HF2008

lapband967, Don't fret.... Get another fill, I was concerned because I was in your same position and I was almost at max recommendation for my Realize band. Well it took me to get to my max recommendation and now I feel restriction. When you are at your "sweet spot", you will know! You have to pay attention to the full alert. Because if you don't, you then get chest pains because you are stuffed! And it doesn't feel so nice! My surgeon suggested before I got to restriction....The 10 cc is a recommendation and you can continue to fill a bit further to get restriction. I too was thinking, what have I done! But after my last fill which put me at max... I am happy with it! Because I am now starting to lose weight and have gotten the restriction, I needed. I have lost 40lbs to date, 10 post op, 20 until I got to my sweet spot, and 10 within the last 3 weeks. So, try another fill and see how that works out! By the way, I had surgery, June 2, 2008. I believe with the Realize band, we lose a little slower if the surgeon doesn't fill our band a bit during surgery. You'll be fine...get antoher fill! And please let me know how it turns out.

You cannot compare your journey to anyone else's....If you are basing it on how much weight you have lost...you will continue to feel the way you feel. You need to pay attention to how your body handles your food intake and then decide if you are too tight! I went through this same feeling, and I found solace in reading posts and taking away from the post....My journey is my own, and I need to pay attention to how I am eating! Hence change the way I eat and maintain a regular excercise routine. I hadn't lost weight then when I started paying attention.. I dropped 10 lbs quickly....Hope this helps!

Heather O said it the best, and someone mentioned a fill center, and working with someone who works more closely with you. All of that is the BEST advice.. Let me tell you... I have the Realize band and I had surgery on June 2nd. I didn't start getting restriction until I was at my max of 9cc. I felt like I was failing but as soon as I got restriction...I am going down hill. We are along the same track becuase I have only lost about 35 lbs but everyone is different. You can't compare your journey to anyone else's because we are all different beings although we share a common ground. So, go get a fill, GIRL! Find a doctor that will work with you because you need restriction, or your band is just there for internal decoration. GO GET A FILL! You will fill so much better when you get restriction.

Your words are true but I believe it's about sharing the spotlight! No one wants to share it when they have had it for so long. And our friends may say things that they really don't mean. I was the worst critic when my best friend got gastric bypass about 3 years ago. I just felt like she wasn't big enough, and I knew she was going to be waaaay smaller than me. And our weight problem was the meat of our friendship! LOL! So, I thought! Well after 3 years, I decided to get lap band because she looked soooo good after a while and was able to keep the weight off after so many years. I had so many failed attempts at keeping weight off! Soooo I said all that to say...I have been the one to say negative things when someone is doing something to better themsevles. All because I didn't want to be a big girl all alone! Now that I have been banded for 7 months and my weight has slowly began to fall off ... she is supportive and my ROCK! She helps me understand my issues and progress with the surgery. I soooo regret the things I said to her because I was ignorant to WLS. So although our friends say things...be patient... all they need is time to accept the NEW US! We will look so good they can't, HATE forever! They will come around! LOL! I did! And even jumped on the wagon!

WOW! Your weight loss is impressive! I have been banded for 7 months and loss 30 lbs since, and I agree it's hard to accept the compliments. The thing that really ticks me off...they guys who want to talk to me now that weren't interested before! :frown: Anyhow, keep up the good work! I can't wait until I get to a 70 lb weight loss.

I think you should listen to your doctors advice. My doctor tells me the same thing. However, he allows me to fill when ever I feel, I need a fill. I am 8 cc in a 9cc band, and I have lost 19 lbs. I will admit, I don't have a traditional excerise regiment. I play softball on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and that's my excercise. I eat pretty much whatever I feel like eating, but have gotten to the point where I feel a bit of a restriction. I had a fill on Thursday, and I am now ready to start eating the right things. It was a bit emotional to have to give up the things I love!!! But, I have had enough and feel ... it's time to get on the right track. I said all that say.....just wait..everyone is different. None of use can tell you when you should start losing or fill restriction. When it does happen it will hit you over the head....I promise!

Yeah my journey was really simple....I thought about getting it and I woke up banded...LOL! My BMI was 41.2

After getting a referral from your PCM... Tricare Prime will pay a consultation with a surgeon, then the surgeons office will send in your requests for approval for the surgery. I am Tricare and I had mine on 06/02/08, and have looked at my claims, and it's all taken care of... You don't have to have co morbitites because I had none. I was just 100 lbs over weight. When you chose the office you want to work with all you have to do is be completely honest on the questionaire, and that's where your comorbitities come from, believe it or not. The surgeons office you work with to get the lapband wants you get to approved so they will work with you on getting that approval. You see normally they know what each insurance policy calls for to get approval ...Good luck!

Depending on your insurance...you won't be waiting long for anything. They are really on top of things!!! My process moved so quick sometimes I have to remind myself I have already been banded....It took all of my maybe a month and 2 weeks...

I was banded by Dr. Fass at Southwest Bariatrics, and I was pleased. The nurse is awesome and the receptionist is sweet. I mentioned those because I almost backed out of the surgery with the office because I was uncomfortable with the office staff before they switched receptionists. I talked to the doctor about it and he said, I had nothing to worry about she wouldn't be there after the next week, and she was gone. I think you will be very pleased with the office....

Call me the devils advocate but whatever!!!! Before I transitioned back to solids I called my office's nurse and she said that the stages are just a guideline. When you feel you are ready, move on but not until you have stayed on one stage for at least 4 days. And when I went to see my doctor post op, I admited to my skipping from liqiuds to solids and he said, "Honestly, you're young, and most young people do the same thing and it's fine" So as someone said earlier, and my doctor said on my last visit. Don't worry about losing until after your first fill. It is not a war to indulge a bit!

I can't wait to get that feeling!!!! But Your husband didn't see the scars?

Heeeeey YoungNY..Girl you are doing good! I just ate a 3/4's of a hamburger and a small fry. I have restriction sure but not so much that I can't eat. My doctor told me don't worry about losing yet, until my fill, and I don't get my first fill until July 19th :ohmy:! So I am so jealous of you!!! LOL! Don't worry after your first fill- your whole life will change! Keep us posted!

This thread is toooooo funny! The suggested responses are priceless! You are doing great!!! Good JOB! :drool:

Where did you find liquid B12

I feel your thread.... Cancer was my main motivator for getting lapband. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, and I was told being obeste puts you at a higher risk for getting cancer. Considering my father passed of cancer and my mom survived. I am already in double jeaopary...I needed my body to work with me NOT AGAINST ME! So I said all that to say....I am glad you had lapband. I feel strongly that it had a part to play in early detection. Cancer can be beat ... one at a time with early detection! I wish I was smart enough to find a cure for cancer!!! You are in my prayers :rolleyes2:

Well, it wasn't that I couldn't do it! For Real! I was just kidding....it was just too easy doing the liquid...I felt I was capable. I felt like everything was going down good, and I didn't have any negative experiences. The nutritionist said the diet was basically to take baby steps but if I felt like I have mastered that stage, move on! But hey do what works for you! This surgery and recovery was really a cake walk for me........ That's great you lost that weight...keep up the good work! But a pound a day! LOL! Girl! OK, I am going back to liquids....HMMMMMM.....It would only take me 100 days then! LMAO!

Well, I was supposed to be on a 2 week pre op diet.... But before the first week was over, I wanted to eat something. So I called the nurse at the office and she said it's just a guideline. If you feel like you can move on ... go for it! But when you take a step, hold it for about 4 days to make sure you are ready for the next step. Well, yeah I just ate something solid and it went down smooth so I am just keep everything pretty simple but I eat dinner with the fam and I have eaten out. But, my portion is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay smaller. When I went out to eat I had a kids sized meal. A friend of mine had gastric about 3 years ago and now we are happy we can split meals, and not try to eat up the restaurant. just my 2 cents 26 lbs lost is great....wow, what was your pre op diet like?

Approval takes no time at all .... you know you can check the status @ www.humana-military.com and I was checking like every 5 minutes or you can call and go through the automated system. With Tricare though, you have to get approval to visit with the surgeon and then they send in your information for approval to be banded and each referral takes about 2 days to be approved, and sometimes it can be done the same day. My surgery was ok... The first day I went in about 10 ish and was done by about 3pm, after recovery and tests. I went to Target to get my medication filled and picked up some groceries. Then I went to the hospital to visit my neice who was born on the same day. Once I got home I tried to eat a little something because I hadn't eaten since the day before, and I couldn't finish a Jello cup. Because I was swollen...... The next day, I got up and tried to move around but I didn't make it very long, I started feeling really bad. I laid in bed for about 6 hours, and then I got up and walked around the block. After I finished, I passed all my gas, and had a bowel movement for the first time, and I broke out in a cold sweat and was trying to run from the restroom but it wasn't so bad when I finally accepted it. Because, what you can you really expel but liquids when you are on a liquid diet? So over the next few days, it got better and better each day. The pain eased and eased by each passing day. I wasn't at full speed but it was getting easier as the days passed. I would say my pain finally subsided on today..... There were nights where I was in shock like why did I do this to myself and I am still dealing with that.....But, it's very important that you find a support group to walk you through the steps. Because I have never felt like I was an emotional eater. But I am finding, I was! It's very emotional to go through the day without my guilty pleasures. I feel like I want them but there is no room for it! So I can't even indulge if I wanted. I am dealing with it best I can but I promise you if you are anything like me .... it's a battle! Anyway, I guess I have rambled enough...Let me know if there is anything I can help you with...

Hello, I thought I might let you all know how my banding went, and it was good. I went about 10:20a m and I was supposed to be there at 10:00....bad girl...he he he he! Well they had me to wait about 3.5 hours so I didn't feel bad about being late. But it gave me time to think about it and I got my nerves all tied up in a knot. The first nurse wasn't the friendliest person so I am sure that had something to do with it. And they forgot to get a urine sample so after not having a thing to drink since 12 am ..... I had to find some yellow lemonade from deep within myself. Well they wheeled me away and when I got to the OP room .... I reallllly got nervous. The only thing, I remember is, "What kind of drink would you like?" So, I said a martini please, and she said it was coming right up, and I was out! LOL, so when I woke up I wanted my damn martini!!!! LOL, that's the first thing I mentioned. Other than asking if my liver was ok....I was really concerned about the size of my liver even though I didn't cheat at all. I felt like getting up and walking while in recovery so as soon as I was transported back to my room, I walked. Because the gas was unbelievable but it subsided pretty quick and it's just shifting around right now. But it's not so unbearable just uncomfortable. Well, I feel pretty good with a mild pain. I went to Target to get my just born today neice a little something and walked around just fine. At least in my mind but the stares I got let me know I look like a patient of some sort. But I was walking to get back in the spirit of myself as soon as possible. After Target I went to the hospital where they were and I still felt all good. The only thing I have a problem with is getting up from a seat and that's just because of the incisions. I was so freaked out before surgery during all the anticipation and it's really not bad at all. At least not with out pain medication......Oh I tried to eat a Jello cup and I didn't finish it when before I would eat two just because I love them. But it just wasn't possible, sure it's because of the swelling right now. But I did find it pretty easy to eat slow and I have alway been a fast eater. I hope I can keep the same momentum with all foods I eat as I did with the jello. Sorry it's so long but I just wanted any pre-banders to know......There's nothing worry about!!!!!

No need to be nervous....I am sure you will be assigned a patient advocate who will work on your behalf to get you approved. Believe me they will work everything out for you to get approved as long as you meet the requirements and I am sure LOW/HIGH will not make a difference. It's ok Breeeeaaaath! An advocate will work FOR YOU!!!!! Again, goodluck! Tricare is easy.....they don't have a pre op diet or anything...My process was about 1 month from referral and it wennnnnnnnt so fast! It will work out.....I am sure of it!

Here's a link to the Humana page that lists all the approved surgeons... You have to go through the list and it will show some bariatric surgeons....I didn't find one until #64 But I don't know your specific zipcode....so try your zipcode and see what you find. Let me know if you need help! http://hmd.humana-military.com/ProviderListDistance.asp?SelZipCode=75205&SelSite=BR&Select=&ProvNbr=&SelDistance=100&SelProviderName=&SelSpecialtyCode=02&SelSortField1=ProviderName&SelSortField2=&SelSortField3=&SelSortField4=&NotFirstTime=Yes 64 Ferrara, Craig A DO Laparoscopy Bariatrics and Surgery PA 2501 Parkview Dr Ste 560 Fort Worth, TX 76102 (817) 850-1100 Since there is not a filter for bariatric surgery, I would suggest searching the bariatric surgeons in your area and then go to the humana military web site and seach by the surgeons name and you can find one that way. Good luck with that!!!!

Well, I am 6 days post op and I have this excrutiating pain on my side, and I can't sleep at night. No matter how I try to toss and turn to find the just right position, it doesn't exist! i tried to do without the pain meds because I swore I was going to get addicted, LOL! But that was very short-lived. I have found a bit of peace in taking liquid tylenol during the day, and my Vicodin at night to sleep for the minimal hours I am granted. Over the first couple of days, I swear there was a war going on in my belly. Whomever was sitting by me would always look at me like I had control over the war. And I mean it was literally a war.... I heard bombs, grenades, and even some gun shots inside my belly. But I guess the lap band won it's place in there because my belly is much more settled now! :incazzato: It's just this damn pain that keeps me up at night and won't allow me to get adequate rest. It does get better by each passing day so I am so ready to fast forward and get passed this pain. Man, sometimes I wish I was a super hero! I'd live to have rewind and fast forward powers! Goodluck, in this case, time is the key element!

Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - FAQ: Lap-band Abbreviations Take a look at this thread..it's all the abbreviations.