SJB

Just wondering where everyone was?? I haven't heard from some of you guys lately and was wondering how you are all doing. I guess you guys have been busy as I have. Come on back guys and give us an update!

Hello - It's been quite a while since I've been on the boards. I was banded 17 months ago and have lost about 55 pounds. I still have a ways to go so I guess I needed a little boost. Hopefully reading the boards will keep me on the bandster straight and narrow.

Welcome to our Mississippi board Sallen21 and Rogers11! This is a very informative site. Please let me know if you have any questions - I'll do my best to help out, even though I am only 3 months out myself! Sallen21, I hate to disappoint you, but if you are a Mississippi teacher, our insurance has an exclusion policy that specifically prohibits weight loss surgery. (It is near the back of the insurance booklet.) I ended up doing self-pay and my Dr. in Oxford has a cost of $14,500 that includes everything (doctor, hospital, anesthesia, etc.) I hope everything goes well for you both. Keep me posted on your progress!

I went for my 2nd fill today and as of today I am down 40 pounds! 6/30 was the 2 month mark and I had hoped to make it to 40 by then. Oh, well - I'm not gonna complain!

I did the same thing Sunday and I worried too! That was the first time I've had gum post-op and I was so scared it would plug me up! I guess it all came out OK!

WOW, Deb! You are doing great! 58 lbs down! Keep up the good work!

Good work, Lee! I also like to strive for 5 days on and 2 days off. Keep up the good work!

Elisabeth, you said you were taking Aleve. My surgeon told me I could never again take Aleve, Motrin or any type anti-inflammatory med because of the risk of ulcers in my new stomach. What did your surgeon say and have you had any adverse effects? I have had back pain for a month and have been going to the chiropractor since I knew I couldn't take anything. :eek:

Jacqui - about your morning foot pain...have you tried stretching it before you get out of bed? Use a towel around your foot and dorsiflex (pull the toes toward your head). That gently stretches the plantar fascia (which relaxes while you sleep) before you put the weight of your whole body on it and stretch it.:eek:

Yes, I have adjusted my schedule due to the extreme heat, too. Before I went on vacation (week of 6/19) I had been walking 3 miles at the park. I walked on the beach and used the fitness room equipment at the hotel, but when I got home --BOY! The heat had really gotten bad here. Since then, I have been walking an hour on the treadmill and then jumping in the pool. I kind of miss the park, but I'll go back when it cools off.

My doc told me one day clear liquids, one day full liquids, then soft food. Guess they're all a little different.

I have tried it all and insurance never covered any of it. The MyAlli that is newly available over the counter is just a smaller dose of xenical. For me, none of the weight loss meds had any long term success.

The "No NSAIDs" was a real bummer for me, too. My doctor also said no steroids (Medrol dose pak, Decadron, etc.) as well. I went to the American medical website and ordered my bracelet tonight. I've been carrying around a paper order form for a couple of weeks -- seemed much easier to do it online.

Happy (Belated) birthday, Lee! Sorry to hear you were feeling sickish after your fill. Don't know about your doctor, but my doctor puts me back on clear liquids the day of a fill and full liquids the next day, then back to food the 3rd day. I think it is so my stomach can adjust to the newly filled amount of restriction. I've only had one fill so far and I didn't have any problems with it. Keep up the good work--I know what you mean about the weather! This southern heat (and humidity) just sucks the life right out of you! Don't worry, August will be here before you know it!

I haven't had one since my surgery and I haven't missed them! I'm too afraid of the possible pain to try one!

I have state employees' insurance and it specifically excludes weight loss surgery. It really stinks to me that I have to pay for part of my insurance coverage, but it didn't pay for this. (And what really bites further, is that my tax dollars are being used to pay for folks on medicaid and medicare to have their surgeries!) I guess I am just petty, but it just doesn't seem fair. I had to have this done as a self-pay patient. If it is any help to you, Allergan has a patient financing plan available.

Happy Birthday, Judy (& Happy wedding!) Ard, glad you got your restriction taken care of --that is a horrible way to lose 9 pounds. I just returned from vacationing in FL with my family. I was worried how the scales would reflect my upset vacation schedule and eating out every day. Fortunately, I lost 2 pounds even though I didn't work out every day. I did walk on the beach and used the equipment in the workout room one night, but not my usual routine. I managed all the eating out just fine, though. I didn't order for myself, I just took a little from my husband and sons' plates and was quite satisfied. I enjoyed the trip but will be glad to get back into my "groove"! On the exercise front, I am thrilled to report that my "Sweating to the Oldies" videos arrived by mail while I was gone. I loved those back in the 90's, but one copy was eaten by the VCR and another I loaned out and it never came home. Now to jump in there and start moving and grooving!

Good job girls! Katie, don't worry about being slow -- it will get easier and you will get faster. When I first came home from the hospital, my surgeon had me walking 30 min a day. I had to divide it into 3-10min sessions. Then I upped it to 30 minutes a day - no problem. 10 days after the surgery, he increased my exercise to an hour a day. Then, it took me an hour to walk 2 miles and I was SOO pooped! Now I can walk 3 miles in an hour and feel good afterward. (Like a Sweathog, but good!) Keep up the good work everyone!:clap2:

:)Hi Deb - Just hang in there and do one bite, one meal, one day at a time. We all probably knew there would be times like that when we are tempted to revert to our old habits. The key is to replace them with new ones. And one of the things I keep telling myself when I am tempted to eat something "bad": I am paying too much for this thing to mess it up for a few minutes of pleasure or a taste of something forbidden. You are doing great - going to the gym, working out. You've lost 51 pounds - that is amazing!:clap2: Just keep your mind in the game (I know that is hard when we have as much to lose as we do!) I am just setting little mini goals for myself. If I look at the big picture, it seems overwhelming and I get depressed. Good for you for going to the support meeting. I wish I lived close enough to go to one (my surgery was 2.5 hours away). Feel free to PM me anytime you need to talk to a friend--we can get to know one another and encourage each other! Hang in there sister -- it will get better!

Just wondering where all you guys were and how you were doing? (Lee, Mary, Deb, others) Haven't seen any posts lately and wanted to hear from you. Monday I will have been banded 4 weeks and so far things are great. I'm not having any problems and I'm exercising; I've had my first fill and it was nothing like what I had dreaded:nervous Hope to hear from you guys soon!

I am so proud of all of you guys! You are such an inspiration! Running in a 10K PERIOD is such an awesome accomplishment! The times sound great to me! Tracy - kudos to you for joining the gym (and for going!) I am headed out for my 3 mile walk. Later, guys!

Oh, yes - it's xenical and boy do I remember it! It's funny that I saw this post because I just read an advertisement for myAlli in the new All About You magazine not 2 hours ago. I wonder if they changed the name of it because so many people DO remember xenical and the greasy orange gas?

Ditto to what everyone else said. I had my first fill on 5/23 and it is pretty mild. I can tell a difference in the amount of restriction and I am not hungry, but it is not too tight. Enjoy your vacation!

You guys are too funny with the panties! Can't wait till mine fall off! I did buy myself a couple of new bras this week:D BUT....apparently I've lost weight in my boobies! That C cup was way too empty! I haven't been a B cup since junior high! Not so sure if DH is gonna like that or not! Maybe he won't mind as long as I lose weight in other places too!:biggrin1:

I am amazed at you guys -- I would love to be able to run. Running 6 miles is like a miracle to me! I think that will be a goal of mine. We have a Coca-Cola 10K run in our town each May; I will set a goal to enter that race and run at least part of the way. Julie, you asked about my exercise goals; right now I am walking 2 miles a day. I started after my surgery. At first it took me about an hour to walk the 2 miles. As of today, it only takes me 40 minutes, so I will be adding another mile. That is a big milestone for me. I am also swimming in the pool everyday for at least 30 minutes. If I don't swim the entire time, I walk laps in the shallow end. My teenage sons have a Wii and the boxing game gives a really good work out -- you really get to sweating! It's a lot of fun, so I think I will add that to my workout as well. Keep up the good work girls! :clap2: