Tigmonster

Hi, It will be 4 weeks since my surgery tomorrow and I had my first fill yesterday. I was very excited because my weight loss had stopped and I was feeling a little frustrated. I went in, they weighed me, down 1 lb since my 2 week post op, 16 in all since surgery. I knew I didn't lose any more weight. Anyway, he had me lay down on the table, told me to "scrunch" and while I was doing that he put the needle in, felt around a bit for the port, and sucked out the air/fluid that was in there. We were both under the impression that there was no saline in the band but apparently the Doc had put 2cc in at surgery time to "prime" it. Anyway, he pulled out the 2cc, added 3cc more to that, and put all 5cc back in. No pain, no discomfort, piece of cake. He asked me a few questions about what I've been eating and how much fluids I get in each day. Told me liquids rest of night, mushies in the morning and for lunch, and then back to regular solid foods tonight. So that's it. I have 5cc's in my 14cc band, I have lost 16 lbs since surgery 9-12-08, and I have my next fill scheduled for 11-5-08. I hope I have some restriction soon because I don't think the 5cc's is doing it either for me! That is going to make for a very long 4 weeks til my next fill. But all in all, still very happy I made the decision because 16 lbs is 16 more than I would have lost previous! Have a great day! Jodie

Hi, I'm glad I'm not alone, I knew I wouldn't be but needed a pep talk! I now know that everyone loses at a different rate. My friend had her band put in Sept 26th and has already lost more than I have being banded Sept 12th, and I didn't do anything wrong so it has to be just the way it is. She is about 70 lbs heavier than I also so maybe if you're bigger you lose a little more then say someone not as big. I'll go with that, it makes me feel better. haha Well I go for my first fill today. I am VERY excited, I WANT to lose again, I feel like I'm dieting very seriously and nothing is happening on the scale. I am going to start exercising this week as long as the Doc okays it. I KNOW that will help, and hopefully a little restriction will help too. Right now I feel NO different then when I went IN for surgery. I think I want proof that he even PUT a band in there! haha Wish me luck and I'll tell you all about it when I return ! Thanks for listening, Jodie

Hi there, I was banded Sept 12, at Hartford Hospital by Dr. Papasavas. I think he is great! I am going for my first fill on Oct. 8th, with Peter, I am SO looking forward to it because I am eating a lot and I am always hungry for the past week. I don't want to gain any weight back that I lost already. That would really be a bummer! Welcome and keep in touch! Jodie

Hi, I know how you feel, I came on here this morning to post pretty much the same problem. I never thought the weight loss would STOP once I started eating normal again (not liquids all day, not mushies all day) I was banded Sept 12, 2008 and lost 15 lbs since. I thought it would be more, I'm happy with the 15, (since surgery) 22 counting the pre-op diet but I am hungry all day long and I am trying so hard NOT to eat bad things. I haven't yet, but I know I"m eating way too much of the good things, if that makes sense. I know I don't have any restriction because I go for my first fill on Oct 8. My doctor even told me that he put the "big band" in me so "you probably won't feel any restriction for a while" OMG, I want restriction NOW. The strange part is that I was a junk food junky 24/7 before my surgery, I have cut out all soda, all fast food, all sweets, and I eat very well, you would think I would lose weight just from that...but I have stopped and that is what makes me a little dissappointed/depressed. I can't even lose weight by dieting now, never mind having "Lucy" installed. Lucy's got some splainin' to do!!!! Any suggestions? Jodie :cursing:

Hi there, I don't have my band yet, Sept 12 is the big day, but I have already named her. Lucy is her name.......as in "Lucy, you got some splainin' to dooooooo" I am so excited, I can't wait! I'm on the liquid preop diet right now and it is very hard, I'm hungry all the time, headaches, tired, no energy....I know, quit complaining! I just keep thinking of the end result and it keeps me going....I just can't wait. It was such a long process getting approved and now that it is finally here I can't stand to wait any longer! Good luck to all, Jodie, and soon to be her new companion Lucy

Hello, I haven't posted much because I was waiting for my date....well I have it! Sept 12th!! WOOT! I am so excited. Not so excited about the pre-op liquid diet I had to start today until the 12th, 10 days of liquids only! blek! Exactly how small can a liver get anyway! LOL. But I am doing it, like I said it's the first day so it's not killing me yet. I went out with my son and best friend last night and had my "last supper" Sirloin tips, mashed potatoes, fresh baked rolls, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, and like 6 Coca-colas.....my favorite. No more of that.....major bumming, but I'd rather lose weight than drink Coke! I would love to put a ticker on my signature but I don't know how.......I'll keep trying......I want everyone to see my progress in the future. Have a great day! Jodie :crying:

Hi all, I was hoping to be an August bandster but it looks like September for me.... Just wanted to introduce myself, I'm Jodie, 40yo, single mom of 13yo son, 5'5" 244 lbs, and I have my pre-op appt on Sept 3. It's been a very long journey so far, but I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I am soooooo excited. This is going to be like the start of a whole new life for me, a better life. I can't wait! I'm thinking of naming my band, but I don't know what yet. I have so much support from my whole family, even my 13 yo is excited for me, he sees how unhappy I've been in my own skin and can't wait for me to be happy again. He says I never smile anymore....leave it to the kids to break your heart! Anyway, hello all, I'm hoping to post alot but ya just never know when life gets in the way! Counting down to my new life..... Have a great day! Jodie

Hello, I'm new on this site, I am currently doing my "homework" for the approval.....psych eval., dietician, medical history, watch the Emmi, 2 group support meetings, then I hope to be approved and have a surgery date for August! I was told I was a great candidate by the surgeon, however there is one thing I have to get approved by my cardiologist. I take Plavix 75mg everyday for a drug eluting stent I had put in a year and a half ago and I have to be able to come off of that for 10 days prior to my surgery. Hopefully my cardiologist will approve that and realize the benefits will totally outweigh the risks once I have the band. Anyway, hello to all, I hope to be posting more as I get more information but now it's a lot of WAITING and meetings/appts. I'm not a patient person that's for sure! Jodie

Jackie, I hate when they give you a time frame like that....7-10 days....cause of course you want it the 7th day, and normally it doesn't come til the 11 day. This whole process is hurry up and wait, it better be worth it because I'm getting stressed out! It's getting closer, but not close enough. Until I have my surgery date set, I will not be happy! I hope you hear from them today.....go check the mail!! I'm excited for you! I'm sure it was a long day for you having all those appts at once, but you got it all done in one big swoop! Very cool! Have a great day! Jodie :thumbup:

OMG, are my eyes deceiving me or did you do all your prerequisite appts all on the 8th of July, in one day? That is awesome! I had to take first available for everything and sometimes that was 3-4 weeks later! Did you get your approval yet???? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! Jodie

Thanks to all of you for the support with my bad news yesterday, all your karma must have helped because all in one day I switched surgeons, whole different medical facility, have an appt for the 29th another one for a week later, and she said if all goes well I should be banded by mid to late August because they are accepting all the pre-surgery things I did for the other place, so I just have to do the seminar on Tuesday and my eval with the new surgeon the next week, and then they will schedule me! Wow that was a really long run on sentence....sorry about that! Hopefully this all goes smoothly, I would love to be an August All Star!!! Not a September Spud or whatever they are calling themselves. lol Have a great day! Jodie :biggrin2:

Hello all, Rambokitty......what's the word? Did you get a date for surgery today? Congrats to all of you who have their band dates. I, of course, ran into another snag....snafoo....speedbump....whatever you want to call it. I have been done with all my "homework" for about 2 weeks now, the surgeon's office finally called me to tell me they have everything they need to submit to the insurance BUT....my surgeon is out on personal leave until September and they can't submit the paperwork until he dictates the notes from my FIRST visit with him onto paper to submit with the rest of my file. NICE! So I'm very upset and looking for another surgeon who will accept my paperwork from my first surgeon and take me in and let me continue where I left off instead of starting over. I've waited this long, and to have to wait til September (if he even comes back they said) and then get approved, and then set a date. It will be Christmas for crying out loud! URGH!! I'm so frustrated! Oh and to have to gain weight to get approved is insane! Are they for real these insurance companies? Oh yes let's risk your life a little more before we tell you you can go have the surgery. DUH! Haha, Not in a good mood, can you tell? Jodie

Hi All, I turned 40 in January, I thought this was going to be the best year of my life because well let's just say I've had a lot of crappy years. But I think it's going to be my 41st birthday that will be the wonderful one! I'm currently waiting to hear back from my insurance as to whether or not I'm approved and then wait for a surgery date. So hopefully by January, my 41st bday, I will be looking good, feeling good, and smiling like I haven't smiled in a long time! I'm so excited to start this fabulous journey. To have the extra help from the band is so promising .....I've lost weight a million times before, but to keep it off is going to be so exciting! Anyone know how long my wait is going to be to hear anything from them? Grats on all the 2008 40's!!! 40 is the new 30 you know!!! I personally can't wait to have 25-30 year olds hitting on me!! Just for the ego boost! Have a great day! Jodie

Hello everyone, I'm still waiting........I have psych eval, and 2 group meetings to complete, and those aren't til next week.....does anyone know if I am supposed to call them when all this is completed or do they KNOW when I complete it? I have a feeling I'm not going to be an August bandster, some of you are already getting dates for August and I'm not even done with my pre-op stuff yet.....I'm getting discouraged. On a different note...how do I get my posts to look all jazzed up and pretty like yours? Mine is so BORING! Jodie :smile:

Oh good for you! You were able to schedule your surgery before your insurance approved it? You are so lucky! My doc won't schedule anything until I finish all my homework, and then they send in the approval and then they schedule a surgery date.... I could actually end up being a Sept bandster but I'm hoping to sneak in in August. Good luck to you, you must be psyched! Jodie

Hi, Any news on your approval yet? I still have several appts to go to before my doc even submits the paperwork for my approval. I hate this waiting!! HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT! Jodie

:biggrin2: Hello again, I am so excited I just had to write again. My cardiologist called me today and he said that the risks involved in coming off the Plavix for 10 days is so low compared to the benefits I will receive by being banded that he said go for it. He did say that if this was a year ago he would have told me no but I've been stable and the stent will have healed over by now so I can do it! YEAH!! That was my real worry, everything else should be a piece of cake now. EXCEPT for the waiting, but I will say they keep you quite busy with appts so time doesn't seem to be at a standstill, but it's early yet. I can't imagine the wait from getting my surgery date to actually having the surgery.....I'll be pulling my hair out! I hope everyone else gets good news this week too! I feel like it's going to be a good week! Jodie

Hi Andy, I'm from CT also, I am just starting the LapBand process, I have my consultation tomorrow actually, dietician on Monday, group meetings end of June...and hopefully surgery in July/August. I could use someone to talk to, hang out with, email, etc. I'm 40 too. I have a 13 yr old son and I can't wait to be smaller again. Anyway, write me if you like.....and we can chit chat and you can tell me about all your stats and make me feel like I'm doing the right thing. Nice to meet you, Jodie :cursing: