annabella

I have A BOOK!! Its the bible for Lapband. My surgeon and their office pride themselves with this book saying no others have it. Its full of info, recipes, etc... I LOVE IT. They do sell them. Not sure what they will cost but we were told if we lost them it would be 10 bucks for a replacement. So maybe its just 10 bucks. Hope its the book you have in mind. Give them a call. Worst case scenario you blew 10 bucks for a book you don't want but I think you'll love it. Give them a call Let them know you want the book called "Barix Clinics" Guide to Good Health. 1/734/547/1060 or 1/800/282/0066

MUST BE NICE!! It would be great to not have to do mascara.

Hey Apples, The lady at my vet's office had the eye lashes done. Do you wear mascara on them? She didn't. I love the way they look. I will def need a tummy tuck. My highest size is 18 and its all in my lower gut. HATE IT.

WOW Kossde, that's 3 sizes! I can't wait to be down 3 whole sizes. I just love my band. LOL Have fun at Six Flags. That's a great reward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apples, I hear you, I too thought the weight loss was "reward" enough but I will buy a couple of outfits:)

I was banded July 2, 2008. My first goal was to get under 200 lbs. I was 223.5 at time of surgery. I wanted to be under 200 lbs by my 2nd month anniversary which is today!! WELL I got on the scale today and I weigh 197!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had a colonoscopy today so I haven't done much else. LOLOLOL I really didn't think I would reward myself with something although now that Iam down 26 lbs I could use some better fitting clothes? Maybe a couple of outfits??? GOOD THREAD!

I just had a colonoscopy today!!! All is good. Iam banded and have 6.5 cc's in a 10 cc band. They say to drink the solution quickly. Its a 8oz glass every 10 min and you have approx 8 glasses! Now my gastro Dr was aware of my band and said to drink it as quick as I could but not to make myself sick. He said as long as I got down as much as I could he was ok with it. I did manage to swallow the 2 pills (they are NOT large) and I drank all of solution. It took me about 1hr maybe 1 hr 15 min. It all came out fine. LOL It was my 3rd colonoscopy but the first one banded. My band dr said if I could drink it at my own pace and my gastro was fine with it he was fine with it. The solution is gross tasting no matter what flavor you add but I managed to get over that by sticking a piece of orbit in my mouth after every drink. I went through a whole pack of gum. LOL

1.) Who's you're insurance company? BC/BS of Virginia 2.) What state do you live in? Michigan 3.) Was your plan provided by your employer or do you pay for it out of your own pocket? Insurance is through my husband's employer. 4.) Are you banded yet, waiting for approval, denied...etc? Approved after 3 months! Surgery was July 2, 2008. I have lost 26 lbs to date!

Good question, do you have any fills? I would seek a 3rd opinion asap. I too live in MI and you could always check out Dr. Nunn at the Barix clinic in ypsilanti. 1/734/547/1060 or 1/800/282/0066. People from all over come to this hospital. Bariatric surgery is all they do. There are several Drs at this location. Give them a call. Keep us posted.

Gee Pete, sounds like your ready. What are you waiting for?? Your right, there are NO more excuses. Make that appt asap!!!! Good luck!!! Banded 07-02-08 6.5 cc's in a 10 cc band 26LBS lost since surgery!!

Love your thread Watcher!! MY last straw has to do with a hereditary kidney disease. I have 4 sisters so there is 5 of us girls total. 4 of us have the disease myself included. My oldest sister lost her kidney function due to the disease (Focal Segmental Glomular Sclerosis) at 32 and died at 40. She never recieved a transplant b/c she was too big. By the time she lost 200 lbs it was too late. YOU cannot live on dialysis forever! A life span on dialysis is about 8 yrs! My 2nd oldest sister is now on dialysis (she is 43) and getting bigger by the day. I have the disease (Iam 37) and at the time of my surgery on July 2nd, 2008 I was 85 lbs overweight. I have lost 23 1/2 lbs and have 62 1/2 more to lose!! Iam taking my meds and NOT eating what is bad for my kidney's and my Nephrologist couldn't be happier. She says with a healthy diet and the weight loss that I may NEVER need a transplant!!!! Another last straw (if that's not enough) is my grandmother died of type 2 diabetes, that's what my mom WILL die from and my dad and all his family have heart disease. I have no hope if I stay fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think its common with bands. The band may make it worse or flare up? NOT sure about that either. I do know that most people will end up with Diverticulosis before they die. MOST people don't know they even have it till they have a test done due to some other symptom. I was diagnosed with a moderate case of it in 2002 during a colonoscopy. I was not told about it till this yr by a new Dr looking at my chart! I will have another colonoscopy on the 2nd. We'll see how that goes and if that explains my left side pain?

Hi Slim-n-tn, I too hope you get approved and find relief as well. Your like me, I could get a flare up one day from a food but not the next time? Immodium was my best friend! I even had a bottle of the liquid in a cup holder in my car, just in case! I was put on Nulev for my IBS but I found it didn't work AT ALL! I even doubled up and sometimes tripled the dose and it never worked. After 4-5 bottles I quit getting it filled. The only thing that ever helped was immodium. I used to buy the no name brand from Wal-Marts in the bottle. You got 90 pills and they were MUCH smaller and easier to swallow than the reg. immodium. Its nice to be rid of the horrid almost unbearable pain and the embarrassment of running to the pot after every meal or snack! Let us know in this thread when you get approved. Iam anxious to see if the surgery helps you as well!!!

OH YES, DIGITAL all the way!!!! LOLOL

Deanna, I watched your slide show a while back. Brought me to tears, I was so happy for you. YOU look amazing!! Iam 7 wks post op and have lost 21 lbs. The before and now pics are SO different. I can't imagine next month? It is truly amazing at how MUCH your body changes. I have 60 more to go. I can't wait.

That's great. I took pics before surgery and take pics each month but I didn't measure. I wish I did!!!!!!! 9 inches is a lot. keep it up.

Hi Sherri, I was never able to pin point a "trigger" food. My IBS would flare up from the simple task of putting something in my mouth!! If I ate out it would sometimes get worse. The only thing I have cut out of my diet since surgery is sugar. Maybe sugar was my trigger food? My IBS flared up though no matter what I ate?? I hope you too find relief with your severe IBS. It sucks to live with IBS. It really puts a damper on your life style not to mention its embarrassing. You might not have a particular trigger food other than eating period! I SOOOOOOO wish you luck next month! I hope you find relief. KEEP US POSTED THOUGH. Iam anxious to know how it goes for you. Bella

My first goal is to be under 200 lbs for the last time. I was weighed in yesterday and Iam 204. I was 223.5 @ time of surgery 7 wks ago!!!! 5 more lbs and Iam there. YAHOOOOOOOO

I've had sever IBS since 2002. I had my gallbladder removed and the IBS symptoms started the following morning. I was diagnosed in 2005. My IBS was severe and I too knew where every bathroom was no matter where I was at. I would take up to 6 immodium AD's a day to control it. It did get to the point I could control it for the most part and I knew when and how much Immodium I would need before I needed it!!! My IBS was so bad that the meds I was prescribed for my IBS didn't help at all. Only immodium helped me and sometimes that failed. I've been banded 7 wks and my IBS is 90% better. Not sure why? My surgeon said that some people report its the same or better. I have not taken any immodium in 7wks and that is amazing. I bought this stuff in bulk! I've had a few bad days but even with bad days I've not needed any meds and have not had any URGENCIES or pain? What a relief.

Had a fill today so I have to do a liquid only. Had pudding cup, soup and a yogurt!!

Hi pj, I can eat chicken without too many issues BUT it has to be marinated (12-24 hrs) and not over cooked at all. It tends to stay juicy enough to get it down. Now, not all my chicken turns out this way and if its dry I do dip it in a fat free dressing which helps it go down. I also can eat pasta. I find it goes down quite easily.

Lisa, did I hear you right? 45 isn't a lot? Are you nuts girl? That's a huge amount of weight. CONGRATS. Iam also going to say that sometimes people don't say much even though they DO notice b/c their jealous. Sad but it can be a true fact. Keep up the great work!!!!!

CTerry, Aubrie said it right. They are hoping like HELL you'll give up. Most people do. They take their word and go away, they count on this happening. APPEAL till your purple in the face. Call them every day. You've heard the saying, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil". Get all your dr's to send them faxes and letters by mail at least once every 2 wks. Bombard them with info and your voice and your appeals. Your in the insurance game, you have to play to win. GOOD LUCK.

I haven't had a problem with sausage either. I eat turkey sausage, low fat any sausage. LOL

Hi PJ, Your menu sounds good. Here's what I had today. I had a light yogurt for breakfast with 1 tsp of granola in it. (no sugar added granola, has lots of carbs but I eat it early if I eat it) lunch was 2 laughing cow cheese Snacks and some immitation crab. dinner was grilled chicken breast, broccoli and 1/4 of a red skin potato. Iam pretty full and will stay that way. I drinking some grape crystal light which is sugar free and tastes like a dessert. YUM. I was banded 07-02-08 223.5 at time of surgery 204 last time I weighed in 5 days ago. I have a 10cc band with 5.5cc's. I have a fill monday for 1 more cc.

Are you a police officer?? That does suck. Iam cursing with you. Sit on your thumbs! Get to your appt! Keep us posted.