LoriLei

I had no pre-fill in my band.

Hello to all, I had my original meeting with my surgeon on September 3, 2008. I weighed 265 at that point. When I had surgery on October 22, 2008 I weighed in at 258. Seven days after surgery I was down to 250#, on November 19th it was 248 and my most recent visit, December 4th, I was 242#. Here is my question. I thought that on Nov. 19th I would get a fill but they thought I should wait. When I went on the 4th, fully expecting to get a fill, he said, "You are doing well. Let's wait until next month to see how you are doing." Has anyone else had this happen? I thought fills were a big part of this surgery. I know I should be happy that I can still eat anything without getting "stuck" but I'm just hoping I don't hit a bit stall in weight loss. I have to have knee surgery on the 29th so I will not be taking any long walks for a while. Has anyone else have a doctor who put off on the fills and how was your weight loss? Thanks!

As for sugary items, I haven't touched sugar since I was banded in October. I found out a few years back when I did the Atkins diet, that it takes 3 days for sugar to get out of your system. I did that, and was amazed at how you lose your craving for sugar. Notice I said craving...not the desire for some. I might think about and remember how good a cookie tasted BUT I know once I have it, I'll want more and more and more. So much easier not to take that first bite of something with sugar. It is so much easier to say "no" when you aren't craving sugar. My suggestion to people who are getting ready to be banded, start out with sugar free and stay that way. It will make it a LOT easier for you.

Your blog entry made me laugh....and it also took me back to two days ago. I was just beginning to eat my lunch when my sister called. I normally don't want to do anything else but concentrate on my eating now that I have to be so careful. Instead of putting my food aside and waiting until our conversation was over (which could easily be 30-40 minutes) I took a bite of food whenever she began to talk. Let me also add that I had made extra food that I could store for later....anyway, long story short, I ended up eating the entire amount of food without thinking! I was so miserable!! It hurt! The good thing is that it was a lesson learned. I'm sure it's the same for you, Jenny. Sometimes the best way to learn something is to do it wrong. Just think of it this way, we made our mistake early enough in our lifestyle change that we will do much, much better in the future and be thinner before we know it. I'm happy to be traveling down this road with you. We will make it together.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You give me hope! I'm very proud of you!

I have BC/BS Federal Iowa. I was approved very quickly. My BMI was over 40 with no co-morbidites. If you have co-morbidities the BMI can be less. BC/BS Federal is VERY good insurance for this surgery. I have always obtained copies of my doctor visits so I just wrote a note explaining my weight problems through the years and included doctor's notes showing my weight and I was approved within a couple of weeks after submitting everything. I pray you do as well. One of the ladies at the insurance company said, "You are so lucky to have this insurance. They take very good care of their people."

Good luck Amy! I was banded on the 22nd and all went well. Let me know how your surgery goes.

Hello to all, I had surgery yesterday morning. I had to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. and was on the road back home by noon. As soon as I was checked in they began preparing me for surgery. I met with a nurse who took my vitals, the anesthesiologist stopped by and then they had a massage therapist stop by to give me a massage to help me relax. How awesome is that??? I was on the table at 7:35 and it wasn't long before I woke up in recovery. I could feel one spot that hurt more than the other....it was the port area. It wasn't super painful but none-the-less they gave me more pain medication. I finally left the recovery room and was wheeled into my little room to visit with my family. I was given some water to drink and a pain pill. I used the spirometer often. I wasn't able to inflate my lungs as fully as I was last night before surgery but I kept at it and constantly made progress. The deeper you breath the faster you get rid of the gas. I also asked to take a walk down the hall.....exercise also helps get rid of the gas. They decided that I could go home because I was doing so well. They wanted to wheel me to the front door but I asked if I could walk because I wanted to get as much exercise in as possible before the hour drive home. I had the option of taking 1-2 pain pills when I got home. I have just been taking one half of a pill and am coping very well. I went for a short walk with my granddaughter half-way down the block. I have been drinking water, chicken broth and eating Jell-O......all very slowly. I am feeling so much better than I expected and I believe it is because I have made it a point to get up every hour and walk around the house. Keeping hydrated and exercise seems to be the key. Oh, I wanted to say that I took a pillow with me this morning. It is a heavy pillow. One of those memory foam types. I held it against my belly on the way home and never had a pain when the road got bumpy. I also got a "seat riser" for the toilet stool so I'm not straining my abdominals getting up and down. I also rented a lift recliner and that also has been a life saver. I live by myself and don't have anyone to help me get up if I have a problem so I wanted to have all my bases covered. Planning is the answer to making the days after surgery comfortable. Those of you getting ready to have surgery, I hope yours goes as nicely as mine has so far. Best wishes to all of you!

Hi, I just wanted to tell you how much my daughter-in-law and I both like Unjury. If you buy it at unjury.com it is shipped quickly. I also noticed that it was higher priced on other web sites so do your homework! I would recommend buying chocolate and vanilla. I mix mine with 1% milk. Sometimes I have it plain and other times I add "extras". You can add some coffee to the chocolate to make a mocha drink and the vanilla you can add lots of goodies. I like vanilla mixed with the frozen strawberry "Fruit Chillers". Both are good mixed with banana. When you are on the clear liquid diet you can mix the unflavored with your jello to get extra protein. I have also mixed some of the chicken soup Unjury with mashed potatoes. I will use it during my "mushies" stage to add flavor. It is a little more expensive than some others but oh so easy to get down. That is worth it to me. They have lots of recipes so you don't feel you have to drink the same thing day after day.

Congratulations! Just follow all the rules and you will do well. My turn for surgery is tomorrow!