Mayo Banditos / Friday Weigh In !!!!

[bevanfranks 0]

Spideymom-

Thanks for the reply :tongue2: Please do let me know about the upper GI if you don't mind. My insurance MIGHT cover some of that, but i need to be prepared just in case. As it is, I'm paying for my band loan. . . if I had known better, I'd have tried to negotiate the first year upper GI into the deal! Oh well

Yes, at times I also tend to eat some softer foods-- yogurt, cottage cheese, vegetarian refried Beans. . . but I can eat chicken (some days), eggs, filet mingon steak, and a few things that are of substance. I had some of those flat Orowheat breads, which is similar to what you're talking about (I think), but I'm a little bit afraid to try them right now. I haven't had any breads in quite a while-- not sure how they'll work out. I really worry about slips, because I read about them often. I purchased a "warranty" with my band, but it was only 1 1/2 years, so it'll be void soon. That's partly why I'd like the GI.

Lately my weight is BARELY changing, but I feel strange about having another adjustment, because I already tend to eat some softer foods. I've lost about 5 lbs since my appointment nearly 7 weeks ago.

I exercise a lot, so I don't know what the problem is! Maybe next week my loss with pick up again-- sometimes it stalls a bit :w00t:

I think today was just a crazy day, so I'm thinking too hard!

Edited August 26, 2010 by bevanfranks

[SpideyMom 1]

Lisa, if you could get your doctor to write an order for an upper GI as medically necessary, perhaps then your insurance would pay? Because, for example, wouldn't your insurance pay if you got an infection because of the band and needed some medical intervention? Might be worth investigating.

I did get a slight unfill on Friday afternoon, and the surgeon told me that my pouch was a little bigger since the surgery date, but that is to be expected after a year. But, thankfully, no slipping... and that's after two months of a lot getting stuck and then coming back up (sorry, TMI). I told him I was really scared about the slipping because I, too, had read so many stories. He said that you really have to be vomiting a lot for that to happen. However, that said, if the band is at the correct adjustment, no one should be vomiting.

Sigh... this is so much more complicated than I ever dreamed! :cursing: But, I'm SOOO glad I did it. Worth it all. :thumbup:

[bevanfranks 0]

Ann,

I'm super happy I decided to get banded as well. It's a bit more complicated to try and "balance everything" than I expected, but it's ok. Eating certain foods, measuring, and kind of timing out my meals. . .

Do you notice any difference w/your slight unfill?

Do you measure your foods? What amount? I was measuring at 1 1/2 cups, but it seems that I keep reading it's supposed to be 1 cup? I hope I haven't been over doing it. Sometimes I read that people are only having a half cup. I've never been full or satisfied off of half a cup?! Maybe I'm just not as tight. . . not sure.

I've done pretty well so far with the band, but I haven't had/needed many fills. My last fill was either December or January. I think I might need another soon, but it's weird, because a month or two ago I was having trouble with several foods, and now I feel too hungry. I don't really think I have a slip though-- it's just odd because I haven't pb'd in over a month. Has this scenario ever happened to you? I'm not gaining weight, but I've been losing fairly slowly for a while now.

I've also been having the urge to snack. I don't know if that's just in my head-- I'm trying to learn from this band, and it's probably not really hunger, but emotional? I went several months without snacking much, so I don't know what's triggering this-- maybe it is the band being too loose?

I'm just thinking out loud here. . .

As far as the upper GI goes. . . yes, I've considered exactly what you mentioned-- maybe I can get my insurance to pay for most of it if my doc will write that it's medically necessary. My insurance is still pretty bad, but if they pay for some-- that would be great! I had to take a loan for my band, and I still owe quite a bit on that.

Did your band doc do your GI, or a technician? I've never had one before. . .

Lisa

[rguay 0]

Same. I'm so tired of saying this word, I skipped weigh-in last week.

[bevanfranks 0]

me too- I'm the same. Really think I need a slight adjustment now. Was supposed to have an appt in two weeks, but Dr's office left me a message that they must reschedule. I haven't called them back yet cause I'm bummed! I'll probably call today. . .

[rguay 0]

Checked all my stats today and realized that I was down .2 this morning from my lowest recored weight. Not a big deal, but at least it's the right direction.

However, when I tried to eat Breakfast I had my worse stuck episode ever. Lost it all. This band is so strange, but I love it.

Have a good week all.

[tulsarealtorgb 0]

My last fill seems to be helping so much. I'm back at having lost 40 pounds total. I had gained back 5 pounds and 4 of it is gone again. It wasn't immediate on either direction, but taking it back off has taken about 3 weeks.

One of my biggest mistakes was getting on a kick of eating large portions of sugar free, reduced fat ice cream. If I can kick that habit, I think I'll be heading down the scale again. :smile:

[bevanfranks 0]

That's great-- you're moving in the right direction! yes, that sugar-free stuff can be misleading. I honestly feel that sometimes those things make me feel more hungry. I do enjoy my Sugar Free Chocolate pudding now and again, but I have to be careful not to overdo my sweets :thumbup:

My Dr. had to push back my appt by a week, but I think I'm going to ask for a small adjustment (in 2 weeks) and see if that'll help spark my loss again. I'm kind of floundering between the same couple of pounds lately.

Lisa

[rguay 0]

Haven't posted Friday weigh in for awhile. Still no progress for me. Have vacations out of the way until Jan. so finally have enough PTO to get a fill. However, I do have to request the time two weeks in advance, so it will be awhile yet. I hope that will get me headed in the right direction again.

How is everyone else doing?

[bevanfranks 0]

I had a fill nearly 2 weeks ago, and I've lost about 3 lbs so far. I'm glad to finally see the scale move a bit. I hope I can keep it up. My DR told me to make sure I"m still measuring, etc. I think I had become somewhat relaxed about having Snacks before, but I'm more on track again now.

Good luck getting your fill-- it'll probably jump start you again too! I wish I'd have done mine sooner. I told my DR I only wanted a small fill, so I might ask for a bit more next time. I was afraid to get anything too drastic. HOwever, I could have stood to have a normal sized fill. I'm just silly that way!

[OnTheWay to Thin 0]

I started having a huge reflux issue, had to be unfilled, wait 2 weeks, then start slowly filling back up. So I am mostly unchanged, but down a lb or 2 since the fillup so I am hoping...

[bevanfranks 0]

On the way,

DId they just do a partial unfill, or total?

I had a slight reflux problem in the past (not too bad luckily), but I read some things online that helped. . . eating at least a few hours before bedtime, watching out for acidic or spicy foods, not drinking too quickly after eating.

you may be aware of these, but thought i'd share. . . oh and also measuring my foods. I still get occasional reflux if I eat too much, or too much of a bothersome food (like anything too spicy or much chocolate.)

Good luck

[Minxz 0]

Hi all its been a long time since I checked in. I'm still slllllllowly losing weight. The good news is that even if I'm not paying a whole lot of attention I don't gain. I tend to go through bursts of effort where I can drop between 5-10 lbs and then plateau for awhile. I'm down a little over 60 lbs now. still want to get below 200 but am trying to be patient!

[rguay 0]

Just not losing. Finally getting a fill on Monday. Hope to get back on track.

Hang in there everyone!

[rguay 0]

Finally had a fill on Monday. Wow! is this what it was supposed to be like all along. Still on soft foods but having to eat a small amount. I have to really smash it up and I am very, very full after a small amount. Could this finally be the sweet spot? I am already back to where I was and at this rate I suspect I will start losing again. Woo Hoo!!!!!!!! Could still use support from my mayo Bandito friends. Are you still out there????