Texarkana Bandsters

[Sugarbear 2]

lo2us, many times you can appeal to your insurances medical review board. You can get your pcp to write them a letter of "medical necessity." I have used the same doctor for years but even if you haven't, you can usually tell him about your struggle with your weight and for how long. Tell him all the diets, diet drugs and or aid you have tried. Also if you have high blood pressure, pre-diabetic, bad knees , back, ect. Any trouble with shortness of breath when you are mobile, can't do much exercises due to your size and weight, performing simple things like you use to but can't now, like help dressing ect. Those are some things and I am sure there are more I just can't think of. I had my pcp and my doc that treated me for knees and back both send a letter, along with my own two cents worth. It is just a thought to help you financially. You can borrow the money as many do and pay it back just like a car payment, but this is a better investment. If you abide by the rules of the band you will have something to show for this investment when the car will be long gone. Good luck to you. You can also go to the support meeting and talk with post-banders and ask questions ect. if you would like. Go to noscales.com for the schedule for the meeting. Hope this helps.

[Paula S. 0]

Hey everyone! I haven't been on here in a while :success1: I had my first fill on the 7th and I really cannot tell a difference. I don't go back for 6 weeks.... It really didn't hurt bad....but the lidocaine or what ever they used to deaden the site burned. Other than that it was nothing.

I am down 25/26 pounds...depends on if I weigh in the morning or afternoon..lol. I am having trouble being hungry so I guess I need some more fill.... As usual, my patience is short. I want results NOW but I know that is impossible and I didn't get this big overnight...so therefore I will not get skinny overnight. Finding time for myself for exercise is hard...here comes the busier season...softball, baseball, you name it...

something every night.

I found something that I cannot eat.....I made some "souper minute rice" the other night for the family and let me tell you....... I felt like I had someone SITTING on my chest after about 2 bites. Never again!

I am glad all is doing well.....Good luck and hang in there to the newbies!

The GAS after surgery was the worst part! I am over a month out and if I get cold or really tired, it still hurts my collar bone and shoulder blade.

Hang in there!

Paula S.

[Sugarbear 2]

Hi Paula S. and the rest of the "gang." I am 8 days post op. I think the surgery may have altered my brain somewhat.........I went for my post op check-up this morning, it isn't until next Thurs.!!!!!!! I was pretty embarrassed, to say the least. Anyway I ask if I could at least go back and weigh, I have lost 18 pounds. I guess that is good. I don't really know. But I do know it is all I could do. That is my calculations. I guess I will see how it goes next week. I was hoping for 20. Oh well. I hated to make the trip for nothing so I went to Kohls, haven't been in there since it opened. Browsed around and realized I was so hungary. So I took my chances and went to McCalisters to see what kind of non-chunky Soup they might have, and they had Tomato bisque. Yeaaaaaaa! I had a cup and it was yummy. I meant to take a Tomato Soup at Hand but forgot it. It all worked out. Those are pretty handy when you are traveling away from home. Later. Hope everyone is hanging in there on there diets!!!!!

[littlemissyoyo 0]

Well gang This has to be divine intervention!!! One week before banding and i find out I am almost 6 weeks pregnant I'm in total shock I'm 41 and never been preg in my entire life!!! I am in total disbelief!!!!Didnt think I could even have kids !!! Needeless to say Ill be waiting a lil while longer to get my band hehe!!! HUggs and hope everyone is doing well!!

Donna

[lo2us 1]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Go Blondy!

[Sugarbear 2]

CONGRATULATIONS BLONDYLOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How is the hubby? I know you must be ecstatic!! You can always get banded later. I guess your family is soooooooooooo happy for you guys. Take care and now you have all the more reason to take care of your weight and eat healthy!!! Don't leave us, keep us up to date on the pregnancy experience. We will still be here to support you in every way.

GO BLONDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vlynnfogg 3]

I guess the ONE thing that is better than getting the band is HAVING A BABY:baby:

I am really excited for you Blondy...glad you found out now before you really got started on the Band-wagon...

I've noticed how wonderful all of you are doing and am so proud to see all of your successes...Our Spring Break begins today and I am soooo ready for it...got lots of cleaning to do, but ready for a little R & R...Just hope I can keep on track while I am at home near a refrigerator all day...

My first fill didn't do much for me either as far as hunger goes...but the second has definitely proven a much needed difference...before, I really wasn't sure if I was stopping in time to consider it to be NOT overeating, so I just would judge for myself...now, after my 2nd fill, I can tell when enough is enough...I drink a slimfast for Breakfast and about 2/3 of it is plenty...glad to have a STOP point...

[Sugarbear 2]

Hi Vlynnfogg. I am still on the liquid post-op diet. Just made me some potato Soup, thin. It is yummy. I guess liquids don't hang up so I never feel like I am over doing it. Hope I am not. Did you feel that way at this point? I will be glad when I can have food so I can feel the band working. It is still awhile before I start solids. next week is purees,pudding yogurt and even soft scrambled egg. I guess I will be able to tell more then?

[Lisa G. 4]

Congratulations Blondy!!! I know how you feel. I was 6 days shy of my 40th birthday when our little boy was born. I was told at the age of 21 that I would never have children. (not a weight issue) But low and behold, God blessed us and we were in total shock! But we really feel that he is a gift from God. Keep us posted on your progress, don't forget about us.

I get my second fill Monday. I will be so glad. I really need it. I stay hungry alot. But I am loosing again. (haven't changed my ticker either lol)

Sugarbear, hang in there. You are doing great. Just don't forget next week. lol

vlynn, stay away from the refrigerator! It's bad for you!

Yall have a good day!

lisa

[Sugarbear 2]

LisaG. Did you ever notice any fullness whil on liquids? When did you actually feel the band at work> I guess I mean which stage of food after surgery. I think the liquids must go right through or at least they don't hover in there long. Tell me your opinion. I am worried I might be over doing the liquids. I have a cup of sf hot chocolate in the a.m. sometimes a can of Tomato juice or V8 late a.m. Soup for lunch, soup for supper(8 or 10 oz mug) Seldom anything after supper except Water with my meds. I don't think I am losing much either now. Any advice? Opinion?

[Lisa G. 4]

Sugarbear, you have to remember that there is nothing in your band yet. This is the time for healing. I didn't feel any restriction until after my first fill and it's not much. The last few days, I have been feeling some restriction, but I have been hungry also. I also thought I was overdoing the liquids, and tried not to do too much at a time. Remember, you can eat every 3 hours on the liquid diet, then mushies I think is every 4 hours. I remember Mrs. Betty saying one time. Don't test the band. Try to see how little you can eat and be satisfied. I don't think that necessarily applies to you right now, but you might try it. Are you adding Protein to the stuff you are drinking? It looks like you need some more. Amy wants us to try to get our protein in solid form. I know you aren't able to do that right now. And I know you aren't too fond of the slim fast, but they will help also. (I know, yuck!) (And help with the hunger) As for the weight loss.... I was stuck for a long time. I was just loosing a little at a time, now I am starting to loose again. Believe me, I know it's frustrating, but just stick with it. You are just in the beginning stages and your body is trying to get used to the idea that it has a foreign object in there. Bottom line....it doesn't look like you are doing too much if you are taking your time about getting it down, to me.

sorry for all the rambling.

lisa

[vlynnfogg 3]

Sorry guys that I haven't been communicating much lately...trying to remodel a bathroom while out for Spring Break...Thank God I am not doing a whole new house, I would go nuts...

Sugarbear...I felt a little restriction at first after surgery, but I think it was more due to the swelling and such because that quickly went away...I started getting hungry again, and wanting to eat more...to a point that sometimes I wondered if I had done something to the band because I didn't think it was working like I thought it was supposed to...when you start eating mushies and solids, you will feel a little restriction, but don't be surprised if it isn't much and that it eventually goes away...after my 2 fill I have felt a lot better, with restriction, but also when I eat, a little goes a long way...I don't have the urge to munch like I had before the fill...I lost 2 lbs this week, but I believe my problem is that I am not doing as much exercise as I was before...so, I am trying this week to walk every day and see what happens...I find myself finding reasons to NOT go walk or exercise...I know, bad habits...on a good note, I have found that I am craving Water more, since I started putting the Crystal Light lemon flavor packets in it...I actually find that I have drank a lot and didn't realize it...Yea for Me!!!

Blondy...Enjoy your pregnancy...it is the one miracle that YOU are God's assistant in...What an awesome chance of a lifetime...You will truly be blessed, I promise!!! Keep us updated on due dates, names, etc...

Paula...it is common to not get much restriction, if any, after your first fill...I promise you will notice a difference with the next one...think of this six weeks as a test...you know you don't need to eat as much, even though you can or want to, make yourself NOT do it...WILLPOWER is the KEY!!!

Lisa...have you had your fill yet?...can you tell a difference, or is it just me?...I think you are doing great...Keep up the good work!!!

[Lisa G. 4]

I get mine TODAY! (2nd fill) Yea Me. I have started loosing again, but I think it's because I have been on spring break also. Six year old little boys are hard on old mommas. lol And I think I have felt a little restriction the last few days. (Maybe in my head) I also find that if I add something to the Water, it's lots easier to drink. I use the lemonade, wild strawberry and the great value cranberry apple. I did try the Vitasplash, but wasn't thrilled with the bland taste of the Vitamin stuff.

Yall have a good day! I'm off to the races today. Gonna be busier!

lisa

[Sugarbear 2]

Hello all. Hope all our new bandsters are doing good. I am now 12 days post-op. Feeling good. I still have a "bloated" feeling especially in the evening. I feel like I swell up high in my abdomen in the evening and night time. Odd? But it is better than when I started out. Over all I feel good. I have two more days on liquids. Of course the next stage isn't too far from liquids but I am looking forward to hot cereals, soft scrambled egg, yogurt, and of course I can still have my Soups. I will like I am eating a full meal deal. I am going to set up a ticker when ever i can figure out how to get it over here. I can make it but haven't figured out how to transfer it from there to here. haha. Sorry I am so dumb when it comes to those things. I am sure it is easy but i just haven't ever done it. Wonder who is being banded this week? If you are reading this we want to welcome you to BANDLAND!!

[Lisa G. 4]

Well...... I'm back from Texarkana. I almost didn't get my second fill until I told Dr. K. I stayed hungry. Whewwwww! I sure was glad she gave me one. I sure hope this one helps.

Sugarbear, when I do my ticker, I do this:

I open 2 windows

in one window go to the ticker website and make your ticker.

in the other window come to this site and go to your "User CP". (above the posts and to the left in the small blue bar)

when you get there, on the left side of the page, click on Edit signature.

When you get this done, go to the other window and RIGHT Click on the PICTURE of your ticker and "copy"

back to the "signature window" and in the box that says "edit signature". (It will be under the Preview box.) and right click again in that box and Paste the ticker in that window. And that should do it. :clap2: That sounds like it's clear as mud. but that's the way I do it.

Good luck.

lisa