melinda_205

hey for those of you that ask how to sign up, read some of the post, there is one that says "LINKY-DOO" in big red letters (dont remember who posted it), but click on that. It is the link that takes you to the spreadsheet to fill in your information. Hope that helps and good luck!

I'm not sure about what your doctor wants so I will tell you what my surgeon had me to do.....but remember just about all surgeons are different and you need to follow the restrictions that your doctor gives you. When you wake up from surgery you will be hurting but the pain meds work really good. You will be sore for a couple of days...some more than others but I took liquid lortab for 2 days then liquid tylenol, for a couple of days and then nothing. I am a wimp when it comes to pain, so if you have ever had surgery before you will be fine. I dont think It was any worse than having my tubes tied. I was only on liquids for 9 days then mushies, for others it is much longer than that. I had sugar free, non carbonated drinks, sf popsicles, sf jello, and whatever broth that you prefer. By the time that you get off clear liquids you will actually like the broth.....it is a break between the sweet tasting stuff. I was eating solid foods in 3-4 wks. The worst part is getting over the head hunger and if you sleep on your stomach (like I do), it will be a few weeks before you can do that again. I was banded on 7-1-09 so I am still new to this but the only regret that I have is that I didnt do it sooner. Good luck on your journey.

I do love my band but still adjusting to it. I am still trying to learn how to eat with it...as crazy as it sounds, but there are times that I forget about it then take too big of a bite or not chew enough. Besides those things, I am loving it!

Hi everyone, I am sure that this question has been ask in the past but since most threads get so far off topic over time, I wanted to ask again. Does anyone know of any support groups that may be in any of the following areas, Jefferson Co, Walker Co, St. Clair Co, Anniston, Gadsden, or maybe even Shelby Co? I was banded with Advanced Surgeons but they have two meetings a month and and the day time meeting I am always at class and sometimes work on the evening meeting. I am looking for a couple of support groups that don't mind if someone banded by a different surgeon joins. I would also like to go to at least 2 meetings a month, so if anyone can provide me with a location I would really appreciate it. Good Luck to everyone!:blushing:

If you like slim fast, there is a slim fast low carb that has 20grams of protein. That is what I have started drinking just to get the protein in. I dont think it taste any different than the other slim fast.

I started checking into everything around July or August 2007, not sure but I think that was it. The doctor submitted everything, then they said I had to do a 6 month supervised diet, so I did that, which was over in December. Then they said that my bmi wasnt high enough, so he sent in everything on my bp and shoulder pain, then they checked the weight history again....saw where I had lost weight on the atkins diet 2 yrs ago, and made a final denial then. I called back to ask when that time period would be up and they said July of 2010, if I still had medical problems if not it would be 2 yrs past that! Getting all that information and getting the final denial took until about Feb, the surgeon wanted to do the surgery on Jan 4th, and I even had a heart cath during the waiting time bc I had some false readings on a test. After getting denied I gave up and figured it would never happen but after I decided to self pay, it took about 3 wks and that was only bc I had to do a 7 day pre op diet and had to cancel it and move it back a week so I could work around class and clinicals. All those hoops to jump through and it didnt help me at all but I had bcbs of Al. I know there are a bunch of people that dont even like the idea of going to Mexico for surgery but others have said nothing but good things about it. There are also many, including myself that just cant afford to self pay. Thankfully my mother has wonderful credit and got a medical credit card for me to have the surgery. So to answer your question it was probably close to a year. :smile2:

I know my surgeon would also have used stuff from a psychiatrist if I would have had it. If you dont think your pcp will support you on this, just have the office to fax it to your surgeons office, let the coordinator look through it and see what she thinks. (most doctors offices will charge you for your own records but not another doctors office) then you can get a copy from them. Also, call your insurance company tomorrow, ask them what the guidelines are for bariatric surgery. Get all the information that you can get before you start diving in...know what all the rules are and start digging up everything you will need. What state do you live in?

I had my first fill at 4 wks, my surgeon said he would have done it about a week earlier but since I had a hernia repair also, that he didnt want to push it. I now go every 2 wks until I get to my "sweet spot"....which I hope to find with the fill I am getting tomorrow. Good luck on your journey!

Dont give up before you get started! They are being honest with you and that is a good thing. Now you need to go to the doctor and get your weight history. Have you ever had high blood pressure, back pain, depression, or anything that was treated by a doctor related to your weight? I ended up being a self pay but those are some of the things that my doctor ask about when they were trying to get me approved. Diabetes is usually a for sure bet but I dont have diabetes and even though I DID have high blood pressure, my weight has been up and down so much over the years that bcbs refused to pay. Good luck and talk to your primary doctor before throwing in the towel.

Hey, I added my information to the sheet also. I hope that I'm not too late to join. I dont know if I will ever make the goal that I put on there, but I have a really good reason to try. What day do we weigh in?

Shawna, thank you! Where is the meeting held? Saturday will work out really good for me. Hope to see you there. Melinda

Hi and welcome. I was recently banded well kinda recent 7-1-09, so I'm pretty new at this also. Good luck with your insurance. Just jump through all their hoops and dont let them have a reason to deny you! It may take a little time but you will get there.:blushing:

Hi Indio. I wanted to tell you that I ask a question a few weeks ago on this thread and there were several of you ladies that were so nice and kind and gave such great advice that I find myself checking back in on you ever so often. I think it is great that several of you (and I am sure you ladies know who you are) keep up with each other, share so much and offer each other so much encouragement. In the post that you send one another you can tell there is true friendship and caring between you and that is such a wonderful thing to have someone to go through this journey with you. Good luck to all of you.

My major "rule breaker" is eating with meals and drinking soda. I am addicted to Diet Mnt. Dew.....I'm a nursing student, I go to class, clinicals, work, and then try to study then I have to get up the next moring and do it all over again, so I am def addicted to the caffeine and I hate coffee!!

I have just found your blog and think I am addicted to it! I dont know if it is bc we were banded pretty close together so I can relate to the things that you are talking about or if it is because I am also a scale whore! I swear I am, sometimes even weighing more than once a day.....thankfully that has just about stopped. Maybe it could also be bc I spent most of my teenage years at the dirt track and still go every chance I get! I was banded on 7-1-09, glad I found your blog...keep posting, its great entertainment!

AlleyCat, 32 lbs is great! It hasnt been 2 months yet. I was banded on 7-1-09 and have lost 28. Personally I think you are doing really good. At first I thought I should be shedding weight faster too but now when I think about it, that is 14 pounds a month for me! I'm happy with that amount. If I can keep that up for a while or at least until I can see a difference I'm happy! I would love to wake up and it all be gone but since I know that isnt gonna happen, I just use the time to try to adjust to all the changes that I am going through. Good Luck!

Hey Me! I am so scared of pain that I do anything to avoid it mostly scared of being put to sleep! However I have had my tubes tied in the past and this surgery/ recovery was much easier than that surgery. I also had a hernia repaired at the same time. I wasnt on pain meds but maybe 2-3 days, after that it was liquied tylenol when I needed it (I still have some in the bottle). I had surgery on 7-1-09 and so far, I think it was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. About a week before the surgery it hit me...OMG I'm getting this done and its gonna hurt and I'm gonna have something inside my body. I almost backed out, but at that moment I thought "no way, I'm doing it". I had to quit thinking about it....I studied more school work that week than I have since going back to college. The morning of surgery I started crying and my mother looked at me and said "if you want this, dry it up, if not get your ass back in the car. This was your decision, its your life but I cant let you go in there if I think you are making a mistake, so what do you want to do" I looked at her with dry eyes and said "let's do it". I have never regretted my decision. I sometimes wish that I could lose faster, or wish that I could eat something, but today I am 2 months out and I have lost 28 pounds and I'm not scared that I will put it back on...just ready to see more go. When my mom was telling me just how things needed to be done, my husband was willing just to talk me into getting back into the car. He has diabetes and now while I am trying to prevent health problems he sits around eating sweets and junk food and watching T.V. I think I made the right decision but you have to decide for yourself. I am pretty new at this also, but if there is anything that I can help you with please let me know. This people on this site is your best source of information....most are more than willing to be open and honest even during those times when you just want someone to agree with you so you will have a reason to screw up. It is also bc of those same people answering questions and giving me information that I knew what to expect...not something sugar coated by a doctor or nutritionist...but the real stories! Good luck on your journey.

It is stories like yours that inspire me. Congrats on the loss! You look WONDERFUL!

Well I made my goal but as I sat around trying to find something on T.V. to watch....and there isn't anything, I thought well thats why I pay for a membership to a gym that is open 24/7....so I'm off to the gym, maybe I will get a little over goal! I'm a night owl anyway so it can't hurt. I will post miles later tonight.

MistyLP, fills are not bad at all! It only takes a few minutes and that includes raising your shirt, getting the fill, putting your shirt back down, answering some questions and swallowing some water to make you everything goes down ok. As far as your husband not giving you the money, I dont think that would be acceptable for me. I am sure that he doesnt just like you the way that you are but he also loves you. However, this surgery was about you and no one else. If I were you if I had to stash it, have a yard sale, of find some kind of work to do for a day or two....I would get it! Now that I had my rant I was banded on 7-1-09 and the last time that I weighed I had lost 25 pounds. I will weigh again in the morning and hope I have lost more. Good luck on your journey!

goal 15 miles actual 15.2 I ask if I could join on August 22nd and set my goal at 15 miles then. I have to admit that I got lazy for a day or two but I said I would do it and I did. I actually missed the gym when I didnt go...and I think that is really a good thing. This challenge has been a really big part of getting my butt in gear so I'm gonna do the September challenge too. I may have to set my miles a little lower than I would like but this is the last semester of school and I have to put my grades before everything else...even weight loss! Everyone done an excellent job...keep up the good work.