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YES!! Prednisone makes you starving and also wired up and crazy. It works but the docs sometimes tell you you are only retaining fluids but in my case I was retaining fat! I would be up all night eating and talking to myself! I hated that drug but sometimes you need it...good luck!

Fantastic! I feel like at least half of my weight was due to prednisone which I took several times at high doses...I hate that drug! Anyway congrats!!!

First i think wait and use it as motivation as a reward when you get to normal BMI. (thats my plan and I am taking a long time to lose the last ten!) Second a plastic surgeon is a little like a car salesman...it is to his advantage to get your money as soon as possible but I think you will get a better result at goal weight. A few PS docs actually require their patients to be at goal for six months. Good luck..

Why do you say the fat is there to stay? Why have you settled to still be overweight or obese? I am not criticizing but just asking. I cat see how 220 can be a healthy weight for you for the long term...

Try to eat to the point of being 'not hungry' instead of full. The full feeling will come with fills. Good luck!

Thanks so much for commenting with your story. I appreciate the details and want to know everything before I decide!! Good luck...

I self payed 15K and it was well worth it...good luck. Get an abdominal binder if you have a gut at all...after surgery that binder holds your gut in so it doesnt slump over when you sleep which is very painful! Especially if you sleep on your side!

Your primary care doc SHOULD know how to get you hooked up with a bariatric surgeon but many of them dont or think you should just join a gym or whatever.Be ready in case the doc tries to talk you out of it. So do your homework first on the internet and find out all the docs who do this procedure near you and which ones would or might accept your type of insurance.Your PCOS should help you get it covered by insurance depending on your BMI. I would call your insurance co first in case you need to gain a few pounds before you go get weighed at the doc office...I know it sounds crazy but you will need to have a few spare pounds OVER the cutoff which you will make a (not too successful effort or they will say no) to lose during a six month supervised diet...many people here have put weights in their pockets etc because gaining weight on purpose is not a very mentally healthy thing to do. Your whole thing will be different than everyones depending on everything but I tell everyone to read the blog of band-groupie called The Sweet Spot because she takes you thru the whole thing. Start at the beginning as she is dealing with insurance etc. http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/ Good luck, you will get lots of info here from all of us who have been through it...its kind of a battle but its well worth it!!!

Everyone has done this I think. After a stuck episode I have to basically start back over with liquids to mushies to real food over a period of two days or so like you do after a fill. Food really cant stay in there for more than a couple of hours but we can sure cause some inflammation and muscle spasm that feels like it! Good luck...PS meat is never a good idea until later in the day I think.

Dear cherish, great pix of your tummy, it looks fabulous! I know you said BCBS paid but do you have any clue what they paid? It looks like you really had a great surgeon and a great result...I am sort of saving my pennies because I dont think my plan will cover...thanks!

Go on reflux meds...protonix gives me no refliux for 24 hours and that way I can keep my band nice and tight! Good luck!

Pronetus, What meds have you tried for the reflux? Maybe you just have to find the right one. I get it when I am at my sweet spot too and it goes away mostly as I lose weight and the band loosens up. Protonix has worked great for me, Zantac and Pepcid not so much. Good luck!

Dont focus on carbs which you might have to restrict. Focus on what you CAN have and do need...protein! If you eat 60 grams of protein you wont be able to overdo the carbs!

well good luck I hope you get it covered. I was not fat enough and had no comorbs so I self payed...glad I did but I hope you get yours paid for!

The absolute BEST treatment for IR is losing weight! Insulin resistance is a medical way of saying over fed...the body can no longer handle what you are eating. Metformin is a temporary bandage but will not help you lose more than a few pounds. Good luck. I hope the band is right for you. I am in love with my band after 20 years of failed dieting!

I wrote a check for 15K...very motivating! Well worth it!

But what the FDA does will take a while to translate into insurance coverage!

I still like to drink but carbonation is not for me anymore. I can do it but its not enjoyable. Otherwise nothings changed!

I kept one pair of my biggest jeans (profile picture ) but the rest has to go!

I have a very simple piece of advice for you and you can take it or leave it of course. Imagine it is 20 years down the road and oyu are having a conversation with your children who are now in their 20s and married. They tell you they are in the exact same situation as you are in right now. Do you tell them to stay or go? That is your answer because you love them more than you love yourself and you will help them do what is right. Good luck dear!