhere on the site about a lady who struggled with this decision too. Her doctor asked her what she had to live for? She had two small children and he told her if she wanted to continue to be a part of their lives with no chance of death she should choose lapband. That was enough for me. I have 4 kids and want to be here to see them do everything I can.

I know the scale is important to all of us but you could be losing inches. I have only lost 20 lbs and have been banded since Feb 21, 2008. I am still in the same size clothes but they fit the way they are suppose to now not stretched to the max. But everyone compliments me on how much weight I have lost. So just remember inches are melting away too. Good luck.

I agree completely. I just tell everyone now that I am cutting back. I think the big think in our heads is what if we fail or what if I don't lose the weight as fast as people think I should. I have 2 friends at church that had gastric bypass and are losing weight fast. I have 1 friend that had lapband and everyone is always asking her about her weight lose. I think it is because my lapband friend isn't losing as fast. People don't understand the lapband like they do gastric.