Losing 2

Do you eat before a fill? My 1st fill appointment is for 1pm today; I am on here reading and searching to see what I am allowed to eat before and after (in case of a fill). ------------------------------ I have made it to Detroit for my first follow-up and am not sure if I can get a fill or not... I hope so. I ate sooo much last night at the hotels restaurant - that I need some restriction. This was the first time I've eaten this much since surgery - I've been so good & careful. My nerves were high and the chicken strips were sooo tasty!

I have made it to Detroit for my first follow-up and am not sure if I can get a fill or not... I hope so. I ate sooo much last night at the hotels restaurant - that I need some restriction. This was the first time I've eaten this much since surgery - I've been so good & careful. My nerves were high and the chicken strips were sooo tasty! My appointment is for 1pm; I am on here reading and searching to see what I am allowed to eat before and after (in case of a fill). Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I was self-pay; My fills are covered for the first 90 days and $150 thereafter. My doc is 3 1/2 hrs away... so, I'm riding the 3 1/2 hr trip for my first f/u and hopefully fill on this Wednesday. After this, I'll find a local place and pay the price.

This is really a very good thread. I have been putting this off and after reading responses to Anne's decision - I finally scheduled an appointment for the day before Thanksgiving. I too am not yet very hungry... just a bit; Also been a bit nervous with such a drastic weight loss and folks are noticing. I keep thinking, do I tell or what? Anyway, I'll be going back to Detroit next week, to check if I need a fill or not. It's very good to know that its not painful... I've been a bit worried about that.

Best of Luck to you. I am sooo very glad I did this!!

I had Dr. Laker; he was very good! I haven't had any problems since my surgery. Everything was quick and easy with his team. The hospital staff (not associated with him), could have been a bit nicer. But I was so happy to get banded, I simply overlooked all of that. I didn't have a lot of pain at all. However, my family reminded me to accept pain meds before I got into too much pain to control. That was a GREAT idea. DH drove me from Chicago and I just ate popsicles on the way home. At home I did a couple of days of percoset (sp)? and the rest was liquid tylenol as suggested here. Also suggest here was gas x strips. I sucked on those - even when I didn't feel I needed them. All went very, very well for me. Oh, the BEST suggestion I got here, was to WALK, WALK and walk. I walked while in the hospital and walked thru the house when I made it home. I even got out of the car and walked whenever DH stopped for something. Just walk slowly and things will moooove on out! Best of luck to you!

Wow! 31 lbs!! :rolleyes2: That is Awesome! I am sorry if you are feeling down... but you have done great! I have a f/u appointment next week (day before Thanksgiving), I'll need to drive 3 1/2 hrs to Detroit; not sure if I'll get a fill or not... but, we will see. I can feel myself definetly being hungry - but, I get a funny feeling in my throat when I am too full.

Hello! I had my surgery in Detroit... where are you going?

I was approved by SugeryLoans at first; once I received the loan papers, I couldn't believe the fees and things I had to do to complete the process - I canceled. I'd used CareCredit for dental procedures and decided to go that route. No extra fees at all and interest rate was worth it (to me). I wanted this bad! If I continue to double my payments, I'll be done very soon. It was absolutely painless... so easy, I was almost afraid ! BTW: If all needed for my Aetna insurance was a 6 mo. diet... yep, I would have done it {it would only be a hiccup compared to ALL of the many diets I've been on}. But, they needed way more - for instance, I needed to have a few comorbidities... So, I didn't think I'd wait until my health failed even more?:wink2:

--------------- Congrats on getting thru it!!:wink2: Walk, Walk & Walk the gas out...:thumbup: Continued Success to You!

I am now 46... I wanted it years ago!

WOW! What an amazing milestone! How encouraging.... Continued Success to You!

This thread is so encouraging for me... I put down the laptop and did 30 min on the treadmill.:thumbup: Thanx

Wow! You are all getting down with the exercising... this is so very encouraging to me & I need it. I have been doing extra walking and this is helping; will get back on that treadmill soon.:cool: Anne, I was thinking about your post and wondered if you actually 'need' a fill yet? I don't know much about it - so, I'm hanging in and awaiting on answers to your post. I am holding out, because I don't want to waste my money if I don't need it yet. I too get this feeling of full quite easily (I'm happy about that); I never knew when I was full pre-band... I just ate till I was sick on the stomach sometimes!. But now, I can feel it in my throat when I'm getting full and I still feel that to this day. Can't wait to read your responses to this. Take care

---- Thanks for this info... I really need to look into this - I already it's offered by my employer, so I'll check the website regarding the coverage of fills. Regarding the price of fills in Chicago - I've been quoted $250 first fill then $95 afterwards. I haven't gone for a fill yet; although my hunger has increased and I'm sure I could use one - just haven't made the call yet, since I am still losing a bit. My cousin had lapband 4 years ago and has only had 4 fills... she looks AMAZING! Good Luck to you, the prices you are quoted seem very expensive.

Liquid B-1 at: www.vitaminshoppe.com

Anne, you are doing awesome already! Julie.Ann, I've heard the WiiFit is so much fun & worth it! I started walking right away and do a bit of extra walking at work. I got on my treadmill finally last week and was in enough pain to bend over and yell. My insides were in so much pain:unsure:. I haven't hopped back on it, but I have continued to walk more at work. I appreciate this thread ~ need it for continued encouragement.

I was banded in Michigan for $10,700; includes fills for up to 90 days.

Best of Luck with getting financed for your new beginning. It isn't as hard as you might think and I can truly say that thus far, it is so very worth it!

It is great to log in and see that our October Odyssey Team Members are doing sooooo well! Hanging in and doing what needs to be done to be healthy! Best of Luck to all!!

Yep, I have used CareCredit (carecredit.com) to pay for dental services for the past couple of years and as well as for half of my surgery (very low payments). The process is smooooooth & simple!

I got on the phone and called all of Chicago to get prices of $16,000 to 21,500 for self-pay. Got set up in two different places - then, the financing option I chose was too complicated. I got all set up for Dr. K in Denver for $9,900. Then, found out about Great Lakes Weight Loss center in Detroit (3 1/2 hr drive) for $10,700. Since I already use CareCredit for all dentist visits - and found out this place takes CareCredit (Dr. K doesn't); I asked for an increase of $6,000 using their online application (took less than 5 minutes to get an answer). This will cost me $133.00 per month - paid the remaining amount in cash from our savings. Good Luck to you... Personally, I feel that I should have done this years ago!

It is so great to hear of all of the October Band-stories! Just about everyone is doing quite well and trying to adjust. At times, while I'm walking thru the facility at work - I think to myself... "I'm banded" and I too, try to wrap my brain around this - especially since its something I've wanted for over 5 years now. Last week, I started reading through the exercise forum to get encouragement - need to do more than walking the halls at work. I finally.... slowly got on the treadmill for 20 minutes last night. I wasn't tired yet, however my insides jiggled and started hurting just before 15 min. I put on the binder from the hospital - it only helped a little. I will keep trying and will come here to hear about how my fellow October Odyssey Buddies are getting their exercises in.

Glad to see this thread... I have been reading thru the exercise forum for encouragement and finally - slowly got on the treadmill for 20. I actually wasn't tired - but my insides jiggled and began hurting at about 12 minutes in. i was wearing the binder from the hospital, but it just didnt help; I dropped the incline completely and lowered the speed (even lower) while I was already very low. I just need to get in shape and won't let this stop me - I am encouraged by reading all of the amazing workouts here!

Thanks for asking this question; I do not have an answer, however we are coming up on our open season - I am hoping that with the many questions I need answers to, I can remember to ask this one! This would be of great assistance to me. If I get an answer within the next couple of weeks - I'll post it. Take care