mattie7632

I would 1. find out if you have coverage w/your insurance first, if so then find a surgeon in the network 2. contact the surgeon, they will set you up with a seminar then a consult and will go over all your financial deets at that time

They say at least a year, I have long long long scars that are barely visible now....time heals

I haven't even had my first fill yet, but have completely changed my eating habits. I'm not "dieting" but I am watching calories, portion control, avoiding sugars in drinks. Even without the fill I can see that I am slowly losing weight. A friend commented that I looked smaller. It's probably only 3 pounds in 4 weeks since the liquid stages ended, but I'm okay with that -- because I'm eating in a realistic and long-term way. I expect once I start having a little appetite control from the band that I will eat even smaller portions and hopefully lose a little faster.

Yes, the spaghetti sauce is awesome! I love it! We just use ground turkey or lean ground beef, spaghetti sauce like normal....It doesn't taste exactly like spaghetti, but very good and yes, kind of like cabbage rolls. Very good!!!

Yeah, that is the new policy with Fed. 3 months goes fast though, you could be working with the surgeon at the same time and have your surgery scheduled for just about 3 months from now if all goes well

I guess that depends what normal is. I was fine by next day, but I wasn't hauling boxes and working out. I was fine to work my desk job, just needed some naps here and there for a couple weeks (anesthesia, etc.)

darn, I keep forgetting about that spaghetti squash......must try that!

Great idea! I'll remember that!

Hola, Was reading some posts and it occurred to me that I don't know (or don't remember) how many cc's my band is/holds. Anyone know what is standard size nowadays with the Realize band?

flu shots are the biggest scam of the century. In reality, they create havoc with your immune system and contribute to the world's decline in health. Never had the flu shot, never will. Never had the flu. Never will. Unless I start getting flu shots!!!

Wow where've I been? I need to catch up on posts! I guess I'm still confused why one wouldn't lose weight if you're actively working with your doctor on proper fills, etc. I agree that if I'm eating too much, not talking to my doctor about it, etc. and then I don't lose weight, it's obviously my fault , yes? I will agree on one thing though--the pre-surgery education was slightly skewed.

Yes thanks! I completely forgot about that card they gave me! DUH!!!

that light whip cream makes such a difference doesn't it!!! I put a small scoop with greek yogurt and it tastes like mousse! It was so good!

Thanks everyone! Wow, that's a lot more than the poster's who only have 4cc bands!!

I don't know....I'm 4 weeks post-op and this past week my energy is at it's lowest.

I definitely didn't even come close to getting that much protein in. I had a shake a day, maybe two. Even still, it was probably more protein than I had before. I am and was fine. I don't know where they come up with protein helping you heal. I think it's more like lack of solids to not have the stomach working while it's healing

Interesting. My doctor said he wouldn't do the procedure unless you'd been a non smoker for at least a year, and he goes so far as to TEST YOU to see if you smoke! I guess I can appreciate him being careful and all, but jeez......

I'll wager that the wave of the future will be "e-cigarettes" cuz they are cool. You will see people in clubs and restaurants smoking them like they are stylin.....LOL

Right...how many times now has someone said to me "oh my sisters cousins mother's aunt had the lap band and she gained all her weight back" or so-and-so had it and she lost weight at FIRST....even my own mother. I had to explain to her that yes I could gain any weight I lose back. But my doctor has instructed me to keep up with maintenance, go back for fills, and always monitor. If I don't do this I will fail like your "mothers sisters aunts cousin...." p.s. I like your ticker....

Take care of yourself after surgery though--I was sick during my surgery on 12/27 and I seemed fine immediately afterwards, but within a couple days got sick and have been ever since, and I too "never" get sick. It's all been in the chest and respiratory sickness . I was worried at one point I was nearing pneumonia. I'm getting better now but it did teach me exactly how much surgery does take a toll on your immune systems.

That makes perfect sense. How many times have I eaten beyond full because it was so good? Enough to get me 100 pounds overweight, that's how many. I think you said the magic words though -"not deprived". After 5 weeks on this board, I'd come to the conclusion that I'd feel deprived if I wanted to lose weight. I'm now learning to not eat past full and watch calories, and I am perfectly satisfied. But I will admit, I eat more frequently than before and more smaller meals.

"I have realized that our culture and society has SO corrupted our concept of what is good nutrition and what good health actually means." Yep--True. Consider healthcare, it's not HEALTHcare, it's SICKcare!

All I know if that I couldn't puke. Literally, the food would not come back up although I was heaving and gagging. It was very very weird. I always thought if you ate too much the band made you "puke" kind of like a glass being too full--nowhere to go so it spills over top! So I guess in a sense, it causes bulimia and cures it all in the same!!

I am the same way....lose weight but the discipline, etc. doesn't last and I end up gaining it back! You should read more posts on here, I don't know that the band is that effective based on all the "dieting" the successful ones had to do and the ones that have gained it back or not lost at all--I'm only 4 weeks out so I don't have personal experience but before you shell out that 17k I would ask the doctor if any patients of his would be willing to discuss their long term results.