roseyposey

Hi! Rose here - married with 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. Age 57 soon to be 58 LOL. Banded 1/17/2011. Starting wt. - 270 - present wt. 210. (7 months later) I love this support group!!!!

Cook your meats in a crockpot, add some cream of chicken or other cream base Soup or sauce or gravy. It will be very tender and will go down so much easier. I use the crockpot for most of my meals now!

I've had the Nissen surgery done and was wondering if the Lap Band was an option for me? Also curios to find out if FL Medicaid will help pay for any of the surgery?

HI! When did you have your procedure done? How are you doing with it? My sister had it done 3 months ago and is so sick from it. She was considering lapband in the first place which I was hoping she would do, as they could have fixed her hiatal hernia at the same time like they did mine. I don't know if lapband is an option for you now or not. Maybe someone on here will know for sure. Good luck.

I WAS TOLD MEDICARE DOES NOT PAY FOR FILLS AND THAT THEY WOULD COST $75 OUT OF POCKET. ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE MEDICARE AND IS THIS TRUE? I ALSO WAS WONDERING WHAT OTHERS ARE PAYING ON AN AVERAGE FOR THEIR FILLS? THANK YOU!

I am so sorry to hear about what all you have had to endure. I hope you get well soon and I hope your lapband journey will be a successful one as well! Please keep us posted. Good luck!

Hello everyone I found your forum researching the Lap-Band and although I have read quite a bit already, I feel I have much more to read before I ask any questions. So for now... I would just like to introduce myself, give you a little back round, and say I'm pleased to meet each of you and thrilled to find a place where I will have people who understand what I am facing as I go forward with Lap Band surgery.

I'm a 38 year old wife and mother (to one 13 y/o daughter) who has been overweight my whole life and currently staring down the face of obesity. Last July, I found a painful lump in my breast and shortly there after was diagnosed with invasive Triple Negative Breast Cancer. After 3 surgeries I began a very aggressive chemo regimen then on to 35 rounds of radiation which I ended April 14th. During my chemo treatments, I discovered I also tested positive for cervical cancer (when it rains it pours) and scheduled the surgery to remove it in between chemotherapy. After 8 months of treatments and thanks to the graces of a merciful God... I can now say I am in remission and I am optimistic that remission will eventually turn into being fully cured.

After facing cancer at the age of 37/38... I realized just what I had allowed my body to become and was determined to change it. I tried once before a few years ago to get the Lap Band surgery... but I found out the one Bariatric Dr. that my insurance covered (that was worth anything anyway) did not do the procedure. (He was only performing Vertical Banding at the time) I knew that if I was going to do something surgically... I did not want to do anything that would change my anatomy. So I shelved the idea. Recently I saw that he was in fact, now doing the Lap Band surgeries and scheduled an appt with my PCM for a referral which he gladly gave and that is where I am standing right now.

I'm quite hopeful my surgery will be approved through my insurance. (Tricare) as I have met all the requirements they want in order to pay being 100 lbs overweight, having hypothyroidism, (recently diagnosed) fibromyalgia...not to mention my cancer history. Whatever lies ahead of me, I will face head on knowing whatever it is... is nothing compared to what I have already conquered. (Although, I'm actually looking forward to this! )

Right now I am just playing the waiting game and hoping this time... the second time will be the charm.

Could someone tell me how to get the weight ticker to paste to my profile. I have tried but must be doing something wrong. Thanks for any help you can give me.

I have had nothing but problems with my ticker also! Sorry I can't help you out.

When I crave chocolate, I get a chocolate sugare free pudding cup and add 1/2 scoop Protein Powder in it. It tastes good and chocolately!!! The added Protein helps give you a good full feeling too till mealtime. I usually have these between meals if needed. Or when I think I will kill someone if I don't get cholcolate. LOL Try it and good luck to you!!! It is especially hard this time of year. Easter with all the commercials on tv about chocolate bunnies and all.

Hey everyone! So I got banded yesterday morning, and Its been the best thing for me, definitely, but I have a few pains that I want to know if their normal lol. First off, I have alot of chest pain, which Ive heard is from the gas they put in you and the swelling, but mostly Im having a really painful dull throbbing right in the middle, underneath my rib cage. I get up and walk around at least once an hour, and it seems to help for a moment, but then comes back when I sit in my recliner. It almost feels like a sharp, hard hunger pain, but Im not hungry at all. Is this normal? Just wanted to make sure. It comes and goes alot also. Hope to hear back from you guys -Kayla

I had that pain too. It was scarey coz I didn't know if it was heart pain or what? But it was only gas pain. I had it for like 2 wks. Just keep walking. You can take liquid tylenol to ease your pain as well. take care and glad things went well for you. Keep us posted on your progress.

Good luck to you today as you get banded. I will be thinking about you. You will be very glad that you did this for yourself. Keep us posted on your progress. Take care.

Hello! My name is Heather and I have my appt. tomorrow with the Bariatric coordinator to discuss my BMI and the surgery that I am wanting to chose. I have went back and forth for months trying to figure out what would be right for me. I am 25 yrs old, 5'4", 224 lbs. My BMI is 38.6. I have been struggling with being obese since I was 15 when my doctor discovered I have hypothyroidism. I just recently been treated with hypertension and acid reflux. My insurance won't cover WLS until I have been an employee for 3 yrs. and 3 yrs. will be June 13th. I can't wait to get started on my weightloss journey and be healthy. I want to prove to my daughters that being obese is not the way to live.

You are making a good choice! You will be very happy with the band. It is worth the wait. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

I bought the rocket blender which is very small and has a small canister along with a larger one. The smaller one is perfect size to blend or chop up your chicken, tuna, or whatever you want. I mix miracle whip fat free, and add celery, onion or even pickle relish to it. Yum. Can eat this on whole wheat crackers. You can also use this small blender to make your Protein Shakes in. I still have the Protein shakes when I feel I have over indulged I make up for it by having a Protein Shake for Breakfast. Plus the added protein is good for you and helps you to feel full. The more protein you have the better. You can even sprinkle it on some of your other foods to get it in your diet. I have sprinkled the powder in sugar free puddings and other foods which you can't even taste it. Good luck!

If anyone wants to get rid of any extra large clothes, I would greatly appreciate them. I am only 5 ft. 2 in. though. I was wearing 2x -3x clothes but lost 40 lbs. I gave them to Goodwill. Thank you.

They have to put Fluid in the band to see if its working but most take it out leaving your band empty. The smaller the fills the better off you are. Everyone is in a hurry to get fills but what happens when there is nothing left to fill. You have to try to do some of it on your own and not depend on fills to make you lose the weight. When you are filled all the way then what are you really going to do?

The part I didn't understand is why do some surgeons put in like 4 1/2 cc during surgery when your stomach is swollen inside and inflamed and will have to heal for several wks.? Why not wait to put in the fill after healing is done? And now that the healing is done, it seems the surgeon is very hesitant in giving any fills??? Doesn't make much sense to me is all!

hi all

i am only about 50 or 60 lbs overweight but with the new fda approval for people in my weight range, i decided to do the surgery. had it on 1/15 and am just having a lot of chest pain (not worried it's heart problems). after hearing so many horror stories about lap bands (and an equal number of positive stories) i feel like it's just a crapshoot. you do the surgery and just hope and pray that you won't have any problems. the other thing is that my insurance wouldn't cover it so i had to pay $16k cash for this. losing the weight is worth that much to me. i wasn't able to lose it because i took antidepressants for a long time which caused the weight gain to begin with but i believe altered my metabolism.

i just have so much anxiety today about the chest pain. i called the dr's office and spoke to a nurse who said it's gas, because it comes and goes. but i'm not so sure. i'm just worried that it might be posisitoned wrong. i don't think i could go through another surgery. it was tough.

ugh, i just feel like a made a mistake by doing this. would love to hear from some people who maybe had some problems or concerns early and things passed. appreciate it.

pam

HI there! - You said you were banded in Jan. of this year and you are still having chest pains? That is def not normal. I was banded in Jan. also of this year and yes I too had horrible chest pains that scared me coz I didn't know if it was my heart or from the gas that they pump into your stomach for surgery. I also had neck and shoulder pain as well. But anyway, this pain all went away by the 2nd wk. post op. I did do alot of walking to try to expel the gas. Are you walking or exercising? Either way, I think you should go to the hospital and get it checked out. YOur surgeon that did your lapband should be taking this more seriously. PLease keep us posted on your progress. Take care.

HOwdy! I am 57 and was banded 1/17/11. l lost 40 lbs. so far. I will not kid you, it is hard - this journey - Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

I WAS JUST WONDERING. WHY DO SURGEONS PUT 4 CC IN A LAPBAND DURING THE SURGERY. WITH ALL THE SWELLING IN YOUR STOMACH, AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO HEAL, IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME. AND NOW THAT I AM 2 MONTHS POST OP - I HAVE HAD TO BEG FOR THE 2 FILLS THAT I HAVE HAD. ONE WAS ONLY 1/2 CC AND THE OTHER WAS ONLY 1/4 CC. I JUST DON'T GET IT????

I'm wondering that too. I have not even been approved for baning yet but I hope the c-pap will go away but I'm so used to sleeping with it, it will be strange!! how has it been for you?

Hi Gina! I can't sleep without my c pap machine. I use a full face mask too. I don't know how I will be able to get off of the machine after I lose the wt. It will be hard I guess. Even though that is all I ever wanted to be able to do - was to get off the c pap machine forever. Go figure????

Am thinking seriously of the lap band. Just begining my research and love this board. You all are so inpiring to me.

I don't have so very much left to loose, I think I may just qualify. I became diabetic 6 years ago, and have lost around 80 lbs, slowly. Also, just finished a traumatic battle with uterine cancer during which I lost even more weight, bringing me down to around 215. My prognosis is excellent and I am looking forward to a healthy future. The thing is I am so sick of being hungry every single moment and having to fight the diabetes with every thing I put in my mouth.

My main point is, has any lap banders out there have anything to say about how the surgery affected your diabetes, has it improved at all? Does the lap band really quell the hunger? These are my main questions. Thank you!

HI there! First of all, I am sorry to hear of your illness. I truly hope you feel better. You sure lost alot of wt. already. I was banded 1/17/11. I was diabetic as well and took oral meds for it. The surgeon took me off the med for it immediately following the lapband surgery. I was surprised. I do get hungry alot but the only difference is - now I only need very little amount of food to satisfy my hunger. And I am eating healthy foods now. Not junk anymore. Very little snacking now also. You pretty much learn a new way of eating all together. Some days are harder than others. The wt. loss is slow after the surgery. Usually 2 lbs. per wk if lucky. But you do lose alot during the pre op surgery liquid diet and then post op liquid diet. I lost 20 lbs. during that period. Total wt. loss so far is 40 lbs. Starting from time of lapband seminar to now. My goal is to lose 100 lbs. If I can do that, I will be happy. You have to be determined for sure. And have alot of will power. I am sure you have both. You have been through so much already it seems. I think you will do well with this if it is what you truly want. But remember - it is forever life changing. Good luck to you and keep us posted. Take care.

HELLO JANUARY BANDERS. I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW YOU ALL WERE DOING AND WHAT PROGRESS YOU ALL HAVE MADE. I WAS BANDED 1/17 AND I AM DOWN 40 LBS. I HAVE HAD ONE FILL SO FAR OF 1/2 CC AND I HOPE TO GET ANOTHER FILL NEXT WK AT MY MONTHLY CHECKUP WITH THE SURGEON.

HI Jenna! Was just checking in on you to see how you were doing with your lapband and FB. I have been having alot of FB pain since starting to exercise and walking. I take the Lyrica which I know puts on wt. but I tried to get off it but the pain was too bad. I AM getting discouraged as I thought by losing wt. it would get better not worse. Any suggestions? ^{_{MY pain runs down the back of my right leg to my ankle.}}

I agree the pain is very bad.. and nobody unterstands unless they have it.... I have had it since I was 22 was diegnost with lupis and FM.. I am 32 now and will be banded in March.. I only take 800mg of Ibprofin for the pain and thats only when I can't take the headaches any longer.. those are the worse.. I can almost tolerate the body pain... but am wipped by the end of the day... and nobody understands... just think I am lazy... I can't do much of working out due to my heart rate drops and scares people..lol... I actually find it funny... see trainners think they know everything...lol... not!!!.... The worst and I mean the worst part is the depression... everyone sees me as the happy go lucky she is soooo stronge she can take on the world... but inside they dont see the woman standing in the middle of a room full of people screaming..... the person that can't understand why this is happening and nobody can understand... I work on this alone.. I write peoms and tell my stories... yet.. stilll nobody knows the real me inside ... My daughter does tho... she is 15 and my rock... and thats not fair... she is my guardian... and thats not fair... she should just be my daughter!!!... Dance.. listen to your favorite music and even if you just sway back and forth.. you are still moving... meditate while doing this.. pray and let your mind and body do what it can... just let go and realize you are doing the best thing that you can do for you and thats ok... do things in the shower.. wall pushups...drop the soap a few times..lol.. ther are your squats... dont let your mind realize that your everyday chores are also body movement...lol... or didnt you know that already... Your strong... you get out of bed and you go to work.... give yourself the credit you deserve if nobody else will!!!

Hello Lap dancer! I was just checking in to see how you were doing with your lapband and your FB. I have been having alot of pain lately with mine since exercising and walking. I take Lyrica and I know it puts on wt. but I tried to get off it but the pain was too bad. I am having pain from the back of my right leg down to my heel. I am getting discouraged as I thought by losing wt it would improve not get worse. Any suggestions?

Hello Lacey. I was diagnosed after losing 85 pounds and suddenly having horrid pain. I was banded in 2007 and thank stars and all that I did have it done. I cannot imagine carrying that weight and having the FM. I have SHRUNK in body size which I never thought possible. But I still have 100 to lose and it's coming off soooo slow because I do not excercise. Hydro therapy is the only thing I can tolerate. I do meditation in bed and when I can at a studio. I too cannot afford the cost but there are so many things available for free and online YOUTUBE it's a start. Also your local PBS station will air yoga stretching and other such things for free. Tune in and try those. LUCK.

Hi Blair! I was just checking in on you to see how you were doing with your lapband and your FB. I have been having severe FB pain since starting to exercise and walking. I am discouraged as I thought it would get better as I lost wt. not worse. YOu mentioned cutting out carbs. What specific foods did you cut out? I still take Lyrica. I know it makes you gain wt. but I tried to quit it but the pain was just too bad. Any advice?