Just Jess

hi there!!! whereabouts in baltimore are you? i live in annapolis, actually, but my doc is in catonsville (Dr. vonReuden). which surgeon did you use? i am SO happy to have a close by friend!!! maybe we can meet up sometime and i can pick your brain about everything!! Thanks girl!!!! :)

hey all, EXCITING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOST 3.6 inches in THREE WEEKS of working out!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOP! WOOP! So excited!!! I met with my exercise psychologist today and got measured. After working 2.5 hours with a personal trainer last Saturday, I bet that's where most of it came from! hahaha --- AND I hope to start aqua aerobics next month, too!!! WOOP! More good news: went to the doc Wednesday and learned that I AM APPROVED FOR SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I made up my mind and talked to all the right people about all the questions I had... and I'M IN!!!! Looking forward to getting my call with a date... hoping for spring break or early summer! SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Howdy almost neighbor! Maybe once I get this thing, we could meet half way sometime for drinks and/or dinner and talk more about our journeys. When I had the lapband I met a group of 6 wonderful people on another support group and we were from different parts of MD, DC, and VA... we used to meet in Crystal City or Alexandria -- it was SO wonderful sitting and chatting with people who REALLY understood!!! Thank you for sharing your story! Best wishes to you! I look forward to getting to know you better. Hey girl!!! Thanks for looking out! hugs! Thank you very much for the honest and detailed post!!!! ps - love the name!

Is Johns Hopkins still conducting this surgery? I am pre-op and live and work outside of Baltimore.

FABULOUS! THANK YOU! And love your humor!!!

Long story, short: I was having a lot of reflux and my doc unfilled me lat week. I spent a week on liquids and had a UGI scheduled for Monday for him to check that the swelling and dilation had gone down. It didn't. He admitted me to the hospital and scheduled for me revision surgery. I went into surgery understanding that he wanted to reposition the band... but came out of surgery hearing that he needed to REMOVE the band due to the inflamation in my stomach. I have to be bandless for at least 90 days - he said that will allow my stomach to heal and the inflamation and swelling to completely go away. They we can talk about my options for getting it replaced. In the meantime I have so many questions. He has me on full liquids for 2 days during recovery. What did you first eat? Did it go down OK? Stay down OK? Did you find that your stomach shrank any and that it took less food to feel full than before you were banded? I know after reading many of the threads in this forum, many do not want their band back - but I DO!!! I was banded for just shy of 2 years and had many more GOOD times than BAD with my band. I've lost 93 lbs. and don't want to gain any. Luckily, my doctor is going to work with me and prescribe an appetite suppressant to help keep me in line during the interim... Right now, I'm just concerned with starting to eat like a "normal person" again. What did you eat? How long were you on liquids before eating? He didn't say anything about a mushy stage - just liquids, then do my own thing. Help???

I am a patient of Dr. VR at St. Agnes. I live in Annapolis, but work in Brooklyn Park... so St. Agnes is convenient for me. I was recently unbanded but today Dr. VR submitted my approval to the insurance company. Send me positive thoughts!!!!!! I hope to soon be back in bandland! Jess

i have no idea how that works when you "request" to have it removed. i certainly did not!!!!!!! it all came as a surprise to me - the doc didn't know he had to remove it until he looked inside my stomach! so definetely call your doc and explain your symptoms. i wouldn't go in "asking" for removal... wait and see what he suggests, bc it will probably be different if it "medically necessary" vs "patient requested" -- you know? i'm currently fighting to get rebanded and praying i get approved. i miss my band SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!

this was my exact situation!!!!!!! i can SO empathise with you! i was just crushed when i found out IN RECOVERY that my band was removed. i cried, but it hurt to cry - they gave me pain meds and i went out. i woke up and cried some more. my husband was beside himself with how to deal with me - i was grieving... like someone had died - but my "someone" was "something". it's nice to talk to people who UNDERSTAND!!!!!! i had a follow-up with my surgeon last thursday and he said that after 3 months, he will reband me. i am SO excited. he said at the 2 month point they'll submit it to insurance to see if it gets covered and if they deny it, he said the office will appeal it since it was not my choice to have it out! do you mind my asking what insurance you have?

my insurance has covered everything thus far. i have NO idea about putting it back in. i actually have an appt. on nov. 20th to discuss all my options - and that is certainly a question i have on my list!!! i will report back. since it HAD to be taken out due to dilation... it wasn't my CHOICE. i wonder if that will have me covered? my insurance paid for everything as of yet. i don't know about how the hospitalization works - it was my first time being admitted into the hospital. i guess we'll see. i have pretty good insurance (bcbs - ppn)

i totally and completely understand your fears, smammas!!! my doc also prescribed me an appetite suppresant. are you getting your band back, or do you have any info. on that yet? yes, the reflux goes away immediately. mine actually went away when he unfilled me. i needed to have the band removed bc my stomach swelling didn't go down and he said i was at risk for other issues if they didn't take it out. but after 90 days of healing, we can discuss putting it back! today was my first day eating solids in 2 weeks! i had cerearl this morning and one small bowl, just like with the band, was enough!!! so, so far so good!!! :thumbs_up: thanks for your thoughts! take care of YOURSELF, dianne!!! thank you so much for your thoughts! :frown: myself, i have lost over 90 lbs. but to reach MY goal, i need to lose over 50 more... to reach my "ideal" weight, i need to lose 80 more. sooooooooooooooooooo, i have a long journey still in front of me. good news: it's not as long as it was 2 years, and 93 lbs. ago!!!!

NANCY!!! I am so so sooooo glad you responded to me!!! This is exactly what I wanted to know! And although, yes, some of what you said sounds odd --- but I think I know exactly what you mean... I was trying to explain to my husband how I feel like Water or tea or whatever is going WAAAAY down and I hear it/feel it - instead of that "hang out and trickle" that I used to feel! Maybe you're right... the stomach shrinking will be enough to keep all my good band habits in tact, even without the band!!! I feel so much better after reading your post. Anything else you want to share - I'm more than happy to hear it. I don't post here much. I will PM you my info. I'd definetely like to stay in touch. Thanks again for all your info!!! :rolleyes2: - Jess

Hi Nancy, THanks for your response!!! I am hoping that is the case for me too - little appetite... or at least much less than before! Did you have issues with your stomach grumbling or anything like that? BC mine has already started!!! UGH! Could be bc I've been on nothing but liquids for 2 weeks now. I hope that I can eat much less than I did 2 years ago, prior to being banded. I imagine my stomach shrunk, it would have to, right? What kind of foods are still difficult for you to eat? And what do you mean difficult? Obviously with no band... you don't have a PB or "stuck" feeling... so can you elaborate? Thanks for the info.

my doc told me to expect shoulder pain. the gas they pump into your stomach to give them room to work has to work its way out. get yourself some gas-x and when you feel that pain, get up and walk around. the new bandster moto: walk walk walk! sip sip sip! as far as what to eat --- i'm sure your doc gave you strict instructions on what is allowed this early on. follow that!!! for me, it was Protein Shakes and jello! :thumbup: till mushies, which you can find a lot more interesting recipes to play with! GOOD LUCK TO YOU! btw, i know the BIGGEST group of losers in all of idaho!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha - you must go here: http://band2gether.net/index.php?referrerid=370 i'd say there are at least 20 ID bandsters and they get together all the time. i'm so envious that i am not closer to be a part of all the fun! my screen name is the same over there as it is here... and i post MUCH more frequently there. check it out!!! when you do, be sure to pop by and say hi! :eek:

i have the same doc... what do you think? are you moving to st.agnes with him or staying with GBMC?

i'm in annapolis!!!

hello! i haven't been on this board in forever!!! i got an email today to that effect, so i decided to pop over and say hello! my name is jessica and i live in annapolis. i was banded on dec.21, 2006 at GBMC with dr.vonreuden. as someone above mentioned, he is moving to st. agnes --- so i have my 1st follow-up with him there next month. i would love to get together and meet fellow bandsters from MD! hugs, jess

Hey everyone... So, I am officially on day 26 since surgery. A couple days from my one month bandiversary. I've been doing really well. No complications after surgery, no issues with starting a work-out routine, no food stuck or anything like that... and up until a few days ago - I felt GRRRRREAT! Now, starting on Friday, I am just ravenous!!! No matter what I eat, I am not satisfied. I am eating a cup or better of my mushies and it is JUST NOT cutting it. I've been careful with carbs, sugars, etc.. and still............................................? ??? I start solid food next week and I'm TERRIFIED bc that is when people say to expect to put a little weight back on. But I haven't lost any in the last week! NADA. In fact I've gone up a little. My weight was down to 291.2 (back on 1/5/07) now it is back up to 293 as of this morning - and it's been back and forth between 292 and 294 this last week (I KNOW, I KNOW - scale whore - - what can I say???). And to make matters worse, Vinny (bf/roommate) is starting to question my choices (ie: "do you really want another wedge of cheese?".... "you're not really hungry", etc., etc.) which is REALLY frustrating, bc he has been SO supportive along this journey. He keeps telling me how proud he has been of me, and doesn't want to see me screw it up now................ omg, what if I do??? I guess the reason I wanted to start this thread was to ask for your advice. What was your week 4 period like - end of mushies, beginning of solids? What did you do? eat? feel? Were you satisifed? How did you feel prior to that first fill? Was it at 6 weeks for many of you? Or sooner? later? I just feel so discouraged today. So down................ I know I made the right decision in doing this for myself, I do not doubt that. BUT that being said, what if I screw it all up now bc I can't stop at 4-8 oz. of food a sitting???????????? I am following all the rules. Protein, protein, protein. It's just not enough anymore. HELP!????

as you can see below, i am 2 months, 1 week, and 1 day since surgery and only down 20.5 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR... i am still fighting to get my 2nd fill. i can eat a horse if let myself. i am STILL frustrated as hell! hashbrowns = bad!!! but hey, we all fall off the boat now and then, right??? (((like a whole sleeve of reduced fat chips-a-hoy Cookies last saturday???? hey, they were reduced fat!))) ugh!

Maurdan - i agree!!!!!! head hunger is my biggest issue as well! i haven't been on here in a while. and lately i've been feeling pretty down, so i wanted to pop on and see if i'm alone within the group of people who were also banded in and around the same time i was. lately, i feel like i don't even have a band. i NEED NEED NEED to ge to get out of this rut. i hate feeling unsuccessful. i want to know what this restriction is SUPPOSE to feel like. that is the whole reason of getting the band right????????? i look at other's month-to-month shots and they look SO different each time and have lost a good 10 or so lbs. each month......... not 2-5! or NOTHING. ugh. i have the 10cc band and so far have a fill of 2cc's. i had an appt. for my 2nd fill yesterday, but doc unfortunately had a death in his family and had to cancel. so now i have to wait another week. SO FRUSTRATED.... and my weight HAS NOT BUDGED in 2 weeks. anyone have similar issues? or any advice????? hey, we have the same size band... i am happy to hear that you feel less hungry with your 2nd fill. congrats!

Dreamer and Renebean -- thanks so much! i still feel as frustrated as i did the day i wrote this message. i've had one fill (only 2 cc's) and my 2nd fill was cancled this week (doc had a death in the family) so i have to reschedule for next week. I CANNOT WAIT TO FEEL SOME RESTRICTION that everyone keeps talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!! how much are you up to with fills?

thanks dreamer and butterful! i appreciate your imput!! :confused:

hey kaboom - i have my first fill scheduled for 2/2 as well!!!!! :scared: can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! i have only lost somewhere around 19 (i've lost track now bc i've been gaining and losing the same 2-3 pounds for the last 3 weeks!!) i feel SO much better since solids started last week! my body needed that food. it is not grumbling any longer!!! let me know how it goes for you and i'll do the same!!

you were filled one day before me - and GOD AM I HUNGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mushies are not doing much for me either. but i get to start solid food this week! (YEH!) my doc does not do fills until 6 weeks out... so my first is scheduled for feb. 2nd... i can't wait..... have you scheduled one yet? good luck and KNOW you are not alone............. others have joked with me that THIS period is known as "bandster hell" - as we are healed and CAN eat as much as we did before surgery, but cannot to keep the band effective. HARD STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep me updated on how it's going for you!