Kat817

Fluctuation is very normal---it may kick in to where you feel restriction, after a few days, and you may end up needing another in a few weeks. It all depends on the size of your stomach, if you swell following the fill (which is likely why you felt it immediately and not now), and even how the other tissue in your body is reacting at the time. Like many women are much tighter with their fills during TOM. So just follow your Dr.'s guidelines, with eating following the fill, and see how it goes, it is the first step in the fill process, it may take a few more adjustments--but you are on your way!! Congrats!!! Kat

I agree Beannie--I worry about it too. I have tried really hard to follow the guidelines given both by my Dr. and by successful banders before me!! I know I have (especially lately) been eating all the wrong foods. But like small meals, not drinking with them, avoiding PB's or vomiting in anyway. I have no idea if any of it affects it, or has anything to do with erosion, but why tempt it!!! Now I have a question for some of you! I belong to a group on the site, dedicated to April 2006 bandsters. And we have found that this last month that we are all behaving like garbage disposals!! Eating all kinds of things we shouldn't, eating too much, just misbehaving with food!! Not everyone celebrates the holidays, so it wasn't merely Thanksgiving. My question is, did any of you find a certain time period that you sorta "went wild"? If so, when? And how did you put a stop to it? I KNOW it is up to me to stop myself, and for the most part I have, I eliminated my triggers from the house! But we are all suddenly finding this an issue. And personally I am not hungry, I just see things that I up and decide to eat anyway! I have bounced the same 2 pounds for 2 weeks I think...and most of us have. Some in the group have lost more than I, some not as much...and that doesn't seem to factor in. So we are trying to find out if others had a "honeymoon phase" and if that is what we are wearing out or what!! I appreciate your thoughts!! ttyl Kat

OOOhhh the fill girls have restriction!!! Mine is not as tight as it was, I attribute that to losing close to 40 pounds since the last fill (I think--hell I slept since then!), but I am not ready to do another yet. I still feel no hunger, and can hurt myself quite easily if I don't pay attention to bite size, chewing and speed!!! So to me that says it is not time! I don't eat anything solid the day of my fills---isn't it strange how all over the place these Dr.'s are? There are all kinds of poll threads out now about complications, and I keep thinking, it is partly because we have no consistancy in how we are treated. Some Dr.' s are aggresive with fills, others insist on itty bitty tiny fills, others allow you to eat immediately following, and some insist on liquids for a week after....it is so odd. I just always suggest they listen to their Dr. I will be back, I need to haul some Christmas filled totes into the house before my granddaughter gets here, if I walk out she gets hysterical, thinks I left her for good!!! Goofball kid! Kat

xlil misfitx--you have received really good advice, my only addition would be to get started!!! Make an appointment to begin a 6 month program, and if you find out you don't need it, you can skip it, but if you do, you will have some of that time already behind you!!! Plus it opens the communication about you wanting the surgery with your PCP, which is necessary! Good Luck!!! Kat

Beautiful Brandy---made me tear up.....it says it like it is. Methinks you will not be amatuer for long---you capture a feeling with words, and that takes talent. Have anymore? But maybe you should wait until they can't be stolen and claimed by another someone out in cyber space....no one here on LBT!!! Kat

Hey Mary, it is sticking a bit to the ground, at this time it is not seeming to stick to the roadways, but elsewhere nearby it is, roads are closed, etc. It is cold, has not made it to 30 yet, so if it snows, it will stick. We were only 2 degrees out when DH left for work...so it is warming some, but our high today is only like 33. My oldest DD is a snowboarder--scared the hell outta me when I watched her fly down the mountain the first time!!! DS has attempted it, but never really got into it, he would rather go hunting or tracking or something like that, and the youngest DD---forget it, she hates when the temp "drops" below 80. In fact much to our disappointment, she and her DH are looking to move to either Phoenix or Austin after he gets his Masters next year. I hate that! So far all of my grandbabies are close by...but they have none yet, have been married for just over a year, and will end up starting a family far away....I would love to blame it on my VERY (and I do mean VERY) strange son in law, but I know DD is just as big on the idea. Tell Chalio to head my way, and we will break out all the winter gear...and if the snow cooperates, he can play away!!! Up at one of the nearby (36 miles) large ski resorts, they have a tubing hill. They have big innertubes, that you rent, and they have a lift. You hook your tube over your arm, and you ride up, and slide down. I went once, but felt very conspicuous, with my size...and was truly afraid that if I landed wrong with my size I would break something, and then that the paramedics would not be able to lift me! Seriously--I refused to enjoy myself from the fear of that. But you know what---I am going this year!!! My DH can't--his sternum is just barely healing again, but when my DD says let's go this year, I am so there!!!! The news just said that Hwy 550 which is how I travel to Albuquerque, has 3 roll overs and is mostly black ice, it is closed in 3 places, and travel discouraged. Maybe I will stay home today!!! Kat

As long as you can drink for now ( I always do a couple of days of liquids, then another couple od mushies following a fill), you should be fine. BUT if you cannot manage solid protein within the week, I would plan for a small unfill prior to them being out of the office. Luckily you have a couple of weeks to see how it is going before they will close for the holidays. Having a too tight band has been shown to cause many problems, and there is no sense in dealing with that if you don't have to. Yes he is the Dr.....but it is YOUR body, YOUR band, and YOUR decision if you do not want it to be that tight. We all want to lose weight quickly, but if we choose to do it at a slower pace, in comfort, we should have that right. I often wonder if they push like that to keep their numbers up and reputations high...... Good Luck, hope you find a good restriction spot!!! Kat

I used to weigh 289...and now I weigh 215!!! I can smell "one"derland!!!! Kat

We went to Chili's for cinner tonight, and I brought over 1/2 of my dinner home...and I did order off the childrens menu!!! I had the ribs (1/2 rack--on the kids meal!) and loaded mashed potatoes. I know I should have had veggies, but they sounded so good!!! The waiter did not even blink an eye at my ordering off of the kids menu. Now way to often anymore I end up throwing out the leftovers, because I never get around to eating them!!! Used to be several tupperware type containers of leftovers in my fridge, now there is always styrofoam containers as well!!! Kat

Welcome...to bandland and LBT! You have found an amazing support group here! If you have any questions or anything don't hesitate to ask...we all do our best to help one another out! Congrats on a succesful surgery! Kat

Hi all, I am going to try to post a link to the kitty litter cake, not sure if it will work, it wouldn't load the pic to copy it onto here....dunno, we'll see!! OOps guess it doesn't matter--thanks Anne!!! Great minds and all that!!! Glad you are on the ball!!! Beannie--I wish it would fit, it sounds great!!! The pants I am wanting to fit into are 14's. I can zip them, but I will be uncomfortable all night!!! I am hoping that in the next month I can lose enough so I won't be totally miserable!! They are very nice, expensive pants, we got them at a sale at Dillards for my DD, now she is a size 8 again....and I have the pants! They have a fine almost pin stripe to them, but it is just a sateen stitch running down them. I remember her wearing them and thinking how slimming they were....so hopefully!!! If not I will buy me a pair of black pants...should be pretty easy to find. I have a snow white blouse with deep points on the collar, and french cuffs, it has a black vest with it, and it looks really good with the pants, has the same sateen trim...duh they were bought together!!! Anyway it will work with plain black pants if it comes to it. I have a 20 strand black oyx bead necklace that is going to look great with it, and it doesn't feel like it chokes me anymore!!! I too have some nice clothes if anyone is interested, or knows someone who needs them. Also tons of casual ones. We have no support group or anything near where I live....As for carrying weight below the waist....not me, I carry it IN my waist!!! If not for my waist/stomach, I could probably wear a size 12 or so! I have no butt anymore....none. My legs are thin. I am an apple if ever there was an apple!!! Mandy--glad Abi is back to school, hope her eczema is better soon. Cindy--looks like we too will be buying a new computer, ours is just slow and out of memory, I thought about adding memory, but in the long run, I might be better off just starting over. I find myself using the lap top more and more. Hey isyour house back to being your house yet???and where are the pics???? Eileen--did I miss what the Dr. said? Chris--Beannie is right, be careful or Mr Right Now has a way of turning into Mr Right---before your very eyes!!! Betty--I wish there was a way to do a clothing exchange here...but heck the closest support group I have found is almost 200 miles away. Cassie--how did work go? Darcy- sorry about the van---I know, we bought a Ford Windstar several years ago, and had it for 4 months, 2 1/2 of which it spent in the shop. Finally they took it back and we bought our Explorer...which has been great, not a seconds trouble. Hope you get it fixed soon! Well somebody get a rope.....looks like we are gonna have to go round up Pat & Patty!!! It is spittin snow outside, has off & on all day, it melted as it hit, though, so nothing on the ground. DH thought we were going to freeze, he built a fire that is melting me!! Y'all take care... Kat

My surgeon set me up with a more local Dr. to do my fills prior to the banding, he also spoke with a surgeon (general) in my immediate area, in case of emergency. It made me feel a little more secure! Because flying to Mexico is not easy, and even my fill Dr. is several hours away. I liked that he made sure of this before hand. I do wish sometimes I could go back to him for the fills tho! Kat

I have found it is very hard to get insurance coverage, unless they approve you right off the bat. The important thing, is we got it done!!! I too went to Mexico for my surgery. Recovery advice....walk as much as you possibly can!!! It will do several things. It will clear the anethesia out of your lungs, it will keep your metabolism burning at a higher rate and you will see quicker weight loss, and you will work out any residual gasses they filled your abdominal cavity with. Also begin sipping as much water as you can. It helps flush all the unused junk from your body...in fact even 7 months out when my weight loss slows, if I will increase my fluid intake, I pick up my weight loss again. If they gave you an incentive spirometer to deep breath with, use it!! One of the risks following surgery is pneumonia, and the best way to avoid it is deep breathing. Make sure you get plenty of protein in as you are healing. I watched my protein intake right after surgery, but don't count anything anymore! I used a clear liquid protein the first 2 weeks called Zero Carb Isopure, I bought it at GNC. There are several flavors, and 40 grams of protein per bottle. It is in bottles like the Sobe drinks. I would drink half in the morning and half in the afternoon. Can't think of anything else for this point. Just enjoy the quick weight loss!!! It is such a boost mentally to see the pounds dropping!!! Oh---if you haven't already -- take pictures and measurements. I know you hate how you look...we all did!!! But seeing the difference is such incentive!!! I measure my neck, bust, just under the bust like where your bra sits, waist, hips, thighs, calves, and upper arms. I only count one side in my inches lost. Like one leg, one arm....It is a great way to look back! I took my pics again when I lost 50 pounds, and will likely take more in the next day or so when I hit 75 pounds!!! They are in the before and after--my 50 lb pics. Good Luck on your recovery. Rest as you need it, and walk when you can!!! Take good care! Kat

Welcome to LBT!!! Glad you finally spoke up!! I no longer work outside the home, but could have gone back to a non physical position within a week. Any lifting etc, I would take 2 anyway. I was walking within the hour after surgery, flew home on day 3, and was shopping and doing normal household things from then on. Cutting and loading firewood within 2-3 weeks. For me, this was not a big painful surgery. Hope yours is just as easy!!! Feel free to ask any ??? you may have, we have a wide array of experiences here!! Once again---welcome!!! Kat

Someone the other day said they could not get approved for the band, but insurance paid to have it removed. I have not had problems with mine, so have no first hand knowledge. My SIL has had her endoscopy run, they thought she may have a slip, she didn't, and insurance paid for it. I am interested to see what experiences others have had too!!! Welcome to LBT! Kat

I made the decision very easily. With lap band you lose weight simply by restricting the amount of food you eat. With bypass you lose that way as well as my malabsorption. You do not get full benefit of the restricted amount of food you can take in. Personally, I am a cancer survivor. I have a naturally increased risk of recurrance. With the band, if I am having problems with nutrition in the future, due to more chemo for instance, I can have my fill removed, and deal with the current crisis. Also if they should isolate the gene that controls obesity...our surgery is fully reversible...rNy is not. They currently have a new lap band being put through the studies, that is remote controlled, the Dr. would "adjust" you by remote as opposed to having to fill it with saline--thereby reducing infection risk. I am as elligible as someone who has never had lap band for getting that type of band someday. I am 46 years old....I see a long life still ahead of me. One I am already more active in! I am enjoying my grandbabies!! I play with them! To a 21 year old getting banded I already seem old, but I see 20-30 years ahead of me, that I want to LIVE, not just survive. So I needed to DO something, and for me the band was the safest, wisest choice around. Many Dr.s in my opinion DO push the bypass, it is a one time shot, they do the surgery, and the rest is pretty much up to you. There are no adjustments in an attempt to hit the sweet spot---which can prove to be quite elusive!!! Read through here and see all the fills and unfills etc....with bypass, there is none of that. My understanding is tho, that the weight re-gain 2 years out is a really high amount with bypass. Now that may or may not be true, I may have read it in a biased band site!!! I can understand how it would be a difficult decision for some, but for me the fact that if I reacted adversly to it, it was reversible, was the winner! Kat

That was the one where my insurance got me as well. And they would not budge. It could be that your Dr.'s office has dealt with it before. Have you talked to the insurance company to see if they are willing to do it without? If the Dr.'s office is unwilling, you can see if the HR person at work (or wherever the insurance is through) might make the call for you. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX, and I was attempting the 12 months, but at 10 1/2 months into it I was injured in a car accident. I ended up in surgery etc, and my regular Dr. visit was interupted---and they were going to require me to begin the 12 consecutive months over again. I appealled, and was denied again. In the end I used the settlement I got from the accident and self paid. BUT you are right, some others have hired an attorney, and managed to work around insurance issues. I was impatient!!! Also did you talk to the office manager at your Dr.'s? Some times you end up with a receptionist who is not the one to make that call. I fully believe I would mention my unhappiness at the way it was stated to the Dr. My niece is my PCP's office manager--and I told her the door said "office manager....NOT GOD". Good Luck!!! There are several on here who have written letters to the insurance fighting an appeal, you might ask for pointers if it comes to that. Kat

I would call your surgeon back if you did not get a written eating plan, and ask. Each Dr. has their own time line for adding foods, as well as doing fills. I personally had to wait until like 9 weeks for a fill (8 were required wait time), but had been eating regular food for about 2 weeks prior to that. Of course I went back to liquids for 2 days and mushies for the 3rd day following a fill...which also varies widely among Dr.s. I really think a simple call to the office of your Dr. would be safest and ease your concerns. Welcome to bandland, and the LBT-- BTW!!! Kat

Bluehill, as they have said we are a type of family here, and in that respect, I will tell you same as I would my crew here at home. I am not that intuitive---sometimes I need bashed up side the head with something. I can explain what a busy time that was with DH's health---but it still breaks my heart to know that I contributed to the let down feeling you have/had. I truly apologize for not being the friend I should have been. Please keep coming back, and if you need extra support---PLEASE SAY SO!!!! Especially this time of year, everyone is so focused on getting everything done, we may miss something, and I would hate for that to happen. In that respect, I will be PM'ing you and the others with my home email address. I would be glad to have any of yours as well, so if we don't hear from someone in awhile, we have contact possibilities. On another thread I chat in regularly, we had a woman who was there everyday, and shared pictures, and family stories, and one day was just gone. We literally mourned her...we have no idea what, why, or where. She had a son in the service, and we all worry about that. Bluehill, we don't want you to stay away---we want to help. I hope you feel the (((big hug))) I am sending your way............check that---make it hugs for ALL of you! Kat

Statistics like these depend on people reporting both the success' and the failures. For instance my SIL and I were banded at the same time, in Mexico. Our surgeon keeps in contact via email regularly. His office also sends out questionaires regularly---and she ignores them. We have a more local Dr. for aftercare and fills, so the original surgeon has no idea how she is doing. I also have friends here, a couple, who were both banded well over a year ago, he lost his weight quickly, and they flew back for 1 fill, but have never followed up. None of them have any complications that they are aware of, but they have opted not to maintain contact with the Dr.'s, life is just too busy right now. So while we may not be seeing patients with complications still around here at LBT to report them, there are just as many satisfied banded people we never see period. Only time will tell how the true stats will end up. BUT that all being said...if for some reason I were to now lose my band (heaven forbid!!) I am down 70 pounds, and more able to move and battle it on my own, until I make another decision of what to do. If they decide it is not the best or safest route, it is totally reversible--if they find a pill I can pop and eliminate obesity, I can pop that pill and have the band removed. It has been a success in the fact that I no longer take any prescription meds. I am healthier in so many ways---I exercise! I was too big to want to move before banding. The weight it has allowed me to lose thus far would make a difference if I were to suddenly lose my band. I realize the poll may not be perfet, nor scientifically correct, it does not cover all aspects or options. The poll is likely as flawed as all of us who will answer it...but that's ok, it was not meant to do anything but see what some others experiences have been. Anything we learn is good. It made some of you bring up things I had not even thought about---which is also good! Kare--take a walk around your beautiful yard....and see if your spunk is hiding out there!!! I didn't take your spunk---but there are several other ideas in that yard you showed I would like to take!!! Good Luck all! Kat

First and foremost, if you are running a fever, even low grade for that lengthof time you need to see a Dr. Even if you have to go to an Urgent Care, or clinic setting. Before even considering another surgery you need to be sure there is no lingering infection. I am not familiar with the symtoms of esophogitis, you might try a search of it, and see if you get any hits, and answers in regards to that. In some cases the band does ease reflux, in others, it is the begining of reflux. There is no telling who will and who won't be helped with reflux simply with the band. Many times reflux is the result of a bad diet, and eating habits...with that, if you follow bandster rules, it should help. If your fill level is too tight, reflux is a major indicator. The difficulty arises in the fact thatour restriction level changes constantly, due to body temperature, time of the month, etc. So even at a proper fill level, occasional reflux may be a problem. As for the surgery being complicated, I can't answer that from a Dr.'s point of view! As the patient, it was very easy for me. I was up and walking the same day, flying home the 3rd day, and on with my busy life. My suggestion is to see a Dr. discuss it all with them, find out about that fever, and to continue to research the band. Hang out, ask any questions you have, and get the support we all need. Welcome to LBT---hope you get all this resolved, and feel better very soon! Kat

Have you examined a copy of your policy to see if YOU see the exclusion? I would demand that at the very least. I don't know ifyou are keeping the surgery quiet or not, but you may get help from your HR person at work (or wherever the insurance originates). I would hold hope, since you passed all the other hurdles, this may simply be a delay type tactic, hoping to turn you away. Go through with the appeal! If you cannot see for yourself where the exclusion is, and if it was not in place when you began this, I would go so far as to hire an attorney. Good Luck to you...come back and vent and keep us updated, we will provide as much support as we can!!! Welcome to LBT! Kat

I don't count anything....I just try to eat healthy the majority of the time. So while I cannot join you in counting...if you need me to plant my size 8 up against your skinny butt...I can and will!!! Now get to it...YOU are our inspiration---look what you have done, and all you have overcome!!! Hang in there!!! Kat

Hey Guys! Eileen--did ya get your throat checked? Chris--you know we are all living vicariously through you--in your single girl life!!! Is great fun teasing you about it, but even though he messed up my computer, I am really glad I have my DH...can't imagine life without him!!! Sherry--Something about one of the new componants he added, caused a problem with MSN, and I couldn't log on to the internet. It showed an active connection, but my computer would not pull anything up. I had to update several things, and uninstall and reinstall the new router...was just a PITA!!!! I would have had to call---couldn't get on line to email him!!! It has dropped in temperature here...supposed to snow tonight. It felt like winter today!!! I need to shop for an outfit for DH's company party---in case I can't get into the pants I wanted to wear---I just have a little over a month, and they are TIGHT!!! Speaking of clothes....any suggestions for my old clothes? Goodwill is what I have been doing...but if any of you know of anyone who needs them...please let me know! See y'all tomorrow! Kat

They actually had milk as a choice on my hospital tray when I was banded. I never drank any---I have problems with the milk proteins. If you have any questions over it, call your Dr. it is a simple question, one they can likely answer without even bothering the Dr. But YOU paid for this, if you have a question---let them answer it!!! Til then, maybe someone here has already ask their Dr!!! Welcome to LBT, and bandland!!! Kat