303'sJourney

I am so sorry to hear that you got sick! 5 bites of tuna isn't going to hurt you... It is still low carb and your liver will be fine! No worries! You are doing so great and I am so proud of how far you have come. Just think... it wasn't that long ago that you thought tomorrow would never come... BAM, it's here! I am so excited for you! I hope you sleep tight and have the sweetest of dreams. Tomorrow will be a fog for the most part but you will get through it in a fantastic fashion! I'll tt you on the flip side.

I am SO excited for you!! You will be able to eat PLENTY of steak after surgery... no sweat! But enjoy it anyway! I'm glad the low carb part won't be hard for you... b/c it's a killer for me! I am a carbohydrate addict! The liquid part actually isn't that hard bc when you are on liquids it is because your body is healing and you aren't that hungry at that point anyway... when you are on soft food though... you are going to want to eat a whole cow! LOL. I ate A LOT of jello when I was on clear liquids, I stayed away from broth, bc w/nothing in it... it wasn't very appealing. Then when I went to full liquids I drank the jayrobb protein shakes, they are delicious. I ate a lot of cottage cheese and eggs when I was on soft foods... really depends on your taste preferences. I am so glad that I can be a support to you. I think it's awesome that you are having surgery 3 months to the day after mine.

I think 44 lbs in 3 months is great... so I don't get too hard on myself when the scale and I argue! I'm feeling 100% more alive and better everyday. I am so excited and if there is ANYTHING I can do to help you... I'm here for you! Enjoy supper w/your hubby!

Thank you so much for the friend request. Yes ma'am I am in ONEderland! I hit it the other day and it felt just as sweet as hitting 50 lbs lost... It has been such a wonderful journey! OH YULEE! You're right it isn't an everyday name or an everyday town. I'm not really too fond of it or my hour commute to work, but my fiance lived here and he LOVES where he is working and I had already been looking for 19 months for a new job so it was easier for me to move to timbucktoo! (sp) I wish you the VERY best of luck wiht your approval and the scheduling of your surgery! If there is anything I can do to help/encourage or support you through this time... know that I am here!

I'm new to this too... and I meet my surgeon on Wednesday 2/25... what was it like? What happened?

Well my fill went great. I am finally feeling a little bit of restriction, but not a lot. I am finally down about 40 lbs and glad to see the scale back in the downward spiral. I hope your fill goes great! I look forward to hearing about it and how you're feeling! Aside from slow... how has your weight loss been going? How much are you down? Do you work out at all? I hope all is well and look forward to keep in touch with you.

Hey girlie... just wanted to write and catch up & see how you're doing. Have you heard anything about your appeal? I hope everything is going great and I look forward to talking to you!

I see you live in Jacksonville... Who is your surgeon. I was just banded on 5/18/09 w/Dr. Cywes. You're doing fantastic and looking good! I see you've lost 41 lbs... that is GREAT!

Do you have any advice for someone starting out... do you know of any keys to your success that you could share? I was just banded on the 18th of May and have already hit a stall in weight loss... I'd love to hear your thoughts...

CONGRATS!! You are doing so great!!! Can you tell me about a day in your life... food and exercise wise. I am about a month away from surgery and am trying to figure out how to have the BEST results and you're doing pretty magnificent so I thought maybe you could help me!

It's pretty exciting to hear your back to sleeping on your tummy because the thought of not being able to is very sad... . So what did your pre-op diet consist of? Congrats on the 6 pounds... that is FANTASTIC! I am so excited for you!! :) Are you experiencing any struggles??

The end of June... that's fantastic!! I am so glad to hear your appt went so well. I knew you'd love them! I hope you get a lot of info during the seminar tonight... let me know if you have any questions!

Beth, Please don't apologize for asking questions... that is the only way to get the information you need and I am MORE than glad to help. Yes after I went to the novis center I called my insurance company to find out who else was covered. I really hated the idea that the novis center was charging $1500 for things I could do on my own. I can make my own psych and nutritionist appts since I know they are required other than that... submitting paperwork, that's what you have billing people in your practice for... I'm not spending $1500 for someone to do what they're supposed to. That is what insurance companies are for... to keep you from being taken advantage of like they do!

Dr. Cwyes has done over 3000 lap procedures and I really like that he gives you the option of choosing the lap band or the realize band. I called the office and explained that I had already been to a seminar w/another doctor that I did not like and they set me up with an in office consultation with two other people... much more formal and personal. I didn't like that you had to go to the novis center before you could even meet Dr. Webb! I got an appointment with them very quickly and they are so friendly and wonderful. I had my first appointment with them on April 22nd and I will be banded next Monday. Their phone number is 399-4004 another good doctor in the area who my friend went to about 6 months ago is Dr. Craig Morganthal I don't have his number right this second but if you want it I can get it. He is newer @ the lap band but old school with laproscopic surgery.

He has just done more general surgery and gastric than the band but my friend loves him. Let me know if there is any more information I can offer!

I'm sorry that you have 5 red scars... My port is actually just above my belly button. When do you go for a fill? How are things going? Are you still losing?? I hope you're having a great week!!

I too have had an issue w/taking too big a bite of chicken or salad and having it... have a problem getting down. I have zero restriction but if I don't chew well enough... I have to remember to chew, chew, chew! I will be 5 weeksish... when I go for my fill on the 19th... almost 6 weeks. I'm doing pretty good. I am back to solids and seem to be tolerating everything just fine. I am so hungry all the time though. I am hoping/looking forward to some help. Have you lost all 37 lbs since your surgery? I hope all is well and look forward to keeping in touch!

Well the insurance companies have a window of 14 days to approve or deny your claim so fortunately it isn't too long! Just think before you know it you will be banded and well on your way. I'm doing ok... having a tough time at work and really needing to find a new job... Do you know of anyone that is hiring! Piper is doing fantastic... ugly as anything... she definately is TERRIBLY 2!!! The weight loss since my fill has been very disappointing. I lost 10 lbs immediately and then have played with it for the last 3 weeks... up down, up down, it is so aggravating. I am ready to go back on Friday the 24th. I don't have any restriction and am in need of another fill!! I am glad you are doing good and can't wait to hear about yoru next appointment! :biggrin:

How are things going? How are you feeling? How is your WLS going?? I hope everything is fantastic!!

How are you feeling? Have you gone back to the dr yet? When do you go for your first fill? I hope everything is great and you are feeling better!! I look forwarding to catching up

Well since last monday I have lost 3.5 lbs... but then I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic and am now on prednisone which is a woman's enemy. it makes you retain water like the dickens... I am keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't cause me to gain before my appt . I'll let you know how it goes. I am very anxious about my appointment. I REALLY need/want them to do a fill... so we will see. I am so excited about your appointment on the 22nd! I think a surgery in early august is well within your reach. How are you doing eating wise? How are you feeling? I hope all is well and I will let you know the appointment goes! it's great to hear from you!

You are sooo sweet! Thank you for the sweet comment... that put the biggest smile on my face and I needed it today. I just had my first fill and am not feeling very impressed! I am having trouble with water even... he says it will get better that we just shocked my body but it's noon and I have had about 3 oz of water and that is it... I'm pretty darn hungry and thirsty! How did you feel after your first fill? How are things going for you? You look magnificient!

You are doing fantastic and looking so good!!! How are you feeling? How did your fill go? Has your fill helped you with restriction! I am so proud of you! You look so much more confident in your pics since your surgery!!!

Wow... you lost 72 lbs in 5 months! What do you think has helped you the most? Any words of wisdom or advice?

Well today was my first fill and whew what I wish I had known... He tells you to drink some water when he gets done putting it in... Well i hadn't eaten since 6 pm the night before and hadn't had anything to drink yet in the am... so I was both hungry and thirsty... so here goes me. I gulped! Well it came back with a vengenance! So NOTE TO SELF... when you are told to drink... he means take a few SIPS! I am doing better now and tolerating water. He adv that we just shocked my body who thought it was safe back into fear mode so it will take a little bit to work back into eating...