ParrotheadCathy

At first, I didn't excercise at all. The pounds were coming off pretty good and I was pretty happy. But I knew I was only going to get so far like that....and I was right. So I started walking about 4 miles every morning --- get up an hour early during the week to work it in. Then I started "wogging" or walking/jogging in intervals. Today, I clocked out a change to my route and pushed it to just over 5 miles. I didn't push it speed wise, but I'm pretty sure I can step it up a little and not add very many minutes to my time. My energy is out the roof, improving even more as I lose more. Things that I'd started to let slide are now targets for intense focus .... like my laundry room. Today, I dismantled that mess, cleaned everything, reorgnized the cabinets and shelves... It just seems I'm no longer willing to just sort-of do it. It has to be 100%.

Reflux can, and often is, one of the symptoms of being too tight. And some bandsters just have reflux..... You haven't had a fill in nearly a year. i was told to see the doc every 6 months after reaching goal because they will check Fluid level to make sure there hasn't been any "evaporation" (using that word for lack of a better choice). Don't jump to conclusions.

Remember that liquid DOES NOT STAY in the pouch but passes on through. Drinking a cup of soup really doesn't do anything but pass through the band area and into the lower part of your stomach. That's why you aren't supposed to drink with your meals or for a period after once you start eating solid food .... the well chewed food will wash right through along with all the liquid and eliminate any feeling of satisfaction from having eaten.

I financed mine through Care Credit. Capitol One also has a medical financing arm.

My understanding is that a slipped band can be seen under fluroscope or possibly xray. From the people I've read their comments on it if it happened to them, the first line of treatment is not removal, but a couple of weeks of liquid diet to see if it slips back into place on its own. My doctor said he stitches the band in place so that it won't slip, which if your mom has had a slip and has surgery, she might ask if that can be done.

FatMom, what you are describing sounds like the result of skin touching skin for a long period of time without regular washing. I suggest washing the areas well with an antibacterial soap (such as SafeGuard or Dial), drying fully (blow it with a hair dryer after you think it's dry) and apply a roll on antipesperant and blow that dry with the hair dryer. Should be gone in a couple of days. It was that long stretch with no shower that did you in. Your skin produces oils which make it damp even if it doesn't really feel damp and that brought on the rash. This is the same sort of rash that people experience after they've lost a good bit of weight and have a panniculus.

When we say "small" unfill, we really mean small! .2cc would be an excellent amount to get taken out and see how you do. Once you can eat normal diet and do away with the "easy" stuff, you'll be eating better, getting more water in and you start the downward trend again.

It just happened to me. I was stuck in the 215-223 range for 3 very long months, barely losing anything at all. Suddenly, in the past week, I've lost 5 pounds and am well below 215. So now, I'm thinking it may happen again at 185, which I weighed for several years (long ago and far away, LOL).

Asparagus and yams can still be in your diet. Just follow a couple of guidelines. Asparagus...get the "thin stemmed" because it's younger and hasn't had the time to build up stringy Fiber like the "fatter" stems. Yams/sweet potatoes...smaller potatoes, just like the asparagus has less time to build fiber. If you've ever baked a large sweet potato you've seen evidence of the fiber. I like to have some convenience meals in my planning ... this will be a great addition to your planning. -Take a sheet of foil -place a boneless skinless chicken breast or hamburger steak in the center -for the chicken, add a tablespoon or so of chicken broth; for the beef, add worcestershire sauce and a little Water -top either with 3-4 slices of potato, a bit of onion, garlic, carrots, broccoli, seasoning -fold foil into a package, place on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes at 350. The meat will be moist and tender, your side dish will be ready at the same time, and clean-up is just throwing away the foil and juices.

Sadly, if there is a written exclusion for weight loss surgery, there is no avenue of appeal for you. I know that I read on here where someone actually appealed to the insurance commissioner of their state and was told there was nothing they could do to counter a written exclusion. My policy has a written exclusion so I went the self-pay route.

My experience with laxatives is ALWAYS that nothing happens for days, I keep taking it per box instructions.... and then what you experienced. I refuse to put myself through that again. If it happens again, get a Fleet enema. It's a very small bottle of saline, works INSTANTLY and no after-effects. Post surgery, I started using a Vitamin that effervesces in Water (sort of like Alka-Seltzer but you drink it when it's done fizzing). I mix it with Crystal Light AND A TABLESPOON OF BENEFIBER every day. And in spite of being told that constipation was pretty common post surgery, I've never had another problem. I don't go every day, but I'm not eating nearly as much food as I used to, and there is no discomfort attached to the fact that I don't go every day.

Don't know where you are, but a lot of docs don't want to take on a patient who had surgery in Mexico. Look up Fill Centers USA on the internet and use their locator to see if they have anything near to your location.

Not really but, what's the old adage about Chinese food? You're hungry an hour later. not to make light. I would suggest a Protein snack.... an ounce of cheese, some peanuts, or maybe half of that Protein Bar.

Folks, be aware that almost all docs have a preference for what you use during the pre-op phase. And pre-op diets vary dramatically from one doc to the next. Some docs are all liquid. My doc was 2 shakes (made from a powder purchased in his office) and 2 lean meals per day. You'll want to follow your doc's specific diet because, as Restless Monkey will attest, if you don't do what you're told you could have a rude awakening on surgery day .... wake up to find your liver didn't shrink enough and the doc didn't put your band in at all.

I was down for a TOTAL of three days (including the day of surgery. With nearly 3 weeks between surgery and the wedding, you should be fine. My only question would be what demands will be on you in that time frame related to finalizing details for the wedding?? You don't want to have a high demand on you right after surgery in case you don't bounce back quite as quickly as I did.

Shi, low-fat cottage cheese is packed with Protein....12-13 grams in a half cup. Low fat cheese has about 7 grams per ounce (varies a little per brand). EASY way to cook meats (and they come out juicy, which is a plus for us!) Take a sheet of foil place a boneless/skinless chicken breast or hamburger patty in the center For chicken, add a tablespoon of chicken broth; for the beef, add a little worcestershire sauce and Water Top chicken or beef with a few slices of potato, some carrot, some broccoli, a little onion and garlic, a little salt Fold foil shut, place packet on baking sheet and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Note ... you can cook fish the same way but don't put any vegetables with it because they end up tasting like fish. Just put a little butter flavored spray, seasonings and a little lemon juice (or lime), and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes and then check for doneness. Fish cooks QUICKLY.

It's very easy for me to say your daughter needs to work on her communication. And not just with the surgeon's office! She's PREGNANT. If she has questions or problems with that she has to communicate that as well. Otherwise, who knows? I'd suggest some counseling for her. She's got to learn the skills of being self-expressive and developing communication skills. Having your band work for you as it should means you have to work your band. You have to be able to sit down with the medical staff and say "I get stuck every time I eat" or "I have acid reflux or heartburn" or "I can eat everything that gets in my way and plenty of it". Only with her input can the medical staff work with her. That being said, normally you have to have all the Fluid removed from your band during pregnancy to ensure taking in enough nutrition to support the baby.

That's why they call it "hell".....it's not easy. But the good news is that each fill takes you closer to good restriction. The first one or two probably don't make enough difference for you to really be aware of it. I know I didn't really feel much of a difference after my first fill, which took me to 3.6cc. It was another cc after that before I could say "yep, it's there and it's working". You have to keep trying to do your best. Practice eating small bites, chewing well and eating slowly because that will serve you well when you start feeling restriciton. Eat Protein first and eat at least 20 grams at a meal. If you get hungry in less than four hours snack on a small amount of, you guessed it, PROTEIN. A 1/2 cup of low fat cottage cheese, an ouce of low fat cheese, a little deli sliced turkey (perfect because of the convenience). Protein will make you feel more full for a longer period of time than anything else you can eat so take advantage of that. And, the best thing about bandster hell? Yeah, it does finally go away.

Heck, I'd have been POed if I'd had to have in-patient. There was absolutely no reason for that at all. I was home by 2:30. Took a walk (about a 1/2 mile) a couple of hours later. Never took a pain med, nothing.

Tyme....with a BMI well over 40 you should not have any problem getting approved. EVerybody else, it seems like a lot of insurance won't approve unless you have a BMI of 40 and no comorbidities, but a lower BMI if you have at least two of the accepted comorbidities (Type II Diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure are the ones I know of). But some require that you have a certain level BMI or higher for a specific period of time (for example, my friend had to have a BMI of 37 for at least two years). I always tell people to CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY and find out exactly what the requirements are on your policy so that you have a better understanding of the whats and whys of the approval process. If you are told your policy has a "written exclusion" for weight loss surgery or weight loss treatments, you're out of luck. You cannot even appeal that to the insurance commissioner in your state. In that situation you really have no choice except for no surgery or pay for it yourself.

Once you get to real food, which tastes incredibly yummy after liquids and mushy food, you truly can pretty much eat as you did before surgery.....but if you do, you're gonna gain. If you want to hold steady or lose, you have to do it on willpower until you get at least a couple of fills. You'll read posts from people who are disappointment in themselves or the band in general because they aren't losing and because they can eat quite a lot of food. Yeah you'll have some small amount of restriction but not enough to make it really feel like you have some help. That's "hell" ... to go through the surgery and then find that at least at first your band isn't really helping you out much.

LiveFree.....hotdogs....either veggie or meat that are in casings can pose a problem. Buying at the grocery, look for those that say they are SKINLESS.

Not a poor loser, Diva ... if you were, you wouldn't have been kind enough to send out the congrats! And I appreciate it. I can name the things I've won in my life and it's a VERY short list...a hotel room at my high school reunion, a pair of Buffett tickets once, an alarm clock (yeah, I know, weird but whatever) and that's it. Seriously. Did I even think once about the possibility of winning this iPod? HECK NO, LOL.

All my faves have already been mentioned. I'm a pretty decent cook and can give you simple recipes if you like. Just private message me and let me know what things you like and I'll try to provide easy cooking recipes....

Chrissy....I'd be pretty darned confused too! So don't feel bad. Only you know the answers to these questions....so ask yourself. 1. Have you made a concerted effort to lose weight in the past? 2. Have you been successful only to regain weight? Now, if you're like me, you've tried to lose weight more than once, probably starting at a young age. I would suggest going to see a different surgeon entirely. Go to the free seminar and talk to the doc and/or staff and decide what YOU really want to do. Good luck with whatever route you choose.