Band_Groupie

Congrats! ...and hooray for being able to lose weight now LOL! Things will start speeding up soon! -BG

Hooray for the gurgle! Congratulations on your first fill!

First fill (FINALLY) yesterday. 3cc's, one stick, and about 2 min. of my time tops...easy (no pillow, no xray, no fluoro). Haven't noticed a difference, but I never do anything the easy way...I'll be the one who needs 14 fills/unfills to get there. If you want the details I blogged here on LBT yesterday...click HERE. ...and if you're in the mood for a song, I thought I'd share my 'fill' song from the blog before I went: I'm going for my first fill this morning and wanted to Celebrate...Here's hoping my Doc isn't an hour and forty min. late (thus the verse is fitting) for my appointment again! Sing to the tune of (play it as you read- Click here): Why do you fill me up (Fill me up) Band Check-up, baby just to let me down (Let me down) And mess me around And then worst of all (Worst of all) You never fill, baby When you say you will (Say you will) But I love you still I need you (I need you) More than anyone darlin' You know that I have from the start So fill me up (Fill me up) Band Check-up Don't break my heart ”I'll be over at ten”, You told me time and again But you're late, I wait around and then (bah-da-dah) I run to the door I can't take any more It's not you, You let me down again (hey, hey, hey) Baby, Baby, try to find (hey, hey, hey) a little time, And I'll make you happy (hey, hey, hey) I'll be home I’ll be beside the phone Waiting for you ooo-ooo-ooo, ooo-ooo-ooo Why do you fill me up (Fill me up) Band Check-up, baby just to let me down (Let me down) And mess me around And then worst of all (Worst of all) You never fill, baby When you say you will (Say you will) But I love you still I need you (I need you) More than anyone darlin' You know that I have from the start So fill me up (Fill me up) Band Check-up Don't break my heart

Ooops, sorry! I see I made your hair stick out (avatar)...sorry I gave you a bad hair day. Note to self add 'graphic content' to the list of warnings (with 'spew alert'). My blog is going to have a restricted audience soon...at least PG-13 LOL!

*Jumping up and down cheering you on* Best Wishes tomorrow...saving a seat for you on the Banders Bench. -BG

Mine is through a big hospital so all my pre-op docs were there. I don't expect to need them again, but I can make appointments with any of them (Psych, Nut, pulmonary, cardio, etc) if needed and I expect when I talk with my doc at my fills that he would send me if he felt it was needed. They have a monthly support group meeting that combines both RNY and LB patients, but I haven't been yet...I've been thinking about giving it a try sometime (I think the June meeting has an exercise physiologist speaker). Honestly, I look at the time I spend here with my blog and posts as my support system.

Keep sharing those tidbits of info from your 'book'! I was lucky to get a few sheets of paper LOL! You're going to do great! -BG

I'm also allergic to adhesives on most bandaids/tapes. My doc told me that I could take any steri-strips that hadn't fallen off on their own at the end of one week-10 days. Mine did not fall off because they covered the steri's with big clear patch tape over each incision. I'd call the surgeon and ask when you can take them off.

WELCOME to LBT! If you go to the home page you can do a search for opinions on LB vs RNY as there have been lots of threads asking this. You can also start a thread there if you want. Here's a copy of a post I answered awhile back with my reasons. Good luck on your decision! LB vs RNY I think it's all about doing research and seeing what fits you best, and there's no right or wrong answer...I think I could find success with several of them. My youngest sister is bigger than me, and with her food/diet pattern I'd suggest RNY or the Sleeve for her. This was my list vs. RNY. My reasons for the LB: - Safer surgery (no cutting other than the Laproscopic incisions, and fat tissue around where the band will go) - Unfill at any point needed and Reversible if needed for other health reasons - Less complications (dumping, hair loss, etc.) - Slower weight loss (easy to explain when you're not 'telling' everyone. I’m a lower BMI without severe comorbidities, so I don’t need to get healthy FAST. I have another sister who has diabetes and has had 2 strokes...I'd recommend RNY to her as she has life threatening obesity issues and would benefit from getting heathy as fast as possible.) - Easy to get proper nutrition- I don't EVER have to drink a protein shake and don’t have to take a ton of supplements. - Continued interaction/accountability to the surgeon (ie. I had to sign that I would continue seeing my surgeon for 5 yrs. post-op, he covers 6 fills as part of the package so it's not for more $, he really wants you to be successful long-term) - Continued adjustments to stoma for life (RNY/some others- can stretch the stoma, some need revision surgery) - I'm more interested in a slow significant weight loss and keeping it off than a huge weight loss...in other words, if I don't lose all 100 pounds as long as I get to healthy and stay there that's OK with me. It's the keeping it off I'm most interested in. - I need portion control, not reactions to bad foods. I already know I can diet pretty successfully (I'm a professional dieter, just can't keep it off and I feel like I'm starving) so I'm not worried about counting calories etc. (I don't think I need the malabsorption, my sister who can’t stick to a diet would need the help of malabsorption and the feedback of dumping). Talk this over with your doc and I'm sure you'll find the right fit for you...weight loss is weight loss...it's all good!

Do you have a copy of your bariatric policy with the list of requirements and do you meet all those? I'm not sure who the 'insurance verifier' is, but have you talked directly to the person who works with the insurance companies to get your approval at the surgeon's office? When you say 'my medical group has been denying people' are you talking about your insurance company or your surgeon? -BG

What's 30/30? Good for you...I did the same thing, adding one new change at a time to practice (wish I'd done the same with more exercise). Best wishes! -BG

Wiggly?...no dear, that was the meds you were on, remember...the whole room was wiggly. LOL, just kidding...I have no idea. I was afraid to look the first few seconds and by the time I looked down he was pulling the needle out, but I do remember it being a very thin needle and long.

I'm going for my first fill this morning and wanted to celebrate...Here's hoping my Doc isn't late (thus the verse is fitting) for my appointment again! Sing to the tune of (play it as you read- Click here): Why do you fill me up (Fill me up) Band Check-up, baby just to let me down (Let me down) And mess me around And then worst of all (Worst of all) You never fill, baby When you say you will (Say you will) But I love you still I need you (I need you) More than anyone darlin' You know that I have from the start So fill me up (Fill me up) Band Check-up Don't break my heart ”I'll be over at ten”, You told me time and again But you're late, I wait around and then (bah-da-dah) I run to the door I can't take any more It's not you, You let me down again (hey, hey, hey) Baby, Baby, try to find (hey, hey, hey) a little time, And I'll make you happy (hey, hey, hey) I'll be home I’ll be beside the phone Waiting for you ooo-ooo-ooo, ooo-ooo-ooo Why do you fill me up (Fill me up) Band Check-up, baby just to let me down (Let me down) And mess me around And then worst of all (Worst of all) You never fill, baby When you say you will (Say you will) But I love you still I need you (I need you) More than anyone darlin' You know that I have from the start So fill me up (Fill me up) Band Check-up Don't break my heart

First fill- 3cc's and can't notice anything yet, but I'm on liquids for 2 days...off to post on "first fills" thread...

I know this thread is about a 10cc band, but I thought it would help to see that 34% responded they needed more than 7cc's in their band. Click HERE.

DD started her first ‘real’ job today. It was a wild morning to say the least…She panicked over what information they requested that she might be forgetting to take (she had it all)...she tried on different outfits, fixed her hair two different ways, and has she had almost a month at home to work this all out…yeah, that’s my girl…women, we reserve the right to change our minds. She gave herself an hour and 15min. to get downtown, but got a late start because the GPS wouldn’t take the address (remember that month of being at home…hmmm). I calmed her down and made her take off and I’d talk her through it (she’d only been there once for the interview). At one point I was holding two phones up to each other (had DD on one phone and DH on the other phone), while I had Mapquest up on the computer. She made it…about 25 min. early even…and then I talked to her the whole way walking from the parking lot into work building her up for her first day. We hung up and then I teared up, as usual. She’s my oldest so I was sitting here remembering her and my FIRST DAYS… …of childcare…we moved to Cincinnati when she was 10 days old and I started a new job in her third week. I cried all the way from childcare to work….I also made the mistake of wearing a dark silky fabric work dress…let’s just say breastfeeding and leakage didn’t work well with that dress…that afternoon I ran back into childcare past all the parents with my arms crossed…she’d done fine, but it was so hard for me. …of Kindergarten…she was transported to school by another childcare when we lived out near Philly. I cried after all the way to work after dropping her off that day to childcare with her new backpack and her shiny nametag pinned to her...I was so sad I wouldn’t be there to see her off and take her there. She did great…my little outgoing girl couldn’t wait to go! …of new Schools (we’ve had 6 different homes since she was born)… …we moved back to Columbus when DH got transferred and in the summer a few weeks after I had my youngest and I quit work. We lived with my parents for a few months while our house was finished being built. They were in a different school system, so I drove her to/from school for those months with the boys in tow. I remember taking her picture by the school the first day of fourth grade and then walking her in…I cried all the way out hoping she’d be accepted…she had a list of friends the first day and had a wonderful time. …we moved out here near Pittsburgh (another transfer) the summer before her eighth grade. Again, we were building a house and it wasn’t finished so we temporarily moved into an apartment for nine months. It was a hard move for her because she was leaving so many friends and my family. She was really involved in many activities back in Cols., she'd been dancing competitively for years with a studio, had just made Cheerleading again, Swim Team, etc. It was hard starting over with no activities that first year and not being able to even live in our home and find new friends there. I cried and had my usual bout of ‘Mom Guilt’, but she adapted quickly and soon became involved in all kinds of new activities. She handled this last move better than I did. …of College…I thought I was prepared for this one. We shopped all summer before. If there was a contest for the most furniture and other ‘stuff’ fitting into a tiny, shared dorm room, then she would have won. DH was convinced it wouldn’t all fit and people were actually laughing at our ‘pile’ when we unloaded (I was going to have no guilt over leaving her without everything she needed). Well, DD and I had no fears…you know me (Mary Poppins); I’d pre-measured the room and knew where it all went. While other parents were standing in line for hours at the local Wal-Mart buying longer extension cords, she and I arranged it all, hung artwork we’d made, put up cute lights and decorations…the girls on the floor were all coming in asking where we’d gotten things and ooogling. As prepared as we were I still cried the whole way out of town. So, why should today be any different? It just doesn’t get any easier…no matter how independent they become and how many times you’ve seen them adapt well (better than you) to new situations and changes, you still worry about them. If only I could keep the three of them home and little forever. It’s just so hard to let them go.

Wow, 5cc's is a huge first fill! Congratulations!

I wasn't allowed gummi vitamins or gummy anything as it can get stuck. I use the Centrum Chewables, but a liquid would work as well. I didn't use the Protein Shakes for very long, but FYI most docs won't let you mix fruit in with them immediately post-op. I like the Atkins chocolate ones and the EAS chocolate ones (both pre-made from Wal-Mart or Target). I found these not to have that yucky protein texture as much as others. I did not like the metal canned ones. I also bought the Isopure Alpine Punch powdered mix from GNC, but it's only OK to drink with lots of fruit mixed in, so I couldn't use it post-op. It's got that protein texture and is pretty yucky alone...I plan to use it after fills. My doc doesn't require protein shakes EVER, so this is just my choice to use them after fills. Good luck! -BG

LOL...Keep 'em coming! How are you doing...I'm sure you're all ready to go! I can't wait for you to feel that great restriction for the first time! Counting down with you! -BG

Lena- I thought you were *raising your hand* to b*tch slap me LOL (not that I don't need it).

Yep, I'm learning that I'm going to be the Mom forever...a cry-baby Mom. DD just called me and I could here gobs of voices in the background...she, and all her 'new friends' were just walking back to work from lunch...she'll do just fine, as usual.

Hang in the LM...we'll get to that sweet spot eventually. I've got my first fill tomorrow and I'll be in shock if I get more than 2cc's (0 fill now)...my doc is conservative too...I think he only gives them every 4-6 weeks...slow and steady...