melzie_99

Stock up on Gas-X; I'm a couple months post surgery and still have to take it on an almost daily basis. The first few days/weeks of gas are awful, I know; hurt more than surgery in my opinion. Make sure though it's really just gas pain and not something else; if you begin to have trouble breathing or any severe pain make sure to see your doctor right away. We've had a few people on here end up with pulmonary embollisms they thought were just gas, so always make sure to follow up if something doesn't feel right.

I'm the same way, Vicky; I weigh in daily just to see how my weight is doing and make adjustments accordingly, but only record my weight once a week. I know a lot of people think daily weigh ins are a bit obsessive but sometimes I need that reminder, especially if I ate something the day before I know I shouldn't have...

Been having the same problem for months now; I'm not sliming but I'm constantly nauseous. Saline rinses seem to help in the short term, but I've had to resort to using some of the anti-nausea meds I got after surgery on more than one ocassion it gets so bad. Benedryl does seem to work but it knocks me out; guess I'll have to step it up with the nose washes...sorry to hear you're dealing with the same yuckiness.

This post is making me feel SO much better; I'm also a January bandster and I have only lost about 24lbs, which is really disappointing to me. I've only had one fill and it seems to have done little to nothing as far as I'm concerned. I have no problem eating ANYTHING, so it's been mostly willpower keeping me from gaining. This whole 1/2c of food every 4 hours is DEFINITELY not happening for me. I'm trying to hold off on getting another fill because I haven't been doing everything in my power to try to lose weight on my own. Trying to step up the exercise and get in more protein, and then if I'm still stalled then I guess I'll go back. *sigh* Thanks for this post, Renee; I don't feel like such a loser anymore.

Oh, and if you click on the individual claim, it will tell you specifically who and what the charge was for...

I would follow up with Tricare on this; I have Prime as well as was covered 100%. As long as the provider was someone in the Tricare network, I don't see why you would owe anything (unless you've exceeded your yearly cap, I don't know what happens then...). In the meantime, I agree with everyone else: until you receive a letter from Tricare stating "This is a bill" then I would let them work out everything....

Posted on wrong board; oopsy...

I can understand your annoyance. I think in my case, however, I get a bit frustrated about the question only because I thought I would've lost more by now that I have. I've never really been a numbers person when it comes to my weight until now (more concerned about size) as I've always weighed more than people my same size. I've become more focused on my NSV's, like being able to sit comfortably in a seat on the plane and not be squished or being able to keep up with my thin sister who speed walks everywhere without needing to whip out my inhalor (lol). I think most people mean well when they ask, but yes, there are always those few who are just there to try to steal your sunshine. I think as long as we remember this is a journey we are doing for ourselves and not others we will be just fine. Good luck to you all!

I have TriWest (prime) and had no problems getting approval. I am, however, more than 100lbs overweight and have high blood pressure as well as sleep apnea. I have been seeing various PCM's for years about my weight so that may also have helped my fast approval (less than 48 hours). My surgeon's office only required me to go to a 3 hour nutrition class; they offer post-op support groups which I'm looking into and am also going to see a therapist for the emotional aspects of weight loss, but really had very minimal requirements I was given.

I just found this so I'm a week behind; need something like this to get me back on the wagon. Went on vacation last week and gained a good 5 lbs! Trying to lose 40-45lbs by July, so hopefully this works...

Me too, unfortunately. I feel a constant need to try and cough up something. I don't know if it's surgery related or not but it just feels like there's a ball of phlegm or something that just always there. Kind of gross, but I guess it's better than actually sliming or PBing...

Heather, I'm having the same problem. I just had my first fill about 2 weeks ago, and I don't feel much different from before. Sure, the first couple of days I wasn't really hungry, but I have not reached a point after swelling has gone down where 1/2 c of food (as recommended by my dr) is enough to keep me full for 4 hours. I have had no problems eating anything, and I think that's gotten me in trouble this week. Sure, I still feel like I get fuller quicker than I did preband, but there are very few foods I've eaten where I'm full after a few bites, and most of those foods aren't pure protein. I've actually gained weight since this last fill, which is very discouraging. I don't want to be to the point where I'm sliming or PB, but I would love to know what true restriction feels like. My dr said if after 3 weeks I wasn't noticing a difference then to come back for another fill; I'm afraid I might have to. Trying to remain positive, but kind of feeling like this was a waste of money at the moment if this is all going to rely on my willpower...

Considering they normally don't want you taking in more than 4-6oz at a time after a fill (or at least that's what I was told), being stuffed after a 10oz drink, especially a protein one, makes perfect sense to me. I was full just from the water they had me drink in the office after the fill, and I hadn't even eaten yet that day. I think it's gonna take a few days for the swelling to go down before you stop getting full so quickly, but on the bright side, at least you know you have restriction.

Heather, I'm kind of the same way; I haven't had problems eating ANYTHING other than the fact certain foods upset my stomach or I just don't like them anymore. Pasta, carrots, you name it; nothing's gotten stuck (thank God). Had my first fill today and was SHOCKED to find out I've had 2cc's in since surgery! Yes, I wasn't able to eat as much as before, but I definately feel I should've had more restriction with that much Fluid in. Just once again proves that the band only does so much and diligence will get us the rest of the way...

Had my 1st fill today; I received a numbing shot which just stung a bit. I did feel the prick when they did the fill but no other pain; she got it on the first try with no xrays and was done in about 5 seconds. Bled a little of course; they stuck a big band-aid on, had me drink a cup of water and sent me on my way. MUCH less traumatic than I thought it would be; getting blood drawn is hell so I was horribly nervous about the experience (unnecessarily, I might add)...

Will you always PB/vomit if you are stuck? I've had the stuck sensation that people keep talking about but have never had anything come back up or been restricted from eating/drinking. It always makes me nervous because I'm not quite sure what's going on...

I'm pretty much in the same boat; still stuck at the 20lbs I lost from presurgery diet and 1st week after surgery (and fighting to maintain it). I FINALLY get my first fill next week. Been fighting a lot with my husband; he's become really distant and I feel we might be headed towards a seperation. Having a raelly hard time fighting the urge to return to the emotional eating. I've been looking for a therapist but they're taking their sweet time getting back to me. I was snooping around (I know, bad of me) and I found something where my husband wrote if I fail at losing weight he'll divorce me; makes me want to cry just typing it. I'm so tired of being seen as a failure; why can't I be ok the way I am? I'm sorry, I'm not trying to take over your post, I'm just really sad right now...

I was banded the 10th as well and made pot roast about 2 nights ago... no problems with it. In fact, the only thing that HAS given trouble (that I've tried) are my vitamins. I almost wish I had a negative reaction so I wouldn't want to eat it!! I have lost a taste for certain foods, but that's about it. I've been fighting to maintain the 20lbs I've lost thus far, and it's not easy. Don't get a fill for another 2 weeks- aack! It's really weird; sometimes I feel like there's nothing in there and other days I eat a half a cup of food and I'm stuffed. I don't get it. Ready for the ball to start rolling again...

I haven't been banded much longer than you, but everytime I eat it seems like I get gas no matter what. I belch constantly now; it drives me crazy. But if I don't then my port pokes out and is uncomfortable and eventually I get the back ache as well. I've been eating Gas-X like candy; don't want to be like this forever. I'm hoping things will be better once I get a fill (still another 2 weeks to go!). I wish you luck, and I totally feel your pain.

I've been pretty regular on the birth control for years but since the preop diet and surgery I had 3 periods in the month of jan. NOT happy. Normally with the pill they're really light and I have a 'normal' period like every 4 months as someone else mentioned. I guess it just seems weird to me that everything's going bonkers when I was about 75lbs lighter when I started the pill and they've worked just fine all this time; why get wonky now? My dr didn't seem to worried about it, but I definately am not trying to get pregnant anytime soon so I'm sticking with the pills.

I was told by my dr that larger women have a tendency to get pregnant easier as they lose weight because fat absorbs a lot of our hormones, hence the sketchy periods. My surgeon wants me to wait at least 18 months before trying to get pregnant, but have told me a story of a client who got pregnant 2 months after surgery because it made her fertile again. Just err on the side of caution would be my suggestion...

Having the same problem; I'm supposed to start my normal diet Monday and I've been so hungry lately I'm almost afraid to start on solids. I've gained back about 2 lbs which I know isn't much but since I don't my 1st fill until 2/22 I'm really worried. I've started going back to the gym which I hope helps. I've only felt "pouch full" once; most of the time I just stop myself after I've had my cup's worth. Is a month and a half before your 1st fill normal?

Weird...I stayed overnight as well and had about 5 bags of saline and don't believe I gained anything...however, I WAS pretty dehydrated before I got to the hospital and was in and out of the bathroom for days. Maybe it was saline combined with swelling that was causing the weight gain from all the extra fluids?

ME TOO!! The first time I ate something that wasn't on my current plan while I didn't want to get stuck or anything, I was hoping for some sort of 'punishment' so I wouldn't do it again...other than the fact it wasn't as appetizing as I remembered I was ok. My 2nd 'off schedule' eating was today and I intentionally got a smaller portion than what I used to eat (and was full) but again, nothing. I guess my biggest concern is hurting my stiches and that's what's keeping me from being too adventerous...the willpower is only at about 85% right now. Seriously thinking about looking into getting a therapist for when things get bumpy...

I'm in the same boat...I've tried some soft/easily chewed "normal" food twice now and have felt SO MUCH BETTER! I'm trying not to make a habit of it, but it's so frustrating trying to tell yourself to eat like you have a fill when your stomach restriction wise isn't much different than it was presurgery! I have noticed, however, that I definitely can't eat as much and when I eat something filling I get a bulge under my port. I thought I had a hernia the first time it happened but went away; guess that was my full pouch? IDK. Anyway, thanks for the confessional guys; we're not perfect but we're trying!