marfar7

What VA center do you use? I don't think the VA covers fills - at least most VA's don't. When I had my surgery 3 yrs ago, the VA didn't even do lapbands, only bypass (and I would've had to travel to Portland to get it done (about 6 hrs away). Not sure if they even do them now. But I guarrantee it'll only be done at the bigger VA hospitals. My VA doc didn't even know what a lapband was - I had to explain it to him. I travel 6 hrs round trip to get fills at a civilian dr. Medicare covered the surgery and the first year of fills. Now they cost me $160 each. Whether it's a fill or an unfill. $600 sounds really expensive to me! Good luck! And if you'r VA center does do them, why not go there? I would! Marci

I've lost almost 100 lbs (now 150'ish) and still feel fat. I keep a before pic of me in my purse tho, to remind myself. Since we look at ourselves in the mirror everyday, you don't see the big changes that occur. People who haven't seen me in ages are amazed tho. And I didn't meet my husband until about 75 lbs down, so he never really knew me super obese. I feel fat tho everyday. Not sure if I'll feel the same when I finally get to goal (135) someday! Have a fun vacation! And you can do them without gaining. I've been on 3 Mexican cruises and managed never to gain a pound. The first one I actually lost a couple lbs cuz I was so seasick! Marci

I absolutely still get cravings, even 3 yrs later. I usually give in to them, altho it's 1 cookie instead of 12 now. Or I make sugar free pudding and that helps some...I was craving potato chips last nite about 11pm. Nothin I could do about it - just went to bed and fell asleep! Marci

Congrats! You've done a fabulous job! Wow, over 200 lbs in less than a year! All I can say is WOW! Marci

It's the opposite at my drs office. His PA does a painless job and leaves no bruising, however when the dr does it, it hurts a little and he leaves a bruise for a few days. But I actually like the dr better - he doesn't lecture me on eating low carb, like the PA does! I agree. You can request a certain person. When I make an appt, they always ask me whether I want Dr Tersigni or AJ, his PA. One does appts on Mondays the other on Wed's. Good luck! Marci

First of all, did your dr say you could eat regular food after getting a fill? I know most drs say to wait 24 hrs on full liquids before trying food. Some are even longer. And it took me until my 3rd fill (4 mths into it) until I felt any difference at all. For the future tho, sometimes you can feel the restriciton right away, sometimes it takes up to 10 days to feel any difference. No clue why. You have to be patient. Unless your one of maybe 1,000 bandsters, you're not gunna feel any difference for a few fills. Good luck! Marci

I would make up 16 oz in the morning and drink 1 oz every hour while awake (instructions of my dr). I bought a sleeve of little 1 oz medicine cups to drink it out of. I was only on Protein shakes for about 2 weeks tho - I cut them out myself when they started making me nauseous. Marci

I was pretty groggy afterwards. I also stayed overnight, but by the time I got into my room, it was about 4 pm and I was pretty out of it. Needed to ask for assistance to go potty every couple hrs tho, cuz I had compression stockings on and needed help hooking back up to them. I probably could have done it myself tho, if it wasn't for the gadget. Got morphine via iv every 4-6 hrs, I think. Walked the hallway that night with the nurse. Went home by 11 am the next day, after getting my barium swallow test done. Marci

I wasn't told to do any diet pre op. Just told to eat a light dinner the night before and nothing after midnight. I went to Outback for ribs. I considered that lite 3 yrs ago! Marci

Talk to your Dr, now! I'm 3 yrs post op and for the first 2 1/2 yrs, daily vomiting was the norm for me also. I ate way too fast, I wasn't really too tight, I just never learned to slow down. I didn't vomit up liquids only tho - only the food I had just eaten. More than a PB, I think. 6 mths ago, my band slipped from the vomiting. Now I've gained back 16 lbs and I'm still dealing with a slightly slipped band. If you can't even keep liquids down, you're probably too tight. I had to get an unfill to deal with the slip and it helped the vomiting tremendously. I've vomited about 2-3 times in the last 6 mths - which I perceive as success! I'm back on my way to losing the 16 lbs I've gained (lost 5 so far). You really need to call your dr and tell them whats going on. You absolutely can't live on 300-500 calories a day, especially if you're throwing them all up. It doesn't sound like you have bulimia, but more of a structure problem. Good luck! Marci

Good luck with your journey! I'm 3 yrs post op and am so happy I did it! I'd do it again in a heartbeat! Marci

unjury (find it online) makes a flavorless Protein powder that u can add to almost anything. The first couple months after surgery, I added it to Soups, yogurt, pudding, OJ, almost anything! And it's got lotso protein! Good luck! Marci

This will be my 4th holiday season since being banded 3 yrs ago. My first Thanskgiving was only about a month after being banded and I had no restrcition. I ate just like pre op. Christmas was a little better. But by the following year, I was ready to tackle the holidays! I luv turkey and the fixins - so I took a couple bites of everything. really, no actual plan. Before my slip about 6 mths ago, if I ate past satiation, I would throw up - and it's kinda gross to excuse yourself from your family and throw up where everyone can hear you! Definitely keeps you in check. We're going out with my in laws this Thanksgiving. I will be bringing about 2/3 of my meal home with me. And yes, I will have some pumpkin pie! With whip cream too! After a few bites, I'm satisfied. For Christmas, we're going to Ca and spending it with my other in laws (my husband was adopted as an infant and found his birthfamily about 8 yrs ago and moved from Ca to Or to get to know them better) and my family.We're spending Christmas Eve with my family, then getting up on Christmas morning and driving the 4 hrs to my in laws for a huge family Christmas dinner. We've done it the last 3 yrs (I've only known my husband for 2 - met him right before Thanksgiving). I don't usually make a plan to eat. I fly by the seat of my pants. Planning puts too much emphasis on eating and that's not what normal size people do - they don't plan their meals. They eat till they're satisfied, then stop. Thats my goal - to eat like a normal person. A normal THIN person, I should say! Good luck! Marci

It could be. If you had proper restriction and then poof, none, it's possible. But not probable. You would probably have at least one other symptom too (like nausea, reflux, etc). My band slipped about 6 mths ago and the only symptoms I had were severe reflux and the ability to eat more than before. It's easy to tell if you have one - just takes a quick xray by your dr. If it's a slight one (like mine) they can unfill you either partially or fully, let you rest for a few weeks, then start the refill process again. It's a pain, to lose your restriciton then have to start all over again to get it again, but it's better than having surgery again! Having to be on the 4 week liquid diet scares the heck outa me! Good luck! Marci

I'm on day 4 of the 5 Day Pouch Test (look it up on the internet). I've gained back 16 lbs during the last 10 months of the 104 lbs I lost. It's helping me get back on track. And I've lost 5 lbs so far! I suggest you read about it and maybe try it. Can't hurt! Marci

There's actually a section on lapbandtalk that does clothing exchanges. I've sent a couple boxes of 14-18 clothes out over the past year to fellow lapbanders. I feel better when they go to someone that needs them rather than to the Goodwill that overcharges for things (I just bought a pair of jeans last weekend at the GW and paid $9.00. Granted that same pair new would be about $40, but I think $9 for a pair of used jeans is overpriced!). I went straight from a size 14 to a 10 - never did buy any 12's! I just wore a belt with my pants/jeans till the butt in them became to droopy! Marci

Bummer! I LUV lobster! Alot less work than crab! I've only had it maybe 4 times in the past 3 yrs, but didn't have any problems with it. It might have been the way it was cooked. Maybe overcooked? I would give it some time and retry it. Things that you can't tolerate today may be fine ina few months. I can eat anything but pizza crust, pineapple chunks, and pancakes. I'm 3 yrs post op tho. Marci

I tried Spanx once and all it did was cause my belly fat to ride up to my boobs! I don't think girdles and the like actually work (at least on me). The fat has to go somewhere and for me, it was over the waistband of the Spanx! I've never heard tho that you can't wear them. They may not be very comfy the first week or so, but I don't think they would harm you! JMHO! Marci

I about starved my first month after surgery. I cheated and added mashed potatoes after 3 weeks (I don't advise going against drs orders tho!). I was hungry (true hunger, not head hunger) within 48 hrs of surgery. I misread my post op directions - thought it said Clear liquids and Protein shakes for 4 weeks. After about a year, I re read it and it said full liquids (to include cream Soups, yogurt, pudding). I added tomato Soup myself after the first 2 weeks of literally starving. Come to find out, I wasn't even cheating - and I could've added yogurt and pudding! I ate 1 can of it a day - split into 4 meals. Plus crystal lite, popsicles, Jello, and chicken broth. My first real food was mashed potatoes, about 3 weeks in (yes, I went a week early) (and again, I don't advise going against your drs orders!) So yes, you will be hungry. And you will continue to be hungry the rest of your life. I still get hungry, I just get full a lot quicker. Good luck! Marci

I had Medicare, so they didn't require a 6 mth diet. So I had surgery exactly 3 weeks from my seminar. I also didn't have a pre op diet (which is rare). I was just told to eat a lite dinner the night before and nothing after midnight. I went to outback for ribs - thats what I considered lite back then! I stayed 1 nite in the hospital (required by Medicare) - your insurance will tell you whether you have to stay or can do OP. The pain was bearable - I had my liquid Vicodin, which I got refilled once. I don't work, but if I did, I think I would've been ready to go back after 1 week for a sitting job, maybe 2 for a more physical one. My pre op diet sucked. I misread my booklet and thought it said 4 weeks of clear liquids and Protein Shakes. I literally starved the first 2 weeks, till I added tomato Soup (thought I was cheating and didn't ell my dr). Come to find out after many month and after re reading my post op directions, I was sposed to be on full liquids for 4 weeks (to include cream Soups, yogurt, pudding) and I wasn't cheating at all! After 3 weeks of liquids only, I cheated and added mashed potatoes. The best thing I ever had. I could've bought stock in KFC! Please don't make the same mistakes as I did tho - my first "real" food was Burger King cheeseburger. Ate the whole thing and felt nothing. Ate normally (just like pre band) for the first 2 fills and 4 mths. Then came my 3rd fill - it was "MAGIC". That's when I really started losing weight. I eat everything, including bread, rice, Pasta. Alot of people can't tolerate them or are on a low carb diet. The only things my band won't tolerate is pizza crust, pineapple chunks, and pancakes (all the P's!) I just eat very little of it. When I go out for a meal (about 3x a week), I can eat about 1/4 - 1/3 of my meal and the rest comes home with me. I just got my restaurant card in the mail today (make sure you get one from your dr) (I've lost the last 2 I've had) which asks restaurants to serve you smaller portions or the kids menu. They charge you the kids price at buffet - it's really nice since I don't eat $12.00 worth of food - ever! The kids menu isn't very healthy, though, so you really have to be careful. I still go to buffets occasionally, only filling my plate once, taking a couple bites of everything. You'll be fine. We're all anxious before surgery. The pain really isn't all that bad. The worst thing is the liquid diet, but if I can do it, anyone can! Good luck! Marci

Turkey Jerky or beef jerky is my go-to snack, especially after working out. I find it hard to not drink while eating it tho - I love peppered jerky. Marci

Wow! Your bust went down tremendously! I'm jealous. I started off at 248 with s 44DD bust and am now 157 with a 40D bust. Hardly went down at all.I've always been top heavy, but now you can really see it! Congrats! Marci

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but probably not. It usually takes most people from 2-4 fills to feel any restriction at all. Some people (very few) feel it without any fills, and some after just one. But I think the majority of people take a few fills to get there. It was my 3rd fill 4 mths into it that was the magic fill. Be patient. It WILL come to you! I promise! You could be 1 of the very few that it works the first time. Then I can put my foot in my mouth! Marci

Hey all, I'm on day 3 of the 5 day pouch test. I think I literally starved the last couple days being on liquids only. How did I do this for 4 weeks 3 yrs ago? Doing well, lost 5 lbs as of this morning! There's not much info on lapbandtalk.com on the pouch test, so I did some digging and there's a whole section for just this topic: http://livingafterwls.com/forum/index.php?showforum=92. Not sure if it's gunna work for me, as my band is still slightly slipped from 6 mths ago. I have no symptoms anymore, after my dr took 1cc of Fluid out a couple of months ago, so he said we'll just let it be for now. But I've found that I feel like I have no band after about 6pm. I could eat the side of a barn! And so, I have. Since getting married last Dec, I've gained back 16 of the 104 lbs I had lost. Was only 9 lbs from goal, now I'm 25 (actually, only 20 now that I've lost 5 lbs the last couple days!). Have to do something. Had to go to the Goodwill a few days ago and buy size 10 jeans (my 8's won't button anymore) - I can't afford a whole bigger wardrobe (especially since I bought a smaller one in the past 3 yrs!) Just enjoyed my 3/4 of a cup (allowed a cup, but could only finish 3/4!) of egg salad. Yeah for REAL food day! Tomorrow I get even more REAL food! If I could just stay away from the dang Fritos! Marci

My fav soup is Quiznos broccoli cheese. But after surgery, I ate only cream of tomato. The last 2 days I've been doing the 5 day pouch test, so I've been on liquids only. Getting so sick of tomato soup, so I bought a few cans of a variety (cream of potato, broccoli, pea, and cream of chicken. The Campbells broccoli isn't bad - not as good as Quiznos, but definitely doable! And canned Andersons pea soup is terrific! Good luck! Marci