ParrotheadCathy

Sharp, sometimes you don't feel the effect of a fill right away, something lots of us have experienced. If you can't get liquid down, you're too tight, so bear that in mind tomorrow if it feels tighter ... you wouldn't want to go all weekend without being able to eat or drink!

I've seen those. I think one (of the many) diet plans I was on offered one for sale. Honestly, I don't measure anything. I eyeball. 3 oz of protein is about the size of a deck of cards. Pretty much the only carb I eat (since soft bread doesn't go down well) is Special K crackers and 24 crackers is a serving. Veggies, I just put some on my plate, LOL. But you know, it's whatsever makes your life easier, more comfortable, etc. If you feel you need to measure, try it out.

Many doctors don't want to "maintain" a patient from another surgeon, but if there is a Fill Center USA or a surgeon who's willing.....then there's only one question. Do you have to pay each time for your fill or is it covered? If you go somewhere else, it could cost you anywhere from $125 to $450 based on what I've heard people quote.

I don't think you get to pick whether you get the 10cc or 14cc band...I think which one is used is based on anatomy? I know I have the 10cc band.

I agree with Nicole...call your insurance company and find out what ALL of their requirements are and then don't send them anything else until you have EVERYTHING they told you they need. Sending it willy-nilly doesn't accomplish anything except put you on a roller coaster ride. Go ahead and go to the seminar .... that's an informational thing. For most people, the seminar is the first thing they do so you're ahead of yourself on some stuff. The surgeon's office likely has experience with your insurance carier, will assemble everything you need to make the claim and submit it for you. Let them help you with this whole process so you don't spin your wheels unnecessarily.

Shy, try Care Credit and Capital One, both of whom do medical financing.

Erin, hydrocortisone cream will help as well. Some tubes actually say "anti itch" on them but any will work.

Patty ..... some of the information in that letter is true, but a lot of it isn't or is exaggerated. When I get something like that, I ALWAYS go to snopes.com to look for confirmation....or evidence otherwise. It is a highly regarded and honest website. Accordingly, go to www.snopes.com and in the search window, simply type "obama montana" and the first result is the one you are looking for.

Breakfast .... If I'm in a hurry, a Protein shake. Otherwise, Greek yogurt, low fat cottage cheese (which I happen to love), scrambled eggs, low fat cheese lunch .... low fat Soup with cheese and some whole grain crackers; salad with chicken, black Beans, low fat cheese and low cal dressing; leftovers from dinner the night before. Dinner .... Last night, baked chicken, peas, a little stuffing; night before, chicken dipped in an egg wash and coated with a little crushed French's onions and baked, with mixed veggies; baked fish with half a baked potato and a vegetable (everybody in my house enjoys this meal, so we have it regularly, just changing the type of fish and vegetable).

This is a direct quote from the instruction sheet my doctor gives me after every fill: Colds, allergies, respiratory infections and sinus drainage can cause mucous to plug the opening in the stomach (stoma); you may drink warm liquids before meals to help dissolve the mucuous plug. As RestlessMonkey said, if you can't get Water down, go to the doctor now!

outpatient! I was home by 2:30 in the afternoon.

You could take a dose of Benadryl and see if it relieves the symptoms. If so, it's definitely an allergy and you probably shouldn't use any more of that product.

You don't need a machine. Just a stair or raised fireplace hearth. Triceps press: sit on the floor with your back to the stair or hearth. Elbows out with arms bent so that your fingers curl over the edge of the stair. Cross your ankles. Then push down on your hands and lift your body. Lower, lift....you get the picture!

How much fill in what size band? When was your last fill? Give me an idea of what you eat ... say, what did you eat today? That will help me more to try to answer your question!

Well, the good news is that solid Protein will help you feel less hungry! When I transitioned to mushy foods, I was told after 7 days to start adding in "real" food. Just use common sense, and pay close attention to your body .... don't eat too much. I kept on the Protein shakes for Breakfast (as much because of the convenience as anything else) but I started adding in fish then chicken, then on to beef and pork. Just cook it in a way that maintains the moistness. One hint.....stay away from the expensive, DRY, tasteless boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Buy the breasts with the bone in and skin on. Cook it with the skin on but don't eat the skin. The skin protects the chicken from the broiler, etc. and helps to keep the meat moist. Same for the bones .... they add taste and moisture.

I have a longer time between lunch and dinner than I'd like and I swear to you, on Monday through Friday, by 6:00 pm, I start belching like I'm in a beer drinking contest, LOL. Hateful feeling, too. I can commiserate, for sure!

A friend who had the surgery after me has given me all her things that are too big. She started in a smaller size than me so some of those things are just beginning to fit and there's a lot to shink into! Another friend LOANED me some things she can't get into at the moment. I'm still having to buy some slacks because both my friends are 5-6 inches shorter than me so their slacks don't work for me....but I scored big on tops so that helps a lot.

Once I hit 62 pounds lost, I've been in a slow spot. a pound a week. Yeah, I want more but at least it's going in the right direction. In my case, I got to a weight range where I've been twice before for extended periods of time so to hit a plateau didn't shock me. But I'm trying to increase my exercise and I've been changing up my food a little. I'm seeing just a little more movement than before, so maybe I'm getting it to kick back up!

I've been lucky ... no encounters with the Diet Police. But just tell 'em! Tell them, as nicely as is warranted, that no diet that excludes a food group is healthy and that as long as you eat healthy portions, nothing is "forbidden". Now, if they're nasty about it, that's another thing entirely. Those people deserve no politeness whatsoever...so if you have do deal with that, be rude back. Wait until they're eating candy or chips and point out that they shouldn't be eating that. Seriously, take it with a grain of salt. And just keep doing what you're doing....your future hotness will just slay them.

It says this is your first post? How far post-op are you? Gas in the abdominal cavity is a very common issue for the first week or so post-op and it can be quite painful! Move around as much as you can. Walk, rock in a rocking chair, whatever keeps you in motion for as much as you can stand will help a lot. Also, if the pain radiates up into your shoulder, a heating pad can help a lot as well. If you are much farther post-op, I'm not sure what to suggest.

:thumbup: Thanks, Jachut! My sentiments EXACTLY.

I think most of us are happy with our decision to be banded. It was certainly the right thing for me. Down 73 pounds, sompletely off diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol medications. I'm self-pay and my monthly payment is less than the copay for all those meds! And this payment goes away!!! You do have to make a commitment to go to your surgeon's office regularly, get your fill level to the "right" place and then maintain it. Healthy food choices. And you'll have a period of time after surgery when you can eat a lot more than you need to eat and you'll have to run on willpower for a while but each fill should get you closer to your "sweet spot" and enable your band to HELP YOU do what you need to do. Good luck with whatever choice you make!

I think Monkey is spot-on! And, remember, your PCP can help you with a psychological referral, too! Keep us posted so we know how you're doing.

Surgery on Tuesday, drove on Wednesday. But, I never took any pain meds. That would be a deciding factor, and I probably wouldn't try driving in heavy traffic the next day.....

I agree with Elcee...but don't panic about an unfill. Even something as small as .2cc can make all the difference in the world in how you feel, what you can eat, etc. CALL THE DOC and go get this addressed.