Jim1967

Ah OK I understand. I consider it a life long journey with no final destination but in the end I guess it is how one perceives their personal experience. Thanks!

Not sure I understand what you're referring to.

I had Cigna Carelink and was approved in 3 days. They denied me the first day due to clerical error on some of the paper work but 2 days later I was appoved. Good Luck!!

If you're new to this process I recommend writing a letter to yourself now as your journey begins and only to be read when you hit your ultimate goal. I wish I had done it. I can only the imagine what the 488lb me would've said. I can remember the darkest times but to be able to read a letter from 18 months ago would be a great reminder of where I've been and where I do not want to go back to. Not only would it give insight to where you've been it will also help you appreciate what you've done and what you've become along the way... I do go back and read my old posts here on LBT and some are quite eye opening... Something to think about....

I watched this yesterday and it really opened my eyes.

I last posted in this thread Dec 2011 and I was pre-op at 480lbs. I've lost 205lbs since that time. I promise you if you want it bad enough and work with your band it can happen.

One thing to keep in mind is we are all different as far as whether or not we need fills and if so how many. I had a few false positives after fills. I would go for a fill and then would feel like I was in a good place with satiety and how I could eat and how I felt just to have it dissipate 3 days to a week later. That part was frustrating for me. I felt like I was never going to have long term satiety and at one point I even thought I was just simply too fat for a band. Well it took about 6 months and 5 fills and I am in a good place. I have not had a fill since January and the band is doing it's thing. I can easily go 5 to 6 hours before I actually get hungry but I have set up a reminder on my IPhone to ensure I get my food in during the work day. Time and Patience and it will come... You just need to find that spot that works for you. Until then it is like a diet. Edit: I removed the word 'restriction' and replaced it with 'satiety'. Restriction is a poor word and how it ever got associated with banding is beyond me. Band is not about restriction...OK stepping off my soapbox

I guess the real question is are you genuinely hungry or is your mind playing games on you? Only you know the honest answer there. Try this: When you start to feel that hunger urge stop what you are doing and have an internal talk with yourself. What are you feeling? Is it hunger or is it my brain just wanting it? If you cannot go 4 waking hours without feeling real hunger and the need to snack then I would say yes you probably need a fill. By the way you are doing fantastic for 8 weeks out!! Congratulations.

I also had a ton of weight to lose so it didn't matter what the scale did in that respect. I will say however I was told that when you start the 6 month supervised diet they go by your starting weight not the weight you end up at in the end of 6 months. At least that is how my center explained it to me. Insurance companies don't care if you lose weight or not on the 6 month diet. They just want you to do it to show you are being supervised and are making the effort of a life change. I really think it's all in the way your Doctor documents your history...

I will add this,,,I along with most who are banded have been in your position before. There will be frustrating times now and perhaps later. Patience was not my strong suit but I had to learn it and learn it fast. I promise it is worth it but it will take work and time. Hang in there and do whatever you must to keep focused on your dreams.

Stall?? You've barely even started. You're not even 3 weeks post op yet. This is a time for healing. Don't focus on the calories. Focus on healing. Weight loss will come but it will take time. Remember this is not rapid weight loss. Just follow Doctor's orders and you should be good.

Food should not be getting stuck. You are either eating too quickly or not chewing enough or a combination of the two. Do you know whether or not they put in a fill at the time of surgery? Perhaps you are to tight. I would call the Doc and get some advice on that.

That is one of the main reasons why most of us get banded. Many failed diet attempts. Sure they are successful short term but long term they are not realistic. I don't want to hijack Lacey's thread so if you want to read my profile - My Story you will see where I am coming from. Feel free to PM any questions you may have.

Congratulations on your loss and anniversary. Just keep going and don't focus on the past miss-direction and look toward your future. Always keep your goals and desires on your front burner and the rest will work itself out. You have the tool. You just need to want it. You're doing awesome though!!

Also, I found walking as often as I could helped clear up those gas pains...

Lack of energy and some pain is completely normal. I napped off and on for two days after surgery and the gas pain was unbearable at times but within 5 days I was good. If you are concerned definitely do not hesitate you check in with your Doctor.

Rapid burping for me is exactly that. I am either eating too quickly or not chewing slowly enough..slow burps and a slight runny nose means stop now or pay the price of a stuck episode.

Another great article Jean!! Yesterday I had a conversation with my mother in law about the band. I told her how much I could care less about food these days. She could not understand it. I find myself throwing food away which is something I have never done before in my life. I am no longer a member of the clean plate club and I am proud of it. :-)

I was taking chewable for a short time post op. My Doc told me whatever I found easiest but to be cautious. What is your Doctor saying?

I went to one of my Wife's mandatory preop band class last week and a young lady walked in with one of those Starbuck lattes and I was just sitting there amazed. Just sucking down the high calorie sugar drink in a support class. I really wanted to walk over there look at her and point at it and say 'REALLY??'

What??? I got this band strapped around my stomach and I still have to watch what I eat?? Can't we just tighten that thing up to the max?? I heard that one from my Father In Law about 7 months ago.

Patience for me was probably one of the toughest aspects of this process. Like everyone else has said you just need to give your body some time to adjust and change will come. It will be slow and steady. That is just how it works. Hang in there and do what you supposed to and the weight loss will come. Good Luck!!

Thank you. As for lighting fires...while my Wife was supportive she felt she didn't need it or want it herself. That was then and today she has her last appointment and is hoping to get a surgery date. It is great we can do this for ourselves but it is also rewarding to know that we can be an inspirational motivator and help others. At the end of the day though if they're are not committed then success will be very difficult. You can show them the door but only they can walk through it.

Losing is a challenge but keeping it off is an even bigger challenge. I worry all the time about whether or not I will keep it off with the band let alone the thought of not having the band at all. Long before my Band days I had lost 175lbs between 2003 and 2004 and got down to 219. I somehow managed to put it all back on plus an additional 90lbs. Even now when I reflect back I am not totally sure how I managed to let myself go and let it get so bad. I think perhaps I felt so good about myself and that life was grand that had I slipped back into habits and then begin making excuses for not taking corrective actions. So as you can see I am very nervous about keeping it off long term as I had already failed before. Band or no band but at least with the band I am hoping my weight issues forever stay on the forefront of my mind so what happened before will not repeat on me. From 2003 to 2004 I went from 394 to 219 back up to 488 by 2011. Completely disgusting and inexcusable and to this day I haven't forgiven myself. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope it works out but if it were me I would revise to something else if possible.

That's just so wrong. Now a days a Teacher would be sued for something like that. I could not begin to imagine making the same journey I made then in these modern times. I was a School Kid in the 70's and 80's long before Internet and social media. Kids today have so many resources to utilize in their bullying tactics.