ladyracer

I was banded in Dec 08. I have lost approximately 45lbs since surgery. I have been on a plateau for 6 months now. I talked to my surgeon during these last 6 months. He would ask me if I was too tight or loose. I would tell him it would vary from day to day. Anyway, we haven't done any adjustments. The last visit I told him I think that I needed a fill. I felt I was eating too much. He asked me how often I ate and I told him 3 meals a day and sometimes a snack between lunch and dinner. I really try not to snack in between meals. He told me that there is no set rule to only eating 3 times a day. He said for me to eat when I was hungry and stop when I am not hungry. The problem I am struggling with mainly is mind hunger. He said to not eat until you are full, stop when you are not hungry. He also said that if you have to eat several small meals a day it was okay. I guess, what I need is some better guidelines because I see things literally. If you tell me I can have a cup of food a meal then that is what I will do. To tell me to stop when you are not hungry is really screwing with my mind. HELP

Does anyone have this insurance company? If so, did you get approved? How long was the wait?

I had to do six months doctor supervised diet. Actually all I did was go to the doctors office once a month and did a weight check and then she wrote a letter to the insurance company explaining the diet that she recommended. It was all pretty simple.

Hello!! I'm in Alvin, TX, south of Houston. I was banded Dec. 29, 2008. I have lost 20lbs since surgery. It has been slow going, but I think my doctor has me close to my sweet spot, because I am losing now.

I have 5cc's in my realize band and I am not getting restriction. I am in the same boat as most of you. It is very frustrating. I have only lost 15 lbs since surgery and most of that was on the liquid diet. I am able to eat more than I want, but I am starting to feel fuller longer. Like most of you, I want the restriction to control the portion. We all know we went this road so the weight would come off slower and healthier, but man this is frustrating.

I had my first fill last Thursday. My doctor told me liquids for the rest of the day, soft foods on Friday and regular food on Saturday. This may change on the next fill because I don't hardly have any restriction. I am so ready for restriction because I find myself grazing again. I know that is the worst thing you can do. Also it seems that I get hungry about every 3-4 hours. I have noticed that my portions are slightly smaller. I know I have to be patient.

I have only lost 17lbs since before surgery (I'm 3 weeks out). I think all that weight was in my feet and lower legs (where I don't need to lose it). I have gone from a 9 to an 8. I thought my body was just weird. I really wish that 17lbs would have come off somewhere else. Patience (that's what I keep telling myself).

This is normal. I had my surgery 3 weeks ago on Dec 29th. I know that it feels like it will never go away, but it eventually will. Gas X does help a little. What I found that helped me was, when I would burp, I would bend over. For me this just helped expel more gas so there wouldn't be so much sitting on my stomach. Also, don't worry about the weight gain. I have been playing with 5 lbs since surgery. Just make healthy food choices and don't eat when you are not hungry. The mental hunger is the hardest thing to overcome. Good luck.

I am so glad that I am not alone. I am too weeks out and it seems all I do is burp. Not just a normal burp, but one of those that seem to last forever. I ever do this when I drink water. I guess it is better that the alternative. I would rather burp that have the gas build up. Another question, I have only had two bm since surgery, is this normal? I started soft foods on the 7th, so I figured that things would start to get back to normal. I bought some stool softener hoping that would help, but nothing yet. Any advice?

I was wondering if anyone has had the following experience. Every time I drink something I seem to get gas on my stomach. This includes water, shakes, etc. I would have figured being almost a week out that the gas would subside. It happens everytime I ingest something.

Hello everyone, My original surgery date was 12/19 but it got postponed because my white blood cell count was too high. I have been fighting an upper respiratory infection for about a month prior to my surgery. They rescheduled it for the 29th. My doctor acted like he still didn't want to do the surgery. Anyway, I told him that I felt great and that we should proceed. I really would have been disappointing had he wanted to reschedule again, I was already undressed and in that wonderful hospital gown and I was so ready to get it done and over with. I can't say that it has been a walk in the park, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. My surgery was at 10:30 and I was home by 3. That day I thought I was going to die from the gas pain. It had settled in my middle back and my left breast. The next day was when I thought I had been kicked by a mule, still this wasn't as bad as the gas pain. It has been five days since surgery, and I am just now starting to feel a little hungry. I have my followup visit on 1/7, I hope that I can start mushies. The liquid diet sucks and there isn't much variety, plus I don't have any energy doing the liquid diet. Anyway, I am just taking it one day at a time. I feel that I have over the first big obstacle. Happy New Year to everyone.

Well guys, tomorrow is the big day. I am so ready. I know that I will still be on a liquid diet after the surgery, but I don't know how much more broth and jello I can take. I have such a headache and my stomach is constantly growling. Oh and on top of all that, I got a visit from my monthly friend. Anyway, I am sure everything will be fine. I will post as soon as I can. Good luck everyone.

Five more days to go and I will get my band. I have to start clear liquids today. I sure hope the week goes by fast. I don't know how long I can do just broth, jello, tea & water.

I got a call from my surgeon's office this morning. I have been approved. My surgery is scheduled for Dec. 19th. I have to start a liquid diet tomorrow. I really wasn't expecting to hear anything for a couple of weeks, but I guess the sooner the better.

Good news. I went to the seminar on Saturday. It ended up with a one on one with the doctor because no one else showed up. He told me that since I had been seeing my PCP regularly since Jan., that would count towards my 6 month supervised diet. He said I should only have to see her in May, June & July. Also since I had to see a nutritionist for my diabetes, that counts too. Now all I need to do is my appointment with the psychologist and get a few previous medical records. I am so excited, we are possibly looking at surgery in late July or August. But again that all depends on the insurance company.

I haven't been to a seminar yet. I am still researching doctors. A question about the 5 year medical history, I just got on insurance last October so I don't have 5 years of medical history. I wonder what they will want for that. Since I didn't have insurance, I couldn't afford to go to the doctor. My PCP has already sent in a referral letter. I know that everyone is impatient, but I was really not wanting to wait 6 months. I just found out in January that I am diabetic and my cholesterol is high. I don't see why they make overweight people jump through hoops to be able to get a surgery that can save their life.

FinallyFree, Did they require a 6 month supervised diet or was a recommendation from the doctor sufficient?

weightisover, Did you have to do a six month supervised diet program with Cigna?