CherieLynne

JAN BANDERS!!! I have been woefully out of touch due to personal issues...very tough on that front...however I can happily report that I have lost 76.5 (must count the .5 lol) pounds since my surgery in January. I'm 23 pounds from goal. Some of you have lost a ton of weight -- much more than me -- I'm so impressed and wonder how the heck you did it?? I am really proud of what I've accomplished and am hoping to reach goal by my one year anniversary of surgery Jan. 12. Now that I'm relatively close to goal, and my exercise abilities are very limited due to RA, I'm expecting these last 23 pounds or so will come off slowly. We have all accomplished amazing things this year, and I am cheering all of you onward and upward. Well...downward. JEN HOW ARE YOU????

Howdy Sistuh Jan Bands...Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I've been going through such a tough time emotionally -- ever since my husband of twenty years left me -- I had no clue it was coming. Wisconsin Jen has been a wonderful and supportive friend through this. I wish I could say it was getting easier, but it isn't. He's also my writing partner, so trying to keep writing with the man who left me is painful. And yet we write so well together... MOVING ON. I am proud of how strong I have been with my getting-healthier-weight-loss journey...though I think in some ways not stuffing feelings with food, or comforting myself with food, makes my sadness that much tougher to deal with. I have now lost...63 LBS, which means I'm 35 lbs from goal. Since my doc did not put my on a pre-op diet, I've lost 63 lbs in just over six months. Quite an accomplishment. Quite a journey. And so it goes... Sending support and hugs out to all of you...

HELLO JAN BAND SISTUHS!! tHE BAD NEWS IS THAT I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH BLEEDING ULCERS, CAUSED BY THE FOUR ELLEVE A DAY I'VE BEEN TAKING FOR YEARS FOR MY RA. I NOW HAVE MEDS AND THEY TELL ME THE ULCERS WILL HEAL, MEANWHILE, I LIVE WITH A CONSTANT STOMACH ACHE AND OTHER SYMPTOMS TOO GROSS TO ENUMERATE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I'VE LOST 55 LBS. I HAVE A HARD TIME "SEEING" MYSELF, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. I'VE HAD A LOT OF CLOTHES TAKEN IN (BLESS MY FRIEND WHO DOES GREAT ALTERATIONS) AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RESIST BUYING SOME NEW STUFF. NO I DON'T WEAR MY BAGGY CLOTHES...THOUGH I DO CHANGE INTO A COMFY NIGHTIE PRETTY MUCH THE MOMENT I WALK INTO MY HOUSE. THE PERKS OF HAVING YOUR HUSBAND LEAVE YOU. I'D POST A PHOTO IF I HAD ANY CLUE HOW TO DO IT!! I'M NOW 45 LBS FROM GOAL. AND IN JULY I'M GOING TO MY GRADE SCHOOL REUNION. LOOKIN' GOOD, I HOPE. WHICH WILL BE GREAT FUN. SURGERY: JAN 12/WEIGHT 258 (NO PRE OP DIET) LOSS TO DATE: 55 LBS. POUNDS TO GOAL: 45 I'M PAST THE HALF-WAY HUMP! SENDING POSITIVE ENERGY AND LOVE TO ALL OF YOU...ESPECIALLY THE INCRTEDIBLY KEWL WISCONSIN JEN!!!:thumbup:

WOO-HOO I JUST HIT 50 POUND WEIGHT LOSS, 50 POUNDS IN 5 MONTHS -- that is sooo fast for me. I'm so proud of myself, and so happy I got banded. Hey, any of you Jan Band buddies live in the LA area? I'll be there at the end of the month, always thrilled to meet face to face with anyone in our faaaabulous support system...

HEY JAN BAND BUDS!! So...here's my update. I'm down 48.5 pounds since my banding Jan. 12. I too have found times when I eat and the band reminds me that I shouldn't. It's odd that sometimes I can eat certain foods -- salad for example -- and sometimes I can't. So if I'm out to eat, I tend to order foods I'm sure about -- soup, eggs,,,lest I do the public sliming thing. I have slimed a lot. Soooo dissssgusting. I leave June 21 to go to LA for my brother's wedding. I remember thinking months ago that my "goal" was to lose 50 pounds before his wedding and I'm 1.5 pounds away from that first goal. It feels great. I gave away my "fat" clothes and someone asked me if I was certain I'd never get that fat again. My reply was that I've lived long enough to know that nothing is certain. But I do feel that the tool of the band is a huge asset and will help me keep the weight off. I'm now about half way to my goal. I feel very grateful, my RA is in much better shape, plus -- vanity alert -- I am so much cuter and have to admit that I'm enjoying the "cute woman" attention. I'm always here to cheer all of you on, especially my amaxing bud WISCONSIN JEN...:thumbup:

HOWDY GROUP... I confess. I am a scale junkie. I bought a doctor's scale so that I'm sure it's accurate. I get on it every day, sometimes multiple times. For me, this actually works. It helps me regulate my diet -- a little more, a little less, ect. When I'm away from home for days at a time (traveling, usually to LA for work on TV projects) I don't weigh myself and I'm ok with that. However I have been known to eat more when I'm not weighing myself. So for me, weighing myself helps keep me conscious and present in my journey. I'm going through lots of rough stuff, personally and financially...however the path I am toward being healthier and thinner is the one thing I feel entirely great about. Yep, wish it went faster. And some days my "normal" appetite comes roaring back and it is truly torture not to eat. For me the lack of hunger is the greatest thing about the band. But. I will get to my goal. I will let what I'm accomplishing radiate to the other parts of my life. I will get myself back. And I will go on. BANDED: JAN 14 PRE-SURGERY DIET NONE WEIGHT AT BANDING: 258 WEIGHT TODAY: 212 (MAY 31) WEIGHT LOSS TO DATE: 46 POUNDS WEIGHT LOSS LEFT TO GOAL: 52 (I AM ALMOST HALF WAY THERE)

HOWDY JAN BAN SISTUHS!!! Just thought I'd weigh in -- pun intended -- with my own update. After my 4th fill, I think I found my sweet spot. Definitely have restriction (though oddly, not all the time) and get much less hungry between meals. My exercise is limited due to my rheumatoid arthritis plus I take prednisone -- an evil drug that works great but makes you fat -- so it's an uphill battle but... I was banded on Jan. 12 with no pre-op diet, and have now lost 38 pounds. This is a freakin record for me as it usually takes me forever to lose, so I'm a hap-hap-happy girl. The best thing is, I feel that the band is a tool that will not only help me lose but help me keep the weight off after I lose it. Have experiences sliming (how gross is that?), and stuck food (yep, reeeaaallly hurts) but the longer I work with the band, the less of these episodes I get. Hang in there, mah sistuhs. We are the few, the proud the Jan Ban Losers!!:cool:

Hi Group! Saw my surgeon three days ago, got a small fill (1/4) and feel what I think is probably the right amount of restriction. Occasionally (and this happened before this last fill, too) I will not be able to get anything down -- even yogurt gets stuck and comes back up. But then 90% of the time I can eat quite a wide variety of food. No clue. I do know when it gets "stuck" it really hurts until it moves one way or the other! Also have learned that t5hough it's counter-intuitive, drinking water to try and make the food go down only makes it worse. I've been lsoing slooowly lately, like a pound a week or so (on about 800 calories a day -- go figure) but the inches are really coming off. Cleaned an entire wardrobe out of my closet that was too big -- that was fun. I'm going to sell some of it on ebay, give other stuff to goodwill. Hey maybe we should have our own clothes exchange! Going to LA tomorrow, will be there for 10 days diong show biz meetings and hanging with friends. In the past I've always felt that going on a trp and staying at a hotel meant eat whatever I want. Not this time. May the force (band) be with me! oH -- RE MY $70,000. CHOKE hospital bill...surgeon says to send it to them and then ignore it -- my insurance will pay whatever. Whew. BANDED: Jan. 12 NO PRE-OP DIET WEIGHT WHEN BANDED: 255 WEIGHT TODAY: 222 WEIGHT LOSS TO DATE: 33 POUNDS

I had my lapband surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, CA on Jan 12, 2010. I stayed overnight at the recommendation of my surgeon. All went fine, I've already lost 32 pounds. I am insured through Blue Cross of CA, specifically through the Writers Guild of America. Both approved coverage of my surgery. When I got to the hospital they asked for $5000. My surgeon (Dr. McKeen, who is terrific) told me I would get this back later on. Then a month later I got a hospital bill for services NOT covered by my insurance for $70,000!! Of course I plan to fight this, but any help/insight would be greatly appreciated. Anyone else get blindsided like this? Is it even legal? Didn't someone have to inform me ahead of time if there were going to be significant charges not covered by my insurance? Help!!

HEY GROUP!!! Got on the scale this morning, and I am now down 32 pounds since my surgery on January 12. This is by far the fastest I've ever lost weight. But the most exciting part is that I believe with the band I'm done with yo-yo dieting (lose 20, gain 25, yeah we've all been there) because I have a tool to keep me on track. Some days I realize how easy it would be to "eat around the band" but I don't choose to do it. I do agree with everyone who has pointed out how wrong people are when they think we've taken the "easy way out" to lose weight. HA. It is work and vigilence and mostly awareness every single day. Oddly last night when I tried to eat a Greek salad with chicken on top, I took like four bites -- felt fine -- then suddenly -- serious pain, stuck, yuck -- slimed like 6 times before all was said and done. I've been eating this type of food for a long time now. And yeah, I chewed and chewed...so I have no clue why... So group, what's the latest on ya'll?? SURGERY: JAN 12, 2010 STARTING WEIGHT: 255 TODAY: MARCH 26 WEIGHT TODAY: 223 LOSS TO DATE: 32 POUNDS:biggrin: WEIGHT LOSS TO GOAL: 63

HI GROUP!! Photos and measurements make sense, as the scale can be so fickle. I was the poster girl for the band and not only didn't lose for two weeks but gained two pounds. Have since taken it off but...it's crazy-making. I haven't been home where there is a scale for about a week, so I don't know how much more I've lose, but I certainly feel it in my clothes. Went foe a walk and -- literally -- my panties fell off. LOL. Then there's the irony of losing from places where I least need to lose, like my butt and upper legs, which were already small...instead of my stomach and back. Sheesh. Just went down again on my prednisone, so I'm at 15 mg a day. Does anyone else find that it feels like sometimes their band is working and sometimes it isn't? Some meals I can eat very little and feel full. Other meals I feel like I don't have a band at all and can totally eat what used to be a "normal" sized meal. Don't really understand that. Anyone? Beuller?:thumbup:

HEY JAN BAND -- Haven't been near a scale in a while but my sweat pants fell off when I put them on this morning (not as good as the shorts falling off in the gym story, which is hysterical)...so I think I'm doing well on that front, but listen to this. My insurance covered the surgery. But...I got a bill in the mail for -- wait for it -- SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS -- from the hospital, Good Samaritan in San Jose. Say WHA??? No clue what this is or why. Now I have to unravel the mystery and I have a feeling it isn't going to be pretty. I did stay overnight because of my RA, but NO ONE said I personally would pay more if I stayed overnight, and NO ONE said anything about an astronomical bill to me. This is allegedly what my insurance did not cover (Blue Cross through the Writers Guild of America). Obviously I have no intention of paying it, but I'm sure it's going to take endless time to get it all straightened out. Anyone get an unexpected bill from the hospital after their surgery?? Plus I already paid the hospital five thou the day of surgery which I was already told should be reimbursed to me by my insurance. CALL AND SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM. And forgive my mini-platform. I'm stressed. Won't deal with it by eating. But stressed.:wub:

GOTTA LOVE THAT UPBEAT WISCONSIN JEN!!!! I am happy re the band for so many reasons...instead of using food for -- well, pretty much everything -- I'm in control the vast majority of the time. It's such a relief. I feel so empowered by this, and proud of myself, too. Hey, we all know -- say it with me peeps -- IT'S A TOOL BUT YOU DO THE WORK. The band gives me the power to do the work. I agree with Jen that I wish I had done it sooner...and yet...for so many reasons, this was my time. I look so much better and healthier, have gone down a size, my skin is glowing, my RA is better and I've now lowered my prednisone yet again so I'm down to 16 mg a day. I'm thinking next January we plan a JAN BAND 2010 reunion somewhere and all try to come. How cool would that be?? I am rooting all of you on, every day.:frown:

Howdy again group - So following my third fill on Tuesday, when they added 1 more CC...I now find I DO have restriction -- WOO HOO!!!! -- but also that I have turned into a sliming fool. It's sooo extremely uncomfortable when food gets stuck. I think it gives me esophagal spasms as I had that when I was in the hospital and it feels the same. Today I managed to slime up some chilli, some shrimp, some broccolli and finally even some lettuce. I felt I was chew-chew-chewing veerrry carefully, it seems to be going down fine, and then suddenly...that horrible feeling of being blocked. It gets more agonizing the longer it lasts before spewing. Sorry for the nasty details, just want to know if anyone else is dealing with this. I feel like I should stick with Soups for a while. I suppose I could get them to remove a little saline but they only added 1 cc and that is what gave me restriction. Any input gratefully appreciated. Slimed twice in a restaurant -- how very well-mannered and feminine of me... any thoughts, you guys? Thanks in advance...

Hey Sister/Fellow Jan Bands... Went for my third fill yesterday (had zero restriction from the first two)...my surgeon does small fills every two weeks. When I weighed in I found out I had lost 9 more pounds in the past two weeks. Color me shocked, seriously. Happy, thrilled, but shocked, cuz I did it without restriction. Trust me, I am usually a total turtle in the weight loss wars. I'm chalking this huge loss up to the fact that I've been eating a lot of packaged bariatric food, heavy on soy Protein, controlled portions, so I used that to control my food intake. When upon occasion I got ravenous, I would eat (don't laugh) a huge bowl of romaine lettuce with the salad dressing that you spritz on (I highly recommend this stuff) sprinkled with a tablespoon of parmesan cheese. It's really good. Today I am so tight from yesterday's fill that I can barely eat at all, so I'll let you know in a few days if restriction has been reached (yay). Wishing you all the best on the journey... BANDING: JAN 12 WEIGHT AT BANDING: 255 FILLS TO DATE (MARCH 3) - 3 RESTRICTION- NO CURRENT WEIGHT MARCH 3: 225 WEIGHT LOSS: 30 POUNDS:thumbup:

JENJENJEN!!!! I AM SOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! I go for my third fill this Tuesday. So far I still have zero restriction and feel like I'm simply doing this myself. For example, if I get served a large salad with broiled salmon at a restaurant I can easily eat all of it. I make wise food choices and am very, very careful about what I put into my body...but I know I shouldn't be able to eat the amount I can eat. I am hoping that the third time (fill) is the charm. I'm still at my writers retreat without a scale nearby (which is probably good since I tend to obsess and get on and off the scale a lot) but I can tell that I look better/am smaller. A friend came up to visit yesterday and said she could really see my weight loss. I'm hoping for 2-3 pound loss since last fill which was 2 weeks ago. I'm continuing to go down on my prednisone -- now down to 18 mg a day -- and I was up to 25 right after surgery Jan 12. I did have two cortisone shots in my knee yesterday -- not sure if that affects weight (yeah, I'm obsessing, I know lol). I do feel very proud of my commitment and the effort I'm making, but I would like to glean the benefits of the surgery already. I often eat these bariatric packaged foods here at my cottage which I got online from a site that specifically sells food for those who have had bariatric surgery. I actually like most of 'em. In fact, the bars are so good that I decided I can't order 'em at all lest I consume a box.:wink2: I'm guessing I'm down about 23-25 pounds now...will find out Tuesday. I'm so happy for you, Jen, and so proud of all the hard work you're doing, knowing how busy your life is...:laugh:

Welcome to the group, Chicago Winter! Cherielynne here. Really nice people here. Hey group, I went out to dinner with friends tonight for the first time, was in the midst of talking about a script I'm rewriting and so did not concentrate on CHEWING, wherein the lovely al dente/el dente? who knows green bean I had put into my mouth went barely chewed down to wherever it is that it stopped and for about ten minutes I was in band agony. Water didn't help. Nothing helped. Until I finally ate a bite of my friend's mac & cheese which kinda sorta helped it slide down...a little. Anyway...now I know why people say that once it happens to you, you're careful not to let it happen again. PS -- Do I have to do penance for that bite of mac & cheese that I didn't even get to enjoy :w00t:

Hey Group - Well, here's my update. Banded Jan. 12. Lost 18 pounds in the first three weeks. Got my first fill which gave me absolutely no restriction. Have not lost a pound since. In fact, the scale fluctuates up two pounds then down two pounds. I am in bandster hell but am determined to do it right. My food intake daily is something like: one or two scrambled eggs for Breakfast, a high Protein soup for lunch, chicken breast and lettuce for dinner. Snacks are sugar free pudding cup, sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicle, sugar free yogurt. As you can see, I am doing everything right without restriction and I sure feel like I should be rewarded for it by having the freaking scale move!! Because I have rheumatoid arthritis I have not been exercising, also I take fairly large doses or prednisone which makes it really hard to lose weight. So...could my metabolism have slowed down so much that I can eat like 700 calories a day and NOT LOSE WEIGHT? So frustrating! I get my second fill Feb. 15 and am hoping for some restriction.:thumbup::rolleyes2:

Hi All -- wanted to share my band update! Had my first fill a few days ago and I can't feel it at all. I get my next fill Feb. 15 -- fortunately for me my doc is willing to do fills every two weeks. The fill experience was kinda out there...first they press on the port really hard and that actually hurt. Then a shot of novacaine which didn't hurt at all. Then the needle in to do the fill. Then they had me sit up with the needle sticking out of me and had me drink three "normal" swallows of Water. Then they took out the needle. The end. Sitting there with this very long needle sticking out of me was kinda surreal. Hope you all are doing well, always look forward to reading about your journies. We all must be each others cheerleaders, right? NO PRO-OP DIET BANDED JAN. 12 WEIGHT AT BANDING: 255 WEIGHT TODAY: 236 LOSS TO DATE: 19 POUNDS GOAL: 155/81 POUNDS TO GO:thumbup:

OOOOOOOHHHHHH I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGE CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!! How long did it take and how much did you lose? Consider me your biggerst (pun unintended :thumbup:) fan -- Cherie

Hi there - I just happened to notice that we had the same surgeon. I was banded a little over two weeks ago and I see you are a vet...so I'd love to hear about your journey. So far I'm very happy with Dr. McKeen and I'm hoping to have my first fill next Tuesday when I see him. How did you find your experience with him?

HEEEEY JAN BANDS!!!! I got on the scale the night after my banding as I stayed overnight in the hospital and the night nurse had me walk to the scale and weighed me. Now I weigh myself every morning at home. Re the drinking while eating thing...I don't see why this rule would apply until after you've had a fill. If you have no restriction...what's the point? I am adding a protein shake to my daily intake as I've been feeling kind of shaky and light-headed at times. I really hate all of 'em. Bought some injury -- has anyone else tried it? Plan to add the chicken flavor to the chicken soup I'm making. I see my surgeon on Feb. 2 and hope he'll be giving me my first fill then. Hang in there, mah sistuhs! BANDED (BOFINGERED) - JAN 12 WEIGHT JAN 12 - 255 LOSS TO DATE: 14 LBS.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JEN!!!!!!!!!!:wink::biggrin::eek:

HI GROUP!!!! (doncha love the friendly all caps?) Tomorrow will be two weeks post-surgery and I plan to add exciting foods like soft scrambled eggs oe scrambled egg whites and also cottage cheese, feel like I'm low on the Protein. Been putting higher protien Soups in the blender lately and that has worked well. Yesterday I was sooo hungry that I went through six sugar free Jello cups. It occurred to me that there really isn't any way to tell if you have any restriction when you are on liquids because the liquids go right past the band, right? So we can't really tell until we start on food if we have any restriction or not. Anyone else want to speak to that? I don't have any trouble taking any size pills, for example, as long as I stick em in yogurt and wash it down with Water... Can someone much smarter than me tell me where to find directions to do the weight loss tape thing?? BO'FINGERED (BANDED) - JAN. 12 WEIGHT AT BANDING: 255 TODAY: JAN. 25 WIGHT TODAY: 242.5 LOSS SO FAR: 12.5 LBS. WISCONSIN JEN...HOW ARE YOU???:wink: