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Any help out there about the colonoscopy prep. I don't think I can drink the prep stuff so just wondering if anyone has any suggestions?:thumbup:

Well, today is my one year Bandiversary!!! I am really excited. It has been an amazing journey. It is so much more than the weight loss. I am filled with joy and happiness and pride. I worked hard to be where I am today. Goal weight does feel delicious and I have to remind myself everyday, that I know what it takes to stay here and that going back to the old ways won't work. The support from family, friends, other bandsters, and my doctor has been vital in my success. I am learning to be comfortable in my own skin and to celebrate good health. I am grateful that the Lap Band helped me to achieve my goal. I am no longer obese and that feels amazing!!!!

No worries, I don't feel a thing during a fill... and your soreness will go away.....

My doctor has never had trouble with a fill. I have had probably 7 fills. It is done is his office, no flouro. My port is right next to my belly button on the left side. He numbs the spot and the puts in the needle. You sit up and drink water and tell him how the water is flowing through the band. He must have a sixth sense because it can just feel where you need to be. My fills have been very small, because a little fluid makes a big difference for me. The most I had in my band was 5.1 cc. I lost 80 pounds in under 10 months. I am at goal now so I took some fluid out and trying to maintain my weight.

Hi Vicki, Glad to hear about your success too!. I'm off all meds as well. I believe my walking everyday has made a huge difference in my weight loss and muscle tone. I do have loose skin but I am hoping it will tighten up and redrape on a smaller frame. I just started Biotin too because my hair has been affected. Stick with it and I know you will lose the balance of your weight. Do you get fills regularly? They helped me to stay restricted. And I eat protein every few hours to stay full.

Hi I just passed my 11 month anniversary. I have reached my goal weight and decided to remove some liquid from my band. I have lost 80 pounds and feel terrific. Big fears are surfacing because I don't know how to stay at this weight. I only know how to gain..... what I do know is I love how I feel at this size and want to stay here.

I have been noticing hair loss starting around the eighth month. I will start taking the biotin to see if it will help. I had thin hair to begin with so losing more has been tough. Good thing is I have hit my weight goal within 10 months. Lost 80 pounds I was carrying around for the last twenty years.

A nutritionist told me to take high quality vitamins. I thought I could use CVS chewable but she said they are worthless. I use Bariatric Advantage now. For me in the beginning I was using soy protein and it was causing more gas, so my Dr. had me switch to whey and I was able to digest that more easily. Water and walking are key for me. The healing process takes time so try and be patience with your body's needs.

At my last fill I got a total 4.8 in my band. After a few days, liquids were gurgling in my chest and I had lost 6 lbs in four days which is a ton for me,(I lose slowly) so I had to go back to the dr. and he removed .2 cc and within a few days I felt better. I was kind of upset to take out fluid but I realized that being too tight isn't the answer. We have to learn to live with our band, each at our own rate, it is not a race to the end but a process of regaining our health.

I wanted to get some feedback from other Anthem Blue Cross LAP-BAND® patients. They have just informed me that they will not pay for adjustments/fills. They believe it is part of the surgery. I am appealing their decision. I have a case manager who told me the first three fills were covered by BC. I would love to hear about others experience with BC.:smile2:

I had just one dr. appointment before my Aug. 09 surgery. And one psych appt. they were covered. I am still waiting for BC to pay for the pre-op appt and bloodwork.

When I spoke with the insurance person in my dr. office, she said that she should have included the first 3 fills that occurred in the first 90 days in the surgery cost. So, I am elated that those will be covered and I don't have to pay BC back. As far as future fills, they will be $350 but will go toward my deductible. I still feel BC should cover for the the first year.

I find it completely unfair, if a case manager from BC tells you that your first three fills in the first 90 days are included and then you're told they are not. BC is now saying that after the first 90 days fills, will be reviewed for medical necessity. If you don't get your band adjusted how are you suppose to resolve your weight, I explained most Band's are placed without being filled. I am hoping to change the critiera at BC and I am hoping I will start a class action change that will allow for fills to be covered at least within the first year of the Band's placement. Thanks for all the responses.

I am walking everyday. I definitely feel it helping me tone my body. I do hills on purpose to work harder and try to increase my speed when I can. You can do exercises at home too, like push ups, sit ups etc. But just keep walking....

I remember those feeling as well. Now at 3 months I have no pain from the band. I would say it took me 8 weeks to be pain free. Sometimes when I am on my walk I feel a stitch where my port is. (left side of belly button). But I wake up feeling joy and relief that I did something to improve my health. Lost 30 lbs. and cholesterol has dropped 40 points.

Mine is in my belly button on the left side. I have had 3 fills and the dr. easily finds the port for the fill.

Mine lasted for 12 days and then it was gone. It is very painful and feels like your having a heart attack. I walked a lot.

Has anyone just blown the good food choices? Today I ate four pieces of candy and I can't stop think those four hundred calories. There wasn't a reason to do it. I just did!:wink2:

A new day to do better than yesterday. Started with a high protein breakfast of eggs and turkey bacon. Going to walk and do pilates. I decided that I probably need a fill sooner than I had planned, so I am going to call the dr. today and move up my appt. Thanks for just being there.:cursing:

Thanks for the support. I really needed it.

I had my second fill two days ago. I got the gurgling sounds and had to drink very slowly. My dr. does liquid for the balance of the fill day plus one more day. Then 2 days of mushy then back to a regular diet. I can fill the restriction for sure. After a cup of coffee this morning, I didn't want to eat breakfast. I am hoping to see a reduction in the quantity of food with this fill. I am 3.6 of a 10 cc band. Surgery Aug 13, 2009

In the eight weeks I have had many foods stick. If I eat too quickly, it gets stuck. I have to cough and bring it up to relieve the pain in my chest. It is a constant reminder to chew well, eat slowly and put my fork down between bites. Old habits are hard to break.

I find that one ounce of Fiber One cereal everyday really helps. Plus I take vitamins with extra Magnesium. I find that I am not drinking as much water as I used to so it is difficult to stay regular.:wink2:

Was anyone still hungry after their first fill?

I had my first fill at 4 weeks. Banded Aug 13, 2009. It was not painful at all just a weird feeling. I am still hungry a lot. I did liquids for 2 days now mushy food for 2 days. I still don't feel full so I might call the office to ask why. 1.4cc in a 10cc band. I lost 13.8 in the first 4 weeks.