HDmama

So did they just say the fill wasn't covered? I was banded in October '09 and I just received a bill from my Doc's office stating that I owed them $550 for the fill (plus I had another one since then, so basically I'm going to owe them over $1000?)....when I called UHC, they said that it's not that the fills aren't covered, it's how they are trying to bill it and that it's part of the global service - what does that even mean? They can't expect that because they paid a whopping $900 for the surgery (yep, that's all they paid the surgeon), that I would get lifetime fills for free, right?

Just checking in....I didn't see another post (sorry if I missed it)....I was out of town over the weekend and didn't have a chance to log in yesterday. How did everyone do yesterday with exercise? I didn't do as much as I planned , but here is what I did do..... Treadmill - running/walking sprints - 1 mile. Then I slowed down to 3.5 mph and put it on a 3% incline for another 1/2 mile. I intended on hopping on in the evening for another 1 or so - but after helping with homework/reading/playing with kids, never got around to it (note to self - don't try to break up your work-outs into two when you barely have time for one, LOL). I also did about 15 minutes of free weights. My goal for today is to walk at lunch (weather permitting) and to do the stairs at work (up/down 13 floors) and then do at least 2 miles on the treadmill tonight. Hope everyone is doing well and has a great day!

Nooshie - don't get discouraged - you are doing (and looking) GREAT!!!! And I'm sure you feel a lot better, right? It was great seeing everyone last night!!!

Sounds good....perhaps we can share what we did in case people are looking for new ideas (not that I'm overly creative, just a thought, LOL)

I'm in....I actually did one for January as well. I was involved in one that was committing to exercise for 2010 minutes during the month of January - it was tough, but so far, I'm on track and just knowing I'd have to fess up if I fell behind kept me motivated to push through even when I didn't feel like it . Not sure if you want to do that for the same amount of time (it basically equates to 65 minutes per day) - we could do one on a smaller scale if you'd like?

I do the following daily and love it! Champion chocolate Pure whey stack (1 scoop = 130 calories/23 g protein) 1/3 small banana (30 calories) PB2 (powdered peanut butter) 1 TBS = 27 calories/2 gr. protein) 10 ozs. Water 4 ice cubes I put it in my bullet and is it REALLY good. The total nutritionals look like this: 187 calories/4 g fat/14 g carbs/6g sugar/25 g Protein I also will sometimes use a vanilla Protein powder mixed w/ 1 TBS of sf pudding mix (flavor of your choice - I like butterscotch) and water/ice - also very good.

Sorry you are having a hard time of it Oliverdog - hopefully the fill will help you out. I've had 2 fills so far - the first one was 4 cc's and the last one was only .5 cc (doc didn't think I needed one but I asked for at least a small one) - I'm now feeling a bit of a difference in that not everything goes down easily. I'm still making good choices and have been following "the rules"....I think the biggest change for me (aside from the smaller qty's/better quality food) is that I now exercise every day. I decided that I would strive to work out for 2010 minutes during the month of January, which works out to just over an hour a day (every day) - and I've stuck with that, and I've noticed a huge difference....I feel SO much better - last night I went roller skating for 2 hours and didn't even feel like I was going to die....I've started running and can do it and I just keep pushing myself a bit more each day. Some days it's harder than others but I have to do something different than what I've always done in the past - which is start a diet, start exercising and then find some reason to stop and become complacent....I have to remind myself everyday why I did this and what I went through and just realize that as hard as it is to get the pounds off - it's way TOO EASY to gain them back :wink: Anyway - good luck with the fill and just keep reminding yourself why you did this and try as hard as you can to stick to the rules and even if it's slow as long as you are moving in the right direction, you'll eventually get to where you want to be.

I had one incision that was really funky like that...it was sort of "open" for weeks! I think it was about 5-6 weeks before it finally started scabbing over and closing (after I stopped covering it with bandages, btw)

Don't get depressed about this - this is COMPLETELY normal. In fact, when you move on to mushies, you may even see a slight gain. Once you start getting the fills you will notice more of a loss. You've probably still got a bit of swelling and really - it's not uncommon to not lose much (if at all) immediately after surgery. I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry - I remember feeling the same way. In fact, I couldn't understand how BEFORE surgery I was consistently losing and then once banded, I just stopped losing....keep doing as you are supposed to and the scale will start moving again.

LOL....no, I'll have to try that one. And sadly - if I get multiple (different) readings, I usually take the highest one (so I can beat myself up that day, LOL):thumbup:

Bob - you are not alone - I play those same crazy mind games with myself, LOL. I'm ashamed to say - I weight myself EVERY morning after going to the bathroom, before eating/drinking anything....and normally, I get on the scale like 4 times in a row just to make sure the number is consistent (since some days I get on and will get a different reading every time?)....it's sad, but I just can't stop myself:wink2:

Tracy - I'm also 5'6 - and at 160, I was an 8, so I don't think it's totally unrealistic - I guess everyone is different since you said when you were at that weight previously you were a 16 (?)....did your doctor's office recommend the 170 though? I'm surprised that they would actually recommend a goal that still leaves you in the overweight category (mine never gave me a suggestion either way - they asked me what I wanted to be and never questioned me or told me it should be any different)

I was just thinking about this earlier this week. My original goal was 160...simply because I remember when I was 160 and I was wearing a size 8 then and was healthy/thin...but when I looked that up, it would still put me in the "overweight" category (I was shocked)....so I've adjusted my goal to be within the normal range - will I get there? Who knows - after having two kids, it may not happen - but I'm going to do everything I can to try. Even if I can only get to 160 though - I'll still be WAY healthier than I was at my highest.

I used to use "Count it Off" - but Livestrong's Daily Plate actually has an iPhone app, so that's what I use now (and it syncs up with whatever I enter on the dailyplate.com website that I use when I'm at a computer).

Nooshie - I feel like I have to measure, otherwise, I'm sure I'd be eating too much (like I said, I don't necessarily get "full", I just get "not hungry" - and it would be easy to not recognize that if I didn't measure ) I can totally relate to the mindless eating thing - I find myself opening a cabinet in the evening, just out of habit....luckily as soon as it's open and I see the "cabinet of carbs" (LOL) - I come to my senses and realize I have no reason to be looking in there for anything. I wish I could say that all the holiday treats floating around here weren't tempting for me....but that's not the case....I just have to have tunnel vision and keep on walking...I just have to hide in my office . I haven't given in to the urge to have the stuff, but man, it doesn't make it any easier seeing it every time I step out my door.

If you are looking for a hot cereal - I like the Flax Z Snax, strawberries and cream....has 15g protein, low fat, low sugar, low carb...very yummy. Sometimes I even add some protein powder to give it more of a protein boost.

Elfie - I do that same mind game thing....in fact, I still have a few pieces of Halloween candy in my fridge that I told myself I would eat if I wanted it once I was able to eat food again (I was banded just before Halloween)...yet they sit there, untouched, LOL. One thing that also helps me is if I really want something, I go look up the calorie content....that usually turns me right off :eek:

I did a few things...the first thing I think I had was a baked ricotta thing - recipe below (I used n/f cheeses just so it wasn't loaded with fat - and I also portioned this out to 4-5 servings (I think - maybe more) 8 oz of Ricotta cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan 1 large Egg, beaten 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning salt & pepper to taste 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, beaten egg, seasonings together and place in a oven proof dish. Pour marinara on top and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake it in the oven @ 450 for about 20-25 minutes (best) or nuke it till hot and bubbly. I also bought the Foster Farm SW chicken strips (in the lunch meat section usually) and put that in my mini chopper - so it was totally ground up fine, but not liquified) and added some of that (just like 3 strips) to cottage cheese (and warmed it in the microwave) - I still am eating this actually - just had it for lunch ). I also ate egg beaters (usually mixed with cottage cheese to add more protein)....I did do cream of wheat once or twice, but found it didn't keep me full like the Protein did. I did add chocolate Protein powder to some cream of wheat - it was okay - kept me full, but wasn't the best tasting thing I've eaten.

Just wanting to check in....banded 10/22 - still haven't had a fill (scheduled for one on Wednesday). I've got mixed feelings about it - I don't seem to have the unbearable hunger that most people talk about. I do have days where I'm more hungry than others, but it's not terrible. Perhaps they'll just give me a small fill? I measure all my food and never eat more than 1/2 cup - could I? Probably, but I don't even attempt it - and while I'm not hungry, I wouldn't say I get "full" either...I just stop because I've measured it out - so perhaps a small fill will change that? I've lost 19 pounds since day of surgery, but 57 pounds since my first consult in July - so overall, I'm VERY happy. Good luck to everyone around the holidays - I know it can be tough to resist all the goodies - but when you are tempted, look up the calories - that should turn you off, LOL.

Congratulations!!!! I know it was a long time coming for you :sad: I think I started mushies at week 3 (but I was on full liquids for the first two weeks, so could have cream Soups - although I didn't really want any). How is your hubby doing now? I remember he was initially having a lot of pain, right?

Nooshie - so with a fill, you are only supposed to be able to eat 1/4 cup? I still haven't had a fill (when I went the week before last, they were going to give me one, but because one of my incisions still wasn't healed they said I had to wait...which was fine since I'm not all that hungry). I just called to make an appt and they said the first available appt is 12/9, so looks like I won't have a fill until then :bored:. I have been measuring everything, and I never eat more than 1/2 cup per meal, and most days, don't snack....I'm not starving or anything, but I don't get full either...I just stop when I don't feel hungry or I get to my 1/2 cup, whichever comes first, LOL. My weight loss has pretty much stalled also. I've lost a total of 50 pounds since my first consult in July, but have only lost like 13 since day of surgery....but if I step back - 13 pounds in a month isn't terrible - I guess I just expected it would be more since I was already losing about that before surgery. I'll just keep plugging away, hoping I won't gain (since the last couple days, I seem to be going up 1/2 pound a day, even though my calories are very low) between now and my fill in December.

I asked the question at my last pre-op appt and was told my surgeon usually uses the glue for lap-band patients, VERY rarely does he use anything else...guess what? When I got home and took off the bandaids, lo and behold - I was one of those rare ones that got STAPLES, except for the port incision, that had glue. I was so bummed and freaked out by them - mostly I was dreading having them removed (yay, more pain, right?)....I went in a week later because one of the incisions with staples looked funky and he removed all the staples then - and it wasn't bad at all. Most of my incisions are healing up nicely (except the one that I went in for in the first place, that one doesn't seem to be closing up :thumbup:)