clayverde

I wish I had more answers for you, but I thought I would post the little bit of info I could. I recently had an issue because Tricare didn't cover a nutrition appointment and then the hospital passes the bill along to me. I called Tricare with a WTF, who told me I had to appeal it and convince them it should be a covered service, etc. After more research and a close reading of my Explanation of Benefits, it clearly stated that I was not responsible for those charges. Now I am in the middle of back and forth between Tricare and the hospital, but Tricare is now very supportive. When I called Tricare the second time and told them that the first woman told me it just wasn't covered and I would have to pay it or appeal and asked why she didn't know what was really going on - the lady at Tricare told me that part of the problem right now is that the Lapband was recently added as a covered service. The Lapband laproscopic surgery is REALLY a new addition to covered services. She said that because of that, they are definitely having growing pains of what is necessary, what should be covered, what price is allowed, blah blah. She said that if I had really had to appeal, that I wouldn't be alone because it is happening a lot right now. They haven't really gotten all the kinks out. SO, I'm just letting you know that this is not a standard thing yet. I can tell from the boards that it is still pretty crazy - some people got approved no problem, others were denied and have to appeal, some are told a, b, and c are the only allowed co-morbidities while others are told a through g. So please keep that in mind when going through this. AND don't give up! The lack of standards right now may work in your favor because normally they just say, oh this procedure, not covered, done. And you can't convince them to just change their minds. But here, it isn't that set yet which means you really might be able to show them in an appeal why the procedure is necessary, how it impacts the surgery, the results, whatever. Good Luck!!! :biggrin:

Well, unfortunately I can't give you any advice or help because I am experiencing the same thing. So moral support only, I guess! :smile: Anyway, I was banded on the 21st of July (so not quite as far out) and I am also having issues with being sore especially around the port site. It is not constant during the day or anything like that. It isn't the actual incision or that type of sore. It is a deeper muscle type of sore. When I lie down in bed on either side, I tend to feel it the most. Like my stomach is falling to the side (gravity and all) and that pull makes the port hurt. Not agony, but much more uncomfortable then I thought it would be given how far out from the surgery I am. Sometimes I get the ache during the day and it is uncomfortable. Again, not agony but not comfortable either. I have not been able to put anything together to figure out the cause - nothing specific that I do or am doing that obviously is causing that ache. It sort of feels like I tried to do sit ups and it isn't the actual muscle that hurts (which is a lie - it's been a LONG time since I did sit ups and I am sure that if I attempted them at this point, it would hurt and cause a LOT of soreness!:biggrin:) but it does feel like doing the sit up kept squishing the port and digging into the muscle around it and now THAT is what is really hurting. Of course I have not done sit ups. I walk, but there's no way I'm ready for that yet. Sorry I couldn't actually help you - at least you know that it isn't some major complication happening to just you though, which is the fear that was sneaking around in the back of my head. Any other help or suggestions of what may be causing this pain and how I might avoid and relieve it would be really appreciated!! :thumbup:

Thanks!! And I love her name Hope. You know, school sucks so bad no matter what - I guess unless you are literally the prom queen. I was thin and pretty in high school and I had great grades. And it still sucked big time!! I thought I was fat (if only I had known...), I never felt as pretty as people around me, I wasn't as smart as those guys, I got teased about being a geek from these guys, blah blah blah. And in grammar school I was on the outskirts of the other kids - super not popular and I still don't know quite why. I wasn't fat, I wasn't dumb, I wasn't ugly, I wasn't poor - so I didn't have the generic label but I didn't have the best labels either, I was moderately outgoing, I had a happy family that was low key (so no family drama), etc. And the most popular girl? Actually kind of ugly! And then when I went to high school, it didn't matter that all of a sudden I had filled out and looked really pretty - I was still that girl from grammar school. So dating me was a no go. Luckily, I went to a big high school and it was pretty easy to avoid them and get a clean slate with kids from other grammar schools. So the point of all that is that I really think popularity and all is just intangible and a mystery. Which actually makes things better, because it means that once you leave high school a lot of that crap is left behind. So girls like Hope can finally step out of these stupid and often unjustified labels and be seen for HER - which is apparently a pretty freaking awesome person! I am 31 and I still couldn't stand up to someone the way she did! Kudos to you both!

OMG - I love that! What a great girl - seriously, you can't teach that kind of spirit and that is awesome. My son recently had an issue with a kid at school giving him a hard time (not about weight or anything, just in general) and I told James to tell the kid "You're acting like a butt, so all I hear right now is farting." It made James laugh and the kid laugh when James said it, which really helped ramp down the tension. Plus he is 8 so he thinks that there is nothing funnier than fart humor. :smile2:

Hi - My husband and I read this article on MSNBC today concerning bariatric surgery. I was really bothered by the very negative tone of the article. It discusses the downside of both bypass and lapband surgery. Which it is true that there are risks and complications, AND it is true that someone who does this without making the proper life changes will not have success, it seemed that the article was surprisingly one sided and negative. It did not mention one success story. I understand trying to show the truth (risks and big lifestyle changes) as opposed to painting the surgery as a miracle cure but this seemed excessive to me. Given that this is a 3 page article on a major news website, I felt it was really misleading and inappropriate. Am I alone in this? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Given that I have just started this path, I don't feel that I can truly argue with the author - I am not YET a success story. How many long term success stories do we have on this site? Not one of them was available for an interview to show the other side of the coin? Anyway, given how many people are researching the lapband to decide if it is right for them, and given how big a news agency MSNBC is, I really thought I should post this article and let actual lapband patients respond to it. That way, if someone reads the article and comes here for research, they can get a more balanced outlook. Here is the article, thanks for reading the rant.... The miracle weight loss that isn’t - Diet and nutrition- msnbc.com

idelay - don't let the article bum you out. That is actually the OPPOSITE of why I put the article there in the first place!! If you look on these boards, you will see so many success stories. And you are hearing ALL the info - good, bad and disgusting! - right from their own mouth. Many of them are not only amazing successes, but long term "losers". Look at it this way - for some people, Peanut Butter is deadly. If there was an article calling peanut butter the secret killer, in a sense, they'd be right. It CAN be a very deadly allergy for some people. Some people can eat the tiniest bit or even just inhale air on a plane where someone else is eating peanuts and die. I'm sure you could interview quite a few people with terrible horror stories of what they had to go through with the death/illness of a child or a loved one. And that is truly horrible for them - no doubt about it. And it is entirely possible that something like that could happen to you or someone you love if they have a severe peanut allergy and no one knew it. BUT there are lots of others who have peanut allergies that don't die the instant they smell peanuts. They have to be careful and all, but it isn't a horror story. And there are many more people who eat peanut butter all the time with no problems at all. So should the FDA ban peanut butter? Should the government make rules on buying peanut butter like there is on buying spray paint and Benedryl? Of course not. That is exactly what the article did - so please don't be discouraged!!! Finally, look at some of the other points of the article. They mention no more than 5 specific cases of complications from surgery. Each case was the most extreme possibility. At least one involved questionable intelligence on both the doctor and patient's part (I mean, with the lady with the band - if your band were so tight that you couldn't get food down and were constantly throwing up, even if your doctor did ask you to stick with it and tough it out, how long before you think - screw this! I'm getting another doctor and a real opinion. She waited a YEAR!! And from her symptoms, it sounded like her band was just too tight. But after a year, she had ruined her teeth, esophagus, and was so malnourished she had Beriberi, a disease you normally see in third world countries! At what point does she bear some personal responsibility too? BTW, you can avoid Beriberi by eating Beans, nuts, bananas, whole grains, or a Multivitamin - not exactly difficult to avoid) After that the author mentions surgeons that don't need any special training and can set up a shingle anywhere and that no one knows until things go wrong. That can - and does - happen with people who aren't even doctors, nevermind surgeons, in the first place. And normally it doesn't come to light until things hit the fan. But a patient that did even minimal research shouldn't fear that at all! She also mentions people getting the surgery that only had to lose 40 lbs. Have you heard on the board of anyone like that?? So, please think of all of this and realize what a twit that author was and that she obviously had some negative agenda. Then browse the boards and look at the before and after pictures - that always gives me such a boost of positive determination. You see so many different and amazing success stories of women and men at different ages, different races, different starting weights, etc etc that have all made this work for them. Then browse the boards for threads of "do you regret being banded" and see the overwhelming response of NO and the people who love their band and who were able to use this tool, along with hard work, to make their lives so much better. And then think of things that will be different for you once you get further along in your journey. Not the dress size, but the reduction of meds, not huffing and puffing after short walks, not needing 15 minutes to just bend over and tie your shoes, etc etc etc. THAT is a better outlook and perspective that what that idiot wrote!! :thumbup:

I agree that people researching the band should do a lot more homework than just that article (and btw thank you for letting us know it was a Self magazine article - that makes a difference) but there is another thread that someone started about needing help with disapproving friends and family. That is a thing that bothers me - people getting the band should know better than just that article, but friends and family read that and get a terrible impression. From that article, I wouldn't blame my mom or dad or friends for being afraid and trying to convince me to find another way. Getting support for this surgery from family and friends can be hard enough, without articles like this! I am sorry that your son had so many difficulties with his surgery. I totally agree that those complications and issues should get more attention, especially for people considering any of these surgeries. I just thought that it should give a more accurate picture - for every problem there are more successes. A fair article would have made an effort to show both. Good luck on your band and I hope your son is doing much better now!

Hey - I have no restrictions on caffeine at all. (As a matter of fact, for both my pre-op AND post-op diet, it was specifically listed as one of the clear liquids I was allowed to have.) I can have coffee, tea, whatever. NO soda at all though. As a matter of fact, I hate 1% milk and I am supposed to have 4 glasses of milk a day. So one of my glasses actually gets frothed up with some Splenda and put into my espresso! Coffee fix and milk requirement in one glass! But I guess it just depends on your doctor.

Hi - I had terrible shoulder pain for quite awhile after the surgery. Actually, one week after the surgery, during my post-op appt. the doctor refilled my liquid vicodin scrip only because of that pain and how bad it was. I was actually off the vicodin for the surgery pain already, but when that shoulder started hurting it was so bad!!! I had someone tell me that it was because there is a nerve that runs right near the band and up into the shoulder. So when the do the surgery, the bump it and the swelling may touch it, etc. Plus, I just had my first fill the other day and for the rest of the day and night my shoulder hurt terribly. Which would make sense if there is a nerve right near the band. Honestly, once that shoulder starts hurting for me, there is not much that will actually ease the pain except waiting it out. I mean, the vicodin worked, but making that a habit probably isn't a great plan!! It was recommended to me to use a heating pad and that would help, but I don't own one so I can't tell you either way if that works or not! Good luck!! :biggrin:

This is a very interesting thread. I was fortunate enough to have been thin in high school and when I got married, so I didn't suffer with that growing up. I wasn't super popular or anything but I was average enough to be below most people's radar. I am so sorry for the people here who not only have had a difficult time but not gotten the support from the people who should love you unconditionally - your family. My husband is amazing- we got married when we were 19 (after a 3 month courtship! but it's been 13 years so we won the lottery there!) and I was thin (150) and pretty. And over time I just kept gaining and gaining until my highest (328). And the whole time he was supportive, he thought I was beautiful and never was rude or anything. Shortly after we got married and long before kids (now 8 and 4) we went out to a club with friends in his hometown of Queens NYC. I had gained some weight and was chubby - not fat but not thin either. So we are there and my husband does not dance. Ever. So I was on the dance floor dancing with his childhood (and now my) friend. And an old friend and schoolmate of his came up to the table and they were catching up when he looked at the dance floor and said "Whos the fat chick dancing with Jimmy??" The whole table got deathly quiet and one brave soul tried desperately to give the guy a signal to shut up. But alcohol being what it is, when no one answered, he just repeated louder "No one knows who the fat chick dancing with Jimmy is?? What's up with that?" My husband quietly informed him that I was his wife. Patrick walked me back to his mom's house (where we were staying) and I cried the whole way - because of course I came back to the table and asked what was going on and someone actually told me! I was so humiliated. Patrick dropped me off and went back out. Jimmy later told me that he went back to the club and the guy was already waiting outside and told Patrick to just get it over quick, that he knew he had it coming and was going to take it like a man. But my entire family has been amazing for the whole terrible saga. My mom, dad, brother, husband, friends, my second family (you know, that family that is so close to your family that they are like another mom and dad) - hell, even my mother-in-law is beyond supportive! So I have to say that I am SOOO thankful for their support. It never occurred to me that someone would have to defend themselves from attack from their own family. Consider yourself hugged!!!! :thumbup:

Hey sweet! I didn't even have to do anything and I am already on the list - are you psychic?? Thanks!!!

Hi July butterflies! (are the guys moths? just wondering...) Anyway, I have lost 30 lbs since the start of this whole thing (pre-op diet and post-op). I am feeling really good! I have been eating what I should and it isn't hard - I'm not feeling like I'm missing out and I'm not hungry between meals. I was eating larger portions than I should, but I just got my first fill yesterday and I noticed a marked difference in how much I want to eat at a sitting. I am so happy with the way this has worked and how I'm doing. I hope everyone else loves their band as much as I love mine!!! Good luck to you all!!! :thumbup:

Hey! I had my first fill yesterday, but first I have to comment..... About all the nurses feeling offended - come on! The poor guy was turned into a pin cushion! He was upset and blowing off steam. Haven't you ever said "I could just KILL him!" It doesn't mean I am really contemplating premeditated murder (or manslaughter for that matter!) But when I read it, I didn't for a moment take that comment at face value. I never thought he REALLY meant all nurses are bedpans! However, given that other people were bothered by it, I am glad you made the clarification. Anyway, I had my first fill yesterday and I wasn't expecting it at all. It is a follow up appointment and I had my surgery four weeks ago. So I went in and talked to her (she is a PA). She was very happy with my weight loss and the fact that I wasn't hungry between meals OR snacking, but she said that my portion sizes were too big. She wanted me at 1 cup a meal (although the choices of food were fine apparently). She said I was in the hazy area between yellow and green. So she decided to give me a 3cc fill to add to the 3ccs they had in the band when it was placed during surgery. So I lay down with a pillow in my lower back to help present the port. My port is half way between the bra band and the waist line, lined up under my right breast. It is pretty close to the surface, so it didn't seem to be a problem. She felt around (pretty deep too which was a little sore but not terrible) and had me so a crunch sort of, then found the port and used a marker to mark the exact position of the port. Then she cleaned the area and gave me a shot of lidocaine. She waited a few minutes to let it numb up and then put the needle in the port, which I didn't feel at all. She withdrew the 3ccs in the band and then injected 6ccs (the original 3ccs back in and the new 3ccs) all without removing the needle. It felt VERY weird. I don't know how to describe it. It didn't hurt, but you can feel it inflating sort of. I don't know, but it is an odd sensation. I hadn't eaten lunch yet and I was pretty nervous and I am a big baby, so the combination made me almost pass out. Not from pain - just from being an idiot! :thumbup: So I was already lying down and took deep breaths to calm down. Then she sat me up by pushing the back of the table up (so I didn't have to use my abdominal muscles and get myself up) with the needle still in. I just studiously avoided looking at it. I got a cup of Water and took a few sips. She asked me if I felt like it was not going down or stuck or like it was sitting in the back of my throat. I told her none of the above, but she was starting to sound like she was coming from far away and I think I am about to pass out now. They quickly laid me down and she took the needle out. Again, I want to be very clear that there was no pain involved at any time! After some time, a cold washcloth and some apple juice to get my blood sugar up, as well as a wonderful and sympathetic nurse! - I was feeling fine and able to leave under my own steam. I was a little achy the rest of the day and my left shoulder hurt again (it had been a problem right after the surgery) but today I am feeling great. I am comfortable with eating less and not hungry, so it's working! I have no idea what Barum room or whatever is - I don't know whether that is good or bad! Also, there is no way I would have done that without a numbing agent - but I am a baby. Finally, I have a strict "three strikes" policy regarding any needles. I will give you three reasonable attempts to give an IV, shot, or draw blood. But if you can't get it after that, I send you out and tell you to find someone more competent. Which, by the way, is often NOT the doctor! Many times the nurses are much better at sticks because they do them all day every day, while doctors often leave that task to the nurses. Just my personal experience. Good luck on your next fill! :biggrin2: Sorry this is so long!!!

Well, I am really beginning to feel like maybe I've got a handle on this whole LapBand thing! :smile2: So, I have also gotten busy with getting back to a normal routine. I have some GI Bill benefits left from when I was in the Army NG and they will expire soon, so I decided to finally go back to school! I have enrolled in an online school (trying to go to a class on a campus is impossible!) and it is the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online. I have chosen the Associates in Graphic Design. I hope to go beyond that and get my bachelors but I don't want to commit to something I can't afford! I am very excited and hope to start on the 21st - if all the financial aid things go well. I had a follow up appointment with the doctor yesterday and had to bring both kids (James 8 and Molly 4). I wasn't concerned because it was really just a visit to make sure I was still doing okay. So when I go in I have to fill out a little survey about how I'm doing and what I eat, etc. And the doctor looks it over and she is very happy with the weight loss AND with the fact that I am staying full and not hungry for so long between meals. But she is concerned with the food portion sizes. She wants me to stay at 1 cup of food per meal. And I am well over that at each meal. But I'm not snacking or anything. So she talks to me about how I am in the hazy zone between the yellow and the green on where my band should be. So she decides she is going to give me a fill. RIGHT THEN!! I was pretty nervous and didn't see that coming at all!!! So I lay down and she pushes around and finally finds the port and marks it with a marker (which I still can't get off!!). The she gives me a shot of Lidocaine to numb the area. Which burns like heck, but okay. Then she puts the needle in and draws out the 3ccs that they put in the band during surgery. Then she puts it back in along with an additional 3 ccs. It didn't hurt but the sensation was SO WEIRD!! :huh2: I didn't like it at all. And then I started to feel like I was going to pass out. I was all sweaty and my vision was getting black and everyone was starting to sound very far away. The doctor said it was okay because I was already lying down! I took some deep breaths and tried to calm down a little. That helped some, but I was still very sick and about to pass out. The she said that I had to sit up and sip some water to make sure that it would go down. With the needle STILL IN! :eek: Luckily I didn't have to sit up on my own - the back of the bad lifted up to sit me up. So I was in an upright position and feeling even worse. But I dutifully sipped the water and tried to focus on whether the water was going down or not. I wasn't a hundred percent sure, but it didn't feel like it was sitting in the back of my throat, which is what the doctor kept asking, so I finally said it was fine - mainly just to get her to lay be back down and not pass out! Especially in front of my kids!! The doctor was wonderful and she had stood between me and the kids while giving me a shot, so that if they HAD paid attention, they couldn't see anything but her back. Not that they noticed anything but the Nintendo DS and the Ben 10 video game. So I was finally allowed to lay down and she took the needle out. She called the nurse and had her come in with a cold washcloth to put on my forehead. I felt like such an ass!! :frown: I wanted to get out of there so bad. I just kept thinking that once I got to my truck I could turn the A/C on full blast and put all the blowers on me and finally cool off and stop sweating!! The feeling backed off a little and I sat up on my own. It wasn't painful - just a twinge. The only real issue was my feeling faint. While I sat there, I sipped some more water and tried to take deep, calming breaths but it was only working so much - I couldn't get rid of the feeling entirely. Finally I stood up, I was so determined to get the hell out of there - the kids were starting to get restless and hungry (my appointment was at 1:40 and we didn't get home until 3:30!!) and I decided that I was just going to white knuckle through it and go home. But the nurse wasn't convinced and wanted me to take a few more minutes (gee, I guess they DO know what they are talking about!! :tongue2:) Finally she offered me some apple juice to try and get my blood sugar up. That is when I realized I had not eaten lunch! With my daughter's doctor appointment before mine and then mine, we left the house at 11:30 and we had a late breakfast. I just figured we'd have a later lunch when we got home at about 2 or 2:30. But that was not the case, and now I was super sick! I normally never have an issue with my blood sugar (I have super high insulin, but not high sugar so I never have to test it or anything) but I guess I just pushed it too far this time! Three sips of the apple juice and I felt a million times better. Still a bit shaky, but the after effects kind of shaky - not the I might still fall right over shaky! So I finished the metal juice (apple juice from the metal can that makes it taste like metal juice) and felt well enough that I was allowed to go home. So for 24 hours I was on full liquids again, which wasn't too bad. I was a little sore and off. I don't know how else to describe it. It doesn't really hurt and it doesn't feel too tight but I definitely feel SOMETHING different in the whole belly area. And my left shoulder started hurting really bad. Which was a real issue right after the surgery. Clearly there is a nerve or something located right near the stomach and the band that is touched when the band is adjusted or whatever that travels right up to the left shoulder. But it is the next day and I already feel better with no shoulder pain, so it is a small price to pay. I had gotten used to swallowing pills whole and not having an issue, but I swallowed one whole last night and definitely felt a twinge. Again, not pain and not stuck, but a little flag went up and I took the message and cut up the rest. And I had to take it slower to take them all. I have quite a few meds to take and when you cut them in half - well, I can finish a propel taking sips with each one! And after the first few sips with pills, I felt that twinge again telling me that I was going too fast. So I slowed it down and did fine. I am able to eat less and feel full too, so obviously the fill was the ticket! :thumbup: So I am excited to see the results after this fill. I have been so happy to see the steady decrease on the scale. Not to rub it in or be annoying, but I have found that every time I get on the scale, my weight has gone down by at least a pound. So I am a total of 30 lbs down from the start of this whole process!! :laugh: About half of that was from the pre-op diet, but it still counts! Pounds lost are pounds lost!! I can't wait until I can really see more of a difference in both my clothes and my face. You'd think after 30 lbs you'd see something, but I haven't. I AM going to start taking monthly pictures though so I can really see the progress. Maybe I'll start including them with the blog. Hmm..... Anyway, while it was too long, I have told you the whole story, but now let me sum up: I LOVE MY LAPBAND!!! :tt1:

Well, I am really beginning to feel like maybe I've got a handle on this whole LapBand thing! :w00t: So, I have also gotten busy with getting back to a normal routine. I have some GI Bill benefits left from when I was in the Army NG and they will expire soon, so I decided to finally go back to school! I have enrolled in an online school (trying to go to a class on a campus is impossible!) and it is the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online. I have chosen the Associates in Graphic Design. I hope to go beyond that and get my bachelors but I don't want to commit to something I can't afford! I am very excited and hope to start on the 21st - if all the financial aid things go well. I had a follow up appointment with the doctor yesterday and had to bring both kids (James 8 and Molly 4). I wasn't concerned because it was really just a visit to make sure I was still doing okay. So when I go in I have to fill out a little survey about how I'm doing and what I eat, etc. And the doctor looks it over and she is very happy with the weight loss AND with the fact that I am staying full and not hungry for so long between meals. But she is concerned with the food portion sizes. She wants me to stay at 1 cup of food per meal. And I am well over that at each meal. But I'm not snacking or anything. So she talks to me about how I am in the hazy zone between the yellow and the green on where my band should be. So she decides she is going to give me a fill. RIGHT THEN!! I was pretty nervous and didn't see that coming at all!!! So I lay down and she pushes around and finally finds the port and marks it with a marker (which I still can't get off!!). The she gives me a shot of Lidocaine to numb the area. Which burns like heck, but okay. Then she puts the needle in and draws out the 3ccs that they put in the band during surgery. Then she puts it back in along with an additional 3 ccs. It didn't hurt but the sensation was SO WEIRD!! :huh2: I didn't like it at all. And then I started to feel like I was going to pass out. I was all sweaty and my vision was getting black and everyone was starting to sound very far away. The doctor said it was okay because I was already lying down! I took some deep breaths and tried to calm down a little. That helped some, but I was still very sick and about to pass out. The she said that I had to sit up and sip some water to make sure that it would go down. With the needle STILL IN! :eek: Luckily I didn't have to sit up on my own - the back of the bad lifted up to sit me up. So I was in an upright position and feeling even worse. But I dutifully sipped the water and tried to focus on whether the water was going down or not. I wasn't a hundred percent sure, but it didn't feel like it was sitting in the back of my throat, which is what the doctor kept asking, so I finally said it was fine - mainly just to get her to lay be back down and not pass out! Especially in front of my kids!! The doctor was wonderful and she had stood between me and the kids while giving me a shot, so that if they HAD paid attention, they couldn't see anything but her back. Not that they noticed anything but the Nintendo DS and the Ben 10 video game. So I was finally allowed to lay down and she took the needle out. She called the nurse and had her come in with a cold washcloth to put on my forehead. I felt like such an ass!! :frown: I wanted to get out of there so bad. I just kept thinking that once I got to my truck I could turn the A/C on full blast and put all the blowers on me and finally cool off and stop sweating!! The feeling backed off a little and I sat up on my own. It wasn't painful - just a twinge. The only real issue was my feeling faint. While I sat there, I sipped some more water and tried to take deep, calming breaths but it was only working so much - I couldn't get rid of the feeling entirely. Finally I stood up, I was so determined to get the hell out of there - the kids were starting to get restless and hungry (my appointment was at 1:40 and we didn't get home until 3:30!!) and I decided that I was just going to white knuckle through it and go home. But the nurse wasn't convinced and wanted me to take a few more minutes (gee, I guess they DO know what they are talking about!! :confused:) Finally she offered me some apple juice to try and get my blood sugar up. That is when I realized I had not eaten lunch! With my daughter's doctor appointment before mine and then mine, we left the house at 11:30 and we had a late breakfast. I just figured we'd have a later lunch when we got home at about 2 or 2:30. But that was not the case, and now I was super sick! I normally never have an issue with my blood sugar (I have super high insulin, but not high sugar so I never have to test it or anything) but I guess I just pushed it too far this time! Three sips of the apple juice and I felt a million times better. Still a bit shaky, but the after effects kind of shaky - not the I might still fall right over shaky! So I finished the metal juice (apple juice from the metal can that makes it taste like metal juice) and felt well enough that I was allowed to go home. So for 24 hours I was on full liquids again, which wasn't too bad. I was a little sore and off. I don't know how else to describe it. It doesn't really hurt and it doesn't feel too tight but I definitely feel SOMETHING different in the whole belly area. And my left shoulder started hurting really bad. Which was a real issue right after the surgery. Clearly there is a nerve or something located right near the stomach and the band that is touched when the band is adjusted or whatever that travels right up to the left shoulder. But it is the next day and I already feel better with no shoulder pain, so it is a small price to pay. I had gotten used to swallowing pills whole and not having an issue, but I swallowed one whole last night and definitely felt a twinge. Again, not pain and not stuck, but a little flag went up and I took the message and cut up the rest. And I had to take it slower to take them all. I have quite a few meds to take and when you cut them in half - well, I can finish a propel taking sips with each one! And after the first few sips with pills, I felt that twinge again telling me that I was going too fast. So I slowed it down and did fine. I am able to eat less and feel full too, so obviously the fill was the ticket! :crying: So I am excited to see the results after this fill. I have been so happy to see the steady decrease on the scale. Not to rub it in or be annoying, but I have found that every time I get on the scale, my weight has gone down by at least a pound. So I am a total of 30 lbs down from the start of this whole process!! :laugh: About half of that was from the pre-op diet, but it still counts! Pounds lost are pounds lost!! I can't wait until I can really see more of a difference in both my clothes and my face. You'd think after 30 lbs you'd see something, but I haven't. I AM going to start taking monthly pictures though so I can really see the progress. Maybe I'll start including them with the blog. Hmm..... Anyway, while it was too long, I have told you the whole story, but now let me sum up: I LOVE MY LAPBAND!!! :tt1:

All right, so now I am on the soft food stage. Which is fish, beans, bananas, soft veggies, etc. And that is freaking great. I love it. I feel like a normal person again. Add to that the fact that I am healing quickly and barely feel sore at all anymore! It adds up to feeling really great lately! Like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. So what is the problem? Well, I guess that now that I feel better, I am able to actually think more about things other than food and pain - which means I am now WORRYING! I am not hungry between meals. That alone is a miracle and I am so happy. But when I do eat, I feel like maybe I am eating too much. Which would stretch out my pouch. Which would defeat the whole purpose of the band. Which would make weight loss impossible and me a failure. I am eating what I should - I follow the rules of the nutritionist and actually am finding that eating the right things is very easy. I don't know if that is because I am just so grateful to have food, or if my tastes have changed due to what I can and can not tolerate, if it is a placebo effect, or maybe just a reflection of my commitment and desire to make this work. Regardless, eating the right stuff is easy. I was told to start with 1/4 of a cup of food and progress until I was satisfied. To be full, but be careful to not over fill my pouch and eat until stuffed or until I feel pain. And I am doing that. But I can easily eat about 1 cup to 2 cups of food before I feel full (depending on what I eat - soup is closer to 2 cups and beans, etc would be closer to 1). And I am not overdoing it or feeling pain or getting anything stuck, but it definitely feels like I shouldn't be eating this much. Maybe I am just a worry wart..... I think I just want this to work so bad! I realized today that I don't have another doctor's appointment and have no clue when I should be seeing the doctor again. I went to my one week follow up and everything was great. I left and nothing was mentioned about the next appointment one way or the other and I didn't think about it as I left. (Honestly, I had just gotten the go ahead to eat the full liquids and I was so excited to eat something other than broth that I raced out of the office to get home! Well, waddled slowly and painfully but in a purposeful manner!) So, anyway, DUH! I guess tomorrow I will be calling the doctor and asking WTF? When do I get seen again, when do I get a fill, etc etc. That isn't a big deal because I was going to call tomorrow anyway to talk to the nutritionist and ask her about this whole thing with amounts to eat, etc. Patrick was home for two weeks with me right after the surgery and it was wonderful. He is so often gone that having him here all the time was great. And with James on summer break and all - the whole family was here. I loved it. Patrick had to leave Monday to go to training but he is home on Friday, so it is no big deal. And I feel great, so it isn't a problem being alone with the kids. But I think that after two weeks at home with everyone here all the time, Patrick was more than ready to leave for that class and have some quiet time!! Well, I rented a few girly movies and period movies (hey - not like monthly period but that IS kind of funny, I mean like corsets and gloves and terribly proper english) and I am enjoying watching a new one each night. Movies that Patrick hates. So far I have watched The Other Bolyen Girl (with Natalie Portman, who I love), Little Children (with Kate Winslet), Miss Potter (with Renee Zellweger about Beatrix Potter the author of Peter Rabbit), and Loves Enduring Promise (with pre-Grey's Anatomy Katherine Heigel). I rented all 4 (or however many) movies of that Hallmark series from Netflix for the time that Patrick was gone. YEAH! It's the simple things. Like beautiful dresses, gloves, tea, corsets, love affairs, and vanilla sugar free pudding with cool whip!

Thanks! Just a quick thing about the exercising - you said that you have a bum leg and foot which makes exercising hard (walking long distances must be hard). BUT I had a thought - first is swimming. Not only could you do laps at your own pace which are great for cardio, strength and endurance. The Water doesn't put stress on your joints and can often ease pain. PLUS you don't feel hot and sweaty. The water is nice and refreshing. Also, many YMCAs and Rec centers offer swim aerobics. Some are done in the shallow end and others are done in the deep end with these belt things that let you float. I really enjoy pool exercise more than anything else. Another thought is gardening. I know that sounds odd, but actually I was gardening the other day and realized how tired, sore and sweaty I was! When I looked it up, I found out that for me if I walk a half an hour at a brisk pace I burn 279 calories. But if I garden for a half an hour (doing things like digging with a spade and planting flowers, seeds, etc) I burn 349 calories. Even just general weeding is 314 calories for that half an hour. And for me, that means I can stay in the yard and let the kids play while I exercise! If you got a pad to protect your knees, you may find that you are better able to exercise that way. I really like it because I like to garden (I listen to music and zone out - very zen!), I like seeing the results, I don't need a babysitter or to drag the kids out, I get some sun, it doesn't feel like exercise and I actually burn MORE calories than my brisk walk. Anyway, just thought I would throw those thoughts out there - good luck!

Okay, I just wanted to clarify a few things abut my earlier post.... When I said that you had to do nothing special after being banded, I did NOT mean that you can eat whatever you want and still lose weight. Obviously you have to diet, exercise, follow your doctor's orders, etc. What I meant was that my doctor told me you didn't have to do anything special or different with regards to the PCOS. That there is no special diet for people with the band AND PCOS. That the normal diet advised for people who are banded will provide the same benefits and results for people with PCOS. And while I have PCOS, I don't have a problem with blood sugar. My blood sugar is fine and so I have no idea one way or the other as to how the band will affect that aspect of your life. Finally, I have struggled with weight for a long time despite following doctor ordered diets. Even without eating chocolate, soda, junk food, etc. I have had terrible problems with losing weight. After seeing a nutritionist and following her specific plan with no results, my endo suggested that this surgery may have huge benefits for me. She pointed me to the study (which I gave a link to in my earlier post) showing that even when people eat properly and exercise and lose weight, while they do show an improvement in symptoms, patients with weight loss surgery (the study specifically mentions bypass, but the endo said that the band results were similar) showed significantly more improvement even though everything else was exactly the same. Time, diet, exercise, weight loss, etc. So what I meant was not that, "hey this is a magic surgery" or anything like that - I would never want anyone to think that is what I mean. Not only would it be unfair to people starting this path, but it would also be minimizing the hard work done by successful banders. What I AM trying to say is that for people with PCOS who have struggled very hard with no positive results and are worried it will continue after the lapband surgery, here is a little hope my doctor gave me, and I am passing onto you, that this surgery can be particularly helpful to you. Good Luck Everyone! :biggrin2:

All right, so now I am on the soft food stage. Which is fish, beans, bananas, soft veggies, etc. And that is freaking great. I love it. I feel like a normal person again. Add to that the fact that I am healing quickly and barely feel sore at all anymore! It adds up to feeling really great lately! Like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. So what is the problem? Well, I guess that now that I feel better, I am able to actually think more about things other than food and pain - which means I am now WORRYING! I am not hungry between meals. That alone is a miracle and I am so happy. But when I do eat, I feel like maybe I am eating too much. Which would stretch out my pouch. Which would defeat the whole purpose of the band. Which would make weight loss impossible and me a failure. I am eating what I should - I follow the rules of the nutritionist and actually am finding that eating the right things is very easy. I don't know if that is because I am just so grateful to have food, or if my tastes have changed due to what I can and can not tolerate, if it is a placebo effect, or maybe just a reflection of my commitment and desire to make this work. Regardless, eating the right stuff is easy. I was told to start with 1/4 of a cup of food and progress until I was satisfied. To be full, but be careful to not over fill my pouch and eat until stuffed or until I feel pain. And I am doing that. But I can easily eat about 1 cup to 2 cups of food before I feel full (depending on what I eat - soup is closer to 2 cups and beans, etc would be closer to 1). And I am not overdoing it or feeling pain or getting anything stuck, but it definitely feels like I shouldn't be eating this much. Maybe I am just a worry wart..... I think I just want this to work so bad! I realized today that I don't have another doctor's appointment and have no clue when I should be seeing the doctor again. I went to my one week follow up and everything was great. I left and nothing was mentioned about the next appointment one way or the other and I didn't think about it as I left. (Honestly, I had just gotten the go ahead to eat the full liquids and I was so excited to eat something other than broth that I raced out of the office to get home! Well, waddled slowly and painfully but in a purposeful manner!) So, anyway, DUH! I guess tomorrow I will be calling the doctor and asking WTF? When do I get seen again, when do I get a fill, etc etc. That isn't a big deal because I was going to call tomorrow anyway to talk to the nutritionist and ask her about this whole thing with amounts to eat, etc. Patrick was home for two weeks with me right after the surgery and it was wonderful. He is so often gone that having him here all the time was great. And with James on summer break and all - the whole family was here. I loved it. Patrick had to leave Monday to go to training but he is home on Friday, so it is no big deal. And I feel great, so it isn't a problem being alone with the kids. But I think that after two weeks at home with everyone here all the time, Patrick was more than ready to leave for that class and have some quiet time!! Well, I rented a few girly movies and period movies (hey - not like monthly period but that IS kind of funny, I mean like corsets and gloves and terribly proper english) and I am enjoying watching a new one each night. Movies that Patrick hates. So far I have watched The Other Bolyen Girl (with Natalie Portman, who I love), Little Children (with Kate Winslet), Miss Potter (with Renee Zellweger about Beatrix Potter the author of Peter Rabbit), and Loves Enduring Promise (with pre-Grey's Anatomy Katherine Heigel). I rented all 4 (or however many) movies of that Hallmark series from Netflix for the time that Patrick was gone. YEAH! It's the simple things. Like beautiful dresses, gloves, tea, corsets, love affairs, and vanilla sugar free pudding with cool whip! :frown:

Hey all - I have the PCOS too and asked my doctor that very question. I have struggled so much to lose weight for so long and barely make a dent in the weight. My endo kept telling me that the PCOS makes it VERY hard to lose the weight, etc. So I was worried that even with the surgery, the PCOS would make losing weight harder. The doctor told me that the band makes losing weight much easier AND does amazing things with improving the symptoms of PCOS. And there is nothing special that you have to do. Not only does the band help with weight loss, and the diet of the bandster (Protein and veggies with little carbs) is another big help, but apparently, there are other reasons why the band helps PCOS patients so much that they are only beginning to study and understand. Doctors have known that weight loss helps alleviate PCOS, but they have recently found that patients with weight loss surgery have MORE improvement of symptoms than patients who lost the same amount of weight in the same amount of time using traditional diet and exercise programs. They don't know why that is the case. My doctor gave me a print out of a study showing that and I found the same thing on the internet - here is the link: The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Associated with Morbid Obesity May Resolve after Weight Loss Induced by Bariatric Surgery -- Escobar-Morreale et al. 90 (12): 6364 -- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism As a matter of fact, long term, patients with PCOS who had the weight loss surgery not only had significant reduction of symptoms, but they ended up having so few symptoms that if they went to the doctor they would no longer qualify for a PCOS diagnosis. Thought that might help. Not only did I find the information interesting, it was VERY reassuring. Good Luck!!! :w00t:

Seriously, I want to cry tears of joy right now! I am having the same problem!! Not only am I relieved to see other people with the same issues, but hopefully I can get an answer. I was banded about 3 weeks ago and have reached the point that I am eating soft foods (fish, Beans, soft veggies, etc.) While I do find that I am not hungry between meals, which is great and all, it seems like I eat a lot to reach the point of feeling full. My nutritionist outlined what to eat, which I am following, but the only advice on amounts that was given was to start with 1/4 of a cup (as opposed to jumping right to 1 cup) and to eat only to the point of feeling satisfied. Well, I can easily eat a cup or more of food before I feel satisfied. I don't eat until I am over full and I don't have any pain. Plus I have not yet had anything feel stuck or whatever. But I am worried that the volume of food is too much and I am going to stretch my pouch. I guess tomorrow I'll call the nutritionist and see what she says, but I thought maybe I was doing something wrong, or it just wasn't working for me (like I'm the exception and I will fail), or whatever. If I get an answer tomorrow, I'll post it and let you know. Anyway, thank you so much for posting because at the very least I am relieved to feel that I am not just a pig who is screwing this up right from the start! :w00t:

Wow - I am so glad that I read this post! I am really sorry about what you are going through. In all the research I did, meetings I attended, info sessions and online videos, I have NEVER heard of the period/fill connection. And if that is true, I am screwed!! I have PCOS too and I haven't had a period in 6 years. Yes you read that right, seriously nothing the whole time. Not spotting, nothing. I have had tons of ultrasounds, etc to make sure that everything was all right, which it is, but the fact remains that I just never get a period. (which is a real pain in the ass every time I go to the doctor, BTW - they always ask that and I always tell them and then every time, they give me the look. Then they ask about spotting, etc - like I'm holding out or something! And they don't want to write date of last period 2002!!) Now I am going to call my doctor tomorrow and find out what is the deal - I don't want a nasty surprise on my next visit. I'd rather try and sort it out now, so thank you for the post!! Also, I have only been banded 3 weeks, but already I feel like I'm not even banded. I am eating what I should and all, but it seems like it is way more than what I should be able to eat with the band. I am worried that I am stretching out the pouch and screwing this up already - so I felt better when I read that someone else was dealing with the same thing, thanks again!!

Holy crap! I was shocked to see so many tokers here!! What a cool bunch of people. :eek: I don't smoke (we're military and move so much that finding someone to buy from is to rely on strangers and just asking to be an entry in the arrest section of the paper! I just know I would be part of a stupid sting! sigh...) but not because I have any issues with it. I guess it ISN'T obvious (but I thought it was) that smoking while driving or watching your kids or whatever is stupid. But whatever... I was really glad to see an honest question like that here - it is nice to know you can ask real questions regardless of embarrassment or judgement and get answers. :w00t: It has been said already, but I would worry about the munchies. And I would hesitate right before or after the surgery because of both the anesthesia AND the lung issue. Even with very healthy lungs, pneumonia after surgery is really an issue. But obviously many people have done it and been just fine. I am just a Nervous Nelly and tend to err on the side of caution! Anyway, nice to see such a great response from so many people. Take a few tokes for me, at least then I can live vicariously, if I can't do it myself. :thumbup:

Man, that banana pudding sounds super yummy!! :eek: Okay, this will be a long post but hang in there because it has a few ideas and recipes.... I am in the mushies/soft foods phase and have a few suggestions for stuff to eat: First - I normally hate cottage cheese BUT it is low fat (if you buy the 2%) and good Protein and super easy, so I tried to find a way to eat it. I found at Target Superstore a little container of Brushetta topping. It is basically olive oil, tomatoes, basil and other spices. Well, bread is out and all, BUT I mixed a little into the cottage cheese and it was very good! It brings out the more cheesy flavor of the cottage cheese. Don't mix in too much though, as it is strong and will be overload. It is the only way I can eat cottage cheese. Second - Refried Beans. Another one on the list if it is fat free. But I don't like the canned stuff. So I made my own variation. Put some olive oil in a deep pan. Mince a clove or two of garlic and heat in pan. Let it get just a LITTLE brown (don't burn it!!) and then pour in two cans of Navy beans. (I like them best, but you could use any beans) With a masher, mash up the beans in the pan while mixing it with the olive oil and garlic. Once you have it mashed to the consistency you like (or you could then put it in a blender and puree it for really fine consistency), pour in about half a can of beef broth. (If you want a lighter flavor, use chicken broth - I like it either way.) Mix it up and simmer until it is thick and bubbly. Cool and eat. I find it is SO much tastier than the canned stuff AND it is still healthy. Obviously you could then add salsa, cheese, lite sour cream or whatever else you wanted. I actually love it plain, but it is good no matter what. PLUS, if you make a pan of it, you can put the remaining amount (which should be quite a bit if it is just for you and not the family meal) in a ziploc and reheat small amounts for quite awhile. It reheats well. Third - Garbanzo Beans or Chick Peas. I love those things and used to love them on a salad. But lettuce is not in my near future, so I had to adapt and overcome! I started making this salad and now love it. I just open a can of chick peas and rinse well. Pour some into a bowl and splash them with some lemon juice. Then I pour some Italian dressing on them. Voila! Tasty, healthy, protein and fills that salad craving. Italian dressing - I started making this a LONG time ago and always get compliments on it and requests for the recipe. I use the Good Seasonings packet and carafe. I fill up to the V line with Red Wine Vinegar OR Balsamic Vinegar, depending on my mood. (Guests tend to really like the red wine vinegar style best!) Then I fill to the W line with lemon juice. I use the bottle stuff and it is fine, but I am sure the fresh would be much better - I just don't have the time or effort. Then add the packet of regular Italian dressing seasoning packet. Add two small packets of Splenda (or whatever the same amount would be - maybe 2 tsp?) Then fill to the O line with Olive Oil. shake up and that's it. The splenda just takes the edge off the lemon and vinegar, but it is by no means a sweet tasting dressing. This makes the salad dressing much healthier - no sugar, no extras, and olive oil is a good fat! Finally - chili. This was another one on my"can have" list. And I have a recipe that I love which normally calls for hamburger. Hamburger is NOT on my list - yet. So I adapted it and used veggies and it was still delicious. It has protein and veggies! PLUS, this chili is one with flavor and NO heat. I hate hot foods and my husband's stomach is very sensitive. And after the surgery, I really wasn't sure how my stomach would handle any heat, so this is a great find for me. (But if you do like the heat and can tolerate it, you could always add chopped hot peppers, red pepper spice, use canned tomatoes with hot peppers, etc.) So I found this recipe and love it because it really tastes like chili without the heat. So here you are - 1 lb ground beef (I substituted one large chopped zuccini and one squash) 1 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste) 1 c. chopped celery (I omit this now) 1 c. chopped green and red peppers (again, I omit this now and replace with other veggies like squash, etc.) 2 14oz. cans diced tomatoes w/liquid 1 tsp oregano 1 c. chopped onion 1 TBL chili powder 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 16oz can Kidney beans 1 16 oz can Navy beans (I use 2 if omitting the hamburger) 1 c. beef broth Put beef (or chopped veggies) in large pot. Sprinkle with salt and cook until no longer pink (or until veggies are soft). Add onion, and other veggies (if not already there). Cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes with liquid and all seasonings. Mix well. Boil then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes (I omit this part if no hamburger, otherwise the veggies get cooked to nothing). Add beans and broth. Simmer 20 to 30 minutes until thick-ish. If you add 1/4 c. of 2% Mexican mix cheese to the top of that, you only add 6 g. of fat and 80 calories, but 7 g. of protein!! Hope this helps you guys as much as it has helped me get through this! Good Luck and good eating!!! :w00t:

Well, I am 8 days post op and I am a bundle of mixed feelings. I am still somewhat sore, but not bad. Getting up and down are the worst part. Or yawning and sneezing. But sometimes I have been having a terrible sharp pain, like a stitch, in my side and my shoulder. It hurts so bad. Then I have to use the Vicodin. But it is happening less and less, which is really good. I am having a very hard time telling what the heck is going on in my stomach. Is it gas? Am I hungry? Am I full? What the hell? Right now, I can drink fluids pretty much as much as I want and not feel full. It seems like it is just sliding right through. Which is all right - I'm not really hungry. I eat more on a schedule because I know it is time to eat more or have more fluids or whatever. But when I DO eat or drink, I have no idea what full is yet. Which worries me a little. I have moved on to full liquids which is wonderful. I am so happy. I love Cream of Mushroom soup anyway, so this is really good. I was going to scream if I had to eat one more bowl of broth. But I have realized that soup, even the thicker cream of mushroom soup, is really just another liquid, which means I can eat the entire can of soup in one sitting and not feel full or anything. I don't know.... I am hoping that as I eat more solid things, and as I heal more, it will all become obvious. TMI for many people - but something that might be important for many .... I think I am getting a yeast infection. It is the beginning stages and it may resolve itself which is what I am hoping for. I think it is a result of the antibiotics that I got in the hospital. Just one more bag of fun to add to the bag. I am having issues of being tired but not really, but wanting to nap but not really. I am really tired right now. It seems to come and go in waves. And sometimes by the time I am able to finish up what I am doing and actually take one, I am not tired anymore. Then later I have a wave of tired again and I wish I had taken a nap earlier! But I am also restless, so even when I am tired and want to take a nap, I often can't quite settle enough to really sleep and all. I don't know what my problem is! I'm sure it is a matter of calories (eating so little means little calories means less energy) and just recovering from the surgery. I am feeling pretty good and I think I am often suffering from completely unrealistic expectations of how I should be feeling and what I should be able to do by now. I can't wait until I am further out and eating more normally, feeling more normally and able to do the things that I normally do. I especially hate the lack of cuddle time! I cuddle with my two kids and husband all the time. Hugs, snuggles, couch cuddle time, everything - I am one who lets the kids climb all over me and love every minute of it. So this is hard right now and I feel a little isolated at times. I let Molly lie on top of my side against the couch, so she wasn't on the incisions or anything and she almost fell asleep there and it was nirvana. SIGH.....