Cyndie B

Congrats Cyndie, I'm right behind you. Had my NSV last Friday night. Had to break down and get a pair of jeans as my size 18 from Lane Bryant were just too big. Went to a consignment shop 1st but no luck. Found a great pair of Seven jeans at Lane Bryant in size 16! I typically have to buy the Right Fit so I don't have to pay a tailor but I broke the bank and went for the Seven jeans as they fit just right. When I get down to a size 14W, I'll put the money out for a tailor to take them in and get more wear out of them. I wore them yesterday and I felt like a million bucks!

I have so many pairs of jeans and I never thought of going to the tailor. I think it is about 10 bucks to have them altered and as you know, Lane Bryant is not cheap so it's probably worth it to get those jeans altered. Great job on your loss so far! I will say that Macy's has some cute jeans and they are usually on sale. They go up to an 18 in their "regular size" section.

Cyndie, have you had any stuck episodes???

Hi GLove - no, I have not had any stuck episodes. I'm scared to death to have one so I am very careful to chew thoroughly. I do tend to eat a little fast and I have had what I call "stiff neck" and it is painful. From what I heard, it does not compare to having food stuck. I have not had any pb'ing episodes, either. Have you had any stuck episodes?

I was a size 18/20 and a loyal Lane Bryant shopper and the 18/20s were getting tight...that is when I made my decision to get the band. I know this doesn't seem like a lot of weight to lose to some of you but we are each on our own journey. I just wanted everyone to know that if I can do it anyone can, trust me.

Hi Everyone! I went shopping today and was able to fit into XL tops and size 14 pants...although I had to bump up a size for jeans to a 16...but the best thing is I did not have to go to the plus size section. It was so awesome and I couldn't believe it was my butt in the pants I tried on...lol...I am 7 weeks post op and I have had one fill. I am still feeling restriction but not as much as before. I have been exercising on the treadmill 4 to 5 times a week. I am looking forward to my next fill and maybe instead of buying new clothes I will be heading to the consignment store.

Thanks everyone for your kind words and encouragement. I went to True Results so it is not like a normal doctor's office. My surgeon doesn't do fills, they are done by a nurse practitioner. She did have me raise my hands above my head and then act like I was doing a sit up so I know it couldn't be that she couldn't find my port...I don't know maybe it was a fluke. All of my fills for the next year were included since I was cash pay so I am sort of stuck going there - anyway, hopefully next one will be uneventful and I will remember to ask my questions.

I had all of the same issues that you had, trust me. It will get better every day, trust me. Just hang in there and you will be okay. I can't believe there is not a pain killer that they can give you that you can take on an empty stomach because that is how most of us are when we come home, right? We have empty stomachs? Can you discuss this with your doctor? The pain killers is what kept me sane...I took it every four hours religiously. You will do fine...just have faith that you did the right thing for you!

I went for my first fill last Wednesday and the nurse gave me some lidocaine because it was my first fill and she said I was still swollen. After she gave me that, she tried to find my port and was hurting me so bad I was crying...and I'm not a baby. She gave me more lidocaine and it helped a little but she said she kept hitting the porcelain that was around the band and "couldn't find" the mesh part to stick the needle through. She finally called in another nurse and she found it right away. She extracted 1.8 cc's and then filled it with 2.8 cc's. Needless to say, I thought the fills were going to be easy but mine was not. I still have pain where my port is so maybe next time after I have more time to heal it will be better. Also, can I ask for more of a fill or do I just get the 1 cc every time? I was told I didn't have to be on liquids or anything...I don't feel any differently than I did before my fill...I guess I need to be more proactive when talking to the nurse but to be honest after the pain started I just went into shock mode and didn't ask...although I had to help the nurse count from 1.8 to 2.8 because she kept looking at the syringe trying to figure out how to determine 2.8 cc's...wonderful.

I have been banded for 4 1/2 weeks and I have already gotten to the point where sometimes I forget I am even banded. It has not been hard to take small bites and to chew, chew, chew, but I am still eating too fast. I think it will be this way for you as well...you start feeling good, losing weight and you stop obsessing about what you are eating, etc., especially when you get on regular foods.

_{I started having a drink about 2 weeks post op. I had several drinks Friday night and boy did I regret it...stupid me. As you become more inebriated you forget your limitations and that is dangerous. After drinking several drinks I then started doing shots and ended up vomiting...not a good idea but it was a valuable lesson learned and something that I will never do again...I am 4 1/2 weeks post op.}

I was wearing a 1X (18-20) and always shopped in the plus section but yesterday went to Macy's and bought two tops in the regular size department...but I kept venturing over to the plus section looking...it was so strange. Even when I took the tops into the dressing room I kept saying to myself, "there is no way these are going to fit" but they did!

Hi Trenai - I just had to jump on the computer and respond to your post. I went to True Results and had the best surgeon and he has his own practice where he does bariatric surgeries but also does the lapbands for True Results. If I would have known about him I would have gone to him directly and skipped True Results completely. What they did to you was horrible...I haven't had any problems with them but I really like the personalized approach to having your own surgeon...it's a small office and the nurses are so wonderful (I had to go to his office for my post-op). Again, if I would have known that he had his own practice I would have completely skipped True Results. Sorry for your problems...this is going to be a long delay for you, unfortunately and tha really sucks but don't get discouraged...you are doing the right thing and it sounds like they are just being cautious. Take care and good luck!

I stuck a pillow in between my body and the mattress...just wedged it in so I could sleep on my side. It supported my stomach and helped me a lot. I don't know how some people go to work the next day...everyone is different I guess. Maybe you could have the doctor call in pain meds. My doctor gave me a prescription before I left and I filled it and used it every 4 hours for the first two days. There is no reason to put yourself through the pain...

Hi Bumblebee - I feel the same way...lost 11.2 pre-op and after 2 weeks post-op had lost 15 pounds...now back up 3 pounds. I am a little discouraged but after reading above posts I guess the weight is not going to come off as easy as it did during the post-op liquid phase.

I went to the location in Houston as well. My doctor is Dr. Hollis. I have been watching your posts...I'm glad to hear that you are doing well. I have been eating soft foods and it's going well; however, I had a protien shake today (the Gladiator from Smoothie King) and I guess I drank it too fast and thought I was going to die I felt so full. I walked on my treadmill and let out lots of burps and felt better. It's really hard to get used to what is enough and when to stop. I haven't lost anything in 3 days so I'm a little discouraged but hopefully I will soon...I'm doing all the right things, exercising, etc. so we will see. Let me know if you have any questions as I'm a little bit ahead of you...take care and enjoy your popsicles!

Hi - I went to True Results. I was banded on 2/1 so about 2 1/2 weeks out. I love the Gladiator shakes but they are expensive...$5.40 and I can hardly drink half so I try to save them for the next day. I was self pay and had a hernia repair also. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you...Good luck and I hope you get the date you want...so you can't have surgery on 2/23 because your hemoglobin is too low?

Hello - so I got my EOB in the mail yesterday and I have been stewing ever since! First of all, I had a hernia repair and lapband together. The lapband was not covered by my insurance...according to the doctor's office...so I paid $5,500 of my own money and my insurance was going to cover the difference of $4,500 which was the hernia repair and anesthesia.

I first had to have the procedure done to check for the hernia. The doctor's office billed $17,500 and my insurance paid $7,175. Next was the actual operation. The doctor's office billed $29,500 and my insurance paid $16,025.

Now, according to the doctor, it only takes an additional 5 minutes to fix the hernia while he is doing the band...WTF...so even if I subtract the $4,500 for the anesthesia, he got paid $11,525 to do a procedure that took 5 minutes?

In my ever-so-humble opinion, I think that the doctor's office should not have charged me for the $5,500. If they said that the insurance would cover the "other $4,500", then didn't the doctor get paid $11,525 just for the hernia repair...that took 5 minutes? That is what it looks like to me!

I just wanted to get other opinions on this before I start my rant to the doctor's office tomorrow....if anything they should give me a discount or something!

Wow - all great advice as usual - I love this site!

I am trying to put myself in your shoes and with me I had such a strong desire to change and to lose the weight and if my husband was overweight I would probably start to feel differently about him...like, "you need to lose weight, too, buster". Of course, I have been married for 27 years and my husband is not overweight. What stood out for me in your post is you said you are not attracted to him...I can almost guarantee that when you start losing the weight you will start to feel confident and really good about yourself and you may think that you can do better...do you think maybe part of you chose him because he is overweight like you? Your eating habits will also change drastically and it is my opinion that if you are together he should support you and adjust his way of eating as well..but is he willing to do that?

I am three weeks today but I started two days early. Nope, the instructions state protien shake (17oz to 42oz) and 60 oz of Water a day...I am going to call them today to get clarification...I paid out of my pocket for some of this surgery so I am going to get answers!

Yes, I am not a fine print reader so I didn't read the instructions from my doctor to NOT drink while eating. My thought process was to drink while eating to help the food go down easier, but, alas, not true. I received Jean McMillan's book yesterday, Bandwagon, and read it in the book - thank God for her book...if you don't have it and you are going to get banded or have been banded it is absolutely a must read! I am so grateful that she took the time to write such a comprehensive book - it is amazing!

My other issue is I'm having trouble eating enough. I know...not the trouble most people have. I had about 3 oz of a protien shake and a cup of coffee for breakfwast, 4 oz. of tuna salad and egg salad (combined) for lunch yesterday, but couldn't finish it all and then came home from work and wasn't hungry so I didn't eat anything. I am pretty sure this is not good but I don't want for force myself. I guess I am really having a hard time getting my protien in since I switched to mushies.

I guess it is just a learning experience...I am having a protien shake now which is 11 oz.; however, my doctor's instructions say between 17 and 42 oz...there is no way I can drink that much. And on top of all that, I cannot get all of my Water in because I'm afraid if I drink too much that I will start belching...which has also been a major problem. I certainly don't regret the band at all but it is just difficult...back to Jean's book for more answers!

I walked and took pain meds...but there are two different types of gas...the one that they put inside you to blow up your stomach to do the surgery and then the intestinal gas pains which I still have and I am 13 days post op. I take Gas-X and let it out whichever way I can...but it gets better each day...hang in there!

I may have ate a little too much...creamy Soup about 2 oz., smoothie Yogurt (4 oz.) and then I had some mushy zucchini..not all at the same time but probably within 30 minutes and all of a sudden the back of my neck and my upper back started hurting really bad...but I didn't feel stuck or anything. Does being stuck or eating too much come in different forms? I don't know it was just really strange...I'm 11 days post op...

Gives me hope, too! Great job!

Don't beat yourself up...you are human and we all have moments when we are not at our best...please don't regret what you did...it is the best thing you did! I can't really give you any advice other than to hang in there and tell your doctor what you are experiencing. I had such a desire to chew something so I ate about three nibbles of a saltine cracker...I'm 5 days post op...lol...how stupid was that? Anyway...don't give up!

Hi Will - congrats on the go ahead!

i too have a hiatal hernia that will defer the costs of the lap band... are you using True Results? It seems pretty standard that they do an EGD if you've reported any kind of acid reflux. Its definitely a nice perk to have the cost of surgery cut in half, plus getting the hernia fixed as well!

Also congrats to batii!! you must be feeling so relieved to have that approval in hand!

As for me, I just started my pre-op diet (a few days early, but what the heck) I'm doing Atkins induction, so less than 20g of carbs a day - whew! I figured I might as well get a head start on the diet, maybe try and lose a couple extra and do a 2 1/2 week pre-op diet.

Have a good day everyone!

Quinnmc...I went to true results and also had a hiatal hernia repaired and had my costs cut in half as well. I was banded last Wed 2/1 and still in pain...but I suppose I am a wimp...my port sight where they did the incision is killing me every time I get up and move or sit...