gjray

Apathetic, aprehensive, anxious, annoyed...I could go on and on. I am almost 8 weeks and I still have some of those feels. The thing that gets me through is that I tell 'me' that I deserve to look better, feel better and to be a better person. We all have baggage that makes us feel afraid of the unknown. Food was my comfort and my 'armour' from unwanted attention. Since the procedure I feel and acknowledge that I can be beautiful & sexy (did I say that?) while being myself and the best self I can be. So Yes, you will feel better and you will be a better person for taking control and starting to live the life that you always wanted.

I had my first fill on July 5th and I am doing fine. I didn't to the full liquid for more than 48 hours post fill. I was told that I have a small band and I was filled with 2ccs of a band that only holds 4.5cc. I did get my first sick feeling from over eating. I tried to chew on some chicken and I gagged like I had taken ipecac. I have learned that eating chicken breast requires that I eat it one string at a time.

Congratulations!!! I can see myself being where you are in about 10 months. Having been so large for so long I have learned to live through the joyz of others. You look Fabulous!!!

:scared: I am learning to adjust to life with the lap band. It has been about 5 weeks and the compliments just keep coming. The bulk of my weight was always my midriff and it is starting to deflat. I was excited about the first fill until I learned that I have a 'small' band that only holds 4.5cc. I was injected with 2cc on my first visit. I am starting to doubt my doctor becasue I have NEVER met with him in his office. I know that he is a busy man, but I had questions that his nurse practicitioner seemed to kind of 'blow off'. Is there anybody else who had their band filled to 50% on the first visit? I am starting to get the gas pains in the shoulders that I heard about. How many fills can you get when they start you off with that much Fluid? Maybe I am just paranoid, but I do want this to be a success. :nervous Lost 28 lbs. since Band on 06/30/06. Goal is to lose 70-85 lbs.

I was banded May30, 2006. I followed the information that I received from my surgeon and only scheduled 3 days off from work. BIG MISTAKE!!! I work at a desk, and am required to move around a bit. First, sitting in the same position for more than about 30 minutes was sure agony. I'd get up and walk it off but the pain was still there. Take at least 7 work days off (including the weekend). I was not able to follow the liquid diet as it was given to me becasue I am diabetic and have an allergic reaction to too much sugar (sugar products). I had to improvise. I was cooking veggies and drinking the juice from the veggies. I chose rutabagas instead to pototoes. I love chicken broth so I used it to cook carrots, celery stalks, spinach and other veggies. It worked for me. I have never felt sick when I eat. It is July 4th and I ate in the barbecue meal (ribs, chicken, potatoes salad, baked beans, tea and peach cobbler). I only ate a couple of bits of each and it took me about two hours to finish. I get my first fill on Thursday and I look forward to starting the second phase of the quest of a healthier body. Starting Wt. 228/Current Wt. 208/Goal Wt. 147 by Aug. 2007

I was banded by Dr. Jay on May 30th, 2006. I have feeling hunger pains and I am fighting the urge to binge. I haven't had any trouble eating yet. My first fill is the first week of July 2006. Help me to understand how the fill will affect my eating patterns. I am diabetic and have to eat about every two hours.

I haven't had any problems with my medication. I take several tablets to control diabetes and the Glucovance are large. I take them one at a time and have had no problem to date. I was banded May 30th, 2006. My only problem has been that I can't seem to keep enough food in me to keep me from starting to 'shake' from low blood sugar and I am allergic to sugar ( I break out in a rash so a sugar pill as a quick fix isn't an option). GRay 230/217/208/140 lbs. Starting wt./Surgery wt./Today/Goal

I was banded May 30th and walking does work. I had to take care of my kids so I was moving around the house a lot. I was instructed to walk 5 minutes every hour. I even got up in the middle of the night and walked around the house. I normally sleep with about 4 pillows behind me so try using pillows instead of laying flat. Warm liquids helped also. It really does get better. GRay

:clap2: I was banded Tuesday May 30th 2006. The liquids are hard. I am tempted to attempt something with substance. I love chicken broth and I have tried it with a twist. I have tried different items to give it additiona flavor like baked fish for that exotic taste, beef, dried shrimp, and summer vegatables (squash, potatoes, spinach). Banded by Dr. J. 215/209/Goal 145

I was banded Tuesday May 30th 2006. The liquids are hard. I am tempted to attempt something with substance. I love chicken broth and I have tried it with a twist. I have tried different items to give it additiona flavor like baked fish for that exotic taste, beef, dried shrimp, and summer vegatables (squash, potatoes, spinach). Banded by Dr. J. 215/209/Goal 145

I was banded this past week (May 30th, 2006) by Dr. J. It was performed at the Surgical Center close to North Park Mall. The experience was great. I feel good now. I looked in the mirror and I got excited looking at the amount of Fluid that I have lost in the past 11 days (liquid diet pre-OP and liquid diet post-OP). Surprisingly, I am not hungry. I keep telling myself that I will be able to eat that food that I am craving later and it is working (at least for now). I joined Weight Watchers (lunchtime meeting) in March 2006 in an effort to work on changing my eating habits. Are there any lunchtime support group meetings in Irving, TX? Evenings are so hectic becasue of family commitments. Lapband 05/30/2006 Dr. J, Dallas 228/213 surgery/140 goal

I had the surgery on Tuesday, May 30th. The procedure seems to have gone as planned. I am scheduled to return to work Monday, June 5th. I was still in pain on Tuesday but I was not nauseated so I haven't taken the nauseu med yet. I drank a lot of water Tuesday and Wednesday. I did take the pain med Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday night I took some to help me to sleep. I couldn't seem to get comfortable in bed. I had 7-9 pillows to support my stomach and my back. It didnt' help much. Thursday (two days after the procedure) I got up and took my kids and myself to an annual dental checkup. I drove. It was about 15 minutes from home. It took about 3 hours. I didn't think that I was going to make it but the drive and the movement helped the gas to start to move from my body. Friday was another doctor's appointment for my kids (annual physical) and I didn't have anybody to take them, so, I did. Once again I drove. It was a difficult drive. It was about 25 minutes from the house and becasue I could feel every bump and ridge in the road, it took me about 40 minutes to get there (I was driving 15-25 mph). Once at the doctor's building, I took baby steps to get to the office. After the appointment I started to feel better- much better. I later took one of my children to the salon for a hair cut (yes this was this afternoon). When we(the kids and me) finally got home, I came in and collapsed on the bed. Surprisingly, most of the pain and discomfort is now gone. I plan to stay in tomorrow and Sunday but I think Monday will be a good day for me at work. I have left myself an out by saying that next week may be 4-6 hour workdays.

Thank you for the inspiration. I had the surgery on Tuesday and I got through it wonderfully.

Sorry about the disappointment. I had the same type of experience. Last year when I was selecting my insurance provider and an amount to applied to my healthcare spending account for the year I called the doctor's office and he answered the phone. I was inquiring as to the best insurance choice for me. He told me that the cost of the procedure would be "about $250". I reminded him that I had a 20% co-pay and he said "that is the charge. The hospital will charge something as well. So of course I selected the plan that he recommended and I got approved and two weeks before my pre-op appointment I was told that his portion is $900. I agreed and contacted the surgical center where the procedure is to be performed to inquire about their charges. The person who answered that the procedure never cost more than $3-5 thousand so my co-pay wouldn't be more than 500. I told her that I have a 20% co-pay to which she replied that there will be an additional discount becasue of the insurance. I received a call on a Friday at 4:45p.m telling me that the co-pay for the surgical center would be $1,200. The procedure was the first one scheduled for the next week. The amount is not $6,000 but it was more than I expected. Is it possible that medical professional are going the way of 'used car salemen'? I pray that you can get this resolved.

Good luck. I am scheduled for the procedure next week too. I am also nervous. I have dreamed for year of being the old slim trim (high school) me. Who is your surgeon? Mine is Dr. J.