Rab607

Dear NavyWife, I have Tricare standard, the old 80/20 plan and live in Region 1 in Connecticut. Are you haveing trouble with approval from Tricare or are you having trouble with getting your primary care doctor on board? I had no problems at all with approval....was told they approved on an individual basis, case by case. Its been a while since your post, hopefully this has all worked itself out already and this is a mute point for you. Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307/191/170

I have been gone awhile....did not realize how old this thread was! Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307/191/170

Alex, Funny you should bring this up....I was just thinking "Gee....I might need a fill.... I can eat almost anything I want" Until tonight of course.....when if allowed to....I would have eaten myself into a carbohydrate slumber! My old trusted friend Pasta and marinara sauce showed up (Ok....so I cooked it) and 3 bites into it the old golf ball reminded me......screamed at me....."NOT SO FAST!" Literally....my old eating habits reappeared as If they never missed a beat as I attempted to scoff down a healthy size bowl of pasta, sauce and assorted meats with more cheese than one cow could have provided! How quickly one can revert to one's old eating habits.....if it weren't for my not so new and trusted friend.....the band! I dont need a fill just yet......I need to continue on the path I was on before I got detoured....or lured away by old habits that will never go quietly, that are always lurking in the shadows! Thankfully.....my band is always one step ahead! I love it! Joann 07/18/2003 Dr. Valin 307/191/170

Prior to banding I often had problems with reflux at night. I thought that problem had resolved itself until I recently had my 4th fill...and since have had incredible reflux problems at night. It has happened once everynight since my last fill and I have aspirated one time, maybe twice. I dont eat before bed and even stopped drinking even Water before bed to ensure there was nothing in my pouch when I layed down. It hasnt made a differance. I am not particularly tight....I can almost eat 1 chicken thigh comfortably. I plan to call my doc this morning but wondered if anyone on this site has had similiar problems after a fill. Thanks for any insight. Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307 213 170

Since being banded I have been supplementing my Protein intake with EAS "AdvantEdge" Carb Control shakes....the only one I like is the strawberry cream, the vanilla I dont care for, my husband likes the chocolate....you can get them in most department/grocery stores, but Walmart I find is the cheepest. They have 110 calories, 15 grams of protein, 0 net carbs, and less than 1 gram of sugar....I drink one in the car on the way to work, and one in the evening when I get home. I like them especially on the days when I am tight....I can always get these down. When we pack a cooler to go somewhere.....I pack those and some flavored water! Good Luck! Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307/215/170

Interesting.....I gained 67 pounds in Nursing school! Joann

Donali, Thanks for that info....it sounds just like me....and it really does make sense. I had some reflux the other night after eating late and going to bed. First time it happened since I was banded, boy I sure dont miss that! Thanks again....Joann

I woke up today feeling as if I had been hit by a truck. I have a touch of something....fever of 102.7, bodyaches, headache and the like.....what worries me is the little bit of nausea I have. I havent had the urge to vomit.....but am afraid of slipping my band if that happens. I am about 90 minutes from the doc who banded me....and I know he would see me quickly if it were necessary. I would have every bit of the saline removed from this thing to prevent slippage if I were to start vomitting. I am hoping to avoid that at all cost since I have very good restriction now. I am trying to drink as much as possible to avoid dehydration and I have been taking the liquid Reglan and Tylenol the doc prescribed post-op for me. Has anyone out there needed to have the band fill removed due to a secondary illness?? And even if I did have the fill removed, do you think the simple restriction of the bands placement still might leave me at risk for slippage if vomitting were to occur?? Any insight would be helpful. Thanks.....Joann Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307/229.5/170

WOW LEO......Looking Good.....your a hottie! You must feel great.....keep up the good work! Joann 07/18/03 307/233/170

I went semi-private as well. Told my family and very close friends. I did not tell my co-workers....I am a nurse. Those in the medical profession are no different in their opinions regarding WLS. I told everyone I was having an abdominal hernia repair...just in case I eventually need to have my gallbladder out... to explain my 2 weeks away from work. I needed all of those two weeks to be ready to go back to work as well. If I had a desk job, I could have been back much sooner. Everyone at work just thinks I have made diet changes and started going to the gym.... Oh....if it were only that easy! Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307/248/170

Hi Misty, Your in a tough situation with no insurance and your husband being unemployed. My only advice to you is to keep reading on this site and others and arm yourself with as much information as possible. When the time comes and your able to move forward in the process you will be ready. Have you chosen a Doc? Most dont charge for the informational sessions they offer....I would attend a few of those now, decide on the Doc you want then learn everything you need to know about what that Doc requires pre-op. Then when the time comes, you'll be ready to go and there wont be anything to hold you back. Good luck to you..... Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307/248/170

I have worn my fat like a suit of armor for years....along with my hair, been hiding behind that too. I am down almost 60 pounds since I was banded and I am starting to get uncomfortable as well. I have security issues that stem from sexual abuse as a child and adolesent teen. I am very large breasted and have been since I was 10 years old. I was a child with a childs mind and spirit in an adult body. I got alot of unwanted attention, and as I grew up I learned to shelter my body with fat. With that said, today I am a very capable woman able to protect myself against unwanted advances, yet my instincts remain at high alert, never quite sure and ready to suit up at a moments notice. I have discussed this at length in therapy over the years. For me I just have to keep reminding myself, that I am in good hands now....I am protecting me the way others did not in the past. I am married to a wonderful understanding man who supports me in any dress size and works very hard at making me feel safe. Its a daily battle, but one worth fighting. Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307/248/170

So Leo....when can I expect it to stop or slow down??

A sassy new short hair cut is absolutly in my future! I have hidden behind my long hair for years! I am not sure why I thought people would not notice my body's expansion if my hair was big and long is beyond me. The bigger I got the bigger my hair got! : ) Actually its not as bad as it sounds.....I have held on to if for a long time......both my fat and my long hair.....as I lose one....I am closer and closer to giving up the other too. I have always said once I lost the weight.....I would get a cute new short hair cut.....another thing I have deprived myself of all these years due to my weight! I have said that a hundred times...."when I lose the weight ...I'm gonna..." (you fill in the blank)! Why is it so many of us tie all the good things we might have in our life to weather or not "we lose the weight"? As if people dont notice my double chin cause I have long hair?? Well, its getting smaller.....and I am determined to work up the courage to cut these locks off!!! Maybe this hair loss I am having is just the thing to make it happen...... Joann Dr. Valin 07/18/03 307/256/170