*slim*

That makes me feel so much better. I talked about you too! How funny is that? I saw my huge stomach, but they didn't put a lot of fill in. They won't tell me how much, which is why I tried to look. The doctor actually came in while I was getting my fill and asked how I was. He doesn't talk much. I had barium lips too! My barium was actually strawberry flavored. I have had two sugar free popsicles since I had it done. I also drank about 20oz of sf kool-aid. I had to go watch my son play soccer (I am officially a soccer mom). I have some sf jello, but I am scared to eat it. If you ate yours, then I am going to try my jello, too! I am so glad that we were able to have this done the same day!

I am officially 4 weeks out today. I had my first fill this afternoon. It wasn't bad at all. They had me lay down on the table while the nurse put in saline (she blocked the needle so I have no idea how much). Then she had me stand up in front of the fluro machine (with the needle sticking out of my belly). She had me start to drink the barium while she filled. She made sure I didn't feel any pain with the liquid, then I drank water. It went down. She removed the needle (that felt odd) and sent me on my merry way. I have to stay on clear liquids until tomorrow, then full liquids, and then mushies. They told me to just take it slow. Good luck everyone!

My doctor basically said the same thing. He used an M&M as his example. I haven't had problems with any pills so far. I have to take pills everyday.

That pain in your shoulder was gas. I know I didn't get that pain until I was 5 days post op. It can be bad, but honestly walking around and moving the shoulder helped to move it for me. No medicine would ever touch it (gas or pain medicine). I am glad that you are feeling better.

Hey Debbie. I just thought I would stop to say that I went for my fill. It wasn't bad at all. They did my fill under fluro. I have no idea how much they put in. I was not able to look at the needle that the nurse was using so that maybe I could see how much was going in. They made me stand up with the needle in my belly so that I could drink the barium then water. I was able to get every thing down fine. I am on clear liquids until tomorrow. Then full liquids for 1 day, then mushies, and then back to regular food on Sunday if I can tolerate it. I hope that your fill was just as uneventful!

Thanks for the info mommie_ of_4!

I just visited my insurance companies website to check on whether or not they had paid any claims from my surgery. Holy cow batman! The charges from the dr's and hospital are outrageous! There is $9,100 from my surgeon, $2,100 from the anesthesiologist (sp?), and then here is the kicker, $21,077 for the hospital! I am grateful that all of the claims show as paid. Out of all of it, they show me owing a little over $300 total. I have already paid my surgeon (they owe me money back). The total price just really blew me away. My surgeon charges $14,000 (including the surgery center) for self pay, so why the drastic prices?:smile:

Congrats wheetsin!

You are doing so well with your weight loss! I am glad that your fill went well. I have my first fill tomorrow. Supposedly, my doctor won't tell me how much they put in though. I guess I will see tomorrow. Keep up the good work!:sad_smile:

Bandster hell is just that, HELL! I am so there. I can at least eat real food, but the last few days I have felt like I was restricted even though I have no fill. We will survive. Just think of the weight loss later on. Let that be your motivation. :-p

It does require a lot of physical work. I don't know if I can post from work. They block some of the silliest things. We have internet access, so I am just going to try to log in here and see. I will miss you guys during the day if I can't. I will have to do drive by posts at lunch time and after work. *sigh*

We have a new beauty supply store just up the street from me, so I will check there. If they don't have it, I will use your link. Thanks. I had wondered about Mederma. It just costs so much for such a small tube. I am going to go ahead and buy the shea butter and Mederma and hope for the best.

I'm a technician for the telephone company.

I have been off work since my surgery date. I was shocked, but didn't complain. Now it's hard to go back. To multiquote, you click multiquote on all of the posts that you want to quote, then either click new reply at the bottom, or click on quote in the last post that you are quoting. It should bring up a reply pane with all of the quotes in the order that you clicked on them.

Debbie, what time is your fill tomorrow? I go at 1:45 eastern.

PJTP I have to go back to work on Friday! ***sobbing*** Why make me go back to work on the last day of the week? I would have gladly gone back on Monday... Well.... Maybe not.

I do get the spasms. Unfortunately for me, I was getting them before surgery, so I take levsin for it. My PCP seems to think it is a part of my IBS. It was slimy, but I didn't slime if that makes sense. I could see the slime when the chicken came up, but I never had just slime coming up into my mouth. It didn't hurt, but it never made it out of my throat. I just felt like I should have been choking or something. I burped a few times while it was in my throat, but it didn't give any kind of relief. I would have loved to have a warning. I don't know if I missed it or what. I am just going slow with it now.

You have a good night also.

That really depends on so many factors. Insurance or self pay? If insurance, what are their requirements for approval? If you are self pay, the process is fairly quick. I have heard of people having their surgery within a few weeks. With insurance, it can take as little as a few weeks, to as much as 6 months or more because some insurances require a 6 month supervised diet with a doctor. I know this didn't completely answer your question, but I hope it helps. Good luck!

No problem at all. I was in your shoes just a few months ago, so I completely understand. I now am dealing with everyone asking me how much weight have a lost. These are people that I talk to almost everyday (i.e. my mom). She didn't want me to have the surgery either. Anywho, best wishes to you. Good luck on your WL journey no matter what you decide!

Wouldn't it be great if all of the bands came with an alarm? It could say something like... "Beep-beep.... back away from the plate....beep-beep. This has been a warning of the you will PB alarm system." Ok, I can tend to get silly, but you get the picture.:grouphug:

Don't be bummed about that! Bypass patients lose weight a lot faster than we do. Because we tend to lose slower, our skin has more of a chance to rebound. Also, you still have age on your side. I have read on here about people even into their late 40s not having issues with hanging skin. Another thing to look at, you are doing this for a healthier you. Being skinny is just the by-product. Don't let the POSSIBILITY of lose skin stop you. My surgeon actually brought in a patient in her 50s that lost 120lbs. She said that she never had to have any plastic surgery because of the rate that she lost weight. Ok, sorry, I can tend to run on. I just think if that is your only hold out, don't let it be. Don't worry about that at all.

I must be the .5/wk person from you equation. lol

I'm not sure if you can lose too much. My surgeon's office used the weight that I was on my first visit with them to put in for insurance. Have you already seen a surgeon? If you have, then you may be worrying for nothing. I think most of the people that I have talked to said that their doctors used the initial weight for insurance purposes. Also, the sleep apnea should help your case with insurance because that is considered a co-morbitity. Good luck!

It looks like 2 of my 5 are going to keloid including my port incision. That sucks. Where did you get your shea butter? I have only seen it in lotions, but not sold alone.