NWgirl

From looking at my fitbit graph, it looks like I have lost 9.6lb in the last 30 days (04/24-05/24). I am going into my third month post op and am sure the loss will slow sooner rather than later. I figure as long as I lose some every month and head downward, the number isn't particularly important. I also don't want to be so tightened down that I cannot eat for the first 7 hours of my day. I'd like the band to help control my portions (after two fills, it has done so immensely) and not dictate what I eat (to a certain extent, my last fill put cheap, doughy breads out of the food spectrum for me which isn't a big deal) or at what time.

No, I do not think you are approved for surgery. I think the office lady meant that they accept your insurance type. The insurance company rep you spoke with would not have been authorized to approve you, but to tell you exactly the qualifications needed for surgery to be approved. If you are with an H-M-O (where you must receive referrals to see specialists), then you would need to be referred/approved to do the pre-op visits. When the surgeon's office submits the paperwork for pre-approval, you will know. You have to complete all required testing (such as sleep study, blood testing, etc) to find or verify any co-morbidities before you are submitted. They most likely don't even have your beginning weight, as you just attended the seminar.

I like to make a fruit dish with fresh pineapple, sliced strawberries, sliced watermelon, and blueberries. Mix it all together and it is delicious!

Most likely it means you have the 10cc band.

The first couple months you most likely won't feel restriction. If you want to lose weight in this time, you have to commit to dieting for the interim.

Get a new PCP. I knew when I started my journey that the person I had been seeing infrequently would not be supportive based on past interactions. I found someone else who supported my weight loss 100%. he also wanted to run blood tests to make sure I didn't have anything inhibiting my ability to lose weight and found out I had hypothyroidism. My other Dr knew that the thyroid was a problem in my family but never bothered to order a test for me.

I was told not to eat, but since liquids go right through they were fine. Hope nothing is wrong with your band.

I wasn't in real pain after surgery, just achy. I was also really sleepy from the drugs, but could have sat for an hour if necessary.

You need to find out your insurance requirement for banding. Most require 35 BMI with two comorbidities or 40 BMI without. I doubt you would lose enough in three months to go below 40 BMI, so I would not worry about that as a problem. If I were you, I would take the next three months to follow band rules- small portions, chew well, high Protein meals and no drinking with or for 30 minutes after meals.

I only take one calcium chew a day, which according to the nutrition label is 60% of daily value. I would also focus on eating most of the nutritional requirements...

Sometimes the gas and swelling makes it hard to get down enough liquids in the first few days. If you need to, set a timer for every 15 minutes and drink an ounce or two of liquids every time the alarm goes off. Getting the shakes in the first few days is not as important as making sure you are not allowing yourself to get dehydrated.

Use a small pillow to hold against your stomach when getting up/sitting down, in/out of cars, or lying in bed. You can use the pressure of the pillow to hold everything in place so your incisions/port aren't getting pulled on.

My advice: Try not to think about it. Out of sight, out of mind. You will drive yourself crazy otherwise.

My surgeon billed for 3000 and got 1600. Hospital billed for 17000 and got 13000. I live in Portland and went to Legacy Good Sam Weight Management Institute.

Glad to hear you're doing well

Did you get the bill figured out?

I second the premier protein shakes.

Hi Jess, I hope after reading these response posts you don't feel so alone. I was banded in March and am 23 as well, will be 24 next month. I think for the most part, we all have some type of abnormal attachment to food (emotional eating, overeaters, etc) and that we all took this step to overcome our problem. I, too, am an emotional eater and would always find a way (in between the millions of diets I've been on) to use food for all emotions. Since banding, I have been working on not only eating right, but re-incorporating exercise back into my daily routine. Sure, sometimes I do not have 100% days were I eat correctly or exercise, but I am doing these things 80-90% of the time. I have not felt the need to see a therapist yet because I am working through my emotional attachment myself, but would not hesitate to find one if I felt I was hindering my ultimate goal of being healthy. You shouldn't beat yourself up with the shoulda, coulda, woulda because there is nothing you can do now to change the fact you had surgery. Be honest with yourself and ask where you would be today if you had not gotten the band- would you weigh more and be unhealthier or would you have gotten everything together and been successful? I am guessing you would have continued on your path, as it seems you realized the food attachment recently. Keep posting here and finding support. We all go through the same things, so even though you may feel alone, you are decidedly not.

After my second fill a couple weeks ago, eating slow and chewing well have become second nature. The first few days back on regular foods were interesting, as I got minor stucks multiple times because I kept trying to eat like I had been. The pain of being stuck is a big enough unconscious reminder to not eat like that.

pureed + strained soups, Sugar free puddings/jello, yogurt with no chunks or seeds, protein shakes, powders, broths..

Usually the first fill doesn't do too much, unless the Dr is more aggressive and puts in 4 or 5cc. I am currently at 4cc after two fills and do have restriction.

Never heard the term, but would assume it means foods that are harder to get through the band.

I also watched the 20/20 show. Those Dr's that are being sued are the ones that OWN all of the 1800-get thin, so they are still very much in business. In the 20/20, their own surgeons come out and say that they do not provide the best care for people. There have also been multiple people who have died under their care. If you choose to pursue with these Dr's, just be aware of these facts. That sucks about insurance. I know you can find Dr's with a nice self pay price, if that's an option for you.

Sounds like you seriously upset your stomach and it may be swollen almost shut...

No, not too tight. I also get the feeling if I fail to chew properly OR if the food I am eating is too dry.